Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/16/1993 03:00 PM House L&C
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 16, 1993
3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Bill Hudson, Chairman
Rep. Joe Green, Vice Chairman
Rep. Brian Porter
Rep. Bill Williams
Rep. Eldon Mulder
Rep. Jerry Mackie
MEMBERS ABSENT
Rep. Joe Sitton
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HB 179: "An Act relating to motor vehicles and mobile
homes; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED FROM COMMITTEE
HB 54: "An Act relating to eavesdropping, telephone
caller identification, and telephone directory
listings and solicitations."
MOVED FROM COMMITTEE
HB 203: "An Act imposing a fee for the administration of
the workers' compensation program; and providing
for an effective date."
HEARD AND HELD IN COMMITTEE
Confirmations of the following individuals:
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors - Richard S. Armstrong, Paul Hartig, William W.
Mendenhall, Michael H. Schwartz
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers - Michelle A. Loptien,
Jerry R. Mayfield
Alaska Labor Relations Agency - Darrell F. Smith
Occupational Safety and Health Review Board - Donald F.
Hoff, Jr.
Personnel Board - Gary P. Bader
WITNESS REGISTER
JUANITA HENSLEY, Chief, Driver Services
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Public Safety
5700 E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage, Alaska 99507-1225
269-5559
Position Statement: Supported HB 179
REP. KAY BROWN
Alaska State Legislature
Room 517, State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
465-4998
Position Statement: Sponsor of HB 54
GAIL GAREY, Lobbyist
MCI Telecommunications Corp.
707 17th Street #3900
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 291-6506
Position Statement: Opposed HB 54
(Spoke via teleconference)
PAUL ARNOLDT, Director
Division of Workers' Compensation
Department of Labor
P.O. Box 25512
Juneau, Alaska 99802-5512
465-2790
Position Statement: Answered questions on workers'
compensation
JERRY REINWAND, Lobbyist
Alaska Timber Insurance Exchange
2 Marine Way, #219
Juneau, Alaska 99801
586-8966
Position Statement: Opposed HB 203
DAVID THOMPSON, Executive Director
Alaska Center for Deaf Adults
731 Gamble, Suite 200
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3754
276-3456
Position Statement: Supported HB 203
RESA JERREL, Lobbyist
National Federation of Independent Business
9159 Skywood
Juneau, Alaska 99801
789-4278
Position Statement: Opposed HB 203
JAY FRANK, Lobbyist
State Farm and Allstate Insurance
431 N. Franklin St.
Juneau, Alaska 99801
586-5777
Position Statement: Opposed HB 203
JOHN GEORGE, Lobbyist
National Association of Independent Insurers
9515 Moraine Way
Juneau, Alaska 99801
789-0172
Position Statement: Opposed HB 203
JOE POOR, Lobbyist
Juneau Chamber of Commerce
124 W. 5th
Juneau, Alaska 99801
586-6420
Position Statement: Opposed HB 203
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 179
SHORT TITLE: MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION, FEES, ETC.
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE
TITLE: "An Act relating to motor vehicles and mobile homes:
and providing for an effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
02/24/93 435 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
02/24/93 435 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE
03/09/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 54
SHORT TITLE: TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) BROWN,Navarre
TITLE: "An Act relating to eavesdropping, telephone caller
identification, and telephone directory listings and
solicitations."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/14/93 60 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/14/93 60 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY,
FINANCE
03/11/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17
BILL: HB 203
SHORT TITLE: ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR WORKERS' COMP.
BILL VERSION:
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE
TITLE: "An Act imposing a fee for the administration of the
workers' compensation program; and providing for an
effective date."
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/05/93 552 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/05/93 552 (H) LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE
03/11/93 (H) L&C AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 17
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-22, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN HUDSON called the meeting to order at 3:40 p.m. and
noted members present. He introduced the first bill for
committee consideration.
HB 179 - MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION, FEES, ETC.
REP. PORTER asked the reason for the increase of three staff
members reflected in the fiscal note. Rep. Porter further
asked if the Division of Motor Vehicles planned any public
information blitz to inform the public on this new fee
structure.
Number 030
JUANITA HENSLEY, CHIEF, DRIVER SERVICES, DIVISION OF MOTOR
VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, replied that the
division expects there to be many complaints from the public
necessitating the increase in staff. Ms. Hensley further
noted that the division would be revising the registration
forms, including to identify this fee as a municipal tax as
opposed to a state tax.
Number 030
REP. MULDER asked for clarification regarding whether or not
registration fees would be increasing.
MS. HENSLEY replied that there would be a increase in
registration fees only in those areas that have a municipal
registration tax.
Number 055
CHAIRMAN HUDSON asked if Rep. Mulder was satisfied with
section 6 of the bill dealing with mobile homes.
REP. MULDER replied that he was.
REP. PORTER moved for passage of CSHB 179(L&C) with fiscal
notes and individual recommendations. No objections were
heard, it was so ordered.
CONFIRMATIONS
Number 104
CHAIRMAN HUDSON brought the following individual names
before the committee for CONFIRMATION:
ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND LAND SURVEYORS
RICHARD ARMSTRONG
PAUL HARTIG
WILLIAM MENDENHALL
MICHAEL SCHWARTZ
BOARD OF BARBERS AND HAIRDRESSERS
MICHELLE LOPTIEN
JERRY MAYFIELD
ALASKA LABOR RELATIONS AGENCY
DARRELL SMITH
PERSONNEL BOARD
GARY BADER
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW BOARD
DONALD HOFF, JR.
REP. MACKIE moved that the persons listed above be
confirmed. No objections were expressed, it was so ordered.
HB 54 - TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION
Number 179
REP. KAY BROWN, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 54, noted that at the
last committee hearing on this bill the committee discussed
the proposed committee substitute (CS) which deletes section
2 and focuses on two main areas: caller identification and
the other unlawful telephone solicitation.
REP. BROWN further noted that at the last meeting a number
of questions were raised that she attempted to answer in the
memo the committee had been given. (This memo is on file in
the committee room until the end of session.)
Number 219
REP. MULDER moved to adopt CSHB 54(L&C). No objections to
the adoption of the CS were noted, it was so ordered.
Number 226
REP. GREEN informed the committee that TOM ROY of the ALASKA
TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION was not able to be at this meeting but
wanted it to be known that he opposed the bill as currently
written, but with some compromise that he could support it.
Number 245
GAIL GAREY, MCI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, testified via
teleconference in opposition to this bill, especially the
sections regulating telephone solicitation. Ms. Garey cited
the Federal Communications Commission regulation as the
answer to the problems brought up by consumers.
(Note: There were some technical problems regarding Ms.
Garey's testimony on the teleconference network.)
MS. GAREY noted that this further prohibition would only
duplicate what the federal government already did.
REP. BROWN asked Ms. Garey if MCI currently markets any
products or services in Alaska.
MS. GAREY replied that MCI does not have the authority to
market in Alaska on an intra-state basis, but they do offer
800 service.
REP. GREEN suggested that HB 54 be held for gathering
further information.
Number 405
REP. BROWN noted that both Reps. Green and Porter were on
the next committee of referral and she would prefer to have
the bill move on and do further work in that committee.
Number 411
REP. MULDER stated he supported section 1 of the bill, but
he thought sections 2 and 3 send a wrong message to
businesses that makes it difficult to do business here.
Rep. Mulder moved to delete sections 2 and 3 of HB 54.
Number 429
REP. BROWN stated she believed that sections 2 and 3 will
have a positive effect on business since it will in effect
weed out those persons who don't wish to be telemarketed.
REP. PORTER said he was not completely convinced regarding
the need for sections 2 and 3, but he did not wish to see
them taken out at this time.
Number 500
Discussion ensued regarding how sections 2 and 3 would
affect consumers and business.
TAPE 93-22, SIDE B
Number 001
Discussion continued.
Number 073
REP. MULDER moved to delete sections 2 and 3 of HB 54. No
objections were heard, it was so ordered.
Number 100
REP. PORTER moved for passage of CSHB 54(L&C) as amended
with zero fiscal note and effective date. No objections
were noted, it was so ordered.
Number 130
HB 203 - ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR WORKERS' COMP.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON noted that at the last meeting there were
deep concerns from the community as to the effects of HB
203. Chairman Hudson believed that the committee should
come up with a measure that would be both constructive as
well as satisfy the reasons why this bill was drafted in the
first place.
Number 137
PAUL ARNOLDT, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION,
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, stated that as a result of the last
committee hearing, he met with some of the members of the
industry on this issue. At that meeting, the group
discussed the major issues facing workers' compensation and
how it affects business; the fact that there is a shortage
of funding; what alternatives for funding exist, etc.
MR. ARNOLDT said it was his understanding that the
representatives of business left the meeting with the charge
that they contact their constituency and get a consensus on
where the members stood on the various issues.
Unfortunately, the time frame was too short to allow that
sort of extensive polling before today's meeting.
MR. ARNOLDT discussed further the ramifications of the
underfunding of the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Number 269
JERRY REINWAND, ALASKA TIMBER INSURANCE EXCHANGE, testified
in opposition to any fee increases on business. Mr.
Reinwand further stated that he believes the division has a
budget problem that needs to be addressed through the
general fund, but not on the backs of business by means of a
tax of any other increase.
FORMER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID THOMPSON, ALASKA CENTER FOR DEAF
AND BLIND ADULTS, testified in support of more funding for
the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Number 331
RESA JERREL, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
(NFIB), testified that 92 percent of the members of NFIB are
opposed to increasing the fees business has to pay for
workers' compensation.
Number 389
CHAIRMAN HUDSON stated that it was not his intention to move
HB 203 out of committee today. The Chairman's intention was
to address what the original purpose of the bill was to find
a mechanism whereby industry could help locate
indiscriminate spending or improper spending. Otherwise, if
adequate force is absent, industry will have to pay more and
more in claims.
Number 408
JAY FRANK, STATE FARM INSURANCE AND ALLSTATE INSURANCE,
echoed comments by Ms. Jerrel in opposition to HB 203.
Number 420
JOHN GEORGE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT INSURERS,
also echoed the comments of Mr. Jerrel and Mr. Frank. Mr.
George believes it was appropriate to look at which services
the division is providing that are deserving of funding and
which are not. Mr. George said he plans on asking his
industry to help home prioritize the services provided by
the division.
Number 444
CHAIRMAN HUDSON noted that there is a tremendous amount of
workmen's compensation fraud happening across the nation.
Number 457
JOE POOR, JUNEAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, testified that anytime
you add cost for doing business in Juneau it hurts the
economy. He further stated that workers' compensation is
the most expensive part of doing business. Mr. Poor stated
his opposition to HB 203.
Number 570
CHAIRMAN HUDSON again stated that this bill was an attempt
to open the lines of communication between business, the
insurance industry, and government in an attempt to help
government streamline its programs and help make the
business climate more favorable especially in light of the
economy. It is not the wishes of the chairman to simply
raise the costs of doing business in the state.
CHAIRMAN HUDSON adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m.
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