HB 131-COMMUNITY AND TRANSPORTATION ADV. BOARD    1:05:13 PM CHAIR P. WILSON announced that the first only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 131, "An Act establishing the Alaska Community and Public Transportation Advisory Board and relating to a long-range community and public transportation plan; and providing for an effective date." 1:05:39 PM KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Representative Cathy Munoz, Alaska State Legislature, recapped HB 131 on behalf of the prime sponsor. She explained that HB 131 would create a Community and Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB), which was recommended by the Governor's Coordinated Transportation Task Force (GCTTF). The GCTTF has been doing an excellent job in addressing community transportation needs across the state, but it decided having a permanent board, the Community and Transportation Advisory Board (CTAB) would be advantageous. She explained that nearly seven million trips are provided by the communities annually. The proposed CTAB member composition would be similar to the GCTTF except for the addition of a representative from the Denali Commission. She reiterated the additional CTAB members. She explained the fiscal note, relating the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) indicated that $90,000 in costs would be covered by federal receipts, $10,000 in state matching funds, and an additional $10,000 from the Alaska Mental Health Trust general fund monies. 1:07:39 PM PAT BRANSON, Executive Director, Senior Citizens of Kodiak; Member; Alaska Commission on Aging (ACG); Member; Governor's Coordinated Transportation Task Force(GCTTF), stated that the Senior Citizens of Kodiak is the lead agency for the Kodiak Coordinated Transportation System. She related that it provides 1,500 rides to seniors and Alaska Mental Health Trust beneficiaries each month. The transit system provides a link to senior services and routine trips for dental, medical or shopping. Access to these activities helps keep senior citizens active in the community. The added community transportation system adds to the local economy and helps provide a balanced community. She asked members to imagine returning to their home communities and not have a car or the ability to travel to places they wished to go. She said people cannot always count on friends and relatives for rides. She indicated the goal of these organizations is to help people retain a sense of remaining in their own community, no matter what age, and living independently for as long as possible. She maintained that this goal is one the GCTTF wants for all Alaskans. She reported that with respect to the ACG, of the 2,797 seniors who responded to an ACG survey, 47 percent rated transportation of great importance. Recent surveys in Kodiak also rated transportation of even higher importance in Kodiak. She explained that one of the positive results from participating in the GCTTF has been to discuss and review funding and approaches with various agencies to provide efficient transportation to communities. 1:09:57 PM MS. BRANSON explained the importance of having a full scope of connecting agencies that understand funding streams, transportation needs, and availability. Many state agencies fund transportation services but do not connect or understand transportation funding. The Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) receives federal pass through funds directed to transit systems for public and coordinated transit systems. However, state funding does not support transit systems, she said. The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) also obtains federal pass through funding for senior transportation. Other agencies, such as the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD) and Vocational Rehabilitation, or Medicaid provide transportation services, but the services are not coordinated or streamlined to provide efficient transportation for dollars spent. The GCTTF has held long-range planning discussions statewide, including public input. The public has clearly identified transportation as a key issue for residents no matter where they live in the state or which mode of transportation they use. 1:11:01 PM MS. BRANSON highlighted the importance of HB 131 since it would provide a permanent board to continue to improve agency coordination, efficiencies, cost saving measures for the delivery of transit services, and removal of barriers that prevent Alaskans from traveling within their communities so they can remain in Alaska. 1:11:31 PM CHAIR P. WILSON, after first determining no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 131. 1:12:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, which read, as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 3, line 7, following "year" Insert, ", or is otherwise unable to serve." REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that proposed Amendment 1 would allow the majority of the board the right to petition the governor to remove a board member if a member misses more than two meetings in a calendar year or is not able to serve. This would make it clear that the board is not limited to the ability to petition for any reason other than missing meetings. There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:13:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG made a motion to adopt Amendment 2, labeled 27-LS0418\M.1, Kane, 3/15/11, which read, as follows: Page 4, line 3, following "available": Insert "(1)" Page 4, line 6, following "funding": Insert "; and (2) from federal sources for the expenses of the board and report that information to the governor, the chairs of the senate and house finance committees, and the chairs of the senate and house transportation committees" REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON objected for the purpose of discussion. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained Amendment 2 would expand the annual review to include examining the effective use of funding from federal sources, plus it would further identify the specific committees who would receive the report. He explained that this would help identify an issue in which the federal funds were pulled and the legislature was not aware of the change. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON removed his objection. There being no objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 1:15:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HB 131, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, the CSHB 131(TRA) was reported from the House Transportation Standing Committee.