05/01/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB21 | |
| HB126 | |
| HB97 | |
| HB100 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 100 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
May 1, 2023
3:17 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jesse Sumner, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Stanley Wright
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Zack Fields
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 21
"An Act relating to group insurance coverage and self-insurance
coverage for school district employees, employees of the
University of Alaska, and employees of other governmental units
in the state; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 21(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 126
"An Act relating to the Board of Professional Counselors; and
relating to licensing of associate counselors."
- MOVED HB 126 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 97
"An Act relating to self-storage facilities for personal
property, including vehicles and watercraft; distinguishing
self-storage facility liens from another type of storage lien;
and excluding self-storage liens from the treatment of certain
unclaimed property."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 100
"An Act relating to teacher and public employee leave."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 21
SHORT TITLE: SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSUR
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) VANCE
01/19/23 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/23
01/19/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/19/23 (H) CRA, EDC, L&C
01/27/23 (H) CRA REFERRAL REMOVED
01/27/23 (H) BILL REPRINTED
03/13/23 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/13/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/23 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/27/23 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM DAVIS 106
03/27/23 (H) Moved HB 21 Out of Committee
03/27/23 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/29/23 (H) EDC RPT 2DP 4NR
03/29/23 (H) DP: MCKAY, ALLARD
03/29/23 (H) NR: HIMSCHOOT, STORY, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE
04/03/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/03/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/05/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/05/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/12/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/12/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/14/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/14/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/17/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/17/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/17/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/19/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/19/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/21/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/21/23 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 04/24/23>
04/24/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/24/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/24/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/28/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/28/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/28/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
05/01/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 126
SHORT TITLE: ASSOCIATE AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WRIGHT
03/22/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/22/23 (H) L&C
03/29/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/29/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/29/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/19/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/19/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/21/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/21/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/21/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
05/01/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 97
SHORT TITLE: SELF-STORAGE UNITS: LIENS; SALES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) PRAX
03/06/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/06/23 (H) L&C, JUD
03/24/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/24/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/24/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/14/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/14/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
05/01/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 100
SHORT TITLE: PAID FAMILY LEAVE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) ARMSTRONG
03/08/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/08/23 (H) L&C, EDC
04/07/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/07/23 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/10/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/10/23 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
05/01/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIE ARMSTRONG
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, introduced HB 100 and
presented a PowerPoint, titled "HB 100: Paid Family and Medical
Leave."
TRISTIAN WALSH, Staff
Representative Jennie Armstrong
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Armstrong,
prime sponsor, answered questions during the hearing on HB 100.
RACHEL GUNN, Staff
Representative Stanley Wright
Alaska State Legislature
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Wright, prime
sponsor, provided a recap of HB 126.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:17:20 PM
CHAIR JESSE SUMNER called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:17 p.m. Representatives
Carrick, Wright, Ruffridge, Saddler, Prax, Fields, and Sumner
were present at the call to order.
HB 21-SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSUR
3:18:09 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 21, "An Act relating to group insurance coverage
and self-insurance coverage for school district employees,
employees of the University of Alaska, and employees of other
governmental units in the state; and providing for an effective
date." [Amendment 1 was adopted to HB 21 during the committee
meeting on 4/24/23.]
3:18:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT moved to report HB 21, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK objected.
3:18:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK expressed concern that the proposed
legislation could result in unintended financial consequences
for Alaska Care.
3:19:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS expressed the belief that the proposed
bill could work if done correctly; however, it should remain in
the committee until an actuarial analysis is done, as it could
create unintended consequences.
3:20:47 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Ruffridge, Wright,
Saddler, Prax, and Sumner voted in favor of reporting HB 21, as
amended, out of committee. Representatives Carrick and Fields
voted against it. Therefore, CSHB 21(L&C) was reported out of
the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee by a vote of 5-
2.
3:21:24 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:21 p.m. to 3:24 p.m.
3:24:40 PM
HB 126-ASSOCIATE AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS
3:24:44 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 126, "An Act relating to the Board of
Professional Counselors; and relating to licensing of associate
counselors."
3:25:15 PM
RACHEL GUNN, Staff, Representative Stanley Wright, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Wright, prime sponsor,
provided a recap of HB 126.
3:25:31 PM
MS. GUNN stated that HB 126 would create a tier for individuals
seeking to become counselors, after earning a graduate degree
but before becoming a fully licensed counselor. This tier would
allow them to earn hours toward their license under a fully
licensed counselor.
3:26:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether Medicaid would reimburse
individuals who are treated by an associate counselor.
MS. GUNN answered no.
3:26:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 126 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 126 was reported from the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
3:27:02 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:27 p.m. to 3:29 p.m.
3:29:50 PM
HB 97-SELF-STORAGE UNITS: LIENS; SALES
3:29:53 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 97, "An Act relating to self-storage facilities
for personal property, including vehicles and watercraft;
distinguishing self-storage facility liens from another type of
storage lien; and excluding self-storage liens from the
treatment of certain unclaimed property."
3:30:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to adopt the committee substitute
(CS) for HB 97, Version 33-LS0392\S, Dunmire, 4/25/23, ("Version
S"), as a working document. There being no objection, Version S
was before the committee.
3:30:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned the changes made by Version S.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX answered that a storage unit renter would be
required to disclose any property with a lien in the storage
facility. This would alert the storage facility owner to
contact the lien holder prior to the foreclosure process.
3:31:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether Representative Prax had
heard from the owner of Best Storage, the largest storage
facility in Representative Fields' district.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX answered no.
3:32:27 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that HB 97 was held over.
HB 100-PAID FAMILY LEAVE
3:33:01 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 100, "An Act relating to teacher and public
employee leave."
3:33:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JENNIE ARMSTRONG, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, introduced HB 100. She stated that HB 100 would
give 18 weeks of paid family medical leave to state employees
and teachers. She said that there would be a committee
substitute which would give the private sector the chance to opt
into the provisions of the bill.
3:33:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG began a PowerPoint presentation titled,
"HB 100: Paid Family and Medical Leave" [hard copy included in
the committee packet]. Moving to slide 2 through slide 4, she
stated that 23 percent of mothers in the U.S. return to work
within 10 days of giving birth, although experts recommend a
waiting period of at least 6 weeks for a birth without
complications and 12 weeks for a cesarean section birth. She
pointed out that children and families are the first step in
investing in "human capital," and she displayed a graph showing
the return on this investment.
3:36:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG continued to slide 5 through slide 9
and stated a child's early years are a time of intense
neurological development. She pointed out that increased social
and emotional contact with a caregiver is important for a
child's development, as 90 percent of brain development occurs
before kindergarten. She said that the Family and Medical Leave
Act (FMLA) was passed in 1993, giving 12 weeks of unpaid leave
for employees of qualifying companies and federal employers.
She stated that the proposed legislation would provide up to 18
weeks of unpaid leave for state employees. She stated that the
lack of paid leave costs workers in the U.S. $22 billion
annually. She displayed a map showing which states have some
type of paid family leave.
3:38:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG moved to slide 10 through slide 12 and
gave a brief overview of how paid family leave supports
families, infants, and parents. She argued that mothers are
less likely to need public assistance if they are able to take
paid family leave, and overall financial burdens are lessened
for these families. She said that infants are more likely to
receive follow-up appointments and have increased brain
development under paid family leave. Mothers who take paid
family leave are less likely to be re-hospitalized within 21
months of giving birth, less likely to have postpartum
depression, and more likely to have a better relationship
between the father and the baby.
3:41:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG moved to slide 13 through slide 15 and
gave a brief overview of how paid family leave would support
businesses, dependents, and the state. She said that businesses
offering paid family leave are more likely to retain employees.
She noted that small businesses in California saw a 14 percent
decrease in per worker labor costs. She suggested that paid
family leave allows an increase in preventative care, reducing
healthcare costs for the nearly one in three U.S. households
that provide care for an adult family member with a serious
disability or illness. She stated that if Alaskan women had the
same rate of participation in the workforce as countries with
paid family leave, it is estimated there would be an additional
8,000 workers and over $300 million in wages earned in Alaska.
She concluded that paid family leave would increase
participation of women in the workforce.
3:43:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG continued to slide 16 and slide 17 and
stated that HB 100 would change current state statute to offer
18 weeks of paid family leave, rather than unpaid, for state
employees and teachers. She stated that a committee substitute
will be offered, and this follows the model used by New
Hampshire, which has made paid family leave a part of the
employees' insurance policy, allowing political subdivisions of
the state to opt in. She said that the plan would also allow
private businesses to opt into the plan at the same rate as the
state.
3:45:16 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether paid family leave would
allow families to have more children, if desired.
3:45:35 PM
TRISTIAN WALSH, Staff, Representative Jennie Armstrong, Alaska
State Legislature, answered questions on HB 100, on behalf of
Representative Armstrong, prime sponsor. Concerning
Representative Fields' question, he expressed uncertainty, but
noted that childcare for early childhood is very expensive, and
paid family leave would help keep the families' earnings higher.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG added that finding childcare is
difficult, and paid family leave could potentially result in
more openings at childcare centers.
3:47:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the state would be paying the
deductible.
MR. WALSH answered that New Hampshire offers an insurance plan
to its employees in which it pays for the premiums, which are
capped at the same rates as long-term disability premiums. He
stated that he would follow up to the committee on who is
responsible for the deductible. In response to a series of
follow-up questions, he said that there would be a short waiting
period on the insurance policies. He answered that the proposed
legislation would allow the family leave to be used for any
reason a child is added to the family, as well as the care of
another family member's health. Concerning the actuarial
analysis, he answered that there is an estimate through
legislative finance.
3:52:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked who would ultimately be responsible
for paying the cost of family leave for state employees.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMSTRONG answered that it would come from the
general fund like any other state employee benefit.
3:53:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether the Department of
Administration tracks the number of employees who leave
employment because of a lack of paid family leave.
MR. WALSH answered no, as it is considered to be part of an
employee's personnel file. In response to a follow-up question,
he said that failing to retain an employee can cost as much as
21 percent of the salary which would have been paid.
3:55:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked whether the required figure for
hours worked is a standard requirement in other legislation.
MR. WALSH answered yes.
3:57:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether it would be an optional
benefit.
MR. WALSH answered no. He added that it could apply to older
workers needing to take care of a family member. In response to
a follow-up question, he said that there had not been much
discussion with labor unions.
3:59:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked whether there has been a
conversation with the administration concerning the proposed
bill.
MR. WALSH answered that there has been minimal discussion with
members of the administration.
4:00:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether there is a figure for usage
of the current unpaid leave policy.
MR. WALSH answered no. In response to a follow-up question, he
said that he is unsure what the split is between employees using
the leave to care for sick family members or children.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER questioned whether there is information
on a federal level.
MR. WALSH responded that he would follow up to the committee
with this information.
4:02:54 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that HB 100 was held over.
4:03:01 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
4:03 p.m.