Legislature(1995 - 1996)
05/04/1995 08:30 AM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 4, 1995
8:30 A.M.
TAPE HFC 95-112, Side 1, #000 - end.
TAPE HFC 95-112, Side 2, #000 - end.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Mark Hanley called the House Finance Committee
meeting to order at 8:45 a.m.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Hanley Representative Martin
Co-Chair Foster Representative Mulder
Representative Brown Representative Navarre
Representative Grussendorf Representative Parnell
Representative Kelly Representative Therriault
Representative Kohring
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Dave Donley; Mike Greany, Director, Legislative
Finance Division; Cheryl Sutton, Staff, Representative
Moses; Alan Schuler, Department of Environmental
Conservation; Steve Torak, Chief of Operations,
Environmental Protection Agency; Ed Crane, President, Alaska
Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank.
SUMMARY
HB 284 An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial Fishing
and Agriculture Bank.
HB 284 was assigned to a subcommittee consisting
of Representative Kelly as Chair and
Representatives Brown and Therriault.
SB 28 An Act repealing an additional fee for motor
vehicle registration not conducted by mail and
limiting motor vehicle emissions inspection to
once every two years."
CSSB 28 (FIN)(title am) was reported out of
Committee with "no recommendation" and with two
fiscal impact notes by the Department of
Environmental Conservation dated 4/19/95, and
Department of Public Safety dated 4/29/95.
SENATE BILL NO. 28
"An Act repealing an additional fee for motor vehicle
registration not conducted by mail and limiting motor
vehicle emissions inspection to once every two years."
SENATOR DAVE DONLEY spoke in support of SB 28. He noted
that the Department of Environmental Conservation and the
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) support SB 28 which would
allow biennial motor vehicle emission inspection testing.
He observed that the legislation grants additional
enforcement authority to the Department of Environmental
Conservation. The Department would be allowed to issue a
$200.0 hundred dollar citation in lieu of a misdemeanor
charge. He pointed out that prosecution expense will be
averted with the issuances of a citation. He asserted that
the legislation will save citizens time and money.
In response to a question by Representative Therriault,
Senator Donley clarified that the fee collected by DMV would
be raised from $1.0 to $2.0 dollars. He reiterated that the
Department of Environmental Conservation would be given
direct enforcement authority.
Representative Martin spoke in support of SB 28. He
referred to similar legislation which he sponsored in the
previous session.
Representative Brown clarified that annual vehicle
registration is not being changed. She asked if a biennial
registration period was considered. She also questioned the
effect on municipalities.
Senator Donley emphasized that biennial inspection would
make biennial registration easier.
JUANITA HENSLEY, DIRECTOR, DIVISION MOTOR VEHICLES,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY noted that the Division has not
been able to initiate biennial registration due to piggy
back programs such as the annual I/M inspection and the
annual motor registration tax which is collected for
municipalities. She observed that a statutory change may
not be required to institute a biennial registration
program.
In response to a question by Representative Brown, Senator
Donley explained that the effective dates are staggered to
allow the Department of Environmental Conservation to issue
citations as of July 1, 1995. He emphasized that the
Department needs to show the Environmental Protection Agency
that they have enforcement authority. The implementation of
biennial inspections would begin July 1, 1996.
Representative Kohring spoke in support of SB 28. He
summarized that the cost of the program will be covered by
program receipts.
Ms. Hensley stressed that the Division of Motor Vehicles
will not receive additional funds. She observed that the
Department of Environmental Conservation will collect
program receipts as a result of the $200.0 hundred dollar
fine.
In response to a question by Representative Therriault,
Senator Donley observed that SB 28 was passed unanimously in
the Senate. He stated that there is no municipal opposition
since local taxes will not be impacted.
STEVE TORAK, CHIEF OF STATE OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCIES cautioned members that Anchorage and
Fairbanks still need to continue monitoring their air
quality. He compare the I/M Program to a prescription of an
antibiotic. He emphasized the need to take the full
prescription.
Representative Mulder asked the status of the Mat-Su Valley.
ALAN SCHULER, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
responded that Mat-Su Valley commuters are required to
participate in the I?M Program. He explained that the
Department intends to phase the inspection starting July 1,
1996. He noted that the Department would prepare
regulations stated that half the cars inspected between July
1, 1996 and June 30, 1997 would receive a two year
inspection certificate. Thee other remaining half would
receive a one year certificate inspection. If the vehicle
is 1987 or older and has not been inspected within twelve
months of sale or transfer of title the car would be
required to have an inspection.
Representative Therriault noted that cars registered at the
I/M inspection station could have the $10.0 dollar
registration fee waived.
Ms. Hensley noted that a pilot program has been expanded to
allow any inspection station to offer the registration. She
noted that stations are buying their own computer equipment.
There is no cost to the State other than storage space for
data processing. She observed that the program will be
expanded to Fairbanks. The program is optional. She
stressed that the $10.0 fee is an attempt to get people out
of DMV lines. She stated that the inspections stations
could initiate a processing fee to cover the registrations.
Representative Therriault observed that the Department of
Environmental Conservation has no other authorization to
assess an administration penalties.
Representative Mulder asked how vehicles that are not in
compliance would be identified. Mr. Schuler stated that up-
to-date registration tags indicate that the inspection
certificate has been obtained. He noted that the use of
window stickers are being considered.
Ms. Hensley observed that the Department of Environmental
Conservation would not be issuing an administrative fine.
The Department will be issuing a court fine which is set at
$200.0 hundred dollars.
Representative Therriault acknowledged the benefit to the
public that the two year inspection represents.
Representative Brown spoke in support of the legislation.
She MOVED to report CSSB 28 (FIN)(title am) out of Committee
with individual recommendations and with the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
The method of determining which half would be
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