04/04/2013 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB153 | |
| HB94 | |
| SB85 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 153 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | HB 94 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 4, 2013
2:23 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Dennis Egan, Chair
Senator Fred Dyson, Vice Chair
Senator Anna Fairclough
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Hollis French
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 153(TRA)
"An Act designating Minnesota Drive and a portion of O'Malley
Road in Anchorage the Walter J. Hickel Parkway."
- MOVED CSHB 153(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 94
"An Act naming the northbound Chena Flood Channel Crossing
Bridge the Nellie Miller Bridge and naming the southbound Chena
Flood Channel Crossing Bridge the Con Miller Bridge."
- MOVED HB 94 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 85
"An Act relating to experimental vehicles."
- MOVED CSSB 85(TRA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 94
SHORT TITLE: CON AND NELLIE MILLER BRIDGES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) ISAACSON
01/30/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/30/13 (H) TRA, FIN
02/19/13 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
02/19/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee
02/19/13 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
02/20/13 (H) TRA RPT 6DP
02/20/13 (H) DP: LYNN, JOHNSON, KREISS-TOMKINS,
GATTIS, ISAACSON, P.WILSON
03/19/13 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/19/13 (H) Moved Out of Committee
03/19/13 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/20/13 (H) FIN RPT 9DP
03/20/13 (H) DP: KAWASAKI, HOLMES, MUNOZ, THOMPSON,
EDGMON, GARA, T.WILSON, COSTELLO,
03/20/13 (H) NEUMAN
03/22/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/22/13 (H) VERSION: HB 94
03/25/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/13 (S) TRA, FIN
04/02/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/02/13 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/04/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
BILL: SB 85
SHORT TITLE: EXPERIMENTAL VEHICLE PLATES
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BISHOP
03/21/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/13 (S) TRA, FIN
04/02/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/02/13 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/04/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
BILL: HB 153
SHORT TITLE: NAMING WALTER J. HICKEL PARKWAY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LYNN
03/04/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/04/13 (H) TRA, FIN
03/12/13 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/12/13 (H) Moved CSHB 153(TRA) Out of Committee
03/12/13 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
03/13/13 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) NT 5DP 1AM
03/13/13 (H) DP: LYNN, ISAACSON, GATTIS, KREISS-
TOMKINS, P.WILSON
03/13/13 (H) AM: FEIGE
03/19/13 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/19/13 (H) Moved CSHB 153(TRA) Out of Committee
03/19/13 (H) MINUTE(FIN)
03/20/13 (H) FIN RPT CS(TRA) NT 9DP
03/20/13 (H) DP: KAWASAKI, HOLMES, MUNOZ, EDGMON,
GARA, T.WILSON, THOMPSON, COSTELLO,
03/20/13 (H) NEUMAN
03/22/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/22/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 153(TRA)
03/25/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/25/13 (S) TRA, FIN
04/02/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/02/13 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/04/13 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM FAHRENKAMP 203
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 153.
BRENDA HEWITT, Staff
Representative Doug Isaacson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 94 on behalf of the sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE DOUG ISAACSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 94.
BRITTANY HUTCHISON, Staff
Senator Click Bishop
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 85 on behalf of the sponsor.
AMY ERICKSON, Director
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Administration
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 85.
SHELLY MELLOTT, Deputy Director
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Administration
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 85.
JIM DODSON, President and CEO
Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 85.
ALLISON AIRHART, Attorney
Volkswagen Group of America
Herndon, Virginia
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 85.
ACTION NARRATIVE
2:23:02 PM
CHAIR DENNIS EGAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 2:23 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Dyson, Fairclough, Bishop, French, and Chair
Egan.
HB 153-NAMING WALTER J. HICKEL PARKWAY
2:23:59 PM
CHAIR EGAN announced that the first order of business would be
HB 153. [CSHB 153(TRA) was before the committee.]
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, sponsor of HB 153, explained that HB
153 would designate a 7.5 mile portion of Minnesota Drive as the
Walter J. Hickel Parkway. This would involve having only two
large brown road signs similar to the ones posted on other
historic roads. He highlighted Walter Hickel's contributions to
the state, including the United States Secretary of the Interior
and twice serving as the Governor of Alaska. Walter J. Hickel
worked hard to open Prudhoe Bay for all development and oversaw
the permitting process for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.
Representative Lynn requested the committee's approval of the
bill.
CHAIR EGAN noted no public testimony.
2:25:21 PM
SENATOR DYSON moved to report HB 153, version U, from committee
with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There
being no objection, CSHB 153(TRA) was reported from the Senate
Transportation Standing Committee.
2:25:47 PM
At ease from to 2:25 to 2:27 p.m.
HB 94-CON AND NELLIE MILLER BRIDGES
2:27:08 PM
CHAIR EGAN announced that the next order of business would be HB
94. He noted the attendance of all members of the committee.
BRENDA HEWITT, Staff, Representative Doug Isaacson, sponsor of
HB 94, explained that in House District 1 there are two bridges
that cross the Chena Flood Control. The bill proposes to name
those two parallel bridges after Con and Nellie Miller, also
known as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. She highlighted the
accomplishments of the Millers, noting that Con was the longest-
serving mayor of North Pole. He also served as the post master,
the civil defense director, and the fire chief. Nellie served on
the local school board, was the post mistress, and the town's
magistrate and marriage commissioner. She noted the Millers
passed the value of public service on to their children.
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH inquired if the sign would say "Mr. and Mrs.
Santa Claus" or their names.
REPRESENTATIVE DOUG ISAACSON, sponsor of HB 94, said that while
the family has given permission to name the bridges, "The
Original Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus," at this time, the signs will
say Conrad "Con" Miller Bridge and Nellie Miller Bridge.
2:32:08 PM
SENATOR BISHOP voiced appreciation for the bill. He related a
story about his role in building the bridge on February 16,
1976, and as a boy, enjoying the auctions at the Santa Claus
House.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON said he came to Alaska in June of 1977
and one of the first places he visited was the Santa Claus
House. He said he appreciates Senator Bishop's history with the
Millers. He invited everyone to come to the dedication ceremony.
SENATOR DYSON moved to report HB 94 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being
no objection, HB 94 was reported from the Senate Transportation
Standing Committee.
2:34:30 PM
SENATOR EGAN, in response to a question from Senator Fairclough,
said no one else wished to testify.
2:34:52 PM
At ease from 2:34 to 2:36 p.m.
SB 85-EXPERIMENTAL VEHICLE PLATES
2:36:11 PM
CHAIR EGAN announced that the final order of business would be
SB 85.
BRITTANY HUTCHISON, Staff, Senator Click Bishop, presented SB 85
on behalf of the sponsor. She explained that the difference
between the CS and the original bill can be found on page 1,
lines 6, 7, and 11. The wording was changed to get rid of the
words "cold weather," so that Alaska would welcome all types of
vehicle testing.
SENATOR EGAN asked if she was working from version U.
MS. HUTCHISON said yes.
MS. HUTCHISON continued to relate the history of the need for
the bill. She said for many years, Alaska has been marketed as
the most affordable, accessible, and reliable cold weather
testing spot in the world. Currently, there are no statutes
regarding registration for experimental vehicles. Recently, the
Volkswagen Group of America, who has been testing vehicles in
Alaska since 2000, had to bring their vehicles back for a second
round due to stricter emission regulations. When they returned
to Alaska, the DMV notified them that they would have to
register and title all of their vehicles. The sponsor discovered
that a statute change was required to fix the problem and worked
with the DMV and the Volkswagen Group to draft SB 85.
MS. HUTCHISON related that the bill would allow the DMV to issue
an experimental vehicle plate to a vehicle manufacturer or
distributer for vehicle testing. The plates are good for 12
months and can be renewed twice for a total of 36 months.
CHAIR EGAN requested a motion to adopt version U.
2:39:09 PM
SENATOR BISHOP moved to adopt the work draft CS for SB 85,
labeled 28-LS0692\U, as the working document. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department
of Administration, answered questions related to SB 85. She
confirmed that Volkswagen Group approached the DMV several years
ago to register their vehicles, but DMV did not have the
authority to register vehicles that cannot be titled. The former
director of DMV allowed non-renewable registration for one year.
She stated that DMV supports SB 85.
2:40:23 PM
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH asked how DMV treats large commercial trucks
that are brought to Alaska for testing.
SENATOR BISHOP asked if they are foreign or domestically
produced.
MS. ERICKSON explained that some vehicles were from Germany and
some from Mexico. She could not recall whether there were any
large trucks at the Volkswagen testing center.
SENATOR BISHOP clarified that most of the Class A trucks being
tested are Navistar, an International Harvester derivative, and
have been on the Haul Road for two years. He said he has not
seen any other brands.
MS. ERICKSON said she believes the legislation covers those
trucks.
2:42:53 PM
SHELLY MELLOTT, Deputy Director, Division of Motor Vehicles,
Department of Administration, addressed the previous question,
noting that DMV has not been approached about registering any
large trucks; however, this bill would allow them to be
registered.
JIM DODSON, President and CEO, Fairbanks Economic Development
Corporation, testified in favor of SB 85. He described the
affordability and economic impact of cold weather testing in
Alaska. He said it is a growing industry. He voiced appreciation
for the legislation.
2:45:25 PM
ALLISON AIRHART, Attorney, Volkswagen Group of America,
testified in support of SB 85. She related that the bill would
allow Volkswagen Group to continue with cold weather testing.
She described the benefits of testing in Fairbanks.
2:47:13 PM
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH moved to report the CS for SB 85, labeled 28-
LS0692\U, from committee with individual recommendations [and
attached zero fiscal note]. There being no objection, CSSB
85(TRA) was reported from the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee.
2:49:59 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Egan adjourned the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee at 2:49 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 85 lttrs supporting - Heather Mossman and 10 others 032513.pdf |
STRA 4/4/2013 1:30:00 PM |
SB 85 |