Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/14/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB26 | |
| HB116 | |
| HB178 | |
| HB46 | |
| HB41 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 107 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 116 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 178 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 46-WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD VETERAN MEMBER
2:30:22 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of HB 46. "An Act
relating to membership in the Alaska Workforce Investment
Board."
2:30:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Sponsor of HB 46, introduced the
legislation speaking to the following sponsor statement:
House Bill 46 will improve the Alaska Workforce
Investment Board's ability to improve employment
prospects for an important and growing segment of the
state's workforce, by adding a seat to represent
veterans.
The Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) is a 25-
member board charged with helping unemployed Alaskans
find jobs, and helping current workers upgrade skills
find better jobs. Board members represent business,
industry, education, organized labor, state government
and community-based service organizations.
However, there is no representation specifically for
veterans, who represent a significant and growing
segment of Alaska's population. Alaska is home to more
than 73,000 veterans, and boasts the highest per-
capita veteran population in the nation. Each month
about 320 service members separate from service at
Alaska's three main military facilities: Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, and Ft.
Wainwright.
Polls show 80 percent of these new veterans would love
to remain in Alaska, but only 20 percent do. The
inability to find a good job plays a significant part
in the state's loss of these highly trained, civic-
minded individuals and their families.
Having a veterans' seat on the AWIB will help the
board develop workforce development policies to meet
this group's significant needs. It will help provide a
pool of well-trained employees for Alaskan employers.
And it will help veterans transition from uniformed
service, close any skills gap, find work and remain in
Alaska as productive citizens.
2:32:46 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the bill specifically asks for a
veteran to sit on the board.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered yes.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if there is any opposition to the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered no, it enjoys broad support.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked what the unemployment rate is for veterans
in Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER surmised it's about 6.7 percent.
2:34:10 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked him to clarify the meaning of veteran.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER replied the definition of "veteran" in
this legislation is someone who has served honorably and
received an honorable discharge from the armed forces, including
the reserves; the National Guard, the Alaska Territorial Guard,
and the Alaska Naval Militia.
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (DOLWD), reported that the department
provides training programs specifically for veterans. He
highlighted that if this bill were to pass, the veteran seat
would replace one of the public seats on the AWIB.
CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding that there are
currently five public seats on the board.
MR. CASHEN agreed.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the administration supports the bill.
MR. CASHEN replied the administration has not taken a position
on the bill.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the veteran seat would be filled
immediately or when one of the public seats terms out.
MR. CASHEN offered his belief that the veteran seat would be
filled when a public seat expires and three seats will do so on
October 13, 2015.
2:37:04 PM
At ease
2:37:22 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that the five public seats are
designed specifically to ensure that there is a majority of
private sector members on the board. The balance would be
maintained if one of those seats was designated for a veteran.
SENATOR STEVENS commented that a private sector member could
also be a veteran.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER agreed.
CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony.
2:38:17 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report HB 46, labeled 29-LS0282\A, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR COSTELLO announced that without objection, HB 46 is
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.