Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
05/02/2017 10:00 AM House FISHERIES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB231 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 231 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 231-CFEC: BD. SALARY; STAFF CLASSIFIED SERVICE
10:04:02 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 231, "An Act relating to the Alaska Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission; and providing for an effective
date."
10:04:30 AM
LESLIE RIDLE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Administration,
defined the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC) as a
regulatory and quasi-judicial agency that is tasked with the
following duties: limit entry of participants and vessels into
the commercial fisheries; issue and transfer annual commercial
fishing permits and vessel licenses; adjudicate appeals of
actions including denials of applications and transfers; study,
analyze, and report on the economics and stability of commercial
fisheries; ensure reliable and timely access to fishery data;
promote the conservation and sustained yield management of
Alaska's commercial fishery resources; and assess demerit points
against, or suspend fishing privileges of, permit holders for
convictions or violations of commercial fishing laws.
MS. RIDLE reviewed the effects that are anticipated through
enactment of HB 231, which include: change the compensation for
three commissioners of the CFEC by reducing the pay range from
27 at $8,789 per month, to a 24 earning $7,225. The
commissioner pay would not be frozen, under the bill, and would
continue to receive pay increment raises on the merit
anniversary date. The bill removes the CFEC staff from exempt
service and assigns them to classified service. The Division of
Personnel and Labor Relations will perform a classification
study and place positions on the appropriate pay scale. The
current CFEC staff will not receive a reduction in pay, she
said, and explained that their pay would be frozen until the pay
scale catches up to the newly classified position. However, any
new CFEC staff would be hired at the new range/step A. Under
the reorganization the staff will be represented by the
appropriate union: Supervisors Union (SU), General Government
Unit (GGU), or the Confidential Employees Association (CEA).
10:08:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT asked how many employees this might
effect.
MS. RIDLE answered 19 or 20.
10:09:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked for the pay scale of the staff
involved.
MS. RIDLE offered to provide further information.
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN questioned the reclassification process
described and why the staff pay scales could not more simply be
directly reduced, similar to the action being proposed for the
commissioner salaries.
MS. RIDLE responded that previous experience has shown that
invoking a pay change when a position turns over creates less
stress and concern among the current employees, will not be
perceived as a penalty, and cause less overall disruption in the
agency.
10:11:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN inquired how long the commissioner
position has been vacant.
MS. RIDLE recalled that Governor Bill Walker's appointee was
denied in 2015.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN suggested that perhaps it's a difficult
position to fill at the current pay scale, and may be less
inviting at a reduced pay range.
MS. RIDLE opined that it may not be the pay scale as much as
locating a candidate acceptable to the legislature.
CHAIR STUTES interjected that a hire freeze by the governor may
also be a reason that the position has remained vacant.
10:12:20 AM
MS. RIDLE said the estimated savings to the state from the
reduction of the commissioner salaries is $78,733 per year, and
the savings from the staff reclassification is variable based on
position turnover. She explained HB 231 is timely legislation
based on the lighter caseload that is occurring at the CFEC.
The decisions being considered have dropped from a high of 105
cases, in 1998, to 3 cases in 2015, and 0 in 2016. Further, it
is a money saving measure. The commissioners will be aligned to
similar ranges of similar positions and the staff will be
aligned with similar classified service positions. Referring to
the committee handout, titled, "HB 231 Alaska Commercial
Fisheries Entry Commission, May 2, 2017," she directed attention
to the fourth page to illustrate the CFEC budget reductions for
the years FY 16 through the FY 18 proposed plan. Further, she
said the agency has undergone a reduction in space and staff,
over the last few years, along with other budget cuts.
10:14:10 AM
CHAIR STUTES asked how many unfilled position control numbers
(PCNs) are on the books at CFEC, and whether the agency intends
to transfer the positions into the classified system or if they
will be eliminated.
MS. RIDLE offered to provide further information.
10:15:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS questioned why the decisions being
provided by CFEC have bottomed out at zero per year.
CHAIR STUTES said the commissioners will be available at a
subsequent hearing to field that line of questioning.
10:16:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT referred to the fiscal note, and offered
a ballpark estimate that the savings would be $52,000; given the
absence of one commissioner. He suggested a need to revisit the
fiscal note.
10:17:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked for the breakdown of how many staff
would be classified to GGU, as well as SU.
MS. RIDLE answered that, until the classification study has been
completed, the breakout for union representation is an unknown.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN asked what the highest position level
being transferred into the classified service would be.
MS. RIDLE responded the executive director position, and she
offered to provide further information.
10:18:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT inquired about the timeframe required to
complete the study.
MS. RIDLE responded that it will take about six months following
passage of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT commented that some reclassification
studies have resulted in an increase in the costs necessary for
providing services.
MS. RIDLE agreed and said there may be some people who are
working below their class level.
10:20:06 AM
CHAIR STUTES announced HB 231 as held.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB231 Hearing Request 4.19.17.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Transmittal Letter 4.14.17.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Sectional Analysis 4.19.17.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 ver A.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Fiscal Note DFG-CFEC 4.15.17.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Additional Document CFEC Adjudications Table 2014.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Additional Document CFEC Adjudications Graph 2014.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Supporting Document USAG.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Supporting Document NPFA.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |
| HB231 Additional Document Administration PowerPoint.pdf |
HFSH 5/2/2017 10:00:00 AM |
HB 231 |