SB 33-NAME STATE FERRIES: M/V TAZLINA & HUBBARD  CO-CHAIR WOOL announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 33, "An Act naming the state ferries built in Ketchikan and entering Alaska marine highway system service on or after 2017; and providing for an effective date." 1:41:35 PM MICHAEL NEUSSL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF), said that the process to develop names for the two new Alaska Class Ferries (ACFs) was conducted over a year and was essentially a middle and high school essay contest. He reported that there were roughly 450 essays submitted that were judged by an independent panel that narrowed the entries down to the top ten. He continued that the top ten were then sent to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) commissioner, the lieutenant governor, and the governor, who then collectively made the final decisions. He said that the two new ACFs are currently under construction in Ketchikan, Alaska. He said that Alaska Statute mandates that Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) vessels be named after glaciers in Alaska. 1:42:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD requested a project update. MR. NEUSSL reported that the Motor Vessel (M/V) Tazlina is essentially half built. He elaborated that the two ACFs are being built in modules. He said that the first half was rolled outside about a month ago and that the stern half is currently undergoing construction. He added that the main engines and generators have been installed and that the car deck is being built. He noted that several modules were built at the same time so there are a few modules ready to be welded to the larger module. He said that the larger modules are assembled in place in the assembly hall. CO-CHAIR WOOL asked about the completion date of the AFCs. 1:44:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN explained that the latest estimates from the shipyard show delivery of the M/V Tazlina in January 2018 and delivery of the second vessel in January 2019. REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked whether the ACFs would be built on time and on budget. MR. NEUSSL stated that the two new ACFs were built under an innovative procurement model called the construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) process. He reported that the state selected Vigor shipyard in Ketchikan as a general manager and a construction manager for the project. He said that the next step included negotiating a best price maximum guarantee price contract with Vigor. He explained that the ACFs were all state funded through appropriation of unrestricted general funds (UGF). REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN clarified that he wanted to make sure it was known that the ACFs were "contract no guaranteed no credit price increases." 1:45:25 PM CO-CHAIR WOOL opened public testimony on SB 33. After ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND moved to report SB 33 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SB 33 was reported from the House Transportation Standing Committee. 1:47:06 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:47 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.