2000-02-02                     House Journal                      Page 2067
HB 331                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 331 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act relating to payment, allowances, and benefits of members              
of the Alaska National Guard and Alaska Naval Militia in active                
service; relating to computation of certain benefits for members of            
the Alaska State Militia; and providing for an effective date."                
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee            
on Military & Veterans' Affairs and the State Affairs and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs, 2/2/00                 
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 1, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
When members of the Alaska National Guard and Alaska Naval Militia             
are called  to  active  service  for  the  state, it's  important  they  be    

2000-02-02                     House Journal                      Page 2068
HB 331                                                                       
adequately compensated for their valuable work in a timely manner.             
To that end, this bill simplifies the pay scale and system for the Alaska      
National Guard (ANG) and Alaska Naval Militia (NM).                            
                                                                               
Currently, when called to state active duty, members of the ANG and            
NM receive pay and allowances equal to those provided by federal law           
for members of equivalent grades of the United States armed forces.            
Daily minimum pay is determined by grade and years of service with             
a statutory minimum.  Allowances include food, housing, cost-of-living         
increase, and quarters and are determined based on the circumstances           
of each individual.                                                            
                                                                               
Calculating pay and allowances under the current law requires                  
obtaining information from the federal government regarding current            
pay scales and allowance amounts.  This can cause significant delays           
in payment of ANG and NM members.  It is also a labor-intensive                
system involving numerous manual calculations with an unreasonable             
chance for errors.                                                             
                                                                               
This bill simplifies the pay system for state active duty by retaining         
statutory minimum pay, disregarding years of service, and eliminating          
allowances.  Members will simply receive 200 percent of the minimum            
basic pay for a member of an equivalent grade in the active military --        
or the statutory minimum, if greater.  Simplifying the calculation will        
save administrative time and will result in members of the ANG and             
NM receiving their checks in a more timely fashion.                            
                                                                               
The bill also provides that this proposed new pay scale will be used to        
calculate workers' compensation and death benefits for the organized           
militia, which includes the Alaska State Militia as well as the ANG            
and NM.                                                                        
                                                                               
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                       
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"