HB 296-DONATIONS/GIFTS FOR DOT&PF SIGNAGE                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:15:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HOPKINS  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be HB 296, "An Act relating  to program receipts; and relating to                                                               
the acceptance  of gifts, donations,  and grants for  the purpose                                                               
of  providing  signage  for  assets  under  the  control  of  the                                                               
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:15:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GEORGE  RAUSCHER,  Alaska State  Legislature,  as                                                               
prime sponsor, stated  that HB 296 would allow  the Department of                                                               
Transportation  & Public  Facilities  (DOT&PF))  to accept  gifts                                                               
pertaining to ongoing renaming projects.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:16:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  asked what would  happen if a  person were                                                               
to pledge  payment for  a project  and then  lost the  ability to                                                               
fund it.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:17:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDY  MILLS, Legislative  Liaison,  Department of  Transportation                                                               
and Public Facilities,  answered that he looked back  at the last                                                               
several years  at naming processes.   Once the designation  is on                                                               
the  books, should  such a  scenario come  to pass  in which  the                                                               
third  party is  unable  to maintain  those  funds, the  renaming                                                               
would be moved to the next time such projects are undertaken.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:19:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   STUTES  asked   whether   bridge  would   remain                                                               
identified  with  its  number "until  something  else  transpires                                                               
which would require signage."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. MILLS answered that the  previous name would remain until the                                                               
next  renaming project  occurred.   In  response  to a  follow-up                                                               
question, he said that it would  depend on the bill pertaining to                                                               
the renaming.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  asked whether  new signage would  be added                                                               
if another project related to repairs of a bridge was ongoing.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. MILLS answered that that is  a scenario in which the renaming                                                               
signage would be added.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:22:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER  offered clarification that  the proposed                                                               
legislation is only meant to give receipt authority to DOT&PF.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:23:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  noted that a memorandum  ("memo") received                                                               
by the committee  from DOT&PF stated that the  donor could donate                                                               
materials  rather than  money,  and she  asked  whether it  could                                                               
cause an issue due to the wrong materials being used.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. MILLS responded that the  language used means that DOT&PF has                                                               
the ability  to contemplate  the provided  materials.   He stated                                                               
his  understanding that  the bill  would allow  more options  for                                                               
people.    There are  technical  requirements  when it  comes  to                                                               
signage, and  donated materials could  be used if they  met those                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:26:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  HOPKINS  opened  public  testimony   on  HB  296.    After                                                               
ascertaining  that no  one wished  to testify,  he closed  public                                                               
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:27:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  REPRESENTATIVE moved to report  HB 296 out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being no objection, HB 296 was                                                               
reported out of the House Transportation Standing Committee.