00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 438                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to motor vehicle registration plates for disabled veterans; and                                        
02 providing for an effective date."                                                                                       
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1.  AS 28.10.181(d) is amended to read:                                                                  
05            (d)  Vehicles owned by disabled veterans, including persons disabled in the                                  
06       line of duty while serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard, or other persons with                                 
07       disabilities.  Upon the request of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the                          
08       ability to walk, as defined in 23 C.F.R. 1235.2, the department shall (1) register one                            
09       passenger vehicle in the name of the person without charge, except for a registration                         
10       under (3) of this subsection; [AND] (2) issue a specially designed registration plate                         
11       that displays (A) recognition of the disabled veteran if the applicant's disability                               
12       originated from the applicant's service with the Alaska Territorial Guard or the armed                            
13       forces of the United States; and (B) the standard symbol of disability (the wheelchair                            
14       logo); and (3) if the vehicle is not registered under (1) of this subsection, register                        

01       one passenger vehicle and issue a registration plate that contains the Alaska and                             
02       United States flags and red, white, and blue colors.  A disabled veteran who is not                           
03       otherwise qualified under this subsection, but who presents to the department written                             
04       proof that the person is at least 70 percent disabled or medically handicapped as a                               
05       consequence of service in the Alaska Territorial Guard or the armed forces of the                                 
06       United States, may register one passenger vehicle without charge unless the person                            
07       requests a plate described under (3) of this subsection, and the department shall                             
08       issue a specially designed registration plate described under (2) or (3) of this                              
09       subsection that displays recognition of the disabled veteran that does not display the                        
10       standard handicap symbol and does not carry with it special parking privileges.  For                              
11       purposes of this subsection, proof of disability may be provided by a person licensed                             
12       as a physician under AS 08.64 or as an advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68.                                
13    * Sec. 2.  AS 28.10.421(d)(3) is amended to read:                                                                  
14                 (3)  a vehicle owned by a disabled veteran or other handicapped person,                                 
15       and registered under AS 28.10.181(d)(1) and (2) [AS 28.10.181] or a resident 65                               
16       years of age or older who files a written application for an exemption on a form                                  
17       prescribed by the department.................................................................................none;
18    * Sec. 3.  AS 28.10.421(d) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                           
19                 (16)  special request disabled veteran plates....................................$30                    
20       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b)(1) or (2) of this section; the fee required                      
21       by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance for a vehicle registered                          
22       under AS 28.10.181(d)(3), and on the replacement of special request plates; the                                   
23       commissioner of administration shall separately account for the fees received under                               
24       this paragraph that the department deposits in the general fund; notwithstanding (g) of                           
25       this section, the annual estimated balance in the account that is in excess of the cost of                        
26       issuing special request plates may be appropriated by the legislature to the Department                           
27       of Military and Veterans' Affairs for veterans rehabilitation and service work.                                   
28    * Sec. 4.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2003.