Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2022-05-18 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2969 HB 163 HOUSE BILL NO. 163 "An Act relating to vehicle title applications" was read the second time. Senators Kawasaki, Hughes offered Amendment No. 1 : Page 1, line 1, following "applications": Insert "; relating to driver's license renewal" Page 1, following line 8: Insert a new bill section to read: 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2970 "* Sec. 2. AS 28.15.101(a) is amended to read: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a driver's license expires on the licensee's birthday in the eighth year following the issuance of a new [THE] license or on the expiration date of a license being renewed. A license may be renewed within one year of its expiration upon proper application, payment of the required fee, and except when a license is renewed under (c) of this section, successful completion of a test of the licensee's eyesight." Senator Kawasaki moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 1. Senator Hoffman objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Senator Hughes, Kawasaki offered Amendment No. 2 : Page 1, line 1, following "Act": Insert "relating to the issuance of vehicle registration plates;" Following "applications": Insert "; and providing for an effective date" Page 1, following line 2: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Section 1. AS 28.10.108(g) is amended to read: (g) The department shall issue to the registered owner, upon receipt of the proper application and fees, one registration plate [PLATES], tabs, and a registration form displaying the month and year in which the registration expires. * Sec. 2. AS 28.10.108(h) is amended to read: (h) The department shall mail or deliver notice of registration expiration to the registered owner of record at the owner's mailing address or electronic mail address as shown in the records of the department. An owner of a vehicle subject to registration who has received notice under this subsection may renew registration of the vehicle on the department's Internet website or by returning the notice form, together with appropriate fees, to the department by mail postmarked not later than the fifth day of the registration renewal period shown on the vehicle's current registration or notice form. Upon receipt of a timely registration renewal application and the appropriate fees and taxes, the department shall renew the 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2971 registration and mail the current registration card and registration plate [PLATES] or tabs to the owner at the owner's mailing address as shown in the department's records. * Sec. 3. AS 28.10.155(a) is amended to read: (a) The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, that is required to be registered under this chapter may elect to register the motor vehicle permanently in lieu of registration under AS 28.10.108 if the vehicle is at least eight years old and the owner resides in the unorganized borough or in a municipality that elects, by passage of an appropriate ordinance, to allow the permanent registration of motor vehicles. The permanent registration expires when the owner transfers or assigns the owner's title or interest in the vehicle. A permanent registration may not be renewed. Upon [ON] receiving the proper application and fees, the department shall issue to the registered owner one registration plate [PLATES], tabs, and a permanent registration form. * Sec. 4. AS 28.10.161(a) is amended to read: (a) Except for a vehicle registered under AS 28.10.152, the department, upon registering a vehicle, shall issue the owner one fully reflectorized registration plate for the [A TRAILER OR A MOTORCYCLE AND TWO FULLY REFLECTORIZED REGISTRATION PLATES FOR EVERY OTHER] vehicle. Except as specifically provided in AS 28.10.181, the plate [OR PLATES] must remain with the vehicle as long as the vehicle is subject to registration under this chapter. * Sec. 5. AS 28.10.161(b) is amended to read: (b) Every passenger vehicle registration plate, except as specifically provided in AS 28.10.181, shall have displayed on it (1) one of the following designs: (A) the Alaska flag design, consisting of the Alaska flag, the traditional colors of yellow-gold and blue, and the slogan "The Last Frontier"; (B) the bear design, consisting of a standing grizzly bear in the center of the plate; the bear design shall be modeled after the 1976 bicentennial plate without the bicentennial symbol; or (C) the design celebrating the arts chosen by the commissioner through consultation with the Alaska State Council on the Arts; the commissioner shall choose a new design for the plates celebrating the arts every four years and discontinue issuance of the previous design; 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2972 (2) the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued; (3) the name of this state, which may be abbreviated; and (4) the registration year number or expiration date for which time it is validated; the registration year number or expiration date may be part of the license plate or contained on a suitable sticker or tab device issued by the department; however, only one sticker or tab device may be issued for each plate or pair of plates, and the sticker or tab device must be affixed to the (A) rear plate for noncommercial vehicles; or (B) front plate for commercial vehicles. * Sec. 6. AS 28.10.161 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (e) A person or organization owning a vehicle that is issued two registration plates by the department may elect to return one registration plate to the department. The registration plate that is not returned to the department shall be attached to the (1) rear of the vehicle for which it is issued for a noncommercial vehicle; or (2) front of the vehicle for which it is issued if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle. * Sec. 7. AS 28.10.171(a) is amended to read: (a) When two registration plates are issued for a vehicle, they shall be attached to the vehicle for which issued, one in front and the other in the rear. When one registration plate is issued, it shall be attached to the (1) rear of the vehicle for which issued for a noncommercial vehicle; or (2) front of the vehicle for which issued if the vehicle is a commercial vehicle; in this paragraph, "commercial vehicle" has the meaning given to "commercial motor vehicle" in AS 19.10.399. * Sec. 8. AS 28.10.181(b) is amended to read: (b) Historic vehicles. The owner of a historic vehicle may make application for special registration under this subsection. The department, when satisfied that the vehicle meets the requirements for historic vehicle registration under regulations adopted by the commissioner, shall register the vehicle and (1) issue one [TWO] permanent registration plate [PLATES] of distinctive design and color bearing no date; a vehicle [VEHICLES] qualifying for 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2973 registration under this paragraph shall be issued a registration plate [PLATES] numbered in a separate numerical series beginning with "Historic Vehicle No. 1"; or (2) allow the vehicle to use a registration plate [PLATES] of this state supplied by the vehicle owner that corresponds [CORRESPOND] to the year the vehicle was manufactured if the vehicle was manufactured 30 or more years before the year of application. A registration plate [REGISTRATION PLATES] issued under this subsection remains [REMAIN] with the vehicle as long as the vehicle is registered under this subsection. * Sec. 9. AS 28.10.181(j) is amended to read: (j) Vehicles owned by dealers. A state-registered and bonded vehicle dealer may apply for a dealer registration plate [PLATES]. A plate issued under this subsection may be used only on dealer- owned vehicles during the routine and normal course of the dealer's business, excluding service vehicles, or for transporting an unregistered vehicle from a port of entry to the dealer's facilities or from one dealer to another or, in the case of a house trailer, from the retail facility to a trailer space. A vehicle permitted to have a dealer plate [PLATES] must be affixed with one plate [TWO PLATES] issued under this subsection. If the dealer sells or transfers the vehicle, the dealer plate [PLATES] may be used on the vehicle by the new owner or transferee for a period of not more than five days after the sale or transfer. The department may seize the dealer plate [PLATES] if it has reason to believe that the plate is [PLATES ARE] being used to defeat the purposes of, or is [ARE] in violation of, this chapter." Page 1, line 3: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 10" Page 1, following line 8: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 11. AS 28.10.421(d)(9) is amended to read: (9) dealer registration plates (A) the initial plate [SET OF PLATES] $88; (B) each subsequent plate [SET OF PLATES] $50; * Sec. 12. AS 28.10.441 is amended to read: Sec. 28.10.441. Schedule of other fees and charges. The 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2974 following fees and charges are imposed by the department for the stated services that it provides: (1) title fee, including transfer of title $15; (2) lien filing fee $15; (3) replacement of any registration plate [SET], including a special request plate [PLATES] $5; (4) duplicate of original certificate of title $15; (5) duplicate of certificate of registration $2; (6) temporary preregistration permit issued under AS 28.10.031 none; (7) special transport permit issued under AS 28.10.151 $5; (8) special permit for vehicle used for transport of a person with a disability issued under AS 28.10.495 none. * Sec. 13. Sections 1 - 9, 11, and 12 of this Act take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c)." Senator Hughes moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 2. Without objection, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Senator Wielechowski objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, it was so ordered. HOUSE BILL NO. 163 am S(efd add S) "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle registration plates; relating to vehicle title applications; relating to driver's license renewal; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HOUSE BILL NO. 163 am S(efd add S) "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle registration plates; relating to vehicle title applications; relating to driver's license renewal; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 163 am S(efd add S) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 19 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2022-05-18 Senate Journal Page 2975 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Reinbold and so, HOUSE BILL NO. 163 am S(efd add S) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment.