04/14/1998 02:37 PM Senate RLS

CHAIRMAN KELLY brought CSHB 2(FIN) - PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND                   
ELIGIBILITY before the committee and directed attention to a                   
proposed Rules SCS.                                                            
                                                                               
NICOLE THIBODEAU, staff to Representative Pete Kott, explained the             
major change made in the proposed Rules SCS is that the 72-hour                
rule is made proactive by changing the effective date January 1,               
2000.   In the Finance SCS the 72-hour rule was retroactive.  The              
72-hour rule states that people who are gone on allowable absence              
must return to the state every two years for a period of 72 hours.             
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN KELLY asked what the current rule was on allowable                    
absences.  MS. THIBODEAU clarified that right now an individual                
must return to the state every two years, but there is no specified            
period of time on how long the individual must remain in the state.            
The Senate Finance Committee expanded it so that there will be no              
more "touch and go."                                                           
                                                                               
MS. THIBODEAU also pointed out that the Senate Finance Committee               
removed some of the allowable absences including Peace Corps                   
volunteers and national athletic team participants, and those have             
been added back into the Rules SCS.  Also added are teacher                    
exchange participants and Foreign Service members.                             
                                                                               
SENATOR TORGERSON, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, noted             
that the committee had extensive debate on removing Peace Corps                
volunteers, and he had an amendment to add in Federal Emergency                
Management Agency (FEMA) volunteers, however, that amendment                   
failed.  He said he would have a problem with that particular                  
section unless FEMA volunteers are included.  He added there are               
just a few FEMA volunteers in the state that actually go out and               
volunteer their time in emergencies.                                           
                                                                               
SENATOR TORGERSON moved the following amendment to SCS CSHB 2(RLS):            
                                                                               
Amendment No. 1                                                                
                                                                               
Page 5, line 24:  After "Peace Corps" add "or volunteering services            
                 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency"                  
                                                                               
Hearing no objection, CHAIRMAN KELLY stated the amendment was                  
adopted to be incorporated into the Rules SCS.                                 
                                                                               
There was brief discussion on the "piggybacking provision" in                  
Section 10 which now provides that spouses and dependents                      
accompanying individuals who are outside the state for allowable               
absences will be eligible for a 1998 dividend.  It was noted that              
the provision was not made retroactive because it would have meant             
too big a fiscal note.                                                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN KELLY commented it was his understanding that the sponsor             
of the bill has agreed to accept the legislation with the Senate               
changes so that it won't have to go to a conference committee and              
MS. THIBODEAU  agreed that was also her understanding.                         
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN said an area where he thinks there is a  shortcoming             
and which should be addressed is people who are engaged in                     
legitimate missionary activities outside the state, and he asked               
Ms. Thibodeau if she could relate why that is not included in the              
bill.  MS. THIBODEAU responded that several people have requested              
that missionaries be included.  She related that this question was             
put to Tam Cook, Director of Legal Services, and Ms. Cook has                  
responded with a memo that would be made available to committee                
members.  She noted that Ms. Cook has advised that just the phrase             
"religious volunteers" couldn't be used, and it would necessitate              
specifically listing every type of religious volunteer.                        
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved the adoption of SCS CSHB 2(RLS), version "C",              
as amended.  Hearing no objection, the motion carried.                         
                                                                               
SENATOR LEMAN moved and asked unanimous consent SCS CSHB 2(RLS) be             
passed out of committee with individual recommendations and that it            
be approved for calendaring at the discretion of the Chair.                    
Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.