2020-02-19                     House Journal                      Page 1648
HB 259                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 259 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act directing the commissioner of revenue to pay dividends                                                             
     to certain eligible individuals; and providing for an effective date."                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 18 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that directs the payment of the                                                          
unpaid amount of the 2019 Permanent Fund dividend. The payment of                                                               
the unpaid amount will be distributed to eligible individuals in 2020.                                                          
An individual is eligible to receive the unpaid amount of the 2019                                                              
Permanent Fund dividend if the individual received a 2019 Permanent                                                             
Fund dividend and is eligible to receive the 2020 Permanent Fund                                                                
dividend.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The Permanent Fund Dividend Program was established in 1980, to                                                                 
allow all Alaskans to benefit directly from Alaska's mineral and                                                                
investment wealth. For years, the Alaska State Legislature, through a                                                           
carefully balanced statutory formula has assured a dividend payment                                                             
that keeps the Permanent Fund on a healthy financial footing, while at                                                          
the same time directly benefitting the mineral owners, Alaskans                                                                 
themselves.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
For the past four years, the statutory calculation of the dividend has                                                          
not been followed. Until such a time that the statutory calculation is                                                          
amended, I intend to follow the law and submit requests to pay the                                                              
unpaid amounts.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

2020-02-19                     House Journal                      Page 1649
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"