SB 266-COMMEMORATIVE PLATES: STATEHOOD ANIV.  1:35:19 PM CHAIR HUGGINS announced SB 266 to be up for consideration. SENATOR GARY STEVENS, bill sponsor, introduced SB 266. It is th meant to be a part of the statewide celebration marking the 50 anniversary of Alaska Statehood. In the spirit of celebrating the landmark anniversary, the Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission has recommended that the state issue a commemorative license plate. The bill gives the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) statutory authority to issue a special license plate. The Commission will be responsible for determining the design and color of the plate, which will be issued between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009. 1:36:53 PM SENATOR COWDERY moved to adopt CSSB 266 version F as the working document before the committee. Hearing no objections, the motion carried. CHAIR HUGGINS asked the sponsor to explain the fiscal note. SENATOR GARY STEVENS said it was an $81,000 note and a representative from the DMV was prepared to explain it. 1:38:26 PM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, DMV, identified himself for the record. He said the Department of Administration (DOA) is pleased with the bill. He spoke to the fiscal note and explained that one year ago the DMV brought back "The Last Frontier" plate. They made a long-term commitment with the supplier to reduce the cost of the plates unaware that they would be changing the standard plate. As a result the DMV made a buy designed to last the division through the end of fiscal year 2007. The fiscal note reflects the fact that they would need to purchase additional plates for the commemorative license plates. The DMV intends to mothball "The Last Frontier" plates but will bring them back in 2010. Generally the DMV makes an annual request for license plates but they did not do that in the FY07 budget because of the long-term agreement made with the supplier. There is no change in revenue specific to the plate as it would be a standard issue plate and the customer would not pay for it. He offered to answer questions. 1:41:02 PM CHAIR HUGGINS asked for clarification of when the plates would be issued. MR. BANNOCK said the actual dates of issuance would be January 2, 2007 to December 31, 2009. CHAIR HUGGINS clarified that the fiscal note reflects the purchase of the commemorative license plates. MR. BANNOCK agreed. The DMV will have extra inventory as a result. The bill authorizes them to use the plates they have already purchased in 2010 when the commemorative plates issuance is completed and so they will be financially ahead of the game in the future years. SENATOR COWDERY asked Mr. Bannock to explain what happens to the revenue that the DMV takes in. MR. BANNOCK informed the committee that the DMV is projected to take in $62 million dollars annually. Of that, $12 million is collected at the behest of several local governments through the motor vehicle registration tax statute. Approximately $50 million dollars is returned to the state's general fund against the budget of approximately $11 million dollars. 1:43:33 PM th SENATOR FRENCH asked the exact date of the 50 anniversary of statehood. SENATOR GARY STEVENS said the state is celebrating January 1, 2009 as the formal date of statehood. SENATOR FRENCH asked Mr. Bannock whether people would be able to purchase "The Last Frontier" plate after January 1, 2007. MR. BANNOCK said yes. It would cost $30 dollars. SENATOR FRENCH asked the recourse if the designer brings forth a plate that people do not like. He asked the reason that legislators aren't able to see the design before signing off on the bill. MR. BANNOCK conceded that people have complained about standard issue plates before but that the Alaska license plate has recently won an award for best design. He guaranteed that the Committee would create a plate that everyone would like. 1:46:36 PM CHAIR HUGGINS asked Mr. Bannock the process to reach the design conclusion. MR. BANNOCK deferred the question to a representative from the Commission. CHAIR HUGGINS asked whether a person visiting from another country could purchase the commemorative plate. MR. BANNOCK said yes, for three dollars. 1:48:10 PM SENATOR FRENCH asked the reason that a person would have to pay $30 for "The Last Frontier" plate but only three dollars for the commemorative plate. MR. BANNOCK explained the three-dollar plate could not be placed on a vehicle and was for display purposes only. SENATOR FRENCH asked the size of the plate for purchase. MR. BANNOCK said they were the same size but it would have the word "sample" emblazoned across it. 1:49:21 PM GAIL PHILLIPS, Chairperson, Alaska Statehood Celebration Commission, testified in support of the bill and promised to help design a plate that will be appropriate for everyone. CHAIR HUGGINS asked whether the public could see the design before the plate goes to production. MS. PHILLIPS said yes. She said the statehood celebration logo would be unveiled on March 7, although the Commission has not yet decided whether the logo would be used on the plate. 1:51:58 PM SENATOR COWDERY moved CSSB 266(TRA) out of committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. Hearing no objections, the motion carried.