Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
04/27/2006 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB266 | |
| HB403 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 266 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 403 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 403-NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES
1:57:15 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS announced CSHB 403 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR COWDERY moved to adopt CSHB 403, Version L.
IAN FISK, Staff to Representative Bill Thomas, explained that
the House Finance Committee sent the wrong version of the bill
to the floor after it passed House Finance and no one noticed
until it had been voted on. He said the simplest way to correct
it is to adopt work draft L, which reflects the changes House
Finance made, and take it from there. Naturally, it will have to
go back to the House for concurrence.
He said that the bill deals with Low-Speed Vehicles (LSV), also
known as neighborhood electric vehicles. The federal definition
of low-speed vehicles recognizes that some of this class of
vehicle can be powered by means other than electricity, such as
propane. He pointed out that he was not talking about golf
carts, but a class of vehicle that has to meet a number of
federal standards similar to a regular vehicle. They have to
have headlights, taillights, brake lights, emergency brakes,
automotive quality glass windshield, bumpers, etceteras, and
have to pass a federal safety-testing program. These vehicles
are required to be able to travel between 20-25 mph and are not
allowed to travel on roads with a speed limit greater than 35
mph. They are legal in 35 states and are popular in gated
communities and quiet neighborhoods.
MR. FISK said that a constituent who wants to open a dealership
for these vehicles approached Representative Thomas, because the
Department of Motor Vehicles does not currently allow their
registration and licensing.
2:00:27 PM
He pointed out that one of the things the House has been working
on is the definition of these vehicles. The definition in work
draft L is "a vehicle that has four wheels and an unladen weight
of 2500 lbs or less." The problem with it is that the vehicles
are evolving and the federal standard has already been changed
up to 3000 lbs; so, it is probably best to go with a definition
that tracks federal law.
2:02:02 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked if these vehicles require seatbelts.
MR. FISK answered yes.
SENATOR COWDERY speculated that they might get in the way of
heavy vehicles in neighborhoods and present a hazard. He asked
if they could use bike trails.
MR. FISK responded that they are not appropriate for bike trails
and that they should not be a hazard for neighborhood use.
2:03:13 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked if there are currently any dealerships in
Alaska that sell these vehicles.
MR. FISK said he is not aware of any.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if the safety factors on this vehicle are
lower than on a standard vehicle.
MR. FISK said to his knowledge they do not have airbags, but the
manufacturer would have more information on that.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if they have doors, or are an open golf-
cart type of vehicle.
MR. FISK said that most of them do have doors, but they are not
required to by federal safety standards. The Alaskan market
would probably demand them.
2:05:07 PM
SENATOR COWDERY pointed out that heavy vehicles such as SUV's
and garbage trucks do go into neighborhoods and asked whether
they have been collision tested.
MR. FISK answered that he is not certain whether they have been
subjected to crash tests, but speculated that they would
probably be safer than a moped or motorcycle, which are legal.
SENATOR COWDERY asked what is the range of time they could run
before requiring a recharge.
MR. FISK responded that he is not sure and would defer to Mr.
Canelli on that.
CHAIR HUGGINS said he visualizes a small tourist vehicle.
MR. FISK agreed.
2:07:19 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS said that it appears this will initially be
primarily for commercial use.
MR. FISK said that he believes they will have both personal and
commercial uses.
DUANE BANNOCK, Division of Motor Vehicles, testified in support
of the bill. He said that, under existing Alaska Statutes that
define a motor vehicle, it is easy to confuse the title "Low-
Speed Vehicle" with a verb. This is not a Lamborghini that won't
get out of first gear; it is a vehicle that is designed for a
specific purpose, so LSV is actually a noun. In Alaska, the
Division of Motor Vehicles has the authority to license and
title motor vehicles; and when it issues that title, it means
that vehicle can go anywhere it wants to on the road. Without a
separate classification within Alaska statutes, DMV cannot
register an LSV. This bill recognizes what an LSV is, as defined
in the federal statutes, and gives the DMV the authority to
collect the registration fees and issue a special license plate
for it.
2:09:35 PM
MR. BANNOCK said that he brought with him the 54-page summary of
the federal definition of the LSV; and doors are not required.
MR. FISK pointed out that on page 3, lines 9-11, the House
Finance Committee added an opt-in provision for municipalities,
which reads: " A person may not operate a low-speed vehicle
within a municipality unless that municipality has adopted an
ordinance allowing the use of low-speed vehicles within its
jurisdiction." If the municipality opts to allow licensing of
LSV's, lines 12-13 allow it to further restrict the use of them
within their jurisdiction.
CHAIR HUGGINS said that some communities have shown a little bit
of concern and resistance to this bill.
MR. FISK replied that he has not heard from any communities with
concerns about it.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked Mr. Braddock whether this presents any
difficulty from a licensing standpoint.
MR. BRADDOCK answered no. He did caution that, under the
proposed amendment, a person could buy one of these vehicles,
register and license it, then find that he cannot use it in his
municipality.
CHAIR HUGGINS recognized Michael Catsi.
2:13:09 PM
MICHAEL CATSI, Executive Director, Skagway Development
Corporation (SDC) testified in support of the bill with the
exception of Section 4(C)(1). He said that the SDC originally
approached Representative Thomas about getting this bill,
because one of its clients in Skagway would like to open a
dealership and rental facility. He said that he does have issue
with the opt-in Section 4(C)(1), and thinks it would be a
nightmare for any potential business owner who wants to start a
dealership, to have to contact every municipality in the state
and ask them to pass an ordinance allowing them. Because Section
4(C)(2) allows municipalities to further restrict the use of
these vehicles in their jurisdiction; it does not seem necessary
to provide an opt-in provision.
2:17:00 PM
MR. FISK agreed that Mr. Catsi has a good point. He said the
concern was brought up in House Finance and they compromised,
but he doesn't think the sponsor would have any objection to
heeding Mr. Catsi's concern.
CHAIR HUGGINS noted that the change could kill the bill if the
House does not agree with it and asked the committee members how
they felt about it.
MR. BANNOCK responded that, if the amended version were to pass,
the DMV would immediately send notification to every organized
government in Alaska to let them know of the change. From a
licensing standpoint, he is not looking forward to dealing with
an angry customer who has paid $250 to register a vehicle that
he can't use.
SENATOR COWDERY said that there was a bill before the committee
a couple of years ago related to personal electric vehicles, and
asked whether this bill involves them in any way.
MR. BANNOCK replied that it does not. The statute that passed
previously was specific to the SegWay two wheeled, upright
vehicles.
MR. FISK interjected that he thinks the sponsor would prefer
that any changes be made in the current committee.
SENATOR KOOKESH said that it would be better to adopt it as
presented, because any change would have to go back to the House
for concurrence.
CHAIR HUGGINS said he thinks Senator Kookesh is right.
2:21:14 PM
SENATOR COWDERY said that they are running out of time.
MR. FISK pointed out that, because of the clerical mistake made
by the staff, the bill will have to go through concurrence
anyway, to reflect the changes House Finance made.
CHAIR HUGGINS moved to amend the bill by deleting lines 9-11 on
page 3. There being no objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR KOOKESH asked if any language needed to be added.
MR. FISK said no, that only the definition is still on the
table.
2:22:43 PM
SENATOR FRENCH said he expected to get some language to link the
definition to federal standards and asked if Mr. Fisk has
suggested language for that.
MR. FISK responded yes, it could be amended to say that a "low-
speed vehicle has the meaning given to it in federal law."
SENATOR FRENCH asked if that is meant to replace or augment the
definition on page 3, lines 15-19.
MR. FISK replied that it would replace that language.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if Mr. Fisk had language typed up.
MR. FISK replied that it would have to be a conceptual
amendment.
2:24:32 PM
JACK CANELLI, Legal Counsel and Regulatory Specialist, Global
Electric Motorcars, testified in support of the bill. He
commented that he would like to see clarification in Section
4(b) that the vehicles are allowed to cross a road that has a
speed limit of over 35 mph and stressed that these vehicles
accelerate quite well, so crossing intersections is not a
problem.
CHAIR HUGGINS advised Mr. Canelli that the bill does contain
that provision.
MR. CANELLI responded that he had not read it that way.
CHAIR HUGGINS assured him that it does allow just what he
suggested.
MR. CANELLI agreed with the other amendments the committee has
made.
2:28:15 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS asked what is happening in other states.
MR. CANELLI said that most states have adopted federal standards
and do not include any weight limit in legislation.
CHAIR HUGGINS asked Mr. Bannock if replacing the definition with
federal standards would create any licensing issues.
MR. BANNOCK said it would not and explained that when the
vehicle is licensed, it would simply reflect that the vehicle
meets federal standards.
SENATOR COWDERY asked whether liability insurance would be
required on these vehicles.
MR. BANNOCK responded that it would be under this law.
SENATOR COWDERY asked if it would be an honor system like the
existing law.
MR. BANNOCK said that everything related to financial
responsibility would be the same as for a standard vehicle.
2:30:22 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked what is the anticipated cost of these
vehicles and what kind of warranty will come with them.
MR. CANELLI said they have six models, including: a two-
passenger for roughly $6,000, and a six-passenger model for up
to $15,000.
SENATOR COWDERY commented that China is very interested in the
Alaskan market and he has read that they have standard vehicles
that get 35 mpg or better and cost $8,000-$12,000.
2:32:24 PM
CHAIR HUGGINS asked Mr. Fisk and Mr. Braddock whether there are
any other aspects of the bill that should be changed in order to
make this bill acceptable to the House and to DMV.
MR. FISK said the concerns are covered.
MR. BANNOCK said the DMV loves it.
CHAIR HUGGINS said he would like to get the CS drafted today.
SENATOR COWDERY moved SCS CSHB 403(TRA) from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. Hearing no
objections, the motion carried.
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