Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
03/12/2020 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB183 | |
| SJR14 | |
| SB210 | |
| SB209 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 183 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 210-LICENSE PLATES: SPECIALTY ORGANIZATIONS
3:45:20 PM
CHAIR REVAK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 210,
"An Act relating to special request specialty organization
registration plates."
3:45:36 PM
TOM WRIGHT, Staff, Senator Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that SB 210 will turn over
the authority to issue specialty license plates to the Division
of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He continued the introduction
paraphrasing from the sponsor statement:
Since 2009, the Legislature has passed eight bills
that authorized specialty license plates. In some
cases, multiple pieces of specialty plate legislation
were rolled into one bill. For example, in the 27th
Legislature, four bills were rolled into one bill that
authorized six different plates.
Each year, the Legislature is tasked with approving a
specialty plate for the various organizations and
nonprofits that request these plates. As of now,
there are at least ninety-two different license plates
that can be purchased at the Division of Motor
Vehicles.
Senate Bill 210 was introduced to remove the
Legislature from having to approve specialty plates.
Those duties would be turned over to the Division of
Motor Vehicles under this legislation. The division
would adopt regulations to allow for the issuance of
the specialty plates that are sponsored by an
organization that is based within the state and is tax
exempt under 26 U.S.C. 501(c), is an Alaska chapter of
a national organization that is tax exempt, is a
department of the state or a municipality within the
state.
An entity requesting a plate through DMV must submit
an application, pay an application fee, pay the cost
of developing and issuing the specialty plate, and may
be charged a fee for issuance of the specialty license
plate in addition to any registration fees.
3:47:15 PM
SENATOR COGHILL asked if the current statute for specialty
license plates for nonprofit organizations would remain in
effect or if the DMV would need to figure out the cost.
MR. WRIGHT answered that the underlying statutes would remain in
place for existing specialty license plates, but the legislature
would be able to make amendments. He cited Senator Stevens'
specialty license plate bill to celebrate the Alaska State
Council on the Arts, which the legislature could amend.
CHAIR REVAK related his understanding that this bill would give
DMV the ability to create specialty license plates.
MR. WRIGHT answered yes.
CHAIR REVAK asked him to describe the purpose of the bill.
MR. WRIGHT answered that the sponsor would like the legislature
to focus on other matters.
3:48:50 PM
SENATOR COGHILL asked what vetting process DMV would go through
for specialty license plates and how this bill would impact it.
MR. WRIGHT explained that DMV would work with the requester on
the design and would have a say on what is appropriate, just as
it currently does for specialty license plates. He deferred
further explanation to DMV.
3:50:51 PM
JOANNE OLSEN, Interim Director, Division of Motor Vehicles
(DMV), Department of Administration (DOA), Anchorage, Alaska,
responded that the division has an administrative hearing
process it uses when organizations are denied a specialty
license plate.
SENATOR COGHILL asked the record to reflect that an appeal
process would still be in place. He said he thinks this bill is
a good idea.
3:51:24 PM
CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Olsen her view of this proposal.
MS. OLSEN responded that it would save time for the legislature,
allow organizations to have specialty license plates for
supporters to use, and simplify the process for the division.
She explained that DMV would be able to establish a standard
template, and the organization would add to the design. The cost
would vary depending on the design complexity and color. She
envisioned that DMV could keep the process simple while
addressing the needs of the requesting organizations.
3:52:32 PM
SENATOR WILSON asked how many licensed vehicles are in Alaska.
MS. OLSEN offered to follow up with the information.
SENATOR WILSON related his understanding that there are 40-41
specialty license plates.
MS. OLSEN responded that there are currently 92 unique specialty
license plates.
SENATOR WILSON asked for a count of each of the 92 specialty
license plates that have been purchased.
MS. OLSEN offered to follow up with the information.
3:53:33 PM
SENATOR WILSON agreed with the sponsor that legislative time
could be better spent.
MR. WRIGHT clarified that the sponsor does not wish to diminish
the sponsorship of these bills, but the number of specialty
license plates has increased to 92 and DMV can take over the
task. He noted that the fiscal note shows this is a revenue
enhancer.
SENATOR COGHILL asked if $100 would be the new standard fee.
3:54:47 PM
MS. OLSEN answered that the bill adds a new subsection that
states that DMV would charge $100 for the specialty plate and
subsequent replacement plates.
SENATOR COGHILL offered his understanding that this increases
the standard fee from $30 or $50 to $100.
MS. OLSEN agreed.
SENATOR COGHILL commented that it is entirely appropriate as
long as people understand the cost.
CHAIR REVAK related his understanding that this would not be an
increase for all specialty license plates, just for new ones.
MR. WRIGHT answered that is correct.
CHAIR REVAK read the following from page 1, starting on line 4:
(ll) Special request specialty organization plates.
The department shall adopt regulations to allow for
the issuance of special request specialty organization
registration plates sponsored by an organization that
is based in this state and is tax exempt under 26
U.S.C. 501(c), is an Alaska chapter of a national
organization that is tax exempt under 26 U.S.C.
501(c), is a department of the state, or is a
municipality of the state.
He asked if that would be restrictive. For example, the military
may have a new medal that would be excluded.
MR. WRIGHT acknowledged that the language may need to be
expanded, but the sponsor does not have any intention to
adversely affect honoring military members. He offered to review
the language.
CHAIR REVAK stated agreement with the intent of the bill.
SENATOR COGHILL said it would be interesting to know what other
states charge for specialty license plates because the fees
seems low. He suggested that the finance committee may wish to
consider the fees.
MR. WRIGHT agreed that if the bill makes it to finance, it would
be under the committee's purview.
3:58:46 PM
CHAIR REVAK opened public testimony on SB [210].
BENJAMIN BROWN, Chair, Alaska State Council on the Arts,
Department of Education and Early Development, Juneau, Alaska,
said Mr. Wright's testimony clarified that this would be
prospective so it would not change the artistic license plate
fee structure in SB 169, related to the Alaska State Council on
the Arts. The arts council is interested in a different pricing
point because of the tremendous demand for its specialty license
plates. The arts council supports efficiencies in state
government and this bill is a step in that direction, so it
seems like a good idea.
4:00:48 PM
CHAIR REVAK, after first determining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on SB 210. He said that he
appreciated the sponsor introducing the bill, but that he would
like to amend the language to be more inclusive.
CHAIR REVAK held SB 210 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 209 Sponsor Statement 2.25.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 209 |
| SB 209 Sectional Analysis v. K 2.25.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 209 |
| SB 210 Statutes 3.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 210 |
| SB 210-DMV License Plates 3.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 210 |
| SB 210-Sponsor Statement 3.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 210 |
| SB 210-Backup- License Plate Legislation Past Ten Years 3.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 3/12/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 210 |