05/07/2007 08:30 AM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 244                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act creating an Alaska Medal of Honor and                                                                               
     establishing criteria for awarding the medal.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair  Stoltze MOVED to  ADOPT work draft  #25-LS0904\M,                                                                   
Kane,  5/6/07,  as  the  version   of  the  bill  before  the                                                                   
Committee.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
KELLY   HUBER,   STAFF,   REPRESENTATIVE   NANCY   DAHLSTROM,                                                                   
explained the changes  made to the work draft.   The name was                                                                   
changed  from  the  Alaska  Medal  of  Honor  to  the  Alaska                                                                   
Decoration  of Honor, to  address the  concern that  the name                                                                   
was   too   close   to   the    U.S.   Congressional   Medal.                                                                   
Additionally,  there were  concerns that  those indicated  on                                                                   
the  list  had  served their  Country  and  State  honorably.                                                                   
Language on  Page 2, Line 24  added Section (E),  placing the                                                                   
adjutant  general  in charge  of  determining  & editing  the                                                                   
list.   The  other  change  provides  the effective  date  of                                                                   
         st                                                                                                                     
January 1,  2000.   These changes address  Committee concerns                                                                   
brought forward in the previous hearing on the bill.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:08:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Thomas  asked about the 2000 date.   Ms. Huber                                                                   
understood the original intent  was from 2000 forward and was                                                                   
a legislative  policy call.  Representative  Thomas commented                                                                   
that all veterans from all wars have made sacrifices.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker noted that  he represents a constituent                                                                   
whose husband was  awarded a Medal of Honor from  Korea.  She                                                                   
encouraged that  the name be changed  so not to  diminish all                                                                   
the  Congressional  Medals  of   Honor.    He  applauded  the                                                                   
sponsor's intent.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:12:02 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster MOVED to  REPORT CS HB 244 (FIN) out of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS HB  244 (FIN)  was reported  out of  Committee with  a "do                                                                   
pass"  recommendation  and  with  a  new  zero  note  by  the                                                                   
Department of Military  & Veterans Affairs and  a fiscal note                                                                   
by the Legislative Affairs Agency.