Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1995-06-26 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf1995-06-26 Senate Journal Page 1967 SB 135 Message of June 16 was received, stating: Dear President Pearce: Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15 of the Alaska Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill: HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 135(FIN) am H(efd fld S) "An Act relating to permanent fund dividend program notice requirements, to the ineligibility for dividends of individuals convicted of felonies or incarcerated for misdemeanors, and to the determination of the number and identity of certain ineligible individuals." Senate Bill 135 raises several substantial problems which have caused me to veto this legislation. The first is its treatment of Permanent Fund Dividend monies. Currently dividends are not paid to incarcerated felons. The money that would have been paid them is appropriated by the Legislature to programs such as the Violent Crimes Compensation Program which directs monies to people who are impacted by criminal behavior. SB 135 would have added non- incarcerated felons and incarcerated, third-time misdemeanants to the list of those denied dividends. While I have no problem with this action in itself, the bill would move up the timing of the action to "double dip" and make an "extra" year's withholding available for FY 96. This "double dip" would have the effect of denying approximately five dollars from each Alaskans' dividend checks next fall. Additionally, the bill provides an exception from having to disclose the use of these "extra" dividend funds on Alaskans' check stubs. I cannot be a party to this deception. 1995-06-26 Senate Journal Page 1968 SB 135 The "double dipping" provided $2.7 million for the Department of Corrections which has been identified in this year's operating budget, HB 100. These funds were not supplemental to the Department's budget, but rather supplanted general fund monies. While the Department could sorely use this money, I can not go along with this form of off-line, one-time budgeting. Next year the budget needs will not go away, but the one-time monies will have to be replaced with increased general funds. Additionally, some of the PFDs currently going to non-incarcerated felons and third-time misdemeanants, perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars, are already going to state agencies. Currently DHSS alcohol rehabilitation programs, the Child Support Enforcement Agency and other state agencies are garnishing these lawbreakers PFDs to pay for services provided them. Directing their denied dividend monies to some state agencies and programs but not others may create serious shortfalls in the funding of some programs. Although this bill is badly flawed, I do think there are ways to restructure the bill which can achieve the primary purpose of taking PFD monies from those in our society to help pay for the significant expenditures of public monies their actions cause. I stand ready to work next year toward that end. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor