SJR 1-CONST AM: GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:47:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  REINBOLD   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE  JOINT   RESOLUTION  NO.  1,  Proposing                                                               
amendments to  the Constitution of  the State of  Alaska relating                                                               
to the Alaska  permanent fund and appropriations  from the Alaska                                                               
permanent fund.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:47:44 PM                                                                                                                    
SONJA KAWASAKI,  Staff, Senator  Bill Wielechowski,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  stated  that Senator  Wielechowski                                                               
appreciated the committee's support of SJR 1.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:48:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SHOWER  commented that it is  time to take action  on the                                                               
Permanent Fund Dividend, whether it  is passing SJR 1, which will                                                               
force the  legislature to make  reductions and a spending  cap or                                                               
institute taxes. He said he wants  the record to reflect that the                                                               
legislature understands this.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:49:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES  said it is  important to move this  resolution to                                                               
the  Senate  Finance Committee.  She  has  long not  supported  a                                                               
constitutional   amendment   because   it  will   constrain   the                                                               
legislature.  However, this  issue has  become a  political focal                                                               
point. It  has slowed the  legislative process down.  She offered                                                               
her  support  to develop  a  definitive  solution in  the  Alaska                                                               
Constitution.  She offered  her  support  to pass  SJR  1 out  of                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:50:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  KIEHL acknowledged  the sponsor's  work. He  agreed that                                                               
ultimately  the   state  needs  to  place   a  constitutionalized                                                               
permanent fund dividend before the  voters. He emphasized that he                                                               
has ongoing concerns about the formula  in SJR 1. He committed to                                                               
work  with  the  sponsor  as the  resolution  moves  through  the                                                               
process.  He  said he  will  not  object  to  moving SJR  1  from                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:50:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR REINBOLD emphasized her desire  to allow the people to vote                                                               
on the permanent fund dividend formula in SJR 1.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:51:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR SHOWER moved to report  SJR 1, work order 32-LS0015\A, as                                                               
amended,  from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal  note(s). There being no  objection, CSSJR 1(JUD)                                                               
was reported from the Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.