Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/08/2007 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB79 | |
| HB75 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 88 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 75-DRIVERS LICENSE: ALCOHOL AWARENESS/MINOR 9:18:40 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 75, "An Act relating to driver's licenses and alcohol awareness testing." [Before the committee was CSHB 75, Version 25-LS0348\E, Luckhaupt, 1/26/07.] 9:18:42 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to adopt CS HB 75, Version 25- LS0348\M, Luckhaupt, 2/7/07, as a work draft. 9:19:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON objected for discussion purposes. 9:19:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE JAY RAMRAS, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor of HB 75, reviewed the changes made in Version M. He said the language, "and a person 21 years of age or older applying for a new license", was removed from page 1, beginning on line 7, at the recommendation of the Division of Motor Vehicles "and others," because it would require someone who is much older than 21 to take the alcohol and drug awareness safety test upon renewing a license. Representative Ramras indicated that the population he was trying to capture were [younger] and "perhaps more socially active and more vulnerable to consumption issues just by virtue of their activity." REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS noted that on page 1, line 9, and anywhere else applicable in the bill, after the words "alcohol" were inserted the words, "and drug". At the request of the director of the DMV, the time a person who has turned 21 has to go to the DMV before his/her license expires has been increased to 90 days after that person's twenty-first birthday. He said he thinks this element of the bill may need perfecting to accommodate those young people who go Outside for a semester of school or to serve in the military. He noted that the bill has a referral to the House Finance Committee. 9:23:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS directed attention to page 1, lines 11-12, and said the following language is redundant and he would like to see it deleted from Version M: The license issued to a person after the person has passed this test must state that the person has passed the alcohol and drug awareness and safety test. 9:24:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS suggested he may have a conflict of interest pertaining to HB 75, because he is a proprietor of a facility that serves alcoholic beverages. He spoke of the nature of youth being to try to drink at less than 21 years of age. He shared an anecdote about a group of 7 who were asked to leave his establishment because two members of the group were under 21. He said the bill will not change the actions of young people trying to drink before 21, but it will create a brighter line [in identifying] adults and minors. 9:28:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS offered a scenario: ... If we took a 20-year-old "staffer" over to the Baranof for lunch today, and they lost their driver's license between here and the walk over there, and they went to the DMV at age 20 to get a new driver's license, they would be issued a minor's driver's license that would now be valid until the year 2012. And so, what we have created is this pool of minors between the ages of 20 and 25 that we're not clear on whether they're an adult or whether they're a minor. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS noted that the size of the type on a driver's license showing a person's date of birth is small, which makes it difficult to read for those who have to check the identification (ID). He said there are five other states that have the automatic expiration of the driver's license [when a minor becomes of age]. He reiterated that HB 75 would more clearly show who is a minor, while currently, much of the burden falls on the those checking IDs. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said he believes that at the time when the person comes in for the new license, he/she should be given a new test regarding drug and alcohol awareness as a sort of "booster shot of education." He said although many charges of driving under the influence (DUI) do not result from a person causing an accident, the effect of receiving one is considerable. For example, a person with a DUI pays a large fine, cannot apply for a commercial driver's license (CDL), and is often barred from many types of jobs. He said the cost to the person renewing his/her license is "small potatoes" compared to the good that can come from having to take the test. He indicated that he, the Department of Public Safety, the [Division] of Motor Vehicles, and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers concur that "this will be an excellent tool to limit underage drinking and the purchase of alcohol in retail establishments and on premise establishments." He said he does not want to prevent anyone from renewing his/her license, thus, he would like the DMV to allow repeated, same-day testing. He acknowledged that the bill should address those students and active military who are away from Alaska and whose licenses expire while away. 9:33:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON removed his objection to the committee substitute (CS) for HB 75, Version 25-LS0348\M, Luckhaupt, 2/7/07. There being no further objection, Version M was before the committee as a work draft. 9:34:02 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he likes Representative Roses' idea of having the education component at 16 and again at first renewal. He emphasized that he likes Representative Ramras' idea of a drawing bright line at age 21, as well as the 90-day issue. 9:34:55 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS reiterated that consideration of the population of young people in the military must happen in order that they do not lose their rights to hold valid driver's licenses. He pointed out that that group is the one most at risk [for getting DUIs]. He said one issue to consider is whether or not it is a good idea to teach 14-year-olds about alcohol and drugs when they are not legally allowed to consume an alcoholic beverage until age 21. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said, "The reality is they are on the road, and they need to be aware of what the responsibilities and the cost of irresponsibility are." He added that the sooner those driving receive education, the better. 9:39:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS indicated that his opinions nearly match those of Representative Coghill on the issue. He said the current test is comprised of 16 questions out of a possible 1,000, and of those 16, about half relate to insurance and alcohol awareness. He said he would like to see a test in which 10 questions are dedicated to the subject of drugs and alcohol. He said the awareness is being pushed after the point at which someone gets a DUI, and he thinks it should happen sooner. 9:41:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES related that as a former teacher, he knows that children about to take a driving test are more likely to study the driver's manual diligently than they are to bring their math books to study math. He reminded Representative Ramras that he had previously raised the concern about having the alcohol and drug awareness test "upon first renewal." However, he said he also appreciates the concern that that may complicate things for others getting renewed licenses through the DMV. He stated, "So, I'm going to remove that concern and just hope that having the adequate number of questions on the test, regardless of the age of the person who takes it the first time will, hopefully, accomplish our objective." 9:43:15 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS returned to Representative Coghill's concern and suggested that through regulation, the DMV could change the test from 16 questions to 24, and to add an element to the test that is more specific to drugs and alcohol. 9:43:56 AM CHAIR LYNN, in response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, said the period of a driver's license to be valid is five years. 9:44:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON, regarding the proposed 90-day period within which someone would have to get a renewed license after his/her twenty-first birthday, stated concern that some people could be deployed in Iraq and may not have enough time to meet that requirement. 9:44:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS offered some statistics. He said he is continuing to work with the director of DMV and will most likely provide him with this problem to solve. CHAIR LYNN offered his recollection that while he served in the military, his license stayed active as long as he remained on active duty. 9:46:36 AM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, confirmed that an active duty military personnel's driver's license does not expire, and that person, after coming off active duty has 90 days until his/her license would expire. 9:48:15 AM ROBERT MYERS, JR. stated that although he is an intern in the office of Representative Peggy Wilson, he is testifying on behalf of himself. He said the discussion he has heard thus far has addressed cost and limitation, but not whether or not the bill would work. He said he does not object to the driver's license expiring at 21, but he does object to the test being required. He explained: Common practice for high school and college students is to learn enough for the test and then forget it all. Knowledge is retained only when there is a chance to put it into practice. Unfortunately, in this case there are two groups of individuals that do so: the first is the group that is already aware of the effects of alcohol and drugs and [does] not need this test to remind them. The second group puts this knowledge into practice when [it uses] these substances. Either way, this test will have no effect on people's habits. 9:50:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he challenges the premise of Mr. Meyers, Jr., because the bill is intended to give a clear line of information about driving while under the influence, not necessarily to change people's habits. The bill would give them a "clear line of responsibility," he said. CHAIR LYNN proffered that most of the bills that are heard would be hard pressed to change lifestyles, but they can make people more accountable or aware by "pointing them in a different direction." 9:51:45 AM MR. MYERS, in response to a question from Representative Johnson, said he finds it highly unlikely that any individual would change his/her choices based on simply taking another test at the DMV at the age of 21. 9:52:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said if the proposed legislation, with its fiscal note of $5,000, can affect the actions of one person, it would be worth it. 9:52:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that he does not think it is the intent of bill to change behavior, but rather to raise awareness. 9:53:16 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to report CSHB 25-LS0348\M, Luckhaupt, 2/7/07, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL objected to thank Mr. Meyers for his testimony and to point out that the sponsor had mentioned an amendment he would like adopted. 9:53:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES withdrew his motion. 9:53:59 AM REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved to adopt Amendment 1, as follows: On page 1, beginning on line 11: Delete: "The license issued to a person after the person has passed this test must state that the person has passed the alcohol and drug awareness and safety test." CHAIR LYNN asked if there was any objection to Amendment 1. There being none, it was so ordered. 9:54:25 AM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to report CSHB 75, Version 25- LS0348\M, Luckhaupt, 2/7/07, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 75(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
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