00                            SENATE BILL NO. 278                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to information from veterans on the permanent fund dividend                                            
02 application form."                                                                                                      
03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
04    * Section 1. AS 43.23.015 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
05            (j)  The application form for claiming a permanent fund dividend must include                                
06       a place for the applicant to voluntarily indicate that the applicant is a veteran, the                            
07       branch of service, and the dates of service. Notwithstanding AS 43.23.017, the                                    
08       department shall release information provided under this subsection to the Department                             
09       of Military and Veterans' Affairs and, on request of a veterans service organization in                           
10       the state, to that organization for the purpose of allowing the organization to                                   
11       communicate with veterans regarding available benefits. The department may not                                    
12       otherwise release the information. The application form must contain notice that                                  
13       providing the information under this subsection is not mandatory, that the information                            
14       will be released by the department as provided in this subsection, and that the                                   

01       recipients of the information are not required to keep it confidential.