2000-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 2056
SB 222                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 222 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
An Act relating to standard industrial classification                         
for, eligibility for benefits under, and the definition                        
of benefit year for, the Alaska Employment                                     
Security Act; and providing for an effective date.                             
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce                 
Committee.                                                                     

2000-01-24                     Senate Journal                      Page 2057
SB 222                                                                       
Zero fiscal note published today from Department of Labor.                     
                                                                               
Governors transmittal letter dated January 21:                                 
                                                                               
Dear President Pearce:                                                         
                                                                               
Recent amendments to federal law regarding job training and                    
unemployment insurance require the state to update certain statutory           
references in these areas.  This bill I transmit today accomplishes            
this requirement.                                                              
                                                                               
Congress repealed the Job Training Partnership Act, replacing it with          
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. This bill makes                          
corresponding changes to state law. Similarly, the bill updates the            
classification system for employers determining their contribution rate        
to the unemployment compensation fund. The federal Office of                   
Management and Budget decided in 1997 to replace the Standard                  
Industrial Classification Code with the North American Industry                
Classification System.  The updated coding system was developed                
jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to provide new                
comparability in data about business activity across North America.            
                                                                               
The bill also clarifies that an unemployment insurance claimant is             
not entitled to benefits for the first six weeks of unemployment if            
termination was for misconduct connected with the claimants last             
work. Finally, the bill provides definite beginning and ending dates           
for a claimants benefit year.                                                  
                                                                               
In order to keep Alaska's labor and unemployment statutes current              
with federal law, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this              
measure.                                                                       
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor