Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
05/01/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Regulatory Commission of Alaska|| Occupational Safety and Health Review Board|| Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy|| State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors|| Board of Barbers and Hairdressers|| Alaska Labor Relations Agency|| Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers|| Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission|| Alaska Workers' Compensation Board|| Board of Pharmacy | |
| HB360 | |
| SB239 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 360 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 239 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
May 1, 2024
5:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jesse Sumner, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Stanley Wright
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Zack Fields
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Dan Saddler
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Tenaya Miramontes - Juneau
Wendy Palin - Palmer
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Justin Mack - Anchorage
Jennifer Yuhas - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Jenny Buswell Palmer
Mae Sprague Wasilla
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
John Espindola Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Pamela Cline Wasilla
John Corbett Fairbanks
Bronson Frye Anchorage
Debbie White Juneau
Steven Heidemann Anchorage
Brian Zematis Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
the Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
Mark Diehl - Palmer
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors
Paul Baril Anchorage
John Barry Gustavus
Jeffrey Garness Anchorage
Colin Maynard Anchorage
Bradford Rinckey Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Board of Pharmacy
Carla Herbert Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission
Nancy Shaw - Anchorage
Amy Steele Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 360
"An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory
Board; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 360(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 239
"An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export
Authority; and relating to workforce housing development
projects."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 27
Supporting trade policies for the United States that hold China,
Russia, and other countries accountable, reward leadership in
clean production standards, reward superior environmental
performance, support economic development, and support the
rebuilding of supply chains in the United States.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 360
SHORT TITLE: HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) PRAX
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) L&C
05/01/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 239
SHORT TITLE: AIDEA WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNBAR
02/19/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/24 (S) L&C, FIN
02/21/24 (S) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
03/27/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/27/24 (S) Heard & Held
03/27/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/12/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/12/24 (S) Moved SB 239 Out of Committee
04/12/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/15/24 (S) L&C RPT 2DP 2NR
04/15/24 (S) NR: BJORKMAN, MERRICK
04/15/24 (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON, DUNBAR
04/22/24 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/22/24 (S) VERSION: SB 239
04/24/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/24/24 (H) L&C
04/29/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/29/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
05/01/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN ESPINDOLA, Appointee, Commissioner
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Regulatory
Commission of Alaska.
RILEY NYE, Staff
Representative Mike Prax
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 360, on behalf of
Representative Prax, prime sponsor.
ALEXIS RODICH, Research and Policy
SEIU775
Washington D.C.
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
360.
VANESSA LISTON-CUNNINGHAM
representing self
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 360.
TONDA LUNDIN, representing self
Big Lake, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HB
360.
EDNA BEEBE, representing self
Eek, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of HB
360.
JAMES HOLZENBERG, Staff
Senator Forrest Dunbar
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 239 on behalf of Senator
Dunbar, prime sponsor.
MARK DAVIS, Special Counsel
Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to questions during the hearing
on SB 239.
BRANDON BREFCZYNSKI, Deputy Director
Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority
Redmond, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
360.
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:06:17 PM
CHAIR JESSE SUMNER called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. Representatives Wright,
Carrick, Fields, and Sumner were present at the call to order.
Representatives Prax, Ruffridge arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Regulatory Commission of Alaska
^Occupational Safety and Health Review Board
^Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
^State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land
Surveyors
^Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
^Alaska Labor Relations Agency
^Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
^Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission
^Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
^Board of Pharmacy
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Regulatory Commission of Alaska
Occupational Safety and Health Review Board
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Landy
Surveyors
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board
Board of Pharmacy
5:07:02 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
the confirmation hearings for the governor's appointees to
various boards and commissions.
5:07:31 PM
JOHN ESPINDOLA, Appointee, Commissioner, Regulatory Commission
of Alaska, testified as appointee to the Regulatory Commission
of Alaska. He detailed his personal and professional background
and spoke to his experience on the board, as well as with the
Dunleavy Administration. He said his vision involves developing
diverse energy resources.
5:14:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked for Commissioner Espindola's
thoughts on the role of the RCA in helping to control the cost
of energy bills for residents of the Railbelt.
MR. ESPINDOLA stated that the RCA has a unique opportunity to be
front and center in crafting Alaska's energy landscape over the
next 50 years. He said many measures were introduced this
session that would grant the commission the flexibility to make
determinations on rates.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS referenced Section 1 of SB 257 and asked
Commissioner Espindola to speak to that pending legislation, as
well as his qualifying contributions and attributes.
MR. ESPINDOLA said he meets the qualification requirements of AS
42.04.020 with over 10 years of executive management experience
in business administration and over 5 years of experience in
public administration on top of 18 years of experience serving
on various boards and commissions.
5:16:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT shared that he had worked with the
appointee and commended his work.
5:17:01 PM
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on the appointment of
Commissioner Espindola. After ascertaining that no one wished
to testify, he closed public testimony.
5:17:55 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:17 p.m.
5:17:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to advance the confirmations of
Tenaya Miramontes and Wendy Palin to the Board of Barbers and
Hairdressers; Justin Mack and Jennifer Yuhas to the Alaska Labor
Relations Agency; Jenny Buswell and Mae Sprague to the Board of
Certified Real Estate Appraisers; John Espindola to the
Regulatory Commission of Alaska; Pamela Cline, John Corbett,
Bronson Frye, Debbie White, Steven Heidemann, and Brian Zematis
to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board; Mark Diehl to the
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy; Paul Baril, John
Barry, Jeffrey Garness, Colin Maynard, and Bradford Rinckey to
the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and
Land Surveyors; Carla Herbert to the Board of Pharmacy; and
Nancy Shaw and Amy Steele to the Workers' Compensation Appeals
Commission for consideration in the joint session of the House
and Senate. He reminded members that signing the reports
regarding appointments to boards and commissions in no way
reflects individual members' approval or disapproval of the
appointees, and that the nominations are merely forwarded to the
full legislature for confirmation or rejection. There being no
objection, the confirmations were advanced.
[recording segment repaired using LIO recording]
5:20:04 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:20 p.m.
[Chair Sumner passed the gavel to Vice Chair Ruffridge.]
HB 360-HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
5:21:58 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 360, "An Act establishing the Home Care
Employment Standards Advisory Board; and providing for an
effective date."
5:22:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX, as prime sponsor, presented HB 360. He
shared the sponsor statement for HB 360 [included in committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in the
state of Alaska1 and are living longer lives. The
state's 85+ population is expected to increase by 500%
between 2022 and 2050, of which, 1/3 will experience
Alzheimer's and Related Dementia. Alaska Department of
Labor and Workforce Development predicts home care, a
part of Alaska's continuum of care services to the
aging and people with disabilities, to be one of the
fastest growing and most in demand occupations in the
state. However, the potential provider workforce
demographic, those age 18 to 64, is in decline.
Furthermore, low wages and lack of benefits force many
caregivers out of the profession and make recruitment
and retention increasingly more difficult for agencies
providing in-home care services.
We need to create strong home care infrastructure in
Alaska which will expand access to quality, affordable
home and community-based care for seniors and people
with disabilities, keep people in their homes and out
of costly facilities, and bolster the creation of
jobs. HB 360 helps accomplish this by establishing a
Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board that
will investigate, advise, and develop recommendations
on Medicaid rates and other policies to improve the
wages, working conditions, and recruitment and
retention of direct care workers.
5:25:13 PM
RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Prax, prime sponsor,
offered to read the sectional analysis.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE advised that Mr. Nye forego the
sectional.
5:25:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how other states with similar
structures have improved working conditions.
5:26:24 PM
ALEXIS RODICH, Research and Policy, SEIU775, confirmed that
similar boards exist in Nevada and Washington. The scope of
those boards are slightly different; however, they bring
together a similar group of stakeholders who advise and make
recommendations based on their understanding of the needs of the
workforce.
5:27:22 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:27 p.m. to 5:29 p.m.
[Vice Chair Ruffridge returned the gavel to Chair Sumner.]
5:29:07 PM
VANESSA LISTON-CUNNINGHAM, representing self, gave invited
testimony on HB 360. She shared a personal anecdote and
discussed how the state cares for people with disabilities. She
opined on the lack of agency accountability with regard to the
use of disability funds. She asked members to consider giving
caregivers a voice and recognition and urged them to consider HB
360.
5:32:13 PM
TONDA LUNDIN, representing self, gave invited testimony in
support of HB 360. She emphasized her passion for caregiving
and stressed that, at some point in every Alaskan's life, they
will need quality care. She opined that the time for change is
now, and that a foundation of fair pay, healthcare benefits, and
quality providers should be laid for future Alaskans. She said
the bill would give Alaskan caregivers a voice in the process
and hold companies accountable by ensuring that allotted funds
go directly to caregivers.
5:34:44 PM
EDNA BEEBE, representing self, gave invited testimony in support
of HB 360. She described elements of a subsistence lifestyle in
Eek and discussed the high cost of living in rural Alaska. She
described her experience as a caregiver and advocated for
receiving more hours and higher pay with benefits. She opined
that caregivers should have a say in the process of funding
distribution and stated her support for HB 360.
5:38:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS opined that HB 360 would be a good vehicle
for ensuring that caregivers are directly receiving the funding.
He assured testifiers that legislators are working on the issue;
however, there are not adequate statutory guidelines in place
yet.
CHAIR SUMNER said the bill would be held over.
5:39:51 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:39 p.m. to 5:41 p.m.
5:41:49 PM
CHAIR SUMNER clarified that the committee would continue the
hearing on HB 360.
5:41:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
HB 360.
CHAIR SUMNER objected for purposes of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that Conceptual Amendment 1 would
change the number of positions on the board from 11 to 9,
thereby removing one member representing a personal care agency
and one member representing a personal care assistant.
CHAIR SUMNER removed his objection. There being no further
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
5:42:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 360, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes, and to authorize Legislative Legal
Services to make any necessary technical or conforming changes.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. He noted that the committee had
not held public testimony on HB 360.
5:43:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that public testimony is
advisable, though not required, and he commented on the short
timeframe until the end of session and the value of the proposed
legislation.
5:44:00 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wright, Carrick,
Fields, Prax, and Sumner voted in favor of the motion to report
HB 360, as amended, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
Representatives Ruffridge voted against it. Therefore, CSHB
360(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee by a vote of 5-1.
SB 239-AIDEA WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
5:44:47 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the final order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 239, "An Act relating to the Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority; and relating to workforce
housing development projects."
5:45:09 PM
JAMES HOLZENBERG, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Dunbar, prime sponsor, read
the sponsor statement for SB 239 [included in committee packet],
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Alaska is experiencing a housing crisis. Our state's
housing stock is overcrowded, dilapidated, and energy
inefficient. There has been an ongoing, unprecedented
exodus of working-age people that has severely limited
our economy's recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alaska needs to use every tool at its disposal to help
grow our workforce and give our most talented and
experienced people a reason to stay in-state to work
and raise a family. The Alaska Industrial Development
and Export Authority happens to be well-positioned to
use their loan program to fund the construction of
workforce housing to help alleviate the housing
crisis.
SB 239 adds a new objective to AIDEA's mission
statement, allowing the corporation to use their loan
program for the construction of new workforce housing
facilities containing five or more dwelling units. The
legislation adds a definition of "workforce housing"
based on the Department of Housing and Urban
Development's working definition, which calculates
affordability based on the average median income of an
area.
SB 239 is a concrete step we can take to address our
housing shortage. With Alaska facing workforce
development challenges and recruitment and retention
issues across every sector, we can no longer afford
inaction on this issue. I urge your support for SB 239
so we can begin developing new housing options to
incentivize people to stay and work in Alaska, in line
with AIDEA's mission.
5:47:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS offered his understanding that the Alaska
Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is allowed
to make housing. Asked what the difference is.
5:48:26 PM
MARK DAVIS, Special Counsel, Alaska Industrial Development and
Export Authority, Department of Commerce, Community & Economic
Development (DCCED), answered that AIDEA can give commercial
real estate, which should encompass apartments; however, there
is no express statement to that effect in statute. The proposed
bill would be useful to AIDEA because it would provide "direct
legal authorization for this type of activity."
5:49:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked someone to elaborate why AIDEA, which
is involved in industry, is involved, when the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation (AHFC) addresses housing.
MR. DAVIS explained that while AHFC focuses on low-income
housing and Section 8 HUD housing and what AIDEA does is
industrial, AIDEA also does commercial real estate. In response
to a follow-up question, he said AIDEA does not compete against
banks; institutions must bring in the loan while AIDEA makes up
the rest of the loan.
5:52:18 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS highlighted the struggle to find housing
at Greens Creek. He relayed the definition of workforce housing
in Section 5 and expressed concern that it would significantly
constrain workforce housing. He asked whether Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority or the bill sponsor would be
open to changing the definition to include anything beyond low-
income housing.
5:54:01 PM
BRANDON BREFCZYNSKI, Deputy Director, Alaska Industrial
Development and Export Authority, said more flexibility would
expand AIDEA's ability to take advantage of this authority.
5:54:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX shared his understanding that AHFC already
has a loan program for residential housing.
MR. DAVIS confirmed that AHFC offers mortgages for first time
home buyers; however, the bill is focused on workforce
development housing where workers have too high of an income to
qualify for federal programs, but not enough income to afford
housing. These housing projects are designed to fill the gap,
he said.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether a federal program is available
for workforce development housing specifically.
MR. DAVIS said he is unaware of a federal program that would
cover this, but several states have programs that use these
federal guidelines as qualifications to work with their economic
development authority, like AIDEA, to work on private sector
solutions for this type of housing.
5:57:39 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that SB 239 would be held over.
5:57:50 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
5:57 p.m.