04/30/2024 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS

        HB 293-VEHICLES:REGISTER;TRANSFER; INS.; LICENSE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:33:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  293, "An  Act relating  to the  registration and                                                               
titling  of vehicles;  relating  to  electronic registration  and                                                               
titling;  relating   to  the  powers   of  the   commissioner  of                                                               
administration with  respect to  motor vehicles; relating  to the                                                               
transfer  of  vehicles;  relating   to  motor  vehicle  liability                                                               
insurance;   relating   to  non-domiciled   commercial   driver's                                                               
licenses  and  non-domiciled  commercial learner's  permits;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:34:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFFREY   SCHMITZ,   Director,   Division  of   Motor   Vehicles,                                                               
Department of  Administration, presented HB 293  to the committee                                                               
on behalf  of the  bill sponsor,  House Rules  by request  of the                                                               
governor.   He said  that the proposed  legislation was  meant to                                                               
focus on modernization  of the Division of  Motor Vehicles (DMV).                                                               
He explained  how the  changes that  would be  made under  HB 293                                                               
would   allow   the   DMV   to   implement   electronic   vehicle                                                               
titling/registration, non-domicile learner's  permits, the repeal                                                               
of  a "long  shuttered"  vehicle inspection  program, cleanup  of                                                               
ambiguous   or    contradictory   statutes,    clarification   of                                                               
registration requirements,  and new  language requiring  that the                                                               
DMV rebuke crash reports and  request proof of insurance from all                                                               
parties  involved in  said crash  reports.   He  said that  these                                                               
changes   would   "enhance  organizational   efficiency,   remove                                                               
barriers  to  modernization  of DMV  systems  across  the  state,                                                               
ensure that  the DMV's communications  and practice  remain clear                                                               
and   relevant  in   state  and   national   context,  and   ease                                                               
governmental burden on Alaskans."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:37:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT inquired  whether  the Federal  Government                                                               
currently  allowed for  legally  non-domicile  individuals to  be                                                               
issued a regular or commercial driver's license (CDL).                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ confirmed that was correct.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WRIGHT  asked  if  Alaska had  a  reciprocal  CDL                                                               
agreement with any other states.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ said that Alaska is  a member of the Driver's License                                                               
Compact  in  accordance  with  AS 28.37.010.    He  expounded  on                                                               
individuals who  were issued non-domicile CDLs  from other states                                                               
and how  it related  to Alaska.   He further  stated that  HB 293                                                               
would  not  allow  for illegal  immigrants  to  receive  driver's                                                               
licenses or CDLs.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:40:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked why  the DMV currently requires women                                                               
to provide a birth certificate  in addition to a marriage license                                                               
to change their name.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ  responded that the  DMV requires both men  and women                                                               
to provide both a birth  certificate and marriage license to give                                                               
the DMV proof of identity.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD  further questioned  why she would  have to                                                               
verify  her maiden  name with  a birth  certificate and  marriage                                                               
license after she'd already done it once.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCMITZ  said he is  unsure that  the DMV requires  someone to                                                               
show proof of their name each time they visit.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:43:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER asked whether a  person who was issued a                                                               
non-domicile CDL would  be allowed to operate  under a reciprocal                                                               
agreement in Alaska  if HB 293 were not to  pass the legislature.                                                               
He also inquired  whether illegal immigrants would  be allowed to                                                               
receive driver's licenses.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ clarified that they wouldn't  be allowed to if HB 293                                                               
failed to pass the legislature.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:45:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STORY  inquired   about  other   states  already                                                               
utilizing electronic registration and titling.   She asked if the                                                               
cost  absorbed by  HB 293  would be  an annual  cost and  further                                                               
questioned  if   said  annual  cost  is   typical  of  electronic                                                               
registration  and titling  programs.   She asked  if the  DMV had                                                               
performed a  request for proposal  (RFP) from  different agencies                                                               
who provide an electronic registration  and titling service.  She                                                               
asked how the  current cost of registration and  titling would be                                                               
affected by the proposed program.   She further inquired how much                                                               
money is spent on the DMV versus how much money is gained.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCHMITZ  responded  that  multiple  states  already  utilize                                                               
electronic registration and  titling.  He said that  the point of                                                               
modernizing  the DMV's  services is  to streamline  the processes                                                               
and expenses  for the  state and  added that  the service  is new                                                               
across the  country, so the  cost relies  on the vendor  that the                                                               
DMV  selects to  provide  the services.   He  said  that the  DMV                                                               
performed  a  request for  information  (RFI),  not an  RFP,  and                                                               
explained how  that RFI  supplemented the  policy proposed  in HB
.   He said  that HB  293 allows for  the commissioner  of the                                                               
Department of  Administration to have regulations  which describe                                                               
how the  fee structure would  work and  added that the  DMV would                                                               
try to  keep the  fee structure  as close to  what is  current as                                                               
possible.  He  said that the DMV adds roughly  50 million dollars                                                               
a year to the general fund.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:55:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER asked  how  someone  would identify  an                                                               
"officer or  official employee  of the  department" as  stated in                                                               
Section 20 of HB 293.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ  replied that he  would follow  up with an  answer to                                                               
the committee later.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER  asked how  the DMV would  inspect motor                                                               
vehicle  operators  for  compliance with  insurance  and  titling                                                               
requirements  under   HB  293.     He  inquired  about   the  new                                                               
subsection, Section 16.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ  answered that Section  16 of HB 293  would modernize                                                               
the DMV  process by  making the  request for  insurance mandatory                                                               
only after an accident has occurred.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:00:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  asked why page 1,  line 11 was to  be added                                                               
to  HB 293  and asked  for clarification  as to  how the  process                                                               
outlined by the subsection would work.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCHMITZ clarified  that Section  1 was  added to  HB 293  to                                                               
provide  clarity   to  the  organizations  with   which  the  DMV                                                               
currently  exchanges.     He  used  the   driver's  license  data                                                               
verification service  as an  example of a  service that  would be                                                               
changed by Section 1 of HB 293.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:04:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  asked  for  an example  of  a  "defective"                                                               
license plate as mentioned in Section 3 of HB 293.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCHMITZ replied  by giving  multiple  examples of  defective                                                               
license plates  and emphasized that  the term refers solely  to a                                                               
license plate that is no longer legible by law enforcement.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  asked  why  the  DMV  no  longer  performs                                                               
emissions testing in Alaska.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCHMITZ answered  that the  state went  away from  emissions                                                               
testing because  it was proven  to be ineffective in  its ability                                                               
to improve air quality.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:07:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER  asked  how   many  Alaskans  would  be                                                               
impacted   by  the   repeal  of   mail-in  registration   renewal                                                               
applications proposed under Section 7.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCMITZ  made  clear  that   the  DMV  has  no  intention  to                                                               
discontinue  mail services  and said  that  Section 7  of HB  293                                                               
would  simply add  electronic mail-in  services as  an option  to                                                               
ease governmental burden on everyday Alaskans.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  CARPENTER  clarified   his  question  by  reading                                                               
Section 7 of HB 293.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCMITZ reiterated  that the intention of Section 7  is not to                                                               
discontinue  mail-in  registration  renewal forms  and  explained                                                               
that the conflicting wording of  Section 7 is likely an oversight                                                               
by Legislative Legal Services.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:11:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked  how HB 293 would  impact the process                                                               
of obtaining a REAL-ID .                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCMITZ   explained  that  HB   293  would  not   impact  the                                                               
requirements of REAL-ID whatsoever.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALLARD asked  whether someone's  information used                                                               
to obtain  a CDL  would be  valid when the  same person  moved to                                                               
apply for a REAL-ID.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ  replied that  someone must  be REAL-ID  compliant in                                                               
order to apply for a CDL in Alaska.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALLARD asked  if  someone would  have  to be  re-                                                               
verified through the  REAL-ID process when trying  to renew their                                                               
CDL or basic driver's license.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. SCHMITZ said that all  first-time applicants for REAL-ID must                                                               
bring in all  appropriate documentation, and he  clarified to the                                                               
committee that  REAL-ID requirements  are federal.   With respect                                                               
to name  change, he added  that would not affect  REAL-ID status,                                                               
but  the individual  would  have  to provide  proof  of the  name                                                               
change.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:15:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW opened public testimony on HB 293.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:16:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADAM WEINER, Executive Director,  Department of Labor & Workforce                                                               
Development, testified  in support of  HB 293.  He  explained how                                                               
HB 293 could  benefit immigrant Alaskans through  the issuance of                                                               
work licenses such  as non-domicile CDL and added that  HB 293 is                                                               
a bill that would put Alaska  in competition with other states by                                                               
giving immigrant Alaskans a better chance to remain in Alaska.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:18:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALLARD  asked  if  the  intent  of  the  proposed                                                               
legislation was to bring legal immigrants to Alaska.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. WEINER said that is a part  of the intent, and the other part                                                               
is to change the DMV's process.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:18:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ZORI  OPANASEVYCH,  Director,  New  Chance,  Inc.,  testified  in                                                               
support of  HB 293.   She  offered her belief  that HB  293 would                                                               
create a  lifeline for  individuals that  are displaced  and have                                                               
the skills  to work  as commercial  truck drivers.   She  gave an                                                               
example of an  individual who wished to work in  Alaska but could                                                               
not do  so due  to current immigration  laws surrounding  CDLs in                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:21:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ALLARD  asked  whether  New Chance,  Inc.  was  a                                                               
nonprofit organization.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. OPANASEVYCH said  that New Chance, Inc. is  a nonprofit based                                                               
in  Anchorage, Alaska  and explained  their  board structure  and                                                               
goal.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:22:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOEY CRUM, President and CEO,  Northern Industrial Training, said                                                               
that there is a need from  employers and a willingness from legal                                                               
immigrant workers that both justify the passage of HB 293.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:23:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TETYANA  ROBBINS, Executive  Director, Project  Alaska, testified                                                               
in  support of  HB 293.    She explained  that there  is a  great                                                               
number of Ukrainian  refugees who are qualified  CDL drivers that                                                               
currently  cannot work  in Alaska  due to  its immigration  laws.                                                               
She  mentioned the  vacancy rates  of CDL  drivers in  Alaska and                                                               
opined that HB 293 would relieve those vacancy rates.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:26:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW, after  ascertaining there was no one  else who wished                                                               
to testify, closed public testimony on HB 293.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:26:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHAW announced that HB 293 was held over.