Sponsor Statement for SB 157

Establishing a Children's Trust License Plate

SB 157 establishes a motor vehicle registration plate that the department may design and issue to represent the Alaska Children's Trust. It allows the legislature to appropriate funds received from the sale of these registration plates into the principal of the Alaska Children's Trust.

The primary purpose of the Alaska Children's Trust is to work in partnership with communities, private business, and government to reduce and prevent child abuse, neglect, and family violence. The Children's Trust will improve the status of children in Alaska by generating funds and committing resources to promote healthy families and by assisting in developing healthy communities.

Other states such as Louisiana, California, Misssouri, Nevada, and Illinois have created specialized license plates for the benefit of children and have had great success in raising funds for this worthwile cause.

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