2021-02-18                     House Journal                      Page 0155
HB 97                                                                                                                         
HOUSE BILL NO. 97 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                    
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         

2021-02-18                     House Journal                      Page 0156
     "An Act relating to the veterans' land purchase discount;                                                                  
     establishing state land vouchers; relating to the permanent fund                                                           
     dividend; relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue;                                                             
     authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to accept state                                                            
     land vouchers; relating to eligibility for public assistance; and                                                          
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on                                                          
Military & Veterans' Affairs and the Resources and Finance                                                                      
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Indeterminate, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                   
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Health & Social Services                                                                                   
3.  Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 11 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Stutes:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that creates an option for                                                               
Alaskans to choose to receive a voucher toward the purchase of State                                                            
land in lieu of a cash permanent fund dividend payment.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The voucher, issued by the Department of Revenue, would have a                                                                  
value set at twice the amount of the dividend as calculated by the                                                              
statutory dividend formula. Dividend land vouchers do not expire, are                                                           
transferable to another person, and can be used as payment for land                                                             
sales contracts on or after the effective date of this bill. Vouchers may                                                       
be combined with other vouchers or used individually, to purchase                                                               
land offered for sale by the Department of Natural Resources. The                                                               
vouchers may also be used in combination with the veterans’ land                                                                
purchase price discount or separately towards restricted land sale                                                              
purchases.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Dividend vouchers are considered income or financial resources in                                                               
determining eligibility for public assistance or state programs. If an                                                          
individual who selects to receive a voucher over a cash dividend, is the                                                        

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subject to a writ of garnishment, or other debt collection, a creditor                                                          
may lay claim against the voucher up to the amount of that year’s cash                                                          
dividend.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The Department of Revenue will annually report the number and value                                                             
of vouchers issued and the Department of Natural Resources will                                                                 
report the number and value of vouchers accepted for land sales.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
In order to help Alaskans maximize the value of the annual dividend,                                                            
to encourage economic development in our state, and to move more                                                                
public land into private ownership, I urge your prompt and favorable                                                            
action on this measure.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"