Legislature(2007 - 2008)BARNES 124
03/29/2007 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB210 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 210 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 29, 2007
1:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Roses, Chair
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Robert L. "Bob" Buch
Representative Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux
Representative Jay Ramras
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 210
"An Act relating to the appointment and qualifications of the
adjutant general."
- MOVED HB 210 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 210
SHORT TITLE: QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DAHLSTROM
03/21/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/07 (H) MLV, STA
03/29/07 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
MCHUGH PIERRE,
Director of Communications;
Legislative Liaison
Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs
Fort Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 210.
COLONEL MIKE BRIDGES, Chair
Legislative Affairs
Alaska National Guard Officer's Association
Anchorage, Alaska,
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 210.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BOB ROSES called the House Special Committee on Military
and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:03:23 PM.
Representatives Roses, Buch, Dahlstrom, Fairclough, and Kawasaki
were present at the call to order.
HB 210-QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
1:03:33 PM
CHAIR ROSES announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 210, "An Act relating to the appointment and
qualifications of the adjutant general."
1:03:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM, sponsor of HB 210, informed the
committee that the bill pertains to the qualifications of the
adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. She noted the
increasing importance of the role of the Alaska National Guard
and the military in the daily lives of Alaskans. The intent of
the bill is to address recent changes in the structure and
organization of the Alaska National Guard. Members of the
Alaska National Guard, she said, are on duty 24 hours a day
defending the country and serving the state during local
emergencies. This bill will improve the morale of the troops by
ensuring that the adjutant general is adequately qualified to
lead them. She encouraged committee members to support HB 210.
1:05:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH observed that HB 210 raises the
officer's rank by adding one star to their rank, but that there
is no fiscal impact to the state budget. She said she supported
the work of the present adjutant general. Representative
Fairclough then asked about the resulting increased cost of
additional federal retirement benefits.
1:07:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that he grew up as a military
dependent and anytime there is an increase in rank there is also
an increase in pay and retirement benefits.
1:07:38 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked whether the four star status for
Alaska's adjutant general is comparable to the qualifications,
requirements, and responsibilities of an officer of equal rank
elsewhere in the nation.
1:08:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM deferred the equal status question to
either one of the witnesses. However, she clarified that a
lieutenant major is a three star, and page 1, line 5, of HB 210
states that the governor "may" [appoint]; therefore, the
governor retains the final decision on the appointment.
1:09:09 PM
MCHUGH PIERRE, Director of Communications, Legislative Liaison,
Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs' (DMVA), answered Representative
Fairclough's question by stating that the increase in rank from
two star to three star is authorized only when the National
Guard Bureau approves of the change. Mr. Pierre explained that
the rank of the National Guard Bureau chief may increase to four
star; therefore, all states will be authorized to increase their
adjutants general to the rank of three star. Until these
changes are recognized by federal statue, however, an increase
in rank at the state level is meaningless.
1:10:37 PM
CHAIR ROSES asked for further questions.
1:10:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH thanked all those in the military who
serve the state and the nation.
1:11:14 PM
MR. PIERRE informed the committee that six other states have
more stringent standards than Alaska and it is important for the
troops to know that their adjutant general is highly qualified.
1:11:46 PM
COLONEL MIKE BRIDGES, Legislative Affairs Chair, Alaska National
Guard Officer's Association (ANGOA), stated that he is
representing ANGOA and has also submitted written testimony to
the committee. He emphasized that the morale of the Alaska
National Guard is diminished by the appointment of a non-Alaskan
to the position of adjutant general. Brilliant officers who are
presently within the ranks of the Alaska National Guard have the
military education, combat experience, and homeland emergency
response experience necessary to best lead the troops. The
Alaska National Guard Officer's Association is supporting this
bill to encourage the governor to appoint adjutants general from
the highly qualified members of the Alaska National Guard.
1:13:58 PM
CHAIR ROSES closed public testimony on HB 210.
1:15:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH moved to report HB 210 out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 210 was reported
out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans'
Affairs.
1:15:37 PM
CHAIR ROSES asked for information on future events.
1:15:56 PM
MR. PIERRE responded that the Adjutants General Association of
the United States (AGAUS) will meet in Anchorage in June, 2007.
Fifty-four adjutants general from the fifty states, the District
of Columbia and the U. S. territories, will meet to discuss
National Guard policies and future planning issues. The
legislators will be notified of scheduled activities and will be
issued invitations to participate in this event.
1:18:02 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 1:19 p.m.
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