SENATOR TAYLOR opened the meeting, without a quorum, on HB 170                
 (EXTEND BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS) to hear testimony from HANS                   
 ANTONSEN, OFFNET from Ketchikan.  He assured MR. ANTONSEN his                 
 testimony would be included in the minutes as soon as a quorum                
 assembled.                                                                    
                                                                               
 MR. ANTONSEN introduced himself as the President of the Southeast             
 Alaska Marine Pilot's Association, and he spoke in support of the             
 act extending the termination date of the Board of Marine Pilots to           
 June 30, 1998.  He explained the Board of Marine Pilots has been              
 busy writing regulations in support of the statute of the present             
 Pilot Act and had been meeting more regularly than previous years.            
                                                                               
 MR. ANTONSEN said funding problems would curtail the meetings after           
 the February 7th meeting of the Board of Marine Pilots, the last              
 meeting before the end of the fiscal year.  He explained the board            
 was still working on the statutes including a number that has not             
 yet gone to public testimony for the first time, so the board would           
 be addressing a number of issues beyond the February 7th meeting.             
 He offered to answer questions.                                               
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR thanked MR. ANTONSEN, and invited GLENN REED, the              
 Deputy Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development to                   
 testify.                                                                      
                                                                               
 MR. REED also spoke as a member of the Board of Marine Pilots,                
 explaining the extension was essential due to the continued                   
 emphasis on competition requirements to set tariffs in the constant           
 evolution of state statutes and regulations which would require               
 implementation in the interest of commerce and safety.                        
                                                                               
 Number 041                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR TAYLOR announced a quorum had been seated, all testimony              
 accepted, and began the discussion on the termination date for the            
 Board of Marine Pilots.  He reviewed the ramifications of the bill,           
 including marine pilot legislation from the past year, and asked              
 for questions.                                                                
                                                                               
 SENATOR LITTLE moved to pass HB 170 (EXTEND BOARD OF MARINE PILOTS)           
 from committee with individual recommendations.  SENATOR TAYLOR               
 reviewed the testimony from MR. ANTONSEN and MR. REED, and without            
 objections, so ordered.