Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 106
04/14/2005 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Air National Guard - Brigadier General | |
| HB167 | |
| HB160 | |
| HB238 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 238 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 167 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 167-DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR DECEASED VETERAN 8:16:19 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 167, "An Act relating to providing a death certificate for a deceased veteran without cost." 8:17:15 AM CHAIR SEATON noted that Representatives Lynn and Gruenberg serve on the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs, sponsor of the bill. 8:17:40 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, speaking as a member of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs, sponsor of HB 167, noted that there was a committee substitute in the committee packet. 8:18:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for HB 167, Version 24-LS0605\Y, Bullock, 4/11/05, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version Y was before the committee. 8:18:51 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG explained that the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs combined the former HB 166 into HB 167; the first half of the bill is the former HB 167 and the second half is the former HB 166. [Section 1] would amend AS 18.50.320 to add a new [paragraph (7)]. He said it is modeled on an Arizona statute: ARS 39.122.A. Representative Gruenberg directed attention to the death certificate issued in Arizona for Seymour Epstein [included in the committee packet]. He noted that the late Mr. Epstein was his uncle-in-law. He cited paragraph (7), which read as follows: (7) upon request and without cost to the individual making the request, the bureau shall issue a certified copy of the death certificate of a veteran to the surviving spouse, next of kin, or other relative of the deceased veteran for the purpose of obtaining veterans' benefits, social security benefits, and other government benefits; in this paragraph, "veteran" has the meaning given in AS 26.10.080. 8:20:27 AM CHAIR SEATON pointed out that the committee packet includes a fiscal note, but it is for the original bill version, not for Version Y. The committee took an at-ease from 8:21:11 AM to 8:21:33 AM. 8:21:34 AM SARAH HOOK, Staff to Representative Gruenberg, Alaska State Legislature, said there is someone available to address questions regarding the fiscal note. 8:21:53 AM CHAIR SEATON clarified that he wants to ensure a fiscal note for Version Y will be available for the record. 8:22:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG directed attention to Section 2 of the bill, which he said is modeled on federal law: 38 U.S.C. Section 112. It would allow the adjutant general of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, upon the request of the governor, to issue certificates expressing the state's recognition of the veteran's service. The certificate could be issued to eligible recipients, defined to mean: the surviving spouse, next of kin, and relative of the deceased veteran. He added that in this sense the eligible recipient is the same in both sections of the bill. He said "veteran" is defined in AS 26.10.080. He said this is a small token of the state's appreciation for people who have really gone out of their way to help the country and the state of Alaska. 8:24:42 AM CHAIR SEATON asked if the effective date is such that it would not negatively impact the bureau. He said there may be a backlog of requests and he stated for the record that there may be an issue of consistency regarding the combining of the two bills. 8:26:01 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said it doesn't cost $30,000 a year to print up the death certificates, because it's just a copy made with a seal affixed to it. He added, "The only thing would be - at least theoretically - these people might ... be requesting death certificates." 8:26:38 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER noted that the previously mentioned death certificate has a stamp on it that read, "FOR GOVERNMENT USE ONLY Pursuant to A.R.S. 39-122.A this copy has been issued free of charge for the purpose of applying for and obtaining veteran's or Social Security Benefits and shall not be valid for any other purpose." She asked what other purpose there would be and why that stamp would be needed. 8:27:09 AM MS. HOOK said that she spoke with Mr. Mitchell in Vital Statistics, and he expressed concern that people would take advantage of the program by requesting too many copies of death certificates, which would in turn increase the cost of the program. 8:27:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated that originally when the bill was drafted, he thought a person should be able to get as many copies as desired. However, he said Mr. Mitchell was very conservative. He said the way the language is currently written, one certificate can be acquired. He said he would consider a friendly amendment to broaden that language. 8:28:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN said he would like to keep the language as narrow as possible; however, he asked about private commercial life insurance. He expressed concern that the bill not be bound too much. 8:29:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that the language could be deleted restricting the purpose of the certificate to obtaining veterans' benefits, social security benefits, and other government benefits. He also suggested that "copy" could be made "copies". 8:30:18 AM CHAIR SEATON said he thinks that Representatives Lynn and Gruenberg have struck some kind of compromise, and he said he would hate to jeopardize the swift passage of the bill by making it too expansive. 8:30:47 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked if the words that Representative Gruenberg suggested striking would mean that "that one time the bureau would issue a single certified copy." 8:31:19 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that instead of saying "a" certified copy, say "one" certified copy. In response to a question from Representative Gardner, he confirmed that the copy would not be stamped regarding the restrictive purposes, and thus the person could show the death certificate for varied purposes. 8:31:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved Amendment 1 as follows: On page 2, line 23: Delete "a" Insert "one" On page 2, beginning on line 24: Delete "for the purpose of obtaining veterans' benefits, social security benefits, and other government benefits" 8:33:06 AM REPRESENTATIVE LYNN [objected for the purpose of discussion]. He asked if it isn't necessary to have a new copy of a death certificate for each purpose. 8:33:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted that, in the case of the late Mr. Epstein, he got one certificate and made copies. 8:33:36 AM CHAIR SEATON treated Representative Lynn's objection as having been withdrawn and asked if there was any other objection. No objections were stated and Amendment 1 was adopted. 8:35:11 AM CHAIR SEATON, in response to a suggestion from Representative Gruenberg, stated for record that two fiscal notes would be sent along with Version Y. 8:35:40 AM CHAIR SEATON, after ascertaining that there was no one to testify, closed public testimony. 8:35:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked how people will become aware of this law if it is passed. 8:36:06 AM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he is not sure how that would be done; however, he said the division usually has a pretty good network to getting the word out to veterans' groups, for example. He offered to inquire. 8:36:20 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER responded that if there are benefits to survivors, "they need to know or it doesn't mean anything." REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report CSHB 167, Version 24- LS0605\Y, Bullock, 4/11/05, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 167(STA) was reported out of the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
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