05/17/2003 11:16 AM Senate TRA

               SB 224-LOWER DWI FOR MINORS TO .02                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CRYSTAL MOORE,  staff to sponsor  John Cowdery, explained  SB 224                                                               
would lower  the level of  intoxication for operation of  a motor                                                               
vehicle, aircraft or  watercraft to .02 percent  for persons less                                                               
than 21  years of age. Current  Alaska law sets the  limit at .08                                                               
and the sponsor  believes that is too high for  those who are not                                                               
old enough to drink legally.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  JOHN COWDERY  added there  have  been a  number of  tragic                                                               
accidents  associated  with  alcohol  and  teens  and  because  a                                                               
driver's license is very precious to  a young driver, this may be                                                               
helpful.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
TROOPER  MATT  LEVEQUE  from  the  Department  of  Public  Safety                                                               
testified via  teleconference to support  SB 224 and  advised the                                                               
department had not developed a fiscal note.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY said  there would be associated  costs. "Justice is                                                               
always expensive."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JAUNITA HENSLEY  with the  Department of  Public Safety  said the                                                               
bill  would have  a fiscal  impact on  the state,  but they  were                                                               
still  in the  process of  evaluating all  the costs.  The Alaska                                                               
State Troopers, law enforcement,  the court system, Department of                                                               
Corrections, and juvenile justice would be impacted.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY said he realized  the bill wouldn't make it through                                                               
the system this year.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THOMAS WAGONER  asked if  states with  this type  of law                                                               
found such legislation to be a deterrent.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOORE reported that Maryland  has seen an 11 percent decrease                                                               
in  minors  drinking  and  driving since  they  passed  the  zero                                                               
tolerance  law  and  12  other  states have  seen  a  16  percent                                                               
decrease in single car accidents.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN  stated she had a  number of questions                                                               
and asked  if he intended to  hold the bill in  committee or move                                                               
it that day.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY  replied it was  up to  the committee, but  it's an                                                               
"up  front" bill  and  it would  be heard  in  the State  Affairs                                                               
Committee next.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  LINCOLN said  she  didn't serve  on  that committee  and                                                               
would therefore proceed  as though this was  her last opportunity                                                               
to ask questions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
She asked Trooper  Leveque if he had  Alaska statistics regarding                                                               
the number  of minors that have  had major accidents as  a result                                                               
of a .02 level of intoxication.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
TROOPER LEVEQUE  said they didn't  have those statistics  at this                                                               
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY announced  he would hold the bill  in committee for                                                               
the rest of the session.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR LINCOLN  expressed appreciation and asked  to hear actual                                                               
numbers rather than percentages when the bill was heard next.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. HENSLEY said they would be working to formulate the numbers.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY held SB 224 in committee.