03/21/1994 01:40 PM House FIN

  HB 364    An  Act relating  to  allowable absences  from the                 
            state for  purposes of  eligibility for  permanent                 
            fund  dividends; and  providing  for an  effective                 
            date.                                                              
                                                                               
            HB   364  was  HELD   in  Committee   for  further                 
            consideration.                                                     
                                                                               
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  HOUSE BILL 364                                                               
                                                                               
       "An Act relating  to allowable absences from  the state                 
       for  purposes   of  eligibility   for  permanent   fund                 
       dividends; and providing for an effective date."                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell advised  that  the subcommittee  had                 
  addressed concerns of expanding the number of recipients for                 
  the permanent fund dividend.  He stressed that the  original                 
  intention of the fund  was to encourage persons to  maintain                 
  their  residence in  the State  and to  reduce a  population                 
  turnover.                                                                    
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell   MOVED  to  adopt  work  draft  #8-                 
  LS1378\0,  Cook,  3/14/94  which  would  explain  "allowable                 
  absences"   as    the   version   before    the   Committee.                 
  Representative  Martin OBJECTED  for purposes  of discussion                 
  and stated that the Public Health Service Corp should not be                 
  given a special dispensation.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative Martin MOVED to delete to  Page 2, Lines 28 -                 
  29,  Section  (I).    Representative  Martin   WITHDREW  HIS                 
  OBJECTION on  the motion  to adopt  the work  draft.   There                 
  being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                          
                                                                               
  (Tape Change, HFC 94-74, Side 1).                                            
                                                                               
  THOMAS   WILLIAMS,   DIRECTOR,   PERMANENT  FUND   DIVISION,                 
  DEPARTMENT  OF  REVENUE, stated  that  the number  of Alaska                 
  Public Health Service officers  claiming Alaska residence is                 
                                                                               
                                7                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  296,  and that  the number  of individuals  living  in other                 
  states  claiming  Alaska residency  is  200, which  does not                 
  include spouses and children.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative   Brown   advised   that   determination   of                 
  exemptions  should  be  fair.    Discussion  followed  among                 
  Committee members regarding the differences between merchant                 
  marines and the public health service corp.                                  
                                                                               
  A roll call vote was taken  on the MOTION to delete  Section                 
                                                                               
       IN FAVOR:      Hanley,  Hoffman,  Martin,   Therriault,                 
                      Grussendorf, MacLean, Larson.                            
       OPPOSED:       Parnell, Navarre, Brown, Foster.                         
                                                                               
  The MOTION PASSED (7-4).                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault MOVED to delete Section 2, Page 2,                 
  Lines 9-27.  Representative Martin OBJECTED.                                 
                                                                               
  A roll call vote was taken on the MOTION.                                    
                                                                               
       IN FAVOR:      Hoffman, Therriault, Brown, Grussendorf,                 
                      Hanley, Larson.                                          
       OPPOSED:       Martin,   Navarre,    Parnell,   Foster,                 
                      MacLean.                                                 
                                                                               
  The MOTION PASSED (6-5).                                                     
                                                                               
  Representative Therriault MOVED  a title  change to HB  364,                 
  Page 1,  Lines 2-3, deleting "and to allowable absences from                 
  the  state  for  purposes of  eligibility  for  dividends;".                 
  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                    
                                                                               
  Mr. Williams stated that adoption of  Section 1 would have a                 
  minimal amount of  change except  for those individuals  who                 
  were gone longer  than 180 days per  year.  An out  of state                 
  college student would be required to come back to Alaska for                 
  the summer in order to continue to qualify for the permanent                 
  fund  dividend.  Discussion followed among Committee members                 
  regarding college student's permanent fund dividends.                        
                                                                               
  Representative  Parnell  stated that  there  are a  group of                 
  people in the State who are gone more than 180 days per year                 
  on  State  business.   He  MOVED a  conceptual  amendment to                 
  exempt a category of persons from Section 1.                                 
                                                                               
       1.   Those  who  are  serving the  U.S.  Congress  as a                 
            representative or senator for the State of Alaska.                 
                                                                               
       2.   Those serving on the staff  of a representative or                 
                                                                               
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  senator        from Alaska.                                                  
                                                                               
       3.   Those  serving  as  an employee  of  the  State of                 
  Alaska         including employment in a field office.                       
                                                                               
  Following  discussion  regarding  fully  allowable  absences                 
  Representative Parnell WITHDREW THE MOTION.   There being NO                 
  OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                
                                                                               
  HB 364 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.