04/12/2011 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

                HB 213-NAMING MARK HUFFORD TRAIL                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:09:25 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of HB 213.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:09:49 PM                                                                                                                    
KIM SKIPPER,  staff to  Representative Fairclough,  introduced HB
 speaking to the following sponsor statement:                                                                                
     Mark  Hufford  was  an avid  handcyclist  who  competed                                                                    
     seven   times   in   the  Sadler's   Alaska   Challenge                                                                    
     wheelchair  and   handcycle  competition.   The  Alaska                                                                    
     Challenge, known as the "Tour  de France" of wheelchair                                                                    
     sports, is the world's  longest and toughest wheelchair                                                                    
     and handcycle  race that starts  in Fairbanks  and ends                                                                    
     in  Anchorage.  Twice  Mark won  the  Speedy  Sourdough                                                                    
     Award for  the fastest Alaskan. He  helped motivate his                                                                    
     competitors and  encouraged them throughout  the races.                                                                    
     He  was known  throughout the  handcycle community  not                                                                    
     only  in Alaska  but nationally  and created  a lot  of                                                                    
     awareness for the  sport. He was often  seen riding his                                                                    
     handcycle in Eagle  River - enjoying the  beauty of the                                                                    
     outdoors and improving his skills.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Mark  was  a resident  of  Eagle  River, Alaska  and  a                                                                    
     graduate  of Chugiak  High  School.  Tragedy struck  in                                                                    
     1995  when a  hunting accident  left Mark  a paraplegic                                                                    
     and in  a wheelchair. This  did not slow him  down, but                                                                    
     gave  him more  determination.  He  continued with  his                                                                    
     education  and  earned  a Bachelor's  Degree  in  Human                                                                    
     Services from  the University  of Alaska  Anchorage and                                                                    
     helped   others  overcome   their  disabilities   while                                                                    
     working at  the Division of  Vocational Rehabilitation.                                                                    
     Sadly, Mark passed away in  January 2011 but he left an                                                                    
     indelible  mark on  those that  were encouraged  by him                                                                    
     and  for the  sport  of handcycling.  The community  of                                                                    
     Eagle  River will  miss seeing  him  during the  summer                                                                    
     months as  he made his way  on the many bike  trails in                                                                    
     the area.  It would  be a fitting  tribute to  Mark and                                                                    
     his family to  remember him by naming  this local trail                                                                    
     in his memory.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. SKIPPER noted that the bill has a zero fiscal note.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOOKESH closed public testimony and asked for a motion.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:11:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to report HB 213 from committee with                                                                      
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KOOKESH announced that without objection, HB 213 moved                                                                    
from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.