02/02/2006 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB224 | |
| SB189 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 224 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 2, 2006
3:34 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gene Therriault, Chair
Senator Thomas Wagoner, Vice Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Bettye Davis
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation: Scott Nordstrand - Department of Administration
Commissioner Designee
HEARING POSTPONED TO 2/07/06
SENATE BILL NO. 224
"An Act establishing Older Alaskans' Day."
MOVED SB 224 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 189
"An Act relating to issuance of identification cards and to
issuance of driver's licenses."
HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 224
SHORT TITLE: OLDER ALASKANS' DAY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS G
01/09/06 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/6/06
01/09/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/09/06 (S) STA
02/02/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
BILL: SB 189
SHORT TITLE: REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE/I.D.
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGGINS
04/27/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/27/05 (S) STA, JUD
05/03/05 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
05/03/05 (S) <Above Bill Hearing Canceled>
02/02/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 224
Pat Branson
Senior Citizens of Kodiak
Kodiak, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 224
Marie Darlin, AARP Coordinator
Capital City Task Force
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 224
Deborah Grundmann, Staff
Senator Huggins
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 189 for the sponsor
Duane Bannock, Director
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Administration
PO Box 110200
Juneau, AK 99811-0200
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to SB 189
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:34:23 PM. Present were Senators
Kim Elton, Thomas Wagoner, Charlie Huggins, Bettye Davis, and
Chair Gene Therriault.
He announced that the confirmation hearing for Administration
Commissioner Designee, Scott Nordstrand is postponed until the
following Tuesday.
SB 224-OLDER ALASKANS' DAY
3:34:59 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced SB 224 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR GARY STEVENS paraphrased the sponsor statement.
Alaska's seniors are one of the nation's fastest
growing senior populations, comprising 20 percent of
the state's population. Each year, Alaskans 60 years
of age and older contribute millions of dollars to
Alaska's economy. Through their involvement with
various organizations, service clubs and the like,
they also provide thousands of hours of volunteer work
through various organizations for the betterment of
their communities and state. Given the numerous and
important contributions Alaska's seniors make to our
state, it is a fitting honor that a day be set aside
to recognize these accomplishments.
If passed into law, SB 224 will designate the second
Wednesday of September as "Older Alaskans' Day". Older
Alaskan's' Day will be an appropriate addition to
National Senior Center Week celebrations, which fall
during the second full week of September starting in
2007, and will be close to Grandparents' Day.
He reported that the Alaska Commission on Aging and AARP
(American Association of Retired Persons) endorse the bill.
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted the bill packet contains resolutions and
letters of support from a variety of organizations.
PAT BRANSON, Senior Citizens of Kodiak, testified via
teleconference in support of SB 224.
MARIE DARLIN, AARP Coordinator, Capital City Task Force, stated
support for SB 224.
3:40:03 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted there was no further testimony and asked
for the will of the committee.
SENATOR THOMAS WAGONER motioned to report SB 224 and attached
zero fiscal note from committee with individual recommendations.
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced that without objection, it was so
ordered.
SB 189-REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE/I.D.
3:41:03 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced SB 189 to be up for consideration.
SENATOR HUGGINS, Sponsor of SB 189, explained that the bill is
an effort to prevent individuals who are in the US illegally
from obtaining an Alaska driver's license. It would also
reinforce implementation of the federal Real ID Act.
DEBORAH GRUNDMANN, Staff to Senator Huggins, drew attention to
the proposed work draft committee substitute (CS) 24-LS0920\L.
CHAIR THERRIAULT asked for a motion.
SENATOR HUGGINS motioned to adopt the \L version of SB 189 as
the working document. There was no objection.
MS. GRUNDMANN paraphrased the sponsor statement.
On May 11, 2005 President Bush signed into law the
Real ID Act. Provisions of this legislation improved
security for drivers' licenses and personal
identification cards as well as set uniform standards
for state driver's licenses and identification cards.
CSSB 189 is designed to bring Alaska into compliance
with two components of the new federal, Real ID Act.
One, all driver's licenses and ID card applicants must
be either US citizens or be able to establish their
legal presence. And those persons with a time limited
legal status may not receive a driver's license or ID
card with an expiration date later than the allowable
length of stay.
She further explained that if a non-citizen's stay is
indefinite, the expiration date of the license is one year from
the date of issue and that Alaska has until May 11, 2008 to come
into compliance with the federal act.
MS. GRUNDMANN introduced Duane Bannock.
CHAIR THERRIAULT informed committee members that he didn't
intend to take final action on the bill that day.
3:44:05 PM
DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department
of Administration, stated that he was pleased to report that
Alaska is close to 100 percent compliance with the federal Real
ID Act.
He reiterated Ms. Grundmann's explanation of the bill, which
clarifies in statute that to receive an Alaska driver's license
or state ID card the applicant must provide proof that he/she is
in the US legally. The second part of the bill addresses the
length of time the driver's license or ID is valid. Under
current law licenses are valid for five years and no
consideration is given to the fact that some visas may be valid
for less than that length of time. SB 189 proposes that the
expiration date for the driver's license or ID may not extend
beyond the time the individual may legally remain in the US.
3:48:40 PM
SENATOR ELTON questioned whether he would be required to prove
he's a US resident when his license is due for renewal.
MR. BANNOCK replied, "That is a correct assumption of the bill."
SENATOR ELTON asked what kind of identification would be
required.
MR. BANNOCK responded the most common primary pieces of
identification are the birth certificate and the Social Security
card. A list of other valid documents is currently being
developed.
SENATOR ELTON asked if it's true that an illegal Social Security
card is easy to obtain.
MR. BANNOCK responded although not the most secure
identification, DMV uses Social Security cards as a secondary
identifier. Thru regulation DMV requires use of one primary
identifier and one secondary identifier or two primary
identifiers.
SENATOR ELTON asked for clarification that he would need two
documents.
MR. BANNOCK said that's correct.
SENATOR ELTON questioned whether the bill codifies in statute
what is current practice and if that's true, how long it has
been the practice.
MR. BANNOCK said by regulation DMV has been requiring the
identification outlined above, but he didn't know how long that
has been the practice.
SENATOR ELTON remarked he doesn't remember ever showing the
required documents when he renewed his license.
MS. GRUNDMANN referenced the bill and explained that if the
driver's license hasn't expired, been canceled, suspended or
revoked the presumption is that you have met the identification
standard.
SENATOR ELTON asked whether that applies to the grace period
when a license has expired.
MR. BANNOCK answered the grace period is specific to the testing
requirements. He added that under the provisions of this bill
DMV would no longer take another state's license as proof that
the applicant is in the US legally.
3:55:55 PM
CHAIR THERRIAULT closed public testimony and announced he would
hold SB 189 in committee.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Therriault adjourned the meeting at 3:56:00 PM.
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