2020-02-21                     House Journal                      Page 1664
HB 270                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 270 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing state land vouchers; relating to restricted                                                           
     land sales for veterans; relating to the veterans' land purchase                                                           
     discount; relating to the permanent fund dividend; relating to the                                                         
     duties of the Department of Revenue; authorizing the Department                                                            
     of Natural Resources to accept state land vouchers; relating to                                                            

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     eligibility for public assistance; and providing for an effective                                                          
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Resources and Finance                                                               
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Indeterminate, Dept. of Natural Resources                                                                                   
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Revenue                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated February 20 follows:                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would create an option for                                                          
Alaskans eligible for the Permanent Fund Dividend to choose to                                                                  
receive a land sales voucher for use to purchase state land instead of a                                                        
monetary payment. One of the top priorities of my administration is to                                                          
increase access to Alaska's lands for Alaskans.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The voucher would be issued by the Department of Revenue and have                                                               
a value set at twice the amount of the monetary dividend as calculated                                                          
by the current statutory formula. A voucher could be used alone or in                                                           
combination with other vouchers to purchase parcels of land offered                                                             
for sale by the Department of Natural Resources.  Land vouchers may                                                             
also be used in combination with the veterans' land purchase price                                                              
discount and separately towards the purchase of land offered at a                                                               
restricted land sale.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The land vouchers do not expire and are transferable to another person                                                          
like any other piece of intangible property. They would be available as                                                         
payment for land sales contracts entered into on or after the effective                                                         
date of this bill. If a person who opts to receive a voucher is subject to                                                      
a writ of garnishment, or other means of collecting repayment of a                                                              
debt, a creditor may attach a land voucher up to the amount available                                                           
based on that year's cash dividend.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The Department of Revenue would annually report the number and                                                                  
amount of vouchers issued and the Department of Natural Resources                                                               

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would report the number and value of vouchers accepted for purchase                                                             
of land.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
For decades, eligible Alaskans have received and invested all or a                                                              
portion of their share of Alaska's resource wealth into our economy.                                                            
This bill will encourage and support Alaskans to invest in one of our                                                           
greatest assets – our land.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
In order to provide for more state land for private ownership and to                                                            
encourage the development of our greatest asset for Alaskans, I urge                                                            
your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"