04/25/2002 04:30 PM Senate STA

                                                                                                                                
             HB 438-DISABLED VETERANS LICENSE PLATES                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. JIM  POUND, Aide to  Representative Lesil McGuire,  sponsor of                                                              
HB  438, said  the Legislature  has  repeatedly honored  veterans.                                                              
The  most noticeable  form  of recognition  has  been the  special                                                              
license  plates that  signify branches  of  service, Purple  Heart                                                              
recipients  and Medal  of Honor  recipients.   However, there  are                                                              
approximately  900 disabled  veterans who  are only recognized  by                                                              
the standard blue-and-gold  Alaska license plate  with the letters                                                              
D-A-V.  He said  HB 438 would change that license  plate to a red,                                                              
white and blue license  plate, an example of which  is in the bill                                                              
packet.   These license  plates would be  available in  two forms,                                                              
one for veterans who are eligible  for special parking and one for                                                              
those who  are not.  All disabled  veterans who meet  the standard                                                              
municipal  tax deduction  requirement of  50% disability  would be                                                              
eligible for  these license  plates.   He said HB  438 has  a zero                                                              
fiscal note because the Division  of Motor Vehicles is running out                                                              
of the blue-and-gold disabled veterans' license plates.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HALFORD said  the existing  law, which  also appeared  on                                                              
page 2, lines 14-16 of HB 438, stated,  "or a resident 65 years of                                                              
age or older  who files a written application for  an exemption on                                                              
a form prescribed by the department."   He asked what the basis of                                                              
that exemption is.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. POUND said he did not know.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There was no further testimony                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HALFORD  moved HB  438 from  committee with attached  zero                                                              
fiscal note and individual recommendations.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if there were any objections.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
There  being  no  objection,  HB 438  moved  from  committee  with                                                              
attached fiscal note and individual recommendations.