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) <Bill Hearing Postponed>
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.