CSHB 536(MLV)-PFUND APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR MILITARY  CHAIR GARY STEVENS announced CSHB 536(MLV) to be up for consideration. JOHN BITTNER, staff to Representative Cheryll Heinze, introduced the bill for the sponsor. He explained that the bill allows Alaskans who are members of the armed services and are serving in war-zone situations extensions on their permanent fund dividend (PFD) application period. As soon as they are out of a war-zone situation, they have 90 days to submit their PFD application. It's also retroactive for two years to cover members of the armed services who were serving in the previous Iraqi war or the war in Afghanistan. CHAIR GARY STEVENS recapped and added that this applies only to those who are under hostile fire or imminent danger pay. MR. BITTNER agreed. SENATOR BERT STEDMAN asked how that is verified. MR. BITTNER said it's a military pay type. SENATOR STEDMAN asked for further clarification. MR. BITTNER said the permanent fund dividend office has had to address the same type of thing when verifying whether or not members of the armed services were in the state for the requisite periods of time. The military has certain forms that members of the armed services have to turn in to prove that they are a resident of Alaska and they were in Alaska for the minimum amount of time necessary. He continued to say that, "In a case like this, [Director] Barton ... has told me that they would require some sort of verification like a pay stub or a military form of that nature." SENATOR STEDMAN asked if this would include people in the military that transferred here, lived here for the requisite time to qualify for the PFD and then transferred off into the battle zone. He questioned, "Would they be able to claim residency in Alaska if they were really from Georgia and collect that dividend?" MR. BITTNER said there are certain requirements for being a member of the state and spending a majority of the time outside the state. He pointed to the absence guidelines for information in the packet. SENATOR STEDMAN said the short answer was no. He then asked how many PFD checks go out to military members that aren't technically Alaska residents; they just apply because they're stationed here. He assumed that military members would apply for residency to collect the dividend. MR. BITTNER said it's possible to do something of that nature, but he didn't have a number to give. He added that the permanent fund has safeguards in place to try to eliminate any abuses. CHAIR GARY STEVENS said there's a bill in the House that would make serious changes to address students and people in the military, but that's not this bill. This bill only deals with an application extension for those under hostile fire or imminent danger. SENATOR JOHN COWDERY asked about leaving the state for medical services. MR. BITTNER replied this bill wouldn't address that situation, but if you're injured while in a war zone there is leeway for the commissioner to extend the application period indefinitely if you can prove reasonable cause. There were no further questions. SENATOR COWDERY motioned to report CSHB 536(MLV) from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.