HB 196:  STATE EMPLOYMENT VETERANS PREFERENCE                                
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY believed it was too late under the Speaker's                  
  adjournment plan to send bills on to the House Rules                         
  Committee, but wanted to begin hearings on several bills                     
  that had been referred.  He then read the title to SSHB 196,                 
  noted it carried with it a zero fiscal note, had widespread                  
  support, and that several letters had been sent to the                       
  committee on its behalf.  He then called for a sponsor                       
  statement.                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT, PRIME SPONSOR OF SSHB 196,                         
  expressed concern it might be too late to send bills on.                     
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated the committee could pass SSHB 196 on                   
  to Rules, but believed the action deadline under the                         
  adjournment plan.                                                            
                                                                               
  Number 061                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE KOTT then proceeded with his sponsor                          
  statement, noting the federal government has had a veterans'                 
  preference for a long time, and that several other states                    
  had also adopted similar plans.  He stated the preference is                 
  an inducement for young people to join the service.  He                      
  stated Alaska's veterans' preference does not match up with                  
  other states, because it only allows veterans to use their                   
  preference points once when they apply for a job.  He said                   
  SSHB 196 would allow them to use the points several times                    
  while applying for a new job or a lateral transfer.                          
                                                                               
  Number 128                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked for clarification that a veteran, under                 
  current statutes, could use his preference several times for                 
  non-permanent jobs, but not permanent, and asked why a                       
  clause near the end of SSHB 196 excluded veterans from using                 
  their preference for jobs within a certain class.                            
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE KOTT deferred to his staff for the                            
  clarification.                                                               
                                                                               
  Number 165                                                                   
                                                                               
  GEORGE DOZIER, LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO REPRESENTATIVE KOTT,                      
  explained veterans could use their preference several times                  
  to apply for temporary jobs, and that the exclusionary                       
  clause would prevent veterans from using their preference to                 
  gain promotions.                                                             
                                                                               
  Number 188                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BETTYE DAVIS MOVED PASSAGE of SSHB 196 from                   
  committee.                                                                   
                                                                               
  Number 192                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY stated it was his intent not to move bills on                 
  to Rules, but that he would ask the committee's pleasure.                    
                                                                               
  Number 199                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS asked for clarification on how                     
  points are applied toward a veteran under the preference                     
  system.                                                                      
                                                                               
  Number 209                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE KOTT noted the existence of the 100 point                     
  testing system for state employment, and stated veterans got                 
  either a five or ten point add-on preference to their score.                 
                                                                               
  Number 227                                                                   
                                                                               
  Without objections, SSHB 196 PASSED from committee by a 6-0                  
  vote.