03/23/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

           SB 71-COUNCIL ON ARTS: PLATES & MANAGE ART                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:38:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 71                                                               
"An  Act   relating  to   special  request   registration  plates                                                               
celebrating  the arts;  relating to  artwork in  public buildings                                                               
and facilities; relating  to the management of  artwork under the                                                               
art in public  places fund; relating to the powers  and duties of                                                               
the  Alaska State  Council  on  the Arts;  and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER   listed  the   individuals  available   to  answer                                                               
questions related to SB 71.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:38:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 71.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:39:11 PM                                                                                                                    
JUNE ROGERS,  representing self,  Fairbanks, Alaska,  stated that                                                               
SB 71  recognizes the value  of the  Alaska State Council  on the                                                               
Arts  (ASCA)  very  successful   Alaska  Artistic  License  Plate                                                               
Program.  A  modest  surcharge  on  these  artistic  plates  will                                                               
generate income  for ASCA  that can be  directed to  the required                                                               
match to receive funds from  the National Endowment for the Arts.                                                               
The bill also  allows ASCA to hold artistic  competitions and pay                                                               
the  winning artist  of the  competition.  Furthermore, the  bill                                                               
clarifies that  the attorney general  serves as legal  counsel to                                                               
ASCA and  ASCA's authority over  public art from the  Percent for                                                               
Art Program.  She characterized the  exemption of  private sector                                                               
funding  from the  Executive Branch  Budget Act  as laudable.  It                                                               
recognizes the need  to protect this type of  public support. She                                                               
thanked  the  sponsor for  introducing  the  legislation and  the                                                               
committee for its consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:41:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 71.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR REINBOLD asked for DMV's position on the bill.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:41:48 PM                                                                                                                    
JEFFREY   SCHMITZ,  Director,   Department  of   Motor  Vehicles,                                                               
Department  of Administration  (DOA),  Anchorage, Alaska,  stated                                                               
that the celebrating the arts plates  are the most popular of all                                                               
the  plates DMV  has,  but  he believes  that  the  $50 fee  will                                                               
significantly decrease that demand.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  REINBOLD  said  she looked  forward  to  discussing  the                                                               
potential closure of certain DMV offices on another day.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:43:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:43:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR REINBOLD moved  to report SB 71,  work order 32-LS0310\I,                                                               
from  committee  [with  individual recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s)].                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found  no objection and SB 71 was  reported from the                                                               
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.