Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/13/1995 03:32 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SSTA - 4/13/95
SB 142 HUMAN RESOURCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN SHARP calls the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at
3:32 p.m. and brings up SB 142 as the first order of business
before the committee. The chairman notes that the committee does
not yet have a quorum, but will begin by taking testimony.
Chairman Sharp calls the first witness.
Number 020
BRAD PIERCE, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Management & Budget,
reads a written statement consisting of information contained in
the transmittal letter from the governor.
Number 098
MR. PIERCE reads a sectional analysis for SB 142.
Number 190
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS expresses concern over the fiscal note,
which is for a larger sum than last year's fiscal note.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Pierce to explain why, since funding is
being transferred from other sources, the fiscal note is not a zero
fiscal note. The chairman notes that when he sees a fiscal note
with money on it, that means additional funding.
MR. PIERCE states there is no additional funding. This is
transferring money from existing programs to the Governor's Office.
SENATOR DUNCAN adds that the fiscal note he has shows interagency
receipts. The funding source does not show under general funds, so
he would assume the money is already in the budget, and is not a
new expenditure.
MR. PIERCE responds that is a correct observance. He states the
fiscal note shows how the money is being transferred.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if there is any new money, since there will be
one new position created by SB 142.
MR. PIERCE replies that the cost of the new position is being
absorbed.
Number 222
SENATOR LEMAN comments that a four person staff for the council
seems like a large staff. Also, he thinks a board of 23 to 26
members is very large, and may be unwieldy. Senator Leman asks if
there will be a net savings from SB 142.
Number 235
MR. PIERCE responds that a net savings over time is anticipated.
At this time, there are three poorly-staffed councils. What SB 142
will do is give us one adequately-staffed council. However, the
primary reason for SB 142 is not as a cost-saving measure: it is to
increase effectiveness in job-training programs.
SENATOR LEMAN would like to see larger fiscal savings, while still
increasing efficiency.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Mr. Pierce if he has a copy of last
year's fiscal note.
MR. PIERCE responds he probably has one in his office. He
reiterates that the fiscal note is a zero fiscal note, and there
will be no new expenditures due to SB 142.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Pierce if the council will just serve in an
advisory capacity in relation to the private industry councils
(pic).
MR. PIERCE replies that it will assume to functions of the Job
Training Coordinating Council, which currently oversees the pics.
Number 270
JERRY LEWIS, Executive Director, Governor's Council on Vocational
& Career Education, states the council supports SB 142. He asks
that the committee consider including the School to Work Transition
Council under the umbrella of the Alaska Human Resource Investment
Council. Mr. Lewis also suggests requiring that the chairperson of
the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council be from the private
sector. He also suggests not requiring every member of every
council to attend all meetings, because he did not think that would
be very workable.
Number 311
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS notes that his staff just looked up the
fiscal notes from last year: there were ten fiscal notes, and all
of them were zero. He asks if there is a difference between last
year's bill and this year's bill.
MR. PEARCE responds that the bills are very similar; it is the same
zero fiscal note. There are no new general fund monies.
Number 319
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Lewis about his recommendation that one of
the co-chairpersons be from the private sector.
MR. LEWIS replies that the Governor's Council on Vocational &
Career Education is recommending that, instead of co-chairs, the
new council have a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, with the
chairperson from the private sector.
Number 330
JAN TATLOW, Member, Private Industry Council, testifying from
Matsu, states she is concerned with the composition of the council.
She recommends that the three private industry councils in the
state be given a seat on the new council to ensure a local linkage.
Number 350
DEBRA CALL, Chairperson, Alaska Job Training Council, testifying
from Anchorage, states she is a strong proponent of SB 142. Ms.
Call thinks the current educational system is gearing students
toward college education, but in reality, only a small percentage
of students actually go to college. She hopes this legislation
will help resolve the future for the students who do not go to
college. Ms. Call also hopes SB 142 will help increase hiring and
employment opportunities for state residents.
MS. CALL states that consolidation of employment and training
programs is also occurring on the national level and in other
states. We need a state council to set priorities based upon
employment needs and opportunities within the state. The existing
councils are only serving the requirements of the federal programs
which established the councils. Ms. Call states also, that it is
her understanding that U.S. Senator Stevens is very supportive of
this legislation.
Number 412
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Ms. Call if she has seen the fiscal
note for SB 142.
MS. CALL responds she does not believe there is a fiscal note.
There will be no new general fund monies.
Number 417
SENATOR LEMAN asks Ms. Call if 23-26 members is necessary.
MS. CALL replies the number of members reflects the recommendation
of the JTPA.
SENATOR LEMAN asks if that number is similar to the number
specified in last year's bill.
MS. CALL thinks the number is similar.
MR. PIERCE adds that last year's bill did not consolidate the three
councils; it just created an additional council to oversee the
three existing councils. The number of members does reflect the
requirements of JTPA.
MS. CALL agrees that the size of the council could be cumbersome.
Number 451
MARY SHIELDS, testifying from Anchorage, informs the committee that
she runs a contract employment service. Ms. Shields states she
supports SB 142. She sees a lack of training opportunities for
people who are out of highschool or have dropped out of college.
She also sees a great many people returning to college for a second
degree because they are unable to get a job, even though they have
a college education. In trying to help people find work, she
understands how hard it is to be laid of from an industry in
decline and have to be retrained for a different industry. She has
seen these problems in both the oil and the logging industries.
Coordination of employment services will save time and money and
will be more efficient.
Number 498
MS. SHIELDS informs the committee that U.S. Senator Stevens
supports SB 142.
Number 500
TEENY METCALF, Alaska Job Training Council, Department of Community
& Regional Affairs, testifying from Anchorage, states the
department is in favor of SB 142.
CHAIRMAN SHARP notes that the legislation will be held over until
the next committee meeting.
Number 510
SENATOR LEMAN asks what the language, "local public education"
means.
MR. PIERCE responds that refers to K-12 education. He believes
that is a JTPA requirement.
Number 520
CHAIRMAN SHARP states it is his intention to move SB 142 out at the
next committee meeting.
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