ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS  May 3, 2007 1:04 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bob Roses, Chair Representative Anna Fairclough Representative Gabrielle LeDoux Representative Jay Ramras Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch Representative Scott Kawasaki MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Nancy Dahlstrom COMMITTEE CALENDAR    HOUSE BILL NO. 236 "An Act relating to providing a death certificate for a deceased veteran without cost; relating to a program to honor the memory of a deceased veteran; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 236(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 236 SHORT TITLE: DECEASED VETERAN DEATH CERTIFICATE/HONOR SPONSOR(s): STATE AFFAIRS 04/13/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/13/07 (H) MLV, STA, FIN 05/03/07 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124 WITNESS REGISTER NANCY MANLY, Staff to Representative Bob Lynn Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 236 on behalf of Representative Lynn, sponsor. JOHN CRAMER, Acting Deputy Commissioner Commissioner's Office Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) Fort Richardson, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 236. ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR BOB ROSES called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:04:09 PM. Representatives LeDoux, Fairclough, Kawasaki, Buch, and Roses were present at the call to order. Representative Ramras arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 236-DECEASED VETERAN DEATH CERTIFICATE/HONOR 1:04:29 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that the only item of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 236, "An Act relating to providing a death certificate for a deceased veteran without cost; relating to a program to honor the memory of a deceased veteran; and providing for an effective date." 1:05:13 PM NANCY MANLY, staff to Representative Bob Lynn, presented HB 236 on behalf of Representative Lynn, sponsor. She informed the committee that HB 236 represents a step the state can take to demonstrate its respect for Alaska veterans and their families. The resolution directs that one copy of a certified death certificate be provided to the next of kin free of charge. The bill sends a signal that Alaska supports its troops, past and present, and their families. Ms. Manly noted that HB 236 passed the house last year as HB 167, but did not pass out of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance. The bill is modeled after the Presidential Memorial Certificates program established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. 1:05:49 PM JOHN CRAMER, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner's Office, Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), testified that HB 236 provides a small but significant opportunity for the state to relieve a portion of the burden on veterans' families. He expressed his support of the bill. 1:06:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH asked whether the committee was aware of any opposition to the bill. CHAIR ROSES said no. 1:07:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH moved to report HB 236, 25-LS0838\A,  out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 1:07:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI objected, and moved Amendment 25- LS0838\A.1, Bullard, 5/1/07, which read: Page 1, line 1: Delete "cost"  Insert "charge" Page 2, lines 23 - 24: Delete "cost to the individual making the request" Insert "charge"  1:07:57 PM  CHAIR ROSES called for questions on Amendment 1. [Although not formally stated, Chair Roses objected to Amendment 1.] CHAIR ROSES informed the committee that Amendment 1 deletes the word "cost" and replaces it with the word "charge", and on page 2, line [23 - 24], it deletes "cost to the individual making the request" and inserts "charge." REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked for the purpose of the amendment. CHAIR ROSES explained that the amendment will clarify the language of the bill. [Although not formally stated, Chair Roses removed his objection to Amendment 1.] 1:08:14 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that there being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI removed his objection to HB 236, as amended. 1:08:45 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that there being no further objection, CSHB 236(MLV) was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs committee. 1:09:05 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m. 1:09:06 PM