Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/01/2002 09:49 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 54
"An Act establishing the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council; and
providing for an effective date."
This was the first hearing for this bill in the Senate Finance
Committee.
LADDIE SHAW, Special Assistant, Office of Veteran Affairs,
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, testified this bill
establishes in statute, the Alaska Veterans' Advisory Council. He
noted this organization was created under Administrative Order #164
in 1996.
Mr. Shaw explained this organization assists the Department in
identifying the needs and concerns of veterans in the State of
Alaska, their dependants and survivors, as well as identifying
methods to better address those needs. He detailed the Council's
duties including making recommendations concerning veterans'
priority service, needs, developing public and private partnerships
to meet those needs and providing coordination and information
regarding veterans' benefits and services in the State.
Mr. Shaw stated that the Council consists of 20 members appointed
by the governor. He listed that one or more members are affiliated
with a veterans' organization; one or more members represent a
State agency that manages programs affecting veterans; and one or
more members of the general public "familiar with veterans'
issues". He emphasized that members serve without compensation
beyond per diem and travel expenses.
PAT CAROTHERS, Chair, Alaska Veterans Advisory Council, and
Lieutenant Colonel, US Marine Corps, Retired, testified in support
of establishing the Council in statue. He cautioned that a future
governor could "abolish" this Council and that the efforts of the
past seven years undertaken on behalf of Alaska's veterans would be
"just about down the tube" with the exception of legislation
already adopted.
Lt. Col. Carothers remarked the Council operates on a statewide
basis and he described the process whereby "problems within the
veterans' community" are brought before service officers of the
veterans' organizations and handled on an individual basis. He
noted the Council has representation in each veteran organization
and that each veteran organization has representation on the
Council. Therefore, he informed that many issues are presented to
the Council, and if it is determined that a problem affects more
than the individual, the Council addresses the matter. He explained
the Council makes recommendations and pointed out that most of
these recommendations have been implemented by the appropriate
State agencies. He characterized this process as the Council
serving as "the eyes and ears of the Administration" as well as the
Legislature.
Lt. Col. Carothers asserted the $3,500 cost of this legislation is
minimal. He informed that the Council holds three meetings
annually: one each in Anchorage and Juneau, plus one teleconference
meeting.
Lt. Col. Carothers stressed the importance of an entity to
coordinate veteran service organizations to receive suggestions for
improvement. He remarked, "A healthy veteran community is a good
asset for any legislator to have in his constituency."
Lt. Col. Carothers stressed that the members of the Council would
be "very very disappointed" if this bill did not pass and the
Council were eliminated. He stated the Council is bi-partisan,
assuring that he is "not in the Administration's club" and that he
serves the veterans of Alaska, as do the other Council members.
Senator Wilken was concerned with the assertion that the new
governor would choose to eliminate the Council as it has been in
place since 1996. He asked why the witness surmised this would
occur.
Lt. Col. Carothers informed that Governor Wally Hickel had
abolished the Council when he took office.
Senator Wilken commented that a 20-member Council appears large,
although he did not object if the Council is able to operate with a
budget of $3,500. He commented that the Council could reduce its
membership to ten seats and hold more efficient meetings more
frequently.
Co-Chair Kelly suggested that the governor should appoint ten
members with the remaining ten appointed by the legislature.
Senator Olson commended Lt. Col. Carothers and other members of the
Council for their involvement. He wanted to know the number of
veterans in Alaska.
Lt. Col. Carothers replied that 68,000 veterans reside in Alaska,
which is more per capita than in any other state.
Senator Olson asked the geographical distribution of veterans in
the State.
Mr. Shaw answered that approximately 43 percent of the veterans in
Alaska reside in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley; the second
largest concentration is in Fairbanks, with the remaining 25 to 27
percent living elsewhere in the State.
Senator Olson commented, "It sounds like a very good bill Mr.
Chairman."
Co-Chair Kelly asked if the witnesses would object to amending the
legislation to provide that five Council members are appointed by
the President of the Senate, five by the Speaker of the House and
ten by the governor.
Amendment #1: This conceptual amendment provides that appointment
of the 20 Council members shall be determined by the following
entities: governor, ten seats; Senate leadership, five seats; House
of Representatives leadership, five seats. This amendment also
provides this change takes effect as the Council members' current
terms expire.
Senator Leman moved for adoption.
Senator Ward clarified this would not impact current Council
memberships.
The amendment was ADOPTED without objection.
Senator Hoffman asked the percentage of rural members serving on
the Council.
Mr. Carothers responded that approximately one-third of the
membership reside in Bethel, and other small communities.
Co-Chair Kelly thanked the witnesses and those members of the
public for their service in combat.
Senator Hoffman asked how the appointment of the Council positions
would be rotated.
Co-Chair Kelly suggested the next vacancy could be filled by an
appointee of the governor, the second vacancy by the Senate and the
third vacancy by the House of Representatives, with the process
repeating in this manner for subsequent vacancies.
Senator Leman agreed to this process.
Mr. Shaw stated this method is possible. He pointed out that
currently appointments are made based on the recommendations of
local veterans organizations. He assumed this process could
continue regardless of the appointing authority.
Co-Chair Kelly surmised that the rotation of appointing authority
would assure fair consideration of the veteran organizations'
recommendations.
Co-Chair Kelly suggested the amendment should be conceptual to
allow the drafter to conform the language to the intent of the
Committee.
Amendment #2: This conceptual amendment provides that the first
vacant seat would be filled by appointment of the governor, the
second vacant seat would be filled by appointment of the Senate
leadership, the third vacant seat would be filled by appointment of
the House of Representatives leadership, and subsequent vacancies
would be filled in this rotating order.
Senator Leman moved for adoption of this conceptual amendment to
accommodate the Committee's intent to provide fair distribution of
Council membership.
There was no objection and the amendment was ADOPTED.
Senator Ward offered a motion to "move Senate Bill number 54
amended out of Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying note."
Without objection, CS SB 54 (FIN) with accompanying $3,500 fiscal
note #2 from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs dated
2/9/02, MOVED from Committee.
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