04/28/2001 09:10 AM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 260                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act requiring  the owners  or  operators of  certain                                                                   
     passenger vessels operating  in the marine waters of the                                                                   
     state    to   register    the   vessels;    establishing                                                                   
     information-gathering,  record  keeping,  and  reporting                                                                   
     requirements  relating  to  the vessels'  graywater  and                                                                   
     sewage;  prohibiting the  discharge of untreated  sewage                                                                   
     from  the vessels  unless  exempted;  placing limits  on                                                                   
     discharges  of treated  sewage  and  graywater from  the                                                                   
     vessels  unless  exempted;   establishing  a  commercial                                                                   
     passenger vessel  coastal protection fund;  establishing                                                                   
     a  fee on  commercial passenger  vessels,  that are  not                                                                   
     exempt from  the fee, for  each voyage during  which the                                                                   
     vessels operate in the marine  waters of the state based                                                                   
     on the  overnight accommodation capacity of  the vessels                                                                   
     determined  with  reference   to  the  number  of  lower                                                                   
     berths;  establishing penalties  for  failure to  comply                                                                   
     with certain  laws relating to the  vessels; authorizing                                                                   
     the   Department   of  Environmental   Conservation   to                                                                   
     encourage    and   recognize   superior    environmental                                                                   
     protection  efforts  related   to  commercial  passenger                                                                   
     vessels; authorizing exemptions  from some laws relating                                                                   
     to  discharges  from  the   vessels  and  from  the  fee                                                                   
     requirements related to the  vessels; requiring a report                                                                   
     from  the   Department  of  Environmental   Conservation                                                                   
     concerning   matters  relating   to  the  vessels;   and                                                                   
     providing for an effective date.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Mulder  pointed out  that  one amendment  had  been                                                                   
incorrectly referenced during the previous meeting.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder MOVED to RESCIND  action taken on adoption of                                                                   
Amendment #6.   [Copy  on File].   There being NO  OBJECTION,                                                                   
the action was rescinded.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder  MOVED to  ADOPT the  New Amendment  #6 which                                                                   
references AS  09.25.450.   [Copy on File].   There  being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, the amendment was adopted.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 260 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.