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SB12 • 2026

PFD/CHILD SUPPORT

An Act relating to permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support; and relating to applications and qualifications for permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support.

Children Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
SENATORS DUNBAR, Myers
Last action
2025-03-14
Official status
(S) FIN
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information on how this act will impact individuals already receiving child support payments from other sources.

Act on Permanent Fund Dividends for Child Support

This act changes how permanent fund dividends are handled for individuals who owe child support, ensuring that these funds can be used to pay child support.

What This Bill Does

  • Counts a permanent fund dividend as a child support payment if the individual owes child support.
  • Requires an agency to provide a list of people in arrears on child support and their eligibility for dividends by March 31 each year.
  • Allows the department to file applications for individuals who owe child support but have not applied, with no penalty for non-response.
  • Deducts seven percent from any dividend given to someone owing child support, which goes into the general fund.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Individuals who owe child support
  • Departments responsible for distributing permanent fund dividends

Terms To Know

Permanent Fund Dividend
An annual payment from the Alaska Permanent Fund to eligible Alaskans.
Child Support Order
A legal requirement for a parent or guardian to provide financial support for their child's basic needs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact amount of dividends that will be affected.
  • It is unclear how this act will impact individuals who are already receiving child support payments from other sources.
  • The effective date and implementation details have not been specified in the provided text.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-14 515

    (S) COSPONSOR(S): MYERS

  2. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

  3. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) FN3: ZERO(REV)

  4. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) FN2: INDETERMINATE(REV)

  5. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) FN1: ZERO(DFC)

  6. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) NR: TOBIN

  7. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) DP: CLAMAN, MYERS, KIEHL

  8. 2025-03-14 509

    (S) JUD RPT CS 3DP 1NR SAME TITLE

  9. 2025-03-12 Min

    (S) Minutes (SJUD)

  10. 2025-03-12 Text

    (S) Moved CSSB 12(JUD) Out of Committee

  11. 2025-03-12 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  12. 2025-02-05 Min

    (S) Minutes (SJUD)

  13. 2025-02-05 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  14. 2025-02-05 Text

    (S) JUDICIARY at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  15. 2025-01-22 28

    (S) JUD, FIN

  16. 2025-01-22 28

    (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  17. 2025-01-22 28

    (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25

Official Summary Text

PFD/CHILD SUPPORT
An Act relating to permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support; and relating to applications and qualifications for permanent fund dividends for individuals owing child support.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB0012B -1- CSSB 12(JUD)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0135\I

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 12(JUD)

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY SENATORS DUNBAR, Myers

Offered: 3/14/25
Referred: Finance

Sponsor(s): SENATOR DUNBAR
A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to permanent fund dividends for individuals ow ing child support; and 1
relating to applications and qualifications for permanent fund dividends for individuals 2
owing child support." 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 4
* Section 1. AS 11.51.120 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
(g) For purposes of (d) of this section, a permanent fund divi dend distributed 6
to an individual owed child support under AS 43.23.005(i) is co unted as a child 7
support payment. 8
* Sec. 2. AS 25.27.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 9
(i) Between January 1 and March 31 of each year, the agency sh all provide to 10
the Department of Revenue a lis t of individuals in arrears unde r a child support order. 11
On the list, the agency shall indicate, based on existing recor ds and using its 12
investigative powers, each indivi dual that the agency believes is eligible for a 13
permanent fund dividend. 14
34-LS0135\I
CSSB 12(JUD) -2- SB0012B
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* Sec. 3. AS 43.23.005 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 1
(i) If, by March 31 of each year, the department has not recei ved an 2
application from an individual w ho the department believes is e ligible for a dividend 3
and who is on the list of individuals in arrears under a child support order provided 4
under AS 25.27.020(i), the department shall file an application on behalf of the 5
individual. At the time of filing the application, the departme nt shall notify the 6
individual in arrears and the i ndividual owed child support tha t a dividend application 7
has been filed on behalf of the individual in arrears, that the individual in arrears or the 8
individual owed child support may submit evidence of eligibilit y of the individual in 9
arrears, and that there is no pe nalty for failure to respond to the notice. If the 10
individual in arrears under a child support order is determined to be eligible for a 11
permanent fund dividend, the department shall distribute the dividend to the individual 12
or individuals owed the child support. AS 09.38 does not apply to a dividend claimed 13
and distributed by the department under this subsection. 14
(j) The department shall deduct seven percent of a dividend di stributed under 15
(i) of this section. The amount s deducted under this subsection shall be separately 16
accounted for and deposited into the general fund and may be ap propriated by the 17
legislature for administrative costs incurred in implementing (i) of this section. 18
* Sec. 4. AS 43.23.015(c) is amended to read: 19
(c) Except as provided in (d) and (k) of this section or as may be provided by 20
regulations adopted by the department, an individual must perso nally sign the 21
application for permanent fund dividends, including the certifi cation of residency 22
required under (b) of this section. 23
* Sec. 5. AS 43.23.015 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 24
(k) The application and certification of residency of an indiv idual filed by the 25
department under AS 43.23.005(i) is not required to be signed. 26
(l) For the purpose of an a pplication filed under AS 43.23.005(i ), the 27
department may presume that an individual in arrears under a ch ild support order who 28
has previously qualified for a dividend remains eligible for the dividend. 29
* Sec. 6. AS 43.23.130 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 30
(o) The department may not elect to make a contribution under this section 31
34-LS0135\I
SB0012B -3- CSSB 12(JUD)
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

from the dividend applied for under AS 43.23.005(i). 1
* Sec. 7. AS 43.23.140 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 2
(e) This section does not apply to a dividend received through an application 3
filed under AS 43.23.005(i). A divide nd received through an app lication filed under 4
AS 43.23.005(i) is not subject to levy, execution, garnishment, attachment, or another 5
remedy for the collection of debt. 6
* Sec. 8. AS 43.23.150 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 7
(d) The Department of Family and Community Services may not cl aim a 8
permanent fund dividend under this section that is received as a result of an 9
application filed under AS 43.23.005(i). 10
* Sec. 9. AS 43.23.160 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
(e) The Alaska Commission on Po stsecondary Education may not c laim a 12
permanent fund dividend under this section that is received as a result of an 13
application filed under AS 43.23.005(i). 14
* Sec. 10. AS 43.23.170 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 15
(d) The Department of Health may not claim a permanent fund dividend under 16
this section that is received as a result of an application filed under AS 43.23.005(i). 17
* Sec. 11. AS 43.23.180 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 18
(g) The Department of Labor and Workforce Development may not claim a 19
permanent fund dividend under this section that is received as a result of an 20
application filed under AS 43.23.005(i). 21
* Sec. 12. AS 43.23.190 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 22
(e) The University of Alaska may not claim a permanent fund di vidend under 23
this section that is received as a result of an application filed under AS 43.23.005(i). 24
* Sec. 13. AS 43.23.230 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 25
(f) The department may not dona te any amount under this sectio n from a 26
dividend applied for under AS 43.23.005(i). 27
* Sec. 14. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 28
read: 29
APPLICABILITY. (a) AS 11.51.120(g), added by sec. 1 of this Act , applies to 30
permanent fund dividends received on or after the effective date of this Act. 31
34-LS0135\I
CSSB 12(JUD) -4- SB0012B
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(b) AS 43.23.005(i) and (j), added by sec. 3 of this Act, AS 4 3.23.015(c), as amended 1
by sec. 4 of this Act, AS 43.23.015(k) and ( l), added by sec. 5 of this Act, AS 43.23.130(o), 2
added by sec. 6 of this Act, AS 43.23.140(e), added by sec. 7 o f this Act, AS 43.23.150(d), 3
added by sec. 8 of this Act, AS 43.23.160(e), added by sec. 9 o f this Act, AS 43.23.170(d), 4
added by sec. 10 of this Act, AS 43.23.180(g), added by sec. 11 of this Act, AS 43.23.190(e), 5
added by sec. 12 of this Ac t, and AS 43.23.230(f), added by sec . 13 of this Act, apply to the 6
permanent fund dividend 2025 qualifying year for the 2026 dividend year and thereafter. 7