HB 62-TUITION WAIVER FOR NATIONAL GUARD FAMILY 2:34:26 PM CHAIR ROSES announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 62, "An Act providing for partial tuition assistance for families of members of the Alaska National Guard; directing the adjutant general to seek additional funding to support tuition assistance; and providing for free hunting and sport fishing licenses for active members of the Alaska National Guard." KACI SCHROEDER HOTCH, Staff to Representative Bill Thomas, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 62 and an amendment labeled 25-LS0303\A.1, Mischel, 2/1/07 on behalf of the joint prime sponsors Representatives Thomas, and Kerttula. She informed the committee that HB 62 consists of three parts. The bill first grants active National Guard members free hunting and fishing licenses to thank members for their service to the State of Alaska and to serve as an important recruiting tool for the Alaska National Guard. Ms. Hotch continued to explain that the second part grants a 50 percent waiver of University of Alaska (UA) tuition to spouses of National Guard members. This waiver, she added, will serve as an important retainment tool and will also recognize the commitment of service from guard families. The third part of HB 62 concerns funding the current tuition waiver program for guard members and additional funding for spousal tuition waivers. Additional funds will be obtained by authorizing the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to request supplemental appropriations. 2:37:17 PM CHAIR ROSES asked if the tuition waiver program accrues administrative costs charged by the Department of Administration (DOA) and/or the University of Alaska. MS. HOTCH said she believes that the University of Alaska has submitted a zero fiscal note to be attached to HB 62 and DMVA has submitted a fiscal note indicating its costs. MAJOR GENERAL CAMPBELL, in response to questions, explained that the DMVA does not extract fees, but it will accrue costs for administering and processing applications. He pointed out that supplemental funding requests which are submitted to the Alaska State Legislature are not always appropriated, and furthermore, the existing program is not always fully funded. He also indicated, in response to a question, that he could not comment on a change in policy that would transfer the administration of the program from the DMVA to the University of Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM recalled a previous House Finance subcommittee meeting in which members were advised that the funding for this program is short every year by approximately $60,000. She said she is supportive of the present program which is managed by the DMVA. 2:44:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE BUCH requested clarification as to whether spouses and members of the family or just spouses would receive tuition waivers under HB 62. CHAIR ROSES answered the question by stating that the amendment labeled 25-LS0303\A.1, MISCHEL, 2/1/07, limits tuition waiver to spouses only. 2:45:06 PM MARY GOWER, Director of Enrollment Services, University of Alaska, informed the committee that UA does not extract administrative fees from the current program and that it supports HB 62 and has submitted a zero fiscal note. She said she could not comment on the possibility of transferring the administration of the program from DMVA to UA, or if UA would support a reduction in the tuition rate. 2:47:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report HB 62 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 2:47:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI objected for discussion purposes. [Although not formally stated, the committee treated the motion as withdrawn.] REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI moved that the committee adopt Amendment 1, labeled 25-LS0303\A.1, Mischel, 2/1/07, which read: Page 1, line 1: Delete "families" Insert "spouses" Page 3, line 5: Delete "or child" 2:49:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report HB 62, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 62(MLV) was reported from the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.