Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
04/16/2021 08:00 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB87 | |
| HB145 | |
| HB149 | |
| HB125 | |
| Alaska Workers' Compensation Board | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 87 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 145 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 149 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 125 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 16, 2021
8:08 a.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Liz Snyder
Representative David Nelson
Representative James Kaufman
Representative Ken McCarty
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 87
"An Act relating to credit for reinsurance; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED SB 87 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 145
"An Act relating to the Board of Pharmacy; relating to health
care services provided by pharmacists and pharmacy technicians;
and relating to the practice of pharmacy."
- MOVED HB 145 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 149
"An Act relating to allowing certain child day care providers to
organize for the purpose of collective bargaining."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 125
"An Act relating to private sector and state employment
preferences for active service members, veterans, and spouses
and dependent children of active service members and veterans;
relating to employment preferences for surviving spouses of
deceased service members and veterans; and relating to
employment preferences for disabled veterans and former
prisoners of war."
- HEARD & HELD
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Dave Talerico - Healy
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 87
SHORT TITLE: REINSURANCE; CREDITS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
02/22/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/21 (S) L&C
03/08/21 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/08/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/08/21 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/19/21 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/19/21 (S) Moved SB 87 Out of Committee
03/19/21 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/22/21 (S) L&C RPT 5DP
03/22/21 (S) DP: COSTELLO, GRAY-JACKSON, STEVENS,
REVAK, HOLLAND
03/31/21 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/31/21 (S) VERSION: SB 87
04/05/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/21 (H) L&C
04/12/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/12/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/16/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 145
SHORT TITLE: EXPAND PHARMACIST AUTHORITY
SPONSOR(s): SNYDER
03/24/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/24/21 (H) L&C, HSS
04/12/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/12/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/16/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 149
SHORT TITLE: CHILD CARE PROVIDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
SPONSOR(s): FIELDS
03/24/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/24/21 (H) L&C, STA
04/02/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
04/02/21 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/05/21 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/05/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/05/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/16/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 125
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY AND FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE
SPONSOR(s): NELSON
03/05/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/05/21 (H) MLV, L&C
03/16/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/16/21 (H) Heard & Held
03/16/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/18/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/18/21 (H) Moved HB 125 Out of Committee
03/18/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
03/20/21 (H) MLV RPT 6DP
03/20/21 (H) DP: CLAMAN, TARR, SHAW, NELSON,
RAUSCHER, TUCK
04/16/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
ANGELA JAGLOWICZ, PharmD
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
DAN NELSON, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy
Tanana Chiefs Conference
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
JAY FLYNN, MD
Norton Sound, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a physician in support of HB
145.
KYLIE GOFF
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
BARRY CHRISTENSEN, RPh, Legislative Committee Co-Chair
Alaska Pharmacists Association
Ketchikan, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
NATALIE MCCAY
Petersburg, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
DOUGLAS BARTKO
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, PharmD
Board of Pharmacy
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
MARK BOHRER, RPh, Pharmacy Practice Coordinator
Fred Meyer
Chugiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
DIRK WHITE, RPh
Sitka, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
TALETHIA BOGART
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
JACOB JORDAN
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 145.
MARGARET SODEN, RPh
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
KAREN MILLER, RPh
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
AMY TAUL
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
SUSAN WHEELER, PharmD
Bethel, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
RENEE ROBINSON, PharmD
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as a pharmacist in support of HB
145.
CHRISTINA EUBANKS
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an early childhood education
provider in support of HB 149.
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 125.
KIM SKIPPER, Staff
Representative David Nelson
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for HB 125
on behalf of Representative Nelson, prime sponsor.
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison
Defense-State Liaison Office
U.S. Department of Defense
Olympia, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 125.
DAN WAYNE, Attorney
Legislative Legal Services
Legislative Affairs Agency
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information and answered questions
during the hearing on HB 125.
PAM DAY, Deputy Director-Personnel
Division of Personnel and Labor Relations
Department of Administration
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information and answered questions
during the hearing on HB 125.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:08:51 AM
CO-CHAIR ZACK FIELDS called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:08 a.m.
Representatives Fields, Snyder, Schrage, Nelson, and McCarty
were present at the call to order. Representatives Kaufman and
Spohnholz arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SB 87-REINSURANCE; CREDITS
8:09:32 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 87, "An Act relating to credit for
reinsurance; and providing for an effective date."
8:10:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY moved to report SB 87 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, SB 87 was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
8:10:45 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:10 a.m. to 8:12 a.m.
HB 145-EXPAND PHARMACIST AUTHORITY
8:12:56 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 145, "An Act relating to the Board of
Pharmacy; relating to health care services provided by
pharmacists and pharmacy technicians; and relating to the
practice of pharmacy."
8:13:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER reminded the committee that the proposed
legislation is intended to clearly define the patient care
services that can be provided by pharmacists. She noted that
the COVID-19 pandemic particularly highlighted those services,
and that HB 145 would help ensure regulation by the Board of
Pharmacy as well as contain a component ensuring reimbursement
by insurance providers. She noted Representative Kaufman's
concern regarding the term "general health and wellness,"
expressed during the April 12, 2021, meeting of the House Labor
and Commerce Standing Committee, which she said would be
addressed during this hearing.
8:14:20 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS opened public testimony on HB 145.
8:14:32 AM
ANGELA JAGLOWICZ, PharmD, testified in support of HB 145, noting
that she is a practicing primary care pharmacist and certified
diabetes education specialist. She described working directly
with primary care providers (PCPs) in caring for patients with
chronic diseases, ensuring that medications are employed to
provide the best possible health outcome for the patient. She
pointed out that the care she provides is easily accessed and
provides continuity of care while freeing up the schedules of
busy PCPs for more urgent situations. She said that as a result
of ongoing visits, her patients are able to develop the
knowledge needed to manage their own health care more
effectively.
8:16:19 AM
DAN NELSON, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy, Tanana Chiefs
Conference, testified in support of HB 145, noting that the
COVID-19 pandemic required an "all hands on deck" situation for
healthcare professionals. He characterized pharmacists as some
of the most accessible healthcare professionals and that they
have rapidly responded to Alaska's healthcare needs. He urged
the committee's support for HB 145.
8:17:35 AM
JAY FLYNN, MD, testified in support of HB 145, explaining that
doctors can't always get to patients with lifesaving vaccines.
He said pharmacists' contribution allows the medical community
to have a stronger impact in the Norton Sound area.
8:18:56 AM
KYLIE GOFF testified in support of HB 145. She said that the
medical community relies heavily on the expertise of
pharmacists, who have been leaders in organizing child
immunizations and well-child checkups. She said that the impact
of pharmacists is felt more in communities with a shortage of
primary care providers.
8:21:17 AM
BARRY CHRISTENSEN, RPh, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Alaska
Pharmacists Association, testified in support of HB 145. He
noted the changes within the profession in recent decades and
said today's pharmacists are in a better position to help meet
their patients' pharmaceutical needs. In order for community
pharmacies to survive and serve patients, he said, the statutory
language in HB 145 is necessary.
8:23:05 AM
NATALIE MCCAY testified in support of HB 145. She said she is a
certified pharmacy technician and expressed that the proposed
legislation would be especially important to rural and
underserved areas such as Petersburg. Pharmacists are often the
first stop when patients have questions, she said, and allowing
pharmacists and their support staff to provide certain health
care services would increase access to health care.
8:24:01 AM
DOUGLAS BARTKO testified in support of HB 145. He discussed the
problem of claim rejection experienced by pharmacists, saying
they need to be paid for the services they provide.
8:25:43 AM
JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, PharmD, testified on behalf of the Board of
Pharmacy in support of HB 145.
8:26:21 AM
MARK BOHRER, RPh, Pharmacy Practice Coordinator, Fred Meyer,
testified in support of HB 145 as the supervisor of all Fred
Meyer pharmacy locations in Alaska. He said he has practiced
pharmacy in Alaska for 31 years and described how pharmacists
have "stepped up" during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing
testing and vaccinations.
8:27:55 AM
DIRK WHITE, RPh, testified in support of HB 145. He expressed
that the practice of pharmacy has changed in the past 35 years
and statutes need to evolve into the new century. He said his
pharmacy has started offering strep tests and COVID-19 tests but
because he and his employees are not classified as medical
providers, they're not able to bill insurance companies and are
forced to charge patients directly. Passage of HB 145, he said,
would improve the profession and allow pharmacists to increase
access to healthcare in all parts of Alaska.
8:30:24 AM
TALETHIA BOGART testified in support of HB 145. She shared that
she is in her 3rd year of pharmacy school and previously was a
high school science teacher and pharmacy technician. She said
she understands the shortage of health care services in Alaska
and that she believes HB 145 would alleviate some of those
issues, primarily in primary care settings. She said that she's
being prepared to handle many areas of health care including
primary care, critical care, emergency medicine, and community
pharmacy, and pointed out that she's seen firsthand the impact
of her training in remote communities. She said she's
participated in COVID-19 vaccine clinics, administering hundreds
of vaccines and providing general health care information.
8:33:00 AM
JACOB JORDAN testified in support of HB 145. He shared that he
is a pharmacy student in his third year, having previously
served nine years in the military after graduating from the
United States Military Academy at West Point. He described the
intense training to become a Doctor of Pharmacy, including four
years of education on medication use, safety, and monitoring,
with a focus on chronic disease management, health and wellness
support, and providing preventative health services in a
community setting. He said he's required to have over 2,000
hours of clinical experience, culminating in his clinical
training during his fourth year in the program, as well as three
years of classroom-based training. Students within the program
have taken independent healthcare initiatives, he said, with his
class training over 60 volunteers each year to assist in
community health care. He said HB 145 would help modernize
Alaska's pharmacy practice statutes and resolve longstanding
regulatory issues, thereby allowing patients more access to
pharmacy healthcare services.
8:35:09 AM
MARGARET SODEN, RPh, testified in support of HB 145. She
pointed out how pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy
students helped during the COVID-19 pandemic. She described
some of the changes in the profession since she took her
licensing exam in 1965, when the practical exam tested how well
one could fold papers for containing powder. She said that all
areas of medicine, including pharmacy, have become more
sophisticated and it's important to empower the Board of
Pharmacy to recognize the changes.
8:37:00 AM
KAREN MILLER, RPh, testified in support of HB 145, sharing that
she's been a pharmacist at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for 27
years. She described helping with hospice, long-term care, and
patient discharges, noting that oftentimes the pharmacist is in
the background ensuring direct and affordable drug therapy. She
said pharmacists often struggle to get reimbursement and that
she believes HB 145 would be beneficial.
8:38:24 AM
AMY TAUL testified in support of HB 145, sharing that she is the
clinical faculty pharmacist at Providence Family Medicine
Center. She said that the primary resource for treatment is
medication, and medical school graduates often receive only one
semester of pharmacology. She described supporting physicians
and patients through medication and chronic disease management,
working alongside physicians to assist in choosing the
appropriate medication. She talked about working directly with
patients in general health care and disease management, often
counseling patients and making the appropriate recommendations.
Utilizing clinical pharmacists, she said, would make physicians
available to treat more patients.
8:41:36 AM
SUSAN WHEELER, PharmD, testified in support of HB 145, sharing
that she is a pharmacist at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health
Corporation. She said that pharmacists are fully integrated
with other healthcare professionals but are unable to receive
compensation for their services due to the absence of their
ability to enroll as billing providers. She said pharmacists
are often the most readily available healthcare professionals,
but are the only providers not currently listed in the provider
anti-discrimination statute, meaning they do not receive the
same compensation as another professional providing the same
service. She said the lack of compensation makes it difficult
to sustain and provide the services pharmacists are qualified to
provide, which may prevent patients from obtaining needed
healthcare.
8:43:32 AM
RENEE ROBINSON, PharmD, testified in support of HB 145, sharing
that she is an associate professor at the University of Alaska
Anchorage/Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. She
described her extensive experience working with underserved
populations. She said HB 145 would resolve longstanding
regulatory issues that impede progress while supporting Board of
Pharmacy oversight.
8:45:34 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS, after ascertaining that no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony on HB 145.
8:45:59 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ moved to report HB 145 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 145 was reported out of the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
8:46:26 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:46 a.m. to 8:48 a.m.
HB 149-CHILD CARE PROVIDER COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
8:48:54 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 149, "An Act relating to allowing
certain child day care providers to organize for the purpose of
collective bargaining."
8:49:12 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS, as prime sponsor, summarized the HB 149. He
explained that it would allow child care providers, which
include business owners and employees, to vote for unionization
and subsequently negotiate with the state for wages and
benefits. He said that unionization would follow the "Right to
Work" model, with membership being optional, but those who did
choose to join would have wages and benefits set by a sectoral
model designed to raise both wages and benefits, reduce
turnover, and provide a structure under which members could have
access to better and more affordable healthcare and to
structured training.
8:50:54 AM
CHRISTINA EUBANKS testified in support of HB 149. She said
she's been an early childhood education provider in Alaska for
14 years. She said that the poor wages and benefits of child
care providers is detrimental to working families, and a healthy
early learning system depends on having a variety of providers
that are well-trained and well-compensated. She said that
Alaska's youngest residents experience alarming rates of adverse
childhood experiences, and a quality early learning system
supports children and families in building resiliency. The
system in Alaska doesn't provide the livable wages necessary to
keep a trained workforce, she said, with early childhood
educators among the lowest-paid professionals in the state
despite the high cost of child care.
MS. EUBANKS said financial investment in early childhood saves
money in education and health care costs in the long term. The
majority of early childhood educators live in poverty, which
causes stress and decreases the ability of providers to be
attuned to the needs of the children in their care. Losing a
child care provider causes stress on the family and children,
and with the shortage of child care providers in Alaska families
have to choose a provider based on what's available instead of
on what's best for the family or child. She said that
everything possible needs to be done to minimize stress on
families, children, and providers, and to keep child care
businesses open, as well as attract new ones, and to incentivize
providers. Allowing independent child care business owners the
ability to engage in collective bargaining with the state, she
said, would provide a way to increase wages and keep programs
open.
8:54:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether the proposed legislation
could reclassify private employees as state employees.
8:56:49 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS explained that the proposed legislation would
not designate child care employees as public employees. He said
that it's also stated in the proposed legislation that nothing
in the unionization or collective bargaining actions would
change the nature of the employee/employer relationship. He
said that under that provision, the child care sector, by
negotiating as such, would experience better outcomes for
workers, business owners, and working parents who utilize child
care providers. He said that it would not be a model used by
other sectors of the economy because most other sectors are
under the purview of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
He expressed that the history of excluding domestic and farm
workers from foundational labor laws allows space to create a
new model for a collective bargaining structure; the new
structure would not affect the industries currently under the
purview of the NLRA, as those industries could continue
collective bargaining within the framework of that law.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked, "In the work of Cesar Chavez,
didn't he not override what happened in the 1930s to acknowledge
those individuals you mentioned?"
CO-CHAIR FIELDS replied that he employed consumer pressure to
force union recognition. He said farm workers, historically
excluded from rights under NLRA, have the ability to petition an
employer for voluntary recognition and may employ public
pressure to do so. Employers decided that economic losses
resulting from boycotts were so great, he said, that they
decided to sign agreements with organizations such as the
Teamsters or the United Farm Workers. Co-Chair Fields pointed
out that Cesar Chavez figured out a way to make the system work
in favor of workers despite historic exclusions in a different
way than that which is contemplated in the proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether HB 149 would allow child
care providers to be subsidized or whether supply and demand
would remain in effect.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS explained that with the passage of the American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the State of Alaska will receive $76
million per year over what is currently in receipt in community
development block grants for child care. He said, "We're going
to get a lot of additional resources, as a state, to support
child care, and I think we have a choice." He expressed that
the choice was between continuing to subsidize child care within
the framework of the existing system or expanding supply while
raising wages, using the federal resources to reduce turnover,
improve working conditions, and not raise prices on parents.
It's only because of the infusion of federal money, he said,
that such an opportunity exists. Each employer chooses whether
or not to participate, he explained, and evidence from other
states' show that it's a "win-win" situation which results in a
larger pool for health care and training programs along with
reduced turnover resulting from higher wages and benefits.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY expressed the belief that subsidizing one
industry sets a precedent for all businesses to be subsidized.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS replied that child care subsidies will continue
to exist whether or not HB 149 is passed; the question is how to
best structure subsidies to meet the needs of parents and
employers. He shared his perspective that child care subsidies
currently exist in a "broken system" and pointed out that the
amount of subsidies is determined by Congress. He referred to
the construction industry, in which there are prevailing wages
for public construction and well-funded state capital budgets,
and said that someone working in construction can support a
family. "Why have we made that decision for construction but
not child care? Aren't they both important?" he asked. He said
that the goal should be to strive to provide conditions under
which people can earn a living wage and employers can thrive.
9:04:06 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that the hospitality industry is
subsidized by low-wage workers being on Medicaid. She stated
that a person can make more money working at Starbucks than
caring for children. She expressed that it's important to look
at different ways of restructuring the system. She said that
due in part to the gender pay gap, lack of child care options
make it difficult for women to participate in the workforce
because the parent who earns less money is the one who stays
home with the children. She pointed out that child care
consists of a mostly female workforce and is disproportionately
composed of people of color.
9:06:16 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS noted that it's important to look at how other
developed countries handle child care. He said that many
countries subsidize at a much higher level, which is a policy
choice they made. He expressed that HB 149 represents the most
affordable and least coercive model he could find.
9:07:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN opined that the influx of federal money
is attractive when thinking in terms of building programs, but
the unionization of child care workers would result in higher
costs. He discussed "money printing and the destruction of the
dollar" and stated his concern with using federal money. He
asked for an explanation of how unionization would reduce the
total cost of child care. He then said, "I think the ultimate
value of child care rests with - if a mother can raise the child
and be with them as much as possible. That's what I had, and it
was great." He said he's been "working" since he was four years
old because his mother had a job that would allow her to take
her child to work with her.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Ms. Eubanks how having a livable wage with
benefits positively impacts an employer.
9:09:53 AM
MS. EUBANKS responded that she has some really skilled staff who
she characterized as "meant" to work in child care but who don't
see it as a career option because the pay is low and there are
no benefits such as health care or retirement. She said society
does not commonly have stay-at-home parents anymore, and parents
are often working more than one job each, so ensuring that
children are loved, cared for, and have good memories is
essential.
9:11:33 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that when funding such as the Child Care
& Development Block Grants (CCDBG) is permanently authorized,
it's rational to plan around it.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ asked whether continuing education for
providers could be negotiated for as part of the collective
bargaining under HB 149.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS replied yes, and pointed out that in other
states a pool of employers working together could mean more
robust training programs.
9:12:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN suggested that the "core question" is
whether HB 149 would strengthen the family or strengthen "the
state's approach to raising children."
CO-CHAIR FIELDS responded, "I think the decision has,
effectively, been made ... with 40 years of stagnant wages for
the middle class." He referred to Ms. Eubanks' statement that
most parents must work, and economic conditions have made it so
that most working families must rely on child care. He said
he's in support of everyone having the choice to stay home and
raise children, but economic conditions don't necessarily permit
the choice.
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN opined that the transfer of wealth and
commerce overseas is a big reason for the erosion of wages and
discussed repatriating overseas companies. He suggested that
building a better economy would help strengthen the nuclear
family.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS agreed and pointed out that countries with
strong economies and high-wage jobs are the same countries with
the strongest early child care and learning programs, as well as
the strongest career and technical education programs. He said
those countries invested in early care and learning because
that's how to get human capital to a point of being highly-
productive workers who are competitive in a global environment.
9:15:56 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ pointed out that there are many reasons why a
parent would choose to work outside the home and that the
decision should be made by the family instead of by
policymakers. She suggested finding a way to remediate the
outdated structural system of compensation to ensure that people
doing critical work are able to live with dignity.
[HB 149 was held over.]
9:17:11 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease. Co-Chair Spohnholz passed
the gavel to Co-Chair Fields.
HB 125-MILITARY AND FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE
9:17:40 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 125, "An Act relating to private sector and
state employment preferences for active service members,
veterans, and spouses and dependent children of active service
members and veterans; relating to employment preferences for
surviving spouses of deceased service members and veterans; and
relating to employment preferences for disabled veterans and
former prisoners of war."
9:18:25 AM
DREPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, introduced HB 125. He read a sponsor statement, which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
HB 125 seeks to extend the current private sector and
state employment hiring preferences to military
spouses and dependent children.
Military spouses are among the highest unemployed and
underemployed group. They are highly educated and
qualified for a range of careers but because of
frequent moves the unemployment rate among military
spouses is 24% and there is a 26% wage gap compared to
civilian counterparts.
In 2019 the Blue Star Families Military Family
Lifestyle Survey found that 49% of military spouses
indicated that financial issues were the top stressor
for military families, and 48% were concerned about
employment. Of employed military spouses 75 % were
considered underemployed. HB 125 can provide some help
to reduce these concerns for military families by
providing a hiring preference.
A Covid-19 Military Support Initiative created by the
Blue Star Families and the Association of Defense
Communities found that an additional 17% of military
spouses lost their jobs during the pandemic on top of
the 24% unemployment before the pandemic.
Currently 35 states and the District of Columbia
provide hiring preferences to active-duty spouses or
surviving spouses. HB 125 will add Alaska to this
growing list of states that support our military
community and honor the sacrifices these families make
in service to our country.
9:20:38 AM
KIM SKIPPER, Staff, Representative David Nelson, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Nelson, prime sponsor
of HB 125, detailed the sectional analysis, which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Section 1. AS 18.80.200(c)
This section does not prohibit a private employer from
having hiring preferences for persons described in
Section 2 of this bill.
Section 2. AS 23.88.010
This section repeals and reenacts the current statute
by adding definitions removed from Section 1 for
clarity. This section does not prohibit a private
employer from having hiring preferences to active-
military, veterans and families. This section adds
language to include spouses and dependent children of
deceased service members to the list.
Section 3. AS 39.25.150(19)
This section amends the State Personnel Act to
reference definitions as stated in Section 4 for
consistency.
Section 4. AS 39.25.159(a)
This section amends the employment preference for
veterans or former prisoners of war by adding new
language to include families of an active-duty service
member, veteran, or former prisoner of war. This
section clarifies the type of preference given the
hiring process and whether the applicant is disabled
or not. Subsection (B) is removed for consistency.
Section 5. AS 39.25.159(d)
This section clarifies that a person may receive an
employment preference under only one of the categories
described in sections 3 and 4. A person may use the
preference without limitation when being considered
for a position for which persons who are not currently
state employees are being considered. If the
recruitment for a position is limited to state
employees, preference under (a) or (c) of this section
may not be counted. This section adds language to
include spouses or dependent children for consistency
with other sections.
Section 6 AS 39.25.159 (e)
This section clarifies that this bill does not involve
interpreting amendments of a collective bargaining
agreement and makes a reference to subsection (a) of
Section 4.
Section 7 AS 39.25.159(f)
This section defines a dependent child.
Section 8 AS 39.25.159(c)
This section removes language that has been included
in Section 4 of this bill.
9:23:03 AM
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison, Defense-State
Liaison Office, U.S. Department of Defense, testified in support
of HB 125. She said a February 2020 letter to Governor Mike
Dunleavy from the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness highlighted the need to support military spouses and
stated that military spouse employment is an important component
in retention of servicemembers. More than half of all active-
duty personnel are married, she said, and 88 percent of employed
military spouses indicated they wanted, or needed, to work. She
characterized military spouses as "highly influential" in a
servicemember's decision to remain in the military and said over
28 percent of servicemembers reported that their decision to
leave the military would be "largely or moderately" affected by
their spouse's career prospects. She stated that in addition to
be the highest unemployed and underemployed group in the nation,
military spouses reported challenges obtaining employment due to
frequent moves. She stated the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
supports the policy within HB 125 and asks the committee to move
the proposed legislation forward.
9:25:50 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE opined that it makes sense to have
employment preferences for military spouses but wondered why
dependents were included.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON replied that it may, in some cases, be
necessary for a child to work to help support the family.
9:27:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER asked how many other states included
dependents.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON directed attention to a supporting
document from the National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL) [included in committee packets].
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER surmised that it's unclear which states
include dependents in the policy.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON replied, "Correct."
9:28:30 AM
MS. PERREAULT said she doesn't know which states include
dependents and said her office could assist with that research.
9:28:55 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ shared her experience in working with
military spouses and echoed the concerns about the inclusion of
dependents, saying unemployment and underemployment is less of a
concern among children.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON said part of the intent of the proposed
legislation is to assist families whose servicemember has died.
9:30:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether the proposed legislation
would mandate that an employer is required to consider military
spouses in hiring decisions and whether an employer could be
penalized in any way.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON responded that the proposed legislation
recommends that private businesses consider military spouses and
that a military spouse is considered for positions in the public
sector.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Mr. Wayne to confirm that the proposed
legislation would not inadvertently require private employers to
consider an applicant but would protect an employer for choosing
to hire from military families.
9:32:14 AM
DAN WAYNE, Attorney, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative
Affairs Agency, confirmed that the text in Section 2 of HB 125
states that an employer may give preference to servicemembers
and individuals from military families. He stated that there is
nothing in the proposed legislation requiring an employer to
give such preference in hiring.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked whether Section 2 is the only section that
would affect private employers.
MR. WAYNE referred to Section 1, subsection (c), which read as
follows:
(c) Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit a
private employer from granting an employment
preference described in AS 23.88.010 [TO A MEMBER OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD OR A VETERAN WHEN HIRING AN
EMPLOYEE. IN THIS SUBSECTION,
MR. WAYNE clarified that the text would prevent a private
employer from being penalized in any way for exercising the
preferences under HB 125.
9:33:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE spoke about the merits of hiring military
spouses.
9:34:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER pointed out that page 43 of the 2018 Blue
Star Families Military Family Lifestyle Survey [included in the
committee packet] discusses the need for increased access to
child care.
9:35:25 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Ms. Day to detail how HB 125 would change
the hiring process for the State of Alaska.
9:35:45 AM
PAM DAY, Deputy Director-Personnel, Division of Personnel and
Labor Relations, Department of Administration, explained that
the state's job application would be updated to add an area
where an applicant could add the designation of military spouse
or dependent. The state would then "give consideration," she
said, meaning the application would be reviewed and the
applicant would be selected, rejected, or considered further in
the process.
9:36:35 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked how the application process would be
different from that of someone who is not in a preferential
hiring category.
MS. DAY responded that applications are first reviewed to
determine whether an applicant meets the minimum qualifications
for the job class, then selection such as education or
experience is applied. Under HB 125, she said, an application
with the military spouse designation would be reviewed further.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Ms. Day to talk about how the opportunity
to interview would be changed from current practice.
MS. DAY responded that the current process for veterans,
regardless of any qualifications such as disabled veteran or
former prisoner of war, is to offer an interview. This process
would be extended to those individuals outlined in the proposed
legislation.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked how many people are typically interviewed
for an opening.
MS. DAY responded that it varies depending on the job class and
number of applicants. Three or four people may be interviewed
for specialized jobs, or up to 20 applicants for a broader job
class such as an office assistant.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked how often the current veterans' hiring
preference results in a veteran being offered an interview.
MS. DAY said that every veteran is granted an interview.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked how many veterans are applying for state
positions.
MS. DAY replied that she would find out.
9:40:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN asked whether there have been any
conflicts with other hiring preferences.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON deferred to Ms. Perreault.
9:41:29 AM
MS. PERREAULT stated that DoD has not seen any hiring preference
conflicts but that she would like to confirm her understanding
with NCSL.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS posed the same question to Mr. Wayne.
9:42:13 AM
MR. WAYNE said he is not aware of any legal conflicts presented
by the proposed legislation.
9:42:29 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Ms. Day whether the state tracks how many
military spouses are employed by the state.
MS. DAY replied that two military spouses work in her
department.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked whether the state systematically tracks
how many military spouses it employs.
MS. DAY replied that it does not.
9:43:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON thanked the committee.
9:43:52 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that HB 125 was held over.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
9:44:03 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would
be the confirmation hearing for the governor's appointee to the
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. [The confirmation hearing
for the appointee to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
commenced on 4/14/21.]
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee had reviewed the qualifications of the
governor's appointee and recommends that the following name be
forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Dave Talerico,
appointee to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. He said
that signing the report regarding appointments to boards and
commissions in no way reflects an individual member's approval
or disapproval of the appointee, and the nomination is merely
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.
9:44:34 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
9:44 a.m.