HB 27-DISPOSITION OF SERVICE MEMBERS' REMAINS  1:04:53 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 27, "An Act relating to the disposition of remains of a member of the military if the member dies while in a duty status." 1:05:01 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for proposed HB 27, Version B, 27-LS0191\B, Bannister, 1/26/11, as the working document. There being no objection, Version B was before the committee. 1:05:34 PM CECILE ELLIOTT, Staff, Representative Bill Thomas, Alaska State Legislature, explained that HB 27, Version B, would close a loophole in statute in order to acknowledge and support the wishes of those who are serving our country. The Department of Defense requires all service members, reservists, and guard members complete a record of emergency data - DD Form 93 or CG2020D - which directs and authorizes the disposition of human remains. Alaska state law does not currently recognize either form, and this ambiguity can add an additional layer of stress to grieving families. Much care and honor is given to a deceased soldier, and CSHB 27 allows for a smooth transition at home and follows the service members' directives. 1:06:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO asked if there is a difference between the terms "armed services" and "armed forces." MS. ELLIOT responded that the term "armed services" was incorporated in the CS to encompass the U. S. Coast Guard (Guard). 1:07:30 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER called attention to a memo found in the committee packet from Representative Thomas that clarifies the changes in the CS regarding the Guard. 1:07:45 PM MARK SAN SOUCI, Regional Liaison for Military Families - Northwest, Defense State Liaison Office, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (DUSD), U.S. Department of Defense, informed the committee this issue has surfaced because military people fill out a federal form that is frequently not aligned with state statutes. He gave an example of a service member, estranged from his wife, who picked his brother to be responsible for his remains if he died. State law, however, defaults the responsibility to the surviving spouse and, after his death, a conflict within the family arose. Corrective measures by other states have been endorsed by the National Funeral Directors Association; in fact, a majority of states already recognize DD Form 93, or are currently considering amendments to their statutes to do so. He noted that the Senate companion bill passed. 1:10:01 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER surmised the CS aligns the House and Senate versions of the bill. 1:10:09 PM MR. SAN SOUCI credited Alaska legislative staff with correcting the omission of the Guard. 1:10:27 PM VERDIE BOWEN, Director, Office of Veteran Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), related that an incident similar to the example given occurred in Alaska, and he opined passage of the proposed legislation would prevent this from happening. 1:11:46 PM RIC DAVIDGE, President, Vietnam Veterans of America, expressed his appreciation to legislative staff for amending the bill to include Guard members. He explained that notifying next of kin can be very difficult; in fact, his organization is sometimes called upon to recognize the passing of a veteran if family members cannot be located. Local funeral homes and the National Cemetery Association are very helpful in these circumstances. Mr. Davidge urged the committee to pass the bill out of committee as soon as possible. 1:13:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE GATTO described a situation in which a soldier's burial wishes were ignored. He said that type of situation would be prevented by the passage of the bill. 1:14:08 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER said he was impressed with the military's efforts to take care of its own. 1:14:22 PM CO-CHAIR SADDLER closed public testimony. 1:14:32 PM CO-CHAIR THOMPSON moved to report the committee substitute for HB 27, Version 27-LS0191\B, Bannister, 1/26/11, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 27(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.