2000-02-01                     Senate Journal                      Page 2142
SB 232                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 232 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act requiring written consent by the person                                
who is the subject of the information before                                   
releasing personal information contained in motor                              
vehicle records, to comply with 18 U.S.C. 2721; and                            
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance          
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Fiscal note published today from Department of Administration.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-02-01                     Senate Journal                      Page 2143
SB 232                                                                       
Governors transmittal letter dated January 31:                                 
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
I am transmitting a bill relating to consent before releasing personal         
information contained in motor vehicle records to comply with recent           
changes to the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994.                
Provisions in this bill must be in effect by June 1, 2000, to avoid            
any possible federal fines.                                                    
                                                                               
Alaska law currently restricts the release of personal information by          
the division of motor vehicles (DMV) in the Department of                      
Administration to government agencies, including law enforcement               
and the courts, to businesses to verify information submitted to them          
by individuals, and to other persons for purposes prescribed by law.           
It also allows the release for commercial purposes or any other                
purpose if the person who is the subject of the information is given           
an opportunity to request that the information not be released for             
these purposes. This bill provides that information may be released            
for commercial or other purposes only if the person who is the                 
subject of the information has provided written consent to the                 
release. Thus, rather than giving a person an opportunity to object to         
the release of personal information, the DMV cannot release the                
information unless the person has affirmatively consented in writing           
to the release.                                                                
                                                                               
These amendments will protect the privacy of Alaskans.                         
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor