Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
05/08/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Marijuana Control Board | |
| HB146 | |
| HB143 | |
| SB123 | |
| SB93 | |
| HB137 | |
| HB138 | |
| HB145 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 143 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 146 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 93 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 137 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 138 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 145 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 93-FISHERMEN'S FUND: VESSEL OWNER CLAIMS
4:46:37 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 93(L&C)am, "An Act relating to claims for
injury, disability, or heart attack payable from the fishermen's
fund; relating to claims against protection and indemnity
insurance policies of vessel owners; and providing for an
effective date."
4:47:01 PM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, Alaska State Legislature, introduced
CSSB 93(L&C)am, on behalf of the sponsor, the Senate Labor and
Commerce Standing Committee, on which Senator Bjorkman served as
chair. He stated that the Fishermen's Fund aids the out-of-
pocket medical costs for fishermen suffering from an injury or
illness affiliated with their work. He stated that the proposed
bill would increase the amount that can be paid out to fishermen
or boat owners. He said the Senate version of the bill includes
"step-downs" which would reduce payments if the Fishermen's Fund
were to run low on funds.
4:48:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the fund is designed to
provide payouts to fishermen, boat owners, or both.
SENATOR BJORKMAN answered both.
4:49:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the changes made in the Senate
were requested by the [Fishermen's Fund Appeal and Advisory
Council].
SENATOR BJORKMAN answered that the amendments were proposed by
Senator Matt Claman.
4:50:32 PM
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, Alaska State Legislature, answered
questions on the amendments adopted to CSSB 93(L&C)am. He
stated that the amendments were the result of discussions with
the chair of the [Fishermen's Fund Appeal and Advisory Council]
and are meant to add further protections for the fund in the
unlikely event the increased payments create issues for the
fund's financial health.
4:52:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the proposed bill was meant
to account for medical inflation or the lack of coverage.
SENATOR BJORKMAN answered that insurance deductibles have
increased, and the fund is healthy, so it makes sense to
increase payouts to ease the burden on fishermen.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether coverage for COVID-19
played a part in creating the bill.
SENATOR CLAMAN answered that although the worst of the COVID-19
pandemic has passed, if a similar event happened in the future,
then the fund would be able to help with some costs related to
this.
4:56:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether boat owners are obligated to
cover illnesses regardless of whether the illnesses were
contracted on the boat.
SENATOR CLAMAN answered yes. He said that this obligation dates
to the 1800s, and nothing the legislature can do would change
this because of the broad nature of the obligation.
4:57:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the [Fishermen's Fund
Appeal and Advisory Council] has a position on whether COVID-19
coverage would be harmful to the fund.
4:58:47 PM
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on CSSB 93(L&C)am.
4:59:06 PM
CLAY BEZENEK, Member, Fishermen's Fund Appeal and Advisory
Council, testified that the impetus of CSSB 93(L&C)am related to
deductibles for boat owners. He said that the council has no
consensus on COVID-19 coverage because of the infrequency of the
council's meetings. He requested time to follow up after the
council's discussion of this issue.
5:01:52 PM
CHAIR SUMNER, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on CSSB 93(L&C)am.
5:02:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the council would be able
to come to a consensus in the next seven months.
MR. BEZENEK answered that the council would be open to
considering this after having discussions with the insurance
companies. In response to a follow-up question, he said the
council would have time to give due consideration to the
provision.
5:03:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the issues covered by the
House version of the bill were urgent enough for the legislature
to act now, leaving the Senate amendments for next year.
MR. BEZENEK responded that the council supports the House
version of the proposed legislation; however, the council has
"angst" with CSSB 93(L&C)am. In response to a follow up
question, he expressed appreciation for the prospect of passing
the House version of the bill.
5:05:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report CSSB 93(L&C)am out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected.
5:05:44 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wright, Carrick,
Fields, Ruffridge, Saddler, and Sumner voted in favor of
reporting CSSB 93(L&C)am out of committee. Representative Prax
voted against it. Therefore, CSSB 93(L&C)am was reported out of
the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee by a vote of 6-
1.