02/07/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

           SB  77-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:08:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of SENATE BILL NO.  77 "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  the  duties  of  the                                                               
Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:08:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  JESSE  KIEHL,  District  B,  Alaska  State  Legislature,                                                               
Juneau, Alaska, as  sponsor presented a brief recap of  SB 77. He                                                               
stated  that  this is  a  cleanup  bill  for the  Permanent  Fund                                                               
Dividend Division,  not a formula  bill. SB 77 fixes  issues with                                                               
allowable absenceslike  merchant  mariner training, school breaks                                                               
for  college students,  and out-of-state  medical  care. It  also                                                               
includes three efficiency and security changes:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
   • fingerprinting applicants and employees,                                                                                   
   • ending distribution of PFD applicant lists, and                                                                            
   • allowing the division to send electronic levy notifications                                                                
     to Alaskans who opt in to receive them.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:10:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 77; finding none,                                                                  
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:10:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:10:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report SB 77, work order 34-LS0394\N,                                                                  
from committee with individual recommendations and attached                                                                     
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:11:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SB 77 was reported from                                                                   
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.