Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/12/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB215 | |
| SB119 | |
| SB221 | |
| SB194 | |
| SB195 | |
| HB234 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 221 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 119 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 215 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 194 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 195 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 234 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 194-ALLOW ELECTRONIC DRIVERS' LICENSES AND ID
4:28:29 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 194 "An Act relating to
electronic identification cards; relating to electronic drivers'
licenses and permits; relating to motor vehicle liability
insurance; and providing for an effective date."
He noted that this was the second hearing and the intention was
to take public testimony. He asked Mr. Relay to give the
committee a high level summary of the bill.
4:29:17 PM
STUART RELAY, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that the bill would allow
Alaskans to carry an electronic version of their driver's
license, driver's permit, or state identification card. It also
amends the current fee structure for licenses.
MR. RELAY explained that in response to to Senator Holland's
question about the fees other states charge for electronic
driver's licenses, he learned from NCSL that eight states
authorize electronic driver's licenses. Of those, just two have
information about the fees. The State of Oklahoma charges $4.49
annually and the State of Louisiana has authorized a $6.00 fee
but currently does not charge anything.
4:31:31 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked how an electronic driver's license would work
in situations where REAL ID is required.
MR. RELAY offered his understanding that it would be similar to
using one's phone to scan a boarding pass. He deferred to the
representative from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for
further information.
4:32:39 PM
JEFFREY SCHMITZ, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Department of Administration (DOA), Anchorage, Alaska, stated
that DMV expects that the licensing and application requirements
for REAL ID will remain the same whether it is an electronic
format or a hard card format. What happens currently at a
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint is that
the barcode information on the physical card is scanned. The
electronic driver's license on somebody's phone would be
similarly scanned.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he foresees any problem for somebody who
is traveling domestically or internationally with just an
electronic driver's license on their phone and no other picture
identification.
4:34:05 PM
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, speaking as sponsor, said international
travel was not considered when the bill was drafted. He noted
that when his office was doing research on electronic driver's
licenses they learned that some states say they are federal ID
compliant and others don't mention it.
CHAIR SHOWER said he'd like more information about that.
MS. RELAY said that NCSL relayed that the Department of Homeland
Security was in the process of establishing rules regarding
electronic REAL IDs and how they would be implemented for the
department, which includes TSA.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he had reached out to law enforcement to
get their view of electronic driver's licenses.
4:35:54 PM
MR. RELAY replied that they had not heard from the Department of
Public Safety or law enforcement personnel.
CHAIR SHOWER said he would like to hear law enforcement's
perspective.
MR. RELAY agreed to follow up with that information.
SENATOR COSTELLO suggested the committee invite law enforcement
from states that have implemented electronic driver's licenses
to testify.
4:37:12 PM
SENATOR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 194; finding none
he closed public testimony.
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 194 in committee.