Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 106
03/07/2006 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Personnel Board | |
| HB448 | |
| HB475 | |
| HB383 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 475 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 448 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 383 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 448-LICENSE PLATES FOR MASONS 8:11:35 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 448, "An Act relating to special license plates for the Free and Accepted Masons." 8:11:47 AM JENNIFER BAXTER, Staff to Representative Jim Elkins, Alaska State Legislature, introduced HB 448 on behalf of Representative Elkins, sponsor. The proposed bill would amend AS 28.10.181, by adding a new subsection that would allow the Department of Administration to "design and issue registration plates representing the Free and Accepted Masons of Alaska." In response to a request from Representative Gardner for information on the Free and Accepted Masons of Alaska, she suggested Mr. Van Horn would provide the information at the next hearing of the bill. 8:13:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked if the bill allows the design of a registration plate, or "merely to make it possible for a Mason to have a plate of their own." 8:13:36 AM MS. BAXTER offered her understanding that it would be "for their own plate, but it'll be their own design." 8:13:54 AM CHAIR SEATON suggested Mr. Bannock from the Division of Motor Vehicles could provide further information. 8:14:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN opined that the Free and Accepted Masons is an organization dating back to the foundation of the nation. He named the Knights of Columbus as another such honorable organization, "which would kind of balance the scales a bit." 8:15:21 AM CHAIR SEATON told Ms. Baxter that the committee would like a fact sheet detailing the Free and Accepted Masons. Furthermore he asked that the sponsor supply a listing of the designer plates that exist to date. He observed that the committee packet included a zero fiscal note, and he said the committee would address that issue with Mr. Bannock. 8:16:12 AM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, in response to Representative Lynn's original question, said he believes the bill would serve to bring about both the design of a registration plate, as well as the issuance of the plate through the division. In response to a follow-up question from Representative Lynn, said several groups have approached the division to get a license plate. In order to keep the costs as low as possible, he said, the actual artwork would be provided by the sponsor, and for $300 the plate manufacturer could form the plate. There is a certain format that must be followed regarding plate design, he added. 8:18:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER brought attention to the last line of the bill, which read: The department may disapprove the issuance of registration plates under this subsection when the requested plates are a duplication of an existing registration. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated her assumption that there may be other grounds on which a design might be disapproved. 8:18:51 AM MR. BANNOCK answered that's correct. He said: That line seems to be a duplicative line from other sections within this same chapter, which specifically have to do with the concept that it is not the background of the license plate that makes a license plate different, but rather the letter, and numbers, and the combinations thereof on them. ... If my license plate says "DUANE" ..., just because the DUANE plate is on a gold background, that doesn't mean that some other Duane could get the DUANE plate on the Free Mason plate. 8:19:47 AM MR. BANNOCK responded to a series of questions from Representative Gatto with the following answers: One, there is currently no paramedic/fire fighter plate in existence. Two, he has not rejected a group in the three years that he has been the director of the division. Three, there is a fee of $30 that is a one-time-only charge [for a vanity plate]. Four, there is a $5 fee to transfer a vanity plate from one vehicle to the next. Five, he has not been faced with having to turn down anyone's request yet; however, if he did make that decision it could be trumped by hearing officers. CHAIR SEATON offered his understanding that "there has to be a bill to come through to allow a group to apply to you for a specialty plate, other than the regular vanity plates." 8:22:03 AM MR. BANNOCK answered that's 100 percent correct. In response to a follow-up question from Chair Seaton, he said the division is contacted no less than a dozen times a year, but not many of those contacts make it to the legislative process. 8:23:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked what happens to user rights to a vanity plate after the original owner has passed away. 8:23:28 AM MR. BANNOCK responded that "after 12 months of nonexpiration, the plate becomes available again." 8:23:41 AM CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony. CHAIR SEATON announced that HB 448 was heard and held.
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