2009-01-28                     House Journal                      Page 0100
HB 92                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 92 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to certain investments of the Alaska permanent                                                            
     fund, the state's retirement systems, the State of Alaska                                                                  
     Supplemental Annuity Plan, and the deferred compensation                                                                   
     program for state employees in companies that do business in                                                               
     Sudan, and restricting those investments; and providing for an                                                             
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Zero, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                      
2.  Zero, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 23, 2009, follows:                                                              
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Chenault:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to certain investments of                                                       
the Alaska permanent fund, the state's retirement systems, the State of                                                         
Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan, and the deferred compensation                                                                 
program for state employees in companies that do business in Sudan,                                                             
and restricting those investments.  This bill requires the fiduciaries of                                                       
state investment funds to divest of investments in publicly traded                                                              
companies that conduct business operations or have direct investments                                                           
in business operations in Sudan, as defined by the federal Sudan                                                                
Divestment and Accountability Act of 2007, P.L. 110-174.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
On September 21, 2004, addressing the United Nations General                                                                    
Assembly, President George W. Bush stated, "[A]t this hour, the world                                                           
is witnessing terrible suffering and horrible crimes in the Darfur region                                                       
of Sudan, crimes my government has concluded are genocide." On                                                                  
September 25, 2006, Congress reaffirmed that "the genocide unfolding                                                            
in the Darfur region of Sudan is characterized by acts of terrorism and