02/03/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 13                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act providing for the waiver of certain fees and                                                                       
     charges in state parks for disabled veterans."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Hoffman  MOVED   to   ADOPT  proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for  SB  13, Work  Draft  27-LS0097\B  (Bullock,                                                                    
1/31/12).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for  discussion. He explained that                                                                    
at the sponsor's request the  word "resident" had been added                                                                    
on  page 3,  line  4 to  clarify that  the  fee waivers  and                                                                    
reductions would  only apply to  disabled veterans  who were                                                                    
residents of Alaska.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, Work Draft 27-LS0097\B was ADOPTED.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH, SPONSOR,  explained that the bill was                                                                    
designed to  make Alaska  parks and  recreational facilities                                                                    
more  accessible  to  disabled  veterans.  Cabins  would  be                                                                    
available to veterans  at 50 percent of the normal  fee as a                                                                    
complete  elimination   of  the  fee   presented  logistical                                                                    
difficulties.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   pointed  to  Fiscal  Note   1  from  the                                                                    
Department  of Natural  Resources that  requested a  $10,000                                                                    
general  fund  appropriation  to cover  program  costs.  The                                                                    
governor's FY  13 budget request  also included  $206,000 in                                                                    
funds; the  two funding sources would  cover the anticipated                                                                    
revenue losses.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  13(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 13(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with previously published  fiscal impact                                                                    
note: FN1 (DNR).