04/16/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(FIN)                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to special fire fighter and emergency                                                                     
     medical service provider license plates; and providing                                                                     
     for an effective date."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman said it was the first hearing of the bill.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED  to ADOPT the SCS for  CSHB 73 (FIN),                                                                    
Version T, as the working document.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Peterson  explained the two  changes in the new  SCS. In                                                                    
the  previous version  of  the  bill, commemorative  license                                                                    
plates for  firefighters and EMT's were  available to anyone                                                                    
for the  price of $100.  That option has been  removed. Only                                                                    
active or  retired firefighters and  EMT's are  eligible for                                                                    
those license plates.  The second change is on  page 2, line                                                                    
13, and provides  for license plates which  are available to                                                                    
fraternal organizations  with a  national chapter.  The cost                                                                    
of  those  plates is  $50  for  the  initial plate  and  $35                                                                    
biannually.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:44:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  noted  one  zero  fiscal  note  from  the                                                                    
Department    of   Commerce,    Community,   and    Economic                                                                    
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BOB  LYNN, SPONSOR,  introduced the  bill. He                                                                    
said that HB 73 provides  for special recognition plates for                                                                    
firefighters and  EMS personnel.  He stated support  for the                                                                    
new SCS.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:45:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  asked for the  reason behind the  new license                                                                    
plates. Representative  Lynn explained  that the  purpose is                                                                    
for public safety and for recognition of these professions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SUSIE  KOKLICH,  ALASKA  STATE  FIRE  FIGHTERS  ASSOCIATION,                                                                    
VALDEZ  (via  teleconference),  spoke   in  support  of  the                                                                    
legislation.  She  noted   that  it  was  also   a  tool  in                                                                    
recruitment, in addition to recognition.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:49:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WHITNEY BREWSTER,  DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR  VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT                                                                    
OF  ADMINISTRATION (via  teleconference),  commented on  the                                                                    
zero fiscal note  the department has submitted.  The cost of                                                                    
the  plates to  the  state is  approximately  $10 each.  The                                                                    
remaining  fees   collected  go   into  the   general  fund;                                                                    
therefore,  there  is  a zero  fiscal  note.  She  requested                                                                    
clarification  of  Version  T regarding  the  definition  of                                                                    
fraternal organization  and the  renewal fee, which  used to                                                                    
be   for  commemorative   plates.  She   also  needed   more                                                                    
information about  the renewal fee  on line 13.  She pointed                                                                    
out that  there is  not typically a  renewal fee  on license                                                                    
plates.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman suggested they  could work with the sponsor                                                                    
to tighten up the language.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Brewster  said the DMV  does not object to  the concepts                                                                    
in the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lynn  noted that the  fraternal organizations                                                                    
referred to in  the bill are not issue  advocacy groups such                                                                    
as Ms. Brewster mentioned.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HB  73  was   heard  and  HELD  in   Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:53:26 AM