Legislature(2005 - 2006)BUTROVICH 205
02/14/2006 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB290 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 274 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 290 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 290-LIFE INSURANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD
3:37:30 PM
CHAIR GENE THERRIAULT announced SB 290 to be up for
consideration.
JOSH TEMPEL, Staff to Senator Huggins, named the four brave
National Guard members who lost their lives in a helicopter
crash in Iraq on January 7, 2006 as the introduction of SB 290.
He stated that the bill demonstrates support for our National
Guard troops by adding a new section to AS 26.05, which would
reimburse National Guard soldiers for the $27 per month life
insurance premiums while they are serving in a combat zone,
retroactive to January 1, 2006.
CHAIR THERRIAULT explained that Section 1 sets up the fund to
hold appropriations and subject to subsection (c), the funds
would be available for the commissioner of the Department of
Revenue to pay the premiums if the National Guard member submits
for reimbursement.
He read subsection (d) on page 2, lines 5 and 6 and asked if the
language was included to keep the funds from being swept into
the CBR at the end of the year.
JOHN CRAMER, Administrative Service Director, Department of
Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), explained that the language
refers to the fact that once the appropriation is made, it's
there to be utilized as intended in the appropriation. To get
the fund up and running, money must be placed in the fund.
CHAIR THERRIAULT responded he's mindful of the sweep provision
of the CBR, which is that at the end of each fiscal year, every
dollar that's "available" - according to the court's
interpretation - is automatically swept into the CBR. There's a
way to establish a fund so that the surplus doesn't get swept
and he asked if subsection (d) gets to that specifically so the
fund wouldn't be subject to the annual sweep.
MR. CRAMER said he thought that is the case.
SENATOR HUGGINS remarked he would prefer that the money not be
subject to the sweep provision.
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted that only those soldiers in active combat
would be subject to the premium reimbursement. He then asked why
the fiscal note extends just two years.
MR. CRAMER replied because it's unclear whether or not there
will be deployments beyond two years.
3:45:04 PM
SENATOR ELTON asked what the fiscal note would be if the
effective date were January 1, 2005. That change would provide
reimbursement for soldiers who were deployed and had returned.
MR. CRAMER responded it would make an additional 300 soldiers
eligible for the reimbursement.
SENATOR ELTON asked if the expectation is that 700 soldiers
would be deployed in 2006.
MR. CRAMER answered deployment of between 700 and 1000 soldiers
is anticipated this year.
SENATOR ELTON suggested that the committee make the bill
retroactive to January 1, 2005 so that all the Alaska National
Guard members who have been and will be deployed would benefit
from the program.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he wouldn't object if the numbers work. He
then explained that a reimbursement program would be far easier
to administer than any other method.
CHAIR THERRIAULT asked if the life insurance is mandatory and
how the premium is paid.
MR. CRAMER replied the insurance is optional and the premium is
automatically deducted from the paychecks.
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted that makes it easy to verify that
premiums had been paid.
SENATOR ELTON asked about the notion of establishing a deadline
for applying for the reimbursement.
MR. CRAMER replied that had been considered and the decision was
to place constraints in regulation rather than in the bill.
SENATOR ELTON said there could be an ongoing liability.
SENATOR HUGGINS responded he'd like the constraints to be made
through regulation.
CHAIR THERRIAULT asked if there might be more potential for
challenges if the cutoff dates were in regulation rather than in
the bill.
MR. CRAMER agreed that could happen, but if the regulations were
implemented right away those being deployed would have the
information before leaving so opportunity for challenges and
misunderstandings would be greatly reduced.
SENATOR HUGGINS advised that this information could be part of
the pre deployment packets.
3:52:36 PM
MR. CRAMER advised that the Department of Fish and Game wanted
to honor National Guard members by offering them a hunting and
fishing license free of charge and that idea might be merged
with SB 290.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he'd like the bill to be held over so he
could thoroughly review the idea.
CHAIR THERRIAULT noted it wouldn't greatly impact the ADF&G
budget.
MR. CRAMER reported that the cost of a combination hunting and
fishing license is $46 and the department estimated that the
impact would be in the neighborhood of $5,000.
CHAIR THERRIAULT said he didn't have any problem giving
consideration to merging the bills. Holding the bill would
provide opportunity for staff to check on the sweep language and
to learn whether or not there might be problems associated with
a cut off date if it isn't mentioned in statute.
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced he would hold SB 290.
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