HB  97-SELF-STORAGE UNITS: LIENS; SALES                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:56:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 97, "An  Act relating to  self-storage facilities                                                               
for  personal   property,  including  vehicles   and  watercraft;                                                               
distinguishing self-storage  facility liens from another  type of                                                               
storage  lien;   and  excluding   self-storage  liens   from  the                                                               
treatment of certain unclaimed property."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:56:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 97.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:57:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WILLIAM BREWER,  Fairbanks Storage, provided public  testimony in                                                               
support  of HB  97.   He  stated that  Alaska is  the only  state                                                               
without  storage  lien laws.    He  explained that  most  storage                                                               
facilities in  Alaska are owned  by Alaskans, and  many operators                                                               
are acting in accordance with  provisions which would be codified                                                               
by HB  97.   He expressed  the opinion that  passing HB  97 would                                                               
protect consumers and operators.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:59:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANIEL  BRYANT,  Legal  and  Legislative  Counsel,  Self  Storage                                                               
Association, stated  that the  Self Storage  Association supports                                                               
HB 97.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:59:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WENDIE  MACNAUGHTON,  Co-owner,  Lulu Storage,  stated  that  she                                                               
supports HB 97, as there  are currently no legal guidelines which                                                               
would protect renters  or storage unit operators.   She expressed                                                               
the opinion that HB 97 would enact protections for both parties.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:00:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether Mr.  Byrant had ever dealt with                                                               
lien foreclosures involving vehicles.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  BRYANT expressed  the opinion  that the  bill may  need more                                                               
specific language regarding vehicles.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:02:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NATHANIEL DYE,  Juneau Self Storage, expressed  satisfaction that                                                               
there is  the possibility of  a storage lien  law in Alaska.   He                                                               
explained   that,   while    daunting,   dealing   with   vehicle                                                               
foreclosures  related to  storage  units is  possible, and  banks                                                               
would receive proper notification.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:03:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHARON BEAMAN, Manager, North Pole  Self Storage, stated that her                                                               
facility has  a large  parking lot to  store vehicles,  and there                                                               
are  existing regulations  set  forth by  the  Division of  Motor                                                               
Vehicles.   She said  that North Pole  Self Storage  supports the                                                               
passage of HB 97.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:04:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER, after  ascertaining that there was no  one else who                                                               
wished to testify, close public testimony on HB 97.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
[HB 97 was held over.]