Signed by Governor Michael Dunleavy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that amends Permanent Fund dividend division in Alaska.

Highlights:

• Specifies that an otherwise eligible individual who is absent from the state during the qualifying year remains eligible for a current year permanent fund dividend if the individual was absent for any of the following reasons (Sec. 2):

• Receiving secondary or postsecondary education on a full-time  basis;

• Receiving vocational, professional, or other specific education on a full-time basis for which, as determined by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, a comparable program is not reasonably available in the state;

• Serving on active duty as a member of the uniformed services of the United States or accompanying, as that individual's spouse, minor dependent, or disabled dependent, and is eligible for a current year dividend;

• Serving under foreign or coastal articles of employment aboard an oceangoing vessel of the United States merchant marine or attending a vocational  program that trains students for a career in the United States merchant marine,provides seagoing service that meets the requirements of the United States Coast Guard for United States merchant marine credentialing and is approved by the United States Coast Guard;

• Receiving continuous medical treatment recommended by a licensed physician or convalescing as recommended by the physician who treated the illness;

• Providing care for a parent, spouse, sibling, child, or stepchild with a critical life-threatening illness whose treatment plan, as recommended by the attending physician, requires travel outside the state for treatment;

• Providing care for the individual's terminally ill family member or settling the estate of the individual's deceased parent, spouse, sibling, child, or stepchild,;

• Serving as a member  or serving on the staff of a member of the United States Congress;

• Serving as an employee of the state in a field office or other location;

• Serving as a volunteer in the federal peace corps program;

• because of training or competing as a member of the United States Olympic Team or a United States national team for an Olympic sport; and 

• Participating for educational purposes in a student fellowship sponsored by the United States Department of Education or by the United States Department of State. 

• Specifies that this bill will take effect on January 1, 2026 ( Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text