1:28:33 PM HB 76-PAY FOR AK DEFENSE FORCE    CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 76, "An Act relating to pay for the Alaska State Defense Force; and providing for an effective date." 1:28:49 PM CRAIG CHRISTENSON, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, stated the discussion would be around removing a statement from current statute. He provided an explanation of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) and its being part of Alaska's Organized Militia, but said that if ASDF are brought in for training, currently there is no mechanism to pay the members like the other members of state organized militia. He stressed this is not about paying members for drill, but for uncommon instances that will allow them to be paid for their training. 1:33:54 PM CHAIR WRIGHT asked if this would be "mission critical" to have this training, and if so, why? MR. CHRISTENSON brought up an example referencing water purification - the systems required being unique - and he said if a large storm took out communication, ASDF may be the only means of communication and assistance in more rural villages. Training is key to all of that. 1:35:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW pointed out the white paper having a request for $2.1 million, but the fiscal note is zero. [Both documents are included in the committee packet.] MR. CHRISTENSON replied that the white paper referenced the budget requests. He referred the question to Mr. Ernisse. 1:35:51 PM BOB ERNISSE, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, replied that HB 76 doesn't ask for additional funding, but is asking for the opportunity to pay members when they are in training or volunteer status. 1:36:24 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked whether there is any drill pay. MR. CHRISTENSON replied unless they are placed on state active duty for an event such as a disaster, everything is volunteer. The bill does not include asking for drill pay. REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked if this is analogous to National Guard Title 32 orders. MR. CHRISTENSON replied yes, ASDF could always do training in a volunteer status and that would allow them to be paid for the training. 1:37:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted it may be helpful for a brief overview of the Alaska State Defense Force to be given to the public. MR. CHRISTENSON informed the committee that Mr. Brown is in the audience and asked that he come up and speak. He provided a brief introduction to Mr. Brown. 1:38:35 PM SIMON BROWN, Brigadier General, Alaska State Defense Force, directed his reply to Representative Saddler. He explained that ASDF was originally the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) and its responsibility at the time was to guard the entire coastline of Alaska with approximately 6,000 members. Now known as the Alaska State Defense Force, the primary responsibilities are to respond to emergencies throughout the state and the majority are not state declared emergencies; they are in small communities and an example is Typhoon Merbok in 2022. He explained there are ground forces present throughout the small communities, and their familiarity with the area and citizens give them the ability to respond immediately. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the total enrollment membership is and how they are distributed. MR. BROWN replied approximately 200 at this time and his goal is to have 5-person teams in communities throughout the state. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referred to the language on page 1 of the bill and asked for clarification on the training portion. 1:42:20 PM MR. CHRISTENSON replied that currently in statute, the Alaska Naval Militia, the Air National Guard, and the Army National Guard can be paid for any state active duty, but it does not cover community service - this being why ASDF is trying to remove the exemption. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER observed that is a very specific carve- out, and asked why that specific exemption was included for training and community service in the first place. MR. CHRISTENSON replied that he does not know the reason, but it was decades ago. 1:44:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER pointed out the fiscal note being indeterminate, and it is unclear how many people would be activated and the number of times. He inquired if administrative or ceremonial functions qualify for active service. MR. CHRISTENSON replied that community events such as parades are not considered for paid state active duty. REPRESENTATIVE CARPENTER stated he was thinking about the processing and headquarter elements that go with bringing in new recruits into an organization, and he asked if these administrative functions qualify for state active duty. MR. CHRISTENSON replied the intent was not to bring people into state active duty to do routine paperwork. This state active duty request is specifically for more specialized training. 1:47:35 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER acknowledged that HB 76 illuminates the prohibition of payment for training, which had been explained, but asked for a description of the community service portion. MR. CHRISTENSON replied that an example of community service could be traffic management at large events such as an air show. 1:49:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE GROH stated that he saw the structure of ASDF Mr. Christenson had laid out, and he questioned where the headquarters are located and if there are any personnel in his hometown of Anchorage. MR. BROWN replied that battalion headquarters are located in Wasilla, Alaska, the scout brigade headquarters are in Bethel, Alaska, and the sustainment brigade is in Kodiak, Alaska. He stated some of his staff reside in Anchorage, Alaska. 1:50:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY referenced back to a former statement that volunteers do not get paid for drill, and asked how often they drill. MR. BROWN replied they drill 2 days every month. REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked if [the bill] would authorize pay for drill. MR. CHRISTENSON responded that drill is considered training; however, there would be a significant fiscal note and a budget ask so the intention is not for drill itself to be paid. REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked if the intention is to pay for "special training" and not drill. MR. CHRISTENSON relayed that the Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) felt it best to leave the options open and not limit the type of training. The department also does not have a fiscal note to pay for drill - but rather that it would allow pay for training. 1:54:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER wanted clarification for the record that the bill does not seek to provide payment to ASDF members for the 2 day per month drill, and that ASDF members do not qualify for retirement. MR. CHRISTENSON confirmed that is correct - ASDF members are only eligible for worker's compensation according to statute, but not eligible for retirement or any other typical state benefits. 1:56:37 PM CHAIR WRIGHT opened public testimony on HB 76. After ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed public testimony. CHAIR WRIGHT announced HB 76 was held over.