2008-07-09                     House Journal                      Page 3200
HB 4003                                                                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 4003 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act making supplemental appropriations to the Alaska                                                                   
     Energy Authority for power cost equalization; making special                                                               
     appropriations to the Department of Revenue and to the                                                                     
     Department of Health and Social Services for the Alaska resource                                                           
     rebate program; making a special appropriation to the Department                                                           
     of Revenue for the payment of certain shared taxes relating to                                                             
     aviation fuel; and providing for an effective date."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Community & Regional                                                                
Affairs and Finance Committees.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated July 8, 2008, follows:                                                                  
                                                                                                                                

2008-07-09                     House Journal                      Page 3201
"Dear Speaker Harris:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
I am transmitting to you a bill designed to provide Alaskans with a                                                             
one-time resource rebate and relief from high energy costs.  The                                                                
appropriation bill totals nearly $821 million and includes the                                                                  
following:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     ƒ$800 million for a one-time payment to eligible individuals                                                              
         through the Alaska Resource Rebate Program and associated                                                              
         administrative costs.  These payments represent a distribution                                                         
         of Alaska's resource wealth to the owners of the resources;                                                            
     ƒ$10.7 million to hold harmless an individual from losing                                                                 
         public assistance payments or veterans' benefits as a result of                                                        
         the resource rebate program;                                                                                           
     ƒ$9.6 million in power cost equalization funds to cover the                                                               
         shortfall in funding for FY2008 and FY2009 due to increased                                                            
         energy costs; and                                                                                                      
     ƒthe amount necessary, estimated at $150,000, to hold harmless                                                            
         municipal-owned airports for the loss of shared taxes due to                                                           
         the suspension of the aviation fuel tax.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Information on these specific requests will be posted on the Office of                                                          
Management and Budget's website and will be transmitted to the                                                                  
Finance Committee co-chairs.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
I look forward to a successful special session that results in helping                                                          
Alaskans with the high cost of energy.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                 Sincerely,                                                                                    
                                /s/                                                                                             
                                Sarah Palin                                                                                    
                                 Governor"