04/05/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         HB 180-VETERAN DESIGNATION ON DRIVER'S LICENSE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:05:41 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI   announced  that  HB  180   was  before  the                                                               
committee.  He  related  that  HB   180  authorizes  a  veteran's                                                               
designation  on driver's  licenses and  would enable  veterans to                                                               
receive benefits  they've earned. It would  also provide veterans                                                               
with a  convenient and  easy proof of  their status  as veterans.                                                               
The committee  heard the  bill on  March 22,  2012, and  there is                                                               
currently a new CS, version O.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER moved to adopt the  proposed SCS for CS for HB 180,                                                               
labeled 27-LS0589\O, as the version before the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAN  SADDLER, sponsor  of  HB  180, reviewed  the                                                               
changes  in  version O  of  the  bill.  Version  O adds  a  short                                                               
provision to  address the concerns  expressed by the  Division of                                                               
Motor  Vehicles that  while a  U.S. flag  might be  well-known in                                                               
Alaska as a  designation of a veteran's status,  other states may                                                               
not recognize  it as such.  Version O authorizes the  addition of                                                               
the word "veteran" along with the U.S. flag.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted the arrival of Senator Giessel.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:07:08 AM                                                                                                                    
WHITNEY  BREWSTER, Director,  Division of  Motor Vehicles  (DMV),                                                               
Department  of Administration,  testified in  support of  HB 180.                                                               
She spoke  in favor of  the additions  in version O  because they                                                               
will  give DMV  direction  as to  what  is to  be  placed on  the                                                               
license.  It  also  gets  to the  intent  of  benefitting  Alaska                                                               
veterans, particularly when they travel outside of Alaska.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI  asked  if the  Administration  supports  the                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. BREWSTER replied that the DMV  has no concerns about the bill                                                               
and supports efforts to honor Alaska veterans.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:08:26 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MEYER moved to report the  SCS for CS for HB 180, version                                                               
O,  from  committee  with   individual  recommendations  and  the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal note.  There  being no  objections SCS  CSHB
(STA)  was reported  from the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI stated it was a good bill.