Legislature(2009 - 2010)
04/15/2009 05:21 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB207 | |
| SB183 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 183
"An Act authorizing the Department of Environmental
Conservation to award grants for the control of air
emissions or the development and administration of air
quality control programs; and providing for an effective
date."
Co-Chair Hawker stated that funding for the bill is
available under the federal economic stimulus package. He
said that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
desires the ability to issue grants to municipalities and
public entities outside of the state in order to fully
distribute the stimulus funds. The current program is small
enough that the funds available have been distributed
through reimbursable service agreements (RSAs). He shared
that the bill had been sitting in the House Rules Committee
awaiting a full committee hearing.
5:40:17 PM
DARWIN PETERSON, STAFF TO SENATOR STEDMAN, testified that
the senate finance committee supports the amendment to add a
sunset date to the bill.
Co-Chair Hawker shared that the committee has expressed
concern with permitting the department an open ended
authority for grants.
5:41:58 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas MOVED to ADOPT the CSSB 183, 26-LS0846/R.
Representative Gara OBJECTED. He remarked that he had been
unaware of the amendment. He asked for discussion as to the
merit of the amendment. Co-Chair Hawker replied the
amendment speaks to committee concerns about granting
ongoing authority to the department. If in the future there
is a sustained funding source available to the state for the
department to issue grants, it is incumbent of the
legislature at that time to decide if the authority should
be extended. He felt that the sunset date would allow for
time to see how the program works.
5:43:47 PM
Mr. Peterson stated that the senate finance committee
believed that the precautionary sunset date was prudent.
Representative Gara wondered if the federal stimulus money
would be fully distributed by January 1, 2011, in time of
the sunset date. Co-Chair Hawker said that the money would
be distributed as quickly as possible. He relayed that the
appropriations for the funds run until 2010. He believed
that the Jan 1, 2011 date was fair. Representative Gara
requested that the commissioner of the department be
available for questioning. Co-Chair Hawker said that that
was possible.
5:45:46 PM
Representative Foster felt that the $2 million dollar
appropriation for grants was inadequate when considering the
price of materials and equipment. He wondered if the grants
would be worth applying for at all.
LARRY HARTIG, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION explained that the program already exists and
that it would not be necessary to hire new staff or create a
new program. For the federal fiscal year the department has
$295,000 for grants. He said that there is a strong interest
in the program from other state agencies and various
communities. He shared that not all the projects funded by
grants require large sums of money and that small,
inexpensive repairs can provide great economic benefits.
Representative Gara asked if the department supports the
sunset date. Commissioner Hartig replied no. He believed
that the department would be able to distribute the funds
from the stimulus, associated with the grants, before the
sunset date. He stated that the department anticipates the
continuation of funds from the Environmental Protection
Agency for diesel grants. Without the ongoing grant
authority the department will be forced to regress back to
RSAs for distribution. This would make it difficult for the
department to provide financial assistance to municipalities
and private entities.
5:48:58 PM
Co-Chair Hawker acknowledged the department's desire for
expanded authority, but felt that the need for additional
authority should be discussed on a case by case basis.
Representative Gara understood that the department has the
authority to make grants within the state, but not to local
governments. Commissioner Hartig stated that that was true.
Currently, the department must RSA the money to another
agency for distribution and cannot directly provide a grant.
He stated that the requests for grants are motivated by
energy savings and health benefits. He gave several
examples.
5:50:50 PM
Representative Gara acknowledged that the bill only allows
the department to accept grants that other entities provide
the funding for. Subsequently, the department can distribute
those funds to local governments. He felt that the passing
the bill would be of no cost to the state which makes the
sunset date irrelevant. He reiterated his opposition to the
sunset date and maintained his OBJECTION to ADOPTING the CS.
5:52:04 PM
Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION.
CSSB 183, 26-LS0846/R was ADOPTED as a working document.
5:54:23 PM
Co-Chair Hawker introduced new Amendment 1, 26-LS0846\R.2
(copy on file).
Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED for discussion.
5:55:49 PM AT EASE
5:57:21 PM RECONVENE
Co-Chair Hawker WITHDREW new Amendment 1, 26-LS0846\R.2. He
stated that the rules of order require opening public
testimony for SB 183 before offering amendments. There being
no public testimony, Co-Chair Hawker MOVED new Amendment 1,
26-LS0846\R.2. Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED for discussion.
5:59:22 PM
Co-Chair Hawker discussed the benefits of the amendment. The
bill would put at least one state resident to work as an
Ocean Ranger. He stated that because the bill is
specifically designed to create Alaskan jobs under the
economic stimulus package, and that the bill is geared
toward environmental improvement, the amendment does not
violate the single subject rule as interpreted by the
Department of Law.
5:59:58 PM
Representative Foster shared that he was concerned with
local hire under the bill. He wondered how many Ocean
Rangers there are in the state, and of those, how many are
Alaskan residents.
6:00:55 PM
LYNN KENT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WATER, DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION replied that last year there were
32 Ocean Rangers, one of which was an Alaskan resident. She
shared that one administrative position had been filled by
and Alaskan resident and that the manager of the program was
also a resident of Alaska.
Representative Foster requested a copy of a typical Ocean
Ranger report at the end of a voyage. Ms. Kent noted his
request.
6:02:31 PM
Co-Chair Hawker asked that a copy of the report also be sent
to both co-chair offices for committee distribution.
Representative Austerman wondered if changing the title of
the position of marine engineer, to Ocean Ranger, would
increase the chances of hiring Alaskan residents.
Co-Chair Hawker explained that the Cruise Ship Initiative
established the qualifications for Ocean Rangers. It
required that the ranger must be a marine engineer licensed
by the United Sates Coast Guard. The amendment would include
individuals holding degrees in environmental safety and
protection or an equivalent course of study, approved by the
department, from an accredited maritime educational
institution as qualified applicants.
6:04:14 PM
Ms. Kent relayed that the education and experience necessary
to be an Ocean Ranger requires and individual have knowledge
of marine safety and safety of life at sea, a familiarity
with the mechanical and electrical equipment onboard the
vessels, and knowledge of the environmental health and
sanitation rules and practices aboard vessels. She furthered
that there is not an established four year university
program to train Ocean Rangers. The marine engineers that
are currently employed have the necessary training in safety
and vessel equipment but not the environmental training. The
changes proposed by the amendment would enhance the overall
knowledge required of an Ocean Ranger and increase the
potential for hiring Alaskan residents.
6:06:29 PM
Co-Chair Hawker echoed that if the amendment were passed it
would ensure the employment of an Alaskan resident as an
Ocean Ranger.
6:07:01 PM
Representative Austerman spoke of the contract put out by
DEC for the hiring of Ocean Rangers. He pointed out that the
contract goes to an out-of state contractor, who then does
the hiring. He said that DEC should make a stronger effort
to hire in-state.
Representative Gara wondered about the purpose of requiring
a degree from a maritime institution. He queried whether the
same education could be acquired at an Ivy League school.
6:08:22 PM
Ms. Kent explained that a degree from an Ivy League school
does not offer the marine safety training that is taught in
maritime institutions. Representative Gara understood that
applicants would be required to have a degree in marine
safety and environmental protection. He maintained that a
degree from a four year university might meet the
requirements sought by the department.
Co-Chair Hawker shared that the sponsors of the Cruise Ship
Initiative support the amendment.
6:10:48 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze felt that a maritime education was
paramount for marine pilots and that an Ivy League education
has its limitations in training Ocean Rangers.
6:11:55 PM
Representative Joule reminded the committee that the
objective was to put Alaskan residents to work.
Representative Austerman said that he would be a member of
the sub-committee next year. He stressed that he would be
diligent in making the program a success at putting Alaskans
to work.
Representative Kelly warned that the program was "a waste of
a good engineer". He pointed out that the program has been
expensive and ill conceived.
6:13:17 PM
Representative Foster wondered if other states have similar
Ocean Ranger programs. Ms. Kent stated that Alaska is the
only state to have an Ocean Ranger program.
6:14:06 PM
Mr. Peterson shared that Senator Stedman expressed support
for the amendment by stating that "it might make him squirm,
but it won't make him faint."
6:15:00 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze WITHDREW his OBJECTION.
New Amendment number 1, 26-LS0846\R.2 was ADOPTED.
SB 183 was brought back before the committee as amended.
6:15:47 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas wondered if a program could be created at
the University of Alaska using funds from the cruise ship
tax. He felt that in-state training would lead to in-state
hiring.
6:16:39 PM
Representative Fairclough pointed out that the marine
program at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward
has been successful in training marine pilots.
Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED to REPORT HCS for CSSB 183 out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note.
The House CS for SB 183 was REPORTED out of committee as
amended with individual recommendations and accompanying
fiscal note.
6:18:51 PM AT EASE
6:19:55 PM RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stoltze discussed housekeeping. He spoke to
committee concerns about scheduling for SB75. He hoped that
the need for evening meetings would be limited.
Co-Chair Hawker requested flexibility in meeting all the
obligations that would be occurring simultaneously during
the final days of the session.
6:23:28 PM
Representative Foster wondered if the Senate was reviewing
and working on House bills. Co-Chair Hawker assured the
committee that both bodies were working on the priorities of
the other. Co-Chair Stoltze added that the bills were being
looked in priority order.
6:24:28 PM AT EASE
6:25:31 PM RECONVENED
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