04/17/2018 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

                 HB 259-CONFINING VEHICLE LOADS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:29:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN  called the committee  back to order  and announced                                                               
the  consideration  of [CSHB  259(JUD)AM.]  "An  Act relating  to                                                               
containing  or confining  loads being  transported on  highways."                                                               
Noting that the bill was previously  heard, he asked for a motion                                                               
to adopt the Senate committee substitute (SCS).                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:29:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BISHOP  moved to  adopt  the  Senate  CS for  CSHB  259,                                                               
version 30-LS0917\S, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:29:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:30:08 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID SCOTT,  Staff, Senator  Stedman, Alaska  State Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska,  explained that  the Senate  committee substitute                                                               
makes  just one  change. On  page  2, lines  17-18, language  was                                                               
added to  exempt commercial  motor vehicles  that are  subject to                                                               
federal  motor  carrier  cargo securement  standards  implemented                                                               
through state or federal law.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN asked if there were questions.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:30:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BISHOP stated support for the amendment.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN  asked the sponsors   representative if he  had any                                                               
comments on the Senate CS.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:31:05 PM                                                                                                                    
MATT  GRUENING,   Staff,  Representative  Stutes,   Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  sponsor of  HB 259,  thanked Chair                                                               
Stedman for hearing  the bill and passing it along  if it was the                                                               
will of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN quipped, For making it better?                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRUENING replied, Yes sir.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:31:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  STEDMAN   removed  his   objection.  Finding   no  further                                                               
objection, he stated the Senate CS is adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEDMAN  asked Mr.  Gruening to  remind the  committee what                                                               
version S does.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRUENING  explained that the  bill updates the  confined load                                                               
statutes to  include materials other  than sand, dirt,  rock, and                                                               
gravel.   It  establishes   respective  class   A  and   class  B                                                               
misdemeanor  penalties  if  someone,  with  criminal  negligence,                                                               
fails  to secure  a load  that  results in  the serious  physical                                                               
injury  of another  person or  it results  in $5,000  or more  in                                                               
property damage. The  bill also provides sliding  scale fines for                                                               
other  circumstances. A  number of  exemptions in  the bill  deal                                                               
with  municipal vehicles  that are  maintaining  the roadway  for                                                               
traction, the natural  accumulation of snow, dirt,  ice, mud, and                                                               
similar materials. The  Senate CS adds an  exemption for vehicles                                                               
regulated under the federal commercial motor vehicle standards.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:33:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  STEDMAN found  no  questions  and asked  the  will of  the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:33:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  EGAN moved  to  report SCS  CSHB  259(TRA), version  30-                                                               
LS0917\S,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:33:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEDMAN found no objection and it was so ordered.