HB 460-ALLOWABLE ABSENCES AND PFDS Number 0879 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH turned to the last order of business, which was HOUSE BILL NO. 460, "An Act relating to absences to provide care for certain relatives for purposes of permanent fund dividend eligibility; and providing for an effective date." Number 0900 AURORA HAWK, Staff to Representative Beth Kerttula, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Kerttula, sponsor, presented HB 460. She stated that HB 460 would make it possible for an Alaskan to care for a critically ill or injured family member and not lose his/her permanent fund dividend (PFD). She noted that, currently, Alaska statute provides an allowable absence for a person who is caring for a critically ill family member, only if that family member has to travel out of state for treatment. She clarified, "This means that if your child who is living out of state, for instance, in college, is hurt or becomes ill, you will lose your dividend if you are required to spend a long period of time out of state to care for them." She said when a family member is ill or injured, it is a stressful time, and Alaskans should be able to care for a family member, and not have to worry about receiving their dividend, regardless of that family member's residency or where they happen to be when they become ill. MS. HAWK noted that there is an amendment in the committee packet, but suggested that the committee may wish to listen first to public testimony. Number 0978 IRIS MANYA PUNGOWIYI-REED testified that she is proud to be a long-time Alaskan. She related having moved to Alaska in 1970, and she shared some of her history as an Alaskan living in various parts of the state. She revealed that her current husband's name is Ron Reed, and they own a home in Juneau. MS. PUNGOWIYI-REED said her niece, a student of the University of Alaska, Southeast, sustained a knee injury in September 2001, while on an exchange student program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and needed surgery. Ms. Reed indicated that she [and her husband] traveled to Albuquerque in December to help take care of the niece's son while the niece had her surgery. Concurrently, her son Bryce, who was living in Denver, Colorado, at the time, also came to Albuquerque. On December 13, 2001, Ms. Reed said, Bryce was involved in an accident. She related the details of that accident and the injuries Bryce received as a result. Bryce was in critical condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital. MS. PUNGOWIYI-REED stated that as a result of the complications from Bryce's trauma, he is non-verbal, non-mobile, is fed through a tube, and is 100 percent dependent upon others for his care. Ms. Reed said she has explored the possibility of caring for Bryce in Juneau, Alaska. She said she also inquired at the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] office in Anchorage, Alaska, because her son is eligible to receive "100 percent service- connected disability." She said she was told that Bryce would have to be sent to Seattle, Washington. She stated that she is not comfortable "taking that kind of risk," and she declared that she - as his mother, next-of-kin, and legal guardian - would not abandon him to return home. She related that there has been emotional and financial stress associated with her son's accident. She offered examples. CHAIR WEYHRAUCH requested that Ms. Reed complete her testimony, because committee members needed to be present at the 10:00 a.m. House floor session. He stated that the committee would come back to the issue. He said, "It's tough when these circumstances happen to a family, and our hearts go out to you." MS. PUNGOWIYI-REED stated that she is currently prohibited from getting her PFD, and she emphasized that she has not given up her Alaska residency. [HB 460 was heard and held.]