00 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 122(L&C) 01 "An Act providing for the issuance of complimentary fishing and hunting licenses to 02 certain members of the Alaska National Guard returning from active duty deployment; 03 relating to tuition relief and academic status protection for members and dependents of 04 members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat zone; relating to 05 reimbursement of premiums for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance paid by 06 members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat zone; and providing for an 07 effective date." 08 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 09  * Section 1. AS 16.05.335 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 10 (b) The commissioner shall, at the request of the governor, authorize the 11 issuance, by the department or by agents appointed under AS 16.05.380, of a 12 complimentary one-year license for sport fishing or hunting, or both, to qualified 13 members of the Alaska National Guard. To qualify for a complimentary license under 01 this subsection, a member of the Alaska National Guard must produce to the 02 department or agent the member's United States Department of Defense certificate of 03 release or discharge from active duty and the member's deployment orders 04 demonstrating that the member was called to active duty and deployed for 30 or more 05 consecutive days in a combat zone, as that term is defined in AS 26.05.263. However, 06 a member who was so deployed for less than 30 consecutive days due to an injury 07 related to the member's deployment is qualified for the complimentary license if the 08 member provides documentation to verify that status. The complimentary license for 09 sport fishing or hunting, or both, is valid for the license year in which the member 10 applies or for the subsequent license year. To receive the complimentary license under 11 this subsection, the member must apply to the commissioner requesting the license and 12 provide the information required by this subsection within two years after the date the 13 member returns to the state following deployment. Information pertaining to 14 complimentary licenses issued under this subsection shall be available to the public. 15  * Sec. 2. AS 26.05 is amended by adding new sections to read: 16 Sec. 26.05.261. Tuition relief. (a) Upon request by a member of the Alaska 17 National Guard deployed to a combat zone for not less than 30 days, the University of 18 Alaska or the Alaska Vocational Technical Center 19 (1) shall grant the member and a dependent of a military member a 20 military leave of absence from the institution; 21 (2) shall credit any tuition and fees paid that are applicable to an 22 academic term during a military leave of absence toward tuition and fees due for an 23 academic term beginning within 12 months following the return of the member from 24 deployment; 25 (3) may not change the educational status or degree requirements for a 26 member accepted in a degree program before the date of deployment. 27 (b) In this section, "combat zone" has the meaning given in AS 26.05.263. 28 Sec. 26.05.263. Payment of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance  29 premiums; establishment of fund. (a) The Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance 30 premium fund is established as a separate fund in the state treasury. The fund consists 31 of appropriations by the legislature to it. Money appropriated to the fund does not 01 lapse. The state shall hold the principal and earnings of the fund for the purpose of 02 reimbursing eligible members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat 03 zone for premiums paid under 38 U.S.C. 1965 - 1980 (Servicemembers' Group Life 04 Insurance Program). 05 (b) The adjutant general may make expenditures from the fund to reimburse 06 eligible members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat zone for 07 premiums paid under the program during the period of 08 (1) deployment if the eligible member applies for reimbursement 09 within two years after returning to the state following deployment; 10 (2) up to one year of convalescence following the return from 11 deployment; and 12 (3) with the approval of the adjutant general, up to one year of 13 convalescence in addition to the year under (2) of this subsection. 14 (c) Subject to appropriation, the fund may be used to pay the expenses 15 incurred by the commissioner of revenue in managing the fund and administrative 16 expenses incurred by the Department of Revenue in administering this section. 17 (d) Except as provided in (c) of this section, money in the fund is available for 18 expenditure without further appropriation. 19 (e) Nothing in this section creates a dedicated fund. 20 (f) The Department of Revenue may adopt regulations necessary to carry out 21 the provisions of this section. 22 (g) In this section, 23 (1) "combat zone" means an area of hostile fire or imminent danger 24 that entitles a member on duty in that area to special pay; 25 (2) "convalescence" means hospital, outpatient, or rehabilitation 26 treatment for an injury suffered while deployed to a combat zone; 27 (3) "fund" means the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance premium 28 fund; 29 (4) "program" means the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance 30 program established by 38 U.S.C. 1965 - 1980. 31  * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 01 read: 02 APPLICABILITY. The reimbursement of premiums paid by members of the Alaska 03 National Guard deployed to a combat zone under 38 U.S.C. 1965 - 1980 (Servicemembers' 04 Group Life Insurance Program) under AS 26.05.263, enacted in sec. 2 of this Act, applies to 05 premiums due on or after January 1, 2005. 06  * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 07 read: 08 RETROACTIVITY. AS 26.05.263, enacted by sec. 2 of this Act, is retroactive to 09 January 1, 2005, and applies to authorize reimbursement of premiums paid by eligible Alaska 10 National Guard members after December 31, 2004. 11  * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).