Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 366 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 332 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 226 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 44(FIN)
"An Act relating to information from veterans on the
permanent fund dividend application form."
4:30:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBURG, Sponsor, presented an
overview of bill. This bill would instruct the Permanent
Fund to put a question on the dividend application to find
out if the applicant is a veteran. This list of veterans
would go to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
and to a service organization for outreach for the purpose
of informing veterans about earned benefits. This
information could not be used for anything political.
Representative Guttenberg explained that about $2 billion a
year in benefits is provided for veterans, but only 20
percent actually receive benefits. The bill would allow
service groups to reach out and notify veterans of eligible
benefits.
4:32:13 PM
Senator Thomas inquired if there would be an explanation on
the form. Representative Guttenberg said there would be
information included on the form saying that disclosure is
voluntary and an opportunity to sign up for benefits.
4:33:17 PM
Senator Huggins asked what Military and Veterans Affairs
would do with the information. Representative Guttenberg
replied that congressionally chartered veterans
organizations would send mailings out to veterans.
Senator Huggins stated that DMVA presently gets 214's. He
asked what they can do with those. Representative
Guttenberg said that the reason the PFD is the vehicle is
because it has the most current address. He did not know
about the 214's.
4:34:26 PM
Senator Elton, speaking as a vet, said he did not want junk
mail or lots of unwanted mail. He wondered if there were
restrictions to prevent the organizations from selling the
list. Representative Guttenberg said that was a topic of
discussion in the House. The department and the
organizations have confidentiality rules in place. It would
be a violation of the law to sell the lists.
Senator Elton concluded that there are provisions that would
prevent the organizations from selling the list.
Representative Guttenberg said that was his understanding
also.
4:36:05 PM
MAURICE BAILEY, PRESIDENT, VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA,
MATSU, testified in support of the bill. He spoke of
organizing an Aviation Outreach Program to find veterans in
Alaska in order to get health care and other benefit
information to them. The program also supplies American
flags to villages for burial services. Most of the veterans
do not know how to get the forms they need because they are
not tracked after active duty. He shared a personal story.
4:40:49 PM
Senator Huggins commented on military organizations such as
Veteran Service Officers who provide information to
veterans. He said he was proud of these organizations for
reaching out to veterans.
Representative Guttenberg agreed with Senator Huggins. He
pointed out that a lot of people get lost in the system. He
shared a personal story about his father who was a veteran.
4:43:05 PM
Senator Elton spoke of his experience with the G.I. Bill
paying for his schooling. He liked the idea that it would
be voluntary to use the Permanent Fund to find out about
benefits. He said he would not like it if it was required.
4:44:08 PM
CSHB 44(FIN) was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
AT EASE: 4:44:21 PM
RECONVENED: 4:46:09 PM
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