Legislature(2013 - 2014)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/11/2013 09:00 AM House FINANCE
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
SB21 | |
SB85 | |
SB83 | |
SB22 | |
SB88 | |
SB47 | |
SB21 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 88 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | SB 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 85(TRA) "An Act relating to experimental vehicles." 10:16:10 AM BRITTANY HUTCHISON, STAFF, SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, spoke to the bill. She explained that the CS had removed the wording "cold weather" on page 1, lines 6, 7, and 11 in order for the state to welcome all types of vehicle testing. She stated that for many years Alaska had been marketed as the most accessible, affordable, and reliable place to conduct cold weather testing. She noted that the state was also known as a prime location. Currently there were no statutes regulating the registration of experimental vehicles, which made it difficult for automotive companies to continue conducting business in Alaska. She communicated that recently the Volkswagen Group of America had to bring experimental vehicles back after an initial testing session due to stricter emission regulations (the company had conducted its vehicle testing in the state since 2000); however, the company had been told that it would need to register and title all of the vehicles, which was neither desirable or possible in Alaska. Ms. Hutchinson relayed that the sponsor's office had spoken with the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and had been told that the DMV lacked statutory authority to provide registration for experimental vehicles. She detailed that the sponsor had worked with DMV and Volkswagen Group of America's corporate council Allison Airhart to draft the legislation. The bill would allow the DMV to issue experimental vehicle plates to vehicle distributors and manufacturers. The plates would be valid for a 12-month period and could be renewed up to two times for a total period of 36 months. She communicated that vehicles would be required to be either destroyed or taken out of state following the 36-month period. Representative Costello moved the bill before the committee. 10:18:44 AM Representative Thompson believed the bill was important. He wondered how much the license plates would cost per year. Ms. Hutchison replied that the charge would be $90 per year. Representative Thompson asked whether manufacturers had any problem with the charge. Ms. Hutchison replied in the negative. ALLISON AIRHART, ATTORNEY, VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, VIRGINIA (via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. She communicated that the legislation would allow the company to continue to perform its cold weather testing in Alaska. She believed the bill was ideal and that it served the interests of the company, the Alaska DMV, and the Fairbanks area. She explained that Alaska's current statutes inhibited the company from testing in the state to the extent that it did not allow for multi-year vehicle registrations. She elaborated that testing over several seasons was necessitated by recent Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. She shared that sustained low temperatures in Alaska were ideal for vehicle testing. Other benefits included a large availability of seasonal workers, a system of roadways with a variety of terrain, affordable lodging, and an airport. 10:21:33 AM JULIE EMSLIE, FAIRBANKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in support of the bill. She stated that the consistent cold weather conditions in Alaska were difficult to find elsewhere. She expounded that the temperature combined with excellent facilities in the state's service industry had made the state a prime location for companies to cold weather test their products. She shared that the testing brought positive impacts to the Fairbanks community and the Alaskan economy. She pointed to an estimate that the testing brought in $500 million annually in Fairbanks. She stated that the automotive industry in particular heavily utilized Alaska's Interior for cold weather testing. The corporation had discovered that some local automotive testing companies were running into problems with Alaska's current vehicle titling and registration regulations, largely due to changing federal emission regulations. She concluded that the bill offered a solution to the problem, removed a barrier to the automotive cold weather testing industry, and did not infringe on the DMV's ability to carry out its mission. Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony. Representative Costello discussed the one zero impact fiscal note from Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Representative Thompson MOVED to REPORT CSSB 85(TRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. CSSB 85(TRA) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN1 (DOT). 10:24:24 AM AT EASE 10:27:05 AM RECONVENED