SENATE BILL NO. 29                                                                                                            
     "An Act extending the termination  date of the Board of                                                                    
   Marine Pilots; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:02:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID SCOTT, STAFF, SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, introduced the                                                                        
bill with the sponsor statement:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The Board of Marine  Pilots (Board) protects the safety                                                                    
     of  the public  and  the environment  by licensing  and                                                                    
     regulating  marine   pilots  for  almost   all  foreign                                                                    
     vessels  and vessels  over a  certain  size in  Alaskan                                                                    
     waters.  Board  activities  provide  a  good  level  of                                                                    
     assurance  that marine  pilot  licensees are  competent                                                                    
    and able to safely pilot passenger and cargo ships.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     As required under  Title 24 and Title 44  of the Alaska                                                                    
     statutes,  the Legislative  Budget  and Audit  Division                                                                    
     reviewed  the actions  of the  Board of  Marine Pilots.                                                                    
     The  audit found  a continued  need for  the Board  and                                                                    
     that  the  Board  is   following  the  law,  processing                                                                    
     investigations    timely,    and   actively    changing                                                                    
     regulations  to   "improve  the  industry   and  better                                                                    
     protect   the  public."   The  audit   recommended  the                                                                    
     Legislature  extend  the  Board's termination  date  to                                                                    
     June 30, 2027.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     SB  29 extends  the termination  date of  the Board  of                                                                    
     Marine Pilots to June 30, 2027.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:04:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAPTAIN ED SINCLAIR, DEPUTY MARINE PILOT, SOUTHEAST ALASKA                                                                      
PILOTAGE AREA, JUNEAU, supported the bill and believed that                                                                     
the board was performing well.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB 29 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
consideration.