02/06/2014 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB123 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 6, 2014
3:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Peter Micciche, Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel, Vice Chair
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator Click Bishop
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 123
"An Act authorizing a municipality to adopt an ordinance
prohibiting the use of cellular telephones while driving in
school zones or on school property."
- MOVED SB 123 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 123
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT USE OF CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MEYER
01/22/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/14 (S) CRA
02/04/14 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/04/14 (S) Heard & Held
02/04/14 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
02/06/14 (S) CRA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
EDRA MORLEDGE
Staff to Senator Meyer
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 123 for the sponsor.
DAVID WIGHT, representing himself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 123.
ED GRAFF, Superintendent
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 123.
ERNIE HALL, Chairman
Anchorage Assembly
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 123.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:31:37 PM
CHAIR PETER MICCICHE called the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:31 p.m. Present
at the call to order were Senators Giessel, Egan, and Chair
Micciche.
SB 123-PROHIBIT USE OF CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING
3:32:40 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE announced SB 123 to be up for consideration.
3:32:58 PM
EDRA MORLEDGE, Staff to Senator Meyer, sponsor of SB 123, said
this is an authorizing bill to allow municipalities, if they so
choose, to pass an ordinance to prohibit cell phone use within
school zones or on school property. A constituent had approached
the Municipality of Anchorage well over three years ago and
worked with the chair to get an ordinance passed, but found the
state needed to pass enabling legislation because traffic laws
need to be uniform across the state.
3:33:44 PM
SENATOR BISHOP joined the meeting.
3:34:16 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE noted letters of support from Anchorage Mayor Dan
Sullivan and David White. He asked if anyone wished to testify
on SB 123.
3:35:25 PM
DAVID WIGHT, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, supported
SB 123. He said he had worked with two separate principals, the
chairs of the PTA, and e had done public service announcements
through school media asking drivers to put their cell phones
away. He noted consistent cell phone use by 25-30 percent of
drivers who take the position that what they are doing is
important, that they are safe, and that it's not illegal. He
said there is a substantial body of evidence and concern by the
administration, volunteers and crossing guards that it's the
single biggest safety hazard in the school zones.
3:37:33 PM
SENATOR BISHOP said he was proud that Mr. White was continuing
"safety first and nobody gets hurt" in the private sector.
3:38:16 PM
ED GRAFF, Superintendent, Anchorage School District, Anchorage,
Alaska, supported SB 123. He said mixing a distracted driver
with hundreds of pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles in school
zones and areas on a daily basis is just too great a potential
for an accident or injury to happen. He also thanked Mr. White
for his advocacy and the support he had provided to the schools.
3:39:53 PM
ERNIE HALL, Chairman, Anchorage Assembly, Anchorage, Alaska,
supported SB 123. He sponsored the resolution before the body
that got this put into the legislative package and that was
entirely at the urging of David White. He looked forward to
working on municipal code that will prevent the use of cell
phones within school zones.
3:41:42 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE closed public testimony.
3:42:43 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SB 123, version \A, from
committee to the next committee of referral with individual
recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There were no
objections, and it was so ordered.
3:43:24 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Micciche adjourned the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Committee at 3:43 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 123 version A.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2014 3:30:00 PM |
SB 123 |
| SB 123 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2014 3:30:00 PM |
SB 123 |
| SB 123 Fiscal Note-DPS-DET 1-31-14.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2014 3:30:00 PM |
SB 123 |
| SB 123 - Support - David Wight email 2-1-14.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2014 3:30:00 PM |
SB 123 |
| SB 123 - Support - Mayor Dan Sullivan - 2-5-2014.pdf |
SCRA 2/6/2014 3:30:00 PM |
SB 123 |