HB 25-PFD ELIGIBILITY UNIFORMED SERVICES  CHAIR WRIGHT announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 25 "An Act relating to eligibility for the permanent fund dividend; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 25(STA).] CHAIR WRIGHT informed committee members of a memo from Legislative Legal Services addressing a question regarding the applicability of the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) five-year rule. 1:44:49 PM EMILY NAUMAN, Deputy Director, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, stated she was asked to come to the committee to discuss the five-year rule in relation to Alaska Statutes affected by CSHB 25(STA). She referred to the memo from Legislative Legal Services on this question [included in the committee packet], which stated that the part of Alaska Statutes that created the five-year rule, AS 43.23.008(d), also applies to members of the armed services. The rule states that after a resident is absent from [Alaska] for more than 180 days for 5 of the preceding years, then the [Department of Revenue (DOR)] assumes that the applicant is no longer a resident. She maintained that the rule applies even if the absence falls under the allowable absences under AS 43.23.008(a), which would include allowable absences for uniformed or armed forces service members if amended by CSHB 25(STA). 1:47:14 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDY STORY, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor of CSHB 25(STA), said she had no comments to offer at this time. 1:47:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY sought to confirm that, as drafted, CSHB 25(STA) would not change who the five-year rule currently effects. REPRESENATIVE STORY shared her understanding that CSHB 25(STA) would not allow anyone to collect the PFD after 5 years and deferred to Ms. Nauman for further details. MS. NAUMAN added two qualifications to Representative Gray's understanding. She explained that the five-year rule already exists in Alaska Statues and CSHB 25(STA) does not change that part of the statue. Additionally, she reported that an applicant can rebuff the presumption that they are no longer qualified if they can demonstrate clear and convincing evidence to [DOR] that they have been present in the state for 30 cumulative days within the 5 years and they remain a resident as defined in Alaska Statues. REPRESENTATIVE GRAY asked whether an individual could fulfill the requirement by "taking a six-day vacation" to Alaska every year. MS. NAUMAN confirmed Representative Gray's understanding. 1:49:47 PM CHAIR WRIGHT announced that CSHB 25(STA) would be held over. 1:50:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE SHAW expressed his support for the proposed changes to CSHB 25(STA), as chair of the House State Affairs Committee (HSTA). He reported that the changes still align with the intent of the committee substitute (CS) that was reported from HSTA while removing additional financial burden on DOR.