05/03/1994 01:40 PM Senate L&C

  CHAIRMAN TIM KELLY  called the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee           
 meeting to order at 1:40 p.m.  He brought  CSSSHB 301(L&C)  (BAN SALE    LE   
 OF SOME STUDDED TIRES AND STUDS) before the committee as the only             
 order of business.                                                            
                                                                               
 CURTIS SMITH, staff to Representative Mark Hanley, said that                  
 according to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities,            
 studded tires are currently causing about $5 million per year in              
 road maintenance damage to Alaska highways.  The ruts caused by the           
 studs have decreased the expected life span of Alaska highways by             
 about ten-fold.  On top of that, road depreciation is not the only            
 side effect as water-filled ruts left by these studs has made                 
 traveling in the summer months, especially when its raining,                  
 extremely unsafe.                                                             
                                                                               
 In researching the problem, Representative Hanley found that in               
 Northern Europe they have developed a light weight stud that has              
 been found to cut road wear up to 50 percent.  This stud wears the            
 same as the studs currently found on tires, is just as effective              
 and icosts the same, but on the roads it has a significant effect             
 by reducing road wear by about 50 percent.                                    
                                                                               
 Mr. Smith added that these studs are currently available and that             
 Johnson Tire Service of Anchorage will be using them in next year's           
 tire lines.                                                                   
                                                                               
 Number 029                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked if any other states have enacted similar                  
 legislation.  CURTIS SMITH responded that he is not aware of it               
 being enacted by any other state, but Washington is pursuing this             
 legislation after hearing of the intent of HB 301.                            
                                                                               
 Number 040                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR KELLY asked for the pleasure of the committee.                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR RIEGER moved that HB 301 be passed out of committee with              
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so                  
 ordered.                                                                      
                                                                               
 There being no further business to come before the committee, the             
 meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.