Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/02/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB 45 | |
| HB 61 | |
| HB 285 | |
| HB 330 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 45 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 326 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 285 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 330 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 45(MLV)
"An Act authorizing the Department of Military and
Veterans' Affairs to establish and maintain Alaska
veterans' cemeteries; and establishing the Alaska
veterans' cemetery fund in the general fund."
Senator Thomas MOVED to ADOPT Committee Substitute 25-
LS0230\E as the working document before this Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.
Co-Chair Stedman referred to the section changes in the new
Committee Substitute removing Sections 1 and 3 which would
have created the Alaska Veterans Cemetery Fund.
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
OBJECTION, Committee Substitute 25-LS0230\E was adopted as
the working document before this Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GUTTENBERG presented an overview of the
bill and referred to the Sponsor Statement:
All Alaska veterans deserve access to a military
cemetery that honors their service and recognizes their
sacrifices while serving our country, usually under
challenging conditions, and frequently in harm's way.
On a per capita basis, Alaska has more residents in
active military service or who are veterans than all
but one other state. According to the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA), a total of 9,469 veterans
reside in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.
The VA's long-term goal is to provide an operational
veterans' cemetery within 75 miles of 90 percent of the
veterans in the country. The nearest veterans' cemetery
to Fairbanks is Fort Richardson National Cemetery,
located 350 miles away in Anchorage. By the VA's own
estimation, a facility in Fairbanks would greatly
increase the number of veterans served by a veterans'
cemetery.
Interior Alaska's veterans deserve a cemetery located
in the Interior of the state. A state veterans'
cemetery in the Interior would better serve the needs
of veterans and their families, and provide a final
resting place that is centrally located, honorable, and
well maintained. An Interior veterans' cemetery will
help families avoid the pain of burying a loved one far
from home.
HB 45 seeks to establish a state cemetery similar to
the Fort Richardson and Sitka National Cemeteries. It
will provide a place in the Interior for soldiers to be
laid to rest with full military funeral honors,
including uniformed pallbearers, rifle team, and
ceremonial folding and presentation of the United
States flag.
HB 45 authorizes the Alaska Department of Military and
Veterans' Affairs to establish and maintain a state
veterans' cemetery with funds from the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs, State Cemetery Grants Program.
Through this program, the Alaska Department of Military
and Veterans' Affairs may be awarded up to 100% of
allowable costs for design, construction, and operating
equipment for an approved project. To date, the VA has
awarded 152 grants totaling more than $264 million to
establish, expand, or improve 65 veterans' cemeteries
in 35 states, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. There
are now 65 operational cemeteries and four more under
construction.
Representative Guttenberg spoke to the history of the bill
and the absence of a military cemetery in the Interior. He
remarked that Alaska is not qualified for another National
Cemetery for many reasons.
9:27:22 AM
Representative Guttenberg mentioned a Veterans Cemetery
program which provides funds for the construction of the
cemetery using state ground. He reported that this bill
would allow Alaska to apply for the veteran's grant and
follow the process. He clarified that, at first, he believed
Fairbanks had the only available land but now recognizes
other communities may also be eligible. He reiterated that
this bill would allow veterans to be buried in hallowed
ground close to home.
9:28:11 AM
Senator Thomas questioned if it was also possible for
boroughs and cities to contribute property or provide
assistance to locate the military cemetery into an existing
cemetery. Representative Guttenberg agreed.
9:28:45 AM
BEN CLEVELAND, DEPARTMENT COMMANDER, MILITARY ORDER OF
PURPLE HEART ALASKA AND PRESIDENT, ALASKA NATIVE VETERANS
ASSOCIATION testified via teleconference and supported the
bill. He pointed out that there are approximately 11,000
veterans in the Interior of Alaska. Mr. Cleveland expressed
the importance of recognizing the service of Alaska
veterans. He remarked that the full military service
accorded veterans is often not available for veterans in
Alaska.
9:32:12 AM
RAYMOND CLARK, DEPARTMENT COMMANDER, MILITARY ORDER OF THE
PURPLE HEART ALASKA testified via teleconference in support
of the bill. He wished for veterans to have a final resting
place in a cemetery close to home. He requested a cemetery
be established in the Interior that would be central to the
transportation hub of Alaska.
9:34:20 AM
MCHUGH PIERRE, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY
AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, supported the bill. He referred to
Page 2, line 2-12 as the driving factors in the fiscal note.
It begins with:
(c) The department shall, in consultation with the
Alaska Veterans' Advisory Council,
(1) adopt regulations for determining individuals
eligible for burial in an Alaska veterans' cemetery;
(2) receive the plot or interment allowance on behalf
of the state under 38 U.S.C. 2303;
(3) comply with all requirements for a state veterans'
cemetery grant established by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs under 38 U.S.C.
2408; and
(4) apply to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs for state veterans' cemetery grants under 38
U.S.C. 2408.
Mr. Pierre indicated that the department has exhausted its
resources and the above factors create the need for a
temporary, one-year, Range 16 Project Assistant position.
Co-Chair Stedman spoke to the fiscal note for the $62,000
new position. He questioned why the department felt it
necessary to hire a new position and asked if this could be
accomplished without adding a new position.
9:36:42 AM
Mr. Pierre remarked that the position was necessary. He
noted that when the bill was introduced last session, had it
passed, the position would not have been needed. He revealed
that the passage of other bills has impacted the department
and there is a need to seek a temporary position. At present
there is only one full time and one part time position in
the department.
9:37:39 AM
Senator Elton continued with reference to the fiscal note.
He questioned if the other bills mentioned by Mr. Pierre had
fiscal notes attached to them asking for additional
personnel. Mr. Pierre responded that the other bills have
zero fiscal notes.
Senator Elton asked if this additional person would be doing
work that may be attached to future legislation or bills.
Mr. Pierre responded that the new position will strictly
deal with the veteran's cemetery.
Senator Elton questioned if the fiscal notes would be
changing for the other outstanding Veterans Affairs bills.
Mr. Pierre signified that the other bills would all have
zero fiscal notes. Senator Elton commented that the other
veteran's bills have zero fiscal notes and wondered why the
accumulated impact of all the bills only requires a new
position being attached to this bill.
9:39:17 AM
Mr. Pierre responded that the department had exhausted all
its resources and the impact of this bill required the
addition of a new temporary position.
9:39:27 AM
Senator Huggins signified that the two fundamental questions
in the bill are where and when the cemetery would be built.
He recognized that the National Cemetery in Sitka is
reaching its limits but noted that the Ft. Richardson
cemetery has a long life and can be expanded. He shared that
co-Chair Hoffman in the Bethel community took care of
veterans on their own and congratulated their achievement.
9:40:40 AM
Co-Chair Stedman requested that the bill sponsor contact
Sitka National Cemetery to get information on the expected
expansion of that cemetery.
9:41:44 AM
Representative Guttenberg thanked the Committee for hearing
the bill. He concluded with the comment that veterans in
Alaska are looking for the opportunity to be buried in
hallowed ground.
CSHB 45 (MLV) was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
9:43:07 AM
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