HB 184-COMMEMORATIVE TROOPS LICENSE PLATE 1:07:04 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 184, "An Act relating to a commemorative troops license plate; and providing for an effective date." 1:07:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HB 184 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. CHAIR ROSES asked for discussion on the bill. 1:07:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI remarked: I don't like the idea that this money is going out of state, first. I have some concerns about whether this, in fact, dedicates funds. I don't know much about the organization but I know that several thousand organizations, in fact, sprung up directly as a result of [the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]. I think that the money should go to service men and women and their families, I'd like to find another way to make sure that this revenue stays within the state of Alaska. 1:08:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH recalled that previous testimony established that the money did stay in Alaska, and she asked for additional testimony from the witnesses to support that fact. 1:09:25 PM MARTIN BOIRE, Executive Director, Support Our Troops, Inc. (SOT), informed the committee that SOT policy specifies that the plate revenues from the sale of licenses of any state will be spent to benefit the troops and families of that state. In addition, the majority of the overhead administrative costs will also be spent in Alaska to encourage sales of the license plate and other SOT endorsed products. 1:12:06 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI referred to the Alaska state constitution which prohibits the dedication of funds. He opined that a problem with the bill may arise if the state were to discontinue the appropriation of funds to the commemorative license plate program. MR. BOIRE responded that future problems can be addressed and solved. CHAIR ROSES restated the question for clarification. Each year the Alaska State Legislature must appropriate an amount of money equal to what has been collected by the sale of the license plates. The question will arise he said, if a future legislature refuses to appropriate those funds. MR. BOIRE answered that SOT did not have a policy on this question. 1:14:57 PM PAT CARTER, Volunteer Lobbyist, Support Out Troops, Inc., opined that a future legislature, when withholding the appropriation, would also state the basis for its decision. In this case, SOT will respond with corrective action and if its response were unsatisfactory, the money will transfer to the general fund. 1:16:56 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS expressed his confidence in the administration of the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and stated that he would purchase a commemorative license plate. 1:17:52 PM CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony. 1:18:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved Amendment 1, 25-LS0621\M.1, Luckhaupt, 3/15/07, that read: Page 1, line 1, following "plate": Insert "and to license plates available to  disabled veterans" Page 1, following line 3: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Section 1. AS 28.10.181(d) is amended to read: (d) Vehicles owned by veterans with disabilities, including persons disabled in the line of duty while serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard, or other persons with disabilities. Upon the request of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, as defined in 23 C.F.R. 1235.2, the department shall (1) register one motor vehicle in the name of the person without charge; and (2) issue a specially designed registration plate that displays (A) recognition of the disabled veteran if the applicant's disability originated from the applicant's service with the Alaska Territorial Guard or the armed forces of the United States; (B) the international symbol of accessibility (the wheelchair logo); and (C) if the applicant is a veteran, the Alaska and United States flags and red, white, and blue colors. A person who is not otherwise qualified under this subsection, but who meets the qualifications of a disabled veteran under AS 29.45.030(i), may register one motor vehicle without charge, and the department shall issue a specially designed registration plate that displays recognition of the disabled veteran that does not display the international symbol of accessibility and does not carry with it special parking privileges. A  disabled veteran who otherwise qualifies for a  registration plate under this subsection may elect to  receive, at no charge, a plate under (p) or (q) of  this section for which the person is otherwise  qualified that does not display the international  symbol of accessibility and does not carry with it  special parking privileges. For purposes of this subsection, proof of disability may be provided by a person licensed as a physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64 or as an advanced nurse practitioner under AS 08.68." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM then moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 1 to delete "at no charge" from page 1, line 23. CHAIR ROSES objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM explained that the amendment would allow qualified veterans to choose a veteran's commemorative plate that does not contain the disabled symbol or designate special parking privileges. This change is in response to requests from veterans who wish to choose other special designations for their commemorative license plates. She noted that neither the Conceptual Amendment 1, nor Amendment 1 make any other changes to HB 184. 1:21:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH requested clarification regarding the portion of Amendment 1 that deletes "Section 1".    CHAIR ROSES said, "Just the "Section 1." REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM clarified that this is a renumbering change. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH remarked: The point that I was going to make, even if the words are there, is it's two separate items, one is how the department is ... I just was wondering why we're deleting Section 1, as far as the numbering and rolling it into Section 2, is that correct? REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM replied that Legislative Legal and Research Services advised that this was proper. CHAIR ROSES suggested correcting the format through a Conceptual Amendment. REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH said that staff had answered her concern and she withdrew her question. 1:23:16 PM CHAIR ROSES removed his objection to the amendment. There being no further objection, Amendment 1, as amended, was adopted. 1:23:26 PM CHAIR ROSES called for discussion on HB 184, as amended. 1:23:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HB 184, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 184(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.