02/17/2005 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

HB 122-LIFE INSURANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  announced that the  order of business would  be HOUSE                                                               
BILL  NO.  122, "An  Act  relating  to  payment of  premiums  for                                                               
Service members'  Group Life  Insurance on  behalf of  members of                                                               
the  Alaska  National  Guard  deployed  to  a  combat  zone;  and                                                               
providing for an  effective date."  Chair Lynn  announced that HB
 will not be moved today and will be heard first.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM stated  that  HB 122  pertains to  life                                                               
insurance  for the  National Guard,  at a  time when  the federal                                                               
government  is considering  action to  better serve  its military                                                               
men  in other  countries; The  Alaskan Guard  deserves the  same.                                                               
This bill  will pay  life insurance  premiums for  guardsmen that                                                               
are deployed  to combat  zones.   She went on  to say  that these                                                               
guardsmen are our neighbors, co-workers,  and some are even staff                                                               
here in  this building.   This bill  provides extra  security for                                                               
their  dependents,  gives  them  piece  of  mind,  and  a  little                                                               
assistance  while they  are away.   This  legislation will  allow                                                               
premiums to  be paid up  to $250,000.   This bill  has bipartisan                                                               
support.   Representative  Dahlstrom  characterized HB  122 as  a                                                               
work in progress.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN  asked what  the out  of pocket  expense was  for this                                                               
insurance.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM  answered   that  it  is  approximately                                                               
$16.25 a month.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LYNN replied that the state  should be able to afford this,                                                               
considering what these guardsmen are  going through to defend the                                                               
national policy.   He then  queried the  Representative Dahlstrom                                                               
as to whether any of the guardsmen had died as of yet.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM  asserted that though they  had not come                                                               
back with any  dead among them, some guardsmen  had returned with                                                               
some physical injuries and issues that they needed to address.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:13:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS  asked if  the committee could  extend this                                                               
to property extension payments.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM  replied that this  is one of  the items                                                               
that is on a list that  is being considered for inclusion in this                                                               
bill, or within newer ones being considered                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS asked if he could co-sponsor the bill.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM answered  that she  would love  to have                                                               
him onboard the bill packet.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LYNN agreed  that anything  the committee  can do  to help                                                               
those  in the  military is  something it  should look  into.   He                                                               
opened  the  floor  to  more  questions and  then  asked  if  the                                                               
committee could go ahead and move it out of committee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DAHLSTROM agreed  the  issue of  property tax  is                                                               
enormous.    She expressed  the  need  to review  how  deployment                                                               
affects finances.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[HB 122 was held over.]