02/21/2002 08:02 AM House STA

HB 344-INCREASE DRIVER'S LICENSE FEES                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be  HOUSE BILL  NO. 344,  "An  Act increasing  fees for  driver's                                                               
licenses,  instruction  permits,  and identification  cards;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 0175                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WILSON  moved  to adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS),  version  22-LS1301\F, Ford,  2/16/02,  as  the                                                               
working  document.   There  being  no  objection, Version  F  was                                                               
before the committee.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL indicated there was a fiscal note for Version F.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 0231                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
LINDA SYLVESTER, Staff to Representative  Pete Kott, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, testified  on behalf  of Representative  Kott, chair                                                               
of the  House Rules Standing Committee,  sponsor of HB 344.   Ms.                                                               
Sylvester  pointed out  that Version  F reflects  intent language                                                               
and  findings.   Those [changes]  were done  in order  to draw  a                                                               
fiscal  note.   She  recognized the  concerns regarding  privacy.                                                               
The  need to  convert to  a  digital driver's  license system  is                                                               
practical,  she told  members.   Currently, Alaska  uses Polaroid                                                               
technology for the driver's license  system; however, the cameras                                                               
aren't available  anymore.  Furthermore,  Polaroid has  filed for                                                               
[bankruptcy], which means  it is selling off its  assets and [its                                                               
technology] won't be available.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL  referred to a national  identification (ID) system                                                               
and  indicated his  concern is  that  this might  become "the  de                                                               
facto  national ID."   He  said  the Division  of Motor  Vehicles                                                               
(DMV) has  offered assurance  that the coding  would only  be for                                                               
those things [listed] on the face  of the card.  He cautioned DMV                                                               
to make sure it stays that way.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 0430                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FATE  moved  to  report  CSHB  344,  version  22-                                                               
LS1301\F,  Ford,  2/16/02,  out   of  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  the accompanying  fiscal note.   There being                                                               
no  objection, CSHB  344(STA) was  moved out  of the  House State                                                               
Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COGHILL announced  that he  would be  requesting a  [House                                                               
Finance Standing Committee] referral.