Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/21/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
Presentation: Economic Support for Alaskans Impacted by Covid-19 | |
HB308 | |
HB205 | |
Presentation: Short and Long-term Impacts of Budget | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
*+ | HB 308 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 205 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 308 am "An Act relating to unemployment benefits during a period of state or national emergency resulting from a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak; and providing for an effective date." 3:06:22 PM Co-Chair von Imhof relayed that the committee had heard the companion bill, SB 240 on March 19, 2020. She invited her staff to discuss changes in the legislation. 3:06:59 PM JULI LUCKY, STAFF, SENATOR NATASHA VON IMHOF, stated that the changes in the Committee Substitute (CS) were minimal. She spoke to the Explanation of Changes (copy on file): The Senate Finance CS for CS for House Bill 308 (FIN) has two differences from Senate Bill 240, which was heard in the Senate Finance Committee on March 19, 2020. 1. The period that the protections against disqualification in this bill apply has been lengthened to 120 days (from 90). The period starts when the bill becomes law or when a person applies, whichever is later. 2. The bill has a retroactive effective date to March 1, 2020. This change would result in minimal fiscal impact and will not require a new fiscal note. Ms. Lucky reviewed previously published FN 1 from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, OMB Component 2276. The fiscal note was indeterminate. The narrative spoke to why the note was indeterminate, and there would be a required regulation change. She stated that it was difficult to determine the fiscal impacts because the number of possible applicants was unknown. 3:09:54 PM PATSY WESTCOTT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (via teleconference), discussed the fiscal note. She shared that the division had already taken measures to realign staff to respond to the anticipated increase in workload. She stressed that the division was ready to respond to the workload, but the possible increase in applicants was unknown. She felt that additional federal authority could be needed. 3:11:57 PM Co-Chair von Imhof thought the appropriate place to add the federal receipt authority was in the budget. 3:12:22 PM Co-Chair von Imhof invited the sponsor to the table. REPRESENTATIVE IVY SPONHOLZ, SPONSOR, supported all the changes in the current CS. Senator Bishop MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for HB 308, Work Draft 31-LS1711\U (Wayne, 3/21/20). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 3:13:48 PM Senator Bishop asked whether Permanent Fund Dividends were included in base period wages. Ms. Westcott answered in the negative. Senator Bishop asked whether a federal dividend would be included in base period wages. Ms. Westcott answered in the negative. Senator Bishop asked whether independent contractors or sole based proprietorships would be covered under UI. Ms. Westcott replied in the negative. 3:14:29 PM Senator Wielechowski asked whether people who were employed by companies such as Uber and Lyft were covered by unemployment insurance. Ms. Westcott stated "yes and no." She relayed that the legislature had exempted transportation network drivers from the definition of employment covered under UI. She said that the provision did not apply to drivers that carried cargo other than human passengers. Senator Wielechowski asked whether there was a number of Uber and Lyft drivers that were being impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Ms. Westcott did not have data on Uber and Lyft drivers in the state. The drivers were not covered under UI and were not required to report to the division. 3:16:20 PM Senator Bishop MOVED to report SCS HB 308(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. SCS HB 308(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published indeterminate fiscal note: FN 1(LWF). Co-Chair Stedman briefly told members that there were a couple of amendments and a brief presentation to consider for the Operating Budget. He hoped to be finished with the days business before dinner. 3:17:32 PM RECESSED 4:04:59 PM RECONVENED [Co-Chair von Imhof handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman].
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HB 308 Work Draft v. U.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 308 |
032120 LFD HB 205 Presentation SFIN .pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |
HB 308 Work Draft v. U Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SFIN 3/21/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 308 |