Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/26/2021 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB12 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 12-MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE
1:30:35 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 12
"An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for military
spouses; and relating to the Department of Commerce, Community,
and Economic Development."
1:31:17 PM
JOE HAYES, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Juneau, Alaska,
introduced SB 12 on behalf of the sponsor paraphrasing the
following sponsor statement:
In 2011, House Bill 28 was passed into law to provide
expedited temporary courtesy licenses to eligible
individuals transferred to Alaska with their active
duty service member spouse, so they can practice their
trade without experiencing extensive wait times for
licensure approval while they complete state
requirements. For a military spouse, expedited
temporary courtesy licenses are the fastest method of
obtaining licensure so they can get to work quickly
after relocating to Alaska.
Many states have passed similar legislation into law.
However, states such as Washington and Connecticut
also included a reporting mechanism so the Legislature
and Joint Armed Services Committee equivalent in that
state could track the executive branch's progress of
implementation. HB 28 did not include a reporting
requirement when it was passed.
Senate Bill 12 would require the Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development to
prepare an annual report of courtesy licenses issued
the previous fiscal year. This simple reporting
mechanism will help facilitate communication between
occupational boards, the state agency, the U.S.
Department of Defense who assists in relocating
service members and families, as well as Alaska
legislators with service members in their districts.
The bill will also aid in making occupational board
staff and legislators more aware of what opportunities
are available for helping military spouses enter the
Alaska the workforce.
Other states have implemented a similar expedited
licensing program to allow military spouses to
transfer their professional credentials quickly and
contribute to the local economies. While Alaska's
program is a model for other states, its
implementation has stalled with few eligible
professionals taking advantage of the program and
spouses reporting delays despite the program being in
effect for eight years. Senate Bill 12 would help
identify inefficiencies in the program before they
cause delays in productivity and ensure the program is
working as intended.
Introduced in 2018 as House Bill 262, the bill passed
the House unanimously and gained bipartisan support in
the Senate before it failed to reach the floor for a
vote. The concept of this bill is listed as a priority
for the U.S. Department of Defense by the state
liaison serving Alaska.
The passage of SB 12 would improve communication
between state and federal government agencies and
active duty families. By improving efficiency and
awareness about what opportunities are available, the
bill will help welcome military families to Alaska.
I respectfully urge your support of SB 12, a
corrective bill that will help ease the transition of
military families and get more licensed professionals
to work in our communities near military
installations.
1:34:38 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if he agreed with her understanding that
the phrase "expedited application procedure" means that
application moves to the top of the list, although it is not
necessarily approved more quickly than any other application.
MR. HAYES deferred to Ms. Chambers.
1:35:31 PM
SARA CHAMBERS, Director, Division of Corporations & Business and
Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development, Juneau, Alaska, confirmed that in this
context the term "expediting" means that the division moves the
completed applications in the front of the queue and moves them
through the process as quickly as possible. She noted that the
division has no control over some of the delays in the process.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the division tracks the number and type
of licenses that military spouses apply for.
MS. CHAMBERS replied they are tracked anecdotally but the
division's software system is not set up to run a specific
report on military spouse applications and licenses. She
acknowledged that the bill requires the division to run that
type of report.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the administration supports SB 12.
MS. CHAMBERS replied the administration has not taken a position
on SB 12 and the reporting mechanism.
CHAIR COSTELLO advised that the committee received a letter of
support from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Copies are in
the bill packet. She asked Senator Revak if this bill would help
to show Alaska's support for military families during a
potential Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process when DoD
is looking at potential military base closures.
1:39:11 PM
SENATOR REVAK answered yes; this definitely is a factor when DoD
goes through the process of determining which bases to retain
and which to BRAC.
1:39:42 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO opened public testimony on SB 12; finding none,
she closed public testimony and looked to the will of the
committee.
1:40:01 PM
SENATOR REVAK moved to report SB 12, work order 32-LS0143\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR COSTELLO advised that the bill carried a zero fiscal note.
She found no objection and SB 12 moved from the Senate Labor and
Commerce Standing Committee.