Legislature(1999 - 2000)
2000-02-02 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2000-02-02 Senate Journal Page 2159 SB 237 SENATE BILL NO. 237 BY THE SENATE 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 State Affairs and Finance Committees. 2000-02-02 Senate Journal Page 2160 SB 237 Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Governors transmittal letter dated February 1: Dear President Pearce: When members of the Alaska National Guard and Alaska Naval Militia are called to active service for the state, it's important they be 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. 2000-02-02 Senate Journal Page 2161 SB 237 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