05/10/2002 05:26 PM Senate JUD

                                                                                                                                
             HB 182-MOTOR VEHICLE SALES AND DEALERS                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. AMY ERICKSON, staff to Representative  Lisa Murkowski, sponsor                                                              
of HB 182,  said HB 182  addresses the relationship  between motor                                                              
vehicle dealers, manufacturers and prospective buyers.  She said                                                                
the bill would:                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
   · Provide  guidelines  to protect  dealers  and consumers  from                                                              
     abuses within the industry;                                                                                                
   · Create   a   platform   for    dispute   resolution   between                                                              
     manufacturers and dealers with regard to franchise                                                                         
     agreements;                                                                                                                
   · Include  franchise  agreements   under  the  jurisdiction  of                                                              
     Alaska courts;                                                                                                             
   · Create  a uniform  process for  transferring, terminating  or                                                              
     conveying franchise agreements;                                                                                            
   · Provide protection  against the placement of  new dealerships                                                              
     within proximity of a current dealership;                                                                                  
   · Provide uniform guidelines for  designating successors in the                                                              
     case of death or incapacity of a franchisee; and                                                                           
   · Provide  safeguards  to  protect   consumers  from  deceptive                                                              
     advertising, price comparison and availability of advertised                                                               
     items.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Steve Alewine if he wished to testify.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. STEVE ALEWINE, Alaska Auto Dealers Association, said he did                                                                 
not.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Mark Mueller to provide testimony.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MARK MUELLER said he was comfortable with HB 182.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Jim Kiley to provide testimony.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. JIM KILEY said he supported HB 182.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Stan Hurst to provide testimony.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. STAN HURST, Chrysler Corporation, said Chrysler is                                                                          
comfortable with the bill.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Rick Morrison to provide testimony.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. RICK MORRISON, Alaska Auto Dealers Association, thanked                                                                     
everybody that had worked on the bill.  He thanked the committee                                                                
for its support.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked Mr. Ed Sniffen to provide testimony.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. ED SNIFFEN, Assistant Attorney General, Fair Business                                                                       
Practices  Section  (FBPS),  Department  of Law  (DOL),  said  DOL                                                              
supported HB 182.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY moved  SCS CSHB  182(L&C) out  of committee  with                                                              
attached zero fiscal notes and individual recommendations.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There  being  no  objection,  SCS   CSHB  182(L&C)  moved  out  of                                                              
committee  with   attached  zero   fiscal  notes  and   individual                                                              
recommendations.