04/15/2010 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 294(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "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  by                                                                    
     extending the termination date  by two years; 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."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:17:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MARK NEUMAN  introduced  the Alaska  Boating                                                                    
Safety  Program   and  discussed   the  components   of  the                                                                    
legislation.  He  noted  that   components  of  the  program                                                                    
include  the Alaska  Water Wise  boating safety  course, and                                                                    
the Kids Don't Float program.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Egan  appreciated the  legislation and  wondered why                                                                    
the extension date was not longer.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Neuman explained  that the  sunset date  was                                                                    
established in  the finance committee. The  original version                                                                    
had a sunset of 4 years.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Neuman  expressed   appreciation  for   the                                                                    
hearing.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  noted one fiscal note  from the Department                                                                    
of  Natural Resources  (DNR) for  $200  thousand in  general                                                                    
funds included in the FY 11 budget.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HB  294  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.