Session: State Capitol, Room 121 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4797 Fax: (907) 465-3884 Interim: post office: 119 N. Cushman, Suite 101 Fairbanks, AK 99701-2879 location: 3340 Badger Road. North Pole, AK 99705 Phone: (907) 488-0857 Fax: (907) 488-4271

Sponsor Statement for HCS SB 2001(FIN)
Pioneers' And Veterans' Home/Advisory Board

An Act changing the name of the Alaska Pioneers' Home to the Alaska Pioneers' and Veterans' Home and of the Alaska Pioneers' Homes Advisory Board to the Alaska Pioneers' and Veterans' Home Advisory Board; relating to housing and services for veterans; relating to the advisory board for the home; making other amendments to the statutes relating to the home; and providing for an effective date.

House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2001 (Finance) allows the Department of Administration to work with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, on a pilot project basis, to create a program to allow veterans to receive veterans per diem benefits while residents in Alaska's Pioneers' Home.

H CS SB 2001, allows the Department of Administration to reserve not more than the percentage of beds occupied by veterans on June 1, 2002, for veterans during the term of the pilot program. The pilot program will sunset on June 30, 2005.

If the Department of Veterans Affairs agrees to the pilot program, the name of the homes will change to the Alaska Pioneers' and Veterans Home for the term of the pilot program.

As a matter of permanent law, this measure includes cooperating with the federal government on matters pertaining to residents that are veterans, and including veterans' needs in the recommendations it is required to send to the legislature. Also, the Pioneers Home Advisory Board will change to include representatives of veterans.

The Department of Administration will report back to the legislature on the effectiveness of the pilot project by January 5, 2005.

This pilot project will not incur any general fund expense nor change the available beds in Pioneers' Homes.

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