Legislature(1997 - 1998)

04/22/1998 03:20 PM House L&C

Audio Topic
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
txt
    HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                
                   April 22, 1998                                              
                     3:20 p.m.                                                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                
                                                                               
Representative Norman Rokeberg, Chairman                                       
Representative John Cowdery, Vice Chairman                                     
Representative Bill Hudson                                                     
Representative Jerry Sanders                                                   
Representative Joe Ryan                                                        
Representative Tom Brice                                                       
Representative Gene Kubina                                                     
                                                                               
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                 
                                                                               
All members present                                                            
                                                                               
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                             
                                                                               
HOUSE BILL 323                                                                 
"An Act relating to the calculation of credited service in the                 
public employees' retirement system for noncertificated employees              
of school districts, regional educational attendance areas, and                
state boarding schools; and providing for an effective date."                  
                                                                               
     - MOVED CSHB 323(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                    
                                                                               
CS FOR SENATE BILL 334(FIN)                                                    
"An Act relating to guidelines and standards for state training                
programs; relating to the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council;            
extending the termination date of the state training and employment            
program; and providing for an effective date."                                 
                                                                               
     - MOVED HCSCSSB 334(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                 
                                                                               
HOUSE BILL 479                                                                 
"An Act relating to recognition of employers who hire Alaskans."               
                                                                               
     - MOVED CSHB 479(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                    
                                                                               
* HOUSE BILL 477                                                               
"An Act relating to common interest communities; and amending Rule             
72(k), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure."                                       
                                                                               
     - HEARD AND HELD                                                          
                                                                               
* HOUSE BILL 433                                                               
"An Act establishing a tax credit for taxpayers engaged in a trade             
or business who employ certain persons who are state residents; and            
providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                               
     - MOVED CSHB 433(L&C)                                                     
                                                                               
* HOUSE BILL 389                                                               
"An Act relating to an exemption from the requirement for payment              
for overtime under a voluntary written agreement for certain                   
employees in the airline industry; and providing for an effective              
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
     - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                 
                                                                               
* HOUSE BILL 276                                                               
"An Act relating to the compensation and terms and conditions of               
employment of the heads and deputy heads of principal executive                
departments of the state."                                                     
                                                                               
     - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                 
                                                                               
(* First public hearing)                                                       
                                                                               
PREVIOUS ACTION                                                                
                                                                               
BILL: HB 323                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: PERS CREDIT FOR NONCERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES                         
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVES(S) BRICE, Kubina                                   
                                                                               
Jrn-Date    Jrn-Page           Action                                          
 1/15/98      2054     (H)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 1/15/98      2054     (H)  LABOR & COMMERCE, HES                              
 2/11/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
 2/11/98               (H)  MINUTE(L&C)                                        
 4/03/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
 4/03/98               (H)  MINUTE(L&C)                                        
 4/22/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
BILL: SB 334                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: STATE TRAINING PROGRAMS/HUMAN RES.COUNCIL                         
SPONSOR(S): FINANCE                                                            
                                                                               
Jrn-Date    Jrn-Page           Action                                          
 3/06/98      2770     (S)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 3/06/98      2770     (S)  FINANCE                                            
 3/24/98               (S)  FIN AT  9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532                 
 3/27/98               (S)  FIN AT  8:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532                 
 3/31/98               (S)  FIN AT  9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532                 
 4/01/98               (S)  FIN AT  9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532                 
 4/01/98               (S)  RLS AT 12:10 PM FAHRENKAMP RM 203                  
 4/01/98               (S)  MINUTE(RLS)                                        
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  FIN RPT  CS  4DP 3NR  NEW TITLE                    
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  DP: SHARP, PEARCE, PHILLIPS,                       
                            TORGERSON;                                         
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  NR:  PARNELL, DONLEY, ADAMS                        
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  FISCAL NOTES TO CS                                 
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  (DHSS, GOV, LABOR, DOE-3)                          
 4/01/98      3090     (S)  ZERO FISCAL NOTE TO CS (ADM)                       
 4/02/98      3112     (S)  ZERO FNS TO CS (DHSS/S.FIN,                        
                            DOE/S.FIN-3)                                       
 4/02/98      3113     (S)  RULES TO CALENDAR  4/2/98                          
 4/02/98      3114     (S)  READ THE SECOND TIME                               
 4/02/98      3114     (S)  FIN  CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT                       
 4/02/98      3114     (S)  ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UNAN                     
                            CONSENT                                            
 4/02/98      3114     (S)  READ THE THIRD TIME  CSSB 334(FIN)                 
 4/02/98      3115     (S)  PASSED Y17 N1 E2                                   
 4/02/98      3115     (S)  EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE                  
 4/02/98      3115     (S)  DUNCAN NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION                   
 4/03/98      3139     (S)  RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP                       
 4/03/98      3139     (S)  TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                 
 4/06/98      2882     (H)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 4/06/98      2882     (H)  LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE                          
 4/17/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
 4/22/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
BILL: HB 479                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: RECOGNITION FOR EMPLOYERS OF ALASKANS                             
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                   
                                                                               
Jrn-Date    Jrn-Page           Action                                          
 4/01/98      2832     (H)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 4/01/98      2832     (H)  LABOR & COMMERCE, FINANCE                          
 4/06/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
 4/17/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
 4/22/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
BILL: HB 477                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES                                       
SPONSOR(S): LABOR & COMMERCE BY REQUEST                                        
                                                                               
Jrn-Date    Jrn-Page           Action                                          
 3/31/98      2814     (H)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 3/31/98      2814     (H)  LABOR & COMMERCE, JUDICIARY                        
 4/20/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
 4/20/98               (H)  MINUTE(L&C)                                        
 4/22/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
BILL: HB 433                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: TAX CREDIT FOR HIRING STATE RESIDENTS                             
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVES(S) ROKEBERG                                        
                                                                               
Jrn-Date    Jrn-Page           Action                                          
 2/18/98      2353     (H)  READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRAL(S)                  
 2/18/98      2354     (H)  L&C, JUDICIARY                                     
 4/22/98               (H)  L&C AT  3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                         
                                                                               
WITNESS REGISTER                                                               
                                                                               
KRAG JOHNSEN, Administrative Assistant                                         
  to Senator Drue Pearce                                                       
Alaska State Legislature                                                       
Capitol Building, Room 518                                                     
Juneau, Alaska 99801                                                           
Telephone:  (907) 465-6594                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided information on SB 334.                           
                                                                               
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant                                              
Office of the Commissioner                                                     
Department of Labor                                                            
P.O. Box 21149                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska 99802-1149                                                      
Telephone:  (907) 465-2700                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified on SB 334.                                      
                                                                               
RANDY LORENZ, Student Intern                                                   
  to Representative Norman Rokeberg                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                       
Capitol Building, Room 24                                                      
Juneau, Alaska  99801                                                          
Telephone:  (907) 465-6547                                                     
POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided information on HB 479.                           
                                                                               
ED FLANAGAN, Deputy Commissioner                                               
Department of Labor                                                            
P.O. Box 21149                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska 99802-1149                                                      
Telephone:  (907) 2700                                                         
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified on HB 479.                                      
                                                                               
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                               
                                                                               
TAPE 98-49, SIDE A                                                             
Number 0001                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN NORMAN ROKEBERG called the House Labor and Commerce                   
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:20 p.m.  Members present              
at the call to order were Representatives Rokeberg, Cowdery,                   
Hudson, Ryan and Brice.  Representatives Kubina and Sanders arrived            
at 3:23 and 3:25 p.m. respectively.                                            
                                                                               
HB 323 - PERS CREDIT FOR NONCERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES                             
                                                                               
Number 0007                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced the committee's first order of business            
was HB 323, "An Act relating to the calculation of credited service            
in the public employees' retirement system for noncertificated                 
employees of school districts, regional educational attendance                 
areas, and state boarding schools; and providing for an effective              
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
Number 0011                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE TOM BRICE made a motion to adopt the proposed                   
committee substitute LS1350\E, Cramer, 4/21/98, as the working                 
draft.  There being no objections, that version was before the                 
committee.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 0014                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE made a motion to move HB 323 from the                     
committee with individual recommendations [and attached fiscal                 
note].                                                                         
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG objected for a description of what the committee             
substitute does.                                                               
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE noted Section 1 was added.  He explained that             
it would provide direction to the Department of Administration to              
base the expected increase in cost for this benefit which is to be             
paid for by the employees who will be receiving the benefit.  For              
about a 40 percent increase in their contribution they will receive            
a 30-year retirement and a 5-year vestment as opposed to the                   
current 40-year retirement and 7 and 3/4-year vestment.                        
                                                                               
     Section 1. AS 39.35.160 is amended by adding a new subsection             
     to read:                                                                  
                                                                               
     (c) Beginning July 1, 1998, a noncertificated employee of a               
     state boarding school or of a school district or regional                 
     educational attendance area shall pay a contribution                      
     surcharge.  The amount of the surcharge is the difference                 
     between the amount the employer would have had to contribute              
     under AS 39.35.250 - 39.35.290 for the employee when treating             
     the employee's credited service as service earned under AS                
     39.35.300(c) or 39.35.310(c) less the amount the employer                 
     would have had to contribute under AS 39.35.250 - 39.35.290               
     without treating the employee's credited service as service               
     earned under AS 39.35.300(c) or AS 39.35.310(c).                          
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG, stated "Let me understand this now, this allows             
for example a school employee that normally would have to take the             
summer off to -- his normal contribution of 6.75 percent which he              
normally pays he would be allowed to pay that and then he also - he            
would pay the employee that, that is to say would pay the employer             
match of 6.75.  So the employee would pay the entire amount of                 
those months they were not directly employed and reimbursed by the             
employer, is that correct."                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE replied yes.                                              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said, so there wouldn't be any negative impact as            
far as the school districts.                                                   
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE replied no.                                               
                                                                               
Number 0030                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JOE RYAN said, "Okay, this is in the same that the              
classified employees - the teachers would pay for make (indisc.),"             
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE responded that their contribution rate would              
be - they're both roughly around - totally 20 percent.                         
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN commented, "They are making, like the teachers             
make their contribution agreements (indis.--fading)."                          
                                                                               
Number 0035                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG withdrew his objection to the motion.  He asked              
if there were further objections.  There being none, CSHB 323(L&C)             
moved from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.  The               
chairman noted for the record that the attached zero fiscal note               
was a technical oversight of part of the motion made.                          
                                                                               
CSSB 334(FIN) - STATE TRAINING PROGRAMS/HUMAN RES.COUNCIL                      
                                                                               
Number 0049                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced the committee's next order of business             
was CSSB 334(FIN), "An Act relating to guidelines and standards for            
state training programs; relating to the Alaska Human Resource                 
Investment Council; extending the termination date of the state                
training and employment program; and providing for an effective                
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
Number 0050                                                                    
                                                                               
KRAG JOHNSEN, Legislative Administrative Assistant to Senator Drue             
Pearce, came forward to present CSSB 334(FIN).  He stated they have            
a number of amendments which should be in the committee members'               
bill packets and there was a sheet labeled "background information"            
which was for the committee's basic information on the creation of             
the (indisc.) and some guidelines on the council membership.                   
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG stated, in order to expedite matters there are               
three amendments in the packet.  He asked if the bill sponsor and              
the Senate Finance Standing Committee agreed with the amendments.              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG noted for the record that Representatives Kubina             
is in attendance.                                                              
                                                                               
MR. JOHNSEN answered in the affirmative, noting the Senate Finance             
Standing Committee presented the amendments.                                   
                                                                               
Number 0062                                                                    
                                                                               
DWIGHT PERKINS, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner,                 
Department of Labor(DOL), came forward to testify on SB 334.                   
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG asked if the department has any objections to the            
three amendments.                                                              
                                                                               
MR. PERKINS responded the department has no objections and supports            
the three amendments.                                                          
                                                                               
Number 0064                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG designated the first amendment as Amendment 1.               
He noted the amendment increases the number of members on the                  
committee.                                                                     
                                                                               
Number 0066                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COWDERY made a motion to move Amendment 1,                 
Version P.  There being no objections, Amendment 1 was adopted.                
                                                                               
     Page 1, Line 9                                                            
     Section 1(a)(2)                                                           
     Delete:  21                                                               
     Insert:  26                                                               
                                                                               
     Page 1, Line 11                                                           
     Section 1(a)(2)                                                           
     Delete:  []                                                               
                                                                               
     Page 2 line 22                                                            
     Section 2(c)                                                              
     Delete:  lines 22-24                                                      
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG referred to Amendment 2.  He noted it allows                 
three meetings instead of a maximum of two meetings of the board.              
                                                                               
Number 0070                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move Amendment 2, Version              
P.  There being no objections, Amendment 2 was adopted.                        
                                                                               
     Page 3, Line 29                                                           
     Section 7                                                                 
     Delete:  two                                                              
     Insert:  three                                                            
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG referred to Amendment 3.  He said this merely                
cleans up the language to Alaska Temporary Assistance Program                  
(ATAP); it was a technical amendment.                                          
                                                                               
Number 0075                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move Amendment 3.  There               
being no objections, Amendment 3 was adopted.                                  
                                                                               
     Page 9, Line 2                                                            
     Delete:  Alaskans on Temporary Assistance Plan employment                 
     education and job training programs                                       
                                                                               
     Insert: Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP)                        
                                                                               
Number 0078                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG addressed Amendment 4, page 8.  He said, "This is            
the Alaska Professional Development Institute in the Department of             
Administration.  It was felt that the requirements set forth in the            
bill under the (f) subsection were more appropriate to the Alaska              
Professional Development Institute if it was under the (g) section             
which merely providing for assessment."                                        
                                                                               
     Page 8, lines 11-13                                                       
                                                                               
     delete: (1) in the Department of Administration: Alaska                   
     Professional Development Institute, providing continuing                  
     education and training for employed workers;                              
                                                                               
     Page 10, after line 27                                                    
                                                                               
     insert:  (9) in the Department of Administration: Alaska                  
     Professional Development Institute, providing continuing                  
     education and training for employed workers;                              
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG noted that we're not deleting anything, we're                
just moving it.  He asked Mr. Johnsen if the Senate Finance                    
Committee agrees to this amendment.                                            
                                                                               
MR. JOHNSEN replied the Senate Finance Standing Committee saw it as            
a good compromise.  The council would still have the ability to                
recommend that APDI would fall under the council's oversight,                  
that's part of the assessment.                                                 
                                                                               
Number 0094                                                                    
                                                                               
MR. PERKINS said this addressed the concerns of the Department of              
Administration and he believes it's wholeheartedly accepted.  He               
indicated the department was unaware of the committee meeting, but             
knows this addresses their concern.                                            
                                                                               
Number 0097                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move Amendment 4.  There               
being no objections, Amendment 4 was adopted.                                  
                                                                               
Number 0100                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move CSSB 334(FIN) as                  
amended with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal               
note.  There being no objections, HCSCSSB 334(L&C) was moved out of            
the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                               
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG noted for the record that Representatives Kubina             
and Hudson are present and asked for a brief at ease [for                      
approximately 30 seconds].                                                     
                                                                               
HB 479 - RECOGNITION FOR EMPLOYERS OF ALASKANS                                 
                                                                               
Number 0108                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG called the House Labor and Commerce Standing                 
Committee back to order and announced the committee's next order of            
business was HB 479, "An Act relating to recognition of employers              
who hire Alaskans."  He noted it was previously heard [April 6,                
1998].                                                                         
                                                                               
Number 0111                                                                    
                                                                               
RANDY LORENZ, Student Intern to Representative Norman Rokeberg,                
came forward to testify on HB 479.  He said the requested changes              
have been incorporated into another proposed committee substitute.             
                                                                               
MR. LORENZ explained the new committee substitute requires the                 
employer to pay a $30 fee for certification which could be adjusted            
by the Department of Labor (DOL) to cover costs - the fee will go              
into the general fund.  He stated, "The program will encourage                 
Alaskan hire by requiring a minimum of 80 percent of Alaskans to be            
employed.  The employee is considered a resident if he or she is               
both in the recent permanent fund file and the wage file and the               
Department of Labor shall design the seal.  According to what they             
had requested I believe we have covered those proposed changes in              
the CS [committee substitute]."                                                
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG directed the committee's attention to "we hire               
Alaska 1998" graphics.                                                         
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BRICE asked, do we hire Alaska or Alaskan?                      
                                                                               
MR. LORENZ said they're here for your review.  He noted DOL                    
provided a number of possibilities for the seal, noting the                    
committee could accept one of those now.                                       
                                                                               
Number 0125                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HUDSON made a motion to adopt the proposed                 
committee substitute Version H,  LS1719\H, Cramer, 4/14/98.  There             
being no objections, Version H was adopted.                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN asked if there was an amendment.                           
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG replied no, it has been amended by Version H.                
                                                                               
Number 0131                                                                    
                                                                               
ED FLANAGAN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor, came forward            
to testify on HB 479.  He said the proposed committee substitute               
addresses virtually all of the concerns that the department raised             
earlier.  Mr. Flanagan indicated additional calculations were made             
and of 16,000 employing units that are on the department's UI                  
[Unemployment Insurance] wage files, 71 percent of the employers               
that they report on (indisc.--coughing) report card have 80 percent            
or more and DOL would go down to anybody with one employee.  He                
noted the 16,000 employing unit number would sometimes include                 
multiple locations of one employer, giving the example of Fred                 
Meyer, Incorporated.  He stated, "When I spoke earlier, we talked              
about our current employer report card that is 20 or more                      
employees, we would take that all the way down to anybody that                 
employed anybody.  The "Made in Alaska" person was very concerned              
about that - that we shouldn't exclude the very small employers,               
and that wasn't our purpose in suggesting 20, we were just trying              
to keep it to what we already have in hand."  He indicated it                  
wasn't extremely difficult for the department to produce that                  
report to this level.                                                          
                                                                               
MR. FLANAGAN said he believes Mrs. Armstrong [Legislative Assistant            
to Representative Rokeberg] had told Mr. Perkins that the                      
department should "take a pencil" to its fiscal note.  He noted the            
department did not have a formal revised fiscal note for the                   
committee.  He indicated it was not the department's intention to              
delay the bill's progress and if the bill reached the House Finance            
Standing Committee, the department could pare it down to something             
like $12,000 if the department received straight general funds, and            
no fee would have to be charged.  He indicated it would probably               
cost the department $20,000 instead of $12,000 if they had to go               
the program receipts route, noting it costs money anytime money had            
to be collected.  This is a rough estimate that was done about 30              
minutes ago.  Mr. Flanagan said, "If we just had $12,000 straight              
GF, we wouldn't even have to charge a fee for the thing, but I                 
understand ... straight GF [general fund] is always an issue."  He             
said he guessed the department would have to set the fee in the                
first year and the fee could probably be reduced from the current              
$30 because it had been simplified, reminding the committee the                
initial fiscal note had been based on the many different criteria              
per industry, et cetera.  He said the department could make this               
work but would like to do a little more work on the fiscal note to             
make this a doable thing.                                                      
                                                                               
Number 0159                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG asked what does the posted fiscal note say.                  
                                                                               
MR. FLANAGAN replied, this one says $12,000.                                   
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said it was duly noted and indicated it would be             
addressed in the House Finance Standing Committee.                             
                                                                               
Number 0162                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN asked if the chairman wanted a motion.                     
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG replied no, he indicated he had one more                     
question.  He stated, "Regarding the discussion about where the                
design was going to come from, the bill provides that your internal            
department graphically would do it, but what would the costs or the            
implications of having, like, the Arts Council [Alaska State                   
Council on the Arts] or having a contest to award prizes."                     
                                                                               
MR. FLANAGAN said the cost had not been considered in the original             
fiscal note and the Alaska State Council on the Arts had not been              
contacted for an estimate.  He stated the DOL's suggestion to the              
chairman's staff was that the department has a very good graphic               
artist who, although near retirement, had given the department                 
enough designs to last a few years.  Mr. Flanagan said the                     
department did not want to deny the Alaska State Council on the                
Arts the opportunity to have something, indicating the DOL's                   
suggestion had been for reasons of simplicity and speed.                       
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said he would like DOL to consider the contest               
only as a means of publicizing the program and noted that would be             
taken up later.                                                                
                                                                               
MR. FLANAGAN indicated he understood the chairman's comments.                  
                                                                               
Number 0173                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN made a motion to move Version H, the proposed              
committee substitute for HB 479, out of committee with individual              
recommendations and the accompanying $12,000 fiscal note.                      
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE GENE KUBINA asked if there was another committee of             
referral.                                                                      
                                                                               
Number 0176                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG replied, the House Finance Standing Committee.               
He said he believes it needs to be "picked up."  Chairman Rokeberg             
asked if there were any objections to the motion.  There being                 
none, CSHB 479(L&C) was moved out of the House Labor and Commerce              
Standing Committee.                                                            
                                                                               
HB 477 - COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES                                           
                                                                               
Number 0185                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced the next order of business is HB 477,              
"An Act relating to common interest communities; and amending Rule             
72(k), Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure," requested by the Alaska               
Home Builders Association by request.  He indicated this is a very             
long and complex law and that he had asked the Alaska Home Builders            
Association to come up with a light version of the bill due to the             
late hour in the session.                                                      
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG said, "This is the Alaska [Uniform] Common                   
Ownership Act which is - replace the Horizontal Regime Act, so it's            
for all condominiums and townhouse-type associations and so forth              
in the state.  One of the key elements we found in administering               
the condominiums and so forth is that hearing the real estate crash            
in the mid-eighties, a lot of nonresident owners purchased units so            
there's an (indic.) amount.  So there's a lot of tenants in a lot              
of units now and it's very difficult under the existing law to get             
the majority, or a high enough a number of owners to vote on any               
changes to the declarations and bylaws or any other revisions.  So             
there's a sum (indisc.--noise) of that and so forth.  I just wanted            
to bring the up today and just to make you guys aware of it in case            
you have anybody that's interested in this type of thing that you              
could pass it along to.  I hope to be able to bring this up before             
we shut down the committees real quickly so it might have a chance             
to (indisc.) through if we can but I don't want to take up too much            
time of the committee on it so I'm going to -- if there's any                  
questions then we'll just hold the bill over.  Again, I just want              
to bring up so we can bring it up under bills previously heard if              
we can come up with a..."                                                      
                                                                               
Number 0203                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE KUBINA indicated, basically without a hearing you'll            
be able to move it out the next time just by bringing it up.                   
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG guaranteed he wouldn't do that.                              
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN said he would like to read the bill.                       
                                                                               
Number 0205                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG commented the bill is a tough goer.  He stated he            
would hold HB 477 for further consideration.                                   
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG asked for a brief at ease at 3:43 p.m.                       
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG called the meeting back to order at 3:51 p.m.                
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON commented on the committee scheduling of a               
bill regarding multi year labor contracts and an opinion he                    
received from the attorney general.                                            
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG indicated HB 477 will be held in committee.                  
                                                                               
HB 433 - TAX CREDIT FOR HIRING STATE RESIDENTS                                 
                                                                               
Number 0218                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG announced HB 433, "An Act establishing a tax                 
credit for taxpayers engaged in a trade or business who employ                 
certain persons who are state residents; and providing for an                  
effective date," sponsored by the chairman is before the committee.            
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG referred to the committee substitute which was               
modified before it was heard.                                                  
                                                                               
Number 0221                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to adopt proposed committee               
substitute, Version LS0656\F, 3/4/98 for purposes of discussion.               
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN requested an at ease.                                      
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG called a brief at ease at 3:53 p.m.                          
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG called the meeting back to order at 3:55 p.m.  He            
said, "Just for the -- we're going to request the committee to --              
change the committee substitute fundamentally was we have adopted              
by the record a package for it, was to move it from a $1,000 to a              
$500 tax credit.  This particular legislation would provide to a               
company for employment of those qualified individuals a tax credit             
of $500 not to exceed a aggregate of $75,000 in any one year.  Now             
for those individuals who had been in the state an actual year, and            
had been a graduate of, or a student at a qualifying post secondary            
educational student, which is defined in the bill."                            
                                                                               
Number 0233                                                                    
                                                                               
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY made a motion to move CSHB 433 with                     
individual recommendations and attached committee fiscal note.                 
There being no objections CSHB 433(L&C) moved from the House Labor             
and Commerce Standing Committee.                                               
                                                                               
ADJOURNMENT                                                                    
                                                                               
Number 0239                                                                    
                                                                               
CHAIRMAN ROKEBERG adjourned the House Labor and Commerce Standing              
Committee at 3:58 p.m.                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects