Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/14/2022 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB357 | |
| SB203 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 357 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 203-PURPLE HEART TRAIL
1:39:03 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the final order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 203, "An Act designating the Alaska marine
highway system and portions of the Parks, Glenn, Seward, and
Sterling Highways as a part of the State's Purple Heart Trail
and relating to signage and informational displays for the
trail."
1:39:32 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, gave information and answered questions regarding
SB 203 on behalf of Senator Revak, prime sponsor. She stated
that work has been ongoing for 15 years to rename different
areas of the state to honor those who have served in the
military.
1:40:14 PM
THUNDER ATCHLEY, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Revak, prime sponsor of SB
203, stated that the Purple Heart Trail designations of highways
have extended across the U.S. since 1992 honoring those who have
been wounded or killed in service to our nation. He said that
SB 203 would extend the designation from Fairbanks, Alaska, to
Homer, Alaska, and along the entirety of the Alaska Marine
Highway System (AMHS). Alaska has a strong presence of military
service members and veterans, and appropriate signage would be
placed along the route in order to provoke the thoughtfulness of
those driving past.
1:42:14 PM
MS. TORKELSON gave the sectional analysis of SB 203. She stated
that Section 1 would extend the Purple Heart Trail designation
along over 4,000 miles of highway from Fairbanks to Homer and
the Alaska Marine Highway System [routes]. Section 2 would
require the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
(DOT&PF) to erect appropriate signage along the designated path.
She said that Section 3 would require DOT&PF to place
informational signs at pullouts along the highway, and Section 4
would allow the department to accept gifts and donations for the
purpose of placing the appropriate signage. Section 5 would
give DOT&PF discretion over funding in the event of a large
number of donations.
1:44:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked what size the signs would be and how
they would look on AMHS vessels.
MS. TORKELSON answered that the signs shown in the committee
packet would be adapted for use on the vessels. In response to
a follow-up question, she said that the process for becoming a
Purple Heart City is different from that of having the Purple
Heart Trail go through a city. She said that the extension of
the trail gives an additional reason for a city to become a
Purple Heart city, but Skagway, Alaska, is able to be one
without being connected to the Purple Heart Trail.
1:48:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked how adding AMHS would affect its
federal funding.
MS. TORKELSON answered that it would not affect the federal
funding of any highways that are part of the Purple Heart Trail.
She added that it would also not change the names of any of the
highways. In response to a follow-up question, she said that
there is a $255,000 fiscal note.
1:49:54 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS asked whether that figure included the cost of
adding signage to vessels.
MS. TORKELSON answered yes.
1:50:29 PM
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities, added that it would be possible to secure
more federal funding for highways designated as part of the
Purple Heart Trail.
1:51:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked whether new appropriations would be
necessary to add new signs on new vessels being added to AMHS.
MR. MILLS answered that new vessels being added would have the
signage included as part of their capital costs.
1:53:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND commented that Alaska scenic byway-style
signs seem more appropriate for this type of honor than the
typical design of most highway signs. She called the design
"ugly" and requested that DOT&PF come up with a new design.
MR. MILLS responded that engineers, not graphic designers, came
up with the original designs, and they placed functionality
first in the design. He said that the intention is to come up
with more appropriate signage for use on the vessels.
1:57:01 PM
JOHN KNOTT, State Commander, Military Order of the Purple Heart,
stated that he is honored to support the extension of the Purple
Heart Trail on behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
He said that it acknowledges the sacrifices and valor of those
who have been wounded or killed and awarded the Purple Heart.
He said that he is a recipient of the Purple Heart and supports
the efforts being made to honor Purple Heart recipients. He
returned to a previous question and said that he has worked with
cities in the past to become Purple Heart cities, including
Skagway.
2:00:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked why Mr. Knott reached out to
specific communities for potential Purple heart designation.
MR. KNOTT answered that a veteran's group from Skagway reached
out to him. In response to a follow-up question, he clarified
that there is no connection between the number of Purple Heart
recipients in a city and its status as a Purple Heart city.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN commented that an entire age group from
Hoonah, Alaska, served in the Vietnam War and is very active in
veterans' groups.
2:04:38 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS thanked Mr. Knott and all recipients of the Purple
Heart for their service.
2:05:07 PM
CHAIR HOPKINS opened public testimony on SB 203. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public
testimony.
[SB 203 was held over.]