Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB152 | |
| SB104 | |
| HB121 | |
| HB75 | |
| SB166 | |
| SB177 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 166 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 177 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 75-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY
3:40:33 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 75(STA) "An Act relating to national criminal history record
checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue;
relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent
fund dividend; relating to the confidentiality of certain
information provided on a permanent fund dividend application;
relating to electronic notice of debt collection executed on a
permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date."
3:40:55 PM
TREVOR SHAW, Staff, Representative Jeremy Bynum, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented an overview of HB 75. He
disclosed the companion legislation to HB 75 is SB 77 by Senator
Kiehl and read an overview:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Section 1. Requires the Permanent Fund Division to
conduct background checks on and fingerprint its
employees and applicants for employment within the
Division.
Section 2. Modifies the allowable absences for
Permanent Fund Dividend eligibility to include:
• Absences for school breaks and holiday, not
including summer break, during the academic year.
• Education (1) to become a merchant mariner, and
(2) through other vocational programs approved by
the United States Coast Guard.
• Prevents medical absences from limiting the
length of voluntary absences.
• Changes "armed forces" to "uniformed services"
Section 3. Provides the definition for "uniformed
services" to encompass the armed forces and the
Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the United States
Public Health Service, and renumbers other provisions
of the statute accordingly.
Section 4. Aligns to Sect 1., requiring the Permanent
Fund Division to conduct background checks on and
fingerprint its employees and applicants for
employment within the Division.
Section 5. Makes the names of Permanent Fund Dividend
applicants confidential.
Section 6. Allows an opt-in option for Permanent Fund
Dividend recipients to receive levy notices
electronically.
3:42:41 PM
MR. SHAW read the letter of intent:
[Original punctuation provided.]
AS 43.23.005(c) lets a parent, guardian, or other
authorized representative file for a permanent fund
dividend on behalf of a minor child or disabled adult.
The statute requires the child or disabled adult to be
eligible in the same manner as other Alaskans. It does
not require the sponsor to be eligible for a permanent
fund dividend.
By regulation in 15 AAC 23.123, the Department of
Revenue does not require a disabled adult's sponsor to
be eligible for a permanent fund dividend to apply.
Despite identical statutory language, the Department
of Revenue does require the sponsor of a minor child
to be eligible for a permanent fund dividend in
regulation 15 AAC 23.113.
The regulation 15 AAC 23.113 prohibits eligible minors
from receiving a PFD if their sponsor is ineligible.
This creates hardship for minors in kinship care or
whose parents travel for work. The regulation
currently provides exceptions for minors whose parents
are ineligible because of incarceration. By repealing
or amending the regulation, the Department can use
this same model for other eligible minors sponsored by
ineligible parents or guardians.
It is the intent of the Thirty-Fourth Alaska State
Legislature that the Department of Revenue repeal or
amend regulation 15 AAC 23.113(b)(1)(a) to treat
eligible minors equitably with eligible disabled
adults by March 31, 2026. The Department of Revenue
shall report to the presiding officers of the House
and Senate on the regulation changes by March 15,
2026.
3:44:52 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened public testimony on HB 75.
3:45:11 PM
RICK BERKOWITZ, representing self, Seattle, Washington,
testified in support of HB 75 and explained that the Lynch and
Mariner allowable absence provision has long been needed to
support local hire in Alaska. Since the late 1990s, companies
like Crowley and Sea Land backed legislation to ensure
vocational training outside Alaska would qualify for the PFD
allowable absence. He said over time, the Department of Revenue
narrowed the definition, creating barriers for maritime training
programs that guarantee employment upon graduation. HB 75
restores eligibility, helping Alaskans pursue federally
recognized training, secure good jobs, and strengthen local
hire.
3:49:17 PM
RALPH MIRSKY, Executive Director, Sealink Inc., Ketchikan,
Alaska, testified in support of HB 75 and highlighted that for
over 22 years in Ketchikan, the seafarers program recruited and
trained workers, placing more than 800 people through federal
grants and the Alaska Department of Labor. He said a major
challenge arose when trainees were denied the Permanent Fund
Dividend. During the salmon industry crash, a six-week
specialized program retrained 150 fishermen, many of whom stayed
in maritime work, though the loss of PFD eligibility discouraged
some from returning.
3:52:08 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY BYNUM, District 1, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 75 stated that though
it may appear to make only minor legal changes, HB 75 is
considered significant for Alaska, especially Southeast Alaska's
maritime industry. HB 75 also protects students studying out of
state, modernizes health provisions, and provides long-needed
updates and safeguards within the division.
3:53:15 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI expressed concern with Section 5, [AS
43.23.110(a)] which makes the names of Permanent Fund applicants
confidential. He said constituents have used this information to
detect fraud, though the division also faces hacking risks. The
suggestion is to consider a middle ground that balances privacy
with public assurance against fraud.
3:54:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BYNUM emphasized the need to balance transparency
with security in managing state resources. HB 75 provisions
protect citizens from fraud while still allowing investigations
when fraud is suspected. He said members of the public can raise
concerns through available channels, and valid reports would be
investigated even with the confidentiality provision in place.
3:56:15 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked the PFD Division to explain why HB
75, Section 5, is necessary.
3:56:28 PM
GENEVIEVE WOJTUSIK, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division,
Department of Revenue, Juneau, Alaska, answered questions about
HB 75 and stated that after years of collaboration with the
Criminal Investigation Unit, CIO, and risk manager, the division
concluded that making PFD application data easily accessible
online poses unnecessary risks. She stated her belief that
confidentiality is essential and prevents more issues from
happening than HB 75 will solve.
3:57:17 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that while he has not supported
similar legislation in the past, this version only protects
names. He said given the abundance of public information online,
even this limited confidentiality provides some Alaskans with
reassurance that their PFD is protected, especially against out-
of-state recipients or absentee residents.
3:58:40 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN said that HB 75 has appeared in previous
legislative sessions and asked whether last year's version
included the same provision.
3:58:57 PM
MS. WOJTUSIK answered yes. She said last year's amended version
included the same language making the name list confidential,
though addresses have never been public. The Revenue Permanent
Fund Information (RPFI) system remains available to government
agencies, while HB 75 only removes public access. Alaskans can
still submit fraud tips to the Criminal Investigation Unit.
3:59:48 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI noted that voter lists, election records,
and property tax information are already public and expressed
uncertainty about why PFD applicant names should be excluded.
4:00:18 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI referred to HB 75, Section 5 and asked how often
the Criminal Investigation Unit receives tips about individuals
fraudulently receiving a PFD and asked whether the Criminal
Investigation Unit tracks reports of fraudulent Permanent Fund
Dividend (PFD) activity and inquired about the frequency of such
reporting.
4:00:44 PM
MS. WOJTU answered yes, the Criminal Investigation Unit receives
hundreds of fraud tips to review, analyze and investigate.
4:00:54 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked whether PFD fraud tips usually come from
credible sources, such as someone knowing an applicant no longer
lives in Alaska, or from other triggers for investigation.
4:01:13 PM
MS. WOJTUSIK replied that fraud tips can come from various
sources and may be submitted, including anonymously. She said
she could provide a written summary of the types of tips
received.
4:01:36 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI asked where he could find the public list of
current Permanent Fund recipients names.
MS. WOJTUSIK replied that about a year and a half ago,
regulations were changed to remove the downloadable Excel list
of all PFD recipients. She said now only individual name
searches are available on the PFD website, though a printed list
can still be requested in writing.
4:02:41 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN asked if the list requires searching for a
specific name, what level of risk does that tool pose.
4:03:04 PM
MS. WOJTUSIK replied that removing the full list online was done
by regulation, and HB 75 provides a statutory fix. She said
without it, someone could still pay for a printed copy of the
entire list and potentially misuse it. Even with name searches,
there are risks, such as using death records to file fraudulent
claims, which HB 75 aims to prevent.
4:04:00 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON joined the meeting.
4:04:27 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI commented that he has concerns with Section 5 of
HB 75.
4:04:42 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said his preference is to remove Section 5
of HB 75.
4:04:58 PM
At ease.
4:06:21 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI reconvened the meeting and commented that during
the at ease the committee discussed removing Section 5 of HB 75.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that Section 5 appears ancillary to
HB 75 and he would like it addressed under a separate bill to
avoid holding up HB 75.
4:06:29 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, to
CSHB 75(STA)
Conceptional Amendement 1
BY SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI
Page 6, line 28 - Page 7, line 13:
Delete all material.
4:07:12 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI objected for purposes of discussion.
4:07:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE BYNUM agreed it was reasonable to remove Section
5 so HB 75 could move forward with its other provisions. He
noted that both he and the co-sponsor had no objection.
4:08:01 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI removed his objection.
4:08:10 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no further objection and Conceptual
Amendment 1 to CSHB 75(STA) was adopted.
4:08:30 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.
4:08:52 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to report CSHB 75(STA), work order 34-
LS0475\I, from committee, as amended, with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s) and authorization
for Legislative Legal Services to make technical and conforming
changes regarding the Conceptual Amendment.
4:09:34 PM
CHAIR KAWASAKI found no objection and SCS CSHB 75(STA) was
reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 75 Version B.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| HB 75 Version B Zero Fiscal Note.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| HB 75 Version B Sponsor Statement 03.19.2025.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| HB 75 Version B Sectional Analysis 03.19.2025.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| HB 75 Version A to B Explanation of Changes 03.19.2025.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| HB 75 Letter of Intent.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
HB 75 |
| SB0166A.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 166 |
| 04.08.25 Public Notice TL Senate.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 166 |
| SB0166-2-2-040925-DNR-N.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 166 |
| SB0166-1-2-040925-DEC-N.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 166 |
| SB 166 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 166 |
| SB 177_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 5/8/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 177 |