Comments filed on behalf of Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets on SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73), the Governor's proposed Constitutional Amendments relating to the Alaska permanent fund, appropriations from the permanent fund, and the permanent fund dividend.

1. 4/22/2021 Gmail - Comments on SJR6/SB53, HJR7/HB73
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=d8f123d76e&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-a%3Ar-5844043662435932707&simpl=msg-a%3Ar-58440436… 1/2
Brad Keithley <bgkeithley@gmail.com>
Comments on SJR6/SB53, HJR7/HB73
Brad Keithley <bgkeithley@gmail.com> Thu, Apr 22, 2021 at 1:01 PM
To: Senate.Judiciary@akleg.gov, House.State.Affairs@akleg.gov
On behalf of the Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets project, this is to provide our comments on SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73)
Summary: We oppose SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73) as unnecessarily complex and uncertain. We prefer instead the
simplicity and directness of SJR1. We would not oppose SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73) if amended to parallel SJR1, especially if
further amended to reflect our prior comments on SJR1 (see attached).
Unnecessarily Complex: SJR6/SB53 ((HJR7/HB73) are unnecessarily complex because they rely on a tie between the
two of them to work. The adoption of SB53 (HB73) without the simultaneous adoption of SJR6 (HJR7) would restructure
the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), but without at the same time providing the constitutional protections of SJR6
(HJR7). Additionally, relying in part on statute to achieve the legislation's objectives raises the issue of whether, as it has
done with the current statute, the legislature ultimately could simply ignore it.
Rather than relying on the two proposals to remain connected or on the protections afforded by statute to remain robust,
we prefer the directness of SJR1, which restructures the Permanent Fund (PF) and PFD in a single step, in the
constitution and only with the adoption also of the constitutional protection of the PFD.
Unnecessarily Uncertain: SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73) are uncertain because they don't set a firm constitutional split of
the draws made from the PF between the PFD and government (general fund) shares. While the bills provide for an initial
split, additional changes may be made by statute. While we appreciate that any such statutory changes would be subject
to a vote of the people, we believe the availability of such a process would lead to continual, future uncertainty
surrounding the PFD.
SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73) are also uncertain because they permit the legislature to change the rate of draws from the PF
by statute. Such a provision undermines the protection of the PF from excessive draws. We prefer that the draw rate be
firmly fixed in the Constitution in the manner set forth in our comments to SJR1 ("the average of the real rates of return
realized on permanent fund investments over the preceding ten fiscal years"). Rather than tie the draw rate to an
artificial projection of future real returns (such as 5% or 4%), this approach would tie the draw rate to actually realized
real returns. Even if the Committee does not adopt such an historical-based approach, we strongly prefer the fixed
approach set forth in SJR1 to the discretionary approach reflected in SJR6/SB3 (HJR7/HB73).
SJR6/SB53 (HJR7/HB73) are additionally uncertain because they do not require the distribution of a PFD. Instead,
proposed AS 37.13.145(b) provides only that the legislature may appropriate 50 percent of the amount available for
distribution (the same is true of the appropriation to be made to the general fund). Again, we prefer the certainty of SJR1
which mandates the annual distribution of the PFD.
Drafting Note: In addition to the above concerns, we also note that we don't understand, as the statute is restructured,
the purpose of retaining the definition of "net income" in proposed AS 37.13.140(a). After the amendments, the term no
longer appears to be used in the statutes pertaining to the PF or PFD.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments.
Brad
Brad Keithley
Managing Director, Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets
Cell/Txt: 214-675-0038
Links: linktr.ee/bgkeithley
Mail: 645 G Street, Suite 100, No 796, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Web: AKforSB.com

2. 4/22/2021 Gmail - Comments on SJR6/SB53, HJR7/HB73
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=d8f123d76e&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-a%3Ar-5844043662435932707&simpl=msg-a%3Ar-58440436… 2/2
Comments on SJR 1 (CONST AM_ GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND).pdf
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3. 4/11/2021 Gmail - Comments on SJR 1 (CONST AM: GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND)
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ik=d8f123d76e&view=pt&search=all&permmsgid=msg-a%3Ar-2912525628735124355&simpl=msg-a%3Ar-29125256… 1/1
Brad Keithley <bgkeithley@gmail.com>
Comments on SJR 1 (CONST AM: GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND)
Brad Keithley <bgkeithley@gmail.com> Fri, Apr 9, 2021 at 2:09 PM
To: Senate.Judiciary@akleg.gov
This is to submit my comments on SJR 1.
I support SJR 1, with two proposed amendments.
First, I would modify Section 2, proposed (b)(1) by substituting for the percentage to be applied to the average market
value of the fund (set at 5% in the current version), the following: "the average of the real rates of return realized on
permanent fund investments over the preceding ten fiscal years." The purpose of this amendment is to establish the
draw rate based on actual experience, rather than setting a fixed number (e.g., 5% or 4% or any other fixed number).
My concern is that while a fixed number may seem reasonable currently, it may not remain reasonable over time. The
better approach is to tie the rate to actual experience.
Second, I would strike proposed (b)(2), so as to leave (b)(1) as the only calculation required to be made. The purpose of
the amendment is to make the amounts which are to be paid out in dividends and available for the general fund more
consistent. Because there can be significant variances in any given year between the amounts to be determined under
(b)(1) and (b)(2), the amount available as dividends and government may vary significantly by year, undermining the
goal of consistency and predictability.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments.
Brad
Brad Keithley
Managing Director, Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets
Cell/Txt: 214-675-0038
Links: linktr.ee/bgkeithley
Mail: 645 G Street, Suite 100, No 796, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Web: AKforSB.com