Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
04/15/2014 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB206 | |
| HB356 | |
| SJR26 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 356 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SJR 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 206-VEHICLE REGIS/LICENSING/ACCIDENT REPORTS
8:05:50 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business was
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 206(STA), "An Act relating to motor
vehicle registration and fees; relating to licensing of school
bus drivers; relating to notice of an accident involving a motor
vehicle; and providing for an effective date."
8:06:34 AM
SENATOR PETER MICCICHE, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSSB 206(STA). He said the bill was about
three things: efficiency of the Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), timely reporting of highway accidents, and ensuring
appropriate employees are entrusted to drive children to school.
He said he envisions a DMV where most of the business is done on
line. People would set up an account where they could manage
the registration and other payments on their vehicles, using
PayPal or a credit card. He said statutes need to be updated to
facilitate the use of current technology, which he said he
believes would reduce costs. He said the proposed legislation
would allow the DMV to use e-mail notification, would put into
statute the current process of waiving the $10 fee for using the
web site to renew registrations, and would allow accident
reports to be submitted electronically.
SENATOR MICCICHE emphasized that the only licenses that would be
affected under CSSB 206(STA) would be those of school bus
drivers. He named the following crimes as allowed in the past
history of school bus drivers: murder, assault, kidnapping,
indecent exposure, and felony prostitution. The proposed
legislation would give a 10-year "look back" for existing school
bus license holders and require a background check every five
years at renewal. It would give [the DMV] discretion for
licensing a person convicted of a misdemeanor within the prior
two years, if the crime did not involve a child.
8:09:54 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE said he likes the common sense aspect of the
proposed legislation, as well as the focus on increasing
efficiency. He asked the committee to think about a fleet
manager and how easily he/she could manage stock in a couple
hours a year by using on line resources. He asked for the
committee's support of CSSB 206(STA), and noted that there were
representatives available from the DMV and the Department of
Administration (DOA) to answer questions.
8:10:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES noted that some people change their e-mail
addresses frequently. She asked if, under CSSB 206(STA), people
would have the option of being notified by e-mail or the United
States Postal Service (USPS), or if the DMV would use the e-mail
option if it had the person's e-mail address.
SENATOR MICCICHE responded that the purpose of the proposed
legislation was to make it legal for the DMV to make the change;
it would not set up the details for the department. He offered
his understanding that the DMV would not rely on just one method
of communication; it would ensure that people are notified. He
said he envisions a box that could be checked to indicate that
the individual wants to receive notifications by e-mail, and the
person would periodically go the web site and update his/her e-
mail notification. He said it would be similar to people who
get mailed notifications and notify the DMV when they have an
address change.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES said she supports paperless transactions,
but knows that sometimes spam filters "catch" e-mails so the
intended recipient does not see them. She indicated she would
hear what the DMV's plans would be. She explained that she does
not want people to have to pay a penalty if they do not receive
an e-mail.
SENATOR MICCICHE, in response to Vice Chair Keller, clarified
that the language in the bill relating to criminal convictions
relates solely to the licensing of school bus drivers, but
Section 8 addresses licensing in general.
8:14:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON said, "So, Section 3 starts with the
school bus drivers."
SENATOR MICCICHE said, "Right."
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON thanked the bill sponsor for proposing
the improvements under CSSB 206(STA). He asked him to confirm
that under the proposed legislation, all actions currently made
with the DMV would be available electronically or would be
omitted.
SENATOR MICCICHE offered his understanding that none were left
out; however, he deferred to the director of the DMV. He stated
his assumption that there are some documents that would require
an applicant to be physically present to sign his/her name.
8:15:12 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony.
8:15:35 AM
BARBARA HUFF TUCKNESS, Director, Teamsters Local 959, testified
in support of CSSB 206(STA). She assured the committee that she
trusts the hundreds of school bus drivers that Teamsters Local
959 hires, because of the due diligence of the DMV, which
currently runs background checks on the drivers.
Notwithstanding that, she said Teamsters Local 959 supports
"cleaning up that effort." She said she has spoken with the
staff of the bill sponsor and the director of the DMV regarding
language on page 5, lines 1-3, which read as follows:
A person may renew a license under this section within
one year before its expiration upon proper
application, payment of the required fee, and the
completion of a background check under (b)(4) of this
section.
8:18:27 AM
MS. HUFF TUCKNESS said this is new language, and she questioned
whether the language needs to be clarified. She explained that
the understanding of Teamsters Local 959 is that "the current
practice shall continue to apply," which is: a bus driver
applies for a license from the DMV, in conjunction with his/her
commercial driver's license (CDL); a background check is done by
the State of Alaska once the bus driver has applied for the job;
the application is made directly to the school district or to a
contractor with the school district; once awarded the job, the
bus driver goes through the DMV licensure process. Ms. Huff
Tuckness said in addition to the state background check, there
is a federal background check done; however, the federal
government is not as quick with the results. She expressed
concern with allowing bus drivers to start work before the
federal results are reported and then terminating their
employment if and when the federal background check finds a
criminal record. She explained that it is difficult to hire and
retain school bus drivers because of the number of hours
available, the unusual schedule, and the nine-month duration of
the school term. She stated that Teamsters Local 959 supports
all the other changes in CSSB 206(STA), but wants to make sure
that an already difficult hiring process is not further
complicated. She added, "Because if they are awarded and then
they have to wait six months, they're probably going to be
looking for other employment."
8:19:36 AM
MS. HUFF TUCKNESS, in response to Representative Isaacson,
clarified that under the proposed legislation, a prospective
employee would have to wait until the federal response had been
received before being allowed to go to work. She said that has
not been the practice. She indicated concern that the proposed
legislation may negatively impact current practice of clearing
someone for hire through the state background check. She said,
"Once they've actually been cleared through the state background
check - and those new provisions that they will be checked for
will be included in that - then they are actually awarded the
job, pending anything negative coming from the federal
background check.
8:20:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON said he appreciates that Ms. Huff
Tuckness wants to put people to work and does not want to lose
good drivers; however, he said there could be a situation in
which a person who had committed a type of crime that would make
him/her unfit to be a school bus driver would be hired, because
the state's background check showed nothing, but six months
later the federal background check results would show that
criminal background. He said that may not be the normal
situation, but on the other hand, for a person looking for work,
"that's maybe a good place to hide, unless the word goes out you
will be found."
8:21:37 AM
MS. HUFF TUCKNESS said she does not know how to speed up the
federal process, which she indicated she had heard can take up
to six months. She deferred to the director of the DMV to
answer questions, but said the issue concerns Teamsters Local
959. She said she thinks Representative Isaacson's point was
well taken.
8:22:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS said, "If you don't know your information,
you do the best with what you have." She said if someone is
hired and information comes in that shows the person has
committed an offense that warrants firing him/her, then actions
are taken at that point to dismiss the person. She expressed
her hope that Teamsters Local 959 supports that idea. She
stated, "I certainly would not want to have a school district
not be able to let that employee go based on that new
information that they received."
8:23:08 AM
MS. HUFF TUCKNESS emphasized that Teamsters Local 959 supports
the current practice wherein the school district immediate
terminates the employment of a school bus driver if it receives
a negative report from the federal background check. She said
Teamsters Local 959 respects good bus drivers and appreciates
that they drive with up to 85 children behind them and make sure
these children make it safely to school.
8:24:22 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER remarked that rushing the federal government
is not an option. He said he would resist giving the federal
government precedence over what Alaska does, because the state
has a good system and the responsibility to make that system
work.
8:25:08 AM
AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV),
Department of Administration, said she believes Ms. Huff
Tuckness was correct in her outlining of the DMV process. She
said the DMV accepts the application, takes a check for [payment
of] the background check, and submits the fingerprints. There
is a review of the applications, at which time the fingerprint
cards are sent to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), which
takes 30-60 days to deliver a response back to the DMV. If the
background check comes back with "anything on the record," then
the DMV sends an immediate cancellation.
8:25:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON asked how much of the background check
process of the state mirrors that of the federal government.
8:26:11 AM
MS. ERICKSON said she is not certain how they compare, but said
the DMV reviews the results of the state's background check for
disqualifying offenses.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON noted that the statute under which the
DMV submits the applicant's information is AS 12.62.160. He
asked if that information is sent to the Alaska State Troopers.
MS. ERICKSON confirmed that the information is sent to the
Department of Public Safety.
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON offered his understanding that much of
the information that the [federal] criminal background check
would cover may also be covered in a more expedited way by the
Alaska State Troopers. He added that there are some gaps, but
there is a lot of overlap.
VICE CHAIR KELLER said that is a question that would be left
unsatisfactorily answered in order to move the proposed
legislation. He indicated that he was comfortable with that,
because there has been "no indication of a problem in this
area."
8:27:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES asked Ms. Erickson to outline how the DMV
would handle the electronic method proposed under CSSB 206(STA).
MS. ERICKSON answered that the DMV envisions that customers
would be able to opt in [to electronic communication], and if
they do not, the division would continue to send notices out by
mail. She said under statute, everyone must update his/her
address when it changes, and it is a good question as to whether
the DMV should have the same requirement for those using e-mail
addresses.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES said she thinks an update on e-mail
addresses may be more important sometimes than an update on a
physical address.
8:28:40 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER noted that Chair Lynn had joined the meeting
and had indicated to him he would like him to continue leading
the discussion.
8:28:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS said from a customer standpoint, she would
like to access all her vehicle information on line.
8:29:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON commended the department for the
offerings it has already put in place on line, and he emphasized
how much time is saved by doing business with the DMV on line.
8:30:31 AM
MS. ERICKSON said the DMV is excited, because it has "borrowed a
web master" from DOA to "spruce up our web site and make it even
easier for customers."
8:30:44 AM
VICE CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.
8:31:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS opined that CSSB 206(STA) is a clean-up
bill that should have been passed years ago, and she expressed
appreciation for "where DMV is going with this."
8:31:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GATTIS moved to report CSSB 206(STA) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 206(STA) was
reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01 SJR 26 Resolution.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 26 |
| 02 SJR 26 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 26 |
| 03 SJR 26 - Supporting Document.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 26 |
| 04 SJR 26 - Fiscal Note.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SJR 26 |
| 01 HB0356A.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 02 HB356 sponsor statement.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 03 HB356 Background Materials.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 04 HB356 Mayo Clinic vitamin D for health a global perspective.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 05 HB356 Cost Savings per year with vitamin D.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 06 HB356 Support KPBSD.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 07 HB356-DOA-DRB-03-14-14.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 356 |
| 01 SB 206 STA CS Version C.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 206 |
| 02 SB 206 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 206 |
| 03 CS SB 206 Sectional.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 206 |
| 04 CS SB 206 explanation of amendments.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 206 |
| 05 Fiscal Note CSSB206.pdf |
HSTA 4/15/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 206 |