HB 19-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 3:55:45 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 19, "An Act exempting the state and its political subdivisions from daylight saving time." 3:56:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, Alaska State Legislature, recalled that the Anchorage Fire Department would remind people to change batteries in their smoke detectors twice annually during the time change. She related that she received overwhelming response to a survey question related to DST from her constituents at end of the last legislature. She related during the summer, many Alaskans asked her to exempt Alaska from DST. Thus, HB 19 was introduced. Additionally, surveys were conducted in 2004 and 2005 by Hellenthal & Associates and Dittman Research & Communications Corporation, which resulted in favorable results to repeal DST. She mentioned that a KTUU poll ran last week that showed 70 percent of Alaskans who responded to the poll favored repealing DST. However, she recalled the State Chamber of Commerce did a poll and 70 percent of businesses were opposed to the repeal since communication with the rest of the nation and world would be adversely affected. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH related that her survey resulted in 442 responses, of which 329 supported the repeal of DST, or approximately 71.4 percent of those surveyed. She added that 75 responded in opposition to the repeal of DST, 15 supported a year round DST, and the remainder provided other comments such as indicating a preference to be 3 hours behind the East Coast. She mentioned that her outreach was to municipalities and various chamber of commerce organizations. 3:59:22 PM MS. KOENEMAN elaborated that an e-mail was sent to municipalities, school districts various chamber of commerce organizations. The e-mails were subsequently forwarded to others, she stated. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH also offered that she was contacted by many others including the Fairbanks Daily New-Miner, a Soldotna radio station, and Anchorage Daily News with respect to the issue. She said that she asked those who spoke in opposition to the repeal due to time change between Alaska and the East Coast. She related that the analysts who work with the New York financial market begin work at 5 a.m. since it is 9 a.m. on the East Coast when the financial markets open. She related that HB 19 would impact the analysts such that they would begin work at 4 a.m. or lose an hour of interaction with the financial market. However, she noted that Dan Cuddy, who is the president of First National Bank Alaska, spoke in support of the repeal of DST. She related that he provided a letter of support in favor of the repeal. 4:01:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH expressed that another concern raised was safety. She explained that she researched safety. She explained that First Student, Inc. sends new alerts to notify school bus drivers. She noted that the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities provided accident rates. She stated that accident rates were initially down in the first week of DST in the spring, variable to the weather and climate with an increase in accidents in the fall. She indicated that on March 15, 2009, the DOT&PF noted, 839 crashes prior to DST, and 516 accidents after the spring change, dependent on weather. However, in the fall when an hour of daylight is lost, accident rates increase from 988 prior to the fall time change and 1,020 after the fall time change. Additionally, she stated the Anchorage municipal chief of police advises that accidents decrease with an added hour of daylight. She recalled testimony that related to the effects of being thrown into an additional hour of darkness during driving hours, which she related represents a valid observation. However, she reminded members that her research did show fewer accidents. 4:03:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH recalled discussions with Representative Holmes about technology questions. She reiterated that the state's central main frame sets an internal "heartbeat" in its system so that all computers in the system have the same time stamp. She related that the Department of Administration anecdotally believed that eliminating DST would save labor and money. She opined that one reason for DST is to achieve increased recreational time for daylight in the evening. However, in Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun, "that just doesn't play out." She maintained that in about ten days, most of the state makes up the entire hour. She opined that largest disadvantage is in western and northern Alaska. She opined that during DST, a person's internal time clock in western Alaska is three hours off. She related that teachers see increased disruption, even in Anchorage, inside the classroom, as well as tardiness by staff and students, increased absences, and lower productivity which is generally disruptive. 4:06:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH pointed out that the average person adjusts to the time change in about 12 days. She reiterated that the largest reason to oppose the repeal of DST is for those who wish to minimize the time difference between Alaska and the East Coast. She also reiterated that the biggest reason to repeal DST is for health reasons. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH related that the northern hemisphere receives little advantage to DST, but experiences not only a loss of productivity, but a two to four percent increased risk for heart attacks, according to a study done in Stockholm, Sweden. She reiterated that Indiana has the energy study that indicates that indicates that it costs more, that it is not doing what it was supposed to do in saving energy. Additionally, the Stockholm study shows a health risk. She stated that she received several comments from people: one discussing the biological clock, while several doctors related that due to the circadian rhythm sleep disruption causes problems for Alaska. She also mentioned that Anchorage School District administrators and principals and teachers support the repeal, including school board president Jeff Friedman and superintendant Carol Comeau. She related that one dissenting comment was that the time/date stamp is off on surveillance security systems. However, she noted that results in a one-time fix, rather than the necessity to go back and forth in spring and fall. 4:10:57 PM CHAIR OLSON inquired as to whether the sponsor spoke to Alaska Airlines. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH surmised that passengers would need to show up an hour earlier. CHAIR OLSON inquired as to whether HB 19 would have an impact on transfers within Alaska. MS. KOENEMAN related that the airlines operate in Hawaii and in Arizona and make the schedules work. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL commented that he currently is impacted in Fairbanks and frequently has a lengthy layover in Anchorage. He surmised that Alaska Airlines would not be concerned about any impacts time changes would have on its passengers. REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES offered that the state is challenged since it is so large. She inquired as to whether the sponsor has received general comments from Southeast Alaska. 4:13:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH pointed out that support and opposition to repealing the DST is specific to geographical differences. She opined that people in Southeast Alaska are overwhelmingly opposed to the repeal in part due to Seattle time and the west coast, which participate in DST. She further opined that Alaskans who reside in Northern and Western Alaska overwhelmingly favor the repeal of DST. She pointed out that the resolution provides the means for a national discussion on health issues. A second reason to repeal the DST in Alaska to better align our internal clocks, and a third reason is to look at Alaska perhaps having different time zones. She asserted that her intent is not to disenfranchise Southeast Alaska. However, she pointed out that the remainder of the state is disenfranchised by DST for over a decade. 4:15:42 PM RICHARD BRAUN, Professional Land Surveyor, stated that HB 19 is a really bad idea for Southeast Alaska. He opined it would be nice not to change time twice a year, and he supports one time, but not Alaska Standard Time. He opined that he would prefer to leave the time year round on DST. He opined Alaska is a big state that stretches across three time zones. Thus, someone will be inconvenienced. He pointed out that the geographic location of two states that repealed DST, Hawaii, and Arizona, but both are states with lots of sunshine. MR. BRAUN professed that Alaska Standard Time is not ideal for Southeast Alaska. He opined that the natural time zone for Southeast Alaska is the Pacific Time Zone. In the summer, we arise too late to take advantage of sunlight. However, the recreational time ends too early due to early darkness. He further opined that DST corrects that problem a little. He related that HB 19 would keep Alaska on Alaska Standard Time year round. Thus, when the rest of the country is on DST, Alaska will be two hours later than Seattle and five hours later than the East Coast. He noted that Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, Canada, is further west than Juneau, but under the bill would be two hours ahead of Juneau. He said, "HB 19 is politics ignoring geography." He maintained that HB 19 might be a good idea for Southcentral and Western Alaska but it is a bad idea for Southeast Alaska. He said, "Southeast also has a lot fewer sunny days. Every minute of sunlight is precious to us." He surmised that in 1983, a compromise was achieved for state unity. This bill completely ignores that compromise, he said. He suggested that Alaska should not change without the rest of the nation and Canada also changing their time since it will make it awkward to conduct business. He highlighted that when he is conducting business with the East Coast and a five hour time gap exists, only three hours overlap and one of those falls over the lunch hour. Thus, he related that he only has two hours to conduct his business with people and businesses on the East Coast. He suggested the legislature should examine how much this will affect Southeast Alaska. He said, "It's not a good idea for Southeast Alaska." 4:20:20 PM LYNN WILLIS related that he has no financial interest in the legislation and has submitted written testimony, as well. He stated that twice annually, the law to change clocks impacts every Alaska resident, regardless of age, gender, or location. He said, "I personally believe that absent a compelling reason for its continued use in Alaska this practice should now end. I further believe that personal convenience and benefit are not compelling reasons to keep using daylight saving time in Alaska." He pointed out that energy savings is the primary reason that states are allowed to use DST. However, its impact on commerce can not be ignored, he stated. He offered that since 1967 that Alaska has been using DST. He asked what the compelling reason is to continue its use to enhance state commerce. He surmised one reason might be to enhance business communications. However, in 1967, business communications relied on hardwired office telephones and telegrams. He related that Alaskans now have cell phones, the Internet, and other advances that allow commercial transactions to be made 24 hours a day. Another reason to consider DST might be to compensate for the time zone differences in other areas. MR. WILLIS provided a brief history of time differences such that in 1967, businesses in Anchorage and Fairbanks were two hours behind Seattle and Juneau. Without observing DST, the time difference between the Railbelt and Seattle was three hours, and for Nome and Bethel the difference was four hours. However, in 1983 Alaska's current time zone was created by merging the Yukon, Alaska, and Bering time zones. Except for the Aleutian Islands, Alaska has been one hour behind Seattle, he noted. If DST is repealed, Seattle would be ahead of Alaska by two hours for only a portion of the year. The 1983 time zone change overcame a compelling reason to keep using DST in Alaska. Finally, another reason to consider DST might be that in 1967, minimizing the time differences was essential for Alaskan businesses primarily oriented towards the Lower 48 states. However, in 2009, Alaskans participate in international commerce with nations of the Pacific Rim including Japan and China, where DST is not used. MR. WILLIS said, "When we spring forward towards Seattle and New York, we leap away from China and Japan." He related that for purpose of finance, Alaska sits at the crossroads of the world. He offered that during normal business hours, a person can contact others ranging from New York City to Beijing, China. However, only without DST does Beijing become accessible at 4 p.m. Alaska time, thus, allowing time for communication. He maintained that time to conduct business with this range of nations can only be accomplished without DST. He concluded by stating that the compelling reasons to minimize the time difference between Alaska and the Lower 48 have been muted by the changing world economy. 4:23:52 PM JEFF PASCO stated that he is not surprised at the opposition by the chambers of commerce. He recalled earlier opposition by the organizations on prior similar legislation. He related that he agrees with Mr. Willis's testimony. CHAIR OLSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 19. 4:25:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 26-LS0188\A.1, Bannister, 3/13/09, as follows: Page 1, line 1, following "time": Insert "; and providing for an effective date" Page 1, following line 10: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011." CHAIR OLSON objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH explained the purpose of Amendment 1 is to allow an opportunity for organizations such as the chambers of commerce and businesses to be prepared for the time change. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL inquired as to whether the Amendment 1, would place Alaska in the Alaska Standard time zone. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH agreed. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN suggested that it is might be better to do this in October. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH agreed that would be the time that most would change from DST to Alaska Standard Time. She offered that there may be some anomalies and Amendment 1 would allow people three months to make changes. CHAIR OLSON removed his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 4:27:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report HB 19, labeled 26- LS0118\A, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 19(L&C) was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.