ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE  March 30, 2006 3:40 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Gene Therriault, Chair Senator Charlie Huggins Senator Bettye Davis Senator Kim Elton MEMBERS ABSENT    Senator Thomas Wagoner, Vice Chair COMMITTEE CALENDAR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 245(FIN) am "An Act relating to motor vehicle registration plates and fees for Purple Heart recipients and Medal of Honor recipients; and providing for an effective date." MOVED CSHB 245(FIN)am OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION BILL: HB 245 SHORT TITLE: VETERANS' VEHICLE PLATES/FEES/TAXES SPONSOR(s): MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS 04/01/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/01/05 (H) MLV, FIN 04/07/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 04/07/05 (H) 04/14/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 04/14/05 (H) Moved CSHB 245(MLV) Out of Committee 04/14/05 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 04/15/05 (H) MLV RPT CS(MLV) NT 6DP 04/15/05 (H) DP: ELKINS, THOMAS, GRUENBERG, DAHLSTROM, CISSNA, LYNN 01/31/06 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 01/31/06 (H) Heard & Held 01/31/06 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 02/08/06 (H) FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519 02/08/06 (H) Moved CSHB 245(FIN) Out of Committee 02/08/06 (H) MINUTE(FIN) 02/10/06 (H) FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 6DP 2NR 1AM 02/10/06 (H) DP: STOLTZE, KERTTULA, MOSES, HOLM, FOSTER, MEYER; 02/10/06 (H) NR: KELLY, WEYHRAUCH; 02/10/06 (H) AM: HAWKER 02/27/06 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 02/27/06 (H) VERSION: CSHB 245(FIN) AM 03/01/06 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/01/06 (S) STA, FIN 03/30/06 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER Senator Bob Lynn Alaska State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 245 on behalf of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs Duane Bannock, Director Division of Motor Vehicles Department of Administration PO Box 110200 Juneau, AK 99811-0200 POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 245 Ed Knoebel Glennallen, AK POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 245 ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT called the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:40:11 PM. Present were Senators Charlie Huggins, Kim Elton, Bettye Davis and Chair Gene Therriault. CSHB 245(FIN) AM -VETERANS' VEHICLE PLATES/FEES/TAXES  3:40:38 PM SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT announced HB 245 to be up for consideration. SENATOR BOB LYNN presented HB 245 on behalf of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. He explained that the bill would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue, at no cost, a Congressional Medal of Honor license plate for one non-commercial vehicle. Alaska does not have any Medal of Honor recipients currently, but the state needs to be ready to accord this special recognition when the occasion arises. The bill also proposes to delete the $30 license fee for the existing Purple Heart license plate. The director of the national Purple Heart Association has asked that the words "Purple Heart" be substituted with "combat veteran" on the license plate but the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has indicated that the change could be accomplished by DMV directive. 3:42:52 PM SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS aired the view that it's "a whacky idea" to change the wording. He then noted the fiscal note and asked how many people in Alaska have Purple Hearts. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN clarified that the suggested change in wording wouldn't be in statute; it would only be a change on the license plate. SENATOR THERRIAULT noted that HB 245 doesn't change the language. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said that's true, but Representative Gruenberg wanted the request on record. 3:45:39 PM ED KNOEBEL, Glennallen, reported that he sent a letter to the committee to provide background information on the Purple Heart. [A copy may be found in the bill file.] He then said he participated in the license plate design and he would like it to stay as currently designed. He explained that the plate has the Purple Heart located on the left and the military organization indicated on the right with "combat wound" underneath. In the middle is a spot for special identifications. His license plate indicates the carrier he was on when he was wounded. SENATOR HUGGINS complimented Mr. Knoebel on his work and asked if he had been working with Mr. Gaguzis. MR. KNOEBEL said yes and reiterated he didn't want any changes made. DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration (DOA) expressed support for the bill. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if there was anything on the fiscal note that required highlighting. MR. BANNOCK said no and noted the projected small decrease in revenue. SENATOR HUGGINS asked how many Purple Hearts recipients live in Alaska. MR. BANNOCK responded he didn't know but there are 509 registered vehicles with Purple Heart license plates in the state. MR. KNOEBEL estimated that there might be twice that number. SENATOR THERRIAULT asked for the will of the committee. SENATOR HUGGINS motioned to report CSHB 245(FIN)am and attached fiscal note(s) from committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, it was so ordered. There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Therriault adjourned the meeting at 3:52:10 PM.