HB 353 - HEIRLOOM MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES CHAIRMAN DYSON announced the first order of business as HOUSE BILL NO. 353, "An Act relating to heirloom certificates of marriage." Number 0030 ELMER LINDSTROM, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health & Social Services, came forward to present HB 353. He explained that HB 353 is a "follow-on" bill to legislation passed several years ago that created a special heirloom birth certificate program. The heirloom birth certificate is available to persons, at their option, if they are willing to pay a premium for a legal document suitable for framing. It is an artistic rendition and something anyone would be pleased to hang in the front room. The program has been successful over the years and has resulted in approximately $50,000 in the Alaska Children's Trust to date. MR. LINDSTROM indicated this bill would create an heirloom certificate of marriage, which also would be a legal document suitable for framing. It might well prove to be pretty popular, with the proceeds going to the Alaska Children's Trust being subject to appropriation by the legislature for that purpose. He noted that there was a proposed committee substitute (CS) that would conform to an amendment in the Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee several weeks ago. The amendment kept open the price that would be charged for an heirloom certificate. In the future, there may be special-edition certificates of one type or another that might be more valuable than the document originally envisioned, and the department would be limited to charging what a print of similar value would go for on the open market. It is not an open-ended ability to charge, however. The document is one that people would have to decide that they want. The regular certificate would be available for the regular price. MR. LINDSTROM said the fiscal note prepared originally would remain applicable to the proposed CS. The heirloom document would have a $25 surcharge above the normal price of a marriage certificate. That might change over time as opportunities occur to do something more unique and spectacular. Number 0287 REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL made a motion to adopt the proposed CS for HB 353, version 1-GH2056\D, Lauterbach, 3/15/00, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version D was before the committee. CHAIRMAN DYSON asked Mr. Lindstrom whether removing the price cap indicates that the department is also thinking about inflation. MR. LINDSTROM answered that the department would be required to go through a regulatory process anytime it elected to change the value of the certificate. He hadn't really thought about inflation but would be cognizant of it. REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move CSHB 353, version 1- GH2056\D, Lauterbach, 3/15/00, out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 353(HES) moved from the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.