05/12/2007 01:00 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

         CSHB 45(MLV) - STATE VETERANS' CEMETERY & FUND                                                                     
                                                                                                                              
1:31:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MCGUIRE  announced consideration  of  HB  45. [Before  the                                                               
committee was CSHB 45(MLV).]                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID  GUTTENBERG, Alaska State  Legislature, bill                                                               
co-sponsor,  introduced  HB  45   to  the  committee.  This  bill                                                               
establishes  a   process  that  allows  any   qualifying  Alaskan                                                               
community to apply to the  Veterans' Administration (VA) to build                                                               
a  local national  veterans' cemetery.  Currently  there are  two                                                               
national cemeteries in the state,  one on Fort Richardson and one                                                               
in  Sitka. He  said if  a veteran  is buried  at either  of those                                                               
locations  it can  be difficult  for family  members to  visit if                                                               
they live far from the sites.  All criteria in the bill follow VA                                                               
specifications for  selection and  construction. The VA  pays for                                                               
construction of  the cemetery  and a  burial allocation  for each                                                               
interment. He said  the bill simply sets up the  process to allow                                                               
the  state to  apply and  allow veterans  to be  buried close  to                                                               
their homes and families.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:33:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE closed public testimony on HB 45.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BUNDE  asked  if  the   bill  would  place  a  financial                                                               
obligation on the state.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GUTTENBERG answered  construction costs  would be                                                               
covered  by the  federal government.  There could  or would  be a                                                               
maintenance cost, but the total  cost is unknown without specific                                                               
location information.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BUNDE asked if there would be any operating expenses.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GUTTENBERG  answered  yes; a  ballpark  operating                                                               
amount might  be $80,000 per year.  If the state applied  and was                                                               
successful, the earliest a cemetery  could be constructed is 2011                                                               
or 2012.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:35:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE noted this is an important issue to some veterans,                                                                
and the bill will go to Finance Committee for cost discussions.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FRENCH moved to report CSHB 45(MLV) from committee with                                                                 
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. Hearing no                                                                 
objections, the motion carried.