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Session: State Capitol, Room 414 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4945 Fax: (907) 465-3476 Send E-Mail Interim: 716 W 4th Avenue, Suite 610 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Phone: (907) 269-0199 Fax: (907) 269-0197 |
Permanent Fund Dividend for Alaskan Merchant Mariners
Updated: April 26, 1999
This legislation is sought to enhance maritime job opportunities for Alaskans and, in particular, Alaskan youth.
I first learned of the need for this legislation when I spoke to several parties involved in Alaska's maritime transportation industry. I was advised of an effort launched to attract Alaskans to job opportunities in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This effort has been a unique and successful partnership between Alaska's three Private Industry Councils and the Seafarers International Union (SIU) that has contributed greatly to workforce and economic development in Alaska. This partnership on occasion is having difficulty recruiting as a result of an oversight in Alaska's Permanent Fund dividend program. Alaskans who make their living aboard deep-sea, U.S. flag vessels may often be working aboard these ships for over 180 days per year. This makes them ineligible for their dividend check because their desired profession requires them to be aboard ships. In many cases these Alaskans could be aboard the cargo or tank vessels serving Alaska - yet still be denied a Permanent Fund check.
Since the inception of this partnership in September 1997 to the present, 25 eligible Alaskan residents have successfully completed the SIU apprenticeship-training program and are now fully employed.
The average salary for those Alaskans newly employed through this program is $32,000/year and all receive full family medical, dental, pension, education, and vacation coverage. As Alaskans committed to "local hire", we should not be holding up obstacles for employment opportunities for our youth.
More importantly, this award winning training and placement program would have an improved ability to recruit Alaskan youth for quality training and high skill/family wage employment.
Another case I am familiar with is a ten-year Alaskan resident who sails aboard tankers in the TAPS trade. He has consistently been denied the Permanent Fund dividend since his work as a merchant seaman is not considered an allowable absence. This determination is not a question of his residency.
Passage of this bill will give these limited number of people their rightful claim to the Permanent Fund dividend.
Endorsement: Alaska State Chamber of Commerce.