Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/10/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB131 | |
| HB246 | |
| HB258 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 246 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 258 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 10, 2012
9:02 a.m.
9:02:25 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Hoffman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Lesil McGuire, Vice-Chair
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Dennis Egan
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Joe Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Cathy Munoz; Jeff Ottesen, Director, Program
Development, Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities (DOT/PF); Marie Darlin, American Association of
Retired Persons, Juneau; Penny Gage, Staff, Senator Bert
Stedman; Rachel Kallander, Staff, Representative Bill
Thomas; Representative Reggie Joule; Brodie Anderson,
Staff, Representative Reggie Joule
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Kevin Gadsey, Southeast Alaska Independent Living,
Ketchikan; Ruth Dulin, Self, Ketchikan; Amelia Kito-Gage,
Self, Sitka; Elizabeth Hensley, Nenana Regional
Corporation, Anchorage; Morgan Johnson, Mayor, City of
Ambler, Ambler
SUMMARY
HB 131 COMMUNITY AND TRANSPORTATION ADV. BOARD
HB 131 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 246 NAMING CERTAIN BRIDGES
HB 246 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 258 NATURALLY OCCURRING ASBESTOS
HB 258 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 131(TRA) am
"An Act establishing the Alaska Community and Public
Transportation Advisory Board and relating to a long-
range community and public transportation plan; and
providing for an effective date."
9:03:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MUNOZ, explained HB 131. She referred
to the Sponsor Statement (copy on file).
House Bill 131 creates a Community and Transportation
Advisory Board which will assist in the development
and procedural recommendations for existing programs
of state, federal and local agencies that provide
community-based transportation services. Public and
community transportation is integral in connecting
communities, supporting development and serving our
most vulnerable constituents.
The designation of this board is a recommendation from
the Governor's Coordinated Transportation Task Force
which was released in the February 2010
Recommendations Report. The board will continue
efforts to address public and community transportation
and help fill the gap in transportation for
individuals who require more specialized travel -
senior citizens, low income individuals, persons with
disabilities, and those who are transit-dependent.
The board will consist of 13 members from departments
within state and local governments, Denali Commission,
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, non-profits, and
those with expertise in transportation needs for
senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and
transit-dependent individuals. This broad range of
membership will facilitate communication and
strategies that will benefit communities of all sizes.
HB131 has support from the Alaska Mobility Coalition,
the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special
Education, Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug
Abuse, the Alaska Commission on Aging, Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority, Alaska Brain Injury Network,
and the Alaska Suicide Prevention Council.
Representative Munoz highlighted the fiscal notes attached
to HB 131.
9:05:25 AM
JEFF OTTESEN, DIRECTOR, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES (DOT/PF), stated that
he was a governor-appointed chairman of the Coordinated
Transportation Task-Force for the past three years. He
remarked that while serving as chairman, he learned how
important coordinated transportation was for all Alaskans.
He explained that 11 percent of the Alaska population was
in need of coordinated transportation: seniors, individuals
with disabilities, and individuals who lack sufficient
income to afford an automobile. He stressed that some of
the 11 percent were heads-of-household, so there were even
more people in the household who were in need of
coordinated transportation. He stated that the money that
would be integrated into the program would be spread across
many different agencies: federal, state, tribal, local, and
non-profit. He stressed that the purpose of the commission
was to bring together the different agencies, in order to
coordinate communication and cohesiveness.
Senator Thomas surmised that the HB 131 would change the
name of a board, but retain the same mission.
Representative Munoz replied that the bill would extend the
work of the commission until 2016.
Senator McGuire explained that when the omnibus energy bill
was drafted, there was a clause that required DOT/PF to
look at compressed natural gas as a fuel source. She
wondered if there would be consideration for language
within the bill to specifically address a more affordable
fuel base for public transportation. Representative Munoz
replied that she was open to any opportunity to improve
efficiencies and use of energy was positive. Mr. Ottesen
furthered that he had worked on getting compressed natural
gas into the public transportation fleet, so he was an
advocate of that issue for many years.
Co-Chair Hoffman noted the one previously published zero
fiscal note from DOT/PF.
9:10:48 AM
MARIE DARLIN, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS,
JUNEAU, testified in support of HB 131. She remarked that
one of the major issues for seniors is the accessibility to
affordable transportation. She felt that there should be a
focus of the routing of services; placing and designing of
roads; and installing intelligent systems. She remarked
that there will continue to be an increasing number of
aging Alaskans she face mobility issues.
KEVIN GADSEY, SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING,
KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), urged support of HB 131. He
shared a story about the commission, and remarked that he
was impressed with the problem solving techniques that the
board was attempting to utilize.
RUTH DULIN, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), testified
in support of HB 131.
HB 131 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 246(FIN)
"An Act naming certain bridges and airports."
9:17:51 AM
Senator Ellis MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute
for CS HB 246 (FIN), Work Draft 27-LS092\D (Wayne, 4/9/12).
Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for purpose of discussion.
PENNY GAGE, STAFF, SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, presented the
three changes in the committee substitute. She explained
the change on line 1 of the title inserted a certain bypass
road. She noted the change on page 2, line 29, at the
request of Senator Olson, inserting Greg Kruschek Avenue,
which was a state-owned Nome Bypass Road. She looked at the
change on line 31, which was a request from the Mayor and
City Council of the City of Petersburg, the Harry Kito
Bridge would be named for the bridge over Falls Creek at
mile 10.4 of the Mitkof Highway.
9:19:37 AM
RACHEL KALLANDER, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL THOMAS,
explained HB 246. She stated that HB 246 would name 16
bridges, 2 airports, and 1 road after prominent Alaskans.
She stated that 15 of the bridges listed in HB 246 were in
Cordova. She remarked that the veterans in Cordova served
in every major war of the 21st century.
Co-Chair Hoffman noted the one previously published fiscal
impact note from DOT/PF.
AMELIA KITO-GAGE, SELF, SITKA (via teleconference),
testified in support of HB 246. She appreciated the
recognition of her family member in the naming of one of
the bridges.
HB 131 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 258(FIN)
"An Act directing the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities to develop and implement standards
and operating procedures, to evaluate site-specific
use plans, and to designate project areas concerning
gravel or other aggregate material containing
naturally occurring asbestos; authorizing use on an
interim basis of gravel or other aggregate material
containing naturally occurring asbestos for certain
transportation projects and public facilities;
providing immunity for the state and for landowners,
extractors, suppliers, transporters, and contractors
for certain actions or claims arising in connection
with the use of gravel or aggregate material
containing naturally occurring asbestos in certain
areas; requiring contractors to report certain
asbestos- related data to the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities; and providing
for an effective date."
9:25:47 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE, introduced HB 258. He referred
to the Sponsor Statement (copy on file).
HB 258 authorizes and regulates the use of gravel or
aggregate material that contains naturally occurring
asbestos (NOA). There are documented cases of NOA
being found in several areas of the state, including
Juneau, along the Dalton Highway and Ambler. Discovery
of NOA in local gravel pits has delayed and, in
Ambler's case, halted construction projects. The use
of NOA in construction projects may be regulated by
states. Virginia and California have been regulating
NOA for many years. With the passage of HB 258, the
discovery of NOA in local gravel sources and the cost
of transporting non-NOA gravel and material will not
impact the success and completion of construction
projects and important future state infrastructure in
Rural Alaska.
Several large projects are on the state's horizon that
will require the use of large amounts of gravel. These
large projects are in mineral rich areas of the state
critical to the future development of Alaska. Most
notably, it is estimated that the gas pipeline alone
may use 50 to 60 million cubic yards of new gravel.
Many miles of the Dalton Highway will be reconstructed
in support of the project, requiring additional
gravel. In Rural Alaska, almost all airport
construction and upgrades require material from local
gravel sources; a new small airport can use up to
25,000 cubic yards of gravel. The use of NOA gravel
and materials should be resolved before it becomes an
issue during the actual construction process of any of
these large future projects.
HB 258 directs the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities to develop and implement statewide
regulations and standard operating procedures (SOP) to
allow for the use of NOA for both State and private
construction projects. HB 258 will balance the needs
of moving Alaska forward; building critical
infrastructure, completing construction projects while
protecting the health of Alaskan workers and
communities.
Senator Olson wondered if there would be similar immunity
clauses to California's legislation.
BRODIE ANDERSON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE REGGIE JOULE,
replied that the program was voluntary, so the immunity
went further than California's program.
ELIZABETH HENSLEY, NANANA REGIONAL CORPORATION, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of HB 258.
9:32:25 AM
MORGAN JOHNSON, MAYOR, CITY OF AMBLER, AMBLER (via
teleconference), testified in support of HB 258. He
remarked that the dust problem had inhibited many projects
since 1998.
Co-Chair Hoffman noted the three previously published zero
fiscal notes and three previously published fiscal impact
notes.
Representative Joule thanked the committee for hearing the
bill. He remarked that there were many communities that
deal with dust particles, because the cost of dust-
abatement in rural Alaska was very expensive. He felt that
the dust without the naturally occurring asbestos was more
of a hazard to an individual's health, than what was
intended with HB 258.
HB 258 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
9:36:28 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:36 AM.