00                            HOUSE BILL NO. 161                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to special request registration plates celebrating the arts; relating to                               
02 artwork in public buildings and facilities; relating to the management of artwork under                                 
03 the art in public places fund; relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska State                                    
04 Council on the Arts; and providing for an effective date."                                                              
05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
06    * Section 1. AS 28.10.421(a) is amended to read:                                                                   
07            (a)  Unless otherwise provided by law,                                                                       
08                 (1)  the fees prescribed in this section shall be paid to the department at                             
09       the times provided under AS 28.10.108 and 28.10.111; [AND]                                                        
10 (2)  an additional fee of $10 shall be added to the registration fee set out                                            
11 in this section for registration not conducted by mail, on the department's Internet                                    
12 website, or at an emissions inspection station or contract office offering vehicle                                      
13 registration services; the department may waive this additional fee for a good cause                                    
14       based on criteria established in regulations adopted by the department; and                                   

01 (3)  an additional fee in an amount not to exceed $50 shall be added                                                
02 to the registration fee set out in this section for a vehicle registration plate                                    
03 celebrating the arts under AS 28.10.161(b)(1)(C); the Alaska State Council on the                                   
04 Arts shall determine the fee required under this paragraph in regulation; the fee                                   
05 shall be collected only on the first issuance and the replacement of the special                                    
06 request plates; the commissioner of administration shall separately account for                                     
07 the fees received under this paragraph that the department deposits in the                                          
08 general fund; notwithstanding (g) of this section, the annual estimated balance in                                  
09 the account that is in excess of the cost of issuing the vehicle registration plate                                 
10 celebrating the arts may be appropriated by the legislature to the Alaska State                                     
11       Council on the Arts.                                                                                          
12    * Sec. 2. AS 35.27.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
13 (h)  The Alaska State Council on the Arts shall manage the relocation,                                                  
14 disposition, and exchange of works of art acquired under this chapter as provided in                                    
15       AS 44.27.050(7).                                                                                                  
16    * Sec. 3. AS 44.27.050 is amended to read:                                                                         
17            Sec. 44.27.050. Duties of council. The council shall                                                       
18 (1)  stimulate and encourage throughout the state the study and                                                         
19 presentation of the performing, visual, literary, and fine arts and public interest,                                    
20       participation, and investment in the arts;                                                                        
21 (2)  conduct research considered advisable on public and private                                                        
22 institutions engaged in the state in artistic and cultural activities, including music,                                 
23 theatre, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, and allied arts and crafts, and make                                 
24 recommendations concerning appropriate methods to encourage participation in and                                        
25 appreciation of the arts to meet the legitimate needs and aspirations of persons in all                                 
26       parts of the state;                                                                                               
27 (3)  take steps necessary and appropriate to encourage public interest in                                               
28       the cultural heritage of the state and to expand the state's cultural resources;                                  
29 (4)  encourage and assist freedom of artistic expression essential for the                                              
30       well-being of the arts;                                                                                           
31                 (5)  manage the art in public places fund;                                                              

01                 (6)  administer the provisions of AS 45.65 relating to the identification                               
02       seal for authentic Alaska Native art created or crafted in the state and adopt                                    
03       regulations to carry out those provisions;                                                                    
04                 (7)  manage and adopt policies and procedures for the relocation,                                   
05       disposition, and exchange of works of art acquired under AS 35.27 or with money                               
06       from the art in public places fund.                                                                         
07    * Sec. 4. AS 44.27 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
08            Sec. 44.27.053. Legal counsel. (a) The attorney general is the legal counsel for                           
09       the council. The attorney general shall advise the council in legal matters arising in the                        
10 discharge of the council's duties and represent the council in suits to which the council                               
11       is a party.                                                                                                       
12 (b)  The council may employ temporary legal counsel for good cause and with                                             
13 the approval of the attorney general. The attorney general may not unreasonably                                         
14       withhold approval.                                                                                                
15    * Sec. 5. AS 44.27.055(d) is amended to read:                                                                      
16 (d)  The operating budget of the council is subject to AS 37.07 (Executive                                              
17 Budget Act), except that AS 37.07 does not apply to funds received from private                                     
18 nonprofit organizations. In this subsection, "nonprofit organization" means an                                      
19       organization that is exempt from taxation under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3).                                          
20    * Sec. 6. AS 44.27.080(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
21 (a)  The council may [SHALL] hold a competition every four years to select a                                        
22 design for the vehicle registration plate celebrating the arts under                                                    
23 AS 28.10.161(b)(1)(C). If the council holds a competition, the [THE] council shall                                  
24 select a panel of judges to judge the submissions for the contest and shall include the                                 
25 previous design winner on the panel. The panel shall select the top submissions, and                                    
26 the council shall conduct a public vote to determine the winner of the competition. The                                 
27 council shall use the winning design when consulting with the commissioner of                                           
28       administration under AS 28.10.161(b)(1)(C).                                                                       
29    * Sec. 7. AS 44.27.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
30 (c)  The council may, in consultation with the Department of Administration,                                            
31 recommend an amount to be appropriated from the annual estimated balance in the                                         

01       account under AS 28.10.421(a)(3) to pay an artist for a winning design.                                           
02    * Sec. 8. This Act takes effect July 1, 2021.