Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/15/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB150 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 150-PAY, ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS FOR MILITIA MEMBERS
3:34:07 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of House Bill 150 (HB
150).
3:34:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, explained that HB 150 is a committee bill from the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. He added
that the administration asked for HB 150 to be moved forward.
3:35:37 PM
KENDRA KLOSTER, Staff, Representative Tuck, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, disclosed that the Department of
Military and Veterans' Affairs brought HB 150 forward as part of
a series of bills to clean up Title 26 of the Alaska Statutes.
She specified that HB 150 will streamline the accounting system
for the organized militia members' pay structure.
She explained that the current pay structure for organized
militia members is difficult; for example, a member of the
Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) may have duties that pay
different rates and accounting gets difficult when trying to
keep track of hours. She said HB 150 would streamline the
accounting where an individual gets paid a set amount that is
dependent on their rank. She pointed out that state employees
get paid based upon a range and HB 150 would do the same for
organized militia members.
She noted that the fiscal note for HB 150 is indeterminate;
however, the department believes that money will be saved
because accounting will be reduced. She added that HB 150 also
creates stability for soldiers where they will know what they
are getting paid rather than activity-based payment. She noted
that charts were provided to committee members and referenced a
payment spreadsheet for the "Sockeye Fire" that compared the
current system to the system proposed by HB 150. She conceded
that some people may be paid lower and some higher from the
proposed legislation; however, ASDF is looking for stability.
3:38:24 PM
SENATOR COGHILL addressed section 2 in HB 150 and noted that the
term "organized militia" is used for ASDF. He asked if using
"organized militia" is more inclusive.
MS. KLOSTER detailed that "organized militia" consists of four
entities: Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska National Guard,
Alaska State Dense Force (ASDF), and Alaska Naval Militia. She
detailed that Alaska Naval Militia and the ASDF are volunteer
organizations; however, the state does pay members when they go
on active duty. She added that the intent of the "clean up
bills" is to use the same terminology to ensure everyone is
included.
SENATOR WILSON addressed the Sockeye Fire and noted the
comparison between old and new pay scales. He asked if ASDF has
commented on the pay ranges where members will get paid less.
MS. KLOSTER noted that Commander John James with ASDF is
available to address his question.
SENATOR COGHILL asked Ms. Kloster to address the bill's
implementation process regarding retroactivity during the
transition period.
MS. KLOSTER replied that representatives from ASDF will address
Senator Coghill's question.
3:41:11 PM
SENATOR COGHILL asked if section 1 in the bill simplifies the
present archaic accounting methodology.
MS. KLOSTER replied correct. She detailed that the section is
repealed and reenacted with a system that pays members based on
their grade and rank.
SENATOR COGHILL asked if volunteers would have to be
accreditable with assigned rank.
MS. KLOSTER answered yes.
CHAIR MEYER inquired how often the governor has called the
state's militia into active duty. He conceded that his question
may be better posed to representatives from DMVA.
3:43:13 PM
CHAIR MEYER opened public testimony.
3:43:38 PM
BRIAN DUFFY, Administrative Services Director, Alaska Department
of Military and Veterans Affairs, Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, Alaska, deferred questions regarding HB 150 to other
DMVA members.
3:44:03 PM
BOB DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Alaska Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 150. He stated that he would answer
questions except for the one in terms of ASDF's perspective on
HB 150. He commented as follows:
First, there would be no retroactive provisions that
we envision; this would be from the point that this
bill is signed going forward we would implement these
changes, we are not going to go back and do the math
for past events frankly because many of these events
were federal disasters as well, it would wreak havoc
with trying to adjust the billing we did with FEMA for
reimbursement or other entities, so it would be just
going forward.
Second, this is an issue for us, a pay simplification.
Right now if we have people in uniform show up from
the "Alaska organized militia," those four components
Ms. Kloster talked about, they are subject to three
different pay systems: those for which the federal
government is authorized responding in a federal
status or getting federal pay in allowances, those
under the current system that are in state active duty
from the National Guard or getting 200 percent of
their basic military pay but no allowances, and those
in the Alaska State Defense Force are looking task-by-
task, hour-by-hour what it comes out to in the
equivalent state system. Of note also for those Alaska
State Defense members, they are not overtime exempt,
so we incur overtime costs if there on duty more than
7.5 hours per day and that's frankly a luxury for a
disaster we frequently have to work our staff longer
than that.
We support this bill for simplifying things, easing
reimbursement, and creating one understanding of what
somebody is going to get paid when they come out
there.
In terms of when the governor has called out the
militia or the adjutant general, wildland fires are
the most recent cases where the Alaska State Defense
Force come forward to assist with shelter management
and other tasks of that regard. The Alaska National
Guard and the Alaska State Defense Force did deploy
south to assist with the hurricanes; however, those
costs incurred were 100 percent reimbursed by other
states or the federal government.
3:46:35 PM
CHAIR MEYER noted that Mr. Doehl mentioned hurricane assistance
and asked what locations the members were deployed.
MR. DOEHL answered that the hurricane deployment locations were:
The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Florida.
CHAIR MEYER addressed a letter that Mr. Doehl sent to the
committee pertaining to HB 150 and quoted, "We are confident
that DMVA will end slightly on the good side of cost neutral."
He assumed that Mr. Doehl meant that the state will come out
ahead a little bit rather than costing the state more.
MR. DOEHL answered correct. He said the department's expectation
is that the department will come out ahead; however, he noted
that there is not a standing force for all disasters and
detailed that each disaster is task-organized to meet specific
needs. He added that the impact from the new compensation system
was not addressed in his letter and asserted that the new
legislation will lead to faster reimbursement from entities such
as other states or the federal government.
3:48:23 PM
CHAIR MEYER continued to address Mr. Doehl's letter and noted
that he mentioned an "automated approach" for issuing warrants.
He asked for an explanation.
MR. DUFFY explained that the current process is a manual
calculation of multiple pay scales that an individual member
performs. He said the proposal will simplify the process and
"automatically" offset the burden associated with multiple pay
scales.
SENATOR COGHILL addressed section 4 regarding simplified pay and
noted that the section stated, "The same benefits provided for
state employees under Title 39." He asked if the benefit was
primarily pay. He inquired if there were ways to start and stop
other benefits.
MR. DOEHL replied that other than pay, the primary benefit would
be workers' compensation coverage.
3:51:09 PM
JOHN JAMES, Colonel and Commander, Alaska State Defense Force,
Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Wasilla,
Alaska, testified in support of HB 150 and commented as follows:
The Alaska State Defense Force is extremely supportive
of House Bill 150; this proposal will provide equal
pay for equal services when members of the Alaska
State Defense Force are activated for state service.
The current pay system is confusing, complex and
multifarious; it requires arduous and tedious efforts
by several employees which takes far too much time, it
is not uncommon for it to take four to six weeks for a
soldier to receive pay after the completion of one's
services. The bill would simplify, streamline and
hasten these efforts, and the end result will be
better and more responsive care taken for our
soldiers.
He addressed Senator Wilson's concern regarding the pay
difference resulting from the legislation. He opined that the
pay difference is slight and ASDF is not concerned.
3:53:09 PM
CHAIR MEYER recognized Senator Gardner.
CHAIR MEYER closed public testimony.
3:53:14 PM
At ease.
3:53:58 PM
CHAIR MEYER called the committee back to order.
SENATOR COGHILL asked Representative Tuck to verify that there
are no bargaining units within the all-volunteer forces that
will be affected by HB 150.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK answered correct. He specified that
organized militia members only get paid when called into active
duty.
CHAIR MEYER noted that the fiscal note for HB 150 is
indeterminate.
3:55:19 PM
SENATOR COGHILL moved to report HB 150, 30-LS0365\A from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note.
3:55:28 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced that seeing no objection, the motion
carried.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB150 Sponsor Statement 1.26.18.pdf |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB 150 Version A.PDF |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Additional Document-Sockeye Fire Spreadsheet from DMVA 1.26.18.pdf |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Additional Document - 2017 Military Pay Chart 1.26.18.pdf |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Supporting Document-Letter DMVA 1.26.18.pdf |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB 150 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SSTA 3/15/2018 3:30:00 PM |
HB 150 |