04/12/2010 08:00 AM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 294                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  amending  the  termination  date  of  certain                                                                    
     statutes   relating   to   the  use,   operation,   and                                                                    
     regulation of  boats, a uniform state  waterway marking                                                                    
     system, and civil liability  for boat owners; providing                                                                    
     for an  effective date by  amending the  effective date                                                                    
     of secs. 3,  5, 7, 9, 11,  14, 16, 18, 20,  23, 26, and                                                                    
     27, ch. 28, SLA 2000,  as amended; and providing for an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:17:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Thomas MOVED  CS HB  294(FIN), 26-LS1282\E  as a                                                                    
working document.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MARK NEUMAN  presented  an  overview of  the                                                                    
bill.  He  noted that  he  worked  closely with  the  United                                                                    
States Coast  Guard on the  legislation, which  includes the                                                                    
Kids Don't Float program.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze asked if the  bill remains unchanged and HB
  merely   extends  the  sunset.   Representative  Neuman                                                                    
concurred.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:19:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAPTAIN JOHN KENYON, CHIEF  OF PREVENTION DIVISION, DISTRICT                                                                    
17,  JUNEAU,  US  COAST  GUARD  discussed  the  recreational                                                                    
boating  safety  program. The  goal  of  the program  is  to                                                                    
encourage  boating safety  and education  in the  state. The                                                                    
program  distributes funding  for  the  safety program.  The                                                                    
program produces educated boat  owners. In 2009, 12 Alaskans                                                                    
lost lives,  which is the  lowest number since  inception of                                                                    
the program. The  program saves lives and  promotes safe use                                                                    
of the waters.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze stated  appreciation for  the Coast  Guard                                                                    
and  their  work  on  the  bill. He  stressed  the  lack  of                                                                    
controversy regarding  the Kids  Don't Float program  or the                                                                    
Coast Guard.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:24:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION,  CS HB 294(FIN), 26-LS1282\E  was adopted                                                                    
as a working document.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze spoke to the fiscal notes and the impacts.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Thomas MOVED  to report  CS HB  294(FIN) out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CS HB  294 (FIN) was  REPORTED out  of Committee with  a "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendation and  with previously  published fiscal                                                                    
note: FN1 (DNR)                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:25:56 AM