Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519

03/27/2007 01:30 PM House FINANCE


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ HB 136 DENTAL HYGIENISTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 136(FIN) Out of Committee
+ HB 137 SENIOR FISHING/HUNTING/TRAPPING LICENSES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ HB 168 LAND TRANSFERS ALASKA RR & DOTPF TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled But Not Heard
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 19 LIMITED DRIVER'S LICENSES TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 19(FIN) Out of Committee
HOUSE BILL NO. 19                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to ignition interlock limited driver's                                                                    
     license privileges."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:45:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair  Stoltze MOVED to ADOPT  the work draft to  HB 19,                                                                   
labeled  25-LS0133\N,  Luckhaupt, 3/20/07.    There being  NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  PAWLOWSKI,  STAFF,  CO-CHAIR  MEYER,  explained  the                                                                   
changes in  the new CS.   The first technical change  on page                                                                   
1,  line  13,  clarifies  language.   The  second  change  in                                                                   
Section 2 (d),  addresses the concern about how  to deal with                                                                   
a  person who  lacks access  yet  wants to  get an  interlock                                                                   
device installed.   This section provides that  such a person                                                                   
can apply to the  court for the old type of  limited license.                                                                   
It removes DMV's authority to grant a limited license.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pawlowski  explained  the  change  in Section  3.    The                                                                   
primary change  is on page  4, lines  4-6, where the  type of                                                                   
person  qualified to  request a limited  license is  changed.                                                                   
It eliminates the  person who is guilty of refusal  to take a                                                                   
breathalyzer test.   Page 4, lines  24-30, adds items  to the                                                                   
application  process for  a limited license.   These  changes                                                                   
allow that  someone who  is eligible to  apply for  a limited                                                                   
license  today is  also  eligible to  apply  for an  ignition                                                                   
interlock device.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:49:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pawlowski  summarized  that the purpose  of the  ignition                                                                   
interlock device is to keep a person from re-offending.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer asked  if a person convicted for  a felony DUI                                                                   
would be  eligible for the  device.  Mr. Pawlowski  clarified                                                                   
that they  could not under  current statute, and  they cannot                                                                   
under CSHB 19 (FIN).                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pawlowski referred  to  the letter  from  DPS about  the                                                                   
reduction  of repeat  DWI's with  the use of  this device  in                                                                   
Canada (copy on file.)                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:50:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker asked  if  there is  a  change to  the                                                                   
fiscal  note.    Mr. Pawlowski  reported  that  DMV  did  not                                                                   
anticipate higher  costs because the new CS  would expand the                                                                   
number of persons qualifying for a limited license.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Crawford  thought the original version  of the                                                                   
bill was  a better bill.   He wondered about  safeguards that                                                                   
would prevent  misuse of the  device.  Mr. Pawlowski  related                                                                   
several scenarios.   He described  how the device  works when                                                                   
someone  impaired  tries  to   drive.    He  noted  that  new                                                                   
technologies are  coming up with new ways to  prevent misuse.                                                                   
He pointed out that the devices  are fairly tamper resistant.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer added  that currently there are  abuses of the                                                                   
system.   Representative  Crawford agreed  with the  ideas in                                                                   
the bill, but liked the original bill better.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:56:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara pointed  out  that this  version of  the                                                                   
bill is  strong and  includes two  requested provisions.   He                                                                   
asked  if the  language is  acceptable  to the  courts.   Mr.                                                                   
Pawlowski indicated that it was.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara summarized  the two  parts of the  bill.                                                                   
One part  allows for the  interlock device while  the license                                                                   
is suspended.   The  second provision  allows for the  device                                                                   
during probation.   He spoke in favor of the  revised version                                                                   
of  the bill,  including limiting  the  device to  non-felony                                                                   
cases.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:59:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Joule asked for  data on  the success  of the                                                                   
device  in  Canada.   Mr.  Pawlowski  read,  "In  neighboring                                                                   
Canada,   one   province  that   has   implemented   ignition                                                                   
interlocks is showing  a reduction in the repeat  DWI rate by                                                                   
80% during the  first 12 months for first-time  offenders and                                                                   
by 74%  during the first  24 months among repeat  offenders."                                                                   
Representative Joule  recalled a personal story  and spoke in                                                                   
favor of the bill.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pawlowski  pointed  out that motorcycles  are covered  on                                                                   
page 2, Section 2.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:01:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Gara MOVED  to REPORT  CSHB 19  (FIN) out  of                                                                   
committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB (19)  was REPORTED  out of  Committee  with a "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and  with  a  new zero  fiscal  note  by  the                                                                   
Department of Transportation and  Public Facilities, and with                                                                   
fiscal note #2 by the Administration.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:02:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

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