00 Enrolled HB 178                                                                                                         
01 Relating to special motor vehicle registration plates; and providing for an effective date.                             
02                           _______________                                                                               
03    * Section 1.  AS 28.10.181(a) is amended to read:                                                                  
04            (a)  The department shall register unique and special vehicles and vehicles                                  
05       used for special purposes and issue registration plates as provided in this section.                              
06       Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, registration plates issued under this                           
07       section remain with the person or organization to whom they are issued when vehicle                               
08       ownership is transferred or title or interest in the vehicle is assigned, except for plates                       
09       issued under (b), (h) and (i) of this section.  Registration plates issued under this                             
10       section may not be used on, or transferred to, a vehicle other than the vehicle for                               
11       which the plates are issued without the approval of the department and payment of any                             
12       required fees and taxes prescribed in AS 28.10.421(d), 28.10.431, and 28.10.441 [;                            
13       HOWEVER, IF THE PLATES ISSUED UNDER (c), (f) AND (j) OF THIS                                                      
01       SECTION ARE TRANSFERRED TO A VEHICLE FOR WHICH THE                                                                
02       REGISTRATION FEE IS MORE THAN THE FEE FOR THE VEHICLE FROM                                                        
03       WHICH THE PLATES ARE TRANSFERRED, THE OWNER SHALL PAY THE                                                         
04       DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO FEES].  Registration plates issued under this                                          
05       section to which a person is no longer entitled or the transfer of the plates to another                          
06       vehicle that [WHICH] the department does not approve shall be returned immediately                            
07       to the department by the person or organization to whom the plates were originally                                
08       issued.                                                                                                           
09    * Sec. 2.  AS 28.10.181(c) is amended to read:                                                                     
10            (c)  Special request plates.  Upon application by the owner of a motor                                   
11       [PASSENGER] vehicle [, MOTORCYCLE, NONCOMMERCIAL VAN OR PICK-                                                     
12       UP TRUCK, OR MOTOR HOME], the department shall design and issue registration                                      
13       plates containing a series of not more than six letters or numbers or combination of                              
14       letters and numbers as requested by the owner.  The department may, in its discretion,                            
15       disapprove the issuance of registration plates under this subsection when the requested                           
16       symbols are a duplication of an existing registration or when the symbols are                                     
17       considered unacceptable by the department.                                                                        
18    * Sec. 3.  AS 28.10.181(d) is amended to read:                                                                     
19            (d)  Vehicles owned by veterans with disabilities, including persons disabled in                             
20       the line of duty while serving in the Alaska Territorial Guard, or other persons with                             
21       disabilities.  Upon the request of a person with a disability that limits or impairs the                          
22       ability to walk, as defined in 23 C.F.R. 1235.2, the department shall (1) register one                            
23       motor [PASSENGER] vehicle in the name of the person without charge; and (2) issue                             
24       a specially designed registration plate that displays (A) recognition of the disabled                             
25       veteran if the applicant's disability originated from the applicant's service with the                            
26       Alaska Territorial Guard or the armed forces of the United States; (B) the international                          
27       symbol of accessibility (the wheelchair logo); and (C) if the applicant is a veteran, the                         
28       Alaska and United States flags and red, white, and blue colors.  A person who is not                              
29       otherwise qualified under this subsection, but who meets the qualifications of a                                  
30       disabled veteran under AS 29.45.030(i), may register one motor [PASSENGER]                                    
31       vehicle without charge, and the department shall issue a specially designed registration                          
01       plate that displays recognition of the disabled veteran that does not display the                                 
02       international symbol of accessibility and does not carry with it special parking                                  
03       privileges.  For purposes of this subsection, proof of disability may be provided by a                            
04       person licensed as a physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64 or as an advanced                            
05       nurse practitioner under AS 08.68.                                                                                
06    * Sec. 4.  AS 28.10.181(f) is amended to read:                                                                     
07            (f)  Vehicles owned by elected state officials.  The department shall issue                                  
08       special registration plates to each incumbent elected state official for display on                               
09       [NONCOMMERCIAL] motor vehicles owned and driven by the official except that                                   
10       the plates may not be displayed on a vehicle that is visually identifiable as a                               
11       commercial vehicle.  The department shall number or design the plates so that                                 
12       registration by an elected state official is indicated upon the plates.  The registration                         
13       plates issued under this subsection may remain on [WITH THE OWNER OF] the                                 
14       vehicle only during the official's term of office.                                                                
15    * Sec. 5.  AS 28.10.181(m) is amended to read:                                                                     
16            (m)  Special request plates for Alaska National Guard personnel.  Upon                                       
17       application by the owner of a motor [PASSENGER] vehicle [, NONCOMMERCIAL                                      
18       VAN OR PICK-UP TRUCK, OR MOTOR HOME] who presents satisfactory proof of                                           
19       current membership in the Alaska National Guard, the department may design and                                    
20       issue registration plates that identify the vehicle as registered to a member of the                              
21       Alaska National Guard.                                                                                            
22    * Sec. 6.  AS 28.10.181(o) is amended to read:                                                                     
23            (o)  Special request university plates.  Upon application by the owner of a                                  
24       motor [PASSENGER] vehicle, [VAN OR PICK-UP TRUCK, OR MOTOR HOME,]                                             
25       the department may design and issue registration plates representing the University of                            
26       Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, or                              
27       Prince William Sound Community College.  The department may disapprove the                                        
28       issuance of registration plates under this subsection when the requested plates are a                             
29       duplication of an existing registration.                                                                          
30    * Sec. 7.  AS 28.10.181(p) is amended to read:                                                                     
31            (p)  Vehicles owned by veterans.  The department, upon receipt of written                                    
01       proof that the veteran is a sole or joint owner of a [NONCOMMERCIAL] motor                                        
02       vehicle, shall issue special registration plates for the [NONCOMMERCIAL] motor                                    
03       vehicle to a requesting person who is a veteran or retired veteran of the armed forces                            
04       of the United States.  The commissioner, after consulting with the director of the                                
05       division of veterans affairs, shall determine the design and color of the veteran or                              
06       retired veteran plates.                                                                                           
07    * Sec. 8.  AS 28.10.181(q) is amended to read:                                                                     
08            (q)  Vehicles owned by recipients of the Purple Heart.  The department, upon                                 
09       receipt of written proof that the person is the sole or joint owner of a                                          
10       [NONCOMMERCIAL] motor vehicle, shall issue special registration plates for the                                    
11       [NONCOMMERCIAL] motor vehicle to a requesting person who has received the                                         
12       Purple Heart medal awarded for wounds suffered in action against an armed enemy or                                
13       as a result of the hostile action of an armed enemy.  The commissioner, after                                     
14       consulting with the director of the division of veterans affairs, shall determine the                             
15       design and color of the Purple Heart medal recipient plates.                                                      
16    * Sec. 9.  AS 28.10.181(s) is amended to read:                                                                     
17            (s)  Special request dog mushing plates.  Upon application by the owner of a                                 
18       motor [PASSENGER] vehicle, [VAN OR PICK-UP TRUCK, OR MOTOR HOME,]                                             
19       the department may design and issue registration plates representing the sport of dog                             
20       mushing in the state.  The department may disapprove the issuance of registration                                 
21       plates under this subsection when the requested plates are a duplication of an existing                           
22       registration.                                                                                                     
23    * Sec. 10.  AS 28.10.181(t) is amended to read:                                                                    
24            (t)  Special request Alaska children's trust plates.  Upon application by the                                
25       owner of a motor [PASSENGER] vehicle [, NONCOMMERCIAL VAN OR PICK-                                            
26       UP TRUCK, OR MOTOR HOME], the department may design and issue registration                                        
27       plates representing the Alaska children's trust under AS 37.14.200.  The department                               
28       may disapprove the issuance of registration plates under this subsection when the                                 
29       requested plates are a duplication of an existing registration.                                                   
30    * Sec. 11.  AS 28.10.181(u) is amended to read:                                                                    
31            (u)  Special request plates commemorating the arts.  Upon application by the                                 
01       owner of a motor [PASSENGER] vehicle [, VAN OR PICK-UP TRUCK, OR                                              
02       MOTOR HOME], the department may issue registration plates commemorating the                                       
03       arts.  The commissioner, after consulting with the Alaska State Council on the Arts,                              
04       shall determine the design and color of plates commemorating the arts.  The                                       
05       department may disapprove the issuance of registration plates under this subsection                               
06       when the requested plates are a duplication of an existing registration.                                          
07    * Sec. 12.  AS 28.10.181(w) is amended to read:                                                                    
08            (w)  Special request plates commemorating Alaska veterans.  Upon application                                 
09       by the owner of a motor [PASSENGER] vehicle, [VAN, PICK-UP TRUCK, OR                                          
10       MOTOR HOME,] the department may issue registration plates commemorating                                           
11       Alaska veterans.  The commissioner shall determine the design and color of plates                                 
12       commemorating Alaska veterans.  The department may disapprove the issuance of                                     
13       registration plates under this subsection when the requested plates are a duplication of                          
14       an existing registration.                                                                                         
15    * Sec. 13.  AS 28.10.421(d) is amended to read:                                                                    
16            (d)  The special registration fees under this subsection are imposed biennially,                             
17       unless otherwise specified, for                                                                                   
18                 (1)  a historic vehicle registered under                                                                
19                      (A)  AS 28.10.181(b)(1) and that is driven or moved on a                                           
20            highway for the primary purpose of historical exhibition or similar activity,                                
21            one time only upon initial registration under AS 28.10.181(b) ................. $10;                         
22                      (B)  AS 28.10.181(b)(2) ..................................................... $30                  
23            plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b) of this section, unless the                                 
24            historic vehicle is eligible for the fee described under (C) of this paragraph; the                          
25            fee required by this subparagraph shall be collected only on the first issuance                              
26            and on the replacement of the historic plates;                                                               
27                      (C)  AS 28.10.181(b)(2) and that is driven or moved on a                                           
28            highway for the primary purpose of historical exhibition or similar activity,                                
29            one time only upon initial registration under AS 28.10.181(b) ................. $10;                         
30                 (2)  special request plates for                                                                         
31                      (A)  Alaska National Guard personnel .............................. $30;                           
01                      (B)  veterans or retired veterans ........................................ $30;                    
02                      (C)  recipients of the Purple Heart ..................................... $30;                     
03                      (D)  owners of custom collector vehicles .......................... $50;                           
04                      (E)  other special request plates ......................................... $30;                   
05       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) of this section; the fee                   
06       required by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance and on the                               
07       replacement of special request plates;                                                                            
08                 (3)  a vehicle owned by a person with a disability and registered under                                 
09       AS 28.10.181(d), or by a resident 65 years of age or older who files a written                                    
10       application for an exemption on a form prescribed by the department ............... none;                         
11                 (4)  a vehicle owned by the state ................................................. none;               
12                 (5)  a vehicle owned by an elected state official ...................................                   
13       .................... the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) of this section;           
14                 (6)  a vehicle owned by a rancher, farmer, or dairyman and registered                                   
15       under AS 28.10.181 ...............................................................................................
16                 (7)  a snowmobile or off-highway vehicle .................................... $10;                      
17                 (8)  an amateur mobile radio station vehicle,                                                           
18                      (A)  with a transceiver capable of less than 5-band operation                                      
19            .....................the fee required for that vehicle under (b) or (c) of this section;                     
20                      (B)  in recognition of service to the public a mobile amateur                                      
21            radio station owned by an amateur with general class or higher license,                                      
22            provided the station must be satisfactorily proved capable of operating on at                                
23            least five bands from 160 through 10 meters, must have an antenna, and must                                  
24            have a power supply and wiring as a permanent part of the vehicle; the                                       
25            transmitting unit may be removed from the car for service or dry storage                                     
26            .............................................................................................................
27            for a mobile amateur radio station vehicle included in (b) (1) or (2) of this                                
28            section;                                                                                                     
29                 (9)  dealer registration plates                                                                         
30                      (A)  the initial set of plates ................................................ $88;               
31                      (B)  each subsequent set of plates ...................................... $50;                     
01                 (10)  a vehicle owned by a municipality or charitable organization                                      
02       meeting the requirements of AS 28.10.181(e) ....................................................... $10;          
03                 (11)  a vehicle owned by a Pearl Harbor survivor or a former prisoner                                   
04       of war ...........................................................................................................
05                 (12)  special request university plates ............................................ $50                
06       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this                    
07       section; the fee required by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance                         
08       and on the replacement of special request plates; the commissioner of administration                              
09       shall separately account by university campus designation for the fees received under                             
10       this paragraph that the department deposits in the general fund; the annual estimated                             
11       balance in the accounts that is in excess of the cost of issuing special request                                  
12       university plates may be appropriated by the legislature for the support of programs at                           
13       each campus;                                                                                                      
14                 (13)  special request dog mushing plates ........................................ $50                   
15       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this                    
16       section; the fee required by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance                         
17       and on the replacement of special request plates; the commissioner of administration                              
18       shall separately account for the fees received under this paragraph that the department                           
19       deposits in the general fund; notwithstanding (g) of this section, the annual estimated                           
20       balance in the account that is in excess of the cost of issuing special request plates may                        
21       be appropriated by the legislature for the support of programs benefiting dog mushing;                            
22                 (14)  special request Alaska children's trust plates ....................... $100                       
23       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this                    
24       section; the fee required by this paragraph shall be collected only on the first issuance                         
25       and the replacement of special request plates; the commissioner of administration shall                           
26       separately account for the fees received under this paragraph that the department                                 
27       deposits in the general fund; notwithstanding (g) of this section, the annual estimated                           
28       balance in the account that is in excess of the cost of issuing special request plates may                        
29       be appropriated by the legislature into the principal of the Alaska children's trust under                        
30       AS 37.14.200;                                                                                                     
31                 (15)  special request plates commemorating the arts .................... $150                           
01       plus the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this                    
02       section; the fee required by this paragraph shall be collected biennially in the same                             
03       manner as the fee required under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this section; the                   
04       commissioner of administration shall separately account for the fees received under                               
05       this paragraph that the department deposits in the general fund; notwithstanding (g) of                           
06       this section, the annual estimated balance in the account that is in excess of the cost of                        
07       issuing special request plates may be appropriated by the legislature for the support of                          
08       programs benefiting the arts;                                                                                     
09                 (16)  special request plates commemorating Alaska veterans ...... $100                                  
10       plus a fee of $35 and the fee required for that vehicle under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1)                   
11       OR (2)] of this section; the $100 fee required by this paragraph shall be collected only                          
12       on the first issuance of and the replacement of the commemorative veterans' plates; the                           
13       $35 fee required by this paragraph shall be collected biennially in the same manner as                            
14       the fee required under (b), (c), (h), or (i) [(b)(1) OR (2)] of this section; the                             
15       commissioner of administration shall separately account for the fees received under                               
16       this paragraph that the department deposits in the general fund; notwithstanding (g) of                           
17       this section, the annual estimated balance in the account that is in excess of the cost of                        
18       issuing special request plates may be appropriated by the legislature for the support of                          
19       programs benefiting Alaska veterans.                                                                              
20    * Sec. 14.  This Act takes effect July 1, 2005.