04/17/2000 02:05 PM House FIN

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 254(HES)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to heirloom certificates of marriage."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELMER LINDSTROM, SPECIAL ASSISTANT,  DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                                                   
SOCIAL SERVICES  testified in support of the  legislation. He                                                                   
explained that legislation was  enacted to allow the issuance                                                                   
of heirloom birth certificates.   That program has been quite                                                                   
successful  and has generated  thousands  of dollars  for the                                                                   
Alaska Children's Trust. He observed  that SB 254 expands the                                                                   
program to allow the sale of heirloom  marriage certificates.                                                                   
Revenue from the sale of the certificates  would be available                                                                   
to   the  legislature   for  appropriation   to  the   Alaska                                                                   
Children's Trust.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
(TAPE CHANGE, HFC 00  - 124, SIDE 1)                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
Mr. Lindstrom  estimated that the sale of  certificates would                                                                   
net $270 thousand  dollars in revenue. There is  a first year                                                                   
operating cost of $55 thousand dollars.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde  questioned why the money would  go into the                                                                   
Children's Trust rather than martial counseling.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Lindstrom  stated that the  legislation was viewed  as an                                                                   
opportunity   to  generate   additional   revenues  for   the                                                                   
Children's Trust.  He pointed out  that purchase of  the more                                                                   
expensive heirloom certificates is not required.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Therriault  questioned  why  "the  state  registrar                                                                   
shall  issue" was  added on  page  1, line  6. Mr.  Lindstrom                                                                   
responded that  the language notes  that if someone  requests                                                                   
the certificate that it shall be issued.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
In  response  to  a  question  by  Co-Chair  Therriault,  Mr.                                                                   
Lindstrom  noted the  legislation  was modeled  on the  birth                                                                   
certificate statute.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
AL ZANGRI, STATE  REGISTRAR, CHIEF, BUREAU  VITAL STATISTICS,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT  OF  ADMINISTRATION  provided information  on  the                                                                   
legislation. He  noted that the language mirrors  exactly the                                                                   
birth  certificate  language  and  that  both  use  the  word                                                                   
"shall".   Approximately  $50   thousand  dollars   has  been                                                                   
generated  from the  heirloom birth  certificates. The  money                                                                   
has been  set aside  for deposit  into the Alaska  Children's                                                                   
Trust. Money has  been deposited into the Trust  on a regular                                                                   
basis from the heirloom birth certificates.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips echoed  concerns by Vice Chair Bunde.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault reviewed the fiscal notes.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde questioned why  there would not be a payback                                                                   
from the Trust  for the costs. Co-Chair  Therriault clarified                                                                   
that the fiscal  note would not be changed.  He observed that                                                                   
the legislation does generate program receipts.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Lindstrom   explained  that  $270  dollars   in  program                                                                   
receipts  would  be  generated.  Approximately  $55  thousand                                                                   
dollars  of  the  program  receipts  would  be  necessary  to                                                                   
establish  the  program.  The legislation  would  be  revenue                                                                   
neutral.  Co-Chair  Therriault added  that  the  cost of  the                                                                   
program  would be $47.7  thousand dollars  after the  initial                                                                   
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice  Chair  Bunde  MOVED  to report  CSSB  254(HES)  out  of                                                                   
Committee with  the accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 254(HES) was REPORTED out  of Committee with a "do pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and   with  a  fiscal  impact   note  by  the                                                                   
Department of Health and Social  Services, published 4/13/00.