HOUSE BILL NO. 108 "An Act extending the termination date for the Board of Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date." ELEANOR WOLFE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KURT OLSON, explained that HB 108 extends the Board of Marine Pilots until 2013. She offered to answer questions. 1:45:14 PM RICK URION, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, observed that the Board of Marine Pilots comes under his division. He spoke in support of the bill and offered to answer questions. 1:46:05 PM AL CLOUGH, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS, stated support for the bill and offered to answer questions. Co-Chair Chenault asked if marine pilots only pilot foreign flag vessels in Alaskan waters. Mr. Clough replied that foreign flag vessels are required to have a U.S. Marine Pilot on board; other vessels may choose to have a pilot on board. Most of the American flag tankers out of Valdez choose to have a licensed marine pilot. Representative Stoltze asked if large foreign flag pleasure craft need a marine pilot. Mr. Clough replied that there is an exemption for yachts up to 175 feet. 1:48:23 PM Co-Chair Meyer wondered if there is a penalty to the association or the pilot if the pilot is not enrolled in a drug testing program. Mr. Clough explained that pilots are required by the Coast Guard and by state regulation to be enrolled in such a program. The issues brought out in the audit were related to record keeping. Co-Chair Meyer asked what the penalty is if drug testing is not done. Mr. Clough said it is a requirement and there currently is no problem with lack of compliance. 1:50:36 PM Representative Stoltze asked about a requirement for drug testing for pleasure crafts. Mr. Clough explained that it is not the state's issue because there is not a pilot on board. If there were an incident, then the Coast Guard would respond. 1:51:55 PM CAPTAIN LARRY VOSE, PRESIDENT OF SOUTHEAST PILOTS ASSOCIATION, stated support for HB 108. He elaborated on the previous question regarding U.S. flag vessels. There are two types of pilots, federal and state. Federal pilots apply to U.S. flag vessels. The vessels that go to Valdez have both federal and state pilots on board. All state pilots have to have a federal pilot license as a prerequisite. A vessel has to be over 1,600 tons to require a federal pilot. Regarding the drug testing requirement, it is a condition of employment and the pilot has to show evidence of compliance in order to dispatch. Representative Stoltze asked for a definition of a marine pilot. Captain Vose related the qualifications for marine pilots. 1:56:34 PM Co-Chair Meyer asked where the pilots board oil tankers up north. Captain Vose explained regional boarding procedures. Representative Joule asked if the pilot associations are closed and if applicants must receive an invitation to join. He also wondered about age restrictions. Captain Vose explained the current competitive process for application to become a marine pilot. He maintained it is a fair and open process. Captain Vose noted it takes about seven years to become a fully licensed pilot. Co-Chair Chenault asked about state vs. federal pilot limits in the Gulf of Alaska as they relate to oil spills. Captain Vose explained that federal pilotage waters are from three miles out, inward - the United States territorial seas. State pilotage boundaries are within the inside waters of the state. 2:03:40 PM Representative Gara questioned the marine pilot involvement as it related to the Exxon Valdez. Captain Vose said that the accident happened after the marine pilot was off the ship. The pilot station has since been moved seaward. He spoke of difficulties of providing pilots in all areas and the safety issues of boarding the ships. 2:06:33 PM Co-Chair Meyer noted a new fiscal note written by the House Finance Committee for the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Representative Hawker MOVED to report CSHB 108 out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 108 (L&C) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a fiscal note by the House Finance Committee for Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. 2:07:26 PM