SB 146-COMMEMORATIVE VETERANS LICENSE PLATE                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GRETCHEN GUESS  explained SB  146 establishes  a license                                                               
plate that any Alaskan could  purchase to support veterans. It is                                                               
modeled after  the current Children's Trust  license plate. There                                                               
would be a $100 one-time fee in addition to the $35 renewal fee.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
It's a  simple bill to  help Alaskans show support  for veterans.                                                               
The goal  is for the  money raised from  the sale of  the license                                                               
plates to  go to veteran services.  The fiscal note is  small and                                                               
would be covered by the revenues generated.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOHN COWDERY asked if this was a tax bill.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GUESS  responded a tax  bill is one where  the government                                                               
requires payment; this is optional.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  asked how many  other states offer  this license                                                               
plate and are the proposed charges comparable.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GUESS replied  the Department  of  Motor Vehicles  (DMV)                                                               
could answer specifically, but many  states have multiple license                                                               
plate options.  She was  unaware of any  states that  offered the                                                               
plate in  support of veterans.  She didn't know  about comparable                                                               
costs. The  charge for  the proposed plate  is modeled  after the                                                               
Children's Trust plate.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  asked if  the  fees  would  be in  addition  to                                                               
standard fee or in place of the standard fee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GUESS replied  the fee  is  the same  as the  Children's                                                               
Trust plate, which is in addition to the standard fee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY mused it is a tax.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR GARY STEVENS  asked Charles Hosack whether  he had anything                                                               
to contribute.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHARLES HOSACK,  Deputy Director with DMV,  stated the department                                                               
supports the bill  as a way of supporting  veterans. He confirmed                                                               
the fees are  in addition to the regular  registration fees. Each                                                               
year a  $35 fee would  be paid in addition  to the one  time $100                                                               
fee.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Other  states  have  a  number  of  specialty  plates  and  since                                                               
September 11  some states are  proposing laws similar to  this to                                                               
commemorate  or support  veterans. He  didn't know  how many  had                                                               
passed or  the fee structure. The  $100 one-time fee is  the same                                                               
as the $100 one-time fee for the Children's Trust plate.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There were no further questions.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY made  a motion  to move  SB 146  with individual                                                               
recommendations  and   attached  fiscal  note.  There   being  no                                                               
objection, it was so ordered.