Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
02/22/2011 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
SB93 | |
SB2 | |
SB16 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | SB 93 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 16-SPECIAL REQUEST LICENSE PLATES 9:46:48 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the next order of business would be SB 16. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt proposed committee substitute CSSB 16 ( ), labeled 27-LS0120\D, as the working document. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes. MICHELLE SYDEMAN, staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, said there is only one change in the proposed CS from the original bill, which is the inclusion of a pro-family, pro-choice license plate. On page 2 an addition to the bill establishes where those excess funds would go. SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, sponsor of SB 16, said his comments would be geared to the original bill and not the CS. The message of SB 16 is Choose Life. There are lots of specialty license plate bills, but this one is taking a different approach. This is not a fund raiser; the funds collected are only to cover costs. He noted that 26 other states have Choose Life license plates. His constituents want this, and he personally likes the idea. It is a pro adoption message and a strong pro life message, but also a message about suicide prevention. Choose Life can mean whatever you want it to mean. 9:51:28 AM JEFF MITTMAN, Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska, said that specialty license plates raise free speech issues. SB 93 covers the issue more generally, because it allows any organization to submit a message. The CS addresses a concern with SB 16 as originally offered. The process needs to be neutral. RUSS AMERLING, National Publicity Coordinator, Choose Life License Plates, said there are 26 states that have Choose Life plates. The license plate in all other states is a fundraiser. The message is a message of life, choose adoption. JIM MINNERY, Alaska Family Council, said he wanted to emphasize the option of celebrating adoption. SB 16 has the full support of the Alaska Family Council. 9:55:17 AM MIKE PAULSEN, Chairman, Choose Life Alaska, said he was available for questions. KELLY FOREMAN, Choose Life Alaska, said this issue has been discussed by their organization for two years. The Choose Life plate has already been designed to DMV specifications. She said the additional plate added by the CS should be required to go through its own legislative process. BOB HEAD, Director, American Family Association of Alaska, Juneau, said he has raised an adopted son. He feels that Choose Life is an extremely important message. SYD HIEDERSDORF, Juneau, testified on his own behalf in support of SB 16. He said the Choose Life message promotes the culture of life. Opposition to this message is a result of the abortion mentality in this country. His testimony is based on the specific issue of Choose Life, not the CS which includes a Planned Parenthood type amendment. He hopes the committee will support the idea of Choose Life. 10:00:50 AM CAREN ROBINSON, lobbyist, representing Alaska Women's' Lobby and Alaska Planned Parenthood of the Greater Northwest, testified in support of the proposed CS. She said the organizations she represents are in support of anything that helps people to make good choices. She also raised the possibility of additional dollars going to the Alaska Children's Trust from these specialty plates. The trust already has license plates so the funding process might already be in place at DMV. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony [and held SB 16 in committee].