SB 154-BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA LICENSE PLATES  9:18:33 AM CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order. He announced the consideration of SB 154 and asked for a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS). 9:19:08 AM SENATOR HUGGINS moved to adopt the proposed CS for SB 154, version H, as the working document. CHAIR STOLTZE objected for discussion purposes. 9:19:27 AM BRANDON BREFCZYNSKI, Staff, Senator Stoltze, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the CS for SB 154 was a result of an oversight. He specified that on page 2, line 1, the added language would allow the Department of Administration to separately account and appropriate funds for the Blood Bank of Alaska license plate. CHAIR STOLTZE removed his objection and announced that the CS was before the committee. He set forth that the committee would hear public testimony. He asked the Mr. Benintendi be the first to address the committee. He noted that Mr. Benintendi was the Alaskan citizen who brought the legislation forward and the State Affairs Committee noted the bill as being sponsored "by request" in order to reflect that sponsorship was on behalf of the Blood Bank of Alaska and those who supported their activities. 9:20:48 AM TIM BENINTENDI, Secretary, Board of Directors, Blood Bank of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He thanked the committee and the Legislature for supporting the grant funding to help construct the new Blood Bank of Alaska facility. He said SB 154 authorizes the issuance of the Blood Bank of Alaska license plate and its extra revenue; but more importantly, the license plates would provide extra promotional opportunity and visibility for the Blood Bank of Alaska as well. 9:22:53 AM ROBERT SCANLON, Chief Executive Officer, Blood Bank of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He thanked the Legislature for its generosity in supporting Alaska's sole blood supplier. He said without the Legislature's assistance, the project would not have been possible. 9:23:41 AM CHRIS MELLO, Member, Board of Directors, Blood Bank of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He thanked the Legislature for its generous support of the Blood Bank of Alaska. He detailed that the Blood Bank of Alaska was a 501(c)(3) public charity with an all-Alaskan board and all- Alaskan outfit. He added that the Blood Bank of Alaska has over 30,000 donors statewide. He set forth that the license plate would help the Blood Bank of Alaska as follows: · Generates revenue. · Allows anonymous donors and recipients to let everyone know their support. · Acts as a reminder for people to donate. CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the administration had concerns with the bill. 9:25:10 AM AMY ERICKSON, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Alaska Department of Administration, Anchorage, Alaska, replied that the administration had no concerns. She added that she was glad that the committee was able to fix the oversight where the license plate was not tied to a fund. 9:25:48 AM VERDIE BOWEN, Director of Veteran Affairs, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 154. He revealed that he was a Blood Bank of Alaska recipient due to an accident. He said the new license plate would provide advertising and awareness for the Blood Bank of Alaska. CHAIR STOLTZE closed public testimony. He asked Ms. Erickson to provide a brief narrative on the bill's $250 fiscal note. He inquired if Ms. Erickson had any projected expectations judging from past history on "cause" license plates. 9:28:33 AM MS. ERICKSON specified that DMV would work with the Blood Bank of Alaska to design the license plate that the commissioner of the Department of Administration would ultimately have to approve. She detailed that the plate would have a $200 design fee. She noted that a previous "cause" plate example would be for "breast cancer awareness." CHAIR STOLTZE added that "cause" plates would include "promotion of life" and the Second Amendment. MS. ERICKSON answered yes. She said she could not forecast how many plates would be sold, but remarked that the Blood Bank of Alaska has a big following in the Anchorage area. CHAIR STOLTZE opined that some "cause" plates have a limited pool and others were a lot broader. He noted that the Pearl Harbor survivors' plate was limited, where the plate for the Second Amendment has a lot of fans. 9:30:09 AM MS. ERICKSON replied that only one license plate was issued to a Pearl Harbor survivor. She noted that the "cause" plates did not have a minimum order. SENATOR HUGGINS asked if DMV would be able to accept $250 from a collection to cover the $250 fiscal note. MS. ERICKSON replied that DMV did not have a way of accepting the money. She noted that committees had zeroed-out fiscal notes in the past. CHAIR STOLTZE concurred that the committee could zero-out the fiscal note. He noted that a bill like SB 154 tends to have "extra cargo" thrown on it. He stated that the Finance Committee can decide whether to zero-out or amortize the fiscal note. He said any committee member could offer amendments or other suggestions and Ms. Erickson would nimbly deal with whatever she was dealt. 9:33:58 AM SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved Conceptual Amendment 1. CONCEPTUAL AMENDMENT 1 Expands the eligibility for veteran's designation on an ID card or driver's license in the State of Alaska in an effort to recognize Laotian veterans and the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit that fought in support of American interests during the Vietnam era. CHAIR STOLTZE objected for discussion purposes. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI set forth that he was offering the amendment on behalf of a number of constituent groups in his district and all around Anchorage as well. He specified that the amendment would expand the eligibility for veterans' designation on an ID card or driver's license in the State of Alaska in an effort to recognize Laotian veterans and the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit that fought in support of American interests during the Vietnam era. He revealed that tens of thousands of Hmong people were trained covertly by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to fight on behalf of the United States. He quoted Edgar Buell, CIA Senior Aide that worked with the Hmong Special Guerrilla Unit as follows: Every Hmong that died, that was an American back home that didn't die, or one that was injured that wasn't injured. Somebody in nearly every Hmong family was either fighting or died from fighting, they became refuges because we, the United States government, encouraged them to fight for us. I promised them myself, have no fear, we will take care of you. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI remarked that the United States government made promises to the Hmong. The Hmong that emigrated to the U.S. have been fighting to get recognition as veterans on driver's licenses. He detailed that the amendment would have the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs work with the Department of Administration and DMV to find an alternative proof of veteran's status because the Hmong did not have Defense Department (DD) Form 214 (DD214). He said the amended bill would be a way of recognizing the Hmong's service on behalf of our country. He noted that the Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs have expressed their support for the amendment. 9:37:05 AM MR. BOWEN testified in support of Conceptual Amendment 1. He revealed that he had spent a lot of time with the Hmong on different issues of recognition, specifically with U.S. Senator Murkowski in allowing the Hmong to be interred in national cemeteries. He detailed that under the command of General Vang Pao, the Hmong army was a 30,000 man fighting force that assisted downed U.S. pilots in Laos. He presumed that Senator Huggins fought with Hmong soldiers and he might be able to provide additional insight. He explained that the difference between the Hmong and most soldiers was the amount of people that were in their army was probably equal to the amount of people lost during the conflict. He asserted that anything that the Legislature could do to recognize the Hmong would be outstanding. He suggested that a program could be put together that was similar to the Alaska Territorial Guard where an Alaskan DD214 would recognize Hmong soldiers. CHAIR STOLTZE asked if the Veteran's Advisory Council had taken a position on the issue. MR. BOWEN answered yes. He specified that the council had voted in the past against adding the identification on the driver's license, but the council had voted positive on a license plate. 9:39:09 AM CHAIR STOLTZE stated that he opposed the amendment, but offered that the specific bill regarding Hmong recognition be heard in committee the following week. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI thanked Chair Stoltze and withdraw Conceptual Amendment 1. CHAIR STOLTZE confirmed that Senator Wielechowski's bill would be heard the following week. He said the bill would be properly vetted and notice provided to veterans groups and the Hmong community. He asked if there were any other amendments. SENATOR HUGGINS stated that he had no amendments and no further comment. CHAIR STOLTZE suggested that the committee could meet the intent and zero-out the fiscal note; however, the fiscal note would be left as presented due to the limitations of accepting funds into the state's treasury. 9:41:32 AM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report CS for SB 154, [29-LS1127\H], from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. 9:41:43 AM CHAIR STOLTZE announced that hearing no objection, CSSB 154(STA) moves from committee.