Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

02/22/2024 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ SB 18 ALLOW ELECTRONIC DRIVERS' LICENSES AND ID TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ SB 208 VEHICLES:REGISTER;TRANSFER; INS.; LICENSE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
        SB  18-ALLOW ELECTRONIC DRIVERS' LICENSES AND ID                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:33:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL NO. 18                                                               
"An Act relating to electronic  identification cards; relating to                                                               
electronic  drivers'  licenses  and permits;  relating  to  motor                                                               
vehicle  liability  insurance;  and providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:33:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI joined the meeting.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:33:19 PM                                                                                                                    
JOE HAYES, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State                                                                          
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sponsor statement for                                                                
SB 18:                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                         Senate Bill 18                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
                       Sponsor Statement                                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
     "An  Act relating  to electronic  identification cards;                                                                    
     relating to  electronic drivers' licenses  and permits;                                                                    
     relating  to  motor  vehicle liability  insurance;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Smartphones and  other smart mobile  electronic devices                                                                    
     have  become  an  indispensable part  of  modern  life.                                                                    
     These   devices   provide   convenient   communication,                                                                    
     information  and  entertainment   such  that  there  is                                                                    
     almost  no aspect  of life  that  smartphones have  not                                                                    
     made easier.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     SB  18 seeks  to leverage  these modern  communications                                                                    
     technologies  to enhance  convenience for  Alaskans and                                                                    
     allow them to use  electronic versions of their drivers                                                                    
     licenses,  drivers  permits   or  state  identification                                                                    
     cards.  Alaskans   are  currently  required   to  carry                                                                    
     physical drivers  licenses and permits when  driving or                                                                    
     operating a vehicle.  This bill will allow  them to use                                                                    
     applications  like Apple  Wallet  for  iPhones to  show                                                                    
     their  credentials  when  requested by  peace  officers                                                                    
     including  local  law   enforcement  or  Department  of                                                                    
     Public Safety (DPS) personnel.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     On top  of increasing  convenience, this  bill protects                                                                    
     the licensee  and user of  the smart device as  well as                                                                    
     local law enforcement and DPS.  It protects the privacy                                                                    
     of the  licensee and smart  device user  by prohibiting                                                                    
     representatives of  DPS or  local law  enforcement from                                                                    
     searching, viewing  or accessing other contents  of the                                                                    
     mobile  electronic device.  It protects  DPS and  local                                                                    
     law  enforcement from  liability resulting  from damage                                                                    
     to  the  electronic   device,  except  for  intentional                                                                    
     misconduct.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Alaskans have been allowed to  use their smartphones to                                                                    
     display  proof of  insurance since  2013 and  use their                                                                    
     smartphones  to display  fishing  and hunting  licenses                                                                    
     since 2018.  Therefore, it is logical  that Alaskans be                                                                    
     allowed to use their  smartphones to display electronic                                                                    
     versions  of their  drivers  licenses, drivers  permits                                                                    
     and  state identification  cards.  I respectfully  urge                                                                    
     your support of SB 18.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:35:44 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. HAYES presented the sectional analysis for SB 18:                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                         Senate Bill 18                                                                                       
                       Sectional Analysis                                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
     "An  Act relating  to electronic  identification cards;                                                                    
     relating to  electronic drivers' licenses  and permits;                                                                    
     relating  to  motor  vehicle liability  insurance;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section  1.  AS  18.65.310(a) Adds  the  word  physical                                                                    
     specifying that  the department shall issue  a physical                                                                    
     identification card upon the payment of a $15 fee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2. AS 18.65.310 Adds new subsections:                                                                              
     (s)   The   department    may   issue   an   electronic                                                                    
     identification  card to  those who  possess a  physical                                                                    
     identification  card, pay  an additional  $50 fee,  and                                                                    
     retain a physical identification card.                                                                                     
     (t) The department shall  adopt regulations for issuing                                                                    
     and use of electronic identification cards.                                                                                
     (u) Department  of Public Safety  (DPS) representatives                                                                    
     and  peace officers  may not  search,  view, or  access                                                                    
     other contents of the  mobile electronic device without                                                                    
     consent.                                                                                                                   
     (v)  DPS representatives  and  peace  officers are  not                                                                    
     liable  for damages  of  the  mobile electronic  device                                                                    
     unless for intentional misconduct.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3. AS 18.65.320(b)                                                                                                 
     Adds the  word physical specifying that  a person whose                                                                    
     physical  identification card  has been  cancelled must                                                                    
     return  that  card  within 10  days  of  receiving  the                                                                    
     cancellation notice or be subject to a $100 fine.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4. AS 18.65.330                                                                                                    
     Amends  section  by  adding  definition  of  electronic                                                                    
     identification cards:                                                                                                      
     (2)  "electronic  identification  cards"  a  data  file                                                                    
     specific to an individual that                                                                                             
     (a) displays the current identification card                                                                               
     (b) is available on a  mobile electronic device through                                                                    
     an  app that  allows the  individuals data  file to  be                                                                    
     downloaded from the department.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5. AS 28.05.051                                                                                                    
     Adds   the  word   physical  specifying   that  revoked                                                                    
     physical licenses shall be  immediately returned to the                                                                    
     department  upon receiving  notice and  allows the  DOA                                                                    
     commissioner,  officers,  or   employees,  as  well  as                                                                    
     Judges  and  court  employees  to  take  possession  of                                                                    
     physical licenses.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6. AS 28.15.011(b)                                                                                                 
     Adds the  words physical or electronic  specifying that                                                                    
     drivers must  possess a physical or  electronic Alaskan                                                                    
     drivers' license.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 7. AS 28.15                                                                                                        
     Adds  new section:  Sec. 28.15.126  Electronic licenses                                                                    
     and permits.                                                                                                               
     (a)  DOA  may  issue electronic  drivers'  licenses  or                                                                    
     permits to a  person who possess a  physical license or                                                                    
     permit   and  drivers   shall  retain   their  physical                                                                    
     license.                                                                                                                   
     (b) The  commissioner shall adopt regulations  to issue                                                                    
     electronic  licenses  or  permits and  they  may  adopt                                                                    
     regulations  to require  physical  licenses in  certain                                                                    
     circumstances.                                                                                                             
     (c) The  department shall display a  notice of seizure,                                                                    
     revocation,  cancellation  or   limitation  across  the                                                                    
     front of the persons electronic drivers license.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 8. AS 28.15.131(a)                                                                                                 
     Adds the  words physical or electronic  specifying that                                                                    
     drivers must  have a physical or  electronic license in                                                                    
     immediate  possession  when  driving and  drivers  must                                                                    
     surrender   their   license   when  required   by   DPS                                                                    
     representatives or peace officers.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 9. AS 28.15.131                                                                                                    
     Adds new subsections:                                                                                                      
     (c)  DPS  representatives   or  peace  officers  cannot                                                                    
     search,  view or  access other  contents of  the mobile                                                                    
     electronic device without consent.                                                                                         
     (d)  DPS  representatives  or peace  officers  are  not                                                                    
     liable  for damages  of  the  mobile electronic  device                                                                    
     unless for intentional misconduct.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Section 10. AS 28.15.151(a)                                                                                                
     (5)  the  department  shall  maintain  files  of  every                                                                    
     application  for  an  electronic  driver's  license  or                                                                    
     permits  and the  permits and  licenses  issued by  the                                                                    
     department.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Section 11. AS 28.15.165(b)                                                                                                
     Adds  the word  physical  specifying the  seizure of  a                                                                    
     person's physical drivers' license.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 12. AS 28.15.166(a)                                                                                                
     Adds  the word  physical  specifying that  a person  my                                                                    
     request administrative review for  the seizure of their                                                                    
     physical driver's  license in  AS 28.15.165 and  if the                                                                    
     license has not been  surrendered to the department, it                                                                    
     shall be at the time of the request.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 13. AS 28.15.182(d)                                                                                                
     Adds the word physical  specifying that the court shall                                                                    
     require the surrender of  the physical driver's license                                                                    
     when imposing limitations in (c) of this section.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 14. AS 28.15.183(b)                                                                                                
     Adds  the  word  physical  specifying  that  the  peace                                                                    
     office  shall   seize  a  person's   physical  driver's                                                                    
     license  after  reading  the  notice  in  (a)  of  this                                                                    
     section.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section 15. AS 28.15.184(a)                                                                                                
     Adds the  word physical specifying a  person my request                                                                    
     administrative   review  for   the  seizure   of  their                                                                    
     physical  driver's license  in AS  28.15.183(a) and  if                                                                    
     the   license  has   not   been   surrendered  to   the                                                                    
     department, it shall be at the time of the request.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section 16. AS 28.15.187(b)                                                                                                
     Adds the word physical  specifying that a peace officer                                                                    
     shall  seize  the  persons  physical  driver's  license                                                                    
     after reading them the notice in (a) of this section.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 17. AS 28.15.189(a)                                                                                                
     Adds the  word physical specifying a  person requesting                                                                    
     administrative  review  for  notice received  under  AS                                                                    
     28.15.187 and  if the license has  not been surrendered                                                                    
     to  the department,  it shall  be  at the  time of  the                                                                    
     request                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 18. AS 28.15.191(c)                                                                                                
     Adds the  word physical  specifying a  physical license                                                                    
     shall be  surrendered if  the court  suspends, revokes,                                                                    
     or limits a license.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 19. AS 28.15.191(g)                                                                                                
     Adds  the words  physical  specifying  that a  physical                                                                    
     license shall  be surrendered as a  condition of parole                                                                    
     or probation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Section 20. AS 28.15.191(h)                                                                                                
     Adds  the word  physical specifying  that the  board of                                                                    
     parole  shall  require  the surrender  of  the  persons                                                                    
     physical license.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 21. AS 28.15.201(b)                                                                                                
     Adds  the  word  physical specifying  that  a  physical                                                                    
     driver's  license shall  be  surrendered  when a  court                                                                    
     imposes limitations under (a) of this section.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 22. AS 28.15.271(a)                                                                                                
     Increases  the   licensing  fees   and  adds   fee  for                                                                    
     electronic drivers' licenses or permits                                                                                    
        1) Noncommercial licenses from [$20] to $31                                                                             
        2) Commercial licenses from [$100] to $155                                                                              
        3) Instruction permits from [$15] to $23                                                                                
        4) Duplicate drivers' license or permit from [$15]                                                                      
          to $23                                                                                                                
        5) Temporary license or renewal of permit from [$5]                                                                     
          to $8                                                                                                                 
        6) School bus driver endorsement renewal from [$5]                                                                      
          to $8                                                                                                                 
        7) Electronic drivers license or permit $50                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Section 23. AS 28.20.560                                                                                                   
     Adds  the word  physical  specifying that  if a  person                                                                    
     whose  license or  registration is  revoked under  this                                                                    
     chapter, they  shall immediately return  their physical                                                                    
     license or registration to the department.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Section 24. AS 28.22.019(d)                                                                                                
     Amends  section  by  requiring  DPS  representative  or                                                                    
     peace  officer who  is presented  with  proof of  motor                                                                    
     vehicle  liability  insurance  on a  mobile  electronic                                                                    
     device to  promptly return the device  once they verify                                                                    
     the person possesses liability insurance.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 25. AS 28.22 019                                                                                                   
     Adds new subsection:                                                                                                       
     (f)  A DPS  representative or  peace officer  is immune                                                                    
     from liability  if the  mobile electronic  device being                                                                    
     used to  determine the persons motor  vehicle liability                                                                    
     insurance status is damaged.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 26. AS 28.22.041(d)                                                                                                
     Adds the  word physical  specifying that  when imposing                                                                    
     limitations  under this  section  the department  shall                                                                    
     require   the  surrender   of  the   driver's  physical                                                                    
     license.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section 27. AS 28.33.100                                                                                                   
     Adds a new subsection                                                                                                      
     (g)  the  department  may issue  electronic  commercial                                                                    
     drivers licenses.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Section 28. AS 28.33.140(i)                                                                                                
     Adds the  words physical  specifying that if  the court                                                                    
     disqualifies a  person from driving a  commercial motor                                                                    
     vehicle  the  person  shall  surrender  their  physical                                                                    
     license.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Section 29. AS 28.35.034                                                                                                   
     Adds the  word physical  specifying that a  person must                                                                    
     surrender their  physical license  or permit if  it has                                                                    
     been revoked under AS 28.15.165 or AS 28.15.181.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 30. AS 28.90.990(a)                                                                                                
     Adds a new paragraph:                                                                                                      
     (33) defines  electronic driver's license or  permit as                                                                    
     a data file that is specific to an individual that                                                                         
     (A) displays the current drivers license and                                                                               
     (B)  is   available  on  a  mobile   electronic  device                                                                    
     thorough an  app that allows the  individuals data file                                                                    
     to be downloaded from the department.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 31. AS 33.16.150(i)                                                                                                
     Adds the words physical  specifying that in addition to                                                                    
     other conditions  of parole imposed under  this section                                                                    
     the board  shall require the surrender  of the physical                                                                    
     driver's  license or  identification  card and  forward                                                                    
     them to the department.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Section 32.                                                                                                                
     Provides the  Department of Administration  the ability                                                                    
     to adopt regulations necessary to implement this Act.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 33.                                                                                                                
     Provides an immediate effective  date for Section 32 of                                                                    
     this Act.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 34.  Provides an effective  date of  January 1,                                                                    
     2025 for  this Act  except as  provided for  in Section                                                                    
     33.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:46:31 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN  referenced Section 7 of  the sectional analysis                                                               
and wondered  about the labeling  mechanics and  requirements for                                                               
electronic  licensing. He  asked  whether  an electronic  license                                                               
could be displayed in a real  time format or as a screen captured                                                               
photo on the website.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:47:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI highlighted examples  of electronic processes that                                                               
were implemented by  the state, including the  ability to display                                                               
valid fishing  and hunting licenses  online, which has  a similar                                                               
structure  to the  myAlaska portal.  Other states  are developing                                                               
new systems  and their own  applications. He envisioned  that the                                                               
proposed  electronic  process  would resemble  the  structure  of                                                               
Apple Wallet,  which includes basic  visual information.  He also                                                               
noted that  motor vehicle insurance  can be  displayed digitally.                                                               
He invited Captain Dunford to offer further insights.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:49:27 PM                                                                                                                    
RAMIN  DUNFORD,   Captain,  Alaska  State   Troopers,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  said  insurance  companies  typically  offer  electronic                                                               
copies  of insurance  documents, which  can be  presented to  law                                                               
enforcement.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:50:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI  asked  if there  are  concerns  about  falsified                                                               
digital insurance documents.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:50:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CAPTAIN DUNFORD replied that the  existence of false documents is                                                               
inevitable. However, he has  not personally experienced instances                                                               
of   falsified    insurance   documents.   If    occurrences   of                                                               
falsification  became prevalent,  trooper training  could address                                                               
the issue.  In his experience,  verifying insurance  is generally                                                               
simple.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:52:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI  opened public testimony  on SB 18;  finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KAWASAKI held SB 18 in committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB0018A.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 18
SB 18. Sponsor Statement. 1.31.24.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 18
SB 18. Sectional Analysis 1. 31.25.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 18
SB 18 fiscal note 2.19.24.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 18
Digital Drivers Licenses__Jan 2024.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 18 Digital Drivers License
SB0208A.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 208
SB208 Sectional Analysis.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 208
01.24.24 DMV Omnibus Senate Transmittal Letter.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 208
SB208-DOA-DMV-02-16-2024.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 208
Follow up responses SB 208.pdf SSTA 2/22/2024 3:30:00 PM
SB 208