HB 262-MOTORCYCLE/SCOOTER AWARENESS MONTH  2:34:08 PM CHAIR P. WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 262, "An Act establishing the month of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month." 2:34:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE WES KELLER, Alaska State Legislature, asked his staff to present HB 262. JIM POUND, Staff, Representative Wes Keller, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Wes Keller, prime sponsor of HB 262, explained that HB 262 would make the month of May motorcycle awareness month. He related that many states have adopted the month of May as motorcycle awareness month, primarily since it the month when motorcycles begin the use roadways. It is an awareness campaign aimed as a reminder for automobile and truck drivers to use extra caution. It also has to do with establishing an annual advertising campaign for heightened awareness. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered that he is a strong supporter of the bill. He said he is also a motor scooter fan. He related that visibility is a problem for motorcycles and also for motor scooters and asked if the sponsor would object to expanding the bill to include motor scooters. MR. POUND said the sponsor would not object. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN stated that he supports the bill. REPRESENTATIVE KELLER, in response to Representative Johansen stated that he came to the state on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN offered his strong support for HB 262. He thought he had asked to cosponsor the bill. He stated that his brother is a motorcycle rider. He has also lost several friends to motorcycle accidents so he is interested in the safety aspects of HB 262. It is important to make people aware that motorcycles are back on the road. 2:38:48 PM MR. POUND, in response to Representative T. Wilson, explained that considerable funding for motorcycle safety is federal funding provided to the Alaska Highway Safety Office (AHSO). He explained that the motorcycle safety courses and the "Learn to Ride" program are provided from the same funds. In further response to Representative T. Wilson, he said he was not sure of the amount of money. 2:39:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ offered her support for HB 262. She learned through this bill process that Juneau has the highest per capita motorcycle ownership in the country. She related that one issue the motorcycle drivers expressed concern about was the mandatory headlight law, which may be harmful to motorcycles since motorcyclists currently use headlights. Their concern is "they may be lost in a sea of lights" if a mandatory requirement for headlights passed; that motorists may not notice the motorcycles. MR. POUND pointed out that most new motorcycles have an automatic headlights ignition switch. He tended to agree that the vehicles that motorcycles tend to disappear a little more. He stated that he cannot argue with the importance to have automobiles visible as well. 2:41:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG made a motion to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1. He stated that in every place motorcycle appears in the bill, including lines 1, 4, 5, 8, and 9 to add the phrase "motor scooter". There being no objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted. 2:42:38 PM DAN MCCRUMMEN, Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education (ABATE), stated that ABATE, consists of about 90 members who provide training to promote safe driving. He pointed out that nationwide May is awareness month. In Alaska, the ABATE organization promotes safe motorcycling and to reminds drivers motorcycles are on the roadway. He urged members to pass HB 262. 2:43:38 PM BOYD MCPHIEL, Legislative Affairs Coordinator, Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education (ABATE), urged the committee to pass the bill. He has worked for 20 years on proclamations to raise awareness to vehicles that motorcycles are on the road in greater numbers. He supported adding motor scooters since they do apply. He invited Representative Gruenberg and other members to partake in one of the rider education courses ABATE sponsors. 2:45:36 PM CHAIR P. WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 262. REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN moved to report CSHB 262(TRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 262(TRA) was reported from the House Transportation Standing Committee. 2:46:35 PM The committee took an at-ease from 2:46 p.m. to 2:47 p.m. 2:47:21 PM