Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
02/22/2024 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| EO 131 Reorganizing the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board | |
| SSCR8 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SSCR 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 22, 2024
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator James Kaufman, Chair
Senator Löki Tobin
Senator Robert Myers
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator David Wilson, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
EO 131 REORGANIZING THE ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY OPERATIONS BOARD
- MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8
Disapproving Executive Order No. 131.
- MOVED SSCR 8 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SSCR 8
SHORT TITLE: DISAPPROVE EO 131
SPONSOR(s): RULES
02/12/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/24 (S) TRA
02/22/24 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on EO 131.
JAN WRENTMORE, representing self
Skagway, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to EO 131.
NANCY BIRD, representing self
Cordova, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to EO 131.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:07 PM
CHAIR JAMES KAUFMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Tobin, Myers and Chair Kaufman.
^EO 131 Reorganizing The Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board
EO 131 REORGANIZING THE ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY OPERATIONS BOARD
1:31:42 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN announced the consideration of Executive Order No.
131 - Reorganizing the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board.
This is the second hearing of EO 131. He expressed that it is
the intention of the committee to take questions from members,
public testimony, and look to the will of the committee.
1:32:38 PM
SENATOR TOBIN said that from an email she received her current
understanding of the operating board's leadership had been
incorrect; she asked to know who the current chair and vice
chair of the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board (AMHOB) are.
1:33:01 PM
ANDY MILLS, Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), Juneau, Alaska, replied that the
current chair of AMHOB is Shirley Marquardt, and the vice-chair
is Ed Page.
1:33:24 PM
SENATOR TOBIN apologized for sharing incorrect information at
the last meeting on this subject.
1:33:40 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN opened public testimony on EO 131.
1:34:04 PM
JAN WRENTMORE, representing self, Skagway, Alaska, testified in
opposition to EO 131. She expressed that the Alaska Marine
Highway plays a significant role in the Skagway community's
economy, emphasizing its consistent year-round impact, even
though it may not attract as many visitors as cruise ships. The
Alaska Marine Highway facilitates access to healthcare and
enables businesses to plan for the tourist season. Reflecting on
its struggles over recent decades, she identified shifting
political agendas as the primary challenge, noting the turnover
of governors and Department of Transportation officials, each
bringing new perspectives. She advocated for maintaining a
diverse and knowledgeable board drawn from various communities
and disciplines to ensure a stable and reliable course for the
marine highway.
1:35:57 PM
NANCY BIRD, representing self, Cordova, Alaska, testified in
opposition to EO 131. She expressed worry regarding Executive
Order 131, citing her nearly 50-year history as a user of the
Alaska Marine Highway system. She voiced concern that
transferring the appointment authority of four members of the
Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board from the house speaker
and senate president's oversight could restrict rather than
broaden diversity in appointments. Additionally, she noted
discrepancies between board recommendations found on the AMHOB
website and assessments provided by the Department of
Transportation commissioner during the last meeting.
MS. BIRD noted a lack of specific instances where the board
failed to provide expected recommendations and advice. She
referred to pages 8-9 of the August 25, 2023, board minutes
where three significant motions were recorded, although she
remains unsure of their implications. Despite wanting to trust
the DOT commissioner's assertion that everyone aims for the
success of the marine highway system, she recalled a situation
three years prior when the government shut it down, severing
access to Prince William Sound. She urged an end to disputes
over board membership to refocus efforts on revitalizing the
ferry system. She advocated for support of SSCR 8 while
expressing disapproval of EO 131.
1:38:24 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN closed public testimony on EO 131.
1:38:41 PM
At ease
SSCR 8-DISAPPROVE EO 131
1:38:51 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE SPECIAL CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8
Disapproving Executive Order No. 131.
1:39:14 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN solicited a motion.
1:39:20 PM
SENATOR TOBIN moved EO 131 with individual recommendations and
SSCR 8, work order 33-LS1336\A, with individual recommendations
and attached fiscal note(s) be reported from committee for
further consideration in the Senate.
1:39:53 PM
CHAIR KAUFMAN found no further objection and pursuant to Uniform
Rule 49(a)(4), EO 131 and SSCR 8 were reported from committee
for further consideration in the Senate.
1:40:25 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kaufman adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting at 1:40 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| EO 131 Public Testimony Recieved as of 2.22.24.pdf |
STRA 2/22/2024 1:30:00 PM |
EO 131 |
| EO 131 AMHOB Board Member Testimony 2.22.24.pdf |
STRA 2/22/2024 1:30:00 PM |
EO 131 |