SENATE BILL 86 "An Act relating to issuance of special request commemorative gold rush motor vehicle license plates." CAMDEN TOOHEY, STAFF, SENATOR BERT SHARP, stated that the purpose of SB 86 would be to commemorate the period between 1994 and 2004 as the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Decade with the issuance of a new motor vehicle license plate. The Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) would design the license plate in consultation with the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force and license plate manufacturer. 2 Mr. Toohey continued, the legislation had been requested by the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force representing twenty-five Alaskan communities and parts of Canada. The Gold Rush Task Force was established to coordinate statewide celebrations of the 100th anniversary in order to promote the understanding of the importance of the "Gold Rush Era" in Alaska's history and to enhance tourism opportunities. He added that the 18th Alaska Legislature passed SB 407 which changed the standard plate to the Gold Rush license plate but Governor Hickel vetoed the bill because it removed the two plate requirement. TOM GARRETT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DCED), spoke to the tourism promotion as it related to the Gold Rush license plate. Gold Rush is going to become the predominating theme affecting all tourism promotions for the next few years. The Department is working closely with the Yukon government in the promotion and marketing of the theme. He noted that the Administration is supportive of the legislation. Representative Mulder asked if there had been discussion which would make the design a ten year temporary plate. Mr. Toohey stated there had not been discussion, although the purpose of the legislation would be to extend the ten year celebration to 2004. Representative Mulder inquired if Senator Sharp would be opposed to reinstating the yellow and blue license plate after ten years. Mr. Toohey did not think that Senator Sharp would oppose that concept. Co-Chair Hanley inquired if everyone would be required to replace their license plates. Mr. Toohey stated they would not. The plate will take about a year to design and will be ready to put on cars in the beginning of 1998. There will be a phase in of the new plate when the yellow and blue stock is depleted; then the Department will start distributing the new theme plate. That plate will be for vehicles newly registered or for those others that want to change over their plates at a $5 dollar charge. JUANITA HENSLEY, CHIEF, DRIVER SERVICES, DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (DPS), noted that it was the intent of the Department to issue a specified number of plates and that replacement plates would not be required. Co-Chair Hanley questioned the fiscal note reference to a 10% vendor price increase. Ms. Hensley responded that it was anticipated that the new contract because of additional graphics, would cost 10% more. Co-Chair Hanley asked the cost of the "vanity" plates. Ms. Hensley replied that the 3 "vanity" plates cost substantially more per plate, although, the "recovery" cost exceeds the cost of each plate. The Gold Rush plate would be a general issue plate; the current contract cost would be approximately $2.68 each set of plates. Co-Chair Foster asked what had happened to all the designs provided in the contest sponsored two years ago. Ms. Hensley explained that contest had produced the two vanity plates. Representative Brown suggested that the language should clearly define the intent that everyone was not required to have a new Gold Rush plate. Representative Brown MOVED a conceptual amendment which clarified that the change would be a "transition" and that the Department would replace the existing plates with the new design. There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted. Representative Mulder MOVED a conceptual amendment which would allow for a plate to convert back to its traditional blue and gold after the year 2004. He understood that would make the legislation a temporary law. Representative Brown recommended that both of these statements be displayed, providing a transitional amendment. She suggested that the bill be HELD until the draft was returned. Representative Mulder thought that perhaps the legislation would benefit from a sunset clause in for 2004. Representative Mulder WITHDREW THE MOTION for the conceptual amendment. There being NO OBJECTION, it was withdrawn. Mr. Toohey stated that the concept of reverting to a new plate in the year of 2004 had been discussed in the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Hanley noted that the transitional language would be drafted and that the bill would be HELD in Committee for further consideration following review of the draft. CS SB 86 (FIN) was HELD in Committee for further consideration.