Legislature(2007 - 2008)
03/25/2008 02:30 PM House MLV
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB383 | |
| SCR18 | |
| HB405 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 25, 2008
2:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Roses, Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Jay Ramras
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 383
"An Act establishing an exemption from the dentist licensing
exam for certain persons."
- MOVED HB 383 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
Awarding the Alaska Decoration of Honor to certain members of
the military.
- MOVED SCR 18 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 405
"An Act relating to forgiveness of a percentage of student loans
for a member of the armed forces deployed since 2001."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 383
SHORT TITLE: DENTIST LICENSE EXAM EXCEPTION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) COGHILL
02/19/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/08 (H) MLV, L&C
03/18/08 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/18/08 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/25/08 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SCR 18
SHORT TITLE: DECORATION OF HONOR
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
02/19/08 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/08 (S) HELD ON SECRETARY'S DESK
02/20/08 (S) TAKEN UP
02/21/08 (S) TAKEN UP
02/21/08 (S) BEFORE THE SENATE ON FINAL PASSAGE
02/21/08 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
02/21/08 (S) VERSION: SCR 18 AM
02/29/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/29/08 (H) MLV
03/25/08 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 405
SHORT TITLE: STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MILITARY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRAWFORD
02/19/08 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/08 (H) MLV, HES, FIN
03/18/08 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
03/18/08 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/25/08 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
KAREN LIDSTER, Staff
to Representative John Coghill
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 383 on behalf of
Representative John Coghill, sponsor.
DAVE EICHLER, D.D.S.; President
Alaska State Board of Dental Examiners
North Pole, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Speaking as an individual, testified in
support of HB 383.
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SCR 18, as the sponsor.
CHRIS BIRDSALL, Intern
to Representative Harry Crawford
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 405 on behalf of
Representative Harry Crawford, sponsor.
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director
Postsecondary Education Commission
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 405.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BOB ROSES called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 2:30:07 PM.
Representatives Ramras, Dahlstrom, LeDoux, and Roses were
present at the call to order. Representative Kawasaki arrived
as the meeting was in progress.
HB 383-DENTIST LICENSE EXAM EXCEPTION
2:30:35 PM
CHAIR ROSES announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 383, "An Act establishing an exemption from the
dentist licensing exam for certain persons."
2:30:52 PM
KAREN LIDSTER, Staff to Representative John Coghill, Alaska
State Legislature, introduced HB 383 on behalf of Representative
John Coghill, sponsor. She informed the committee that the bill
is a small change in existing statute in order to capture the
talent and expertise of military dentists who serve in command
positions. Ms. Lidster indicated that the bill has the support
of the state Board of Dental Examiners, the Alaska Dental
Society, and the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs
(DMVA). She explained that it is in the state's interest to
allow the exchange of 20 hours of active clinical practice to be
exchanged for military service in a full-time supervisory
position.
2:32:08 PM
DAVE EICHLER, D.D.S.; President, Alaska State Board of Dental
Examiners, informed the committee that he was testifying as an
individual. He stated that he personally pursued this
legislation to correct an oversight in statute. He gave an
example of a highly qualified dentist, in a command position in
the armed services, who did not qualify for licensure under the
existing statute.
2:33:56 PM
CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony.
2:34:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM expressed her support for the bill.
2:34:28 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS thanked Dr. Eichler for his testimony.
2:35:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HB 383, Version A, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 383 was
reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and
Veterans' Affairs.
SCR 18-DECORATION OF HONOR
2:35:29 PM
CHAIR ROSES announced that the next order of business would be
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18, Awarding the Alaska
Decoration of Honor to certain members of the military.
2:35:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM stated that this is an issue on which
many House members have been working for the past 18 months.
The Alaska Decoration of Honor will be awarded to those who have
given the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country.
Representative Dahlstrom opined that this award is the least
that Alaska can do to thank the veterans' families and she
expressed her interest in planning the first ceremony for the
presentation of the coins and boxes.
2:37:09 PM
CHAIR ROSES added that SCR 18 outlines the presentation and
lists the recipients of an award that was established last year.
He noted that the list of names is incomplete and recipients can
be added as they become known.
2:37:47 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, introduced
SCR 18, as the sponsor. He stated that the resolution is a
follow up to previously passed legislation, HB 244, and that the
resolution lists the names of those who will receive the Alaska
Decoration of Honor.
2:38:47 PM
CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony.
2:39:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report SCR 18, Version C.A,
out of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SCR 18 was
reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and
Veterans' Affairs.
2:39:31 PM
CHAIR ROSES expressed his belief that the committee members, and
others, are very appreciative of this legislation.
2:39:51 PM
HB 405-STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR MILITARY
2:40:03 PM
CHAIR ROSES announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 405, "An Act relating to forgiveness of a
percentage of student loans for a member of the armed forces
deployed since 2001."
2:40:11 PM
CHRIS BIRDSALL, Intern to Representative Harry Crawford, Alaska
State Legislature, introduced HB 405 on behalf of Representative
Crawford, sponsor. He stated that this bill will provide a 50
percent Alaska student loan forgiveness to residents who have
served in the armed forces since 2001, and have been deployed to
Iraq or Afghanistan. This legislation is a way for the state to
recognize the sacrifices made by veterans, and it will ease
their re-entry into civilian life by reducing the financial
burden of college.
2:41:25 PM
DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Postsecondary Education
Commission, Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED), clarified that the bill provides for 50 percent
forgiveness of any loan made by the Alaska Postsecondary
Education Commission, including those administered by the
commission for the state supplemental loan program and the
federal family education loan program.
2:42:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked whether the state would be
responsible for repayment of $10,000 per loan to the federal
loan program, on behalf of the servicemen.
2:42:36 PM
MS. BARRANS explained that the lender is the Alaska Student Loan
Corporation, and the federal government simply guarantees
repayment of the loan in the event of default.
2:43:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS asked for the fiscal note attached to the
bill. He then pointed out that there are armed service members
who are unable to collect a permanent fund dividend (PFD) during
their deployment and that the legislature has not taken the
steps to resolve this situation. Representative Ramras
expressed his hope that there will be testimony from the state
and legal resources to address the question of resident status.
He urged the committee to take into consideration the
resistance, by standing committees and the legislature as a
whole, to the establishment of resident status for deployed
service members in order to qualify for the PFD. He noted his
personal support for the payment of PFDs to deployed service
members.
2:45:48 PM
MS. BARRANS explained that the fiscal note was determined by
identifying borrowers who had qualified for the 2007 PFD, and
who had received a military deferment or forbearance on student
loan payments. She clarified that the $1.1 million cost is the
immediate entitlement forgiveness, and future costs are
indeterminate.
2:46:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked whether there are any other areas of
danger to which Alaska service members have been deployed.
2:47:37 PM
MR. BIRDSALL said that he did not know. He opined that the
intent is to reward all of those who are serving in areas of
danger.
2:47:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX stated that, in the bill, loan forgiveness
is limited to those who have been deployed to Iraq and
Afghanistan.
2:48:23 PM
MR. BIRDSALL acknowledged that the bill began with those who
have served in Iraq; however, the sponsor does not oppose the
expansion of the program to other troops.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM stated her agreement with the intent of
the bill. She supported the point made by Representative LeDoux
to include others who are serving under dangerous conditions.
She suggested changing the language in HB 405 to encompass all
who are serving.
2:50:27 PM
CHAIR ROSES noted the lack of sufficient time to consider this
important issue. He indicated his intent to reschedule the
bill, hear further testimony, and address the concerns of
committee members.
2:51:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS stated that he represents Ft. Wainwright,
and that there is no greater source of pride. He pointed out
that there are Alaska National Guard troops who are in no less
danger. The complexity of the bill warrants further discussion,
perhaps by Representative Kawasaki, who is a co-sponsor.
2:52:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI agreed that there are questions about
the bill. For example, how to determine whether a borrower is
stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, rather than on a brief
assignment.
2:53:45 PM
CHAIR ROSES encouraged the bill's sponsors to make improvements
to be heard at later hearing.
2:53:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAMRAS stressed that there are many more pieces
to this legislation when the loss of life of other service
members, such as the Coast Guard, is considered.
2:54:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM encouraged the sponsor to add a policy
for those who default in their student loans, previous to their
application for forgiveness.
2:55:40 PM
CHAIR ROSES explained that there could be a deliberate action to
avoid payment prior to deployment.
2:56:01 PM
MS. BARRANS advised the committee that the period of time that
an applicant could apply for forgiveness is not specified in the
bill; in fact, there is no authorization for the Postsecondary
Education Commission to write regulations and define the terms
and conditions of the program.
2:56:50 PM
CHAIR ROSES stated his support for further discussion by Ms.
Barrans and the sponsor of HB 405.
2:57:07 PM
CHAIR ROSES announced that HB 405 would be held in committee
with public testimony open.
2:57:33 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 2:57 p.m.
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