HOUSE BILL NO. 290                                                             
                                                                               
"An Act relating to motor vehicle license plates for                           
ranchers, farmers, and dairymen."                                              
                                                                               
JEFF LOGAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, stated that HB                    
290 would clarify that a person, defined in AS 01.10.060 to                    
include a corporation, company, partnership, firm,                             
association, organization, business trust, or society, as                      
well as a common person, be eligible for agricultural                          
plates issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).                         
                                                                               
Representative J. Davies asked if certain corporations                         
would be eligible for the plates through passage of the                        
legislation.  Mr. Logan replied that they would if they met                    
the other qualifications listed in the bill.                                   
Representative J. Davies questioned the need for allowing a                    
lower rate in this classification.                                             
                                                                               
MIKE MOSESIAN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), ANCHORAGE,                      
stated that the intent of the original law was to address                      
the short growing season.  He suggested that it would be                       
unfair for the farmer to be required to pay the same fee                       
paid for commercial use.  He believed this bill would                          
provide more farmer incentives.                                                
                                                                               
Representative G. Davis asked if these vehicles could be                       
used for anything else in off-season and would they be                         
required to be insured as a commercial vehicle.  Mr.                           
Mosesian replied that the vehicle would be used for hauling                    
agricultural supplies.                                                         
                                                                               
Representative Foster MOVED to report CS HB 290 (TRA) out                      
of Committee with individual recommendations and with the                      
accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                    
so ordered.                                                                    
                                                                               
CS HB 290 (TRA) was reported out of Committee with "no                         
recommendation" and with a fiscal note by the Department of                    
Administration dated 2/25/98.