2006-01-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 1896
SB 234                                                                                            
SENATE BILL NO. 234 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                   
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                               
                                                                                                    
              "An Act relating to a community dividend program;                                    
          and providing for an effective date."                                                     
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                               
Committees.                                                                                         
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal information was published today:                                               
 Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Revenue                                                     
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Commerce, Community and                                           
       Economic Development                                                                         
                                                                                                    
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 13:                                                     
                                                                                                    
Dear President Stevens:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill relating to a community dividend program.                                       
                                                                                                    
This bill would establish the community dividend program, under                                     
which several types of grants would be awarded to municipalities for                                
use for specified public services.  The bill provides for appropriation                             
for  the  program  from   amounts  deposited  into  the   Alaska   capital                          

2006-01-13                     Senate Journal                      Page 1897
income fund, established in AS 37.05.565 by ch. 49, SLA 2005.  The                                  
Alaska capital income fund is financed by the earnings on Amerada                                   
Hess settlement deposits to the Alaska Permanent Fund.                                              
                                                                                                    
The bill provides first for a base grant to municipalities, then for an                             
organizational grant to newly organized boroughs.  Any amounts                                      
remaining from a fiscal year's appropriation would be distributed on a                              
pro rata basis to municipalities as a supplemental grant.                                           
                                                                                                    
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
Sincerely yours,                                                                                    
/s/                                                                                                 
Frank H. Murkowski                                                                                  
Governor