05/06/2003 03:45 PM Senate STA

            HB  81-MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
REPRESENTATIVE  KEVIN  MEYER,  bill sponsor,  explained  the  bill                                                              
streamlines  existing  law  by  improving  enforcement,  providing                                                              
consistency  between overseeing departments  and providing  relief                                                              
from the extraneous testing requirements.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The purpose for  increasing the fine from $200 to  as much as $500                                                              
is to improve compliance. The benefit  is that the air stays clean                                                              
and Alaska  continues to  qualify for  federal street and  highway                                                              
money.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The bill removes the exemption from  alternative fuel vehicles and                                                              
requires  that  the  registration  period not  extend  beyond  the                                                              
expiration period  on the emission certificate. When  the title of                                                              
a pre-1987 vehicle is transferred,  the emissions test requirement                                                              
is changed  from not  more than a  year old to  not more  than two                                                              
years old, which removes extraneous testing.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
He said HB 81 is a consumer protection  bill in that Anchorage and                                                              
Fairbanks residents  can be  assured that  the car they're  buying                                                              
isn't a lemon. Inspection decals  must be displayed on windshields                                                              
and the inspection  record must be on file at DMV.  If a car isn't                                                              
compliant, the dealer  must be able to explain why  it is not. The                                                              
bill  expands enforcement  of the  emission  standards to  include                                                              
DMV, DEC and the municipalities of Anchorage and Fairbanks.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN  COWDERY asked what  happens if the  inspection decal                                                              
is lost.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
RON KING, manager  of the Air Non-Point & Mobile  Sources Program,                                                              
said  replacement  decals would  be  available through  the  local                                                              
inspection emissions programs in  both municipalities. The systems                                                              
are computer-linked  so they could verify that the  vehicle was in                                                              
compliance.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHUCK HOSACK, Deputy  Director of the Division  of Motor Vehicles,                                                              
testified via teleconference in support  of HB 81 because it would                                                              
reduce the public's confusion with regard to inspections.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  asked what the process  would be if you  lived in                                                              
Anchorage, but registered your car in Juneau.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. HOSACK  explained the residence  address of the  vehicle owner                                                              
is  used as  the basis  for inspection  requirements.  There is  a                                                              
waiver for vehicles  that are used outside the  emission area, but                                                              
once the  vehicle is returned to  the emission inspection  area it                                                              
would require inspection.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT LEIST  from Fairbanks  testified via  teleconference  to ask                                                              
whether all  vehicles in the  inspection area would  need emission                                                              
testing and would the tests be required annually.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
RON KING,  program manager  with the  Department of  Environmental                                                              
Conservation,  replied the  inspection programs  would remain  the                                                              
same.  In Fairbanks,  cars  that  were built  after  1974 must  be                                                              
inspected  and in  Anchorage the  requirement is  that cars  built                                                              
after 1967  must be  inspected. By statute,  the emission  test is                                                              
and would remain a biannual program.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. LEIST expressed support for the bill.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
JAMES  ARMSTRONG   from  Anchorage   expressed  support   for  the                                                              
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRETCHEN  GUESS made a motion  to move HB 81  and attached                                                              
zero fiscal note  from committee with individual  recommendations.                                                              
There being no objection, it was so ordered.