2017-02-01                     House Journal                      Page 0156
employee share of costs, increased deductibles and out-of-pocket                                                                
limits, review and elimination of dependents no longer eligible,                                                                
employee option to decline insurance coverage, limited choice to only                                                           
two plans, and renegotiated pharmacy contracts. Additional costs                                                                
saving measures are in progress. Without this rate increase the Group                                                           
Health and Life Benefits fund is projected to be exhausted by January                                                           
2018. Given recent budget reductions agencies cannot absorb these                                                               
cost increases.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Thank you for your consideration of this bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Bill Walker                                                                                                                     
Governor"                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 96                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 96 by Representative Thompson, entitled:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act amending the calculation of adjusted gross income for                                                               
    purposes of the tax on gambling activities aboard large passenger                                                           
    vessels; repealing a provision allowing an investigation expense                                                            
    under the Alaska Small Loans Act to be in place of a fee required                                                           
    under the Alaska Business License Act; repealing the amount that                                                            
    may be deducted from the tobacco excise tax to cover the expense                                                            
    of accounting and filing for the monthly tax return; repealing the                                                          
    discount on cigarette tax stamps provided as compensation for                                                               
    affixing the stamps to packages; and providing for an effective                                                             
    date."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB 97                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 97 by Representative Thompson, entitled:                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act repealing the insurance tax credit for gifts to the Alaska                                                          
    fire standards council; and providing for an effective date."                                                               
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.