2008-07-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 3146
SB 4003                                                                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 4003 BY THE SENATE 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 Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated July 8:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Green:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
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:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2008-07-09                     Senate Journal                      Page 3147
     · $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;                                                           
     · $10.7 million to hold harmless an individual from losing                                                                 
          public assistance payments or veterans' benefits as a result of                                                       
          the resource rebate program;                                                                                          
     · $9.6 million in power cost equalization funds to cover the                                                               
          shortfall in funding for FY2008 and FY2009 due to increased                                                           
          energy costs; and                                                                                                     
     · the 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