Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/15/1993 05:00 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 15, 1993
5:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Richard Foster, Chair
Representative Gary Davis, Vice-Chair
Representative Al Vezey
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Jerry Mackie
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Curt Menard
Representative Eldon Mulder
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HB 46: "An Act relating to frequent traveler credit for
state-paid travel."
HEARD AND HELD - ASSIGNED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
HB 237: "An Act relating to Marine Pilot Licensing and
Tariffs."
HEARD AND HELD - ASSIGNED TO SUBCOMMITTEE
*HB 184: "An Act making a special appropriation to
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
to determine the cost of acquiring real property
within the right-of-way of the proposed extension
of the Alaska Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base
to the Alaska-Canada border; and providing for an
effective date."
NOT HEARD - HELD OVER UNTIL NEXT SCHEDULED HOUSE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
(* first public hearing)
WITNESS REGISTER
DANIEL BLACKMORE, Vice President
Alaska Operations
Alaska Maritime Agencies, Inc.
1600 A Street, Suite 215
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
272-0714
Position Statement: Opposed HB 237
CAPTAIN MICHAEL SPENCE, President
Alaska Coastwise Pilots Association
P.O. Box 22694
Juneau, Alaska 99802
586-2272
Position Statement: Testified on HB 237
BILL SHARP
Marine Pilots Representative
P.O. Box 3046
Ketchikan, Alaska 99901
225-7245
Position Statement: Opposed HB 237
BERNIE SMITH
Tesoro Petroleum
P.O. Box 1630-2
Kenai, Alaska 99611
776-8191
Position Statement: Stated he would provide his testimony
to subcommittee on HB 237
WILL ANDERSON
Alaska Marine Pilots
57920 Glacier View Drive
Homer, Alaska 99603
235-5278
Position Statement: Supported HB 237
KARL LUCK, Director of Occupational Licensing
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
9th Floor State Office Building
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0806
465-2534
Position Statement: Explained concern regarding the word
"independent" within HB 237
LARRY COTTER, Lobbyist
Alaska Steamship Association
116 Gold Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
789-2073
Position Statement: Opposed HB 237
C.J. ZANE, Director
Government & Community Relations
Holland America Line Westours, Inc.
880 H Street, Suite 200A
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3400
Position Statement: Opposed HB 237
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 46
SHORT TITLE: STATE-PAID TRAVEL MILEAGE CREDITS
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MARTIN
TITLE: "An Act relating to frequent traveler credit for
state-paid travel."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/12/93 43 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/12/93 43 (H) STATE AFFAIRS,TRANSPORTATION,
FINANCE
03/20/93 (H) STA AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 102
03/20/93 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/30/93 (H) STA AT 08:00 AM CAPITOL 102
03/30/93 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/03/93 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/05/93 972 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 2DP 1DNP 3NR
04/05/93 972 (H) DP: VEZEY, OLBERG
04/05/93 972 (H) DNP: ULMER
04/05/93 972 (H) NR: B.DAVIS, G.DAVIS, KOTT
04/05/93 972 (H) -FISCAL NOTE (ADM) 4/5/93
04/05/93 972 (H) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
04/06/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/13/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/13/93 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/15/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 237
SHORT TITLE: MARINE PILOT LICENSING AND TARIFFS
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) HUDSON, Phillips, Brice,
Sitton, Sanders
TITLE: "An Act relating to marine pilot licensing and
tariffs."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/19/93 707 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/19/93 707 (H) L&C,TRANSPORTATION,STA AFF,
FINANCE
03/30/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17
03/30/93 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/30/93 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/01/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/01/93 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/01/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/08/93 1107 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 1DP 4NR
04/08/93 1107 (H) DP: HUDSON
04/08/93 1107 (H) NR: PORTER, MACKIE, WILLIAMS,
GREEN
04/08/93 1107 (H) -ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DCED)
4/8/93
04/08/93 1107 (H) REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
04/06/93 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/08/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/15/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 184
SHORT TITLE: APPRO: AK RAILROAD EXTENSION STUDY
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) JAMES,Therriault,Olberg
TITLE: "An Act making a special appropriation to the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to
determine the cost of acquiring real property within the
right-of-way of the proposed extension of the Alaska
Railroad from Eielson Air Force Base to the Alaska-Canada
border; and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/25/93 456 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
02/25/93 456 (H) TRANSPORTATION, FINANCE
04/06/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/13/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/13/93 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/15/93 (H) TRA AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-16, SIDE A
Number 014
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS called the meeting to order at 5:20 p.m.,
and stated that HB 184 would be held over until the next
scheduled House Transportation Committee meeting due to time
constraints. Vice-Chair Davis also noted that HB 46 would
be assigned to a subcommittee consisting of Representative
Mulder and Representative Mackie. Vice-Chair Davis also
noted that HB 237 would also be assigned to a subcommittee
consisting of Representative Hudson and Representative
Mackie.
HB 46 STATE-PAID TRAVEL MILEAGE CREDITS
Number 030
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS noted that although CHAIR FOSTER
appreciated the intention of HB 46, he had many specific
concerns that he wanted the subcommittee to address in a
committee substitute if necessary. Chair Foster had
specifically mentioned his concerns that this proposed
legislation could potentially increase administrative costs.
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS stated that Chair Foster had also been
contacted by several groups who indicated that they donated
their time in trade for the travel miles, such as the State
Troopers and Corrections officers. He said there may also
be potential legal problems in relation to the collective
bargaining process, and the subcommittee needed to address
that in looking at a potential compromise on HB 46.
HB 237 MARINE PILOT LICENSING AND TARIFFS
Number 074
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS requested those wanting to testify on
HB 237 on the teleconference system to present their
statements to the committee at this time.
Number 078
DANIEL BLACKMORE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF ALASKA MARITIME
AGENCIES, INC., began his testimony discounting previous
testimony before the Labor and Commerce Committee. Mr.
Blackmore said it was his understanding that another pilot
group in Dutch Harbor was performing unsafe pilotage,
specifically, in the East Channel transit, and the reason
being that Alaska Marine Pilots refused to move the vessel
because of their concern over the depth of the water in the
channel and the draft of the vessel.
MR. BLACKMORE stated that he believed competition in
pilotage must be able to continue throughout the state of
Alaska and has been shown to actually benefit safety
concerns of the state. Because of the competition, he
believes that it gives the groups more reason to perform a
better service, not the poor or unsafe groups that people
are trying to make them believe. Mr. Blackmore also stated
that another advantage of competitive pilotage was that
actions and costs must be justified. He stressed his
support towards competition and the desire that competition
between the two groups increase, which would result in
continued improvement and performance.
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS asked if there were questions for Mr.
Blackmore. Since there were no questions, he asked MICHAEL
SPENCE to present his testimony.
MICHAEL SPENCE, PRESIDENT OF THE ALASKA COASTWISE PILOTS
ASSOCIATION, addressed his concerns contained in HB 237,
which related to fixing tariffs, fixing the number of pilots
in a region, and the measure forbidding cross-regional
pilotage. He felt these measures were intended to prevent
or stifle competitive pilotage. He discussed previous
monopoly problems within the history of pilotage and that
those problems led to the formation of a new organization,
The Alaska Coastwise Pilot's Organization. Mr. Spence said
his organization has efficient dispatching, has optimized
their manpower, and has reduced overhead costs. He stated
that the group which holds the dominant share of the market
in Southeast Alaska, joined by the dominant groups in other
regions, are the groups which currently seek legislation to
prevent or limit competition.
MR. SPENCE mentioned that giving authority to the APUC
(Alaska Public Utilities Commission) to set fixed tariffs
may indeed move the tariff-setting process to a more
organized venue for rate setting, however, at an increased
costs to already burdensome fees. He felt fixed tariff was
anti-competitive since it disabled a new organization of
pilots from offering a lower price to shippers. He stated
that if the APUC was involved, it should be setting a
maximum rate tariff, not a fixed tariff.
MR. SPENCE remarked that HB 237 was not legislation which
promoted safety of shipping or environment; it was a bill
that promoted economic safety of already dominant pilot
organizations.
Number 330
BILL SHARP, representing pilot groups in the Ketchikan area,
asked Vice-Chair Davis whether he had heard correctly. He
asked if HB 237 was going to be referred to a subcommittee
consisting of Representative Mackie and Representative
Hudson.
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS replied that was indeed the case.
MR. SHARP indicated he echoed the concerns of the previous
witness, Michael Spence. Mr. Sharp stated that he did not
want to take of the committee time and he would work with
the subcommittee in the future.
Number 355
BERNIE SMITH, representing TESORO, spoke on the
teleconference network against HB 237 and stated that he
would present his comments in writing to the subcommittee.
He stated Tesoro was willing to negotiate with the pilots
and had done so twice recently.
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS stated that since there was no one else to
testify via teleconference, he would move for testimony from
the audience.
Number 383
WILL ANDERSON, testifying in support of HB 237, noted that
he would submit written testimony and work with the
subcommittee during the interim on HB 237.
LARRY COTTER, a lobbyist representing the ALASKA STEAMSHIP
COMPANY, testified against HB 237. Mr. Cotter felt that the
best way to address the current problems were for those
involved to sit down together and work out the issues. He
further stated that he didn't think the current system was
broken, it merely needed more tuning and thought it could be
fixed. Mr. Cotter stated he would also address his concerns
before the subcommittee.
Number 443
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS said he hoped that the parties on both
sides of this proposed legislation would communicate between
themselves and try and reach a compromise with the
subcommittee.
Number 449
C.J. ZANE, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, HOLLAND AMERICA/WESTOURS,
noted that he was opposed to the current version of HB 237.
However, he didn't want to take up a lot of the committee's
time and he would be contacting the subcommittee and
maintain his interest and address his concerns to them.
MR. ZANE asked Vice-Chair Davis what a subcommittee's
responsibilities were.
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS replied that they would work on all
recommendations, would not take any official action, and
would report their recommendations to the full committee.
Number 498
VICE-CHAIR DAVIS ADJOURNED the House Transportation
Committee meeting at 5:50 p.m.
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