SB 85-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY  1:34:17 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 85 "An Act relating to record checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue; relating to permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." He stated that this is the third hearing of this bill. Amendment 1 was adopted on April 19 and the bill was reported from committee. It is the intention today to rescind the previous action in reporting the bill from committee, adopt a committee substitute that incorporates Amendment 1, ensure that all members understand the changes, and report the bill from committee. CHAIR BJORKMAN sought the will of the committee. 1:35:19 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved that the committee rescind its previous action in reporting SB 85, work order 33-GS1337\A, as amended, from committee. 1:35:30 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and the previous action to report the bill from committee was rescinded. CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion to adopt the committee substitute. 1:35:39 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB 85, work order 33-GS1337\S, as the working document. CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion. 1:36:07 PM KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the explanation of changes in the committee substitute for SB 85. He stated that when legislative legal reviews a bill they did not draft, there can be substantial changes. The following explanation of the CS is an effort to ensure that members of the committee are still in agreement with the contents of the committee substitute: [Original punctuation has been provided.] Old Section 1 is deleted The language, previously added in section 1, was then added with the new language providing for background checks to the appropriate subsection of statute. That being AS 12.62.400 (c) instead of (a). That language can been seen on page 1, lines 7-9 of the new CS. There are conforming changes made to that section referencing pfd statutes. Renumbered Section 2 now contains the language from old section 4, which deals with breaks or holidays from secondary or postsecondary education. The next change to CS version S can be found in section 2 on page 3, lines 5-10. The change here is directly to the term found in the A version "sea engineer". This term is not found in statute and is not a term used in the merchant marine trade. After much consultation with the Dept of Revenue, Dept. of Law, and expert on merchant mariner training and with our Legal Services, the language you see on page 3 refers to a vocational program that trains students for a career in the US merchant marine and meets the requirements of the US Coast guard. It is felt that this language is inclusive enough to ensure the original intent is upheld. The next change is found in Section 3, in paragraph 12 on page 6, lines 11-14. "suitability" was in the original bill. "qualifications" is the term most normally found in statute. Instead of a deletion and replacement, new language refers to both a person's "qualifications" and "suitability" for administering the permanent fund dividend program under this chapter. 1:42:06 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection; finding no further objection, [CSSB 85, version S, was adopted.] 1:42:23 PM At ease. 1:42:57 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and requested a motion. 1:43:16 PM At ease. 1:43:33 PM CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and requested a motion. 1:43:39 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report CSSB 85, work order 33- GS1337\S, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSSB 85(L&C), version S, was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.