Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205

03/11/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 83 ELECTIONS; VOTING; BALLOT REQS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 84 LAND VOUCHERS; PFDS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 7 STATE TROOPER POLICIES: PUBLIC ACCESS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 12 MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 40 VETERANS' BENEFITS SERVICES; DISCLOSURE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                   SB 84-LAND VOUCHERS; PFDS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:10:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 84                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  the  veterans'  land  purchase  discount;                                                               
establishing state land vouchers;  relating to the permanent fund                                                               
dividend; relating  to the duties  of the Department  of Revenue;                                                               
authorizing the  Department of Natural Resources  to accept state                                                               
land  vouchers; relating  to eligibility  for public  assistance;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:10:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 84.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:10:51 PM                                                                                                                    
EDWARD  MARTIN,   representing  self,  Cooper   Landing,  Alaska,                                                               
advised that  the history of  this issue  goes back to  1998. The                                                               
price of oil  had dropped to $12 per barrel  and Governor Knowles                                                               
sought  ideas to  fix some  of the  state's fiscal  problems. Mr.                                                               
Martin  highlighted that  he suggested  that  getting state  land                                                               
that was sitting idle into the  hands of Alaskans would help with                                                               
the fiscal situation.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. MARTIN  stated that SB 84  will help the future  of the state                                                               
and  the future  of Alaska's  children by  ensuring they  have an                                                               
opportunity to get land for which  they can create new wealth and                                                               
investment. He suggested  that retaining the money  from the land                                                               
voucher program in the Earnings  Reserve Account (ERA) would help                                                               
grow larger dividends.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
He also  commented on quorum  requirements and options  for doing                                                               
business during the COVID-19 pandemic.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER mentioned  that the  committee had  a quorum  to do                                                               
business but not to move the bill from committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:13:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  REINBOLD  stated  that  she was  attending  the  meeting                                                               
remotely but  would be happy to  return to the committee  room to                                                               
vote to pass bills from committee.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER thanked  her for  letting the  public know  she was                                                               
attending the meeting, just not  in the committee room because of                                                               
policies.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:14:34 PM                                                                                                                    
MARTY  PARSONS, Director,  Division of  Mining, Land,  and Water,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  offered to answer questions  if the committee                                                               
had concerns about the effect of the bill.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:15:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  found no questions  or other testifiers  and closed                                                               
public testimony on SB 84.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 84 in committee.                                                                                           

Document Name Date/Time Subjects