2024-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 1589
SB 223                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 223 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
             "An Act relating to the appointment of an assistant                                                               
           adjutant general; and providing for an effective date."                                                             
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Judiciary                                                         
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
        Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Military and Veterans’                                                          
          Affairs                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                

2024-02-12                     Senate Journal                      Page 1590
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 8:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to staff qualifications for                                                     
the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This bill makes changes to language prohibiting the adjutant general of                                                         
the Alaska National Guard from making an initial appointment of an                                                              
assistant adjutant general if the appointee does not have at least five                                                         
years of experience in either the Alaska Army National Guard or                                                                 
Alaska Air National Guard. The adjutant general is instead granted                                                              
discretionary authority to give preference to a person with at least five                                                       
years of experience in either the Alaska Army National Guard or                                                                 
Alaska Air National Guard when making an appointment to assistant                                                               
adjutant general. This change provides the adjutant general with                                                                
greater flexibility when making high-level appointments and aligns                                                              
with the governor’s statutory discretion to give preference to a person                                                         
with at least five years of service in the Alaska Army National Guard                                                           
or Alaska Air National Guard when appointing the adjutant general.                                                              
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor