ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  May 10, 2007 9:04 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lesil McGuire, Chair Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair Senator Hollis French Senator Lyda Green Senator Con Bunde MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR    SENATE BILL NO. 171 "An Act relating to the withdrawal of a candidate from a judicial retention election and the removal of such a candidate's name from the general election ballot; and providing for an effective date." REMOVED FROM AGENDA SENATE BILL NO. 151 "An Act relating to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid classes for initial applicants for driver's licenses and instruction permits." MOVED CSSB 151(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 132 "An Act designating the first Tuesday of May as Alaska Agriculture Day." MOVED HB 132 OUT OF COMMITTEE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 159(JUD) "An Act relating to the issuance of a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth." MOVED CSHB 159(JUD) OUT OF COMMITTEE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 75(STA) "An Act relating to driver's licenses and alcohol awareness testing." MOVED CSHB 75(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 184(FIN) "An Act relating to a commemorative troops license plate; and providing for an effective date." Moved SCS CSHB 184(STA) Out of Committee PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 151 SHORT TITLE: NEW DRIVER'S LIC. /PERMIT:CPR/ FIRST AID SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) ELLIS BY REQUEST 04/02/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/02/07 (S) HES, STA 05/07/07 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 05/07/07 (S) Moved CSSB 151(HES) Out of Committee 05/07/07 (S) MINUTE(HES) 05/08/07 (S) HES RPT CS 3DP 1NR NEW TITLE 05/08/07 (S) DP: DAVIS, ELTON, THOMAS 05/08/07 (S) NR: DYSON 05/10/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 BILL: HB 132 SHORT TITLE: AGRICULTURE DAY SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) GATTO 02/14/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/14/07 (H) EDT, RES 03/27/07 (H) EDT AT 5:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/27/07 (H) Moved Out of Committee 03/27/07 (H) MINUTE(EDT) 03/28/07 (H) EDT RPT 5DP 03/28/07 (H) DP: DOLL, LYNN, GATTO, JOHANSEN, NEUMAN 04/02/07 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/02/07 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard 04/04/07 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/04/07 (H) Moved Out of Committee 04/04/07 (H) MINUTE(RES) 04/05/07 (H) RES RPT 5DP 1NR 04/05/07 (H) DP: ROSES, KOHRING, SEATON, GATTO, JOHNSON 04/05/07 (H) NR: GUTTENBERG 04/18/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/18/07 (H) VERSION: HB 132 04/20/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/20/07 (S) STA 05/03/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 05/03/07 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 05/10/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 BILL: HB 159 SHORT TITLE: STILLBIRTH CERTIFICATE SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) GATTO 02/28/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/28/07 (H) HES, JUD 03/06/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/06/07 (H) Heard & Held 03/06/07 (H) MINUTE(HES) 03/15/07 (H) HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106 03/15/07 (H) Moved CSHB 159(HES) Out of Committee 03/15/07 (H) MINUTE(HES) 03/16/07 (H) HES RPT CS(HES) 3DP 3NR 03/16/07 (H) DP: FAIRCLOUGH, ROSES, WILSON 03/16/07 (H) NR: NEUMAN, GARDNER, SEATON 03/16/07 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER JUD 03/30/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 03/30/07 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 04/10/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 04/10/07 (H) Moved CSHB 159(JUD) Out of Committee 04/10/07 (H) MINUTE(JUD) 04/11/07 (H) JUD RPT CS(JUD) 5DP 04/11/07 (H) DP: GRUENBERG, LYNN, SAMUELS, HOLMES, RAMRAS 04/11/07 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 120 04/11/07 (H) 04/17/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/17/07 (H) Heard & Held 04/17/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 04/18/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/18/07 (H) 04/20/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/20/07 (H) Moved CSHB 159(JUD) Out of Committee 04/20/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 04/23/07 (H) FIN RPT CS(JUD) 4DP 2NR 04/23/07 (H) DP: THOMAS, NELSON, KELLY, MEYER 04/23/07 (H) NR: CRAWFORD, CHENAULT 04/30/07 (H) BEFORE THE HOUSE 04/30/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/30/07 (H) VERSION: CSHB 159(JUD) 05/02/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/02/07 (S) STA, FIN 05/10/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 BILL: HB 75 SHORT TITLE: DRIVERS LICENSE: ALCOHOL AWARENESS/MINOR SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) RAMRAS 01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07 01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/16/07 (H) STA, FIN 02/06/07 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 02/06/07 (H) Heard & Held 02/06/07 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/08/07 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 02/08/07 (H) Moved CSHB 75(STA) Out of Committee 02/08/07 (H) MINUTE(STA) 02/12/07 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) NT 5DP 1NR 1AM 02/12/07 (H) DP: JOHNSON, ROSES, GRUENBERG, DOLL, LYNN 02/12/07 (H) NR: COGHILL 02/12/07 (H) AM: JOHANSEN 02/22/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 02/22/07 (H) Moved CSHB 75(STA) Out of Committee 02/22/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 02/26/07 (H) FIN RPT CS(STA) NT 5DP 1DNP 3NR 2AM 02/26/07 (H) DP: CRAWFORD, JOULE, NELSON, FOSTER, MEYER 02/26/07 (H) DNP: THOMAS 02/26/07 (H) NR: STOLTZE, KELLY, CHENAULT 02/26/07 (H) AM: HAWKER, GARA 04/13/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/13/07 (H) VERSION: CSHB 75(STA) 04/16/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/16/07 (S) STA, FIN 05/03/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 05/03/07 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 05/10/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 BILL: HB 184 SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLES-LICENSE/INSURANCE/IMPOUND SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) ROSES 03/12/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/12/07 (H) MLV, STA, FIN 03/20/07 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/20/07 (H) Heard & Held 03/20/07 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 03/22/07 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/22/07 (H) 03/27/07 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 03/27/07 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 04/03/07 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 04/03/07 (H) Moved CSHB 184(MLV) Out of Committee 04/03/07 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 04/04/07 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) NT 4DP 1DNP 2NR 04/04/07 (H) DP: DAHLSTROM, FAIRCLOUGH, RAMRAS, ROSES 04/04/07 (H) DNP: KAWASAKI 04/04/07 (H) NR: LEDOUX, BUCH 04/13/07 (H) STA REFERRAL WAIVED 04/25/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/25/07 (H) Heard & Held 04/25/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 04/26/07 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/26/07 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard 04/27/07 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 6DP 3NR 04/27/07 (H) DP: GARA, NELSON, THOMAS, FOSTER, MEYER, CHENAULT 04/27/07 (H) NR: CRAWFORD, KELLY, HAWKER 04/27/07 (H) FIN AT 9:00 AM HOUSE FINANCE 519 04/27/07 (H) Moved CSHB 184(FIN) Out of Committee 04/27/07 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 05/02/07 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 05/02/07 (H) VERSION: CSHB 184(FIN) 05/03/07 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/03/07 (S) STA 05/10/07 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211 WITNESS REGISTER  SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 151 as sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE CARL GATTO Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 132 and CSHB 159(JUD) as sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE JAY RAMRAS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about CSHB 75(STA) as sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE BOB ROSES Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced CSHB 184(FIN) as sponsor. RHONDA CRAWFORD, representing herself Kenai, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). JOANNE CACCIATORE, MSW and CEO MISS Foundation Peoria, Arizona POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). BARBARA COTTING, Staff to Representative Jay Ramras Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented CSHB 75(STA) for Representative Ramras, bill sponsor. SHIRLEY MARSHAL, representing herself Tok, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of CSHB 75(STA). JOSH APPLEBEE, Staff to Representative Roses Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented CSHB 184(FIN) for Representative Roses, bill sponsor. MARTIN BOIRE, Chair Support our Troops, Inc. POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of CSHB 184(FIN). SUZANNE MEUNIER, Director of Advocacy American Heart Association Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 151. UVE KALENKA, representing himself Anchorage, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 151. KATE HERRING, Staff to Senator Ellis Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding SB 151. SHAD ENGKILTERRA Southeast Service Center Director American Red Cross of Alaska Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of SB 151. DUANE BANNOCK, Director Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Administration Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 151, CSHB 75(STA), and CSHB 184(FIN). ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR LESIL MCGUIRE called the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:04:13 AM. Senators French, McGuire, and Stevens were present at the call to order. Senators Green and Bunde arrived later. SB 151 - NEW DRIVER'S LIC./PERMIT:CPR/FIRST AID  9:04:45 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced consideration of SB 151. SENATOR JOHNNY ELLIS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, bill sponsor, introduced SB 151 to the committee. The bill would require first-time driver's license applicants to complete cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training before obtaining their license. 9:06:44 AM SENATOR FRENCH asked how the requirement would work. KATE HERRING, Staff to Senator Ellis, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, said the requirement is designed to be applied to first time license applicants for gradual growth. A person coming into the state with an out-of-state license would not be required to complete the training. The American Heart Association (AHA) hopes this requirement will stimulate more free sessions statewide so training costs will be minimal. The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) would develop regulations to document training and assess whether the training was adequate. On-line training is also available to further offset costs and time constraints to applicants. Studies show a small amount of time spent on this type of training can save lives. 9:09:19 AM SENATOR ELLIS said this concept has been before the legislature before. He and Senator Cowdery co-sponsored a bill from the last legislature that would have required school districts to offer CPR/first aid training as part of the curriculum. School districts across the state resisted the idea. The current bill is a simplified approach that has gained support. SENATOR FRENCH asked how he would he find such a class today and how much it would cost. MS. HERRING said there are courses offered by the Red Cross, the AHA, and other organizations. When training time is donated, the cost of supplies is about $5. Other training programs can run from $20 to $40. SENATOR FRENCH asked how much time it takes to complete the training. CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the off-net line was jammed so some individuals are not available to testify. 9:10:59 AM SHAD ENGKILTERRA, Southeast Service Center Director, American Red Cross of Alaska, Juneau, Alaska, said an adult CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) class from the Red Cross is four and half hours long. With first aid training it becomes a six-hour class in total. The Red Cross classes also provide instruction in how to react in an emergency. SENATOR FRENCH asked if a student in the class receives hands on experience. MR. ENGKILTERRA answered yes, it is important to practice the skills. SENATOR FRENCH asked about fees for the classes. MR. ENGKILTERRA said he charges $42 per person. With first aid training added the total is $62. SENATOR FRENCH asked if training is offered statewide. MR. ENGKILTERRA answered training is offered where there are instructors. He is unsure of training opportunities outside of Southeast Alaska. 9:13:37 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said her understanding is that the bill is crafted so that a person could complete a Red Cross course or an online course to satisfy the training requirement. MR. ENGKILTERRA said that was his understanding as well. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if Mr. Engkilterra thought a person could reasonably understand CPR from an online course. MR. ENGKILTERRA answered he did not know what the studies say but from his experience people forget what they learn within six months. He believes the training must be practiced to retain it, but some training is better than nothing. 9:15:36 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if CPR/first aid instruction would be incorporated into the training manual that people are given prior to licensing. DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, Anchorage, said the training manual would include notification of the requirement rather than first aid information. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked when proof of CPR/first aid training would be given. MR. BANNOCK answered he envisions two scenarios. Certification could be either by an affidavit section on the learner's permit application that would be signed by the parent, or a standard affidavit form that an instructor could sign. Forms could be available in offices or on the division website. 9:17:50 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said she was assured liability issues would not be a factor because of Good Samaritan laws. She asked what kind of disclaimer the division had considered. MR. BANNOCK said provisional drivers provide an affidavit stating they have completed forty hours of driver training. He said this system has been successful and he anticipates the same for a CPR/first aid training requirement. CHAIR MCGUIRE agreed and said she thinks parental involvement will be the key to success. 9:20:04 AM SENATOR STEVENS asked if this is an unusual requirement and if there are other non-driving related requirements that the DMV deals with. MR. BANNOCK answered that organ and tissue donation is one example. He said the DMV is also responsible for "a lot of elections." SENATOR STEVENS asked if other states are doing anything like this. He noted that a person is not denied a license if they decline to donate their organs. MR. BANNOCK said he does not know if other states have the same requirement proposed by the bill.   SENATOR STEVENS said he is concerned about going too far with this kind of requirement when a person is simply trying to get a driver's license. 9:22:55 AM SENATOR FRENCH asked the cost for a sixteen-year-old getting a driver's license. MR. BANNOCK said the license costs $20 and road exam $15. Road exams are also available from private vendors for a variety of prices. 9:23:44 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on SB 151. SENATOR FRENCH said though he thinks the training requirement is a good idea, he shares Senator Steven's concerns about the impositions of the bill. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked how long the on-line class takes. MS. HERRING answered that speakers not accessible at the moment would be able to answer this and other questions. CHAIR MCGUIRE said SB 151 will be set aside for further discussion until on-line participants are available for testimony. HB 132 - AGRICULTURE DAY  9:26:40 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 132. REPRESENTATIVE CARL GATTO, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, bill sponsor, introduced HB 132 to the committee. The bill seeks to dedicate the first Tuesday in May as "Agriculture Day." The impetus behind the bill is to raise awareness of the annual $50 million agricultural industry. 9:27:47 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if Representative Gatto wanted to change the date since the first Tuesday had already passed. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said the day will be celebrated this year no matter what. CHAIR MCGUIRE clarified that page 1, line 5, of the bill should remain "the first Tuesday in May." She asked if the intent was to get young people aware of what agriculture means to the state. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO described some of the school projects that could occur around this designated day. He hopes to raise awareness that all food does not come wrapped in plastic and originate from a grocery store. CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 132. SENATOR GREEN moved HB 132 from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, the motion carried. CSHB 159(JUD) - STILLBIRTH CERTIFICATE  9:29:24 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced consideration of CSHB 159(JUD). REPRESENTATIVE GATTO, Alaska State Legislature, bill sponsor, introduced CSHB 159(JUD) to the committee. He said the bill would help grieving parents of stillborn children by providing a certificate acknowledging their birth. Existing law provides only for the issuance of a death certificate when a child is stillborn. 9:30:41 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said she understood the certificate would be optional for families. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said every bit of recognition may help a family's grieving process. CHAIR MCGUIRE acknowledged that losing a child in this way is a very traumatic event. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said this bill does not allow the certificate to be utilized for permanent fund dividend or inheritance purposes. He researched other states procedures and thinks this certificate would qualify as "a five-star certificate." CHAIR MCGUIRE called an at ease at 9:32 AM. 9:33:34 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE called the meeting back to order. RHONDA CRAWFORD, representing herself, testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). In October she lost her daughter as a result of a stillbirth. At the hospital she was asked to fill out an application for a birth certificate and then was told she was given the wrong form; paperwork for a death certificate was what was needed. It was a devastating experience for her and her family. She said leaving the hospital with a certificate acknowledging the existence of the child would mean so much to families who suffer this kind of loss. 9:37:08 AM JOANNE CACCIATORE, MSW and CEO of the MISS Foundation, Peoria, Arizona, testified in favor of CSHB 159(JUD). She said giving birth to a dead baby is an unbelievably painful and traumatic experience. Several years ago Ms. Cacciatore personally lost a child to stillbirth. Currently she is a PhD candidate focusing her research on women and families that have experienced stillbirths. She is also the CEO and founder of the MISS Foundation providing services to families when a child dies at any age and from any cause. Her home state of Arizona first passed similar legislation in 2001. Since then nearly 20 other states have enacted legislation addressing this issue. MS. CACCIATORE said one in one hundred families will experience the death of a baby because of stillbirth. States tell families they must have a death certificate and pay for final disposition through cremation or burial for a baby they never say existed. She said these women gave birth just like every other woman and invest emotionally, physically, and financially in the baby. Many countries issue birth certificates for babies that are stillborn, but it is still a fairly recent movement in the United States. A birth certificate would offer women and their families a philosophical and psychological piece of comfort and dignity. 9:41:09 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Ms. Crawford and Ms. Cacciatore for sharing their stories. She said it was important for the state to do whatever was possible to make this process less painful for families. CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 159. 9:42:18 AM SENATOR GREEN moved to report HB 159 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHB 159(JUD) moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee. CSHB 75(STA) - DRIVERS LICENSE: ALCOHOL AWARENESS/MINOR    9:42:42 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced consideration of HB 75. [Before the committee was CSHB 75(STA).] BARBARA COTTING, staff, to Representative Jay Ramras, bill sponsor, introduced CSHB 75(STA) to the committee. The bill stipulates that a driver's license issued to a person under twenty-one will expire ninety days after the person turns twenty-one. A twenty-one-year-old person applying for a new license after the expiration date must pass an alcohol and drug awareness and safety test. The test will be designed by the DMV and Representative Ramras hopes Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) will also participate in the process. Licenses for persons over twenty-one and under twenty-one would look different making it easier for alcohol servers and sellers to detect minors. The goal of the bill is to significantly reduce under-age drinking in Alaska and improve alcohol awareness in the state. She noted that a committee substitute (CS) at the request of Mr. Bannock of the DMV, adds an effective date of January 1, 2008. Also included is a small fiscal note of a one- time $5,000 charge to initiate the process. 9:46:24 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if the bill had a finance referral. MS. COTTING answered yes. SENATOR GREEN asked if an alcohol awareness test existed for first time license applicants. MS. COTTING replied not that she was aware of. DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, Anchorage, said there are currently questions in the knowledge section of the driving test regarding drinking and driving. SENATOR GREEN asked for clarification of the difference between the current test and the test proposed in the bill. MR. BANNOCK said the bill would create a separate test at a different time from when most people take the knowledge test. Most applicants take the test at fourteen-years-old when they get an instruction permit. This bill would require a second test at the expiration of the driver license when a driver turns twenty-one. 9:48:49 AM SENATOR FRENCH asked what the cost of the test would be. MR. BANNOCK said DMV would charge a $15 fee for a duplicate license, but the test itself would be free of charge. SENATOR FRENCH asked where the driver would get the information necessary to pass the test. MR. BANNOCK said it would not be proper for the DMV to provide the information. However, it would be appropriate for the DMV to be the distribution point of a booklet or pamphlet. 9:50:19 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE noted that Representative Ramras does not want the CS adopted today. She said the committee should work off the original bill labeled 25-LS0348\K. SENATOR GREEN asked how the requirement would apply to a forty- seven-year-old from out of state seeking a license. REPRESENTATIVE JAY RAMRAS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, said the requirement would not apply to people older than twenty-one or people moving into the state older than twenty- one. 9:51:31 AM SENATOR FRENCH asked how the provision would apply to twenty- one-year-old out of state military personnel or college students. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said Mr. Bannock of the DMV could speak to this question. MR. BANNOCK said licenses held by active duty military personnel have no expiration date while they are out of the State of Alaska. However, their license will expire 90 days after returning to the state or after separating from active duty service, whichever comes first. The DMV has statutory authority to offer expiration extensions to college students. 9:53:16 AM SENATOR FRENCH asked who will develop the training required by the bill. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said the present general knowledge test contains one thousand questions in the pool. An applicant is given sixteen questions out of the pool to answer; eight on driving, four on insurance, and four on alcohol. He would be very comfortable if the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and MADD put the second test together, under the direction of the DMV. Alcohol related questions could also be generated from the pool that already exists. 9:54:36 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE asked Representative Ramras to speak about the policy goals of the bill. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said he has two objectives. One is to clarify the age line between minors and adults. He said the Alcohol Beverage Control Board (ABC) has conducted extensive stings over the last few years showing "there is a leakage rate amongst minors being served in on-premise and off-premise establishments." SENATOR FRENCH asked for clarification of the terms "leakage rate" and "predator." REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said "leakage rate" is not an industry term but one he uses to describe the numbers of minors being served by operators. He considers any young person under the legal age that tries to secure an alcoholic beverage and any licensee who sells alcohol to a minor, a predator. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS reiterated that the first half of the bill establishes a clearer line between a minor and an adult with the automatic expiration component. The second component addresses the need for more comprehensive education about the risks of consuming alcohol and driving. A twenty-one-year-old is moving through a very influential phase of life when alcohol use is merging with the responsibility of driving. He believes it is in the best interest for the safety of communities and young people to consider both halves of this bill. 10:01:21 AM SENATOR FRENCH said he agrees with the intent of the bill to reduce DUI citations and save lives. He also likes the landscape versus portrait orientation to differentiate age groups. However, he wants to see evidence that required testing would change behavior. He mentioned DARE as an example of a program that was supposed to work and after a couple of years found out it had very little impact on young people's behavior. 10:02:51 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said she agrees with Senator French's statements. She advised Representative Ramras to provide details about what the test will look like and how it will be administered. Other details to consider are costs, effectiveness, and comparison to other states that may have a similar program. She also suggested having someone from DPS or MADD speak to the bill. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS agreed those were excellent suggestions. He said he envisions alcohol education being incorporated into the DMV handbook. Since the general knowledge test is designed for a fourteen-year-old to pass, he thinks this will help to institutionalize the dissemination of more information regarding drinking and driving. 10:05:03 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE said Representative Ramras should outline costs and how the program will work for the Finance Committee. 10:06:06 AM SHIRLEY MARSHAL, representing herself, said she supports HB 75. She said seven years pass between the time a fourteen-year-old takes the written test and when they renew their license at twenty-one. At twenty-one, the driver renews with no written or driving test. She believes a written test regarding current alcohol awareness is a great idea when a driver turns twenty- one. 10:08:11 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 75. SENATOR STEVENS moved to report HB 75 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 75(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee. CSHB 184(FIN) - MOTOR VEHICLES-LICENSE/INSURANCE/IMPOUND  10:09:11 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 184. [Before the committee was CSHB 184(FIN).] REPRESENTATIVE BOB ROSES, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 184, introduced his staff and others that worked on the bill. JOSH APPLEBEE, staff to Representative Roses, said HB 184 brings the "Support Our Troops" commemorative license plate to Alaska. The plate has an additional fee attached that is collected and then may be appropriated by the legislature to Support our Troops (SOT) for redistribution in Alaska. SOT Inc., would establish an Alaska disbursement board for determining the best manner in which to disperse the funds. Local control of funds dispersement is an essential part of the bill. Support our troops plates have been issued in twenty states through the efforts of SOT with several more in process around the country. MR. APPLEBEE noted that committee members should have a synopsis sheet of changes in Sections 1, 2, 4, and 6-9 that have been made as the bill has moved through committees. He quickly summarized the changes. 10:13:17 AM SENATOR BUNDE noted that there is an amendment. CHAIR MCGUIRE said she wants to hear testimony before considering the amendment. She asked Mr. Applebee to provide an opinion on the amendment. MR. APPLEBEE said some language was altered in House Finance that created a possible constitutional problem around creating a dedicated fund. Legal Services has provided some language to address that issue. Additionally, there is a language change that recognizes the copyrighted use of the term "Support our Troops." 10:15:02 AM MARTIN BOIRE, Chair, Support our Troops, Inc., testified in favor of HB 184. He said the license plate is a simple means for civilians to "honor our moral obligation to our neighbors" by assisting families of service men and women deployed for a natural disaster, a peace keeping mission, or a war. CHAIR MCGUIRE thanked Mr. Boire for putting his compassion into action. She is sympathetic towards families who are impacted by relatives deployed for extended duty in Iraq. 10:17:42 AM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, Anchorage, said he supports the bill. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if the program set up for anatomical gift donations was working. MR. BANNOCK said it is halfway working. He said the collection of the donations is working well but what the state does with the money after collection needs improvement. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if the money is going back to the anatomical gift awareness program. MR. BANNOCK replied no; the money is not going anywhere. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked what action is needed to get the donations to the program. MR. BANNOCK said legislation is needed to direct the money where it needs to go. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if the funding mechanism in this bill will work better than the anatomical gift awareness program. 10:19:32 AM MR. BANNOCK said only the legislature has the ability to appropriate money. He believes this bill is written correctly and that a bill will come forward in the future to correct the problem with anatomical gift money. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if there is a simple sentence that could be included in this bill to address the anatomical gift money appropriation. MR. BANNOCK said he was not prepared to address this issue, but would like to pursue it further. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked the bill sponsor if he was amenable to adding a floor amendment. Hearing agreement from the sponsor Senator McGuire asked Mr. Bannock to work with her staff on an amendment and submit it to her as quickly as possible. 10:21:04 AM SENATOR GREEN asked if Section 9 was added during the committee process. MR. APPLEBEE answered yes; it was added in House Finance committee. SENATOR GREEN asked if the legislation passed on May 9 in the Senate dealing with the accumulation of fines, is duplicated in Section 9 of this bill. MR. APPLEBEE answered no; the language in this bill adds the cost of towing to the accumulation of fees when a crime is committed. CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if the "scofflaw bill" was connected to alcohol related crimes. MR. BANNOCK replied yes. CHAIR MCGUIRE said this is a separate provision. This change would clarify that for alcohol related crimes when a vehicle is impounded the person that committed the crime will pay the cost of towing. 10:22:37 AM SENATOR GREEN asked for clarification of the language on page 4, line 9, of the bill. CHAIR MCGUIRE called an at-ease at 10:23 AM. 10:24:50 AM. CHAIR MCGUIRE called the committee back to order. CHAIR MCGUIRE said HB 184 would be set aside to the call of the chair to work on a technical point in Section 28.40.080. CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 184. SENATOR GREEN moved Amendment 1 as follows: Page 3, line 1, following "Inc.,": Insert "approves the use of the terms and" Page 3, lines 20 - 21: Delete "solely for the purpose of providing benefits within the State of Alaska to" Insert "to the organization for which the specialty license plate was purchased for the benefit of Alaska" CHAIR MCGUIRE announced there were no objections therefore Amendment 1 carried. CHAIR MCGUIRE set CSHB 184(FIN) as amended aside to the call of the chair. SB 151 - NEW DRIVER'S LIC./PERMIT:CPR/FIRST AID  10:26:07 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE brought SB 141 [151] back before the committee. SENATOR ELLIS said he listened carefully to the concerns of committee members and appreciates their comments. He knows of no opposition to the idea that young people and the state as a whole would benefit from citizens receiving CPR/first aid training. The mechanism for making it happen is the difficulty. There was a great deal of opposition to requiring CPR/first aid training in the public schools. He understands that the training is available for free on line and there are free or nominal fee on-line and community courses. Course availability would also depend on where a person is located. He is confident that there is good access to inexpensive or free training courses to any young person in the state. 10:28:08 AM SUZANNE MEUNIER, Director of Advocacy, American Heart Association, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 151. She said every year in America sudden cardiac arrest kills 325,000 people before they can reach a hospital. Nearly eighty percent of heart attacks occur at home witnessed by a family member. Less than seven percent of cardiac arrest victims survive. Providing CPR immediately after a heart attack can double a victim's chance for survival. Passage of this bill will significantly increase the number of Alaskans prepared to respond to life threatening emergencies. 10:31:32 AM SENATOR BUNDE said he read that Seattle was labeled the best city in America to have a heart attack because a large part of the population has learned CPR. He asked if that information was accurate. MS. MEUNIER said yes, Seattle is considered the standard and a victim's survival rate there is in excess of thirty or forty percent. SENATOR STEVENS said he also remembers reading they have excellent ambulance service by CPR trained personnel. He was not sure civilians were so well trained. SENATOR BUNDE said he read it was civilians. 10:33:05 AM SENATOR ELLIS asked if Ms. Meunier had any comments about the committee members' concerns related to the appropriateness of attaching CPR/first aid training to receiving a driver's license and the costs and inconveniences of getting the training. He also asked for her thoughts about weighing those concerns against the possible education gains of the bill. MS. MEUNIER said a new generation of Alaskans trained to deal with emergencies will increase the number of lives saved. Evidence supports the fact that people learn differently and on- line training can be more effective for some learners. This bill targets an age group that spends much of their time on-line. Currently available online courses take up to two hours and the person has access to the course for up to six months. The AHA is ready to partner with DMV to ensure regulation language is adequate to meet the requirements of the bill. The January 2008 effective date gives them plenty of time to ensure that opportunities are easily accessible and low cost. 10:36:25 AM SENATOR ELLIS asked if class availability would increase if the bill passes. MS. MEUNIER said the AHA is always looking for ways to train more people. SENATOR STEVENS said it is should not be assumed that everyone has access to the internet and classes will be taught statewide given the small communities scattered around the state. MS. MEUNIER said she read Alaska is one of the top states in the country for technology access, including schools and libraries. She believes the AHA would be able to deliver the information, through technology, particularly in the smaller communities in rural Alaska. Additionally, there are low cost print materials available from the AHA. 10:38:55 AM UVE KALENKA, representing himself, said the bill is important to him personally and thanked Senator Ellis for introducing it on his behalf. Approximately four years ago his son Eric was murdered. Eric's life might have been saved had someone on the scene known how to apply a tourniquet to his wound. He said if one life is saved it is worth it and urged passage of the bill. 10:40:51 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on SB 151. SENATOR STEVENS said he appreciates the comments he has heard, but has serious misgivings about the bill. He does not see the direct connection between obtaining a driver's license and learning CPR and is concerned how training will be available to everyone in the state. He believes the place for this kind of education is in the schools. Requiring CPR training before issuing a driver's license seems an unnecessary burden on young people. SENATOR BUNDE commented that though this may not be the perfect mechanism, he would like Alaska to emulate Seattle and have people trained in CPR. He added that it may be more important in Alaska when a person may be miles from any road and immediate medical care. 10:44:24 AM SENATOR BUNDE moved to report SB 151 from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. SENATOR STEVENS objected. A roll call vote was taken on the motion of passing SB 151 out of committee. Senators Bunde, French, and McGuire voted in favor and Senators Stevens and Green voted against. Therefore CSSB 151(HES) passed from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 10:45:21 AM CHAIR MCGUIRE recessed the meeting to the call of the chair. CSHB 184(FIN) - MOTOR VEHICLES-LICENSE/INSURANCE/IMPOUND  4:25:00 PM CHAIR MCGUIRE called the meeting back to order. Senators Green, French, and McGuire were present at the call to order. CHAIR MCGUIRE brought amended CSHB 184(FIN) back before the committee. CHAIR MCGUIRE moved Amendment 2 to CSHB 184(FIN) referred to as version L.3/Luckhaupt as follows: Page 1, line 3: Delete "mandatory impoundments of vehicles used in certain offenses," Page 1, line 5, following "persons;": Insert "relating to the anatomical gift awareness fund;" Page 1, following line 6: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Section 1. AS 13.50.160(d) is amended to read: (d) Money appropriated to or for use by the fund may be spent for the purposes of the fund without further appropriation. The annual estimated balance in the account may be appropriated by the legislature to Life Alaska Inc." Page 1, line 7: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 2" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 4, lines 9 - 17: Delete all material. Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Page 4, line 18: Delete "Sections 2 - 5" Insert "Sections 3 - 6" Senator Green objected for explanation. CHAIR MCGUIRE said the amendment addresses the problem with the appropriation of money from the anatomical gift donation program. The amendment also deletes subsection 9. SENATOR GREEN withdrew her objection. 4:26:44 PM SENATOR FRENCH asked why subsection 9 was being deleted. CHAIR MCGUIRE replied that removing the section would remove the cost of towing. SENATOR FRENCH clarified that 28.40.080 was not a current statute. This amendment would remove the subsection so there won't be a provision for impoundment of motor vehicles. CHAIR MCGUIRE said it could be added to the crime package. SENATOR FRENCH said that was a good idea. CHAIR MCGUIRE said the intent is to set up the anatomical gift donation fund the same way as the support our troops fund. When a person donates to a cause the money should be end up there. Hearing no further objection to Amendment 2 it was adopted bringing the bill as amended before the committee. 4:28:36 PM SENATOR GREEN moved to report HB 184 as amended from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objections, SCS CSHB 184(STA) moved from the Senate State Affairs Committee. SENATOR GREEN moved to report the title change resolution along with amended HB 184 from committee. There being no objections, the motion carried. CHAIR MCGUIRE adjourned the Senate State Affairs meeting at 4:29:10 PM.