03/27/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

          SB 132-PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE STICKER                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:02:46 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI  announced that  the  first  bill before  the                                                               
committee would be  SB 132, which would direct  the Department of                                                               
Motor Vehicles (DMV) to produce  a "provisional driver's sticker"                                                               
for  Alaskans between  the  ages  of 16  and  18.  Last week  the                                                               
committee heard  a presentation from  Senator Meyer's  office, as                                                               
well as  from Jessica Luiken,  a young  Alaskan who came  up with                                                               
the idea  behind the bill.  Also, Whitney Brewster,  the director                                                               
of DMV, testified that the bill  would have only a minimal fiscal                                                               
impact on DMV, which could be absorbed into the existing budget.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI noted  that the CS for SB 123,  version I, was                                                               
before the committee, and he  requested a motion to adopt version                                                               
I.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:03:53 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  PASKVAN moved  [to adopt  the  proposed CS  for SB  132,                                                               
labeled 27-LS0799\I, as the working document.]                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
BOB PAWLOWSKI, staff, Senator Kevin  Meyer, explained the changes                                                               
in  version I  of SB  132.  He related  the version  I makes  two                                                               
simple changes;  it makes the provisional  driver sticker movable                                                               
so it may be used amongst  multiple cars, and it reduces the fine                                                               
for not  having a  sticker displayed  to "up  to $200",  which is                                                               
more in alignment with fines  for provisional license violations.                                                               
Since it  would not  be a  moving violation,  it would  not incur                                                               
points.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked for the will of the committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MEYER spoke  of concerns  from  rural members  regarding                                                               
issues  in the  bill.  He stated  that  wherever the  provisional                                                               
driver's  license   is  required,  the  sticker   would  also  be                                                               
required.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  KOOKESH reported  that in  rural Alaska  there are  many                                                               
areas that are  not within a main road  system. Every requirement                                                               
of a  state driver's license applies  to rural roads. He  did not                                                               
think those requirements  should apply to places  like Angoon. He                                                               
suggested making  the sticker optional.  He said he did  not like                                                               
the  idea of  a fine  and  he requested  that it  be removed.  He                                                               
suggested the bill was unnecessary.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI  pointed out that the  bill has a long  way to                                                               
go.  He noted  that  moving  the bill  out  of  committee is  not                                                               
necessarily a statement of support for it.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER moved to report the  CS for SB 132, version I, from                                                               
committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached  zero                                                               
fiscal note.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR KOOKESH objected.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
A roll  call vote  was taken.  Senators Giessel,  Meyer, Paskvan,                                                               
and Wielechowski voted  in favor of moving SB  132 from committee                                                               
and  Senator  Kookesh voted  against  it.  Therefore, the  motion                                                               
passed by a 4:1 vote.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI  announced that  CSSB 132(STA) moved  from the                                                               
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.