HOUSE BILL NO. 150 "An Act relating to pay, allowances, and benefits for members of the organized militia." 2:41:06 PM KENDRA KLOSTER, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, introduced the legislation. She explained that HB 150 was an ongoing effort to modernize the state's Alaska Military Code from 1955. She reminded the committee that the process began last year with the Alaska Code of Military Justice. She delineated that HB 150 would authorize the same pay, allowance and benefits for the organized militia whether they are called into state active duty by the Governor or Adjutant General or called to service by the President. Presently, the Alaska State Defense Force soldiers serving during emergencies or disasters were paid as state employees according to tasks performed under assigned duties. She furthered that the type of accounting was cumbersome and labor intensive. Soldiers were uncertain of the amount of pay they would receive. The bill aligned with the current armed forces pay schedule which paid by grade and rank of the soldier instead of duties performed. She indicated that the change was cost neutral. Representative Kawasaki asked about whether the soldiers were entitled to retirement benefits. Ms. Kloster answered that the Alaska State Defense Force was a volunteer organization and would only receive pay when in active state duty. She elaborated that the force was different than the National Guard members and she deferred further answers to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). Representative Kawasaki clarified that he was asking whether there was an impact on Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) from the bill. Ms. Kloster replied in the negative. She reiterated that as volunteers the force members only received pay when activated and were not entitled to PERS. Representative Grenn asked for examples of recent emergencies. Ms. Kloster referred to pay tables in member's packets [prepared by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (copy on file).] She noted the table listed the example of the Sockeye fire on page 2. She elaborated that the table listed the pay scale comparisons under the old system and the new system. The new system was cost neutral due to the efficiencies in the accounting required. Representative Grenn asked whether the Sockeye fire was the most recent example. 2:46:37 PM Ms. Kloster replied in the affirmative. She deferred the question to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for further detail. Representative Pruitt referred to the 2015 Sockeye fire example on the pay table document. He was trying to determine why some members of the force were paid more and others were paid less when compared to their previous service. Ms. Kloster deferred the question to DMVA. She added that a force member would be paid based on the person's current position in grade and rank rather than duty. BOB DOEHL, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS (via teleconference), answered that the tables were looking at two different pay scales of two different systems. He elucidated that the military system used a straight system of rank. Currently, a National Guardsman and a defense force volunteer working together would be paid differently from different pay scales depending on rank and duty. The challenge was when the Alaska State Defense Force was activated the department evaluated the duties on a given day or hour consistent with the official position description system, hourly rates, and the pay range. The difference was how the two systems calculated doing the same job. Every disaster had different requirements in terms of the type of individuals activated. He concluded that he could not find a consistent pattern to identify the system that paid higher. 2:51:03 PM Representative Pruitt asked whether the force members were in favor of the new pay system. JOHN JAMES, COLONEL, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS (via teleconference), replied in the affirmative. Co-Chair Foster OPENED and CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony. HB 150 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.