04/01/2013 04:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

                 HB  22-BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:15:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  announced the  consideration of  HB 22.  He noted                                                               
that CSHB 22(L&C) was before the committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:16:23 PM                                                                                                                    
ANNA LATHAM, Staff, Representative Kurt  Olson, stated that HB 22                                                               
will extend  the termination date  of the Board of  Marine Pilots                                                               
until June 30,  2019. In accordance with the provisions  of AS 24                                                               
and AS 44,  Legislative Budget & Audit  Committee (LB&A) reviewed                                                               
the activities of  the Board of Marine Pilots  (BMP) to determine                                                               
whether  there was  a demonstrated  public need  for the  board's                                                               
existence and  to see if  it had  been operating in  an efficient                                                               
manner. It  was the opinion  of the LB&A  that the BMP  should be                                                               
extended.  Regulating  and   licensing  qualified  marine  pilots                                                               
benefits the  public safety and  welfare and protects  the marine                                                               
environment.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Speaking to  the committee substitute,  she explained that  HB 22                                                               
was prefiled and  the sponsor estimated the extension  date to be                                                               
June 30,  2018. The sponsor  requested the  CS to align  with the                                                               
termination date suggested in the audit.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON assumed  the auditor agrees with the  June 30, 2019                                                               
termination date.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. LATHAM said yes; that was the date recommended in the audit.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS, Legislative  Auditor,  Legislative Audit  Division,                                                               
Legislative  Agencies &  Offices,  said the  agency conducted  an                                                               
audit and recommended the June 30, 2019, six-year extension.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if any issues were identified in the audit.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CURTIS   said  the  agency  recommended   the  marine  pilot                                                               
coordinator  improve  administration of  operational  activities.                                                               
The audit  identified several small housekeeping  issues, such as                                                               
public  meeting   notifications,  licensing   documentation,  and                                                               
oversight of  the pilot association's drug  and alcohol programs.                                                               
These were material enough to  warrant a recommendation. She said                                                               
there has  been improvement since  the last sunset audit,  so the                                                               
agency recommended a six-year extension.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY found  no questions  and  asked the  will of  the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:19:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  MICCICHE  moved  to  report   CS  for  HB  22(L&C)  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY announced  that without  objection, CSHB  22(L&C)                                                               
moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.