Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2023-02-24 Senate Journal
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Full Journal pdf2023-02-24 Senate Journal Page 0340 SB 85 SENATE BILL NO. 85 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act relating to record checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue; relating to permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and Finance Committees. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 1, zero, Department of Revenue Governor's transmittal letter dated February 23: Dear President Stevens: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that expands Permanent Fund Dividend eligibility for certain merchant marines; authorizes the Department of Revenue (DOR) to obtain national criminal history record checks on employees handling highly personal information; and allows DOR to use electronic notice when a levy is made against a permanent fund dividend payment. This bill proposes amendments to the statutes relating to DOR and the Permanent Fund Dividend program in order to increase security of Alaskans’ private information, modernize the department’s notice requirements, and clarify dividend eligibility for students, including students training to be merchant marines. Under our current system, Alaskans serving as merchant marines are eligible for an allowed absence when serving aboard a vessel, but Alaskans training to be merchant marines are not provided an allowed absence. The bill remedies this disparity so that Alaskans training to be merchant marines are treated the same as other students. Moreover, this bill clarifies the meaning of “education on a full-time basis.” Due to the variability in educational schedules, certain students lose dividend eligibility due to breaks in the academic year. The bill