04/01/2010 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

           HB 262-MOTORCYCLE/SCOOTER AWARENESS MONTH                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KOOKESH  announced  the consideration  of  HB  262.  [CSHB
(TRA) was before the committee.]                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:16:29 PM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  WES KELLER,  sponsor of  HB 262,  said this  bill                                                               
declares the month of May  as motorcycle awareness month. In past                                                               
years this was done by  a Governor's proclamation, but the timing                                                               
was problematic  because signing frequently wouldn't  occur until                                                               
June.  HB  262  eliminates  the problem  by  establishing  it  in                                                               
statute.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MENARD  asked if the intent  is to bring this  back every                                                               
year to stimulate awareness.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KELLER  replied  placing   it  in  statute  would                                                               
eliminate the need to bring it  back each year. He added that the                                                               
National  Highway  Traffic  Safety  Administration  (NTSA)  keeps                                                               
track of this and is very supportive.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER joined the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:19:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MENARD  asked how  many scooters  and motorcycles  are in                                                               
Alaska and how many other states have awareness month.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JIM POUND, Staff to Representative  Keller, explained that making                                                               
May motorcycle awareness month is  part of an advertising process                                                               
is   a  nationwide   program  that   was  established   by  NTSA.                                                               
Establishing  it  in  statute  provides  an  opportunity  to  get                                                               
advertising in  place prior to  May. He estimated that  there are                                                               
about  15,000   motorcycles  in  Alaska.  Juneau   has  the  most                                                               
motorcycles per road mile in the country.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MENARD asked if motorcycle  fatalities are on the decline                                                               
or increase.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  POUND replied  fatalities have  steadily increased  over the                                                               
past decade nationwide.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:21:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH closed  public testimony and asked the  will of the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  PASKVAN moved  to report  CS for  HB 262  from committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal  note(s).                                                               
There being  no objection,  CSHB 262(TRA)  moved from  the Senate                                                               
Transportation Standing Committee.