Legislature(2007 - 2008)BUTROVICH 205
04/01/2008 02:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB298 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| = | SB 298 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 1, 2008
2:11 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Albert Kookesh, Chair
Senator John Cowdery, Vice Chair
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator Gary Wilken
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 298
"An Act establishing the division of marine transportation;
establishing the Alaska Marine Transportation Authority Board
and the position of director of the division of marine
transportation, and assigning the powers and duties of each;
making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective
date."
MOVED CSSB 298(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 298
SHORT TITLE: MARINE TRANSPORTATION: BOARD & DIVISION
SPONSOR(s): TRANSPORTATION
03/04/08 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/04/08 (S) TRA, FIN
03/20/08 (S) TRA AT 2:00 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/20/08 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
WITNESS REGISTER
CLIFF STONE
Staff to Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SB 298 for the sponsor of
companion legislation, Representative Peggy Wilson.
MAY SIROKEY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF)
Juneau AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported CSSB 298(TRA).
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 2:11:27 PM. Present at the call to
order were Senators Cowdery, Wilken, Olson, Wielechowski, and
Kookesh.
SB 298-MARINE TRANSPORTATION: BOARD & DIVISION
2:12:12 PM
CHAIR ALBERT KOOKESH announced consideration of SB 298.
SENATOR COWDERY moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
to CSSB 298 ( ), labeled 25-LSI556, Version C, for discussion
purposes. There being no objection, the motion carried.
CLIFF STONE, staff to Representative Peggy Wilson, said SB 298
is an identical copy of Representative Wilson's HB 294 as it
passed out of the House Transportation Committee. He said it
puts the Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) in statute
and adopts conforming language.
The first page instructs the DOTPF to consult with the MTAB in
preparing its long-range comprehensive plan which is currently
in statute. The current MTAB was established by the governor in
Administrative Order 233; those orders are typically for one
year and the governor will have to reauthorize it again in May
of this year.
MR. STONE explained that the board is similar to the current
MTAB and subsection (6)(b) says that members have to consist of
at least one resident of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough and at
least two members who are residents of areas not directly served
by the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). The sponsors felt
that was a really good compromise as folks from other areas in
Alaska would bring more ideas to the table and that would foster
more of an ownership feeling to the system. The members will
serve staggered three-year terms and boilerplate language
indicates per diem and meetings. The powers, duties and
functions elicited much debate and common ground was found in
this language. It reads:
After the commissioner of Transportation and Public
Facilities has considered one or more candidates for
the position of director or deputy director of the
Alaska Marine Highway System, the commissioner shall
confer with the board regarding that candidate or
those candidates before making an appointment to that
position.
MR. STONE explained that currently a deputy director is in
charge of the AMHS, but in the past it has been a director and
further in the past they could have also referred to that person
as deputy commissioner. That is why "director or deputy
commissioner" was inserted.
2:18:03 PM
SENATOR COWDERY asked who decides who the head of the commission
is.
MR. STONE replied the governor has the right to appoint
commissioners and deputy commissioners, but typically below the
rank of commissioner, that duty will be delegated to the
commissioners. But boilerplate language on page 4 says selection
of those candidates shall be without regard to political
affiliation. Language was taken from ADF&G statutes and
incorporated into this advisory board because they felt the more
advocates the AMHS had the better. Under subsection (b), it says
the board may establish volunteer regional advisory committees
and their purpose is to provide recommendations to the board
regarding concerns from the region whose members constitute the
advisory committee.
He said the board, in conjunction with the DOTPF, will assist
and give its views in preparing a strategic plan that lays out
the mission, the core value, the objectives, initiatives and
performance goals of the AMHS. Page 4 had the definition of
"board" and laid out the initial appointment of its members.
This governor could appoint members of the current MTAB to this
new board if they met the criteria as laid out in the new board
composition.
CHAIR KOOKESH asked if the main purpose of this bill is to
address one item - to put the MTAB into statute.
2:22:18 PM
MR. STONE replied that is correct and he added that this was
also done a couple of years ago with the Aviation Advisory Board
under the Murkowski administration. He summarized that some
think this doesn't go far enough and would like to see a strong
authority outside the auspices of DOTPF, but he said, "I don't
think we're there yet." This bill calls for the department to
consult with the advisory board on different issues that truly
in the administrative order they don't have to.
CHAIR KOOKESH asked if the current MTAB is under an
administrative order.
MR. STONE replied that is correct.
2:23:07 PM
MAY SIROKEY, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF), said this is a
much better bill. In particular, it broadens the membership so
that there are members from areas outside of those that are
traditionally served or have ports that are served by the MHS.
She firmly believed that the municipalities of Anchorage and
Fairbanks are served by AMHS and she believed CSSB 298(TRA)
would allow greater statewide participation in the process.
Based on this CS she said the department would have a zero
fiscal note.
2:24:18 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the members have per diem.
MS. SIROKEY replied yes; the department already has the MTAB as
it exists now in its budget. They didn't feel the slight
increased cost for two more members warranted a fiscal note.
2:25:05 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH found no more questions.
SENATOR OLSON moved to report CSSB 298(TRA) from committee with
individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There
were no objections and it was so ordered.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIR KOOKESH adjourned the meeting at 2:25:47 PM.
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