02/22/1999 01:38 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 35                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                          
Marine Pilots."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DRUE PEARCE, SPONSOR testified in support of SB 35.                                                                     
She explained that SB 35 would extend the termination date                                                                      
of the the Board of Marine Pilots. The Legislative Budget                                                                       
and Audit Committee completed an audit on the Board in 1998.                                                                    
The audit recommended that the Board be extended to the year                                                                    
2004. The Senate Labor & Commerce Committee amended the                                                                         
legislation to a 4-year extension of June 30, 2003. The                                                                         
Board has established four pilot regions in the state of                                                                        
Alaska. There are four active associations corresponding to                                                                     
the regions. The 1998 audit was the cleanest the Board has                                                                      
received. Recommendations are being dealt with at the Board                                                                     
level.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault noted that the Board has not always done                                                                    
so well. He expressed support for the four-year sunset date.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSSB 35 (L&C) out of                                                                      
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault noted that the fiscal note is zero                                                                          
because funding for the Board is contained in the proposed                                                                      
FY00 budget.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 35 (L&C) was REPORTED OUT with a "do pass                                                                                  
recommendation and zero fiscal note by the Department of                                                                        
Commerce and Economic Development.