ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS  March 17, 2005 1:07 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bob Lynn, Chair Representative Jim Elkins Representative Lesil McGuire Representative Bill Thomas Representative Sharon Cissna Representative Max Gruenberg MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Nancy Dahlstrom COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 90 "An Act relating to Alaska Territorial Guard Day." - MOVED HB 90 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 122 "An Act relating to payment of premiums for Service members' Group Life Insurance on behalf of members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat zone; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED CSHB 122(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 201 "An Act relating to an application for a permanent fund dividend for a member of the armed forces of the United States serving on active duty outside of the state; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED HB 201 OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 181 "An Act establishing a waiver for active duty military service of continuing education requirements for renewal of occupational licenses." - MOVED CSHB 181(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 168 "An Act relating to receipt of income by an Alaska Pioneers' Home or Alaska Veterans' Home resident." - HEARD AND HELD HOUSE BILL NO. 167 "An Act relating to providing a death certificate for a deceased veteran without cost." - MOVED CSHB 167(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 166 "An Act relating to a program to honor a deceased veteran's military service." - MOVED CSHB 166(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE HOUSE BILL NO. 168 "An Act relating to receipt of income by an Alaska Pioneers' Home or Alaska Veterans' Home resident." - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD; ASSIGNED TO SUBCOMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 90 SHORT TITLE: ALASKA TERRITORIAL GUARD DAY SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) HUGGINS 02/04/05 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/04/05 (S) STA 02/17/05 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211 02/17/05 (S) Moved CSSB 90(STA) Out of Committee 02/17/05 (S) MINUTE(STA) 02/18/05 (S) STA RPT CS 4DP SAME TITLE 02/18/05 (S) LETTER OF INTENT WITH STA REPORT 02/18/05 (S) DP: THERRIAULT, ELTON, WAGONER, HUGGINS 02/23/05 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) 02/23/05 (S) VERSION: CSSB 90(STA) 02/24/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/24/05 (H) MLV, STA 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 122 SHORT TITLE: LIFE INSURANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) DAHLSTROM 02/02/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/02/05 (H) MLV, L&C, FIN 02/02/05 (H) L&C REFERRAL REMOVED 02/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 02/17/05 (H) Heard & Held 02/17/05 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 201 SHORT TITLE: PERM. FUND DIVIDEND APPS OF MILITARY SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) CHENAULT 03/04/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/04/05 (H) MLV, STA 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124   BILL: HB 181 SHORT TITLE: WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) COGHILL 02/28/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/28/05 (H) MLV, L&C 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124  BILL: HB 168 SHORT TITLE: VETS'/PIONEERS' HOMES RESIDENTS' INCOME SPONSOR(S): MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS 02/22/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/22/05 (H) MLV, STA 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 167 SHORT TITLE: DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR DECEASED VETERAN SPONSOR(S): MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS 02/22/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/22/05 (H) MLV, STA 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 BILL: HB 166 SHORT TITLE: VETERANS' MEMORIAL CERTIFICATES SPONSOR(S): MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS 02/22/05 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/22/05 (H) MLV, STA 03/17/05 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 90 as sponsor. RYAN MOORE, Staff to Senator Charlie Huggins Alaska State Legislature POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 90 on behalf of Senator Huggins, sponsor. KELLY HUBER, Staff to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 122 on behalf of Representative Dahlstrom, sponsor. ERICH DELAND, Staff to Representative Mike Chenault Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 201 on behalf of Representative Chenault, sponsor. SHARON BARTON, Director Permanent Fund Dividend Division Department of Revenue Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding HB 201. KAREN LIDSTER, Staff to Representative John Coghill Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 181 on behalf of Representative Coghill, sponsor. SARAH HOOK, Staff to Representative Max Gruenberg Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 167 and HB 166 on behalf of Representative Gruenberg, sponsor. EDWARD C. FERMAN, Veteran Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of veterans. PHILLIP MITCHELL, Section Chief Bureau of Vital Statistics Division of Public Health Department of Health and Social Services Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Made suggestions to HB 167. JERRY BEALE, Director Office of Veteran Affairs Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 167. ACTION NARRATIVE CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:07:37 PM. Representatives Lynn, Elkins, Thomas, and Gruenberg were present at the call to order. Representatives McGuire and Cissna arrived while the meeting was in progress. SB 90-ALASKA TERRITORIAL GUARD DAY CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business would be SENATE BILL NO. 90 "An Act relating to Alaska Territorial Guard Day." SENATOR CHARLIE HUGGINS, Alaska State Legislature, said his staff person Ryan Moore put this bill together. RYAN MOORE, Staff to Senator Charlie Huggins, Alaska State Legislature, said after the attacks on Pearl Harbor during World War II the Japanese bombed Attu and Kiska Islands in Alaska, and Alaska realized the need for a territorial guard. Senator Gruening assembled about 6,500 predominantly Alaska Natives who served on the Alaska Territorial Guard from 1942 until 1947. Many went on to the Alaska National Guard, he said. In October 2004, members of the Alaska Territorial Guard were recognized by the United States Army as veterans. HB 90 establishes October 18th as Alaska Territorial Guard Day. SENATOR HUGGINS said he once worked for Alaska's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and was part of the task to recognize guard members. Representative Carl Moses was a territorial guard member, he said. Three past guards died during this process. There were twenty-three left at that point, and Senator Huggins said he sent those names to the military, which refused to deal with it. It took over a year to get them to open the envelope, he added. "Now we have an opportunity to have a day that's dedicated to the recognition of the contribution of those over 6,500 great Alaskans," he said. 1:15:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS moved SB 90, Version 24-LS0459\I from committee with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. 1:15:49 PM HB 122-LIFE INSURANCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 122 "An Act relating to payment of premiums for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance on behalf of members of the Alaska National Guard deployed to a combat zone; and providing for an effective date." REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS moved to adopt CSHB 122, Version 24- LS0446\X, Bullock, 3/17/05, as a work draft. There being no objection, Version X was before the committee. KELLY HUBER, Staff to Representative Dahlstrom, Alaska State Legislature, said that this is the second day that HB 122 has been before the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. It was a couple of weeks ago that it was introduced, she said, and it just dealt with the state paying for life insurance premiums for National Guard members deployed to a combat zone. The discussion in this committee created the committee substitute (CS), and it goes further than just life insurance, she said. MS. HUBER said there will be 300 people affected by HB 122, and the cost will be about $56,000. The bill will allow a guard member to get out of a cellular phone or motor lease contract. The bill also gives members time to pay utilities, it gives them deferments on state loans, and if the member is enrolled in a university, the university must accommodate them with no penalties when they return. The bill also allows Alaska Department of Fish & Game sport permits to be put on hold until guard members return from combat duty. CHAIR LYNN asked for more clarification on the loans. MS. HUBER said the motor leases and cellular phone contracts can be terminated without penalty. She said other states are doing the same, and it benefits the guard member or spouse if the payment will be a hardship. 1:23:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if anyone else is going to testify on this. Generally, someone could terminate a contract anyway, without penalty, he said. He said he thinks the bill attempts to say, "This does not relieve you of the duty of paying any back payments that you've missed." 1:25:48 PM MS. HUBER said it is fine with the sponsor to clarify that language. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered Conceptual Amendment 1 [language would be inserted to relate the following]: "that you can terminate without having to pay anything additional, but this doesn't relieve you of the duty to pay the amounts past due." 1:26:26 PM MS. HUBER said the committee needs to decide this. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said this can be read as stating that one cannot terminate the contract unless, prior to termination, what is owed is paid. It becomes a condition of the termination, he said. CHAIR LYNN said debts would not accumulate after the termination, but the person would still owe any previous balance due. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said, "That is exactly my intent." Hearing no objection to Conceptual Amendment 1, it was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS asked Ms. Huber about his previous suggestion of encouraging municipalities to make exemptions dealing with property taxes. MS. HUBER said the problem was trying to figure out who would pay. If the municipalities were going to pay, they would need to be invited in on the discussions, she added. 1:31:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS said maybe it is more of a resolution encouraging municipalities to look at giving guard members a property exemption. "I would hate to see a soldier go bankrupt," he said. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said the federal Soldiers and Sailors Relief Act requires that before any action is taken against service members on active duty, an attorney be appointed to them to advise them of their rights. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered Conceptual Amendment 2 to delete the word "actual", on line 17, of page 2, because the word is not necessary. Hearing no objection, Conceptual Amendment 2 was adopted. 1:33:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said page 2, lines 25-26, say that the institution of higher learning should grant the member a military leave of absence. "I could see a non-caretaker member getting deployed leaving the spouse with full childcare responsibilities, and being unable to continue their education." CHAIR LYNN suggested using the term "military dependent" instead of "spouse". REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved that the committee adopt Conceptual Amendment 3, as follows: Page 2, line 25, after "member" Insert "and military dependent" Hearing no objection, Conceptual Amendment 3 was adopted. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that the utility payment deferments need a test of hardship. He said if he had an 18- year-old in the National Guard on active duty, and he had plenty of money, "I could get out of paying this for all the time my son was on active duty." CHAIR LYNN said he doesn't want a needs test. MS. HUBER said the sponsor would be concerned about who would determine the hardship. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said they should have to make an application to the company. 1:38:00 PM MS. HUBER said the sponsor wants the bill moved out of committee today, but not have it read across the House floor until settling the details with Representative Gruenberg. CHAIR LYNN said he wants to move good bills. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG pointed out that this is the only committee, except for the House Finance Committee that will hear HB 122. 1:40:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he would like copies of the [CS incorporating the changes from this meeting] to be given to the members. He added that on page 3, line 4, the term "or other heating fuel" needs to be inserted t=on line 5. He offered the aforementioned as Amendment 4. CHAIR LYNN, upon hearing no objection, announced that Amendment 4 was adopted. The committee took an at-ease from 1:42 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS moved to report CSHB 122, Version 24- LS0446\X, Bullock, 3/17/05, as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG requested that the motion be withdrawn. CHAIR LYNN announced that the aforementioned motion was withdrawn. 1:45:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he forgot to remove "actual" from line 21 "and I would ask that that technically be incorporated into Amendment 2." He said there was also a question about fishing licenses. MS. HUBER said that could be worked into subsection (e); if not, it is something that the sponsor can review. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS said he thinks [the commercial fishing license idea] is important. "When a young man makes that commitment to buy a boat and permit, that's quite a bit of debt," he said. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA related her discomfort. She said although it is a wonderful piece of legislation, she said she wants to make sure that guard members are covered if things go wrong. She expressed concern that there are other things, just like limited entry, that have not yet been thought about. 1:49:14 PM MS. HUBER said the sponsor has worked with Representatives Thomas and Elkins, and she wants to move it out today. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA said she supposed the sponsor will accept floor amendments if she thought of additional items for HB 122. CHAIR LYNN said he would like to move it because there are service people who could benefit now. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked if there is a reason that Ms. Huber wanted an immediate effective date rather than the normal period. CHAIR LYNN said there are troops deployed "as we speak." REPRESENTATIVE ELKINS moved to report CSHB 122, Version 24- LS0446\X, Bullock, 3/17/05, as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 122(MLV) was reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. HB 201-PERM. FUND DIVIDEND APPS OF MILITARY 1:52:01 PM CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 201 "An Act relating to an application for a permanent fund dividend for a member of the armed forces of the United States serving on active duty outside of the state; and providing for an effective date." ERICH DELAND, Staff to Representative Mike Chenault, Alaska State Legislature, said that some Alaskans in Iraq cannot sign their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application, and "their families back home are hurting." This bill allows a person who has the power of attorney for the one serving in Iraq to sign the application. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked who gets the check if more than one person has the power of attorney. 1:54:19 PM SHARON BARTON, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Department of Revenue, said the department would honor anyone that has a power of attorney. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked how the department will distinguish between duplicate applications. MS. BARTON said the department would send one check to the address for the recipient. She added that the powers of attorney are only used now for disabled applicants. The address of the applicant will be on file. REPRESENTATIVE MCGUIRE said someone with power of attorney can change the address to where the PFD check is sent. Divorced families, with money coming to children, may run into a problem. 1:57:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said the department probably has the regulatory authority to resolve such issues, and the legislature should not get into the details. But when the regulation is written, that issue should be specifically addressed, he said. 1:57:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said the problem may be exasperated with previous spouses and competing heirs. MS. BARTON said she could address it in the regulatory process. She added that she has heard of the problems of military personnel accessing computers and mail. She said the department has gone to the military bases to give information. 1:59:37 PM MS. BARTON said the filing period was extended for 90 days after a person has been eligible for hostile fire or imminent danger pay. The commissioner has executed a waiver from the 72-hour rule for any military member, who, because of the national emergency, cannot make it back for those 72 hours in the past two years. As it stands now, she said, a power of attorney can file an application for a military person, but cannot sign it. 2:01:49 PM MS. BARTON said that partnerships have helped. Commanding officers gave all 129 soldiers applications, and assisted in getting them filed. She said she is training her staff to provide good service to deployed military. She suggested that HB 201 be limited to people in combat zones; other servicemembers have ready access to mail and internet, she said. 2:04:27 PM CHAIR LYNN said there are other places where people are stationed that aren't convenient for filing. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS moved to report [HB 201] out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, HB 201 was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. HB 181-WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY 2:05:50 PM CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 181 "An Act establishing a waiver for active duty military service of continuing education requirements for renewal of occupational licenses." KAREN LIDSTER, staff to Representative John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, said there is a committee substitute (CS) to HB 181, and she read the sponsor's statement (original punctuation provided): This legislation is introduced to eliminate the possibility of a professional licensee losing his or her license because of failure to fulfill statutory requirements for continuing education while serving on active duty in a combat zone or area where continuing education classes are not available. Many professional license holders are also members of reserve or auxiliary components of the armed forces. When deployed to a combat zone or area where classes are not available, they no longer have the ability to fulfill the education requirements to maintain their specific license, registration, permit or certificate. HB 181 provides a waiver of the educational requirements and allows the license holder to return to Alaska and have an extended period of time to fulfill the continuing education requirements without losing their license for non-compliance. MS. LIDSTER said the Division of Occupational Licensing recommended leaving the waiver decision to the department instead of individual boards. The CS reflects that change, she said. The House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs changed the term "active duty military" to be more specific of who will be covered under the bill. 2:09:20 PM MS. LIDSTER said that people in remote areas will be covered as well as those in combat zones. 2:10:13 PM CHAIR LYNN said people in staging areas and training facilities may find it impossible to do their continuing education, and he asked if there is a requirement for catching up. MS. LIDSTER said people in staging or training areas will be covered. She added that the department will determine how the waiver will work for specific licenses. CHAIR LYNN said some courses are an aggravation. There will be new courses on top of the ones missed, and a person might not ever catch up. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he appreciates the intent of the bill but has serious concerns about how it will play out. He said licensing boards are very different, and the legislature should hear from each of them. He added that the state bar cannot be regulated by the legislature, making the bill unconstitutional. Many requirements can be done online, and there is the question of catching up, he said. It is a far reaching bill, particularly with healthcare where people's lives could be at stake. "It is essential that we just not totally waive everybody's continuing education requirement," he said. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS said a doctor who enlists will not "pack a rifle." Someone in a professional field will continue to stay in that field. 2:16:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA said the legislature does not have much control over licensing institutions, but it does have some input with the University of Alaska and some trade schools. MS. LIDSTER said those are good points, and she will work with committee members on a CS. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he could support the original bill with Amendment 1 as follows: Page 1, line 14, after "and" Insert "may" Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 to the original HB 181 was so moved. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered Amendment 2 as follows: Page 2, line 1, delete "active duty military service" Insert ""reserve or auxiliary member" means a member of a reserve or auxiliary component of the armed forces of the United States, including the organized militia of the stat, consisting of the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force, and who is called to active duty by the appropriate state of federal authority" Page 2, line 16, delete "active duty military service" Insert ""reserve or auxiliary member" means a member of a reserve or auxiliary component of the armed forces of the United States, including the organized militia of the stat, consisting of the Alaska National Guard, the Alaska Naval Militia, and the Alaska State Defense Force, and who is called to active duty by the appropriate state of federal authority" Hearing no objection, Amendment 2 to the original HB 181 was so moved. 2:20:39 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered Amendment 3 as follows: Page 2, line 14, delete "shall" Insert "may" Hearing no objection, Amendment 3 to the original HB 181 was so moved. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HB 181, version 24- LS0685\A, as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, CSHB 181(MLV) was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. HB 168-VETS'/PIONEERS' HOMES RESIDENTS' INCOME 2:22:15 PM CHAIR LYNN said HB 168 is a "good basis for a bill," but it needs a lot of work, and he would like to appoint a subcommittee to look at it with Representative Elkins as Chair and Representatives Dahlstrom and Gruenberg. He encourages anybody else on the committee to participate. He asked Representative Elkins to notify others of any meetings of the subcommittee. [HB 168 was held over.] HB 167-DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR DECEASED VETERAN CHAIR LYNN announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 167, "An Act relating to providing a death certificate for a deceased veteran without cost." SARAH HOOK, Staff to Representative Max Gruenberg, Alaska State Legislature, said HB 167 provides death certificates for a deceased veteran without costs to next of kin. The bill is modeled after an Arizona statute. 2:26:06 PM EDWARD C. FERMAN, Juneau, said he is a Veteran of Foreign Wars, and veterans are not being taken care. He said the committee is doing a good job, but there are a lot of things that are not covered. He said a soldier came back from the Gulf with a crushed leg and was told she could not get the treatment she needed. "We want to take care of our veterans," he said. PHILLIP MITCHELL, Section Chief, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services, suggested a clear definition of a veteran for HB 167. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said his staff will do that. 2:31:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said it will be the same language found in the companion bill HB 166. He offered Amendment 1 as defining a veteran as the meaning given in HB 166. Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 was so moved. JERRY BEALE, Director, Office of Veteran Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs, said HB 166 provides a very basic service. It would add a benefit to the families. REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA moved to report CSHB 167, version 24- LS0605\G as amended out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, CSHB 167(MLV) was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. HB 166-VETERANS' MEMORIAL CERTIFICATES 2:35:07 PM CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 166, "An Act relating to a program to honor a deceased veteran's military service." SARAH HOOK, Staff to Representative Max Gruenberg, Alaska State Legislature, said HB 166 is modeled after the presidential memorial certificate program, which issues death certificates of honor. The CS clarifies the definition of an Alaska resident. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to adopt CSHB 166 version F as a working draft. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS asked if it is only for those that die in Alaska. MS. HOOK said it is for any resident of Alaska no matter where he or she dies. 2:37:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS noted displeasure with excluding any Alaska veteran who has to give up residency against his or her wishes in the last stages of life. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he would withdraw Version F and move to adopt Version G to include past Alaska residents. 2:38:42 PM Hearing no opposition, Version G is adopted. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HB 166, labeled 24LS0602\G, Bullock, 3/16/05, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Hearing no objection, CSHB 166(MLV) was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. 2:40:40 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 2:41:04 PM.