Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2016 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB175 | |
| SB154 | |
| SB171 | |
| SCR16 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SCR 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 175 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 171 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 154-BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA LICENSE PLATES
9:18:33 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order. He announced
the consideration of SB 154 and asked for a motion to adopt the
committee substitute (CS).
9:19:08 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt the proposed CS for SB 154,
version H, as the working document.
CHAIR STOLTZE objected for discussion purposes.
9:19:27 AM
BRANDON BREFCZYNSKI, Staff, Senator Stoltze, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the CS for SB 154
was a result of an oversight. He specified that on page 2, line
1, the added language would allow the Department of
Administration to separately account and appropriate funds for
the Blood Bank of Alaska license plate.
CHAIR STOLTZE removed his objection and announced that the CS
was before the committee. He set forth that the committee would
hear public testimony. He asked the Mr. Benintendi be the first
to address the committee. He noted that Mr. Benintendi was the
Alaskan citizen who brought the legislation forward and the
State Affairs Committee noted the bill as being sponsored "by
request" in order to reflect that sponsorship was on behalf of
the Blood Bank of Alaska and those who supported their
activities.
9:20:48 AM
TIM BENINTENDI, Secretary, Board of Directors, Blood Bank of
Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He
thanked the committee and the Legislature for supporting the
grant funding to help construct the new Blood Bank of Alaska
facility. He said SB 154 authorizes the issuance of the Blood
Bank of Alaska license plate and its extra revenue; but more
importantly, the license plates would provide extra promotional
opportunity and visibility for the Blood Bank of Alaska as well.
9:22:53 AM
ROBERT SCANLON, Chief Executive Officer, Blood Bank of Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He thanked
the Legislature for its generosity in supporting Alaska's sole
blood supplier. He said without the Legislature's assistance,
the project would not have been possible.
9:23:41 AM
CHRIS MELLO, Member, Board of Directors, Blood Bank of Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He thanked
the Legislature for its generous support of the Blood Bank of
Alaska. He detailed that the Blood Bank of Alaska was a
501(c)(3) public charity with an all-Alaskan board and all-
Alaskan outfit. He added that the Blood Bank of Alaska has over
30,000 donors statewide. He set forth that the license plate
would help the Blood Bank of Alaska as follows:
· Generates revenue.
· Allows anonymous donors and recipients to let everyone know
their support.
· Acts as a reminder for people to donate.
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the administration had concerns with the
bill.
9:25:10 AM
AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Alaska
Department of Administration, Anchorage, Alaska, replied that
the administration had no concerns. She added that she was glad
that the committee was able to fix the oversight where the
license plate was not tied to a fund.
9:25:48 AM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director of Veteran Affairs, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 154. He revealed that he was a Blood
Bank of Alaska recipient due to an accident. He said the new
license plate would provide advertising and awareness for the
Blood Bank of Alaska.
CHAIR STOLTZE closed public testimony. He asked Ms. Erickson to
provide a brief narrative on the bill's $250 fiscal note. He
inquired if Ms. Erickson had any projected expectations judging
from past history on "cause" license plates.
9:28:33 AM
MS. ERICKSON specified that DMV would work with the Blood Bank
of Alaska to design the license plate that the commissioner of
the Department of Administration would ultimately have to
approve. She detailed that the plate would have a $200 design
fee. She noted that a previous "cause" plate example would be
for "breast cancer awareness."
CHAIR STOLTZE added that "cause" plates would include "promotion
of life" and the Second Amendment.
MS. ERICKSON answered yes. She said she could not forecast how
many plates would be sold, but remarked that the Blood Bank of
Alaska has a big following in the Anchorage area.
CHAIR STOLTZE opined that some "cause" plates have a limited
pool and others were a lot broader. He noted that the Pearl
Harbor survivors' plate was limited, where the plate for the
Second Amendment has a lot of fans.
9:30:09 AM
MS. ERICKSON replied that only one license plate was issued to a
Pearl Harbor survivor. She noted that the "cause" plates did not
have a minimum order.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if DMV would be able to accept $250 from a
collection to cover the $250 fiscal note.
MS. ERICKSON replied that DMV did not have a way of accepting
the money. She noted that committees had zeroed-out fiscal notes
in the past.
CHAIR STOLTZE concurred that the committee could zero-out the
fiscal note. He noted that a bill like SB 154 tends to have
"extra cargo" thrown on it. He stated that the Finance Committee
can decide whether to zero-out or amortize the fiscal note. He
said any committee member could offer amendments or other
suggestions and Ms. Erickson would nimbly deal with whatever she
was dealt.
9:33:58 AM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved Conceptual Amendment 1.
CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1
Expands the eligibility for veteran's designation on
an ID card or driver's license in the State of Alaska
in an effort to recognize Laotian veterans and the
Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit that fought in support of
American interests during the Vietnam era.
CHAIR STOLTZE objected for discussion purposes.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI set forth that he was offering the
amendment on behalf of a number of constituent groups in his
district and all around Anchorage as well. He specified that the
amendment would expand the eligibility for veterans' designation
on an ID card or driver's license in the State of Alaska in an
effort to recognize Laotian veterans and the Hmong Special
Guerrilla Unit that fought in support of American interests
during the Vietnam era.
He revealed that tens of thousands of Hmong people were trained
covertly by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to fight on
behalf of the United States. He quoted Edgar Buell, CIA Senior
Aide that worked with the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit as
follows:
Every Hmong that died, that was an American back home
that didn't die, or one that was injured that wasn't
injured. Somebody in nearly every Hmong family was
either fighting or died from fighting, they became
refuges because we, the United States government,
encouraged them to fight for us. I promised them
myself, have no fear, we will take care of you.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI remarked that the United States government
made promises to the Hmong. The Hmong that emigrated to the U.S.
have been fighting to get recognition as veterans on driver's
licenses. He detailed that the amendment would have the
Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs work with the
Department of Administration and DMV to find an alternative
proof of veteran's status because the Hmong did not have Defense
Department (DD) Form 214 (DD214). He said the amended bill would
be a way of recognizing the Hmong's service on behalf of our
country. He noted that the Department of Military and Veteran's
Affairs have expressed their support for the amendment.
9:37:05 AM
MR. BOWEN testified in support of Conceptual Amendment 1. He
revealed that he had spent a lot of time with the Hmong on
different issues of recognition, specifically with U.S. Senator
Murkowski in allowing the Hmong to be interred in national
cemeteries. He detailed that under the command of General Vang
Pao, the Hmong army was a 30,000 man fighting force that
assisted downed U.S. pilots in Laos. He presumed that Senator
Huggins fought with Hmong soldiers and he might be able to
provide additional insight. He explained that the difference
between the Hmong and most soldiers was the amount of people
that were in their army was probably equal to the amount of
people lost during the conflict. He asserted that anything that
the Legislature could do to recognize the Hmong would be
outstanding. He suggested that a program could be put together
that was similar to the Alaska Territorial Guard where an
Alaskan DD214 would recognize Hmong soldiers.
CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the Veteran's Advisory Council had taken
a position on the issue.
MR. BOWEN answered yes. He specified that the council had voted
in the past against adding the identification on the driver's
license, but the council had voted positive on a license plate.
9:39:09 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE stated that he opposed the amendment, but offered
that the specific bill regarding Hmong recognition be heard in
committee the following week.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI thanked Chair Stoltze and withdraw
Conceptual Amendment 1.
CHAIR STOLTZE confirmed that Senator Wielechowski's bill would
be heard the following week. He said the bill would be properly
vetted and notice provided to veterans groups and the Hmong
community.
He asked if there were any other amendments.
SENATOR HUGGINS stated that he had no amendments and no further
comment.
CHAIR STOLTZE suggested that the committee could meet the intent
and zero-out the fiscal note; however, the fiscal note would be
left as presented due to the limitations of accepting funds into
the state's treasury.
9:41:32 AM
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report CS for SB 154, [29-LS1127\H],
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note.
9:41:43 AM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection, CSSB 154(STA)
moves from committee.