Legislators continue work on ferry system advisory board

State House and Senate committees continue to work on competing bills that would change the membership of the state ferry system advisory board.

The Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday heard the governor's bill, while the House State Affairs Committee considered legislation Tuesday offered by House Speaker Louise Stutes, of Kodiak.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proposal would allow every governor to change out the board's membership, while Stutes' legislation attempts to protect almost half the members from changeover with each new governor.

The two versions are similar, however, in changing the makeup of the board.

Current state statute says half the board seats are reserved for communities served by the Alaska Marine Highway System. The two bills before lawmakers would remove the strict geographic requirements and emphasize that a majority of the board must have experience in the marine industry.

The intent behind the governor's bill is that the board offer operational and long-term planning advice, rather than members focusing on what level of service their communities want, Andy Mills, special assistant to the Transportation Department commissioner, said at the Senate Transportation Committee on March 25.

The current membership "is mainly geographical, there are not a lot of qualifications," Kerry Crocker, a staffer to Stutes, told the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday.

A board majority with experience in the marine industry is "crucial," Stutes said at the House Transportation Committee on March 18. "It strengthens the governance for the Alaska Marine Highway System," she said of the new membership provisions.

House State Affairs is holding the bill to next week for possible amendments. From that committee, it would move to the full House for a vote.

The Senate Transportation Committee took public testimony on the bill Tuesday and could take up the measure again.

Lawmakers are working toward adjournment in May, and for either bill to become law both legislative chambers have to pass the same measure, which would then need the governor's signature.

The governor's proposal would create the Alaska Marine Highway System Operation and Planning Board and direct the Department of Transportation to consult with the panel in developing a short-term and long-term plan for the ferry system.

The House speaker's bill would call it the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board, with a similar consultation role.

House State Affairs Chair Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, of Sitka, said he wants the board "as empowered as possible."

"The goal of the bill is ... more long-term planning," Crocker told the State Affairs Committee Tuesday.

The existing Marine Transportation Advisory Board was created under then-Gov. Frank Murkowski 18 years ago.