Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124

03/15/2021 06:30 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

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06:53:10 PM Start
06:54:45 PM HB100
07:50:08 PM HB132
08:46:43 PM HB45
09:37:17 PM Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Alaska Workers' Compensation Board|| Board of Chiropractic Examiners
09:38:32 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
-- Teleconference <Listen Only> --
*+ HB 100 EXTEND WORKFORCE INVEST BOARD ALLOCATIONS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
*+ HB 132 SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGS; TAX CREDITS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+= HB 45 WORKERS' COMP. AND CONTAGIOUS DISEASES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
- Alaska Worker's Compensation Board
- Board of Chiropractic Examiners
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
        HB 100-EXTEND WORKFORCE INVEST BOARD ALLOCATIONS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:54:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ announced  that the  first order  of business                                                               
would be HOUSE  BILL NO. 100, "An Act relating  to allocations of                                                               
funding for the Alaska Workforce  Investment Board; and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
6:56:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ADAM WOOL,  Alaska  State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  introduced HB  100.   He  specified that  HB 100  would                                                               
reauthorize  the Technical  Vocational  Education Program  (TVEP)                                                               
for another three  years until 2024.  He explained  that TVEP was                                                               
established  in  2000 to  utilize  0.16  percent of  unemployment                                                               
charge  receipts  to  provide  grants  to  career  and  technical                                                               
education providers  across the state.   In the past  the program                                                               
has distributed  an average  of about $12  million.   The program                                                               
impacts  thousands  of  students by  offering  industry  specific                                                               
training  opportunities  that  help  Alaskans  get  the  work  in                                                               
industries such  as fishing, mining,  aviation, health  care, and                                                               
others.   Program  recipients include  the University  of Alaska,                                                               
the  Alaska Vocational  Technical  Center,  the Alaska  Technical                                                               
Center, and Ilisagvik College on the  North Slope.  This list has                                                               
been unchanged  since 2014.  He  noted that because the  [Labor &                                                               
Workforce  Development] Finance  Subcommittee recently  went over                                                               
this, some  of the  newer committee members  who didn't  hear the                                                               
bill last year have now heard some of it.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:58:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  CARRICK, Staff,  Representative Adam  Wool, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  on behalf  of Representative  Wool,  sponsor of  HB
100,  provided   a  PowerPoint  presentation   titled  "Technical                                                               
Vocational Education Program  (TVEP) Re-Authorization, House Bill                                                               
100."   She reiterated Representative Wool's  statement regarding                                                               
the [subcommittee]  having talked  a bit  about the  TVEP program                                                               
from the  Department of Labor  & Workforce Development's  side of                                                               
things  during   the  Labor   &  Workforce   Development  Finance                                                               
Subcommittee  meeting last  week.    She said  today  will be  an                                                               
overview of the program, primarily  regarding its impact and what                                                               
the program actually does for the recipients.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK began  with slide  2, "TVEP  Program History."   She                                                               
stated that TVEP was established  under AS 23.15.830 and TVEP was                                                               
created  in 2000.   This  program  provides noncompetitive  grant                                                               
assistance to  education entities  in Alaska that  are delivering                                                               
specific vocational and technical training  across the state.  In                                                               
2014,  she continued,  the legislature  increased  the amount  of                                                               
funds used for  TVEP from 0.15 percent  of unemployment insurance                                                               
receipts to the current amount of  0.16 percent.  She said HB 100                                                               
would provide reauthorization until fiscal year 2024 (FY 24).                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK   addressed  slide   3,  "Types  of   Training  TVEP                                                               
Recipients  Offer."   She said  some of  the training  offered by                                                               
TVEP recipients  includes aviation, fisheries,  and construction,                                                               
industries  thought   of  as   being  technical   and  vocational                                                               
training.  Also included is  training in renewable energy, health                                                               
care, information technology, and others.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK   turned  to  slide   4,  "How  TVEP   Funding  Gets                                                               
Distributed."  She said the main  takeaway from the chart on this                                                               
slide is  that the 0.16  percent for  TVEP is allocated  from the                                                               
unemployment  insurance  (UI) taxable  wage  base.   Each  year's                                                               
allocation to recipients is set by statute.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARRICK moved  to slide 5, "TVEP Recipients Over  Time."  She                                                               
pointed out  that TVEP recipients  have changed over time.   When                                                               
the program  was first  introduced in  2000 the  three recipients                                                               
were  the University  of Alaska,  Kotzebue  Training Center,  and                                                               
Alaska  Vocational  Technical Center.    Added  in 2001  was  the                                                               
Galena Project  Education Training Center, eventually  called the                                                               
Galena  Interior  Learning  Academy.   Added  in  2004  were  the                                                               
Southwest  Alaska  Vocational  Education   Center  and  the  Yuut                                                               
Elitnaurviat, Inc., People's Learning Center.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARRICK  displayed slide  6 and continued  her review  of the                                                               
TVEP  recipients over  time. She  said four  new recipients  were                                                               
added in 2008: Partners for  Progress Delta, Amundsen Educational                                                               
Center, Northwestern Alaska Career  and Technical Center, and the                                                               
University of Alaska  Southeast (UAS).  The  contribution to UAS,                                                               
she  noted, was  for a  brief  period, partially  because UAS  is                                                               
actually in the Community Campus System.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:02:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK showed  slide  7, "Current  TVEP  Recipients."   She                                                               
specified that  the current TVEP recipients  were reauthorized in                                                               
2014, which was when Ilisagvik College  was added for a 5 percent                                                               
allocation.  The  program was reauthorized in 2017  with the same                                                               
10 recipients.  She noted that  the location of the recipients is                                                               
provided on the  left-hand side of the slide and  shows that they                                                               
cover a  wide range  of Alaska's regions.   She  highlighted that                                                               
the University  of Alaska distributes  its 45  percent allocation                                                               
statewide.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARRICK discussed  slide 8, "TVEP Distributions."   She noted                                                               
that  the   FY  21  governor's   amended  distribution   is  what                                                               
recipients  expected  to  receive  last  year  when  the  initial                                                               
distribution list  was put out.   The red column,  she continued,                                                               
is the  FY 21  COVID revised distribution,  which was  revised in                                                               
June 2020  and was based  on the  draw from unemployment,  so the                                                               
0.16 percent was  impacted.  The blue column  was updated 1/11/21                                                               
and reflects  a trend  upward in  the FY 21  numbers; it  is what                                                               
recipients  will  ultimately  have  received for  FY  21  if  the                                                               
supplemental budget  passes this year.   The far-right  column is                                                               
the proposed  FY 22 distribution,  which was revised  on 3/11/21,                                                               
not 3/11/20  as depicted on the  slide.  This is  what recipients                                                               
should  be able  to expect  this  coming fiscal  year should  the                                                               
program be reauthorized.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:04:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KAUFMAN stated  that  the years  and numbers  are                                                               
different in  his committee  packet than what  are on  the slides                                                               
being presented.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARRICK  replied that there was  an update to that  chart and                                                               
to the presentation, which she will get to him.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY asked  what  the number  of employees  is                                                               
each year that this calculation is based on.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK deferred  to [the  Department of  Labor &  Workforce                                                               
Development] to answer the question.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
7:05:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATSY  WESTCOTT, Director,  Division of  Employment and  Training                                                               
Services, Department  of Labor  & Workforce  Development, replied                                                               
she doesn't have the number of  employees in front of her at this                                                               
time, but  said she  would get  back to  the committee  with that                                                               
specific information.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ inquired  whether  Representative McCarty  is                                                               
asking about the total number of workers in the state of Alaska.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  agreed that  that is  what he  is asking.                                                               
He  said 2020  saw a  very  significant reduction  in workers  in                                                               
Alaska with  about 40,000 people,  he believed,  on unemployment.                                                               
With that  in mind, he  asked what the  FY 22 numbers  might look                                                               
like and when those numbers will be known.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. WESCOTT confirmed that a decline  was seen in the amount that                                                               
was collected for  TVEP from state FY 20 and  what the department                                                               
estimates state FY 21  to be as a result of  the pandemic and the                                                               
layoffs.   She  said the  estimated  difference is  a decline  of                                                               
about 15.2  percent.   The state  FY 20  allocation for  TVEP was                                                               
slightly  over $13.1  million, and  the estimated  allocation for                                                               
state  FY 21  is  about  $11.1 million.    So,  she continued,  a                                                               
decline   of  about   $2  million   in  the   revenues  collected                                                               
specifically for TVEP, which is a  direct result of the impact of                                                               
the  pandemic and  the  subsequent shutdowns  and  layoffs.   For                                                               
state FY  22, the estimate is  an increase to $12.1  million.  As                                                               
for the number  of employees, she said she would  get back to the                                                               
committee with an answer.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:09:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK  concluded  her presentation  by  stating  that  the                                                               
sponsor's  office is  available  to answer  any  questions.   She                                                               
noted that  the Department of  Labor & Workforce  Development has                                                               
worked  closely with  the sponsor  on helping  with understanding                                                               
the numbers  for the  current distribution as  well as  last year                                                               
being a unique situation.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ  invited  Ms.  Teri Cothren  to  provide  her                                                               
presentation on HB 100.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:10:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TERI  COTHREN, Associate  Vice President,  Workforce Development,                                                               
University  of Alaska  (UA), provided  a PowerPoint  presentation                                                               
titled  "University  of  Alaska, Technical  Vocational  Education                                                               
Program," dated  3/15/21, and supported reauthorization  of TVEP.                                                               
She  began   by  thanking  the   co-chairs  for   providing  this                                                               
opportunity to speak  about this important funding  source to the                                                               
university.     She  further  thanked  Representative   Wool  for                                                               
sponsoring and  introducing HB  100.  She  displayed slide  1 and                                                               
said  her presentation  would  provide: an  overview  of how  the                                                               
university as  one of the  TVEP recipients utilizes  this funding                                                               
source,  some examples  of how  TVEP supports  key industries  in                                                               
Alaska, and the types of graduate outcomes that are produced.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN moved  to  slide  2, "UA  is  the  largest and  most                                                               
comprehensive workforce provider in  Alaska," and stated that the                                                               
University of Alaska is Alaska's  system for higher education and                                                               
includes  three  separately  accredited  universities  that  have                                                               
distinct  missions and  are also  responsible  for the  community                                                               
college mission through 13 community  campuses.  All combined, it                                                               
is the most  comprehensive workforce provider in the  state.  The                                                               
university's programs range from  short-term career and technical                                                               
education  certificates all  the  way to  doctorate degrees,  and                                                               
many of these programs are available statewide.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN turned  to slide 3, "UA TVEP  Process," and explained                                                               
that as a  TVEP recipient the university utilizes its  funds as a                                                               
single  allocation  with  the  UA   system.    She  related  that                                                               
administration of  the program is  through a  competitive request                                                               
for  proposals  (RFP)  or  grant  process  by  the  UA  Workforce                                                               
Development  Committee that  includes  representatives from  each                                                               
university and  the Alaska  Workforce Investment  Board executive                                                               
director.   The  funding is  distributed as  a result  of process                                                               
that is inclusive  of all campuses and programs in  the UA system                                                               
that meets the  funding priorities listed on  the slide: [aligned                                                               
with TVEP  statutes, responsive  to industry,  strategic one-time                                                               
infrastructure/equipment   investments,  develops   and  enhances                                                               
partnerships].     This   process   supports  collaboration   and                                                               
leveraging   resources  to   increase  efficiencies   across  the                                                               
university and  the state, while also  maintaining flexibility to                                                               
be responsive to industry and regional workforce needs.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:12:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  discussed the  two pie charts  depicted on  slide 4,                                                               
"UA FY20 TVEP  $5.6M Funding Distribution."  She  stated that the                                                               
FY 20  UA TVEP  allocation supports  high priority  industries in                                                               
Alaska  as depicted  in  the left  chart, from  oil  and gas  and                                                               
mining, along  with fisheries,  maritime, and  health, to  name a                                                               
few.   As  depicted in  the right  chart, funding  is distributed                                                               
across all six economic regions of the state.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN drew  attention to slide 5, "UA  TVEP FY20 Outcomes."                                                               
She  specified that  TVEP served  over 4,300  students in  FY 20.                                                               
She explained  that the following  slides would  provide specific                                                               
examples of  how TVEP supports  UA's ability to be  responsive to                                                               
Alaska's  high-demand  industries.    She noted  that  for  every                                                               
example given  there are  many more that  could be  shared across                                                               
these programs and  campuses.  She further noted  that while TVEP                                                               
is a  critical funding  source, it  is not  the only  funding the                                                               
university  invests  to  address  the workforce  needs  of  these                                                               
industries.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  showed slide 6, "Oil  & Gas," and reported  that the                                                               
Department  of  Labor  and Workforce  Development,  Research  and                                                               
Analysis,  projects  that  while  the pandemic  has  slowed  some                                                               
employment growth in the oil  and gas sector, long-term growth is                                                               
still likely.   She said TVEP investments that help  meet oil and                                                               
gas  workforce  demand and  benefit  this  industry are  expanded                                                               
access  to fabrication  and 3D  printing to  over 50  engineering                                                               
students annually for  hands-on projects, and access  to over 600                                                               
K-12  students during  the summer  for career  exploration.   The                                                               
university  leases  shop and  classroom  space  at the  Fairbanks                                                               
Pipeline  Training   Center  to  provide  University   of  Alaska                                                               
Fairbanks  (UAF) process  tech students  with the  opportunity to                                                               
work  on  state-of-the-art  equipment.     Also,  the  university                                                               
invests in  well-controlled training  that helps the  industry to                                                               
meet safety  requirements to prevent  blowouts and  promotes safe                                                               
drilling practices.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN   continued  with  slide  6.     Regarding  graduate                                                               
employment outcomes, she said that  this past year the university                                                               
partnered  with  Research  and   Analysis  to  develop  workforce                                                               
reports  that  demonstrate  graduate  outcomes  across  nine  key                                                               
industries.   The graduate employment data  in this presentation,                                                               
she continued,  are from  those reports.   She drew  attention to                                                               
the  three program  areas highlighted  on the  slide that  are in                                                               
high  demand   and  important  to   the  oil  and   gas  industry                                                               
[engineering,  process   tech,  welding].     For   example,  she                                                               
reported,  90 percent  of the  process tech  graduates find  work                                                               
within a year of graduating  and have impressively high earnings,                                                               
nearly $74,000 within their first  year and more than $130,000 by                                                               
their  fifth year.    It  was also  found  that  93.5 percent  of                                                               
working graduates  are Alaska residents compared  to 70.9 percent                                                               
for all oil and gas workers.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:15:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  requested Ms. Cothren  to give examples  of a                                                               
process tech degree and a process tech career.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN  replied  that  the actual  name  is  "Process  Tech                                                               
Degree" and it has occupational  endorsements that are short term                                                               
and all  the way to a  two-year associate degree.   Many of those                                                               
graduates work  directly in the  oil and gas industry,  she said,                                                               
for example at some of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline pump stations.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ asked what a process tech does.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  responded by  saying, "Imagine a  lot of  levers and                                                               
pipes,  and it's  about  moving those  through  and managing  the                                                               
pressure levels and keeping things  flowing."  Responding further                                                               
to Co-Chair Spohnholz,  she confirmed there are a  lot of process                                                               
techs working on the pipeline.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ invited  Representative Kaufman  to elaborate                                                               
on the aforementioned.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN  said it's  all the  things that  a person                                                               
must  do to  maintain  control  of the  process.    In a  typical                                                               
process   there  is   everything  from   pressure,  flow   rates,                                                               
temperature, he  explained.  Someone  helping to control  that is                                                               
engaging  in manipulating  the various  control devices,  many of                                                               
which are now  automated, so a process tech is  dealing with that                                                               
and keeping the process running.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:18:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY requested  Ms.  Cothren to  differentiate                                                               
between degree and certification.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN answered  that occupational endorsement certification                                                               
(OEC) is often a year or less, and  a degree is the next level up                                                               
of a certificate or Associates degree.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY  inquired  whether Ms.  Cothren  is  also                                                               
referring to a bachelor's degree or higher.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN replied correct.  She  explained that an OEC would be                                                               
the first step  in any of the university's degree  pathways.  The                                                               
next step  would be a  certificate, then Associates  degree, then                                                               
Bachelor's degree, and then on to a graduate program.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY  asked  about the  percentages  of  where                                                               
students  are  ending  their  training;  for  example,  what  the                                                               
percentages  are for  students  earning a  bachelor's degree,  an                                                               
associate's degree, and so on.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN responded  she  would get  that  information to  the                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ interjected  that  the university  absolutely                                                               
tracks all that information.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:19:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  resumed her  presentation.   She displayed  slide 7,                                                               
"Health,"  and  said  the  Department   of  Labor  and  Workforce                                                               
Development,  Research and  Analysis,  projects  that the  health                                                               
care sector,  an already large  industry, will grow at  twice the                                                               
rate of the economy  overall by 2028.  To help  meet the needs in                                                               
health  care, she  stated, TVEP  investments have  contributed to                                                               
upgrades in  technology that are  shared across  health programs.                                                               
These investments  have also  contributed to  program development                                                               
or  expansion  in both  urban  and  rural communities,  including                                                               
expanded access  to nursing  programs through  distance delivery.                                                               
In addition, TVEP  investment has contributed to  an expansion of                                                               
hands-on experience through community  and practicum placement of                                                               
UA   health  science   students  that   enhances  the   students'                                                               
educational experience, connects them  with industry partners for                                                               
employment  opportunities,  and increases  their  competitiveness                                                               
for  graduate programs  in  high demand  health  careers such  as                                                               
pharmacy and physician assistants.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN continued addressing slide  7.  She said the graduate                                                               
employment  outcomes  highlight  three  program  areas  that  are                                                               
important  to the  health care  industry  [certified nurse  aide,                                                               
dental assistant, nursing].   The Certified Nurse  Aide (CNA) can                                                               
be completed in six weeks,  providing a short path to employment.                                                               
This  also  provides a  pathway  to  continue towards  a  nursing                                                               
degree that  could increase the student's  earning potential from                                                               
$33,000 to  over $50,000, and  nearly $70,000 with five  years of                                                               
experience.   Out of  the 31 clinical  health programs  listed in                                                               
the Health Workforce Report, more  than 82 percent are working in                                                               
Alaska within a year of graduating.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN  presented slide  8,  "Aviation,"  and related  that                                                               
Research and Analysis  projects a decline of less  than 2 percent                                                               
in  jobs in  the  aviation sector,  but  vacancies will  continue                                                               
within the  6,000-plus jobs needed  by 2028.   She said  the TVEP                                                               
investments benefitting  the aviation industry  include equipment                                                               
and technology  upgrades, along with the  development of distance                                                               
delivery  aviation maintenance  instruction.   Online instruction                                                               
provides students  in remote locations around  Alaska with access                                                               
to the foundational  knowledge required to become  certified as a                                                               
Federal Aviation Administration mechanic.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN continued speaking to slide  8.  She pointed out that                                                               
the  graduate employment  outcomes show  strong wage  growth -  a                                                               
jump of nearly  40 percent by year five  for aviation maintenance                                                               
graduates  and  53 percent  wage  growth  for those  in  aviation                                                               
administration.   As  it  takes  time for  pilots  to earn  their                                                               
different  ratings,  the  university anticipates  a  larger  wage                                                               
growth over time; for example,  commercial pilots with experience                                                               
have  an earning  potential of  $89,000 and  beyond as  they gain                                                               
more experience.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:22:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  moved to slide  9, "Aviation  Simulation Equipment,"                                                               
and noted  that the three  photos show examples of  TVEP aviation                                                               
investment in  equipment upgrades.   She said the top  left photo                                                               
is a  professional piloting student practicing  instrument flying                                                               
in one  of the two  Redbird simulators  that TVEP helped  fund at                                                               
the  University of  Alaska  Anchorage  (UAA) Aviation  Technology                                                               
Center.   The  top right  photo is  of a  student and  instructor                                                               
approaching  Merrill Field  to land  in  one of  the TVEP  funded                                                               
aircraft in  UAA's professional piloting program.   Regarding the                                                               
bottom  photo,  she  stated  that TVEP  helped  upgrade  the  air                                                               
traffic control  technology that  provides students  cutting edge                                                               
experience  to  prepare  them for  the  rigorous  four-month-long                                                               
certification  test  at  the  Federal  Aviation  Administration's                                                               
facility in Oklahoma City.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN proceeded  to slide 10, "Mining,"  and specified that                                                               
the Department  of Labor and Workforce  Development, Research and                                                               
Analysis, projects the  mining industry to grow by  28 percent by                                                               
2028.    To  help  meet  the  workforce  needs  in  mining,  TVEP                                                               
investments have contributed to the  delivery of hard skills mine                                                               
training  camps  at  the only  all-encompassing  underground  and                                                               
surface mine training camp in  the world through UAF's Mining and                                                               
Petroleum Training Service.  Also,  TVEP investment has supported                                                               
several upgrades to equipment.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN continued addressing slide  10.  She related that the                                                               
graduate  employment  outcomes   highlight  three  program  areas                                                               
important  to  the mining  industry:    mining operators,  [power                                                               
technology], and geological sciences.   The graduate outcomes for                                                               
the 44  programs evaluated  in mining showed  an average  of 92.7                                                               
percent  of working  graduates are  Alaska residents  compared to                                                               
65.3  percent for  all mining  workers.   The data  clearly shows                                                               
that  hiring   UA  graduates  significantly  boosts   the  Alaska                                                               
residency rate  within the  mining industry.   On  average, fifth                                                               
year  wages are  higher than  the average  Alaska wage  of nearly                                                               
$60,000.   Looking at the wage  outcomes from all 44  programs in                                                               
the mining  report, on average  the wages exceed $104,000  by the                                                               
fifth year of employment.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:25:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN moved  to slide 11, "Fisheries,  Seafood & Maritime."                                                               
According to Research  and Analysis, she said,  by 2028 fisheries                                                               
is expected  to grow by 8  percent, seafood by 37.2  percent, and                                                               
the maritime industry is projected to  decrease by 1 percent.  To                                                               
help  meet   the  workforce  needs  of   these  industries,  TVEP                                                               
investments  have  contributed  to partnering  with  industry  to                                                               
train seafood processors for  direct employment, maritime program                                                               
development  and expansion  aligning to  industry standards,  and                                                               
upgrading  Ketchikan  campus's  maritime bridge  simulator  to  a                                                               
state-of-the-art whole mission simulator.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN continued  with slide  11.   Regarding the  graduate                                                               
employment outcomes,  she shared  that, overall,  in the  past 10                                                               
years  the fisheries  programs have  produced  975 graduates  for                                                               
jobs  in fisheries,  marine  biology,  oceanography, and  natural                                                               
resource management.   On  average, 94.1  percent of  the working                                                               
graduates are Alaska  residents compared to 66.3  percent for all                                                               
workers in fisheries and marine science.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN explained  that  the photo  on  slide 12,  "Maritime                                                               
Bridge  Simulator and  Student Success,"  is of  the full-mission                                                               
simulator in  the UAS  Ketchikan Maritime  Training Center.   She                                                               
said  the quote  on the  slide is  a Facebook  post by  a current                                                               
student who  had just completed her  U.S. Coast Guard class.   In                                                               
her post  she points  out the capabilities  of the  new simulator                                                               
being able to provide a variety of hands-on experiences.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  spoke to  slide 13,  "Information Technology."   She                                                               
stated that  TVEP investments to  support the workforce  needs of                                                               
the  information technology  (IT) industry  include computer  lab                                                               
upgrades  to  provide  virtual   or  remote  access  to  increase                                                               
students'  hands-on experience,  and  revamp  curriculum to  meet                                                               
industry  needs   and  enhance  employment  in   high  demand  IT                                                               
occupations.  Regarding graduate  employment outcomes, she stated                                                               
that more than  80 percent of computer  and networking technology                                                               
graduates work in Alaska one  year following graduation.  Because                                                               
IT  occupations support  many industries  across  the state,  she                                                               
said it was interesting to find  that 44 percent of the graduates                                                               
are working in the public administration sector.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN  displayed  slide  14,  "IT  Student  Success,"  and                                                               
related the  success story of  UAF Community &  Technical College                                                               
(CTC)  IT  Specialist Program  graduate  Stephanie  Harvey.   Ms.                                                               
Harvey is  now an  IT Specialist instructor  for the  program and                                                               
recently received industry recognition for her work by Cisco.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
7:30:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN turned  to slide  15, "Construction,"  and specified                                                               
that the Department of Labor  and Workforce Development, Research                                                               
and Analysis, projects the construction  industry to grow by 10.7                                                               
percent  by  2028.   To  help  meet the  construction  industry's                                                               
workforce needs,  TVEP investments  have contributed  to updating                                                               
the  apprenticeship  technology  degrees for  UAA's  Community  &                                                               
Technical College to be more  accessible through online delivery.                                                               
Also, TVEP  has supported upgrades  in equipment and  helped fund                                                               
hands-on  training through  the  UAS  Construction Program  which                                                               
partners  with the  Juneau Housing  Trust and  the Juneau  School                                                               
District to  design and construct  homes for  low-income families                                                               
in the Juneau area.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN continued with slide  15 and stated that the graduate                                                               
employment  outcomes  highlighted   in  the  construction  report                                                               
include   [carpentry,   civil   engineering,   and   construction                                                               
management].   Over  the past  10 years,  she said,  nearly 2,000                                                               
graduates have been trained in  programs leading to employment in                                                               
carpentry,  heavy  truck   and  equipment  driving,  construction                                                               
management,  welding,  civil  engineering, and  surveying.    The                                                               
average wages are $70,000 within five years of graduation.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN   proceeded  to  slide  16,   "Construction  Student                                                               
Success," and shared  the story of Jessica  Senter, who graduated                                                               
in 2020  with a B.S.  in Construction  Management from UAA.   She                                                               
related that Ms.  Senter started her job as  an assistant project                                                               
manager the semester prior to graduation.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN moved  to slide 17 and concluded  her presentation by                                                               
stating  that  the University  of  Alaska  strongly supports  the                                                               
reauthorization  of TVEP  (HB 100)  to provide  a stable  funding                                                               
source  to address  Alaska's workforce  needs.   Specific to  the                                                               
current  time, she  said,  TVEP is  critical  in helping  support                                                               
Alaska's  economic  recovery.    As  seen  by  the  examples  she                                                               
provided, TVEP  funds short-term  career and  technical education                                                               
programs  which  serve  the  workforce   needs  of  Alaska's  key                                                               
industries  and will  help re-skill  and  up-skill Alaskan's  who                                                               
have been displaced  by the pandemic.  Reauthorizing  TVEP for at                                                               
least three  years will provide  some of the stability  needed to                                                               
train Alaskans  for jobs in Alaska  and get them back  to work as                                                               
quickly as possible.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
7:32:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN  inquired about  the process  for deciding                                                               
which training to provide.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  replied that part of  it is looking at  labor market                                                               
information,  such as  some of  the data  she just  reviewed, and                                                               
looking at the  workforce demand analysis that  the Department of                                                               
Labor  & Workforce  Development provides.   The  other part,  she                                                               
continued,  is  having  local   and  regional  conversations  and                                                               
partnerships with  industry to ensure  the university  is meeting                                                               
industry's workforce needs.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:33:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ noted  that the percentage of  TVEP funds that                                                               
have  gone to  the university  has decreased  from a  peak of  63                                                               
percent in 2001 to about 45 percent  now.  She asked how this has                                                               
impacted the university's  allocation of TVEP funds  and what the                                                               
university has been able to do with those funds.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN responded that with  funding the university can train                                                               
more students  and the university  has made use of  those dollars                                                               
as most efficiently  as it can.  As funding  has declined through                                                               
the years  the university has  continued to  try to find  as many                                                               
efficiencies to preserve  the programs directly to  serve as many                                                               
of the  students as it can.   More funding certainly  helps.  The                                                               
university partners with  many of the other  TVEP recipients, and                                                               
it's important to provide that  current type of education funding                                                               
throughout  the state  to have  access  to training  for as  many                                                               
students as possible.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that  the TVEP funds also leverage                                                               
many other  funds that the  university is  able to attract.   She                                                               
explained that  in each of  the program areas  highlighted today,                                                               
the university raises  hundreds of thousands or  many millions of                                                               
dollars  every year  in private  sector investment  directly into                                                               
these  programs because  the private  sector also  recognizes the                                                               
value of these  programs.  One of the  largest allocations within                                                               
the university's use  of TVEP funds is for  health careers, which                                                               
has been  one of the  high demand growth  fields in Alaska  for a                                                               
very long time, but the health  sector has also been a very large                                                               
investor  in health  education.   For  example, Alaska  hospitals                                                               
have invested  in nursing  education and  that has  leveraged the                                                               
TVEP funds.  It all comes  together to ensure that Alaska has the                                                               
nurses, physician's  assistants, and  dental hygienists  that the                                                               
state needs to ensure its residents are healthy.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  noted that currently the  smallest allocation                                                               
is to the IT section, which  is a new addition in TVEP allocation                                                               
within the  university.   She requested Ms.  Cothren to  speak to                                                               
how long  the university has been  doing that and where  it might                                                               
go in the future.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  COTHREN answered  that IT  is  a high-demand  area that  the                                                               
university wants to support and  has been supporting through TVEP                                                               
funding  throughout  the years.    The  smaller allocation  isn't                                                               
necessarily by total  design, she noted.  The  university has its                                                               
internal competitive process and  is dependent on those proposals                                                               
being  submitted internally.   She  said  TVEP is  one source  of                                                               
funding, and  other university funds  are being  directed towards                                                               
these workforce programs.  It just  might be that IT is utilizing                                                               
other  sources  and  partnering   with  industry  differently  to                                                               
address those needs.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  shared that  the computer science  program at                                                               
UAA  is  small  when  compared  to  other  programs.    But,  she                                                               
continued, given the  way things are moving it  could be imagined                                                               
there  might  be  some  job   growth  in  that  area  eventually,                                                               
providing opportunity as Alaska diversifies its economy.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:38:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SCHRAGE inquired  whether any  of these  programs                                                               
are  accessible off  campus or  whether they  all require  an in-                                                               
person  presence;   for  example,  whether  the   IT  program  is                                                               
accessible from the Bristol Bay campus.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. COTHREN  replied yes, many  of the university's  programs are                                                               
accessible online, particularly now with  the pandemic.  She said                                                               
that   historically  the   university's   career  and   technical                                                               
education  programs have  been much  more hands-on,  but creative                                                               
ways have been  found to deliver online.  For  example, the Kenai                                                               
Peninsula  College through  UAA  used to  have  two locations  of                                                               
delivery for the process tech program    one in Anchorage and one                                                               
in Kenai.   Some efficiency was  found by moving the  program and                                                               
having  many  classes  available  online,  effectively  providing                                                               
delivery from  Kenai and providing  more students with  access to                                                               
that program.  Creative and  flexible lab schedules were provided                                                               
for students to come obtain their hands-on experience in Kenai.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:40:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY  referred to the Technical  and Vocational                                                               
Education  Program  Report  for  [state  fiscal  year]  2020  and                                                               
requested an explanation of the last  two columns in the chart on                                                               
page 6.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:41:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LOUISE  DEAN,  Executive  Director, Alaska  Workforce  Investment                                                               
Board,  Department of  Labor and  Workforce Development  (DOLWD),                                                               
responded that  the TVEP recipients  provide this  information to                                                               
the department  and to Research  and Analysis so that  the report                                                               
can be prepared.   She allowed that  the way it is  reported is a                                                               
bit confusing.  She explained  there is a measurement 1-12 months                                                               
after exit,  so the percentages  show the number  of participants                                                               
who  exited  that  are  employed   one  year  after  exit.    The                                                               
percentages  change as  the length  of  time changes,  such as  6                                                               
months, 7 months, or 12 months.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ stated  that this is somewhat  of a comparison                                                               
of  apples to  oranges because  some of  these programs  are high                                                               
school  programs and  others are  post-secondary, which  accounts                                                               
for some of the difference in terms of the employment numbers.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
7:43:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY remarked that  being able to differentiate                                                               
between a high school student,  certification student, and degree                                                               
student  would be  helpful.    He then  noted,  as examples,  the                                                               
figures of $80,000  for Partners for Progress and  $30,000 for UA                                                               
and inquired about these numbers.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. DEAN answered that she  would get the information and provide                                                               
it to the committee.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ clarified  that the  TVEP money  goes to  the                                                               
institutions, not the  students.  She explained  that the numbers                                                               
cited by Representative  McCarty are the per pupil  numbers - the                                                               
amount of funds provided to the  program divided by the number of                                                               
students in that program.  For  programs with a smaller number of                                                               
students, the per-pupil investment from TVEP is much higher.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY  observed  the current  formula  for  the                                                               
percent of TVEP money received  by each institution.  He inquired                                                               
about  rearranging the  percentages  so  that those  institutions                                                               
good at performing would get more TVEP money.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ replied, "That is why we are here."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
7:45:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CARRICK   responded  further  to   Representative  McCarty's                                                               
question.   She drew  attention to  the Galena  Interior Learning                                                               
Academy and its median wage after  exit and pointed out that this                                                               
program  serves a  lot of  high school  students compared  to the                                                               
university or to Ilisagvik College,  which is geared more towards                                                               
adults in  the community.   These numbers have weight  and merit,                                                               
she continued,  but in addition  they are  somewhat correlational                                                               
in the  sense that  TVEP makes up  different proportions  of each                                                               
program's total ability  to provide education.   For example, for                                                               
the University  of Alaska, TVEP  provides a  different proportion                                                               
of  funding for  different  programs in  different  parts of  the                                                               
state; the same is true for  some of the other institutions.  For                                                               
some of  the smaller  institutions TVEP funding  makes up  a very                                                               
large portion  of the  funds they  receive overall  for technical                                                               
education; for others it makes up a smaller percentage.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCCARTY stated  it would  be helpful  to see  the                                                               
differentiation of  where the students  are from because  in just                                                               
looking  at the  figures  it appears  that there  needs  to be  a                                                               
realignment of the percentages.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:47:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SCHRAGE suggested  that  one thing  which may  be                                                               
causing some  of the disparity  in wages for those  that graduate                                                               
these programs is that some  of the programs are more specialized                                                               
than  others.   The  university  offers a  wide  range of  degree                                                               
programs, he  said, while some  institutions offer  just programs                                                               
that typically have a high wage upon exiting the programs.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL  noted that the Partners  for Progress Delta,                                                               
[whose graduates earn $80,000 in  wages], seems to be the anomaly                                                               
that's much higher  than the rest.  While some  are low, many are                                                               
in  the $25,000-$40,000  range, he  said,  so he  will look  into                                                               
whether Delta is producing highly specialized graduates.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:48:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ stated  that  it is  a  very interesting  and                                                               
important  program in  that  it helps  ensure  that Alaskans  are                                                               
getting hired  in these high  demand, high  compensation careers.                                                               
Alaska  needs people  to be  doing this  work.   It must  also be                                                               
ensured that  the state is making  good use of its  resources and                                                               
currently  the  amount  of  funds   for  TVEP  is  lower  because                                                               
unemployment has  been higher over  the last 12 months,  which is                                                               
going to create additional pressure  moving forward.  However, it                                                               
also underscores  the importance of  this program as  people look                                                               
to make a shift in their  career path as often happens when their                                                               
current  career is  interrupted.   She  thanked  the sponsor  for                                                               
introducing the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[HB 100 was held over.}                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 132 v. B 3.10.21.PDF HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 45 Amendment #1.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 Sectional Analysis 2.24.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 Sponsor Statement 2.24.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 Version A.PDF HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 Presentation 3.2.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 Fiscal Note DOLWD-WC 1.22.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 - testimony received as of 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 background document- Division of Workers' Compensation- Effects of Covid 3.3.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 background document- Division of Workers' Compenstion- COVID-19 WC Year End Report Final 3.3.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 background document- NCCI- AK HB 45 Analysis 3.3.21.pdf HL&C 3/5/2021 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 45 supporting document - research, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45
HB 100 v. A.PDF HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 supporting document - UA presentation.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 letters of support, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 supporting document - DOL AWIB Flow Chart.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 supporting document -TVEP Annual Report FY20.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 supporting document - UA Results Overview.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 FN - DOLWD-WIB, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 FN - DEED, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 FN - DOLWD-WD, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 FN - DOLWD-UI, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 100
HB 132 FN DOR, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 FN DOLWD-WH, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 FN DOLWD-WIB, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 100 presentation, 3.13.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
SFIN 5/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 100
HB 132 Sectional Analysis v. B 3.12.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 Sponsor Statement 3.12.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
SEDC 3/11/2022 9:00:00 AM
HB 132
HB 132 PowerPoint 3.12.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 132
HB 132 Letter of Support - ASHNA 3.11.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
SEDC 3/11/2022 9:00:00 AM
HB 132
HB 132 Letter of Support - Matsu Borough School District 2.24.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
SEDC 3/11/2022 9:00:00 AM
HB 132
HB 100 UA Presentation 3.15.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HL&C 3/17/2021 5:45:00 PM
SFIN 5/3/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 5/14/2021 1:00:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 Bill Presentation 3.15.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HL&C 3/17/2021 5:45:00 PM
HB 100
HB 100 Supporting Document - FY22 Proposed Distribution 3.15.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HL&C 3/17/2021 5:45:00 PM
HB 100
HB 45 responses to House Labor and Commerce committee questions 3.15.21.pdf HL&C 3/15/2021 6:30:00 PM
HB 45