Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/25/1997 01:10 PM House TRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 25, 1997
1:10 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Cowdery
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Jerry Sanders
Representative Kim Elton
Representative Al Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bill Williams, Chairman
Representative Beverly Masek, Vice Chairman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
*HOUSE BILL NO. 248
"An Act naming East Egan Drive in Valdez."
- MOVED CSHB 248(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
*HOUSE BILL NO. 87
"An Act relating to fines and bail forfeiture amounts for certain
offenses committed within highway work zones."
- MOVED HB 87 OUT OF COMMITTEE
(* First public hearing)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 248
SHORT TITLE: EAST EGAN DRIVE IN VALDEZ
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) KUBINA, Nicholia
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
04/11/97 1080 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
04/11/97 1080 (H) TRANSPORTATION
04/25/97 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/25/97 (H) RPT RECD W/CS AWAIT TRANSMITTAL NXT
04/25/97 (H) COM
04/25/97 (H) DP: ELTON, KOOKESH, SANDERS, COWDERY
04/25/97 (H) HUDSON
04/25/97 (H) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DOT)
BILL: HB 87
SHORT TITLE: TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN HIGHWAY WORK ZONES
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) ELTON
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/24/97 137 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)
01/24/97 137 (H) TRA, JUDICIARY, FINANCE
04/25/97 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17
04/25/97 (H) RPT RECD AWAIT TRANSMITTAL NXT COM
04/25/97 (H) DP: ELTON, KOOKESH, SANDERS, COWDERY
04/25/97 (H) HUDSON
04/25/97 (H) ZERO FISCAL NOTE (DOT)
WITNESS REGISTER
DON ETHERIDGE
District Council of Labors
710 West 9th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Telephone: (907) 586-3707
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of HB 87.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 97-24, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN BILL HUDSON called the House Transportation Standing
Committee to order at 1:10 p.m. Members present at the call to
order were Representatives Cowdery, Hudson, Sanders and Elton.
Representative Kookesh arrived at 1:12 p.m. Members absent were
Representatives Williams and Masek. Representative Hudson
announced he is standing in for both the chair and vice-chair.
HB 248 - EAST EGAN DRIVE IN VALDEZ
Number 055
CHAIRMAN HUDSON announced that first order of business to be HB
248, "An Act naming East Egan Drive in Valdez." He asked
Representative Kubina to present the bill.
Number 206
REPRESENTATIVE GENE KUBINA stated that the milepost on the
Richardson Highway starts where the old town is. The section of
road between the old town and the new town is without milepost
numbers. He stated that the main street coming into town is called
Egan Drive. The bill is proposing that the part of the Richardson
Highway between Meals Avenue and the east end of Mineral Creek Loop
Road be called East Egan Drive. The reason is so that the
businesses on that stretch of road can have an address. He stated
that since there aren't any milepost numbers on that stretch of
road, the businesses don't have a street address and they can't use
their location of minus some odd miles on the Richardson Highway as
their address. By naming this stretch of road East Egan Drive, the
businesses will be able to have an address. He stated that there
is an amendment to the bill which clarifies the proper name of the
road to be Mineral Creek Loop Road rather than Mineral Creek Road.
Number 373
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY moved to adopt Amendment 1.
Number 378
CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked if there were any objections, hearing none
Amendment 1 was adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked who was going to pay for the signs,
for the new road since there is a zero fiscal note.
Number 453
REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA replied that the city will put up the signs.
Number 475
REPRESENTATIVE KIM ELTON made a motion to move CSHB 248(TRA), with
individual recommendations and a zero fiscal note.
Number 484
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if there were any objections, hearing
none, CSHB 248(TRA) was moved out of the House Transportation
Standing Committee.
HB 87 - TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN HIGHWAY WORK ZONES
Number 515
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON announced the next order of business to be HB
87, "An Act relating to fines and bail forfeiture amounts for
certain offenses committed within highway work zones."
Number 543
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that the bill doubles the fines for
speeding and for reckless or negligent driving in a highway work
zone. It is a measure, designed to lessen the risk to highway work
crews and to reduce the number of accidents in the highway work
zones. He stated that surveys have shown an effective way to
induce good behavior in work zones is to increase the penalties.
He pointed out that there are more expensive ways of handling the
dangers in the works zones, such as the construction companies
contracting with the local police departments to be on site during
the road work. He stated that the bill has a zero fiscal note. He
stated that the fine for reckless driving is $1,000, with up to a
year imprisonment. Negligent driving is a $300 fine with no jail
time and speeding is a fine of $50 with $2 for every mile over the
speed limit.
Number 687
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that he would be in favor of a
minimum fine level instead of a maximum fine ceiling because
sometime offenders get off too easy.
Number 742
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that the statute reads not more than a
$1000 fine. The statute sets the ceiling and not the floor.
Number 793
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY asked if there are points involved in these
violations.
Number 825
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON stated that there would be points involved
with speeding and reckless driving but he is not sure if points
apply to negligent driving.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY stated that points on a license get the
offenders attention more so than the fines. He stated that he
supports the bill but would like to see points involved and a floor
on the fines.
REPRESENTATIVE ELTON agreed that points are more effective.
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated that the next committee of referral is
the House Judiciary Standing Committee and they would be able to
considered the point penalty.
Number 951
DON ETHERIDGE, District Council of Labors, stated that the council
is in favor of this legislation. He stated that there are been
several close calls and this will deter accidents.
Number 1081
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move HB 87, with individual
recommendations and a zero fiscal note.
Number 1094
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if there were any objections, hearing
none, HB 87 was moved out of the House Transportation Standing
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON adjourned the House Transportation Standing
Committee at 1:35 p.m.
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