Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/08/2001 03:30 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 54-ALASKA VETERANS ADVISORY COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked Mr. Laddie Shaw to testify via
teleconference.
MR. LADDIE SHAW, from the Office of Veterans Affairs, testified
that the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council represents about 63,000
veterans in the state. The council was established by
administrative order in 1996 but it has no permanence unless it is
placed in state statute.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said that the purpose of the council is to look
at policy issues and how the state can better serve veteran needs.
Alaska has the second highest number of veterans per capita of any
state in the nation so putting this into statute not only brings
permanence but also recognizes the importance of veterans'
contributions without replacing Veteran Service Officers, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion
and the Veterans Administration. SB 54 will help the state develop
the policy needed to recognize its veterans. The council would give
recommendations to the Governor and would be a body that would
transcend individual administrations.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said that the chair of the council would also
serve on the Alaska Pioneers' Home Advisory Board thus providing a
link to the next bill to be heard, SB 39.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said that was correct.
SENATOR PHILLIPS asked where the meetings would be held.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said that the group would meet twice annually
and as Senator Phillips had mentioned in a previous conversation,
it is important to change the meeting location each time. Locations
aren't required or restricted but the amount of money required to
send the council members to different locations would vary greatly
depending on the location.
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS asked if the fiscal note needed to be changed to
reflect two meetings per year.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said it was his understanding that the fiscal
note isn't part of the bill itself so the change wasn't necessary.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT told Senator Phillips that they would change
the fiscal note so that it isn't so site specific before moving it
from committee if he preferred.
MS. CAROL CARROLL, who wrote the fiscal note for SB 54, said that
she would be happy to change the fiscal note to reflect two
meetings per year with a rotating location.
LT. COLONEL (RETIRED) PAT CAROTHERS said that under the statute,
the council would meet up to four times per year. In the five years
that the council has been in existence, they have found that face-
to-face meetings are more productive than any other type. They have
been meeting in Anchorage in the fall because the majority of
membership is there. They then meet in Juneau in late January to
coincide with the legislature. In May there is a third meeting and
that is a telephonic meeting.
Number 1465
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked if the council has had its actions
hampered due to its non-permanent status.
LT. COLONEL (RETIRED) CAROTHERS said they'd like this put into
statute because a previous administration abolished the Veterans
Advisory Council and it could happen again in another
administration. When this happens, the voice for veterans suffers a
loss of continuity of effort.
SENATOR PHILLIPS said that meetings in rural Alaska are important
as well. Face to face meetings shouldn't be held in just Anchorage
and Juneau.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said he believes it is valuable for this
organization to have a presence throughout the state and the fiscal
note will be changed to reflect that sentiment.
SENATOR DAVIS asked if rural members were represented in the 20-
member council.
LT. COLONEL (RETIRED) CAROTHERS said that there were rural members
from Kodiak, Kotzebue and Bethel.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said that was a good point, there needs to be
adequate representation throughout the state.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said that there's nothing in the wording of the
bill that specifically speaks to the Pioneer/Veterans Home Advisory
Board.
COMMISSIONER DUNCAN said that SB 55 places a member of the Alaska
Veterans Advisory Council on the Pioneer/Veterans Home Advisory
Board.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES wanted it understood that SB 54 should stand on
its own and not be dependant on action on SB 55.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for any other testimony. He announced
that there was no CS and asked for amendments. There were none.
SENATOR DAVIS made a motion that SB 54 and the rewritten fiscal
note be moved from committee with individual recommendations.
There were no objections.
CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT confirmed that Carol Carroll would rewrite
the fiscal note and that SB 54 would move from committee with the
rewritten note.
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