03/07/2022 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 166                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the issuance of vehicle                                                                                
     registration plates."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:36:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick indicated there was one amendment.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson had heard from the representative                                                                      
that the Anchorage Police Department did not support the                                                                        
bill. He asked if it was true.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KEVIN  MCCABE,  SPONSOR,  responded  in  the                                                                    
affirmative.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:37:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Johnson MOVED to  ADOPT Amendment 1 ((copy on                                                                    
file):                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1 following "plates"                                                                                          
          Insert ";and providing for an effective date"                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 4, following line 30:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
          "*Sec. 11. This Act takes effect immediately                                                                          
          under AS 01.10.070(c)."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Johnson reviewed the  amendment. The bill did                                                                    
not have an effective date. The amendment corrects that.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick WITHDREW her OBJECTION.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  asked if there had  been any discussion                                                                    
about a sunset provision.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative McCabe  replied that  it was a  good thought.                                                                    
He had not  thought about it. He commented  that anyone with                                                                    
only 1 license plate would have to get another one.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool  was under  the impression at  one point                                                                    
vehicles only had to have one plate.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:39:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFFERY  SCHMITZ,  DIRECTOR,  DIVISION  OF  MOTOR  VEHICLES,                                                                    
DEPARTMENT OF  ADMINISTRATION (via teleconference),  was not                                                                    
aware that  there was a  time that Alaska only  required one                                                                    
plate.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wool suggested he could be mistaken.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  McCabe indicated  the  Department of  Public                                                                    
Safety (DPS) was  in the building if there was  a need for a                                                                    
response urgently.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:40:35 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:41:28 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson stated that  he would object to the                                                                    
passage of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Ortiz  MOVED  to report  CSHB  166(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson OBJECTED.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson  indicated   his  hometown  police                                                                    
department did  not support  the bill  and felt  the trooper                                                                    
who  testified was  lukewarm about  the bill.  He knew  when                                                                    
cars were  coming at him,  he could identify the  state they                                                                    
were from. He thought the  second plate was of assistance to                                                                    
the state.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: LeBon, Edgmon, Johnson, Ortiz, Merrick                                                                                
OPPOSED: Josephson, Wool                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (5/2).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 166(FIN) was  REPORTED out of committee  with three "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations, one  "do  not pass"  recommendation,                                                                    
and three  "no recommendation" recommendations and  with one                                                                    
new fiscal impact note by the Department of Administration.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:43:41 PM                                                                                                                    
At EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:45:13 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED