SB 103-MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEES  CHAIR COWDERY told members that SB 103 was heard in committee last week but was held over to provide time to get answers to questions from Senators Lincoln and Olson. Those questions were answered so it is his intention to pass this legislation out of committee today. SENATOR LINCOLN said she didn't receive one of the documents other members received. She said she only received responses to her individual questions and she was interested in the responses to other members' questions. She asked for the response to Senator Olson's question about whether the Anchorage School District's school buses would be exempt from registration. The committee took a brief at-ease. CHAIR COWDERY noted that Mr. Dwayne Bannock was available to answer questions via teleconference. SENATOR OLSON asked Mr. Bannock whether school buses owned by private schools must pay a registration fee and, if so, how much that fee would increase. MR. DWAYNE BANNOCK, Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration (DOA), told members that school buses fall under a number of classifications. A school district that owns school buses falls under Class 5G. The school district pays a form of exempt registration fees. Private schools or church schools that own buses fall under the "Exempt Bus Charitable" classification. They pay $10. If a school district contracts for bus service with a private company, the private contractor pays traditional commercial fees. SENATOR OLSON asked about the increase in fees. MR. BANNOCK said there is no proposed increase in fees for the exempt buses. SENATOR LINCOLN noted that Senator Therriault asked whether the Alaska State Constitution grants local governments the option of charging a vehicle license fee. MR. BANNOCK told members that DMV has a formula called MVRT (Motor Vehicle Registration Tax). That tax can be exercised at the option of a local municipality or borough. He provided a list of communities that participate in the MVRT schedule. That cost is added to the state registration fee and then returned to the local government. SENATOR THERRIAULT noted the list on pages 2 and 3 contains the names of all the communities that require no vehicle licensure or insurance. MR. BANNOCK replied, "I can't speak to the insurance side of it Senator, but I can only tell you that those are exempt from the registration portions." SENATOR OLSON asked Mr. Bannock if he is familiar with AS 28.10.011(a) and (b), which address vehicles exempt from registration. MR. BANNOCK said he is. SENATOR OLSON said a number of communities within his district are listed in that statute. He asked if those communities do not have roads that were built or are maintained by the state. MR. BANNOCK apologized for not having good information about the compilation of that list. Its effective date was July 1, 2001 and he is not aware of what was involved in making that list. SENATOR THERRIAULT referred to item 10 on page 1 of the memo - vehicles operated on the roadway not connected to the land highway system or to a highway with an average daily traffic volume greater than 499 - and said he believes that is where the list originated. SENATOR OLSON pointed out neither Nome nor Kotzebue is on that list and they are not connected to the land highway system. SENATOR THERRIAULT said Nome is not connected to the land highway system, but would fall under a highway with an average daily traffic volume greater than 499. SENATOR OLSON asked Mr. Bannock if it is restricted to state built or maintained roads. MR. BANNOCK said Senator Olson is correct in that the list contains things that allow a community to file for that exemption. Nome would be greater than 499 units. SENATOR OLSON asked about Barrow. MR. BANNOCK said he believes the registration records will reflect that Barrow has more than 499 vehicles. There being no further questions, Senator Therriault moved SB 103 from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. He then asked for unanimous consent. CHAIR COWDERY announced that without objection, the motion carried.