Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120

04/16/2019 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 93 MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 93 Out of Committee
+= HB 109 MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
*+ HB 113 MILITARY FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
   HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                  
                         April 16, 2019                                                                                         
                           1:03 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Chair                                                                                          
Representative Chris Tuck, Vice Chair                                                                                           
Representative Chuck Kopp                                                                                                       
Representative Geran Tarr                                                                                                       
Representative Steve Thompson                                                                                                   
Representative Sharon Jackson                                                                                                   
Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 109                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to residency  requirements  for public  school                                                               
enrollment  for   certain  children   of  active   duty  military                                                               
members."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 113                                                                                                              
"An  Act  relating  to employment  preferences  for  spouses  and                                                               
children  of veterans,  disabled  veterans,  former prisoners  of                                                               
war,  members  of  the  national   guard,  and  deceased  service                                                               
members."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 93                                                                                                               
"An  Act  relating to  temporary  courtesy  licenses for  certain                                                               
nonresident  professionals; and  relating  to  the Department  of                                                               
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 93 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 109                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) LEDOUX                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
03/25/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/25/19       (H)       MLV, EDC                                                                                               
04/09/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/09/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/11/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/11/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/16/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 113                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JACKSON                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
03/27/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/27/19       (H)       MLV, L&C                                                                                               
04/16/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 93                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE                                                                                   
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TUCK                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
03/13/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/13/19       (H)       MLV, L&C                                                                                               
04/02/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/02/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/02/19       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
04/04/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/04/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/09/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/09/19       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/16/19       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
TAMMIE PERREAULT, Regional Liaison                                                                                              
Defense-State Liaison Office                                                                                                    
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense                                                                                    
Department of Defense                                                                                                           
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington                                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 102 and answered                                                              
questions from the committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
HEIDI TESHNER, Director                                                                                                         
Finance and Support Services Division                                                                                           
Department of Education & Early Development                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during the hearing on HB
109.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE ALLARD                                                                                                                    
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 109.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
VERDIE BOWEN, Director                                                                                                          
Office of Veterans Affairs                                                                                                      
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs                                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 109.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ERICK CORDERO GIORGANA, Staff                                                                                                   
Representative Sharon Jackson                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of Representative Jackson, prime                                                               
sponsor, introduced HB 113 and presented the sectional analysis                                                                 
of the committee substitute for HB 113, version U.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
VERDIE BOWEN, Director                                                                                                          
Office of Veterans Affairs                                                                                                      
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs                                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions and testified in support                                                              
during the hearing on HB 113.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
TERRE GALE, Director                                                                                                            
Division of Labor Standards and Safety                                                                                          
Department of Labor & Workforce Development                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered a question during the hearing on                                                                
HB 113.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DANA MANCIAGLI, President                                                                                                       
DM Consult                                                                                                                      
Bellevue, Washington                                                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 113.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE ALLARD                                                                                                                    
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 113.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:03:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  GABRIELLE LEDOUX  called  the House  Special Committee  on                                                             
Military  and Veterans'  Affairs meeting  to order  at 1:03  p.m.                                                               
Representatives  Thompson, Jackson,  Tuck,  Rauscher, and  LeDoux                                                               
were  present at  the call  to order.   Representatives  Kopp and                                                               
Tarr arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
[Chair LeDoux passed the Gavel to Vice Chair Tuck].                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        HB 109-MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:06:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR TUCK announced that  the first order of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE   BILL  NO.   109,  "An   Act  relating   to  residency                                                               
requirements for  public school  enrollment for  certain children                                                               
of active duty military members."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:06:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX,  as prime  sponsor of HB  109, introduced  the bill                                                               
and read  the following  sponsor statement  [original punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     House Bill  109 seeks  to allow military  children with                                                                    
     residency outside of the  state, but with documentation                                                                    
     of a  pending military relocation to  the state, access                                                                    
     to    preliminary    registration,    enrollment,    or                                                                    
     application to a  school district at the  time that the                                                                    
     process  is open  to  the  general student  population.                                                                    
     Proof  of residency  is  temporarily  waived until  the                                                                    
     student begins  school. Once the student  begins school                                                                    
     their parent or  guardian has ten (10)  days to provide                                                                    
     proof of residency in the school district.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     This   is  important   to  military   school  children,                                                                    
     especially  those in  high  school.  Often classes  are                                                                    
     filled  during  the  preliminary  registration  of  the                                                                    
     students  already registered  in that  school district.                                                                    
     For military  students who are  high school  juniors or                                                                    
     seniors,  and   are  transferring   to  a   new  school                                                                    
     district, they  may need  to take  a specific  class to                                                                    
     complete   their  requirements.   This  bill   is  also                                                                    
     important  to  those  students   wishing  to  attend  a                                                                    
     Charter School through lottery or otherwise, as these                                                                      
     schools often fill up quickly and there are deadlines                                                                      
     for entering the lottery.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:09:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP,  referencing  page 1,  line  11,  suggested                                                               
removing the 10-day limit on  providing proof of residency in the                                                               
school district in case it  creates a problem for the transferee.                                                               
He also  proposed inserting the  words, "or  intended residence,"                                                               
for those  who have a  future deployment date  and want to  get a                                                               
head start  on enrolling their  child in a school  that's located                                                               
in  the appropriate  district.   He added  that he  supported the                                                               
intent of the bill.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX offered her understanding  that a student can enroll                                                               
and provide records after arrival.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:12:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TAMMIE   PERREAULT,  Regional   Liaison,  Defense-State   Liaison                                                               
Office, Office of the Assistant  Secretary of Defense, Department                                                               
of  Defense,  opined  that  the language  of  the  bill  provides                                                               
flexibility to  school districts  because it  isn't compulsorily.                                                               
If it takes longer  than 10 days for the family  to show proof of                                                               
residency there is no negative outcome.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP  noted that  relocating can  be hectic  for a                                                               
military family,  especially with small children.   He reiterated                                                               
that setting a time limit could be problematic for the family.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:17:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON said she  appreciates the current bill and                                                               
cautioned  against changing  the  language to  remove the  10-day                                                               
limit, as that gives plenty of time to provide records.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:19:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAUSCHER stated  that  wants to  ensure that  the                                                               
current  bill  works  with  all the  options  offered  by  school                                                               
districts.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LEDOUX acknowledged  that  she had  discussed the  current                                                               
bill with the association of school boards.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RAUSCHER asked  how HB  109 makes  the enrollment                                                               
process easier.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX  stated that when  the military orders  are received                                                               
the family can preregister their  children in school even if they                                                               
aren't  physically in  the state  yet,  which allows  them to  be                                                               
eligible  for charter  school  lotteries,  specific classes,  and                                                               
more.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:22:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  TUCK added that  depending on  the time of  year, the                                                               
family  may  have  missed  the   deadline  for  charter  schools;                                                               
however,  if   they  know  where   they  are  moving,   they  can                                                               
preregister and  take advantage of  those opportunities  ahead of                                                               
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX, referring to subsection  1 (g), suggested requiring                                                               
that  the  family show  a  copy  of  their transfer  orders  when                                                               
registering the child in school.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:24:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  PERREAULT  said  she  entrusted  the  committee  to  provide                                                               
whatever  clarity  on  this  specific   statute  that  they  deem                                                               
necessary in the bill.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:26:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KOPP   emphasized  that   HB  109   addresses  an                                                               
important  issue by  making it  easier for  military families  to                                                               
register their children in school.   He directed attention to the                                                               
first paragraph and  said that it needs more clarity.   He agreed                                                               
that requiring the families to show  a copy of the military order                                                               
could help clarify the intent of advanced registration.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:27:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR  expressed concern  about the  annual student                                                               
count date  in October.  She  asked if a child  transferring from                                                               
out of state under these conditions would be included.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX  acknowledged the concern; however,  she likened the                                                               
scenario to  a family that  registers their child and  then moves                                                               
out of state.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  TUCK, in response  to Representative Tarr,  said that                                                               
in that the  base student allocation is dependent  on the Average                                                               
Daily Membership (ADM), which occurs  in October.  He pointed out                                                               
that if  an individual is  moving up  from a different  state and                                                               
has preregistered  then the school  district can include  them in                                                               
the ADM.  He stated that  that he  was unsure how  often transfer                                                               
orders get  cancelled, adding that  it would  be the same  as any                                                               
family, military or not, deciding to move out of state.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR TUCK  directed attention to page  2, subparagraph (C),                                                               
and suggested it  be broken up into two  sections, thereby adding                                                               
another  subparagraph,  "(D),"  for   the  phrase,  "or  off-base                                                               
military housing."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:31:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. PERREAULT acknowledged that it  could written with an "or" to                                                               
add  greater clarity.   Relative  to  head count,  she said  that                                                               
preregistered  children  will  be  treated  as  though  they  are                                                               
already in Alaska based on  the transfer orders, which are rarely                                                               
changed.   She noted  that in  September there  will be  a better                                                               
sense of the actual head count.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:35:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HEIDI TESHNER,  Director, Finance and Support  Services Division,                                                               
Department of Education & Early  Development, offered that Alaska                                                               
has a  20-day count period  that always  ends the fourth  week of                                                               
October.   She said that as  long as a student  is enrolled, they                                                               
are included in the ADM for the funding formula.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR TUCK  added that any late enrollment  won't be counted                                                               
until the next year.  He asked if that is correct.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. TESHNER  answered yes,  noting that there  is only  one count                                                               
period per year.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX asked if the students  must be present on the day of                                                               
the count to be included.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. TESHNER explained  that Alaska's ADM is  based on enrollment,                                                               
or  "membership",  rather  than  attendance.    She  stated  that                                                               
students can  be absent  during the count  period and  will still                                                               
count towards that membership.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  TESHNER,  in  response to  a  question  from  Representative                                                               
Jackson,  said that  no adjustment  is  made after  the count  is                                                               
reported, adding that it's normal  for districts to gain and lose                                                               
students during the year.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:38:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR asked Ms. Teshner  to restate when the annual                                                               
count period takes place.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. TESHNER said it's a 20-day  count period that always ends the                                                               
fourth Friday in October                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:38:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  THOMPSON established  a scenario  in which  a kid                                                               
can't get  into a certain biology  class that he or  she needs in                                                               
order to  graduate.   He indicated that  there could  be problems                                                               
for students trying to enroll in specific classes.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
VICE  CHAIR  TUCK  sought clarification  on  how  often  transfer                                                               
orders  change  and  whether  families   are  informed  of  their                                                               
destination.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:41:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. PERREAULT explained that, ideally,  the family will receive a                                                               
Request for Orders (RFO) in  January or February, which discloses                                                               
where they are going.   Orders are received in April  or May - 60                                                               
to 90 days  in advance of their departure date.  The families get                                                               
two weeks to find housing and  most know the situation in advance                                                               
of the  move.  She stated  that families will know  whether there                                                               
will be on-base  housing available to them and if  not, there are                                                               
online resources to help identify housing locations.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR TUCK  sought clarification on the  timeframe for which                                                               
transferring families can acquire housing.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. PERREAULT stated  that it depends on  the family's situation;                                                               
some families  may not  know their  final housing  location until                                                               
they arrive on the ground while others know it well in advance.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:46:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP, directing attention  to page 1, lines 10-11,                                                               
suggested  changing  it to,  "The  parent  of the  student  shall                                                               
provide  to the  school district  a  copy of  the military  order                                                               
showing proof of  residence within 10 days of  the student' first                                                               
day of  attendance."   He explained that  if the  10-day deadline                                                               
started  after the  first day  of attendance  it would  allow the                                                               
family time to figure out  their housing situation and show proof                                                               
of residency.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
VICE  CHAIR TUCK  noted that  it's  a two-part  process they  are                                                               
implementing -  notifying the school of  enrollment and providing                                                               
proof of  residency.  He agreed  that allowing 10 days  from when                                                               
the student first attends school would be more comfortable.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:49:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR  remarked that it's more  important than just                                                               
notifying the district, it's about  allowing families to register                                                               
their children  in school so  they can select the  right classes,                                                               
join sports teams, and more.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX  highlighted the three changes  that were suggested:                                                               
clarify that transfers  can be from one military  base to another                                                               
and not  exclusively from  out of  state; require  a copy  of the                                                               
military orders  be provided  to the  school district;  and allow                                                               
the family 10 days from the  student's first day of attendance in                                                               
school to provide proof of residency.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:51:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON cautioned  against requiring the provision                                                               
of military  orders in case  the orders  are late or  they change                                                               
the transfer location.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LEDOUX  surmised that  proof  of  pending military  orders                                                               
would suffice.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR TUCK  directed attention back to  page 2, subparagraph                                                               
(C), and suggested that, "or  off base military housing," be made                                                               
into its own subparagraph, "(D)".                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   LEDOUX   sought   clarification  on   the   reasons   for                                                               
subparagraphs (B) and (C).                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:54:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. PERREAULT answered,  "no comment."  She said  that if leaving                                                               
that   section   with   less  specifics   meets   the   statutory                                                               
requirements then it's appropriate.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:54:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   KOPP   agreed    that   because   residence   is                                                               
"exhaustively established in state statute  for a number of other                                                               
things," removing those  sections would be a good  idea to reduce                                                               
the chance of conflict.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:56:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR surmised  that  with so  many single  option                                                               
charter  schools in  Anchorage,  HB  109 would  be  a benefit  to                                                               
military  families  that would  otherwise  be  at a  disadvantage                                                               
since enrollment in  those schools are selected by  lottery.  She                                                               
thanked the sponsor for bringing it forward.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:56:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 1:56 p.m. to 1:57 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Vice Chair Tuck returned the gavel to Chair LeDoux.]                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:57:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:58:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  PERREAULT  informed  the  committee  that  she  had  already                                                               
provided written testimony [included  in the committee packet] in                                                               
support of  HB 109.   She  opined that it  would have  a positive                                                               
effect on  the educational experience  of military families.   It                                                               
would ensure that high school  and special needs students get the                                                               
classes they need,  as well as help charter school  students.  On                                                               
behalf of  the U.S. Department  of Defense, she urged  members to                                                               
move the bill out of committee.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR  asked if  the  10,000  school age  military                                                               
children that Ms.  Perreault mentioned range from  ages 5-18 and,                                                               
if so, how many are younger than that.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:02:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:02:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  PERREAULT   replied  there  are  approximately   9,800  K-12                                                               
students.   she said she  was unsure how  many were under  age 5;                                                               
however, she would be in touch with that data.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK commented  that the military does  a good job                                                               
of covering  the 0-5 years  of age  through their Heroes  at Home                                                               
program, which is for parents and teachers.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:04:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE ALLARD informed  the committee that she is  both a military                                                               
spouse  and   veteran.    She   disclosed  that  she   works  for                                                               
Commissioner  Sacks at  the Department  of  Military &  Veterans'                                                               
Affairs (DMVA);  however, she  is testifying  on her  own behalf.                                                               
She stated that  active duty National Guard  move regularly every                                                               
three years and  the current bill would help  them register their                                                               
children  in  school.     She  reflected  on   her  family's  own                                                               
experience arriving in Alaska in  2010, noting that they lived in                                                               
a hotel  for 90 days with  two young daughters and  had to enroll                                                               
her 5-year-old  in private  school.   If she  had longer  than 10                                                               
days  to provide  documentation,  she said,  it  would have  been                                                               
beneficial.  She  expressed her support for the bill  and said it                                                               
would be helpful.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX asked if the DMVA has an official position on bill.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. ALLARD indicated that her supervisor encourages it.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER  asked if the military  provides any kind                                                               
of support for families who receive orders that have children.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  ALLARD  replied  that the  military  always  supports  their                                                               
veterans   and  families;   nonetheless,  they   must  be   self-                                                               
sufficient.  She added that  the Judge Advocates Office, which is                                                               
the  legal representation  for military  personnel, could  always                                                               
issue a letter in lieu of orders.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON  questioned whether active  duty National                                                               
Guard are considered active duty military members.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. ALLARD answered yes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JACKSON   suggested  changing  the   language  to                                                               
include "National Guard."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:11:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VERDIE BOWEN,  Director, Office  of Veterans  Affairs, Department                                                               
of Military  and Veterans' Affairs,  informed the  committee that                                                               
the DMVA is in full support of HB  109.  He said that the hardest                                                               
part about military transfers is  the transition of children from                                                               
one school  to another.  He  said this bill is  greatly needed to                                                               
make the playing field fair.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:13:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LEDOUX,  after  ascertaining  no  one  further  wished  to                                                               
testify, closed public testimony on HB 109.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:13:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
[HB 109 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:14:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at ease at 2:14 p.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
          HB 113-MILITARY FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:15:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 113, "An  Act relating to  employment preferences                                                               
for spouses  and children of veterans,  disabled veterans, former                                                               
prisoners of  war, members  of the  national guard,  and deceased                                                               
service members."                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:16:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:16:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TUCK  moved  to   adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute (CS) for HB 113,  labeled 31-LS0715\U, Wayne, 4/15/19,                                                               
as the working draft.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:16:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:17:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JACKSON, prime  sponsor  of  HB 113,  paraphrased                                                               
parts  of  the  sponsor  statement  [included  in  the  committee                                                               
packet],  which  read  in  its   entirety  as  follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     The  purpose  of House  Bill  113  is to  allow  hiring                                                                    
     preferences to military  spouses and dependent children                                                                    
     in the State of Alaska and the private sector.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Military families  fall into two categories:  Blue Star                                                                    
     or Gold Star Families.  Blue Star families are military                                                                    
     spouses and  dependents of  active service  members and                                                                    
     veterans. Gold  Star families  are usually  spouses and                                                                    
     children of a deceased  service members while in active                                                                    
     duty.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     In  Alaska, veterans  with a  disability  receive a  10                                                                    
     point/or  10%  hiring  preference and  service  members                                                                    
     transitioning receive a  5 point/5% preference. Current                                                                    
     law allows  for either  automatic interviews  or points                                                                    
     on a  test if a test  is required. HB 113  would extend                                                                    
     these benefits to spouses and dependents.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     A recent  report from the  Department of  Defense found                                                                    
     that a  quarter of  military spouses are  unemployed or                                                                    
     underemployed. There are several  efforts being done in                                                                    
     all  50 states,  but Alaska  is one  of the  few states                                                                    
     that  do not  give employment  preferences to  military                                                                    
     spouses HB113  would also make  Alaska the  first state                                                                    
     to  support  Gold  Star  Families.  There  are  roughly                                                                    
     151,881 military  dependents out of 68  thousand active                                                                    
     members according to the  Alaska Department of Military                                                                    
     & Veteran Affairs.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     This  is  a small  but  significant  way to  honor  our                                                                    
     service  members and  their  families,  who often  fall                                                                    
     under  the  cracks while  also  making  a sacrifice  to                                                                    
     serve their country.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:20:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERICK  CORDERO GIORGANA,  Staff,  Representative Sharon  Jackson,                                                               
Alaska State  Legislature, explained that HB  113 extends current                                                               
hiring  preferences  to  military   and  Blue  Star  spouses  and                                                               
dependents,  and to  Gold Star  spouses and  dependents.   A Gold                                                               
Star is a  military member who died in active  duty, while a Blue                                                               
Star is  an active  duty service  member or  veteran.   He stated                                                               
that military spouses  are among the highest  unemployed group in                                                               
the  United States  despite their  education or  experience.   He                                                               
said  that this  is often  due to  gaps in  their resume  and the                                                               
instability  of constantly  relocating.   Under Alaska's  current                                                               
law, service  members who are  applying for  a job get  a 5-point                                                               
hiring  preference, while  veterans with  disabilities get  a 10-                                                               
point preference -  HB 113 will extend these  benefits to spouses                                                               
and  dependents.   If the  employer can't  assign points  because                                                               
they  don't use  the hiring  rubric that  results in  a numerical                                                               
score, then  the benefit will  be the guarantee of  an interview.                                                               
He  noted  that  24  other  states  currently  provide  veterans'                                                               
preference to spouses or surviving spouses.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:24:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JACKSON noted  that  current  statutes allow  the                                                               
state  and   private  employers   the  ability  to   give  hiring                                                               
preferences  to  veterans  and members  of  the  National  Guard;                                                               
however,  the  statutes  do  not   extend  those  preferences  to                                                               
military spouses or dependents.   She added that the current bill                                                               
would  "extend  our  work  pool  and  give  the  opportunity  for                                                               
military spouses to integrate more in our communities."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:25:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  CORDERO GIORGANA  addressed  the changes  from the  original                                                               
bill.   He  said, "the  original bill  did not  spell out  active                                                               
service  members in  the  section that  expands  the benefits  to                                                               
spouses and families," adding that the  CS makes that clear.  The                                                               
CS  also  clarifies  active  service   members  or  veterans  who                                                               
identify as  disabled.  He  further noted that  Legislative Legal                                                               
Services, Legislative  Affairs Agency, made changes  to amend the                                                               
State Personnel  Act [AS  39.25] to  reference definitions  in HB
113 for consistency.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR CORDERO  GIORGANA turned attention  to the  sectional analysis                                                               
of the CS for  HB 113, version U.  He stated  that section 1 does                                                               
not prohibit  a private employer  from having  hiring preferences                                                               
for  persons described  in Section  2 of  this bill.   Section  2                                                               
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  amends  the  State                                                               
Personnel Act to reference definitions  as stated in Section 4 of                                                               
this  bill for  consistency.   Section  4  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.   He  said, "this  section                                                               
clarifies the  type of  preference given  the hiring  process and                                                               
whether the applicant  is disabled or not."   Section 5 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.  Section  6 states 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  defines a  dependent                                                               
child as anyone age 0-19 years old or  up to age 23 if they are a                                                               
full-time  student  at  an accredited  educational  or  technical                                                               
institution  that  is  recognized  by the  Alaska  Department  of                                                               
Education  and Early  Development.   Finally,  section 8  removes                                                               
language that has been included in section 4.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:30:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TUCK  asked  why  they  decided  on  age  23  for                                                               
dependents when healthcare  can continue for a "child"  up to the                                                               
age of 26.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON offered  her understanding that "according                                                               
to the statutes  it covers a child  up to 23 as long  as they are                                                               
in college."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  CORDERO GIORGANA  explained that  healthcare provisions  are                                                               
federal,  adding that  in  Alaska  the age  is  usually  23.   He                                                               
further noted  that the state also  provides educational benefits                                                               
to Gold Star  families by waiving their tuition and  fees if they                                                               
want to enroll in the state education system.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:31:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  LEDOUX removed  her  objection.   There  being no  further                                                               
objection, Version U was before the committee.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR returned  attention to  the definition  of a                                                               
dependent child and asked if it excluded stepchildren.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. CORDERO  GIORGANA replied that, currently,  the language does                                                               
not include stepchildren.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON offered her  understanding that the DD 214                                                               
[U.S. Department  of Defense Certificate of  Release or Discharge                                                               
from Active Duty] lists dependents without distinction.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:33:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR   suggested  extending  the   definition  of                                                               
dependent to include trade schools or apprenticeships.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:34:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VERDIE BOWEN,  Director, Office  of Veterans  Affairs, Department                                                               
of  Military &  Veterans'  Affairs, explained  that any  programs                                                               
including  trades  or  on-the-job  training  that  are  certified                                                               
through the post-secondary institution  would be included in this                                                               
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:35:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX opened public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:36:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. BOWEN expressed  his full support of HB 113.   He stated that                                                               
the hiring preferences  will provide a benefit to  both Blue Star                                                               
and Gold Star military families  by getting them a job interview.                                                               
He  said  it will  show  them  that  the  state cares  about  the                                                               
sacrifices they made.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:40:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TERRE  GALE, Director,  Division of  Labor Standards  and Safety,                                                               
Department of Labor & Workforce  Development, noted that, because                                                               
its  voluntary, there  will be  no  direct fiscal  impact on  the                                                               
division of  Labor Standards  and Safety,  Department of  Labor &                                                               
Workforce Development (DLWD).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:40:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANA  MANCIAGLI, President,  DM Consult,  informed the  committee                                                               
that she  is a  national expert on  "the military  spouse plight"                                                               
and  expressed her  support  for HB  113.   She  stated that  the                                                               
military  community  has  been  left behind  in  terms  of  their                                                               
unemployment   and   underemployment   statistics  and   gave   a                                                               
description of the numbers that support this statement.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:46:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAMIE  ALLARD  gave  a  short   description  of  her  educational                                                               
background  and  experience  working with  military  spouses  and                                                               
teaching them  how to  get jobs.   She suggested  including part-                                                               
time  students in  the  current  bill to  allow  them to  receive                                                               
employment  benefits, noting  that some  kids can't  take a  full                                                               
class schedule and work at the same time.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:48:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR  asked  if  problems  are  intensifying  for                                                               
military spouses  because of the military's  active engagement in                                                               
the Middle East for the last 20 years.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. ALLARD  mentioned that she was  in the military in  the 1990s                                                               
during Desert Storm  and stated that they faced  the same ongoing                                                               
problems  because  of  constant relocation  and  deployed  family                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[HB 113 was held over.]                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
            HB  93-MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:50:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL  NO.  93,  "An Act  relating  to  temporary  courtesy                                                               
licenses for  certain nonresident professionals; and  relating to                                                               
the   Department    of   Commerce,   Community,    and   Economic                                                               
Development."                                                                                                                   
2:51:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON  moved to report  HB 93 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no  objection, HB  93 was reported  from the                                                               
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:52:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was                                                                 
adjourned at [2:52] p.m.                                                                                                        

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB0109A.PDF HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 109
HB 109 Sponsor Statement.pdf HMLV 4/9/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 109
HB 109 Sectional.pdf HMLV 4/9/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 109
HB 109 Fiscal Note.pdf HMLV 4/9/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 109
DoD HB109 Letter of Support.pdf HMLV 4/9/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 109
HB 113 Version U.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113A.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Sponsor Statement 4.8.2019.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Sectional Analisys 4.8.2019.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
Fiscal Note.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113 Summary of Changes.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Backup Document Military Families Are Struggling to Make Ends Meet - The Atlantic 4.8.19.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Reference Document 2018 Blue Star Family Survey -Executive-Summary 4.8.19.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Reference Document - Column The Military Spouse Employment Plight 4.8.19.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Reference Document 2018 Military Family Lifestyle Survey 4.8.19.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Reference Document Office of People Analytics Survey 2017 4.8.19..pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Reference Document Office of the US President Military Spouses 4.8.19..pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB 113 Backup Document NCSL veterans' state hiring preference 4.8.19.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
The Blue Star and Gold Star Families Act.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
The Blue Star and Gold Star Families Act.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113
HB113 Sectional for CS 4.16.2019.pdf HMLV 4/16/2019 1:00:00 PM
HMLV 4/23/2019 1:00:00 PM
HB 113