Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/03/1997 03:35 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 143 EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL CHAIRMAN GREEN brought SB 143 before the committee as the next ordered of business. TIM BENINTENDI, staff to Chairman Kelly of the Senate Rules Committee who sponsored the legislation, explained SB 143 would simply make some refinements in the Alaska National Guard tuition assistance program. This program is modestly funded, but it is a tool that the Adjutant General can use for improving skill levels among personnel, in response to the emerging needs of the National Guard. SB 143 will strengthen the Guard's recruitment and retention goals, and give more discretion to the Adjutant General for applying educational benefits to the organization's most pressing needs. It will also afford enlisted personnel college and other schooling opportunities necessary for entry in the officer corps should enlisted Guard members pursue that career path. Mr. Benintendi provided the following sectional analysis on SB 143: - In Section 1, active enlisted personnel are targeted as the group made eligible for educational assistance in Alaska educational facilities. Retirees and former members of the Alaska Territorial Guard are excluded from eligibility in order to emphasize the DMVA recruitment and retention objectives. Funds are simply not available for a broader range program. - Section 2 provides that recipients of educational benefits be students in good standing in the program or class undertaken. - Section 3 gives the Adjutant General the latitude to authorize payment levels up to 100 percent for tuition and required fees at institutions in Alaska. It also allows the AG to prioritize categories of educational benefits to support vital recruitment and retention objectives. - Section 4 defines a student in good standing for purposes of the program. - Section 5 repeals the noted statute references as unnecessary. The first removes the provision for calculating retirees' eligibility, the second removes the ineligibility for benefits under more than one program, and the third removes the ineligibility if the members is qualified for federal benefits. Number 355 CAROL CARROLL, Director, Administrative Services Division, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, said the department believes the legislation will allow the Adjutant General to use an existing program to better advantage. She noted there are approximately 400 Guard members that are lost to attrition every year and they have to fill those spaces. Ms. Carroll said there is more of an emphasis now by both the Army and the National Guard on education, and there is difficulty in retaining Native officers. The department believes they can use this program to fashion an educational program for Native officers so that they can retain them in the Guard. Ms. Carroll related that currently there is only $28,500 in the tuition assistance program, however, last year they didn't use $6,800 of it, and by being able to target this in a more effective way they will be able to use it as the Adjutant General would like. Number 380 DON MERCER, representing the Alaska National Guard testified in support of SB 143. He clarified that to be promoted to the rank of major, it requires a BA, but in order to go to OCS and become a commissioned officer, it does not require a degree at that time. He said the legislation will allow the Guard to recruit new members and these new recruits will be able to enhance their careers by being offered the educational opportunities. Number 400 There being no further testimony on SB 143, CHAIRMAN GREEN asked for the will of the committee. SENATOR WARD moved SB 143 and the accompanying zero fiscal note be passed out of committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
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