SB 24-MARINE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD  CHAIR EGAN announced consideration of SB 24. 1:35:12 PM DOUG LETCH, staff, Senator Gary Stevens, sponsor of SB 24, explained that Senate Bill 24 alters the makeup of the Alaska Marine Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) by adding a twelfth seat designated for a representative from Southcentral Alaska. The bill also adds Gustavus to the list of communities from which a person can be appointed to represent northern Southeast Alaska. MR. LETCH said the bill would give a voice to the Southcentral communities which were previously included in a district that includes Unalaska. The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce requested that Southcentral communities be represented by their own member on MTAB. He noted that SB 24 comes with a reasonable fiscal note in the amount of $3,000 per year. He listed letters of support from the Kodiak, Homer, and Soldovia Chambers of Commerce. He concluded that the bill would go a long way towards serving Southcentral Alaska. 1:38:03 PM SENATOR DYSON asked if anyone from the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOTPF) was present. He noted that DOTPF does not have any objections to SB 24. He wondered if having an even number of members on MTAB would present a problem for voting. MR. LETCH thought MTAB meetings were fairly amicable. He said the bill attempts to minimize cost by adding only one seat. He did not see a problem with an even number of votes. SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH asked if MTAB has a set of bylaws. MR. LETCH offered to provide that information. SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH said she has the same questions about the number of members and how that would reflect on a quorum. MR. LETCH offered to look into it. SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH said she was in support of SB 24 as long as it does not oppose MTAB's bylaws. MR. LETCH agreed, and offered to provide the requested information. CHAIR EGAN opened public testimony. 1:42:40 PM TREVOR BROWN, Executive Director, Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of SB 24. He referred to a letter of support dated January 24. He noted that currently thirteen communities in Southwest Alaska are represented by one person on MTAB. He said that Kodiak and the rest of Southcentral Alaska is served by the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) year round, and prefers to have its own representative on MTAB. He added that Southcentral has different needs than the Aleutian Chain area. 1:44:30 PM GEORGE SMALLWOOD, testifying on his own behalf, said he commutes between Homer and Soldovia on the ferry system. He spoke in support of SB 24 in order to have a representative on MTAB that would benefit the people of his area. 1:45:28 PM CHAIR EGAN asked if the bill needs to be amended to include Gustavus. MR. LETCH said that provision is in the bill. CHAIR EGAN suggested holding the bill until Mr. Letch can provide answers to members' questions. SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH preferred to move the bill. She said she assumed that the bylaws would take care of everything. SENATOR DYSON moved to report SB 24, labeled 28-LS0058\A, from committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note. There being no objection, SB 24 moved from the Senate Transportation Standing Committee.