1993-01-22                     Senate Journal                      Page 0124
SB 57                                                                        
Dear Mr. President:                                                            
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill that extends for three years the pilot project        
for the state training and employment program.                                 
                                                                               
The pilot project was enacted in 1989 (ch. 95, SLA 1989) as a two-             
year program, and was extended for two additional years (to July 1,            
1993) in 1991 (ch. 17, SLA 1991).  This bill amends sec. 4(a), ch.             
95, SLA 1989, as amended by ch. 17, SLA 1991, to extend the date               
for collecting money through the unemployment insurance system to              
support the training program, and again extends the expiration date            
of the project (to June 30, 1996).                                             
                                                                               
The pilot project, administered by the Department of Labor and the             
Department of Community and Regional Affairs, provides much-                   
needed job training to unemployed workers in order to reduce                   
unemployment insurance benefit expenditures.  This project also                
assists Alaskans who need to upgrade their job skills in order to              
maintain their employability.  This training program has broad-based           
support from both labor and industry.                                          
                                                                               
I urge your prompt consideration and passage of this bill.                     
                                                                               
      Sincerely,                                                               
      /s/                                                                      
      Walter J. Hickel                                                         
      Governor                                                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
SB 58                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 58 by the Senate Rules Committee by request                    
of the Governor, entitled:                                                     
                                                                               
"An Act relating to the longevity bonus program."