SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar CSHB 397(STA)- EXEMPTIONS FROM  DRIVER'S LICENSING and its three accompanying fiscal notes at the Chairman's discretion. SENATOR ELLIS said it was his understanding that this bill was held up for further amending. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS said it is the policy of the Chairman, if the sponsor objects to the amendments, to let the bill go to the floor where amendments can be offered. SENATOR THERRIAULT said he was considering offering an amendment. He told Representative Kohring, sponsor of HB 397, that he is personally torn on this bill because as a child he delivered newspapers via snowmachine in the winter. However, his snowmachine wasn't a fuel-injected rocket on skis. HB 397 removes any kind of requirement for operation of a snow machine. He said he is concerned about 12 and 13 year olds driving machines that weight thousands of pounds that travel at 70 and 80 miles per hour. He asked what should be done about when parents allow their children to use those machines recklessly. REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING said that violating property rights or reckless endangerment is more of an enforcement issue and that law enforcement officers will have to be attentive to that. HB 397 simply eliminates the need for a driver's license. He does not see how getting a driver's license, which proves competency to drive a car on a city street, as being germane to driving a snowmachine out in the woods. He suggested the legislature look at legislation in the future that deals with safety issues, similar to Representative Hudson's bill on boating safety. He noted the Alaska Snowmobile Representatives' Alliance is suggesting something along that line be done in state regulations and certification. SENATOR COWDERY said the question of what to do with a 13 year old who gets on a missile was raised in the Senate Transportation Committee. He said the same issue occurs when a 13 year old gets in a parent's car. He said he believes it is the parents' responsibility to see that doesn't happen. He pointed out that this [amendment] could affect battery operated four wheelers for toddlers. SENATOR ELLIS said he believes CSHB 397(STA) is an incomplete package. He hears from the medical professionals who deal with the "kids on the missiles" with traumatic head injuries. He stated he wishes there was an effort to address some of the safety concerns in this bill. He added that the boating safety legislation took almost 20 years to pass and it applied primarily to adults. He hopes the sponsor will give more consideration to minimal safety requirements. CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS said he shares Senator Ellis's concerns and that two or three amendments will be proposed on the Senate floor. SENATOR ELLIS noted objection to Senator Cowdery's motion to calendar CSHB 397(STA). CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS announced that the motion to calendar HB 397 carried with Senators Therriault, Cowdery and Phillips in favor and Senator Ellis opposed.