Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 106
03/05/2005 09:30 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB127 | |
| HB121 | |
| HB12 | |
| HB114 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 127 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 114 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 127-PFD:PEACE CORPS/DIPLOMAT/SANCTIONS 9:39:49 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the first order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 127, "An Act relating to service in the peace corps and to service as a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service as allowable absences from the state for purposes of eligibility for permanent fund dividends and to the period for filing an application for a permanent fund dividend; authorizing the Department of Revenue to issue administrative orders imposing sanctions for certain misrepresentations or other actions concerning eligibility for a permanent fund dividend and providing for administrative appeal of those orders; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE LYNN declared a conflict of interest. He explained that his son currently works in the Foreign Service. 9:40:40 AM CHAIR SEATON reminded Representative Lynn that the part of the bill pertaining to the Foreign Service was removed at the previous meeting. 9:41:22 AM ELIZABETH CUADRA, Juneau, said she volunteered for the Peace Corps after she retired at the age of 64. She said she worked on agricultural development in Nepal. In the midst of her two- year service, she said, she had the rude shock of having the Alaska legislature "basically withdraw my Alaska citizenship." She added, "It felt like that at least; it was a real kick in the teeth." She was still voting in Alaska during her Peace Corps work, keeping up her vehicle registrations, and paying the mortgage on her Alaska home, and she had every intention of returning to Alaska. She said she received the Alaska permanent fund dividend (PFD) the first year, but then the law was changed to not include the Peace Corps as an allowable absence. She didn't receive her dividend the second year of her volunteer work, nor the year after her return, she added. 9:44:19 AM MS. CUADRA said the Peace Corps is just as valid a service to her country as the National Guard. She listed the health and political dangers of being a Peace Corps volunteer. "If you want to give due honor to the Alaska citizens who leave Alaska temporarily for Foreign Service as Peace Corps volunteers, you should restore the permanent fund dividend to them," she concluded. 9:45:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said he has a lot of respect for her service and wants to see her slide show. REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS said he supports HB 127, and he asked Ms. Cuadra what she did for a living. 9:47:11 AM MS. CUADRA said she was an engineer and a lawyer. She added that the legal basis for maintaining the PFD lies in the principle of one's domicile. 9:48:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said he thinks HB 127 is a good bill, and he asked how many Peace Corps volunteers are from Alaska. MS. CUADRA said she doesn't know, but she has heard that Alaska has had the highest number of volunteers per capita. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN asked what is the difference regarding domicile if a person is a missionary. 9:50:11 AM MS. CUADRA said it is different because Peace Corps volunteers are serving their country; it is an official function of the United States government. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said Ms. Cuadra is a very distinguished member of the Juneau Bar and he appreciates her sacrifice. MS. CUADRA said she did not view going into the Peace Corps as a sacrifice; it was the best decision of her life. 9:50:58 AM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO said that when Ms. Cuadra went into the Peace Corps she had the understanding that she was entitled to receive a PFD. He asked if the state had broken a contract with her. 9:51:45 AM MS. CUADRA answered that she did not view it as a contract. A current legislature cannot bind a future legislature, she said. She said she isn't testifying in order to get the money back, she is testifying to support current and future Peace Corps volunteers. 9:54:03 AM SHARON BARTON, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Department of Revenue, said she is advised by the bill's sponsor that there are about 42 people in the Peace Corps claiming Alaskan residency. REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if she would send those volunteers applications if HB 127 passes. 9:55:06 AM MS. BARTON said she would be happy to do that. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if there are any technical revisions in the law that Ms. Barton would like to see. MS. BARTON said she thinks the bill is clear without any further amendments. 9:55:51 AM CHAIR SEATON said another PFD bill would come before the committee. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if the committee should consider a time extension for Peace Corps volunteers for the current PFD application. 9:56:39 AM MS. BARTON said the bill's effective date is January 1, 2006, so there is no need for an extension unless the committee would want Peace Corps volunteers to be qualified for the 2005 dividend. 9:57:26 AM DON GRAY, Fairbanks, said he was a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s in India, and he will not benefit by HB 127, but he supports it. He said there was a question from an earlier meeting regarding the status of students in the University of Alaska Peace Corps masters international program. He reported that the graduate school six-credit academic year is considered active status; it is not considered full-time status. 9:59:28 AM MR. GRAY said there are many young Alaskans who are contemplating the Peace Corps but are burdened financially. He said leaving the state for two years should not be considered a break in residency for national service volunteers. 10:01:40 AM MARK WENIG, Foreign Service Officer, United States Department of State, said he is assigned to Washington D.C., and he would like the committee to replace foreign service officers as an exemption in HB 127. He said the Senate version still has the provision in its bill. He said that he was a television reporter in Anchorage from 1993-94, and he was accepted into the Foreign Service in 1994. He said he has been living in Ethiopia, Mauritius Island, and Romania. Mr. Wineg said he has spent every home leave in Anchorage, he has voted as an Alaskan for every major election, and he intends to return to Alaska when his Foreign Service career is completed. He expressed that he is a second-class citizen because he does not get the PFD. 10:04:34 AM MR. WINEG noted there are only nine Foreign Service employees that claim Alaska as their residence, so "it can't be about money." He said no one speaks on behalf of [the Foreign Service members]. He gave examples of his work in getting an American citizen out of jail, helping American companies invest overseas, and contributing to developing "a positive opinion of the U.S. among foreign publics." Mr. Wineg thinks this issue is about recognition. He feels that Foreign Service employees make a difference while serving their country in difficult and often dangerous circumstances: "places with bad food, scary highways, and harsh climates." He added that because of the threat of terrorism, "living overseas, these days, carries its own risks." 10:07:26 AM MR. WINEG concluded that he is looking for respect and recognition. CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony. 10:07:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to report HB 127, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 10:08:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS objected in order to address Mr. Wineg's comments. He said that Foreign Service was a tough issue, and he told of his uncle doing charity service outside Alaska, which was also not an allowable absence for a PFD. He said there are many extenuating circumstances, but the committee has a chance of taking care of Peace Corps workers today, and maybe others can be taken care of in different legislation. 10:10:24 AM REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS withdrew his objection. REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said the Foreign Service is part of the government, unlike a private contractor. 10:11:16 AM CHAIR SEATON said that the Foreign Service is a voluntary job with health benefits, and although it is great service to the country, the question the committee is deciding is what would be an allowable absence for the PFD program. 10:11:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said the same thing could be said for the military. CHAIR SEATON noted no further objections; therefore, CSHB 127(STA) was reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
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