Legislature(2005 - 2006)
05/02/2005 10:36 AM Senate FIN
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 178(STA) am
"An Act relating to special motor vehicle registration plates;
and providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
CONRAD JACKSON, Staff to Representative Kurt Olson, the bill's
sponsor, stated that this legislation would allow, with a few
exceptions, all license plates to be made available for use on all
motor vehicles. Currently, the use of specialized or non-standard
license plates is limited to passenger vehicles, motorcycles, non-
commercial vans, pickup trucks, and motor homes. Use of these
license plates is currently prohibited for commercial vehicles.
Therefore, the end result of this bill would be to allow the use of
non-standard plates on all vehicles. However, he noted that those
applying for Veterans, Purple Heart, or Alaska National Guard
plates would be required to meet specific qualifiers in order to
display them.
Mr. Jackson noted that since there is a fee for non-standard
plates, this expansion would increase revenue in the Division of
Motor Vehicles (DMV), Department of Administration.
Mr. Jackson addressed the confusion that has accompanied the bill's
fiscal notes by communicating that while the State Affairs
Committee's version of the bill had been adopted in the House of
Representatives, the fiscal note accompanying the House Finance
Committee's version of the bill had been inadvertently transmitted
to the Senate. Therefore, he requested that the Committee adopt the
State Affairs fiscal note.
2:01:48 PM
Co-Chair Wilken understood therefore that the Department of
Administration $5,000 fiscal note #1, dated March 18, 2005 would be
the correct fiscal note.
Mr. Jackson affirmed.
2:02:02 PM
Senator Olson asked whether the fee structure for the non-standard
license plates had been altered.
2:02:16 PM
Mr. Jackson replied that no change has occurred to the fee
structure. This bill would simply serve to expand the usage of
these plates.
2:02:27 PM
DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of
Administration, testified via teleconference from an offnet
location. He voiced appreciation for the efforts exerted by the
bill's sponsor in this effort to increase "the greater use of
vanity or personalized specialty license plates". This legislation
is one component of the improvements the Department is attempting
to implement at the DMV.
2:03:27 PM
Senator Hoffman asked whether the Department of Public Safety has a
position on this bill.
2:04:02 PM
Mr. Jackson responded that the Director of the DMV has been in
contact with the Department of Public Safety. No problem has been
identified. The license plates simply provide the identification of
the vehicle. Legibility of the license plate and other such issues
are addressed in provisions addressing the basic construction of
the plate.
2:04:25 PM
Senator Hoffman understood therefore that Department of Public
Safety is not opposed to the bill.
2:04:30 PM
Mr. Jackson responded that he is unaware of any opposition.
However, he deferred to Mr. Bannock.
2:04:37 PM
Senator Hoffman recalled that, in the past, when legislation
allowing for increased diversification of plates was discussed, the
Department of Public Safety had voiced reservations. Therefore he
questioned whether their position had changed in that regard.
[NOTE: Co-Chair Green resumed Chair of the meeting.]
2:04:59 PM
Mr. Jackson clarified that this legislation would not add any
plates to Statute it would merely make them available to a "wider
range of vehicles".
AT EASE 2:05:20 PM / 2:08:16 PM
2:08:19 PM
Co-Chair Green requested that the fiscal note issue be further
explained.
2:08:22 PM
Mr. Jackson clarified that the State Affairs Committee fiscal note,
fiscal note #1, rather than the House Finance Committee fiscal
note, fiscal note #2, should have accompanied the bill when it
transmitted from the House to the Senate.
Co-Chair Green acknowledged.
2:09:05 PM
Co-Chair Green stated that a question has been raised in regards to
Fiscal note #1, in that, in addition to the $5,000 operating
expenses, it reflects a capital expenditures expense of $5,000.
Therefore, she asked whether the total expense should be $10,000
rather than the $5,000 reflected in fiscal note #1.
2:09:27 PM
Mr. Jackson deferred to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
2:09:32 PM
Mr. Bannock, after consulting with Division staff, stated that the
$5,000 capital expense would be provided for from a separate fund
account. Therefore, while the total expense would be $10,000, only
the $5,000 operating expense would be required.
Co-Chair Green requested that clarification be sought in regards to
whether $10,000 should be the total amount reflected.
Mr. Bannock stated that while the first year's total expense would
amount to $10,000, the $5,000 capital expense is not being
requested. Only the operating expense is being requested.
2:11:18 PM
Co-Chair Green asked therefore whether the capital expense might be
more correctly identified as Capital Improvement Project (CIP)
receipts.
Co-Chair Green stated that the fiscal note issue should be further
reviewed, as the desire would be to have correct information
accompany the bill.
Mr. Bannock agreed that the fiscal note should be "perfect".
2:11:42 PM
The bill was HELD in Committee.
AT EASE 2:12:05 PM / 2:12:22 PM
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 178(STA) am
"An Act relating to special motor vehicle registration plates;
and providing for an effective date."
The bill was again before the Committee. [For previous Committee
discussion, see Time Stamp 1:59:29 PM]
Co-Chair Green informed that a corrected fiscal note for the bill
would be presented at the Committee's next scheduled hearing.
The bill was again HELD in Committee.
AT EASE 2:30:55 PM
[NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the portion of the meeting
between Time Stamp 2:30:55 PM and 2:43:55 PM was not recorded. The
minutes presented are from the Finance Committee Secretary's
notes.]
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