03/27/2024 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

               HB 227-ELECTRIC UTILITY LIABILITY                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:05:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE announced  that the first order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 227, "An Act  relating to liability of an electric                                                               
utility  for   contact  between  vegetation  and   the  utility's                                                               
facilities."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE noted that Amendment 3 had been tabled [on 3/11/24].                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:06:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:06 p.m. to 1:08 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:08:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY moved  Amendment 4  to HB  227, labeled  33-                                                               
LS0969\B.6, Walsh/A. Radford, 3/13/24, which read:                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 14:                                                                                                           
          Delete "if a part of the trunk of the vegetation                                                                      
     is"                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 1, following "right-of-way":                                                                                  
          Insert ", even if the vegetation is rooted                                                                            
     outside the boundaries of the utility's real property,                                                                     
     lease, permit, easement, or right-of-way"                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:08:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GRAY explained  that Amendment  4 would  make the                                                               
language starting  on page  1, line  13, read  "A utility  is not                                                               
liable for  cutting, girdling, or otherwise  injuring or removing                                                               
vegetation inside the boundaries  of the utility's real property,                                                               
lease, permit, easement, or right-of-way,  even if the vegetation                                                               
is rooted outside the boundaries  of the utility's real property,                                                               
lease,  permit, easement,  or right-of-way."   He  indicated that                                                               
the  proposed  amendment  would   allow  utilities  to  cut  down                                                               
anything [inside the right-of-way] without being held liable.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:09:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER  removed his objection.   There being no                                                               
further objection, Amendment 4 was adopted.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR VANCE sought final comment on HB 227, as amended.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:09:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GEORGE RAUSCHER,  Alaska State  Legislature, said                                                               
he  appreciated  Amendment 4  and  directed  members to  a  legal                                                               
memorandum  ("memo"), dated  3/27/24 [hard  copy included  in the                                                               
committee packet].                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:10:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD moved to report  HB 227, as amended, out of                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations and  the accompanying                                                               
fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection, CSHB  227(JUD)  was                                                               
reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:11:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:11:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD gave  Legislative Legal Services permission                                                               
to make all technical and conforming changes as necessary.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:11:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:11 p.m. to 1:13 p.m.