Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/07/2017 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB50 | |
| Confirmation Hearing | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 7, 2017
1:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Chair
Senator Anna MacKinnon
Senator Click Bishop
Senator David Wilson
Senator Dennis Egan
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 50
"An Act relating to fees for the sale or installation of studded
tires; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 50 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARING
State Board of Marine Pilots
Ron Ward
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 50
SHORT TITLE: INCREASE STUDDED TIRE FEE
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) GIESSEL
02/06/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/06/17 (S) TRA, FIN
02/15/17 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
02/15/17 (S) TRA, FIN
02/23/17 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/23/17 (S) Heard & Held
02/23/17 (S) MINUTE(TRA)
03/07/17 (S) TRA AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 50.
RON WARD, Captain
Southwest Alaska Pilots
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Board of
Marine Pilots.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:30:52 PM
CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Senate Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Egan, Wilson, and Chair Stedman. Senators
MacKinnon and Bishop arrived shortly thereafter.
^#sb50
SB 50-INCREASE STUDDED TIRE FEE
1:31:15 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced the consideration of SB 50. It was
previously heard on February 23 and included public testimony.
1:31:59 PM
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB
50, related that the bill would increase an already existing fee
for studded tires to $50 per tire for a new studded tire or a
used tire in which studs were inserted. She stated that the
purpose of the bill is to help fund the cost of the damage
studded tires do to roads, exemplified by ruts which are
dangerous.
CHAIR STEDMAN noted the presence of Senators MacKinnon and
Bishop. He asked if any committee members had questions
concerning the bill.
1:32:54 PM
SENATOR EGAN moved to report SB 50 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes.
SENATOR WILSON objected.
SENATOR WILSON voiced concern about having a rate increase
without knowing where the tax would go and how it would benefit
Alaskans. He said the higher traffic roads are where the ruts
occur, but having a broad user tax fee that would benefit a
small population is not equitable. He said he is ok with a
slight increase in the tire fee, but going from $5 to $50 seems
high. The lack of conclusive data is also a concern. He
concluded that he cannot support SB 50.
SENATOR WILSON removed his objection.
CHAIR STEDMAN found no further objection and SSSB 50 was
reported from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING
CONFIRMATION HEARING
1:34:52 PM
CHAIR STEDMAN announced the final order of business would be a
confirmation hearing on Ron Ward for the Board of Marine Pilots.
He noted that Captain Ward was appointed by Governor Walker on
March 1, 2017, to the Board of Marine Pilots. He asked Captain
Ward to share his professional expertise and willingness to
serve on the Board.
He noted the hearing will not bind committee members to any
future votes they may or may not take.
1:35:31 PM
RON WARD, Captain, Southwest Alaska Pilots, testified as an
appointee to the Board of Marine Pilots. He described his
background, work history, and affiliation with the Southwest
Alaska Pilots. He noted he has been a pilot with Southwest since
1997. He started training in 1993 and became a full pilot in
2000. He has attended Board of Marine Pilots since 1993 when he
first moved to Alaska. Prior to that he was a tanker captain for
17 years transporting Alaska crude oil from the Trans Alaska
Pipeline in Valdez. He became a pilot in 1997 with Southwest
Alaska Pilots.
CAPTAIN WARD said he is very committed to the mission of the
Board of Marine Pilots - protecting the Alaskan environment and
promoting safe commerce. He has been a member of the Anchorage
Port Commission at various times the last five or six years. He
is the Vice President of the Cook Inlet Safety Committee
promoting best practices for commerce in Cook Inlet. He has been
a licensed mariner since 1980, a licensed unlimited master since
1989, and piloting in the state since 1997.
CHAIR STEDMAN assumed he was willing to serve because he applied
to do so.
CAPTAIN WARD said he is eager to serve and honored to have been
nominated.
1:38:08 PM
SENATOR MACKINNON requested that he state when he was re-
licensed as an unlimited master mariner
CAPTAIN WARD clarified that it was in 1991.
SENATOR MACKINNON asked about the licensed marine pilot date.
CAPTAIN WARD agreed it was 1977 to present. He explained that he
received his deputy marine pilot license in 1997 and then
trained for three years and received his unlimited marine pilot
license in 2000.
CHAIR STEDMAN thanked Captain Ward.
1:40:09 PM
SENATOR BISHOP moved to advance the name of Ron Ward for
appointment to the Board of Marine Pilots to the full membership
of the legislature in joint session for consideration and a
final vote. This does not reflect any intent by the members to
vote for or against the confirmation of the individual during
any further sessions.
CHAIR STEDMAN found no objection and Captain Ward's name was
forwarded for consideration by the full body.
1:40:49 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stedman adjourned the Senate Transportation Committee at
1:40 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 50 Letter of Support 3.6.2017.PDF |
STRA 3/7/2017 1:30:00 PM |
SB 50 |
| SB 50 Letters of Opposition 3.6.2017.PDF |
STRA 3/7/2017 1:30:00 PM |
SB 50 |
| SB 50 Tire Cost Comparison corrected.pdf |
STRA 3/7/2017 1:30:00 PM |
SB 50 |
| SB 50 - DOT response to 1st hearing questions.PDF |
STRA 3/7/2017 1:30:00 PM |
SB 50 |