05/03/2007 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

HB 236-DECEASED VETERAN DEATH CERTIFICATE/HONOR                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:04:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES  announced that  the only item  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO. 236,  "An  Act  relating  to providing  a  death                                                               
certificate for  a deceased veteran  without cost; relating  to a                                                               
program to honor the memory  of a deceased veteran; and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:05:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NANCY MANLY, staff  to Representative Bob Lynn,  presented HB 236                                                               
on  behalf of  Representative Lynn,  sponsor.   She informed  the                                                               
committee that  HB 236 represents  a step  the state can  take to                                                               
demonstrate its  respect for Alaska veterans  and their families.                                                               
The  resolution  directs  that  one copy  of  a  certified  death                                                               
certificate be provided  to the next of kin free  of charge.  The                                                               
bill sends  a signal  that Alaska supports  its troops,  past and                                                               
present, and their families.  Ms.  Manly noted that HB 236 passed                                                               
the  house last  year as  HB 167,  but did  not pass  out of  the                                                               
Senate Standing Committee on Finance.   The bill is modeled after                                                               
the  Presidential Memorial  Certificates  program established  by                                                               
President John F. Kennedy in 1962.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:05:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN CRAMER,  Acting Deputy Commissioner,  Commissioner's Office,                                                               
Department of Military & Veterans  Affairs (DMVA), testified that                                                               
HB  236 provides  a  small but  significant  opportunity for  the                                                               
state to relieve  a portion of the burden  on veterans' families.                                                               
He expressed his support of the bill.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:06:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked whether the  committee was aware of any                                                               
opposition to the bill.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES said no.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:07:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH  moved to  report HB  236, 25-LS0838\A,                                                             
out  of   committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:07:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAWASAKI   objected,  and  moved   Amendment  25-                                                               
LS0838\A.1, Bullard, 5/1/07, which read:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Page 1, line 1:                                                                                                                 
     Delete "cost"                                                                                                            
     Insert "charge"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Page 2, lines 23 - 24:                                                                                                          
     Delete "cost to the individual making the request"                                                                     
     Insert "charge"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:07:57 PM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES called for questions on Amendment 1.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
[Although not formally stated, Chair  Roses objected to Amendment                                                               
1.]                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES informed  the committee that Amendment  1 deletes the                                                               
word "cost" and  replaces it with the word "charge",  and on page                                                               
2, line [23 - 24], it  deletes "cost to the individual making the                                                               
request" and inserts "charge."                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked for the purpose of the amendment.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ROSES  explained  that  the  amendment  will  clarify  the                                                               
language of the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Although not formally stated, Chair  Roses removed his objection                                                               
to Amendment 1.]                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:08:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES announced that there being no further objection,                                                                    
Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI removed his objection to HB 236, as                                                                     
amended.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:08:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ROSES announced that there being no further objection,                                                                    
CSHB 236(MLV) was moved out of the House Special Committee on                                                                   
Military and Veterans' Affairs committee.