05/08/2002 09:31 AM Senate RLS

SENATOR COWDERY moved to calendar  CSHB 344(STA)-INCREASE DRIVER'S                                                          
LICENSE/PERMIT  FEES with  its accompanying  fiscal  notes at  the                                                          
Chairman's discretion.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
TAPE 02-12, SIDE B                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS asked for an explanation of CSHB 344(STA).                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. LINDA  SYLVESTER, staff to  Representative Kott,  told members                                                              
that HB  344 increases  driver's license fees  for the  first time                                                              
since 1993.  The Department of  Administration submitted  a fiscal                                                              
note with a cost  of $500,000. That money will be  used to convert                                                              
the  Division  of  Motor  Vehicles'  Polaroid  manual  photography                                                              
system to a digital  one. That change will bring  Alaska up to the                                                              
national  security standards  encouraged  the federal  government.                                                              
Alaska is the last state to use the Polaroid system.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY asked  if a  driver's license  will contain  more                                                              
information if the bill passes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SYLVESTER said  it merely  puts  the information  into a  new                                                              
format. The information  on current drivers' licenses  is mandated                                                              
by  statute. HB  344 eliminates  the  need for  a social  security                                                              
number on the driver's license. The  driver's license will contain                                                              
a bar  code, which  a policeman  can scan.  In addition,  drivers'                                                              
licenses for minors  will be made using a landscape  rather than a                                                              
portrait format for easy identification.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY asked  if the airlines will have  the same ability                                                              
to scan a driver's license for identification.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. SYLVESTER said that possibility  has not come up in testimony.                                                              
However, if one loses a license while  traveling, the division can                                                              
replace the license  using the original digital  photo. Right now,                                                              
the  division  can  issue  a  temporary   replacement  but  cannot                                                              
transmit the photograph.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY repeated his motion to calendar CSHB 344(STA).                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS announced  that without  objection, the  motion                                                              
carried.