02/07/2008 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

              HB 317-COMPASSIONATE GIFT EXEMPTION                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of HB 317.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said  HB 317 takes the $250  limit off the                                                               
annual giving  for compassionate  reasons. A  House member  has a                                                               
need that spurred this legislation.  A person can't sell a kidney                                                               
but  one can  be donated.  However, there  are associated  costs,                                                               
including airfare  and medical  procedures. This  amendment "came                                                               
on the  floor to actually  conform to the $250  aggregate limit."                                                               
There  are  safeguards, he  explained.  Every  gift needs  to  be                                                               
reported, and  there is still  some oversight by  the legislative                                                               
counsel. Extraordinary  or wrong gifts  will not be  allowed, but                                                               
the bill allows gifts to legislators who have need.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:07:45 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if "compassionate gift" is defined in law.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL said he wasn't sure.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE said  Section 26 of the Ethics Act  allows gifts to                                                               
a  legislator  or legislative  employee  to  aid or  comfort  the                                                               
recipient or a  family member because of  a catastrophe, tragedy,                                                               
or health related emergency. That  should capture it. She assumes                                                               
that the dollar  level was left out of the  bill because the sale                                                               
of organs is not allowed.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  COGHILL said  under  any  catastrophe, the  state                                                               
wants to allow  some latitude. The safeguards in  place keep this                                                               
"well within accountability measures."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE said  this is a reminder of how  difficult it is to                                                               
find organ and  tissue donors in Alaska. Sadness  and tragedy can                                                               
bring  about awareness.  She has  been told  many stories  in the                                                               
last few weeks of how difficult it is to find a match.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  COGHILL said  he  became an  organ  donor due  to                                                               
Chair McGuire's influence a few years ago.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:10:45 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GREEN  moved  HB  317  from  committee  with  individual                                                               
recommendations  and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There  being  no                                                               
objection, the motion carried.