1998-03-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2735
SB 333                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 333 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to the temporary establishment of                             
the Alaska Disaster Assistance Program; and                                    
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce,                
Judiciary and Finance Committees.                                              
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated March 3:                                    
                                                                               
                                                                               

1998-03-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2736
SB 333                                                                       
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
The 1997 fish returns to the Bristol Bay and Kuskokwim River                   
regions were extremely low, causing a serious loss of income to                
those area residents involved in the fishing industry. Last July, I            
declared an economic disaster in these regions. The federal                    
government later made a similar declaration.                                   
                                                                               
To assist those suffering from income loss due to this disaster, I             
transmit this bill establishing the Alaska Disaster Assistance Program         
(ADAP). Under this temporary program, the Department of Labor                  
may provide to eligible individuals one-time benefits of up to $1,400          
over a two-month period. This benefit amount mirrors the payments              
that would be provided under the federal disaster unemployment                 
assistance program, had that been made available for this disaster.            
Funds for this state assistance program are included in the                    
supplemental appropriation bill.                                               
                                                                               
In order to qualify for the disaster funds, applicants must demonstrate        
they participated in, or planned to participate in the Bristol Bay             
salmon drift or set gillnet fisheries, or in the Kuskokwim River               
salmon gillnet fisheries during the 1997 season, and had some                  
employment connection to the fisheries in the previous two years.              
Applicants must also have a family income that does not exceed 185             
percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Those receiving public              
assistance or unemployment insurance benefits will not be eligible             
for this program.                                                              
                                                                               
The program is designed to make funds available as soon as possible            
and be repealed January 31, 1999, after the 1998 tax statements have           
been issued to recipients.                                                     
                                                                               
I urge your prompt consideration of this bill.                                 
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Tony Knowles                                                             
						Governor