State Senate approves new ferry board to help ailing Alaska Marine Highway System

JUNEAU — A new nine-member board will write long-term plans for Alaska’s state ferry system, under new legislation approved Tuesday by the state Senate.

The new ferry board has already been approved by the state House and needs only a procedural vote before advancing to the desk of Gov. Mike Dunleavy for final approval.

The idea was one of 12 pieces of legislation that passed the House or Senate on Tuesday as lawmakers scramble to advance bills before end of the regular session on Wednesday. Except for the budget and a handful of fiscal ideas slated for special sessions this year, bills that do not advance by the end of the day on Wednesday must wait until 2022 for consideration.

The ferry system has repeatedly struggled with long-term planning, and the board members will serve staggered six-year terms, a structure intended to provide stability across multiple governors.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2021/05/18/state-senate-approves-new-ferry-board-to-help-ailing-alaska-marine-highway-system/
(Anchorage Daily News)