04/23/2003 03:28 PM House L&C

HB 251-MARINE PILOT FOR FOREIGN PLEASURE CRAFT                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[Contains discussion of SB 20]                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 0820                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ANDERSON announced  that the final order  of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  BILL  NO.  251,  "An  Act  exempting  certain  foreign                                                               
pleasure craft from the mandatory pilotage requirement."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GATTO  moved  to  adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  to  HB  251,  Version  23-LS0865\U,  Utermohle,                                                               
4/22/03, as  the working  document.   There being  no objections,                                                               
Version U was before the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Number 0870                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM  stated that  the bill was  discussed in                                                               
committee last  week.  The  interested parties agreed  to changes                                                               
and decided  to wait  to put those  agreements into  written form                                                               
rather   than  conceptual   amendments.      These  changes   are                                                               
incorporated into  Version U before  the committee.   Language on                                                               
page 2, line  12, exempts small foreign pleasure  craft less than                                                               
20 meters from all pilotage requirements.   On page 2, line 17, a                                                               
new  section directs  the  Board of  Marine  Pilots to  establish                                                               
procedures for  vessels leaving  state waters.   This  allows the                                                               
state  to keep  better  track of  the position  of  yachts.   The                                                               
paragraph  also deals  with the  timely payment  of pilots.   The                                                               
vessels must employ an agent who holds an Alaska license.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ANDERSON asked  whether the  marine  pilots are  satisfied                                                               
with this language.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM said  she believes  the marine  pilots'                                                               
concerns have  been met, but  a representative is here  to answer                                                               
any questions.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 0943                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  LYNN  asked  about  the position  of  the  marine                                                               
pilots on this CS.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Number 0978                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  REED,   Lobbyist  for   Fraser  Stryker,   described  his                                                               
involvement  with this  issue.   He explained  that early  on, he                                                               
thought  this   amendment  could  be  included   in  the  [sunset                                                               
extension] of the Board of Marine  Pilots [in SB 20].  The marine                                                               
pilots  and  the sponsors  said  they  would  work with  him  and                                                               
another lobbyist if they didn't  use their [reauthorization bill]                                                               
as a vehicle for this legislation.   He explained that last week,                                                               
Senator Therriault assembled the  interested parties:  the marine                                                               
pilots,  their lobbyists,  several marine  pilots in  town for  a                                                               
board meeting, lobbyists for the  yacht industry, and legislative                                                               
staff.  Both  sides reached agreement and the proposed  CS is the                                                               
result.   He noted that  there has  been some question  about the                                                               
Coast  Guard's  position  [about  pilotage  on  foreign  pleasure                                                               
craft].   Senator  Therriault has  put  together another  meeting                                                               
next week with the Coast Guard, he added.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Number 1106                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved  to report the proposed  CS for HB
, Version  23-LS0865\U, Utermohle,  4/22/03, out  of committee                                                               
with  individual recommendations  and  the  attached zero  fiscal                                                               
note.  There being no objection,  CSHB 251(L&C) was passed out of                                                               
the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.