04/03/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(FIN)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to ignition interlock devices; to                                                                         
     limited driver's license privileges; and to ignition                                                                       
     interlock limited driver's license privileges."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL PAWLOWSKI, STAFF, CO-CHAIR  MEYER, addressed previous                                                                   
questions from the Committee in  a memorandum dated March 31,                                                                   
2008 (copy  on file.)   He answered  a question from  Senator                                                                   
Elton asking if Section 2 would  lead municipalities to defer                                                                   
prosecutions  to the Department  of Law.   He noted  that the                                                                   
Department of  Law does  not think this  will happen  and has                                                                   
issued a new zero fiscal note.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pawlowski  spoke  to  Senator   Elton's  question  about                                                                   
coordination between DMV and the  Court System.  He explained                                                                   
that the DMV  and Court System already coordinate  in regards                                                                   
to license  revocations  and ignition  interlock devices  can                                                                   
make that easier because they use an automated system.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Pawlowski addressed  a  previous question  from  Senator                                                                   
Elton  about a  performance  based exit  before  a person  is                                                                   
allowed to  drive without an  ignition interlock device.   He                                                                   
reported that Senator  French's additions to HB  19 require a                                                                   
person  maintain  an  ignition   interlock  device  on  their                                                                   
vehicle for  a minimum  period during  their probation.   The                                                                   
sponsor  believes  that  the   current  probation  system  is                                                                   
comprehensive  enough to  evaluate  when a  person should  or                                                                   
should not  exit the program.   A minimum period  is required                                                                   
under statute, which leaves it open for an extension.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pawlowski  responded to a previous question  from Senator                                                                   
Dyson  about  seizure of  a  vehicle  that someone  else  who                                                                   
requires  an interlock  device  was  driving.   AS  28.36.037                                                                   
provides remission for that situation.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Another  question  was  about  allowing  felons  to  have  an                                                                   
ignition   interlock   limited   license.     Mr.   Pawlowski                                                                   
maintained  that the  preference is  to stick  with what  has                                                                   
been drafted, which applies only to misdemeanor offenders.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The final  question was raised  about which communities  were                                                                   
exempted from  requiring an ignition  interlock device.   Mr.                                                                   
Pawlowski reported  that the list was prepared by  DMV and is                                                                   
attached to the memo.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:15:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman listed the fiscal notes.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Elton voiced appreciation  for the sponsor's response                                                                   
to the questions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:16:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman MOVED  to REPORT  SCS CSHB  19(JUD) out  of                                                                   
Committee  with individual  recommendations and  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SCS CSHB  19(JUD) was  REPORTED out of  Committee with  a "do                                                                   
pass" recommendation  and with four new fiscal  notes: a zero                                                                   
fiscal note by  the Department of Law, a zero  fiscal note by                                                                   
the  Department of  Transportation and  Public Facilities,  a                                                                   
fiscal  note by  the  Department  of Administration,  and  an                                                                   
indeterminate fiscal note by the Department of Corrections.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:17:27 AM