HB 61- MILITARY MERITORIOUS AWARD LICENSE PLATES  9:40:28 AM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 61, "An Act relating to special motor vehicle registration plates for recipients of the Bronze Star, Silver Star, or other meritorious service awards; and providing for an effective date." 9:40:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA, Alaska State Legislature, advised that the Alaska Native Veteran's Organization in Alaska brought this to the attention of Representative Gara, and noted there are a number of military license plates in Alaska, but they skip over honor for valor in combat. He said that the one Alaska Medal of Honor recipient is covered, but there are a few other medals members of the various branches receive. CHAIR LYNN asked whether there is a specific license plate for the Medal of Honor recipient in statute. REPRESENTATIVE GARA replied that it is authorized by statute, although, no one has applied for one. For background purposes, he advised that Representative Herron wants to raise the $250, which is the cost of printing that license plate. 9:42:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARA continued that the intent of the legislation is to honor those veterans who risked their lives, engaged in combat, and demonstrated valor by saving other lives. He pointed out policy calls within the legislation, and stated there are legislative license plates, but compared to people engaged in combat against the enemy and demonstrated valor, those people are more worthy to have designation, if they so desire. Currently, the missing medals include: the distinguished service crosses, which apply to all branches of the military for risking their life in combat and demonstrating valor; the silver star, for extraordinary valor in combat; and the bronze star "V," for valor in combat. He noted valor is not a word taken lightly. He explained the second purpose of the bill is that the sponsor does not want to create a license plate bill every year, as new medals will be created in the future. He said, "The department, without a new bill, has the power to add other license plates that are defined by ... acts of valor," and described that acts of valor, through the military, mean acts of valor in combat. 9:45:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG pointed out that he had prepared an amendment and asked whether Representative Gara supports the amendment. REPRESENTATIVE GARA advised he does support the amendment, as it makes the bill stronger. 9:45:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER asked for clarification of what the Department of Motor Vehicles can authorize, as far as personalized plates. REPRESENTATIVE GARA answered that they can only, in this category and under this bill, add license plates reflecting honors of valor, which is valor in combat. For example, he said, a marine medal was discontinued in 1940, and occasionally a new medal is added, and the intent is to not have a bill each time that happens. He explained that under HB 61, the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs could add those license plates at the request of a recipient. 9:46:16 AM LAURENCE GORDAOFF, Alaska Native Veterans Association, advised that the mission of the Alaska Native Veterans Association is to answer the concerns and needs of the state's veterans, help the community offer respect to all veterans, stay non-political, and strive for all Alaska Native veterans to have a voice. He offered that he was told an Afghanistan veteran who asked the Department of Motor Vehicles in Anchorage for a bronze star license plate for his vehicle was told there is no such plate in Alaska. He offered additional incidents regarding Alaska veterans and license plates. He said the bronze star license plate offers a sense of pride and closure to the bronze star recipients and offers recognition to the service they gave to ensure the nation's freedom. CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony on HB 61, after ascertaining that no one further wished to testify. 9:49:50 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment [1], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Page 2, lines 4 and 5, following "reflecting" Remove "meritorious service and" Page 2, line 8, following "reflecting: Remove "meritorious service and" CHAIR LYNN objected for discussion. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that veterans can receive meritorious medals that do not involve heroism, but that is not the intent of the sponsors. He advised the intent is to involve heroism in combat individuals, and the language is narrow so members know exactly what they are voting for. CHAIR LYNN interjected that the addition of a "V" in relation to a bronze star indicates not only meritorious service, but also valor. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG expressed that [language within sub- subparagraph (jj)] is included because other medals meet the criteria but are more complicated, such as the Presidential Unit Accommodation for the entire unit, which is rarely given. He advised that arising issues are left to the two departments to make a determination. 9:51:54 AM CHAIR LYNN removed his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 9:52:10 AM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 61(MLV), as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 61(STA) moved from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.