"An act relating to permanent fund dividend program notice requirements and to the ineligibility … of certain persons sentenced for driving while under the influence … or for refusing to submit to a chemical test."

Each year hundreds of Alaskans fall victim to drivers who are drunk or under the influence of other substances.

The purpose of SB 59 is to add a conviction for driving while under the influence (DUI), or refusing to take a chemical test, to the list of existing conditions that make a person ineligible for a permanent fund dividend.

A first offense brings a one-year suspension of the PFD.

A second offense brings a five-year suspension of the PFD.

This means the dividend cannot be used to offset fines or debts. Instead the offender is simply ineligible for the dividend. Which leaves the dividend amount in the overall pot to be equally distributed among eligible Alaskans.

Because a permanent fund dividend is not a right, but a privilege, these penalties fall above and beyond all other penalties currently provided for by law.

In the year 2001 alone there were 1146 alcohol related accidents (36 fatal crashes, 506 nonfatal injury crashes and 604 crashes that resulted in only property damage). There were 85 total traffic deaths and 50% of those were alcohol related. An estimated 2800 people were involved in these crashes and that's obviously a large rise from say the year 1983 when there we no injuries recorded.

SB 59 is constructed to give back to those who want to make Alaska's streets safer and raise the awareness that Drinking and Driving will not be accepted.

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