SB 193-APPROP:STUDY EFFECTS OF PERM FUND DIVIDEND    CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT apologized to committee members for having just a copy of the bill and the sponsor statement in member's packets. SENATOR KELLY, bill sponsor, quoted Senator Stevens saying, "There's nothing that beats a genuine lack of preparedness." He too apologized for the lack of information and attributed it to the speed with which bills are scheduled and moved during the last of the session. SENATOR KELLY stated there is much discussion revolving around the permanent fund dividend, much of which centers on anecdotal evidence that the dividend might be drawing people to the state. The courts have disallowed longer residency requirements but language in the 1990 Lindly v. Malone case allows a study to determine the effects of the permanent fund dividend on the demographics of the state. Depending on the findings, residency requirements could possibly be reconsidered. If the dividend program is drawing individuals that are causing a greater draw on our services than if we did not have the dividend, then the residency issue could possibly be revisited. SENATOR HALFORD joined the meeting. SENATOR KELLY explained that SB 193 authorizes a study to determine what the dividend is doing to the demographics of our state and whether it might be causing a drain on state services. CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for the reason for selecting January 15, 2003, as the date the report would be delivered to the legislature. SENATOR KELLY said there was no reason other than it matched with another study bill. If it could be done sooner he would readily agree because the sooner the information is available the better it is for everyone concerned. Side B CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT said there were no fiscal notes available but the depth of the study and the length of time would impact the size of the notes. Since Senator Kelly is chairman of the finance committee there was no reason to be overly concerned about fiscal notes in this committee. It is a matter of how specific the study will be or the amount of detail that is affordable. SENATOR KELLY added that the Department of Community and Economic Development as well as the Department of Labor and Workforce Development are mentioned in the study and he will also be requesting that the Department of Health and Social Services participate in the study. SENATOR HALFORD asked what costs are envisioned. SENATOR KELLY responded they were discussing $250,000 to $300,000 during the first draft of the gender equity study. [A study authorized during the 2001 session.] CHAIRMAN THERRIAULT asked for questions from committee members and then for on-line or in person testimony. There was no response. He noted the lack of fiscal notes but added that they would be indeterminate at this time anyway. Since Senator Kelly indicated he would like to include another department in the study and the affordability of that would need to be addressed in finance committee, he was prepared to take final action on the bill with the understanding that this would be dealt with in that next committee. SENATOR PHILLIPS moved SB 193 to the next committee of referral. There was no objection.