HOUSE BILL NO. 322                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the Alaska marine highway system                                                                       
     vessel replacement fund; and providing for an                                                                              
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:31:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KERRY  CROCKER,  STAFF,  SPEAKER LOUISE  STUTES,  introduced                                                                    
himself and had no opening comments.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:32:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Ortiz   asked  Mr.  Crocker  to   summarize  the                                                                    
difference between HB 322 and HB 395.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Crocker reported that the  main difference was who would                                                                    
be permitted  to spend the  money once it  was appropriated.                                                                    
He  explained that  under HB  322, the  legislature retained                                                                    
the authority  to appropriate the  money. Under HB  395, the                                                                    
legislature  still  had  the authority  to  appropriate  the                                                                    
money,   but  the   commissioner   of   the  Department   of                                                                    
Transportation and Public  Facilities (DOT) retained control                                                                    
of the money after it had been appropriated.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:33:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:33:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID IGNELL,  SELF, JUNEAU, was  unsure of the bill  he was                                                                    
testifying on.  He wanted to  testify to the bill  that gave                                                                    
the    DOT   commissioner    the   right    to   appropriate                                                                    
transportation funds.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick would  have Mr. Ignell testify  on the next                                                                    
bill on the agenda, HB 395.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:34:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Merrick   indicated   amendments  were   due   by                                                                    
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 by 5:00 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
HB  322  was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:35:00 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:36:13 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Merrick  indicated  the committee  would  take  up                                                                    
HB 158. She invited the sponsor of the bill to testify.