04/08/1997 03:33 PM Senate STA

 Number 470                                                                    
                                                                               
          SB 147 PERS:GOV/LT GOV'S SURVIVING SPOUSE OR EX                      
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced SB 147 as the next order of business                
 before the committee.  She then directed attention to a proposed              
 committee substitute.                                                         
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD moved the adoption of CSSB 147(STA).  Hearing no                 
 objection, CHAIRMAN GREEN stated the committee substitute was                 
 before the committee for its consideration.                                   
                                                                               
 JOE AMBROSE, staff to Senator Robin Taylor, read into the record              
 the following sponsor statement:                                              
                                                                               
 "Senate Bill 147 was introduced at the request of Alaskans                    
 concerned about the ability of the spouses of our elected statewide           
 leaders to sustain themselves in their senior years.                          
                                                                               
 Because of the fact that the few individuals who might possibly               
 benefit from the legislation have been women, this sponsor                    
 statement will refer to these individuals as our former "First                
 Ladies".  It should be pointed out, however, that the provisions of           
 this bill would apply equally to any qualified spouse, regardless             
 of gender.                                                                    
                                                                               
 Although our First Ladies are not elected, they do serve an                   
 important role in any administration.  This legislation is intended           
 to acknowledge that role and provide a small benefit under limited            
 conditions to recognize that service.                                         
                                                                               
 SB 147 would provide a benefit of $1,000 per month to the surviving           
 widow or widower or the former spouse of a governor or lieutenant             
 governor.  The spouse would have had to have been married to the              
 governor or lieutenant governor during their term in office.                  
                                                                               
 The benefit is further restricted to an individual who is at least            
 60 years of age, unmarried at the time of collecting the benefit              
 and not employed in a position covered by a state retirement                  
 system.  Eligibility for the benefit would terminate with the death           
 of the individual or if they remarry or become eligible for a                 
 benefit under the state retirement system.                                    
                                                                               
 We would like to assume that Alaska's former First Ladies are                 
 provided for in their senior years.  That may not always be the               
 case and SB 147 will provide a small safety net as a way of                   
 acknowledging their service to the state of Alaska."                          
                                                                               
 Mr. Ambrose related that Senator Taylor has no objection to                   
 deleting references to the lieutenant governor in this legislation            
 so that it just applies to widows or widowers of former governors.            
                                                                               
 Number 495                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR DUNCAN asked the differences between the original bill and            
 the committee substitute.  MR. AMBROSE explained the original bill            
 makes reference to the surviving divorced spouse and the committee            
 substitute changes that to the former spouse.  He also explained              
 the suggestion to delete references to the lieutenant governor is             
 being proposed because of the potential fiscal impact, as well as             
 the role of the spouse of the lieutenant governor is not on the               
 same level as the role of the spouse of the governor.                         
                                                                               
 Number 512                                                                    
                                                                               
 ELTON ENGSTROM of Juneau, the requestor of the legislation, said              
 the wife of the governor is the only person in this state who does            
 as much work, in some ways, as her husband.  He related that                  
 approximately five or six months before he was contacted by a                 
 former first lady asking for his help as she had been kicked out of           
 the Glory Hole,which is a shelter for homeless persons.  He noted             
 this is somewhat like something that happened 100 years ago.                  
 Another First Lady, Mary Lincoln, had a few mental problems and was           
 having a difficult time, and in 1873 Congress passed an annual                
 pension for her.  Likewise, this legislation is for a former spouse           
 of a governor who is in desperate straights and could use some                
 acknowledgment for the time that she and others have worked for the           
 state of Alaska.                                                              
                                                                               
 Number 547                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER expressed concern with including divorced spouses in           
 the legislation because he thinks it might be stretching beyond the           
 concept that the requestor is trying to achieve.  MR. ENGSTROM                
 responded that this is dealing with such a limited group, and, to             
 him, it is a recognition of the service performed by these                    
 individuals.                                                                  
                                                                               
 Number 562                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD also expressed concern with putting this provision               
 into statute because it appears this is creating a piece of                   
 legislation for one individual and he wasn't sure that was good               
 public policy.                                                                
                                                                               
 TAPE 96-19, SIDE B                                                            
 Number 015                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER offered an amendment to delete all references to the           
 lieutenant governor which would limit the scope of the legislation.           
 Hearing no objection, the Chairman stated Amendment No. 1 was                 
 adopted.                                                                      
                                                                               
 Number 025                                                                    
                                                                               
 BILL CHURCH, Retirement Supervisor, Division of Retirement &                  
 Benefits, Department of Administration, stated he was present to              
 respond to questions from the committee.                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD inquired if former first ladies are eligible for                 
 survivor benefits under their spouses retirement plan.  MR. CHURCH            
 acknowledged they would have survivor benefits available if the               
 former governor was a vested member of the retirement system and if           
 the former governor, upon retirement, elected to provide survivor             
 benefits to the spouse.  He also clarified to Senator Ward that               
 common law marriages are not recognized in the state for benefit              
 purposes.                                                                     
                                                                               
 SENATOR WARD asked if a governor was to serve only four years and             
 did not become vested under the state retirement system, under this           
 proposal would his spouse still qualify for this benefit.  MR.                
 CHURCH acknowledged that the spouse would.  SENATOR WARD commented            
 that could be unconstitutional.                                               
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony on CSSB 147(STA), CHAIRMAN GREEN             
 stated the bill would be held in committee.