04/03/1996 02:30 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL NO. 366                                                           
                                                                               
       "An  Act  relating  to   marine  safety  training   and                 
       education programs."                                                    
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley noted that the Alaska Marine Safety Training                 
  and Education Association (AMSEA) has been federally funded.                 
  The federal funds for  this program were cut.   A designated                 
  grant in the operating budget was  not allowed.  He stressed                 
  that the program should be funded through legislation.                       
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ALAN AUSTERMAN,  sponsor of HB 366,  spoke in                 
  support of the legislation.  He noted that AMSEA was created                 
  as  a  response to  federal  funding and  pressure  from the                 
  United  States   Coast  Guard.     He   observed  that   the                 
  accompanying  fiscal  note for  $150.0  thousand  dollars is                 
  needed  to fund  the program.   The legislation  would allow                 
  application of 50 percent of the earnings of the Fishermen's                 
  Fund.    The Fishermen's  Fund  is  a dedicated  fund.   The                 
  interest earnings go  directly into the  General Fund.   The                 
  legislation  requests  that  half of  the  earned  interest,                 
  approximately   $155.0   thousand   dollars   a   year,   be                 
  appropriated to the program.  He emphasized that the program                 
  saves  lives.    He  noted   participation  of  high  school                 
  students.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Martin expressed concern that the Fishermen's                 
  Fund would  be eroded  by the  legislation.   Representative                 
  Austerman pointed out that the  legislation would not affect                 
  the Fund.   The interest  earnings do not  go back  into the                 
  Fund.                                                                        
                                                                               
  MARK  JOHNSON,  CHIEF,  SECTION   OF  COMMUNITY  HEALTH  AND                 
  EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND  SOCIAL                 
  SERVICES spoke in support of HB 366.  He noted that AMSEA is                 
  a  broad based,  statewide coalition that  includes federal,                 
  state, local  and private  agencies.   Members of  the Board                 
  represent the Coast Guard,  University of Alaska,  emergency                 
  medical  services  agencies, non-profit  Native corporations                 
  and other groups.  It has been in operation for 10 years.                    
                                                                               
  Mr. Johnson  noted that Alaska's  rate for drownings  was 10                 
  times the  national average from 1988 - 1992.  He noted that                 
  commercial  fishing  drowning   rates  have  been   steadily                 
  decreasing.   He  stressed that  the  statistics demonstrate                 
  that  the  program  has saved  lives.    There  is no  other                 
  statewide comprehensive program addressing the problem.  The                 
                                                                               
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  program began in  the commercial  fishing industry, but  has                 
  been expanded to include all groups, including children.                     
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Hanley  noted  that  members  were  provided  with                 
  Amendment 1, 9-LS133\F.1 (Attachment 1).  Insert "up to" and                 
  "interest" on page 1,  line 8.  The amendment  would clarify                 
  that  legislative  appropriation would  still be  needed and                 
  that the legislature can appropriate up to 50 percent of the                 
  Fund's   earnings.      In  response   to   a   question  by                 
  Representative  Brown,  Co-Chair  Hanley  acknowledged  that                 
  there are no designated funds.   He explained that the funds                 
  would be earmarked as available to legislators.  Funds would                 
  only be identified.   Legislative appropriation  would still                 
  be required.                                                                 
                                                                               
  (Tape Change, HFC 96-103, Side 2)                                            
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Hanley stressed  that the money would  be deposited                 
  in the General Fund.                                                         
                                                                               
  Co-Chair Foster MOVED to adopt  Amendment 1.  Representative                 
  Austerman noted that he had no objections to the  amendment.                 
  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                 
                                                                               
  Representative  Grussendorf  observed  that the  legislation                 
  provides statutory authorization to  appropriate up to fifty                 
  percent  of the interest from the Fishermen's Fund to AMSEA.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Hanley  clarified that  a  fiscal note  for $150.0                 
  thousand dollars would fund the program if adopted.                          
                                                                               
  Representative  Martin  questioned the  constitutionality of                 
  the  legislation.     Co-Chair  Hanley  stressed   that  the                 
  legislation would not alter or impair the present dedication                 
  of certain revenues to the Fishermen's Fund.  He pointed out                 
  that  the  legislature  cannot dedicate  any  funds  for any                 
  purpose.  The legislation states  that the legislature "may"                 
  appropriate.                                                                 
                                                                               
  In response to  comments by Representative  Martin, Co-Chair                 
  Hanley reiterated that the bill does not alter or impair the                 
  current dedication of commercial fishing license fees to the                 
  Fund  or  the use  of  those  funds to  provide  benefits to                 
  injured fishermen.  He restated that the interest will still                 
  go into the  General Fund.   The legislature  would have  to                 
  appropriate the funds.                                                       
                                                                               
  Co-Chair  Foster MOVED  to  report  CSHB  366 (FIN)  out  of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying   fiscal   notes.      Representative   Kohring                 
  questioned why this item  was not included in  the operating                 
                                                                               
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  budget.  He stated that the  small amount of $150.0 thousand                 
  dollars would be well spent if one life is saved as a result                 
  of the training.                                                             
                                                                               
  There being NO OBJECTION, CSHB 366 (FIN) was reported out of                 
  Committee.                                                                   
                                                                               
  CSHB 366  (FIN) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "do                 
  pass"  recommendation and with  a fiscal impact  note by the                 
  House Finance Committee for the  Department of Community and                 
  Regional  Affairs  and  with  a  zero  fiscal  note  by  the                 
  Department of Revenue.