02/26/2001 09:05 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 64(HES)                                                                                             
     "An Act relating to the award of a high school diploma to                                                                  
     certain World War II veterans."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CAROL CARROLL,  Director, Division  of Support Services,  Department                                                            
of Natural  Resources and Military  and Veterans Affairs,  explained                                                            
that SB  64 would recognize  that many 17  year olds left school  to                                                            
join the United States  armed forces or the Alaska Territorial Guard                                                            
in order  to fight  in a war that  threatened  the stability  of the                                                            
world.  When they returned  home, many did not return to high school                                                            
and did not receive a high school diploma.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
In order  to recognize their  service to  this country, many  states                                                            
have joined  together to  pass legislation  similar to the  proposed                                                            
bill in  an effort named  "Operation Recognition".   She added  that                                                            
there  are  less  than 150  veterans  that  would  fall  within  the                                                            
guidelines  of the bill and  that veterans  or their families  would                                                            
need to apply to the Department of Education for the diploma.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green  moved to  adopt the work  draft, #22-GS1011\J,  Ford,                                                            
2/15/01,  as the version  of the bill before  the Committee.   There                                                            
being no objection, it was ADOPTED.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Austerman asked why the bill was brought forward.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Carroll  stated  that  it  was  a  nationwide   program  called                                                            
"Operation Recognition".                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman  suggested that this  could "open up a can  of worms".                                                            
He proposed it be limited  to those that left high school to work as                                                            
a civilian for the armed forces.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Carroll replied that  did not come up during discussions or with                                                            
legislation  in the  other states.  Many other  states have  adopted                                                            
similar legislation.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman  reiterated that there  were some Alaskans  who worked                                                            
on various jobs  in a civilian position, supporting  the war effort.                                                            
He added that he did not  want to hold the bill up in Senate Finance                                                            
Committee  but requested that  be considered  before it goes  to the                                                            
Senate Floor.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ward mentioned that he was a member of the Veterans of                                                                  
Foreign Wars (VFW) and that there had been discussions about not                                                                
broadening the language at this time.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green moved to report CS SB 64(FIN) out of Committee with                                                               
individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note.                                                               
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CS SB 64 (FIN) MOVED from Committee with a "do pass" recommendation                                                             
and fiscal note #1 by Department of Education & Early Development.