Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2023 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB90 | |
| SB34 | |
| SB87 | |
| HJR10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 68 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 90 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HJR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 87-LUMBER GRADING PROGRAM
3:35:40 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
87 "An Act relating to a lumber grading training program and
lumber grading certificates; relating to use of lumber graded
and certified by a person holding a lumber grading training
program certificate; and providing for an effective date."
3:35:50 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony on SB 87.
3:36:14 PM
ED MARTIN, representing self, Kenai, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 87. He opined that a timber grading program should
have been implemented years ago. His belief is that it is the
legislature's duty to work with or create a program that gets
timber resources into the market by whatever means industry
standards require. He said he supports SB 87 but suggests
amending the bill to allow the private sector to offer this
service instead of relying solely to the University of Alaska.
This may save money.
3:38:46 PM
RODNEY DIAL, Mayor, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Ketchikan,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 87. He paraphrased the
following prepared testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
I am writing this letter in support of SB 87; The
Lumber Grading Program. Areas within the Ketchikan
Gateway borough and Southeast Alaska have a long
history of logging and small sawmills. Many of our
oldest homes were produced with locally made lumber;
that many are still standing today is a testament to
the quality.
During the pandemic we witnessed how fragile the
supply chain is and saw dramatic increases in the cost
to import lumber. Locally we have paid as much as $12
for a 2x4 and $150 for sheets of plywood. In early
2021, we conducted a community wide risk assessment on
how the pandemic was affecting our economy. That
assessment revealed that increased lumber costs added
roughly $30,000 extra to the construction of a new
home. This was in addition to sharply rising shipping
costs for our remote communities.
SB 87 is important to us, because like many other
regions, we are facing a housing crisis. Access to
affordable housing is a major problem, only getting
worse as time moves on.
We see this bill as a way to facilitate local access
to locally produced lumber; supporting affordable
housing and hopefully creating new jobs in the
process. This is not going to solve our housing
problems by itself, but it is supportive and I would
encourage your consideration of this important
legislation.
3:41:07 PM
JOE YOUNG, Owner, Young's Timber Inc., Tok, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 87. He read the following prepared testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
My name is Joe Young, Owner of Young's Timber Inc in
Tok and a big supporter of SB 87.
Thank you, Co-Chairs Senator Bishop & Senator Giessel
and the rest of the Senate Resources Committee
Members, for allowing me to testify on Senate Bill 87.
Young's Timber Inc has been in business since 1993 and
has 4 different types of Sawmills producing a wide
range of value-added products and has 12 employees.
Quality, white spruce lumber is one of those value-
added products.
Young's Timber Inc gets a lot of positive comments
from its customers on the quality of lumber it
produces compared to the lumber quality that's
imported from the lower 48 & Canada into the State of
Alaska.
Yet, Young's Timber Inc's lumber isn't graded or
certified and to be certified it is now cost
prohibitive to bring a Lumber Grader from the lower 48
States.
Alaskan Spruce is comparative to Douglas Fir in test
loads, compression strength, and elasticity.
Senate Bill 87 lumber grading training program, lumber
grading certificates and use of graded and certified
lumber will not only greatly increase Young's Timber
Inc's lumber sales but the lumber sales of all
Alaskan's Lumber Producers.
Senate Bill 87 will create timber industry jobs and
affordable rural housing.
I recommend to the Senate Resources Committee to pass
Senate Bill 87
Another note I have is that Alaskan Value-Added
Producers need access to a reliable, steady, and long
term supply of Alaskan State Timber for success.
3:42:48 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN asked how many board feet his Alaska mills
collectively produce in a year.
MR. YOUNG answered that they collectively produce about 500,000
board feet.
3:43:17 PM
CO-CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony on SB 87 and held the
bill in committee.