HJR 20-REPEAL FEDERAL DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME 3:32:31 PM CHAIR OLSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20, Urging the United States Congress to end daylight saving time. 3:32:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as a joint sponsor of HJR 20, stated that her staff, Crystal Koeneman would provide a history of daylight saving time. CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, Staff, Representative Anna Fairclough, Alaska State Legislature, speaking on behalf of the prime sponsor of HJR 20, Representative Anna Fairclough, provided a chronological history of daylight saving time. She explained that the Standard Time Act was established in 1918, which established the observance of daylight saving time. The act was repealed the next year and daylight saving time was left to local jurisdictions. The Congress, in an effort to conserve fuel resources by reducing the need to produce electrical power for artificial lighting, placed the country on daylight saving time during World War I. The Congress reinstated daylight saving time from 1942 - 1945 during World War II. From 1945 to 1966, no federal law applied and states could decide whether to observe daylight saving time. The Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which set daylight saving time to begin the last Sunday of April and end on last Sunday of October. She mentioned that any state or locality could exempt itself from daylight saving time. In 1986 the Act was amended to begin on the first Sunday in April. Following the 1973 oil embargo, the Congress placed most of the nation on extended daylight saving time in an effort to conserve energy, such that daylight saving time was in place for 10 months in 1974 and for 8 months in 1975. Due to public opposition to the late sunrise times in winter month, daylight saving time was discontinued. In 1976 the nation reverted back to the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In March 2007, daylight saving time was extended an additional four to five weeks, beginning on the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday of November. 3:36:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH offered that the issue of daylight saving time can be addressed in multiple ways. She related that since 2007, she has received multiple requests to repeal daylight saving time in Alaska. She explained that one big issue is consistency with time in Lower-48. Thus, those in opposition to the repeal believe that it is important to maintain communications with rest of the nation. This resolution would allow Alaska to take steps in that direction to discuss the issue with the Congress and organizations nationwide. 3:37:25 PM CHAIR OLSON asked if daylight saving time is repealed, that Alaska would be the second state to do so. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH disagreed. She referred to a map in members' packets of the northern hemisphere, which she opined is lagging behind the rest of the globe. Some countries are migrating off DST to Greenwich Mean Time, which is also the same time as the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). She offered that Canada is currently discussing repealing DST, with one province, Saskatchewan that has repealed DST. She mentioned other countries such as Mexico and most of the Asian markets that are still discussing repeal. She mentioned that Hawaii is not on DST, and Indiana is attempting to leave DST, since someone discovered that it actually cost money to comply with DST. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN inquired as to whether Indiana has repealed DST. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH related that Indiana is currently on DST, but a recent study indicated that costs were associated with DST. 3:39:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES inquired as to whether Alaska is currently on DST. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH answered that Alaska is currently on DST as of March 8, 2009. She explained that HJR 20 presents an opportunity for Alaska to engage in discussions nationally about the health consequences and the business climates that are affected by DST. She further explained that it takes 10 days in Nome to recoup an hour, in Anchorage it takes 12 days, and in Juneau it takes 13 days. Thus, the value of DST evaporates in a little over a week. 3:40:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE HOLMES inquired as to whether any cost to companies is associated with eliminating DST, specifically for changing time clocks on computers. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH responded that a universal patch could be developed on a one-time basis for items such as video surveillance, cell phones, and other technology. She mentioned it would be a cost savings for statewide computers since only one adjustment is necessary. Currently, systems are reprogrammed twice a year. She stated that the state's technology group believes that it would save money to repeal the DST. 3:42:34 PM ALBERT JUDSON stated that he grew up as a commercial fisherman. He offered his belief that DST enhances fishing since fishermen use daylight hours to run to the fishing grounds, and the regulatory agencies such as Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) use specific hours to determine the openings and closings. He offered his opposition to HJR 20 and HB 19. REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT related that since ADF&G is using a clock, that it should not make any difference whether the time is Alaska Standard Time or DST. He asked for clarification. MR. JUDSON offered his belief that DST affects people involved in subsistence fishing since the daylight parallels the clock. 3:46:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN also stated that he did not understand. He inquired as to how fishing an hour earlier or later would affect fish runs. MR. JUDSON related that during DST, the time on the clock parallels dusk and dawn. He offered his belief that fishermen, especially subsistence fishermen should be questioned before abolishing DST. 3:48:12 PM JEFFREY PASCO commented that he has not fished for some time, but recalled that he used tides and daylight when he was fishing. He expressed concern for health and safety issues. He related that the change to DST affects drivers, and in a recent drive from Soldotna to Anchorage that he drove in the dark. However, if the DST did not go into effect, that he would have had daylight for his morning drive. Additionally, commuters in Alaska must traverse regions populated with moose. Thus, the change to DST creates hazards. He opined that repealing DST would allow Alaskan to drive to/from work in the daylight. He mentioned that students and drivers are sleep deprived for the several weeks that it takes to adjust to the time change. He opined that DST does not make sense in Alaska. 3:50:29 PM HENRY NOVAK stated that he was born and raised in Alaska. He recalled when Alaska had five time zones. He related that the DST "screws him up for about three weeks every time we go back and forth." He suggested that the time should be left alone year round, although he did not care if it was Alaska Standard Time or DST, just that it should remain the same year round. CHAIR OLSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 20. 3:52:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report HJR 20, labeled 26- LS0501\R out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, HJR 20 was reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 3:53:19 PM The committee took an at-ease from 3:53 p.m. to 3:55 p.m.