Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/27/2021 10:15 AM House ENERGY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB154 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY
April 27, 2021
10:17 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Calvin Schrage, Chair
Representative Chris Tuck
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky
Representative Zack Fields
Representative George Rauscher
Representative James Kaufman
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 154
"An Act exempting certain low voltage projects from contractor
and electrical administrator requirements."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 154
SHORT TITLE: EXEMPTION: LOW VOLTAGE PROJECTS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRONK
03/26/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/21 (H) ENE, L&C
04/27/21 (H) ENE AT 10:15 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 154.
CHAD JONES, Technical Leader
Cisco Systems
Doylestown, Ohio
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on HB 154.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:17:29 AM
CHAIR CALVIN SCHRAGE called the House Special Committee on
Energy meeting to order at 10:17 a.m. Representatives Rauscher,
Claman, Fields, Zulkosky, and Schrage were present at the call
to order. Representatives Tuck and Kaufman arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
HB 154-EXEMPTION: LOW VOLTAGE PROJECTS
10:17:59 AM
CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 154, "An Act exempting certain low voltage
projects from contractor and electrical administrator
requirements."
10:18:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 154. He began by stating that current
regulations impede the construction of small Internet projects
in rural Alaska. He spoke to how HB 154 will help construction
proceed efficiently. He provided the sectional analysis for HB
154 [hard copy included in the committee packet].
10:21:32 AM
CHAD JONES, Technical Leader, Cisco Systems, began his testimony
by talking about the 56 voltage restriction. He explained that
it is an unusual specification and spoke to the efforts Cisco
Systems went through to amend HB 154 to be more in line with
national code. He summarized by defining "safe wattage."
10:23:44 AM
MR. JONES, in response to a question from Representative Tuck,
clarified that he supports HB 154.
10:24:09 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, in response to a question from
Representative Claman, explained that the focus of HB 154 is on
satellite Internet installation in rural Alaska.
MR. JONES added that non-satellite installations are generally
lower wattage for safety. He explained that remotely powered
systems primarily use power over Ethernet, which has a wattage
within the safety margin. In response to a question from
Representative Claman, he highlighted that Ethernet power is
common though people are unaware of all its uses.
10:27:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, in response to Representative Zulkosky,
confirmed that the proposed legislation functions to exempt
satellite installers from having to hold a contractor's license
when the projects are under $10,000. In response to a follow-up
question, he said the bill would provide cost savings, and he
expressed hope there could be the least amount of restrictions
possible. He said the goal is to get people certified locally.
10:30:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, in response to a question from
Representative Fields, noted that some people in smaller
communities are doing installations unregulated, and [an
electrician] from out of town would have to come check the work,
which costs a lot. He added, "Because it's local, we're trying
to take that restriction out of there."
10:31:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, in response to Representative Rauscher,
confirmed the language being added to statute under HB 154. In
response to a follow-up question, he confirmed that those doing
the work would have to have the right insurance.
10:32:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK responded to questions from Representative
Tuck. He confirmed that a handyman could do this work and would
need a license. He said fiberoptics could be added to the bill
language. He said he wants to make the bill "as strong as
possible" with "the least restrictions." He offered his
understanding that [the bill] would be limited to residential
work.
10:35:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN observed that "in the suggested
amendments" was a revision of the definition of low voltage from
class 2 or 3, and within that topic, optical fiber cable was
listed.
10:36:10 AM
CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that HB 154 was held over.
10:36:13 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Energy meeting was adjourned at 10:36 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 4.9.2021 HB 154 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 4.09.2021 HB 154 Sectional Analysis version A.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 4.23.2021 HB 154 Ver A.PDF |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 4.10.2021 HB 154 Written Testimony or Letters of Support.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 4.15.2021 HB 154 Written Testimony or Letters.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 04.10.2021 HB 154 Research and Backround.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 04.19.2021 HB 154 Research and Backround.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |
| 4.26.2021 HB 154 AK-HB154-Cronk-2021-04-26-Energy-Cmte.pdf |
HENE 4/27/2021 10:15:00 AM |
HB 154 |