Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/04/2022 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Board of Nursing | |
| Alaska Labor Relations Agency | |
| Marijuana Control Board | |
| Alcoholic Beverage Control Board | |
| State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors | |
| HB312 | |
| HB108 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 404 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 312 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 4, 2022
3:21 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Liz Snyder (via teleconference)
Representative Ken McCarty (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative David Nelson
Representative James Kaufman
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Nursing
Lena Lafferty - Anchorage
- HEARD AND HELD
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Paula Harrison Anchorage
- HEARD AND HELD
Marijuana Control Board
Ely Cyrus Kiana
Eliza Muse Anchorage
- HEARD AND HELD
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
Janice Hill Haines
Douglas Moore Talkeetna
- HEARD AND HELD
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors
Sterling Strait Anchorage
- HEARD AND HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 312
"An Act relating to dress codes and natural hairstyles."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 108
"An Act relating to concurrent vocational education, training,
and on-the-job trade experience programs for students enrolled
in public secondary schools; relating to child labor; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 312
SHORT TITLE: ALLOW NATURAL HAIRSTYLES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TARR
02/09/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/09/22 (H) EDC, L&C
03/11/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/11/22 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/14/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/14/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/14/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/23/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/23/22 (H) Moved HB 312 Out of Committee
03/23/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/04/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 108
SHORT TITLE: CONCURRENT SECONDARY & TRADE SCHOOL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) MCCARTY
02/22/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/21 (H) EDC, L&C, FIN
04/09/21 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
04/09/21 (H) Heard & Held
04/09/21 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
02/23/22 (H) EDC AT 3:30 PM DAVIS 106
02/23/22 (H) Heard & Held
02/23/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/04/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/04/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/14/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/14/22 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/16/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/16/22 (H) Heard & Held
03/16/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/23/22 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/23/22 (H) Moved CSHB 108(EDC) Out of Committee
03/23/22 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/28/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/28/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/30/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/30/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/04/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
LENA LAFFERTY, Appointee
Board of Nursing
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Nursing.
PAULA HARRISON, Appointee
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska Labor
Relations Agency.
ELY CYRUS, Appointee
Marijuana Control Board
Kiana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Marijuana
Control Board.
ELIZA MUSE, Appointee
Marijuana Control Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Marijuana
Control Board.
JANICE HILL, Appointee
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
Haines, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
DOUGLAS MOORE, Appointee
Alcohol Beverage Control Board
Talkeetna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
STERLING STRAIT, Appointee
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the State Board
of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 312.
DAVID SONG, Staff
Representative Geran Tarr
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Tarr, prime
sponsor, provided the sectional analysis for HB 312.
ALYSSA QUINTYNE
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
312.
JAMIE BURGESS, Superintendent
Nome Public Schools
Nome, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
108.
MAGGIE COTHRON, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
DON ETHERIDGE, Lobbyist
Alaska AFL-CIO
Alaska Works Partnership, Inc.
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
JIM ANDERSON, Chief Finance Officer
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
PAUL GROSSI, Lobbyist
Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
ADAM WHITE, Government Relations Spokesperson
Alaska Airmen's Association
Nenana, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
TOM GEORGE, Alaska Regional Manager
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 108.
DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager
Division of Innovation and Education Excellence
Department of Education & Early Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on HB 108, answered
questions.
EUGENE HARNETT, Staff
Representative Ken McCarty
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: During the hearing on HB 108, provided a
sectional analysis on behalf of Representative McCarty, prime
sponsor of the bill.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:21:30 PM
CO-CHAIR ZACK FIELDS called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:21 p.m.
Representatives Schrage, Spohnholz, and Fields were present at
the call to order. Representatives Snyder (via teleconference)
and McCarty (via teleconference) arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^BOARD OF NURSING
Board of Nursing
3:21:35 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the first order of business would
be the confirmation hearing of the governor's appointee to the
Board of Nursing.
3:21:45 PM
LENA LAFFERTY, Appointee, Board of Nursing, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, testified as
appointee to the Board of Nursing. She noted that her
nomination is a reappointment to the registered nurse seat on
the board. She said she was in the Navy for 10 years as a
hospital corpsman, has been a [licensed registered] nurse for
eight years since leaving active duty, and currently works as an
operating room nurse at Providence Alaska.
MS. LAFFERTY related that while on the board she has worked at
accomplishing the board's mission of promoting and protecting
the health of Alaska's citizens through safe and effective
practices of nursing, as defined by law. During the [COVID-19]
pandemic the Board of Nursing tried to make the lives of nurses
easier while also protecting the citizens. For example, the
board did not raise the licensing fees and lessened the number
of continuing education units (CEUs) for those re-upping their
nursing licenses. Ms. Lafferty related that since her first
nomination she has been trying to make it possible for LPNs
leaving the military to challenge the LPN board so they can
swiftly move out of the military and into the job that they
love, and which is 99 percent accomplished. Another goal of
hers is to also include hospital corpsman.
3:24:48 PM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ asked how Ms. Lafferty feels about the length
of time it takes for nursing licenses to get processed.
MS. LAFFERTY replied that board staff are working tirelessly to
ensure that the people coming to Alaska are nurses that everyone
would want to have caring for their own selves. Board staff
must ensure that an applicant's license is unencumbered, that
all the paperwork is done and done correctly, and the
information provided. It is a long process, and the staff is
working hard to make it quicker for people to begin working.
[The confirmation hearing was held over.]
^ALASKA LABOR RELATIONS AGENCY
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
3:26:39 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be the confirmation hearing of the governor's appointee to the
Alaska Labor Relations Agency.
3:26:46 PM
PAULA HARRISON, Appointee, Alaska Labor Relations Agency,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development, testified as
appointee to the Alaska Labor Relations Agency. She noted that
her nomination is a reappointment to the public member seat.
She has served on the agency for three years and is approaching
40 years of experience in human resources and labor relations.
She said the agency is very small but does a big job for the
State of Alaska.
MS. HARRISON, responding to Co-Chair Spohnholz and Co-Chair
Fields, agreed to provide the committee with her resume.
[The confirmation hearing was held over.]
^MARIJUANA CONTROL BOARD
Marijuana Control Board
3:28:36 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be the confirmation hearings of the governor's appointees to the
Marijuana Control Board.
3:28:46 PM
ELY CYRUS, Appointee, Marijuana Control Board, Alcohol &
Marijuana Control Office, Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development, testified as appointee to the Marijuana
Control Board. He related that he is a city administrator in
Kiana and because Kiana operates a beverage package store he
knows the similarities between alcohol and marijuana. He said
he is interested in serving on the board because he sees the
marijuana industry as a good opportunity, especially for
employment in rural Alaska. He applauded the state for being
progressive and allowing the industry to grow to where it is
today; it is setting up a bright future for Alaska amongst the
archaic federal laws regarding marijuana. He said he has served
on the tribal council, the city council, the regional
corporation board, was previously chairman for NANA Development
Corporation and vice-chairman for NANA Regional Corporation, has
been Kiana City Manager for about four years, and is president
of the Native Village of Kiana.
3:30:51 PM
ELIZA MUSE, Appointee, Marijuana Control Board, Alcohol &
Marijuana Control Office, Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development, testified as appointee to the public
health seat on the Marijuana Control Board. She noted she has a
master's degree in health policy and administration, and has
worked for the Division of Public Health, Department of Health
and Social Services (DHSS), since 2011. She said she has
tracked cannabis policy since the ballot initiative in 2014. As
part of the Division of Public Health she has participated in
efforts to understand health and safety implications for
Alaskans resulting from increased access to cannabis products.
She has worked to put in place a system for collecting data to
help understand how cannabis use is changing over time for
adults and youth, as well as develop methods to summarize these
findings. She developed what is now the Positive Youth
Development Afterschool Program that funds quality after school
programs statewide, which is a known protective factor for
reducing youth cannabis use.
MS. MUSE stated she wants to serve on this board because she
believes in and supports a well-regulated cannabis industry. A
well-regulated industry, she continued, will balance the needs
of consumers with that of public health to ensure that products
are safely available, tested, labeled in a way that makes sense,
and packaged in a childproof manner. She said her record and
actions taken on the board to date are proof that she believes
in this industry and wants to see it succeed. A key to [the
industry's] success is when the public health has a voice and
that is her role on this five-person board. She brings to the
board her training, knowledge, and willingness to work with
other board members and industry to ensure that rule making will
be used in a manner that balances industry and public health.
3:33:04 PM
MS. MUSE, in response to Co-Chair Fields, confirmed she is
currently employed by the DHSS.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS surmised that Ms. Muse would serve on the board
as a public health expert who happens to be employed by DHSS,
and that she would be voicing her personal views about marijuana
regulation, not the department's.
MS. MUSE replied that is correct. She said DHSS has, to date,
been on the record for opposing certain regulations, but her
role on this board is to represent the public health of all
Alaskans, not the opinions or positions of the department. She
said she sees those two as being separate.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked whether Ms. Muse received any guidance
from the department when she applied for the board. He further
asked whether current state employees serving on boards occurs
frequently.
MS. MUSE offered her belief that a [current] State of Alaska
employee sits in the board's other public safety seat. She said
her understanding of the statutory requirement of this board is
that the position may be filled by someone who works in public
health at the federal, state, or local level, and may be a
government employee.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ recounted that when the legislature put the
public health seat into the statute it was with the idea that
having that expertise on the board would help inform policy
moving forward. It is nice to see that happening, she added.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS requested that his questions not be taken as
hostile as he was just wondering if departmental employees
encounter this frequently. He offered his appreciation for Ms.
Muse offering her service.
[The confirmation hearings were held over.]
^ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
3:35:49 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be the confirmation hearings of the governor's appointees to the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
3:35:56 PM
JANICE HILL, Appointee, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office, Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development, testified as appointee to
the rural public seat on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
She said she has spent much of her adult life in service to her
community, region, and state, and recently retired after four
terms as the Haines Borough mayor. She said she currently
serves on the board of directors of the Southeast Conference, as
a counselor on the Chilkoot Indian Association Tribal Council,
serves as a director for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health
Consortium (SEARHC), serves on the Alaska Miners Association
board of directors, and for many years she has served on the
Lynn Canal Icy Strait Resource Advisory Committee. She related
that her interest in serving on the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board comes from having served on the Alaska Native Health Board
where she was appointed to the steering committee that was
rewriting Title IV, and she felt she could bring a small-town
perspective with her variety of experiences to the ABC Board.
She noted that she has served several months on the ABC Board
already while awaiting confirmation and has enjoyed her time on
the board.
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE thanked Ms. Hill for stepping up to serve
on the ABC Board.
3:39:33 PM
DOUGLAS MOORE, Appointee, Alcohol Beverage Control Board,
Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office, Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development, testified as appointee to
the public seat on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. He
noted that he began serving on the board in about May 2021
shortly after he was appointed and has participated in four
meetings so far. He said he owns a business in Talkeetna, which
he purchased from his parents. He has participated in about 10
boards, he continued, and the ABC Board is the most professional
and thoughtful group he has ever been part of.
MR. MOORE, in response to Co-Chair Spohnholz, confirmed that his
business is Moore's Hardware.
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ remarked that she has frequently shopped at
Mr. Moore's store over the years.
[The confirmation hearings were held over.]
^STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION FOR ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AND LAND
SURVEYORS
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors
3:41:42 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be the confirmation hearing for the governor's appointee to the
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors.
3:41:50 PM
STERLING STRAIT, Appointee, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, testified as
appointee to the State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors. He stated that he is a trained
structural engineer, and he has been an engineer in Alaska for
about 15 years. He said that being able to give back by serving
on this board is a pinnacle in his career as an engineer. The
board investigates issues and guides the engineering profession,
he added.
MR. STRAIT, in response to Co-Chair Spohnholz, stated that he is
a civil structural engineer.
[The confirmation hearing was held over.]
HB 312-ALLOW NATURAL HAIRSTYLES
3:43:33 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 312, "An Act relating to dress codes and
natural hairstyles."
3:43:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, as the
sponsor, introduced HB 312. She explained that HB 312 would
prohibit schools and workplaces from enacting dress codes that
restrict someone from wearing his or her natural hair. She
thanked Senator Dave Wilson who introduced the companion bill.
She said it is important for student success for students to
feel welcome and included in their school, and this policy will
help a student feel welcome and included. It is important to
have schools be a positive learning experience, she continued,
because the academic achievement of students improves when they
feel welcome and included in their school environment.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR explained that HB 312 would also ensure that
no employee would be prohibited from participating in work or
attending school because the employee is wearing natural hair.
People rely on their job, she continued, and this would speak to
having a strong nondiscrimination policy. She pointed out that
through discussion of this legislation people have learned what
a natural hairstyle is and why it's important to allow these
hairstyles. She said that [disallowing natural hairstyles] can
be damaging due to the chemicals and procedures used to alter
the natural hair. The bill, she stated, defines what standards
are unacceptable for school districts and employers to place on
hair; providing this clarity and policy statement is the right
thing to do.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR related that the US House of Representatives
recently passed the CROWN Act [Create a Respectful and Open
World for Natural Hair Act], the national version of this
[state] legislation. She said 14 states and 34 municipalities
have passed this legislation, and the Dove brand of soap has a
website and is a corporate sponsor and participant in this
national effort. She said it is exciting to think of Alaska
joining the 14 states and 34 municipalities.
3:47:20 PM
DAVID SONG, Staff, Representative Geran Tarr, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Tarr, sponsor, provided
the sectional analysis for HB 312. He explained that Section 1
would amend AS 14.03 by adding Section 135. He stated that this
new section would disallow school districts from adopting a
school dress code that: prohibits a student from wearing a
hairstyle that is commonly or historically associated with race;
prohibits a student from wearing a natural hairstyle, regardless
of the student's hair texture or type; or requires a student to
permanently or semi-permanently alter the student's natural
hair. He said the bill would make an exception to allow school
districts to restrict hairstyles in any way necessary to comply
with existing health or safety laws. Mr. Song explained that
Section 2 would amend AS 23.10, which is related to employment
practices and working conditions, by adding Section 450. He
said this new section is identical to Section 1 of the bill
except it deals with an employee-employer relationship.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced the committee would hear invited
testimony on HB 312.
3:48:40 PM
ALYSSA QUINTYNE, provided invited testimony in support of HB
312. She stated that discrimination, and in particular hair
discrimination, is a part of life for black people in Alaska.
She said every black person she knows has, at some point in
their life, been harassed or talked to about their hairstyle at
work or been sent home from school. Since elementary school,
she related, she has had classmates, teachers, and
administrators make inappropriate comments and questions about
her hair. She has been barred from chemistry and home economics
classes and from swimming because of her hair. She has been
thrown down the stairs by her hair and had her hair cut and
burned in the classroom. While her parents and other
appropriate people were involved, nothing came of it.
MS. QUINTYNE shared that as she grew up and started working it
was no better. She has worked in the Interior in customer
service, university departments, training facilities, labs, and
various organizations, but the only place where she hasn't
experienced hair discrimination is where she is working now.
She has had comments, questions, and touching, as well as having
the human resources (HR) department write policies specifically
targeting her hair and her hairstyles. She has been given
ultimatums from supervisors and HR to either come back to work
with her hair straight or don't come back at all. As a young
adult in college working two jobs, she shared, there wasn't a
choice, she had to do what she had to do to survive.
MS. QUINTYNE stated that throughout her life she has tried to
address this problem on her own within the community, including
testifying at age 13 before the North Star Borough School
District, but to no avail. She said she just termed off the
district's diversity committee after three years where she
worked with the school board and district administration on the
dress code and specifically on hair. She tried to educate them
on bonnets, du-rags, natural and protective hairstyles, and why
the whole gang affiliated rhetoric and language was completely
unacceptable and irrelevant; it was racial micro-aggression
rooted in fear that targeted black and indigenous students. She
provided resources and suggestions on how to make dress codes
more responsible and aware to students' financial access,
cultures, identities, and expressions, but she doesn't know if
those suggestions were taken.
MS. QUINTYNE pointed out that someone who doesn't deal with this
discrimination every day has no understanding of how detrimental
it is. A person is told to stand up for themselves or to tell a
teacher or HR, but that is exactly where the harm being faced is
coming from, she explained. The city council won't do anything
because of the Lower 48 problem which doesn't occur in Alaska.
The borough assembly throws up its hands because it doesn't know
what to do. The school board is the very source of black
student trauma and pain. Nothing is really happening in the
legislature yet. The local stores lock up the hair products
needed for taking care of a black person's hair and few salons
have the expertise or carry the necessary hair management
products. What is a black kid supposed to do when the only
people who understand what the kid is going through are their
friends and mother?
MS. QUINTYNE said she is telling this to the committee to give
members the context of what she and other black Alaskans go
through. She stated that HB 312 gives hope to the marginalized
black community and gives her hope that it will create much-
needed conversations about discrimination, micro-aggression, and
violence. She said she further hopes that the pain and violence
she and others have gone through in school and work can be
prevented and that when children grow up they can grow up out of
love and not out of survival.
3:56:30 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS thanked Ms. Quintyne for her testimony and noted
that he believes the Senate companion bill was passed today.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR offered her thanks and appreciation to Ms.
Quintyne for sharing her experiences.
3:57:50 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS [held over HB 312].
HB 108-CONCURRENT SECONDARY & TRADE SCHOOL
3:58:04 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 108, "An Act relating to concurrent vocational
education, training, and on-the-job trade experience programs
for students enrolled in public secondary schools; relating to
child labor; and providing for an effective date." [Before the
committee was CSHB 108(EDC).]
3:58:29 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:58 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.
3:59:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY, as prime sponsor, presented CSHB
108(EDC). He stated that Alaska has concurrent high school and
college enrollment where students get both high school and
college credit, but Alaska does not have the same opportunity
for students to get concurrent high school and trade training.
The bill would avail for master trades people to assist
secondary education programs using their skill sets in a trade
to train high school students so they can earn certification.
The bill would also avail the student to work not only for their
parents, but also extended family. The bill would further allow
the student to be in the workforce from age 16 rather than 17,
and the bill would allow them to work until 10:00 p.m., which
would be an extra hour of work each day. Alaska, he continued,
has a big need for a strong workforce and infrastructure money
is coming to the state. Employers need employees who are here
for the long term, and this tends to be residents of the state.
The bill would provide real life application to a student's high
school studies.
4:02:13 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced the committee would hear invited
testimony on CSHB 108(EDC).
4:02:31 PM
JAMIE BURGESS, Superintendent, Nome Public Schools, provided
invited testimony in support of CSHB 108(EDC). She stated that
the proposed bill would provide for students in all districts to
participate in high quality certified concurrent vocational
education in high school. It is the equivalent of providing
dual enrollment for college credit, she continued, and is
desperately needed in today's rapidly changing workplace. She
allowed that providing this program may provide challenges for
rural districts but stressed that it is these districts which
are in the greatest need of skilled individuals in the trades to
support their communities. In a rural community such as hers,
she related, electricians, construction workers, welders, boiler
technicians, plumbers, and other tradesmen must be brought in
from Anchorage or Fairbanks for projects or to service
residential needs due to the lack of skilled labor locally. Or,
if there are any local skilled companies or individuals, they
are often overwhelmed with work. The need is great and the
pipeline for new workers at the local level and rural areas is
down to a trickle or completely absent, she advised.
MS. BURGESS recognized that there is often a concern for how
small and rural districts will find a way to provide these types
of programs when there may be only a few or just a single
student interested in participating. There may also be a lack
of a qualified instructor as defined in the bill's language or
the inability to offer enough classes or practicum hours for a
few students to make an appropriate program a reality within a
small school setting. However, she explained, small rural
districts often collaborate amongst themselves with a larger
rural district or may partner with a road district to provide
programs and services to their students. The Department of
Education & Early Development (DEED) can function as a
centralized clearinghouse of information or a source of support
to connect districts through a career technical education (CTE)
department. Perkins grant funding, she noted, can potentially
be utilized to support these programs, as well as other grant
programs. Nome and Bering Strait School District have a joint
CTE program called [Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical
Center] (NACTEC) which utilizes an intensive two-week to three-
week residential program where students from a village school
fly into Nome to garner hours needed in a variety of programs
from health care to aviation to welding or construction. She
said CSHB 108(EDC) would allow students to have potentially
life-changing educational opportunities in high school and to be
better prepared for the rapidly evolving workforce in Alaska.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS [opened public testimony on HB 108].
4:06:33 PM
MAGGIE COTHRON, representing self, testified in support of HB
108. She stated that HB 108 would give students like her more
opportunities and would help students realize the importance of
their regular classes and learning lifelong skills. She related
that she had the wonderful opportunity to take a culinary class
during an after-school session at the King Career Center which
allows students to have a similar experience to what this bill
would do. She said it was incredible to be taught by someone so
knowledgeable and in the industry for years. She found that
culinary isn't for her, not because of the cooking but rather
the kitchen environment which is loud and fast paced and
requires good communication. She learned that she prefers to
take her time.
MS. COTHRON said that these are the types of experiences she
wants to go through because she, like others, doesn't know what
she wants to do after high school. These experiences, she
continued, provide hands-on experience and development of a
passion in a career that one would otherwise not have access to,
or be aware of, and this has a huge impact. Also, it prepares
students to have a successful future in often overlooked
industry in Alaska.
4:08:12 PM
DON ETHERIDGE, Lobbyist, Alaska AFL-CIO, Alaska Works
Partnership, Inc., testified that the Alaska AFL-CIO and the
Alaska Works Partnership, Inc. support HB 108. He said it is
important to start training youths at a younger age than has
been done and to get them into the trades because nowadays
[Alaska is] running short on trades people. It's a good idea to
give kids an example of what the trades look like, he continued,
and these programs provide help to kids who are still in school.
He said he knows of two kids who would never have graduated had
there not been programs such as the house building programs.
These programs give kids an idea of why they need to have math
and other skills. This bill will help the kids and give Alaska
future tradesmen, he added.
4:09:47 PM
JIM ANDERSON, Chief Finance Officer, Anchorage School District
(ASD), testified that the Anchorage School District supports HB
108 because it will help more students become career and life
ready immediately upon graduation. He said the bill would
strengthen the state's focus to provide high school students an
opportunity to receive industry standard training so they will
have viable skills for a trade and would further stress the
importance of partnerships with businesses in areas that may not
have state certified apprentice programs.
MR. ANDERSON related that for several years the ASD has
partnered with dozens of businesses and programs in nearly two
dozen distinct career fields, including art design, biomedical,
telecommunications, carpentry, welding, veterinary assistants.
Through these training and internship opportunities, he stated,
students develop skills that allow them to join the workforce
immediately upon graduation or shortly after. Participating
students receive course credit for their time, effort, and
acquisition of new skills. These partnerships, he noted, have
generally been available at little or no cost to the district as
it is a great opportunity for employers to build pipelines for
their future employees. While there are some transportation
costs for student travel to and from these opportunities, ASD
looks at that as a minor investment in helping these students
prepare to join the workforce.
MR. ANDERSON stated that in 2019 prior to the pandemic, ASD had
126 students participate in intern programs with its partners
and another 190 students participate in job shadowing. The
pandemic slowed down many of these opportunities, he said, but
ASD is rebuilding partnerships in the community and will meet
many of the needs and requirements stated in HB 108 because it
is an investment in those students who don't plan to go to
college as their career choice. He noted that HB 108 supports
one of the district's three board goals, which is to ensure that
students are life, college, and career ready upon graduation.
4:12:59 PM
PAUL GROSSI, Lobbyist, Ironworker Management Progressive Action
Cooperative Trust, testified that the Alaska Ironworkers Union
supports HB 108. He stated that the participants in this
program probably won't be able to get on-the-job sites at age 14
due to federal [law], but it will produce candidates for the
ironworkers at later dates. Students will be able to develop
skills that are transferable to the ironworkers as well as to
other trades. The most valuable transferable skill that this
will teach is development of a work ethic the ability to show
up every day for work, work the time they are supposed to be
there, and come back the next day.
4:14:50 PM
ADAM WHITE, Government Relations Spokesperson, Alaska Airmen's
Association, testified in support of HB 108. He said the
aviation industry supports these kinds of measures as there is a
shortage of workers to do the job. He noted that written
testimony has been provided by the "next gen group," a subset of
the Alaska Airmen's Association that is focusing on the younger
generation by working with school districts to get programs
going. He further noted that his association partners with the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). He related that
prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which ruined plans, the Alaska
Airmen's Association had everything in place to start traveling
to rural school districts to show aviation curriculums and get
them going in the school districts. The number of people
testifying in support of the bill, he continued, shows that it
is a needed movement in the right direction.
4:16:25 PM
TOM GEORGE, Alaska Regional Manager, Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association (AOPA), testified in support of HB 108 and the
notion of concurrent vocational education and on-the-job trade
experience in public secondary schools. He said there is a dire
need for more pilots and mechanics and HB 108 would help provide
[students with] more opportunities in the classroom and on-the-
job exposure to this career. Aviation is a critical component
to the transportation system in Alaska, he noted, and training
pilots and mechanics who are already used to living in the state
has potential benefit for meeting the state's labor needs.
4:17:35 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked Ms. Deborah Riddle how this training would
look onsite for a school district where there is an
apprenticeship program or CTE program that wants to deliver
training in person in a school.
4:18:08 PM
DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Division of
Innovation and Education Excellence, Department of Education &
Early Development (DEED), explained that districts already have
these types of arrangements in place with industry partners
within their areas. The legislation would further define how
that relationship could be organized. It would help districts
organize the contract language memorandum of agreement that many
districts already have in place with industry partners within
their area to help them create programs that will provide the
workforce that that individual community might need.
4:19:16 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS invited Mr. Eugene Harnett to provide the
sectional analysis for CSHB 108(EDC).
4:19:26 PM
EUGENE HARNETT, Staff, Representative Ken McCarty, Alaska State
Legislature, said he would give the sectional analysis of CSHB
108(EDC) on behalf of Representative McCarty, prime sponsor of
the bill. [What Mr. Harnett read matches the original bill
sectional analysis available in the committee packet from the
bill hearing of the prior committee of referral, the House
Education Standing Committee, and it read as follows, original
punctuation provided]:
Section 1
AS 12.62.400 National criminal history record checks
for employment, licensing, and other noncriminal
justice purposes.
Adds an instructor of students in a concurrent trade,
vocational education, training, on-the-job training
experience or apprenticeship to the list of
individuals who must have a national criminal history
record check performed.
Section 2
AS 14.07.020 Duties of the Department
Adds to the duties of the Department of Education and
Early Development that they must provide schools and
districts with opportunities for students to
participate in concurrent vocational education,
training, and on-the-job trade experience programs to
students over 14 years of age enrolled in public
secondary schools.
Section 3
AS 14.35 Vocational Education
Adds six (6) new sections to AS 14.35
Article 2. Concurrent Vocational Education, Training,
and On-the-Job Trade Experience Programs.
Sec. 14.35.100. State policy.
New policy of the state to provide public secondary
school students over 14 years of age the opportunity
to participate in concurrent vocational education,
training, and on-the-job trade experience programs
from nonsectarian agencies providing industry-standard
instruction.
Sec. 14.35.105. Program contracts.
The Department of Education and Early Development
shall negotiate contracts with agencies providing
industry-standard instruction and certifications to
offer concurrent vocational education, training, and
on-the-job trade experience programs for students
enrolled in a public secondary school. The department
may establish minimum program eligibility standards.
Additionally, this section provides contract
guidelines and states that the Department of Education
and Early Development may not contract with a
sectarian agency.
Sec. 14.35.110. Program list.
Requires the Department of Education and Early
Development to annually compile, provide to school
districts and publish to the department's website a
list of concurrent vocational education, training, and
on-the-job trade experience programs that the
department contracts with. The department must also
identify any geographical attendance restrictions, and
program availability for each listed program.
Sec. 14.35.115. Student enrollment.
Requires that the Department of Education and Early
Development permit the enrollment of a student in a
contracted concurrent vocational education, training
or on-the-job trade experience program who is over the
age of 14 years of age, who is enrolled in a public
secondary school eligible for the program, and who
submits a timely application. If the number of
applicants for a program exceed capacity of the
program or age group, the department shall select
students by random drawing.
A secondary school shall pay the program tuition for
an enrolled student who participates in a contracted
concurrent vocational education program in accordance
with the terms of the contract.
Sec. 14.35.120. Individual learning plan.
Requires that the secondary school create an
individual learning plan for each student enrolled who
participates in a contracted vocational program in
collaboration with the student, parent or guardian of
the student, a school counselor and any other
individuals involved in the student's learning plan.
The individual learning plan must also provide for an
in-school and concurrent vocational education program
course of study appropriate for the student's age and
grade level consistent with state and district
standards, provide for an ongoing assessment plan that
includes industry-standard certification progress and
statewide assessments required for public schools
provide for monitoring of the student's work and
certification progress by the counselor assigned to
the student.
Sec. 14.35.125. Instructor certification.
Requires that an instructor of students in a
concurrent vocational education, training or on-the-
job trade experience program possess and valid
instructor certificate and an industry-standard master
skill certification or equivalent.
Requires the Department of Education and Early
Development to submit fingerprints and fees to the
Department of Public Safety for criminal justice
information and a national criminal history check.
The department may not issue an instructor certificate
to a person who has been convicted of a crime, or an
attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit a
crime, involving a minor.
Section 4
AS 23.10.330 (a) Exempted Employment.
Amends the supervision requirement for an employed
minor on to include an adult, parent, sibling,
grandparent, aunt, or uncle.
Section 5
AS 23.10.332 Authorization of Children under 17 to
work.
Lowers the allowable employment age to 16 years old.
Section 6
AS 23.10.340 Employment of Children under 16.
Extends the hours of the day a minor may work to 10pm
but does not exceed 23 allowable work hours in a week.
Section 7
Effective Date
Provides for July 1, 2021 effective date.
[HB 108 was held over.]
4:25:28 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
4:25 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB0312A.PDF |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 EED SSA 2.10.22.pdf |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 Supporting Document - Brookings.pdf |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 Supporting Document - Gaddy.pdf |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 Supporting Document - Glamour.pdf |
HEDC 3/11/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB 312 support 031522.pdf |
HEDC 3/16/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 312 |
| HB108 Sectional Analysis 03.31.21.pdf |
HEDC 4/9/2021 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB108 letters of support 04.01.21.pdf |
HEDC 4/9/2021 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB 108 Letters of Support 4.6.21.pdf |
HEDC 4/9/2021 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB 108 Letters of Support 02.14.22.pdf |
HEDC 2/23/2022 3:30:00 PM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB108-DOLWD-WH-02-20-22 Updated.pdf |
HEDC 2/23/2022 3:30:00 PM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| FN HB108CS(EDC)-EED-SSA-3-17-22.pdf |
HEDC 3/23/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB 108 Sponsor Statement 03.09.21 2.pdf |
HL&C 3/28/2022 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| HB 108 Workdraft CS EDU (adopted) 3.23.22.pdf |
HL&C 3/28/2022 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HB 108 |
| Douglas Moore Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Douglas Moore Resume.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Eliza Muse Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Eliza Muse Resume.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Ely Cyrus Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Ely Cyrus Cover Letter.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Janice Hill Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Lena 2018 Resume_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Lena Lafferty Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Lena Lafferty_ 2022 Hearing letter of introduction_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Paula Harrison_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| Sterling Strait Board Application_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/4/2022 3:15:00 PM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |