2024-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1347
HB 290                                                                                                                        
HOUSE BILL NO. 290 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                   
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act relating to the issuance of certificates of fitness for                                                             
    plumbers and electricians; relating to fees for certificates of fitness                                                     
    for plumbers and electricians; and providing for an effective date."                                                        
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                                                
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             

2024-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1348
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 22 follows:                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
"Dear Speaker Tilton:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill to authorize the Department of                                                           
Labor and Workforce Development to issue a six-year trainee                                                                     
certificate of fitness for plumbers and electricians as opposed to the                                                          
current two-year certificate. The bill maintains the current two-year                                                           
certification requirement for journeyman level plumbers and                                                                     
electricians.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Passage of this bill will allow plumber and electrician trainees to                                                             
complete their 8,000 hours of work experience without having to                                                                 
renew their license. Currently, apprentice hours completed under an                                                             
expired two-year certificate of fitness do not count towards the 8,000                                                          
hour requirement. By expanding the duration of the trainee certificate,                                                         
trainee plumbers and electricians will be able to complete the                                                                  
apprenticeship programs with minimal expense and delay.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Plumbing and electrical services are lagging behind capacity in                                                                 
Alaska. This professional trade gap significantly impacts the ability of                                                        
public and private sectors to fully-staff development and infrastructure                                                        
projects that are needed to maintain and advance Alaska's economy.                                                              
This bill addresses this bottleneck by encouraging people to enter into                                                         
the plumbing and electrical trades by lowering costs and bureaucratic                                                           
barriers while simultaneously maintaining the high standards for                                                                
professional development that Alaskans expect. Under the bill,                                                                  
currently certificated plumbing and electrical trainees are eligible for                                                        
the new six-year certificate without the need to re-apply.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor"