Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/30/2021 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
SB103 | |
SB105 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 103-AMHS OPERATION & PLANNING BOARD 1:36:57 PM CHAIR MYERS announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 103 "An Act repealing the Alaska Marine Transportation Advisory Board; establishing the Alaska Marine Highway System Operation and Planning Board; and providing for an effective date." 1:37:16 PM CHAIR MYERS opened public testimony on SB 103. 1:37:41 PM SHANNON ADAMSON, Regional Representative, International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P), Juneau, Alaska, stated that SB 103 lacks diversity as all the Alaska Marine Highway System Operation and Planning Board (OPB) members will be appointed by the governor. Instead, she suggested that board members should be appointed by more than one political entity, including the legislative branch. The bill does not provide OPB with sufficient authority to make substantial changes. She said she served as a Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) member for six years. She offered her belief that MTAB's recommendations to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) were largely ignored. She suggested amending the bill to require DOTPF to incorporate OPB's short and long-range plans to help the board work with DOTPF management to achieve better solutions. Although SB 103 provides a step in the right direction, the language in House Bill 63 [Chapter 20 SLA 21] would improve the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) even more. She said MM&P encourages the committee to consider the language in that legislation for potential amendments to SB 103 to improve AMHS for coastal communities. 1:39:40 PM SENATOR SHOWER asked whether it was time to move away from DOTPF's management and model AMHS after the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). MS. ADAMSON, after first clarifying the question, responded that MM&P would support that change. She offered her belief that AMHS suffers from a lack of planning and management structure. Thus, MM&P would advocate for any change that would remove AMHS from DOTPF. 1:41:48 PM BEN GOLDRICH, Representative, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), Juneau, Alaska, stated that he supports expanding the board composition and membership, providing OPB with more authority and taking steps to depoliticize AMHS. He said that MEBA believes that adding board members could bring broader perspectives, diversify the board, and help depoliticize AMHS. He agreed that adding some provisions of House Bill 63 could provide OPB with more authority. Although he does not serve on MTAB, he said he participated in and observed many MTAB meetings. He advocated using MTAB's and OPB's expertise to assist AMHS. 1:42:59 PM CHAIR MYERS asked whether MEBA supported giving AMHS its own governance structure separate from DOTPF. MR. GOLDRICH offered his belief that MEBA would support such a move. 1:43:40 PM CHAIR MYERS, after first determining no one wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 103. [SB 103 was held in committee.]
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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SB105 Testimony - Received as of 3.30.21.pdf |
STRA 3/30/2021 1:30:00 PM |
SB 105 |