Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/01/1996 03:38 PM Senate RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SB 311 MARINE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAMS
CHAIRMAN LEMAN introduced SB 311 as the next order of business.
SENATOR JOHN TORGERSON , prime sponsor of SB 311, said he introduced
the legislation at the request of commercial fishermen in his
district. Basically, the funding for the program has come from the
federal government, but with recent budget cuts, it is facing
elimination under the current funding level. He noted the same
legislation was introduced in the House.
Senator Torgerson explained SB 311 allows for the appropriation of
50 percent of the income earned by the state on the balance of the
fishermen's fund for grants to the Alaska Marine Safety Education
Association (AMSEA) for this training program.
Senator Torgerson said he recognizes that the entire budget of the
training program is somewhat less than 50 percent of what the fund
earns, so the 50 percent would overfund them approximately $45,000,
and he suggested the committee may want to amend the language to
allow appropriating up to 50 percent.
Senator Togerson stated he supports the fund and would like to see
it continue, and this funding source is one way to ensure that it
happens.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN agreed that changing the language to up to 50
percent was appropriate in order to protect the integrity of the
fishermen's fund.
SENATOR TAYLOR moved the following amendment to SB 311:
Amendment No. 1.
Page l, line 8: After the word "appropriate" insert "up to"
Hearing no objection, the Chairman stated the amendment was adopted
and would be incorporated into a Resources CS.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN opened the public hearing on SB 311.
Number 440
BARBARA BURCH , representing the Kodiak Fishermen's Wives and
testifying in Kodiak, voiced strong support for SB 311 and the
AMSEA program.
PAT HOLMES , testifying in Kodiak, stated investing 50 percent of
the interest from this fund is a really good investment. He is a
biologist for the Department of Fish & Game, and in addition to his
fishery management duties, he is also regional safety officer and
chair of the department's safety training committee. He said they
extensively use the AMSEA materials in their training program, not
only for the crews of the vessels that conduct research and
enforcement, but also for their seasonal employees who man the
field camps. The department's training program is also offered to
personnel from the Department of Environmental Conservation and
personnel from the Division of Parks. A spin-off program called
"Cold Water Kids" is used extensively in many schools in Southeast
Alaska and the Gulf of Alaska. He urged the committee's support
for SB 311, because without state funding, the program will cease
to exist.
JAMES HERBERT , testifying in Seward, said he is one of Senator
Torgerson's constituents who encouraged him to introduce SB 311
because he supports training for commercial fishermen and mariners
in the state. He has been a fisherman in Alaska for over 25 years,
and he believes that in recent years, attitude wise, things have
changed and a lot of that has to do with the work of the network of
volunteers that AMSEA has created throughout the state. He
believes the legislation targets a viable source of money,
something that reasonably could be used to help prevent further
injuries through educating people.
JERRY DZUGAN , the director and training coordinator for AMSEA
testifying in Sitka, said AMSEA is an Alaska based nonprofit
corporation, and they have been training mariners and marine safety
instructors from all over Alaska for the last 10 years. He noted
Alaska's recreational and commercial boaters suffer the highest
fatality rate in the nation. However, partly as a result of
AMSEA's efforts and the efforts of all of the volunteers who help
AMSEA, the recreational and commercial fishing fatality rate has
dropped about 50 percent in the last several years. He also
pointed out AMSEA's unique Alaska specific program has been
emulated on all other three coasts of the nation and Alaska is now
recognized by many in the nation as a place to go for quality
hands-on training. He stressed that AMSEA has no secured funding
in sight for the next fiscal year.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if private parties contribute to this
nonprofit organization and if they are actively soliciting
contributions from private parties. MR. DZUGAN replied that AMSEA
has about 100 members around the state, and they do contribute to
AMSEA's effort.
Number 560
MARK JOHNSON , Chief, Community Health & Emergency Medical Services,
Department of Health & Social Services, stated drowning is a major
problem in the state, and there is no other comprehensive program
like AMSEA that is offered in the state to address this issue.
He said drowning is not only a problem among the commercial fishing
community, it is a statewide problem that affects most regions and
most age groups. The department feels AMSEA has been successful,
and they believe supporting AMSEA is in the best interest.
MARIAH OFFER , an AMSEA instructor testifying in Kodiak, speaking to
the importance of the prevention of marine accidents, said AMSEA
has been a great support in keeping her up with requirements and
changes in regulations and information.
TAPE 96-43, SIDE B
Number 010
JANE EIZMAN , a 19-year commercial fisherman testifying in Kodiak,
spoke to the improvement in safety measures being taken by
fishermen in the last 19 years, and she attributed the
understanding of safety regulations and the proper use of safety
equipment to AMSEA's efforts. She noted she is an AMSEA
instructor, as well as teacher of fisheries science at Kodiak High
School, and AMSEA is an integral part of her marine and wilderness
safety survival training program that she offers at the high
school. She added that as a contributor to the Fishermen's Fund
for the last 19 years and different licenses that she has
purchased, she feels it is an appropriate use of funds.
HANK PENNINGTON , testifying in Kodiak, said he has worked on
extending marine safety and survival training to fishermen in
coastal communities and public schools in Alaska for the last 21
years. He said the genesis of AMSEA was the fact that no single
agency had either the expertise or the resources or the geographic
coverage to get this training out where it was needed. He voiced
his concern that if the legislation does not pass, AMSEA will
wither. He said what is needed is a stable base of funding for
AMSEA.
DEAN PADDOCK , testifying in Juneau on behalf of the Bristol Bay
Driftnetters' Association, said public safety is one of the truly
legitimate functions of government. The present day demand for
AMSEA came as a federal mandate, and it was a temporarily funded
mandate. He pointed out that it is already a user funded activity;
the fishermen have already paid. He said AMSEA has done a great
job at a very low cost benefit ratio, and he urged passage of the
legislation.
SENATOR LINCOLN offered as an amendment to page 1, line 8, after
the word "income" insert "from interest." She said if at some time
in the future there is any other type of income that is earned by
the fishermen's fund, this would clarify that the "up to 50 percent
of the income earned" relates to interest income.
BETTY MARTIN , Comptroller, Treasury Division, Department of
Revenue, explained that the fund could also earn realized and
unrealized gains. Currently, it earns actual interest that is paid
into it, and then there is realized and unrealized gains on the
fixed income securities, and all of that, the net number, is paid
into the general fund annually.
SENATOR TORGERSON asked Ms. Martin if she thought Senator Lincoln's
amendment was a good amendment for the purpose of the bill. MS.
MARTIN said she thought it was, because it will make a more
consistent cash flow to the fund.
CHAIRMAN LEMAN asked if there was any objection to Senator
Lincoln's amendment. Hearing no objection, he stated the amendment
was adopted. He then asked for the pleasure of the committee.
SENATOR PEARCE moved CSSB 311(RES) and the accompanying fiscal
notes be passed out of committee with individual recommendations.
Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
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