Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211
04/13/2005 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB161 | |
| SB120 | |
| Taxation of Mining Property; Contracts Approved by Municipalities for Payment in Lieu of Taxes | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| * | SB 120 | ||
| * | SB 161 | ||
SB 120-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced SB 120 to be up for consideration.
2:57:49 PM
SENATOR DONALD OLSON, Sponsor, paraphrased the sponsor
statement:
I have introduced this bill because of conversations
with friends and constituents questioning the
necessity for the state of Alaska to change our clocks
twice a year for the "leap forward" and the "rolling
back" that marks Daylight Saving Time.
The main complaint that I have heard associated with
Daylight Saving Time is the disruption of sleeping
habits. There have been numerous letters to the
editor in the Anchorage Daily news over the years
complaining about children and adults having
difficulty adjusting to waking up an hour earlier then
they have for 6 months. According to the National
Sleep Foundation there is a 7% increase in accidents
the day after Daylight Saving Time goes into effect.
The other complaint most often voiced is the annoyance
people feel towards the changing of clocks in the
households and offices. People simply do not enjoy
the task and because of that often are against
Daylight Saving Time.
I thank the committee for it's consideration and
respectfully I urge your support on Senate Bill 120.
3:00:53 PM
SENATOR BERT STEDMAN commented the history in the packet was
interesting. He questioned how many time zones Southeast Alaska
would differ from Seattle if this were to pass.
SENATOR OLSON replied under this proposal, Southeast Alaska
would be one hour different for six months of the year and two
hours different the other six months. People doing business in
the Russian Far East and Asia would be an hour closer, which
might be advantageous.
SENATOR WAGONER said he was in favor of the change.
RICH POOR, Douglas resident, stated opposition to the bill and
asked the committee to consider the value of the extra hour of
daylight at the end of the day. Also, Alaska does a great deal
of business with the West Coast and if Alaska were to be two
hours behind that region for seven months a year, it wouldn't be
easier to do business.
He suggested it would be beneficial keeping the state on Alaska
Daylight Time or Pacific Standard Time year round for summer
activities and communication with Seattle. In the winter the
state would be on Pacific Time and that would benefit business.
He presented the committee with his letter and asked members to
give the issue serious consideration. Most people aren't aware
of the bill, but there's bound to be a reaction if this passes.
3:08:19 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked when it would get dark in Southeast in
the summer if there were no Daylight Savings Time.
MR. POOR said now gets dark at about 10:00 pm in Juneau and if
this passes it would get dark at about 9:00 pm. That would be
tough for outdoor activities when August rolls around.
SENATOR WAGONER commented that Mr. Poor's suggestion was a novel
approach and he liked it.
3:11:19 PM
FRANK NORRIS, Anchorage resident, told members he sent the
committee a version of an article he wrote for the Alaska
History Journal called "Keeping Time in Alaska; National
Directives, Local Responses." A copy is in the bill file.
He offered the generalization that because Alaska spans 60
degrees on longitude and 20 degrees of latitude, there is so
much ground to be covered that no one will ever be happy with a
time zone arrangement regardless of the structure. You would
lose political viability, or commercial advantages with West
Coast trading partners, or other difficulties would crop up.
3:13:35 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS noted Mr. Norris is a well-known historian
from Kodiak. He heard him say there is no best solution.
MR. NORRIS said that's correct, the rationale is different
depending on where you are in the state.
3:14:49 PM
ROBERT WEBER, Mat-Su resident, stated support for SB 120.
3:19:29 PM
LELAND FISHBACK, Mat-Su resident, testified in support of SB
120.
PAULA RAK, Wrangell resident, spoke in opposition to SB 120.
3:26:13 PM
LYNN WILLIS, Eagle River resident, testified in strong support
of SB 120 and said he testified on similar legislation in the
House.
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for comments.
SENATOR WAGONER said he liked the suggestion Mr. Poor presented
and he would like to hear from the sponsor.
3:29:25 PM
SENATOR OLSON explained that time zones are federally mandated
by the Department of Transportation. States may move forward,
but it would take a federal mandate for Alaska to move to
Pacific Standard Time.
3:31:02 PM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS asked for a motion.
SENATOR WAGONER motioned to report SB 120 and attached fiscal
notes from committee with individual recommendations. There
being no objection, it was so ordered.
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