Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
04/12/2018 01:15 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB263 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 263 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 263-TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR HUNTERS
1:55:02 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 263, "An Act exempting certain water taxi
operators from regulation as transportation services by the Big
Game Commercial Services Board; and providing for an effective
date."
1:56:00 PM
JAYME JONES, Staff, Representative Gary Knopp, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced herself.
1:56:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GARY KNOPP, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as
prime sponsor of HB 263, said the intent of HB 263 was to apply
the same exemption to water taxi operators that currently exists
in statue for air taxi operators. The exemption has three
requirements; first, transporting hunters or their gear must be
incidental to the main business; second, the operator cannot
charge a premium for that service; and third, the operator
cannot advertise that service without having a transporter
license. He stated that this bill was requested by a water taxi
operator in Kachemak Bay. He offered his belief that this is
equitable and has minimal impact. Water taxis businesses seem
to be more prevalent in Southeast Alaska than in Southcentral,
Southwest Alaska, or other parts of the state.
1:57:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked for clarification that HB 263 would
not reduce the United States Coast Guard boating safety
requirements for someone with a transporter's license who caters
to hunter.3
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP answered no.
1:58:09 PM
MS. JONES, on behalf of the sponsor, Representative Knopp,
stated that the business must still comply with all US Coast
Guard and federal regulations just as an airplane pilot must
follow FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] regulations even
when they are flying under this exemption. She stated that a
water taxi business would still need to have a "six-pack" [USCG
Operator's License].
1:58:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN related his understanding a water taxi
transports someone by boat to go hunting. He asked whether a
person can currently transport someone by boat to go hunting
without a transporter's license.
REPRESENTATIVE KNOPP answered he thought that was true. He
stated if someone operates a water taxi business, the person
would be prohibited from assisting hunters without the
exemption. He related his understanding that the statute does
not currently apply to water taxis, which means that a person
operating a water taxi would be banned from transporting,
assisting, or renting them boats or cabins to hunters. It would
be a prohibition without this exemption, he said.
2:00:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to report HB 263 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
2:00:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND withdrew the motion in order to allow
for public testimony.
2:00:34 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES opened public testimony on HB 263.
2:01:04 PM
MAKO HAGGERTY, Owner, Mako's Water Taxi, stated he was the owner
and operator of Mako's Water Taxi. He thanked Representative
Knopp for bring this bill forward. He offered his belief that
water taxis were not included with air taxis, perhaps because
there were not many water taxis in operation at the time. He
stated that his water taxi business takes people across the bay
to go to the [Kachemak Bay State Park]. His service does not
delineate between a hiker, a kayaker or a hunter since these
people seek transportation. He was unsure why the state
requires a different permit for water taxis to transport
hunters, since as far as he is concerned a hunter is just a
camper with a gun. He offered his belief that believes that the
language in statute needed to be cleaned up, and he fully
supports the bill.
2:02:57 PM
CO-CHAIR STUTES, after first determining no one wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 263.
2:03:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to report HB 263 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 263 was reported from the
House Transportation Standing Committee.
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