Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
02/03/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB29 | |
| SB30 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 30-STATE PARK PERMITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS
4:07:08 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 30
"An Act making certain veterans eligible for a lifetime permit
to access state park campsites and the parking and restrooms of
developed facilities without charge; and providing for an
effective date."
4:07:15 PM
CHAIR GIESEL solicited a motion.
4:07:25 PM
SENATOR CLAMAN moved to adopt Committee Substitute (CS) for SB
30, work order 34-LS0293\I, as the working document.
4:07:37 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL objected for purposes of discussion and invited
Senator Bjorkman to explain the changes to SB 30.
4:07:47 PM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, District D, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska said [CSSB 30] incorporated clarifying language
resulting from working with the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), Division of Parks.
4:08:17 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN offered an overview of SB 30 and paraphrased
the sponsor statement for version I:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 30 State Park Permits for Disabled Veterans
Version I Sponsor Statement
Senate Bill 30 would allow disabled veterans who have
honorably served our country to have a free lifetime
permit to Alaska State Parks. The permit will provide
access to developed campsites, parking areas, and
restrooms.
Currently under statute, disabled veterans qualify for
a free annual permit that must be reapplied for each
year. By changing the term of the permit to a lifetime
pass, it will be easier for disabled veterans to take
advantage of this opportunity. In addition, the annual
permit does not currently allow for free parking at
Alaska State Parks. By including parking, disabled
veterans will have greater access to the benefits
provided by our parks.
I believe that those who have served their nation in
the military deserve the utmost respect and have
earned the right to enjoy the beauty of our great
state that they have defended and sacrificed for. I
respectfully ask for your support of this legislation
for the benefit of our disabled veterans.
SENATOR BJORKMAN said he invited Captain Bob Pawlowski, serving
on the Alaska Pioneer Home Advisory Board and active in the AARP
Alaska Veterans' program as well as Phil Hokenson, chair of the
Alaska Veterans Advisory Council to provide testimony.
4:10:07 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL removed her objection; found no further objection
and CSSB 30 was adopted as the working document.
4:10:26 PM
MATTHEW CHURCHILL, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 30, version I:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 30 State Park Permits for Disabled Veterans
Version I Sectional Analysis
Section 1: Amends AS 41.21.026(d) to change the permit
that allows disabled veterans free use of campsites,
parking areas, and restrooms from an annual permit to
a lifetime permit. Permits will be renewed
automatically every five years with the permit
holder's current address.
Section 2: Defines disabled veteran as one who was
disabled in the line of duty.
Section 3: Provides for an effective date of January
1, 2026.
4:11:09 PM
SENATOR HUGHES said she received a suggestion to consider a card
rather than a sticker. This would permit the receiving veteran
to access the parks without limiting access to a specific
vehicle. She noted the correspondent provided other suggestions
as well.
4:11:52 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN affirmed that he had received that suggestion,
and he was open to considerations and ideas. He said a card and
other possibilities for conveying the intended privilege to
veterans and preventing fraud could be considered. He noted that
a pass [sticker] on a vehicle was just one possible way.
4:12:53 PM
SENATOR HUGHES declared a conflict of interest due to her
husband's disabled veteran status and the possibility that she
could benefit from SB 30. She asked whether SB 30 applied to a
specific range [or degree] of disability.
4:13:30 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN said the intent was to apply SB 30 for veterans
who are 50 percent disabled. This is in line with the standard
held by Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Parks
and Outdoor Recreation for the current free camping pass [for
disabled veterans].
4:14:02 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR declared a conflict of interest due to his own
veterans' disability status and the possibility that he would
benefit from SB 30.
4:14:39 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR shared his concern about "leakage," meaning that
people other than those for whom the benefit was intended take
advantage of it, imposing a significant expense for the state
park system. He related a similar "leakage" example: property
tax audits in Anchorage revealed inappropriate senior tax
exemptions and disabled veteran exemptions. He noted that this
was often unintended, for example, when a veteran passed away
and property transferred to someone else.
4:15:26 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR noted that a vehicle was commonly the means of
accessing state parks and asked for input from DNR regarding the
practicality of a card versus a sticker. He asked whether DNR
issued one pass for one vehicle or passes for multiple cars to
each recipient. He also suggested that applicant veterans be
required to submit resident addresses rather than mailing
addresses.
4:16:55 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL suggested Mr. Gease from DNR would be able to
answer questions.
4:17:00 PM
RICKY GEASE, Director, Division of Parks and Recreation,
Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Anchorage, Alaska, said
the current system for the disabled veteran camping pass was to
issue a vehicle sticker to each qualified applicant. A second
sticker would be issued for parking under SB 30. Additional
stickers for both programs could be issued for additional
vehicles. He said a hanging placard like the handicapped placard
system could be considered, allowing the pass to be transferred
between vehicles.
4:18:27 PM
MR. GEASE offered the following points for consideration:
• Less than seven percent of disabled veterans camping pass
participants come from out of state.
• The current [camping] system includes a five-year pass
valid from 2023 to 2027.
• Approximately 2,400 disabled veterans currently have the
five-year [camping] pass.
• There are about 17,000 disabled veterans who qualify for
the camping pass.
• Estimates suggest that around 5000 veterans in-state would
be interested in the parking pass.
4:19:41 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL restated Senator Dunbar's question about mailing
address versus resident address.
4:19:51 PM
MR. GEASE said a mailing address was necessary to get the pass
stickers to recipients. DNR could also collect resident
addresses, however, a veteran's disability status was what made
them eligible for the pass, not their residency. He said there
were veterans who come from out of Alaska to use the disabled
veteran pass. He said a residency requirement could be added for
the parking pass [SB 30], but that is not a requirement for the
camping pass.
4:20:48 PM
SENATOR HUGHES noted comments about the difficulty of applying
for the passes. She asked where applicants could go to apply;
whether there were provisions for rural residents and how long
it would take to for DNR to respond to applications.
4:21:21 PM
MR. GEASE explained that DNR completed the initial review of
[applicant] documents at the public information centers in
Anchorage or Fairbanks. He said follow-up and renewal could be
done through the mail. Applicants outside Anchorage and
Fairbanks can contact DNR to complete the paperwork.
4:21:59 PM
SENATOR HUGHES asked how long the process took, particularly
when it involved mailing things back and forth.
4:22:10 PM
MR. GEASE said follow-up by DNR was usually quick and the time
[delay] element was mail delivery.
4:22:40 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL restated Senator Dunbar's question about the
definition of qualifying disability. She noted that the sponsor
of SB 30 said 50 percent disability was the standard and she
asked for verification and documentation.
4:23:16 PM
MR. GEASE offered to follow up to provide the committee and the
sponsor with the language DNR used to evaluate eligibility.
4:23:40 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced invited testimony on SB 30.
4:23:55 PM
BOB PAWLOWSKI, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified
in support of SB 30. He read from the following written
testimony:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senator Giessel, members of the Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment in support of
Senate Bill 30, State Park Permits for Disabled
Veterans. I am Captain Bob Pawlowski, NOAA (Ret) and a
VA Beneficiary.
Currently I serve as the Chair, Alaska Pioneer Homes
Advisory Board, a board that advises the Governor on
our Pioneer Homes, including the Alaska State Veterans
and Pioneer Home in Palmer. I also serve on the Alaska
Commission on Aging, where I personally focus on our
aging Veteran population, of which 30 percent are of
the Vietnam Era, which ended 50 years ago. This is a
good bill in it offers an opportunity for our disabled
Veterans to fully utilize Alaska's State Parks, versus
just camping without charge. This is particularly
valuable to those disabled seniors who, with age, have
had to decrease their camping given the challenges of
setting up and taking down a camp. This bill affords
them the opportunity to continue to visit our State
Parks and enjoy the amenities, ease of access, and
outdoor activities on a daily basis that for decades
they have enjoyed under their camping permit.
Let me share a personal example of how it will help.
Since 2015, I have volunteered and participated in
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Alaska, a
therapeutic program for disabled Vets that teaches fly
tying, rod building and fly fishing with a group of
their peers. Through camaraderie and focus on the fine
motor and mental skills in tying flies and building
rods, they find new ways to meet their challenges.
And, when they are out together with other disabled
Vets, catching their first fish on their own fly on
their own rod, you see their pride and the value of
the program, And this is but one of many programs in
Alaska that are helping our disabled Vets adapt and
heal by being outdoors.
By offering no charge access to our state parks for
Alaska's disabled Vets, you are enabling them to take
more time to be outdoors and enjoy the Alaska they
have chosen to live and grow old in.
Thank you. I am free to answer any questions.
(Captain Bob Pawlowski, NOAA (Ret) has been active in
military and veteran issues since moving permanently
to Alaska. He remains active with the Military
Officers Association of America, the Navy League of
the United States, and most recently on the AARP
Alaska Veteran Program. He lives in Anchorage with his
wife Paula.)
4:27:49 PM
PHILLIP HOKENSON, representing self, Fairbanks, Alaska,
Testified in support of SB 30. He paraphrased the following
letter of support:
[Original punctuation included.]
Senator Giessel, members of the Committee:
I'm grateful for the opportunity to voice support for
SB 30, State Park Permits for Disabled Veterans. My
name is Phil Hokenson and I'm an Army veteran from
Fairbanks. I serve as the Chair of the Alaska
Veterans Advisory Council and a member Alaska Pioneer
Home Advisory Board.
Alaska is often heralded for being home to the highest
per capita population of Veteranswe also have the
youngest veteran population and the highest percentage
of women veterans. But why do so many veterans choose
to relocate to or stay in Alaska once they hang up
their uniform? One reason is that this state is among
the best in the country at supporting our veterans and
acknowledging the value that military veterans bring
to our communities. And that's not only through
education dollars at the University of Alaska or
healthcare dollars through the VA's community care
program or the dollars that military retirees and
disabled veterans spend in our economy, we also
recognize the value they bring as citizens who have
stood up on behalf of their country and who often
continue to serve in many different ways.
While Alaska is a national leader in supporting
veterans in many ways, one place we fall short of a
standard that was set by the National Defense
Authorization Act of 2022 is in providing veterans
with expanded access to the state's parks. That
[National Defense Authorization Act] (NDAA)
established free, lifetime access to national parks
for all military veterans. With SB 30, we have the
opportunity to bring the state closer to that
benchmark by offering free, lifetime state park
permits to disabled veterans.
Providing disabled veterans with this access not only
honors their service but also supports their well-
being by offering them a greater opportunity to enjoy
the pristine wilderness of the Last Frontier and
connect with the land they defended on our behalf. I
urge you to pass SB 30 to continue strengthening
Alaska's reputation as a state that values and
supports our veterans to the utmost.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
4:31:02 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL concluded invited testimony on SB 30.
4:31:34 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held SB 30 in committee.
4:31:48 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN thanked the committee for hearing SB 30 and
considering the opportunity to honor disabled veterans by
providing them with free parking passes to the state parks and
to smooth the renewal process. He advocated for continuing the
current [camping] sticker system and advocated for a second
sticker to be issued for parking. He reiterated his openness to
ideas for SB 30.
4:32:40 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL anticipated the provision of a definition and
documentation for "disabled" by DNR.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 30 Ver A Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 Ver I Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 ver A.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 Ver I Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 Summary of Changes Ver A to I.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 Ver A Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB30 ver I.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 30 Written Testimony.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 30 |
| SB 29 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB 29 Version A.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB 29 BGCSB Audit 06.22.23.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |
| SB 29 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf |
SRES 2/3/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 29 |