Alaska 2023-2024 Regular Session

Alaska Senate Bill SB263 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	SB0263A -1- SB 263
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5	5	33-LS1460\A
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11	11	SENATE BILL NO. 263
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13	13	IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
14	14
15	15	THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
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17	17	BY THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
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19	19	Introduced: 4/12/24
20	20	Referred: Transportation
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22	22
23	23	A BILL
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25	25	FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
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27	27	"An Act relating to the Roads and Highways Advisory Board; relating to metropolitan 1
28	28	planning organizations; relating to the statewide transportation improvement program; 2
29	29	and providing for an effective date." 3
30	30	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
31	31	* Section 1. AS 19.20.220 is amended to read: 5
32	32	Sec. 19.20.220. Approval of local transportation improvement plan. The 6
33	33	governor may approve a transportation improvement plan or an amendment to a 7
34	34	transportation improvement plan prepared by a metropolitan planning organization if 8
35	35	the plan is consistent with applicable federal law and regulation [AND THE POLICY 9
36	36	BOARD OF THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION IS 10
37	37	ORGANIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF 11
38	38	AS 19.20.210]. 12
39	39	* Sec. 2. AS 44.42 is amended by adding a new section to read: 13
40	40	Sec. 44.42.053. Statewide transportation improvement program. (a) The 14 33-LS1460\A
41	41	SB 263 -2- SB0263A
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44	44	department shall develop a four-year statewide transportation improvement program 1
45	45	for transportation system preservation, improvement, and development and shall 2
46	46	revise the program every two years. 3
47	47	(b) The statewide transportation improvement program must include a 4
48	48	description of how the program contributes to the goals and objectives listed in the 5
49	49	long-range transportation plan developed under AS 44.42.050. 6
50	50	(c) The department shall conform the statewide transportation improvement 7
51	51	program to the requirements for participation in a federal transportation program and 8
52	52	for participation in other available transportation funding programs. 9
53	53	(d) The department shall incorporate without change in the statewide 10
54	54	transportation improvement program a transportation improvement plan prepared by a 11
55	55	metropolitan planning organization and approved by the governor under 12
56	56	AS 19.20.220. 13
57	57	(e) The department shall provide an ongoing opportunity for public 14
58	58	participation in the development of the statewide transportation improvement program 15
59	59	by means of an Internet website. The department shall notify the senate secretary, the 16
60	60	chief clerk of the house of representatives, and the public when the department 17
61	61	submits the statewide transportation improvement program, or a change to the 18
62	62	statewide transportation improvement program, to the federal government. The notice 19
63	63	must include the program or change that was submitted to the federal government. The 20
64	64	department may use the Alaska Online Public Notice System under AS 44.62.175 or 21
65	65	another public Internet website to provide notice to the public. 22
66	66	* Sec. 3. AS 44.42 is amended by adding new sections to read: 23
67	67	Article 4A. Roads and Highways Advisory Board. 24
68	68	Sec. 44.42.450. Roads and Highways Advisory Board. The Roads and 25
69	69	Highways Advisory Board is established in the department. 26
70	70	Sec. 44.42.460. Membership. (a) The board consists of the following 27
71	71	members appointed by the governor: 28
72	72	(1) one member from the commercial trucking industry; 29
73	73	(2) one member from a highway-related travel or tourism industry; 30
74	74	(3) one member from the heavy construction industry; 31 33-LS1460\A
75	75	SB0263A -3- SB 263
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78	78	(4) one member from each metropolitan planning organization in the 1
79	79	state; 2
80	80	(5) one member who represents an advocacy group for nonmotorized 3
81	81	or limited mobility transportation; 4
82	82	(6) one member who represents the department; 5
83	83	(7) one public member from the first or second judicial district; 6
84	84	(8) one public member from the third judicial district; and 7
85	85	(9) one public member from the fourth judicial district. 8
86	86	(b) The board shall elect a chair from among its members. 9
87	87	(c) The department shall provide staff for the board. 10
88	88	(d) Members of the board serve without compensation, but are entitled to per 11
89	89	diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 12
90	90	Sec. 44.42.470. Terms. Members of the board serve staggered terms of three 13
91	91	years. A member of the board may not serve more than two consecutive terms. 14
92	92	Sec. 44.42.480. Meetings. A majority of the members of the board constitutes 15
93	93	a quorum. The board shall meet at least quarterly and by a call of the chair. Meetings 16
94	94	may be held in person or by electronic means. In addition to the subjects that may be 17
95	95	considered in an executive session under AS 44.62.310(c), the board may consider in 18
96	96	an executive session matters that relate to transportation plans and projects that are not 19
97	97	yet public but will be subject to public comment at a later time. 20
98	98	Sec. 44.42.490. Purpose and duties of the board. (a) The purpose of the 21
99	99	board is to provide recommendations to the commissioner on public policy related to 22
100	100	the powers and duties of the department with respect to state road and highway 23
101	101	functions. 24
102	102	(b) The board shall focus on highway construction, equipment use, deferred 25
103	103	maintenance, capital spending, project assessment, project prioritization criteria, 26
104	104	including a future projects list, and identifying other critical needs of the state's road 27
105	105	and highway transportation infrastructure. 28
106	106	(c) At least once every two years, the board shall assess the continued viability 29
107	107	of a road and highway project that has been in the preconstruction phase for at least 30
108	108	three years. For each project, the board may issue a recommendation to the department 31 33-LS1460\A
109	109	SB 263 -4- SB0263A
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112	112	regarding whether it is in the best interest of the state that the project proceed as 1
113	113	planned, undergo reevaluation, or be closed through federal approval. The board shall 2
114	114	submit the recommendation to the department, the senate secretary, and the chief clerk 3
115	115	of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the recommendation is 4
116	116	available. 5
117	117	(d) The board shall advise the department as the department develops and 6
118	118	revises project selection and prioritization criteria and make recommendations to the 7
119	119	department, by resolution of the board, regarding proposed changes in criteria. 8
120	120	(e) In this section, "road and highway" does not include the Alaska marine 9
121	121	highway system or a road or highway within the boundaries of a rural or international 10
122	122	airport. 11
123	123	* Sec. 4. AS 19.20.210 is repealed. 12
124	124	* Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 13
125	125	read: 14
126	126	APPOINTMENT OF INITIAL MEMBERS OF THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS 15
127	127	ADVISORY BOARD. Notwithstanding AS 44.42.470, added by sec. 3 of this Act, the 16
128	128	governor shall appoint the initial members of the Roads and Highways Advisory Board 17
129	129	established in AS 44.42.450, added by sec. 3 of this Act, to staggered terms as follows: 18
130	130	(1) five members shall be appointed to serve terms that expire two years after 19
131	131	the effective date of this Act; and 20
132	132	(2) the remaining members shall be appointed to serve terms that expire three 21
133	133	years after the effective date of this Act. 22
134	134	* Sec. 6. This Act takes effect January 1, 2025. 23