HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS March 17, 1993 5:00 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Rep. Eldon Mulder, Co-Chairman Rep. Richard Foster, Co-Chairman Rep. Pete Kott Rep. Mike Navarre Rep. Ed Willis MEMBERS ABSENT Rep. Mike Navarre COMMITTEE CALENDAR *HB 175: "An Act making an appropriation for a grant for construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial; and providing for an effective date." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE *HB 196: "An Act relating to the state employment preference for veterans and prisoners of war." MOVED FROM COMMITTEE (* First public hearing.) WITNESS REGISTER JAY NELSON, Aide Rep. Cliff Davidson Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 465-2840 Position Statement: Described HB 175 JOELLE HALL, Aide Rep. Fran Ulmer Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 465-4947 Position Statement: Spoke on HB 175 REP. PETE KOTT Alaska State Legislature State Capitol Juneau, AK 99801-1182 465-3777 Position Statement: Prime Sponsor of HB 196 KEVIN RITCHIE, Director Division of Personnel/EEO Department of Administration Juneau, AK 99801 465-4429 Position Statement: Spoke on HB 196 PREVIOUS ACTION BILL: HB 175 SHORT TITLE: APPROP:WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE MEMORIAL BILL VERSION: SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) DAVIDSON,Ulmer,Menard,Grussendorf TITLE: "An Act making an appropriation for a grant for construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial; and providing for an effective date." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 02/24/93 434 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 02/24/93 434 (H) MLV, STATE AFFAIRS, FINANCE 03/17/93 (H) MLV AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17 BILL: HB 196 SHORT TITLE: STATE EMPLOYMENT VETERANS PREFERENCE BILL VERSION: SSHB 196 SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) KOTT,Martin,Mulder TITLE: "An Act relating to the state employment preference for veterans and prisoners of war." JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION 03/03/93 520 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S) 03/03/93 520 (H) MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS, STATE AFF 03/12/93 618 (H) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS 03/12/93 618 (H) MILITARY & VETERANS AFFAIRS, STATE AFF 03/17/93 (H) MLV AT 05:00 PM CAPITOL 17 ACTION NARRATIVE TAPE 93-5, SIDE A Number 000 CO-CHAIRMAN RICHARD FOSTER called the House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee to order at 5:10 p.m. on March 17, 1993. Members present were Rep. Kott, Rep. Willis and Rep. Mulder. Rep. Mike Navarre was absent. HB 175 - APPROP: WOMEN IN MILITARY SERVICE MEMORIAL JAY NELSON, AIDE TO REP. CLIFF DAVIDSON, stated that HB 175 was a bill that would provide $15,000 in state funding towards the construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C. He stated that this memorial was conceived after the Gulf War due to the large amount of women who participated in that war and in the military as a whole. MR. NELSON said that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski was a big supporter of the construction of the Women In Military Service Memorial. He that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski introduced legislation for this memorial in Washington, D.C., and has raised funds for this memorial. MR. NELSON noted that the total cost of the memorial would be about $14 million and that states were giving money to show support for female personnel. He stated that the memorial has received money from industry and countries in the Gulf area. He said five states have donated to the memorial. REP. KOTT asked what happens to the appropriated sum of money that comes from the general fund for half of this memorial if it is not utilized towards the construction of this memorial. MR. NELSON responded that the states' contributions would only be a small part of the total construction cost. He stated that this project started back in 1988 and they have actually spent somewhere around $7 million to $8 million on the design phase, developing the public computer system, and the public exhibition area. He noted that their authority was to expire once it was extended by two years. Theoretically their authority will expire this fall if they do not raise the money, but since they have raised 50 percent of the money, the only thing left is the construction part. He stated that their authority to receive funds would be extended if that was a problem. MR. NELSON explained that U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski will introduce legislation that will allow for the authorization of coins to be issued by the Mint for the purpose of raising money for this memorial. Any extra money for this project will be used to maintain the data base that they have been developing for all women veterans. REP. KOTT asked if all veterans would be recognized or just the ones that participated in the Middle East Crisis. MR. NELSON stated that all women veterans would be recognized. REP. KOTT asked how the allocation was determined and was it equitable as compared to what other states have given towards the memorial. MR. NELSON stated that this would be up to the legislature to decide. REP. FOSTER remarked that there was about 77,000 veterans in Alaska. MR. NELSON said there were about 5,000 women veterans in Alaska. CHAIRMAN MULDER stated that the way he saw the issue was that this committee would decide whether this was a good or bad idea and for the Finance Committee to decide whether it was the appropriate amount. JOELLE HALL, INTERN FOR REP. FRAN ULMER, she stated that she was a veteran of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army reserve, and the Alaska National Guard. She said this bill is a good idea to honor the women who have come before and in the future and it is an investment. She stated that the memorial that had been attempted before had faced various stumbling blocks and this was a good way of going about that - by recognizing all women who have ever served. She stated that she thought it was important that Alaska participate. REP. FOSTER asked to move HB 175 out of committee with individual recommendations. CHAIRMAN MULDER asked for any objections. REP. KOTT responded yes, for the purpose of discussion. REP. KOTT asked if she would be willing to pay three dollars to have her name engraved. MS. HALL responded that she would; it would be a great honor. REP. KOTT asked how much should Alaska appropriate for this memorial. MS. HALL stated that each state would have to look at it in terms of its fiscal ability to pay, but the state should also look at how many veterans are in the state. REP. KOTT said that he agreed and withdrew his objection. CHAIRMAN MULDER ordered the bill out of committee with individual recommendations. HB 196 - STATE EMPLOYMENT VETERANS PREFERENCE REP. PETE KOTT, PRIME SPONSOR, spoke on HB 196. Rep. Kott made note for the record that the fiscal note was zero. (A copy of Rep. Kott's speech may be found in House Special Committee On Military And Veterans Affairs committee room, Capitol Room 17, until the final adjournment of the second session of the 18th Alaska State Legislature; thereafter it may be found in the Legislative Reference Library.) REP. WILLIS asked if this parallels what the federal government has in place. REP. KOTT stated that it parallels closely to what the federal government has in place. KEVIN RITCHIE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PERSONNEL/EEO, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, stated that the overview of the bill was accurate and that the Department of Administration supported the bill. CHAIRMAN MULDER asked if Mr. Ritchie could answer Rep. Willis' question as to whether it parallels the federal government. MR. RITCHIE stated he did not know. REP. WILLIS asked that HB 196 be moved out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note. CHAIRMAN MULDER so ordered the bill out of committee without any objections. ADJOURNMENT CHAIRMAN MULDER adjourned the meeting at 5:38 p.m.