Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
02/22/2011 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB93 | |
| SB2 | |
| SB16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 93 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 16-SPECIAL REQUEST LICENSE PLATES
9:46:48 AM
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next order of business would be
SB 16.
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt proposed committee substitute
CSSB 16 ( ), labeled 27-LS0120\D, as the working document.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes.
MICHELLE SYDEMAN, staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, said there
is only one change in the proposed CS from the original bill,
which is the inclusion of a pro-family, pro-choice license
plate. On page 2 an addition to the bill establishes where those
excess funds would go.
SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, sponsor of SB 16, said his comments would
be geared to the original bill and not the CS. The message of SB
16 is Choose Life. There are lots of specialty license plate
bills, but this one is taking a different approach. This is not
a fund raiser; the funds collected are only to cover costs. He
noted that 26 other states have Choose Life license plates. His
constituents want this, and he personally likes the idea. It is
a pro adoption message and a strong pro life message, but also a
message about suicide prevention. Choose Life can mean whatever
you want it to mean.
9:51:28 AM
JEFF MITTMAN, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) of Alaska, said that specialty license plates raise free
speech issues. SB 93 covers the issue more generally, because it
allows any organization to submit a message. The CS addresses a
concern with SB 16 as originally offered. The process needs to
be neutral.
RUSS AMERLING, National Publicity Coordinator, Choose Life
License Plates, said there are 26 states that have Choose Life
plates. The license plate in all other states is a fundraiser.
The message is a message of life, choose adoption.
JIM MINNERY, Alaska Family Council, said he wanted to emphasize
the option of celebrating adoption. SB 16 has the full support
of the Alaska Family Council.
9:55:17 AM
MIKE PAULSEN, Chairman, Choose Life Alaska, said he was
available for questions.
KELLY FOREMAN, Choose Life Alaska, said this issue has been
discussed by their organization for two years. The Choose Life
plate has already been designed to DMV specifications. She said
the additional plate added by the CS should be required to go
through its own legislative process.
BOB HEAD, Director, American Family Association of Alaska,
Juneau, said he has raised an adopted son. He feels that Choose
Life is an extremely important message.
SYD HIEDERSDORF, Juneau, testified on his own behalf in support
of SB 16. He said the Choose Life message promotes the culture
of life. Opposition to this message is a result of the abortion
mentality in this country. His testimony is based on the
specific issue of Choose Life, not the CS which includes a
Planned Parenthood type amendment. He hopes the committee will
support the idea of Choose Life.
10:00:50 AM
CAREN ROBINSON, lobbyist, representing Alaska Women's' Lobby and
Alaska Planned Parenthood of the Greater Northwest, testified in
support of the proposed CS. She said the organizations she
represents are in support of anything that helps people to make
good choices. She also raised the possibility of additional
dollars going to the Alaska Children's Trust from these
specialty plates. The trust already has license plates so the
funding process might already be in place at DMV.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony [and held SB 16 in
committee].