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SB77

Alaska SB 77: Background Checks and Permanent Fund Dividend Rules

Last scannedSep 10, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill requires background checks for certain Department of Revenue staff, adds new reasons people can be away from Alaska while still getting a dividend payment, and sets rules to keep application information private.

What it does

  • Requires the Department of Revenue to get national criminal history record checks for some employees and contractors who work on the permanent fund dividend program.
  • Adds new reasons that allow people to be absent from Alaska during a qualifying year without losing their eligibility for a dividend payment, including caring for terminally ill family members or settling estates.
  • Sets limits on how many extra days a person can be away from the state under general absence rules depending on other reasons they are gone.
  • Requires the Department of Revenue to help residents in rural areas who need assistance with language, disabilities, or transportation when applying for dividends.
  • Directs the department to use lists from correction and public safety agencies to identify people who cannot receive a dividend.

Who it affects

  • Employees and contractors of the Department of Revenue who administer the permanent fund dividend program.
  • Alaska residents applying for or receiving permanent fund dividends.
  • Family members accompanying eligible residents who are absent from the state for approved reasons, such as military service or medical treatment.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill does not list specific dollar amounts for fees or dividend payments.
  • Some rules about how long people can be absent depend on which other reasons they are already using, making the total days vary by situation.
  • The official text provided ends before listing all duties of the department regarding applications for disabled individuals.

Plain language

Terms to know

Permanent Fund Dividend
An annual payment made to eligible Alaska residents from a specific fund created by the state.
Qualifying Year
The time period during which an individual must meet residency requirements to be eligible for that year's dividend.
National Criminal History Record Check
A background check sent by the state to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to review a person's criminal history across the country.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY An Act relating to national criminal history record checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue; relating to allowable absences for eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; relating to the confidentiality of certain information provided on a permanent fund dividend application; relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) Minutes (SSTA)Min
  2. (S) Heard & HeldText
  3. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  4. (H) Minutes (HSTA)Min
  5. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  6. (S) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS224
  7. (S) FN1: ZERO(REV)224
  8. (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT224
  9. (S) DP: BJORKMAN, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON224
  10. (S) L&C RPT 3DP 2NR224
  11. (S) Minutes (SL&C)Min
  12. (S) Moved SB 77 Out of CommitteeText
  13. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  14. (S) Minutes (SL&C)Min
  15. (S) Heard & HeldText
  16. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  17. (S) L&C, STA97
  18. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS97