02/24/2022 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION

         HB 322-AK MARINE HWY SYSTEM VESSEL REPL. FUND                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:30:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the  next order of business would be                                                               
HB  322, "An  Act relating  to the  Alaska marine  highway system                                                               
fund;  relating  to  the  Alaska  marine  highway  system  vessel                                                               
replacement  fund;  relating  to   the  Alaska  higher  education                                                               
investment fund; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:30:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN  moved  to adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute (CS)  for HB 322, labeled  32-LS1501\B, Marx, 2/23/22,                                                               
as a working  document.  Without objection, Version  B was before                                                               
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:31:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KERRY CROCKER, Staff, Representative  Louise Stutes, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of  Representative Stutes,  prime sponsor                                                               
of HB  322, stated that  Version B would  create two funds:   the                                                               
Alaska   Marine  Highway   System  (AHMS)   fund  and   a  vessel                                                               
replacement  fund.    Those  funds   would  be  exempt  from  the                                                               
constitutional    sweep,   protecting    them    from   use    in                                                               
appropriations.  He  said that AMHS is a critical  part of Alaska                                                               
infrastructure  that  should  not  be  subject  to  appropriation                                                               
changes.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:32:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  asked whether  there is legal  analysis on                                                               
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. CROCKER said he would acquire it.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  expressed his concern that  the fund would                                                               
go against the Constitution of the State of Alaska.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:33:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOPKINS announced HB 322 was held over.