04/17/2001 08:05 AM House STA
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
April 17, 2001
8:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Coghill, Chair
Representative Jeannette James
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Peggy Wilson
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Joe Hayes
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 65(FIN)
"An Act requiring a study regarding equal pay for equal work of
certain state employees."
- RESCINDED ACTION OF 4/12/01; MOVED CSSB 65(FIN) FROM
COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 42
"An Act relating to the consumption, purchase, furnishing,
delivery, offer for sale, and sale of alcoholic beverages and to
driver's licenses and identification cards used to purchase
alcoholic beverages."
- HEARD AND HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 242
"An Act relating to reemployment of and medical benefits for
retired members of the teachers' retirement system and public
employees' retirement system; relating to the inclusion of cost-
of-living differentials on compensation and benefits under the
public employees' retirement system; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED HB 242 FROM COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska
relating to the Alaska permanent fund.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23
Advocating the retention of the electoral college system in its
present form.
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SB 65
SHORT TITLE:PAY EQUITY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) DONLEY
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
02/01/01 0246 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
02/01/01 0246 (S) STA, FIN
02/08/01 0313 (S) COSPONSOR(S): WARD
02/09/01 0327 (S) COSPONSOR(S): COWDERY
02/13/01 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211
02/13/01 (S) Moved Out of Committee
MINUTE(STA)
02/14/01 0367 (S) STA RPT 4DP 1NR
02/14/01 0367 (S) DP: THERRIAULT, HALFORD,
PEARCE, DAVIS;
02/14/01 0367 (S) NR: PHILLIPS
02/14/01 0367 (S) FN1: (ADM)
02/14/01 0374 (S) COSPONSOR(S): DAVIS, ELLIS,
THERRIAULT,
02/14/01 0374 (S) ELTON, LINCOLN
02/23/01 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
02/26/01 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
02/26/01 (S) Heard & Held
MINUTE(FIN)
03/09/01 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
03/09/01 (S) Bills Previously
Heard/Scheduled
03/13/01 0633 (S) FIN RPT CS 4DP 5NR NEW TITLE
03/13/01 0633 (S) DP: DONLEY, KELLY, WILKEN,
WARD;
03/13/01 0633 (S) NR: GREEN, AUSTERMAN,
HOFFMAN, OLSON,
03/13/01 0633 (S) LEMAN
03/13/01 0633 (S) FN1: (ADM)
03/13/01 (S) FIN AT 9:45 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
03/13/01 (S) Moved CS(FIN) Out of
Committee
03/13/01 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/20/01 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP
203
03/20/01 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/22/01 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP
203
03/22/01 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/22/01 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/23/01 0784 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 3/23/01
03/23/01 0784 (S) FN2: (S.RLS/ADM)
03/23/01 0787 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/23/01 0787 (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/23/01 0787 (S) COSPONSOR(S): PEARCE
03/23/01 0787 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
03/23/01 0787 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB
65(FIN)
03/23/01 0788 (S) PASSED Y17 N1 E2
03/23/01 0792 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/23/01 0792 (S) VERSION: CSSB 65(FIN)
03/26/01 0721 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/26/01 0721 (H) STA, FIN
03/26/01 0737 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): KERTTULA
04/06/01 0891 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FATE
04/09/01 0912 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): GUESS,
MCGUIRE
04/12/01 0996 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): WILSON,
STEVENS
04/12/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
04/12/01 (H) Moved CSSB 65(STA) Out of
Committee
MINUTE(STA)
04/17/01 1013 (H) STA RPT 6DP
04/17/01 1013 (H) DP: WILSON, STEVENS,
CRAWFORD,
04/17/01 1013 (H) JAMES, HAYES, FATE
04/17/01 1013 (H) FN2: (S.RLS/ADM)
04/17/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
BILL: HB 42
SHORT TITLE:PRIVILEGE TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL/I.D. CARDS
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)GREEN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/10/01 0049 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/10/01 0049 (H) STA, JUD, FIN
04/10/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
04/10/01 (H) Scheduled But Not Heard
04/17/01 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
BILL: HB 242
SHORT TITLE:TRS & PERS REEMPLOY & MED BENEFITS; COLA
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S)KOTT
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
04/10/01 0929 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
04/10/01 0929 (H) STA, FIN
04/17/01 1012 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 102
WITNESS REGISTER
RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff
to Representative Coghill
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 120
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 65.
SENATOR DAVE DONLEY
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 508
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of SB 65.
JEFF LOGAN, Staff
to Representative Green
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 403
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of Representative
Green, sponsor of HB 42.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 403
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of HB 42.
JENNIFER RUDINGER, Executive Director
Alaska Civil Liberties Union
P.O. Box 201844
Anchorage, Alaska 99520-1844
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 42.
ALVIA S DUNNAGAN, Lieutenant
Department Of Public Safety
Division of State Troopers
5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 42.
MARY MARSHBURN, Director
Division of Motor Vehicles
Department of Administration
3300B Fairbanks Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 42.
BLAIR McCUNE, Deputy Director
Public Defender Agency
Department of Administration
900 West Fifth Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2090
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 42.
DOUGLAS B. GRIFFIN, Director
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
Department of Revenue
550 West Seventh Street, Suite 540
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-3510
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 42.
ROGER WORTMAN, Staff
to Representative Pete Kott
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 204
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of Representative Kott,
sponsor of HB 242.
GUY BELL, Director
Division of Retirement and Benefits
Department of Administration
P.O. Box 110203
Juneau, AK 99811-0203
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 242.
VERNON MARSHALL, Executive Director
National Education Association - Alaska
114 Second Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 242.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Deputy Commissioner of Education
Department of Education and Early Development
801 West Tenth Street, Suite 320
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1894
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of HB 242.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-40, SIDE A
Number 0001
ACTING CHAIR HUGH FATE called the House State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:05 a.m. Representatives Fate,
Stevens, Wilson, Crawford, and Hayes were present at the call to
order. Representatives Coghill and James arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
ACTING CHAIR FATE explained that Chair Coghill had been detained
coming back from Fairbanks the previous night.
SB 65-STUDY OF PAY EQUITY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES
ACTING CHAIR FATE announced that the first order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 65(FIN), "An Act requiring a
study regarding equal pay for equal work of certain state
employees." He reminded the committee that CSSB 65(FIN) is a
fairly simple bill that was amended to include "race" at the
last meeting. The [Legislative Legal Division] has issued an
opinion that including race in what is basically a gender bill
will require the addition of more language to the statute, which
will probably delay the bill. Acting Chair Fate explained that
if the committee wants to adopt the original bill, which he
encouraged, the committee would have to rescind its action in
passing out HCS CSSB 65(STA) and [rescind its action in adopting
the conceptual amendment] and thus CSSB 65(FIN) would be before
the committee.
RYNNIEVA MOSS, Staff to Representative Coghill, Alaska State
Legislature, came forward to testify. She explained that the
legal opinion says that the findings and purpose portion of HCS
CSSB 65(STA) are inconsistent and incomplete because the statute
cited in Section 1 in the findings deals only with gender; it
doesn't deal with race. She said there are a couple of options.
The language in the legislative findings and purpose needs to be
changed to incorporate statutes that address race, or the
committee needs to rescind its action and go back to the
original bill as a starting point.
ACTING CHAIR FATE noted that Representative James had joined the
meeting.
Number 0313
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said she had been thinking all weekend
about how the issue of race could be examined. She said she
thinks that when you want to look at race, it is an entirely
different objective and a different procedure than it is to look
just at gender. She said she would prefer that the House State
Affairs Standing Committee rescind its action on passing the
amendment because she thinks it does "really complicate and
almost eliminate the ability to get this job done ... with the
price we've got on it...."
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she would like to know what the
sponsor, Senator Donley, thinks.
Number 0408
SENATOR DAVE DONLEY, Alaska State Legislature, came forward to
testify as sponsor of SB 65. He said he would like to go back
to the original piece of legislation "because that's what we've
researched and worked with the administration on developing, a
very specific proposal for the study...." He recalled that the
administration had testified that they don't know how much it
would cost to do the study proposed by the House committee
substitute (HCS). He said he did not know what all it would
entail to make the HCS consistent with its new purpose.
Furthermore, there is little time remaining in the session and
thus he thinks the original bill would be good stand-alone
legislation. Moreover, the presence of multiple variables
involved would make two separate studies "a lot cleaner." He
mentioned that he had only been working on the cost of the
gender study.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he thought it was a laudable goal
to extend the study and thus he wondered whether the sponsor
would [carry] the bill [for the race study], [that is] if he was
interested in splitting the two.
Number 0573
SENATOR DONLEY informed the committee that he started working on
the pay equity and gender issue more than ten years ago and
began developing the proposal with the administration last July.
This was his only bill before the legislature for most of the
session. He said it was difficult for him to commit to
sponsoring the race study because he has not done any research
on it and there are a lot of other bills he wants to introduce.
Therefore, he was not comfortable making a commitment to sponsor
a bill until he had done research and review on the issue. He
pointed out that others, including Representative Crawford,
could introduce such a bill.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD observed that it is much easier for
people in the majority to get legislation passed.
MS. MOSS clarified that the appropriate motion before the
committee would be to rescind its action on Amendment 1 to CSSB
65(FIN).
Number 0864
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES so moved. There being no objection, the
committee's action in adopting Amendment 1 was rescinded.
ACTING CHAIR FATE announced that the bill as originally
presented to the House State Affairs Standing Committee [CSSB
65(FIN)] was now before the committee.
MS. MOSS advised that the appropriate motion would be to report
CSSB 65(FIN) out of committee with the attached fiscal note.
Number 0864
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES so moved. There being no further
discussion and no objection, CSSB 65(FIN) was reported out of
the House State Affairs Standing Committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
SENATOR DONLEY expressed his appreciation to the committee.
HB 42 - PRIVILEGE TO PURCHASE ALCOHOL/I.D. CARDS
ACTING CHAIR FATE announced that the next item of business
before the committee would be HOUSE BILL NO. 42, "An Act
relating to the consumption, purchase, furnishing, delivery,
offer for sale, and sale of alcoholic beverages and to driver's
licenses and identification cards used to purchase alcoholic
beverages."
Number 0936
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES moved to adopt CSHB 42, Version 22-
LS0043\P, Ford, 4/16/01, as the working document before the
committee. There being no objection, Version P was before the
committee.
Number 0969
JEFF LOGAN, Staff to Representative Green, came forward to
testify on behalf of Representative Green, sponsor of HB 42. He
said:
Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
alcohol is defined as a problem by just about
everyone. There have been some high-profile accidents
in the past several months in our state involving
operators under the influence that have caused many
people, including some legislators, to take a second
look at how we criminalize the act of driving under
the influence. One approach has been to separate the
driver from the vehicle. The bill before you takes a
different approach. It seeks to separate the alcohol
from the abuser ... by establishing that the privilege
to purchase alcohol is just that, a privilege, then
goes a step further by revoking that privilege for
persons who are convicted of driving under the
influence.
If a person loses that privilege, they are required to
go to the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles], turn in
their driver's license or state identification, and
get another one that will have, as the bill says, a
distinctive color background, ... indicating to anyone
who sees that identification or driver's license that
that person's privilege to purchase alcohol has been
revoked.
The bill goes a step further ... by enabling
municipalities to enact a local option that would
require anyone selling alcohol to check
identifications of the purchaser to see whether or not
they have the privilege to purchase alcohol. We're
confident that even if such an option were not voted
in by a local community, there are a number of alcohol
retailers in the state who are looking for something
like this, a tool to use, and that many retailers
would do it voluntarily.
Number 1217
MR. LOGAN explained that the CS, like the original HB 42,
addresses those people operating a car, boat, or plane under the
influence of alcohol. Previous versions included other crimes
in which alcohol was a factor. That increased the number of
people that had to be processed, "and the fiscal notes were just
killing us," he said. Therefore, the sponsor agreed to narrow
the scope of the bill to drunk drivers, which is the primary
change.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES inquired as to the amount of the current
fiscal note, which committee members did not have. He also
asked if there was any community support for the bill.
MR. LOGAN said there are three new fiscal notes; from the
Department of Law, Department of Corrections, and Division of
Motor Vehicles; and that people from those agencies are here to
address them. Although there has been support from communities
for earlier versions of the bill, there has not been time for
those communities to respond to the CS. However, legislation
allowing local options is generally supported by communities.
Number 1321
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked Mr. Logan to explain again how the
system would work. Specifically, she asked if HB 42 means that
anyone who wanted to buy alcohol would need to have an
identification card showing their eligibility to purchase it or
would they just show a driver's license or state ID card? She
also asked whether it would be perceived as discrimination if
some purchasers are asked for identification and others are not.
And, finally, "Do you really believe that those people who want
to drink are not going to get it because they can't buy it ...?"
She said she did not think so.
Number 1359
REPRESENTATIVE JOE GREEN, Alaska State Legislature, came forward
to testify as sponsor of HB 42. He explained that everyone's ID
would be checked, just as it is when boarding an airplane, and
that under those circumstances, it would not be discriminatory.
He did not expect this to be a cure-all, but "one of what we
hope ultimately will be an arsenal against this devastating
thing called drunk driving ... because people are out of control
and they're driving a killing machine...." He said his intent
is to reduce the number [of drunk drivers] before they get on
the highway, not punish them after they get on the highway,
where they have already subjected everyone they pass to
potential death.
Number 1562
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES was trying to visualize how this would
work. She asked if a person spending a few hours in a bar would
have to show ID each time he or she ordered a drink.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it would be up to the proprietor of
the establishment whether ID is checked at the door, at the
table, or with each order.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked how a seller could prove that ID had
been checked.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said if the seller sold alcohol to someone
who doesn't have a legal ID, the seller also is punished by this
bill.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES wondered what happens if a drunk driver has
bought alcohol at several places. She asked if all of the
sellers would be guilty of selling it to them.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said if it can be proven that the drunk
driver bought alcohol from all of those sellers, then they all
are guilty.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked who is going to prove it.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said that would be up to the municipality.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES assumed that meant the municipality's
governing body would have to prove where the liquor was
purchased, which struck her as a difficult job.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said the municipality would have to prove
that only if it wanted to prosecute the person who sold the
alcohol. "They've got the person who was driving," he said.
"That's the one we're after. We also would like to stop the
sales to that person. That's up to the municipality...."
Number 1887
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON said she thought there would have to be
"some teeth in it" to discourage those selling liquor from
serving people who are not allowed to buy.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN pointed out that the seller is also guilty
if it is proven that he sold to the drunk driver.
Number 1887
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked what kind of crime it was.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it was a misdemeanor with a $500 fine.
MR. LOGAN directed the committee's attention to page 3, line 20,
of the CS, which establishes a civil penalty of $500 for a
person who furnishes or delivers alcohol.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN added that $500 might not mean much to a
wealthy drunk, but maybe it would to a teen-age drunk.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES clarified that the penalty applied to the
seller as well.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN agreed.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES surmised then that it would not be a
problem to a wealthy bar owner.
Number 1938
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked if it is easy for people to get
fake ID.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said a neighbor who was a policeman told
him that the fact that driver's licenses are laminated makes
forgery difficult.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD asked if a person could still buy
alcohol with an out-of-state driver's license. He also wondered
what a state resident who does not drive would show to buy
alcohol.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said the state can issue non-drivers a
personal identification card similar to a driver's license.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD assumed those would come out in the same
color as the driver's license. He said he had heard that only
30 percent of the people who work at the Red Dog mine have state
driver's licenses. Furthermore, many people who live in the
Bush do not have driver's licenses because they don't have the
need. He wondered how HB 42 addressed that situation.
MR. LOGAN explained that the state identification card issued by
DMV looks just like a driver's license. In those communities
that require sellers to check ID when selling alcohol, the
purchaser would need some sort of identification to buy it. The
DMV has 30 field offices and a mail-in system whereby a person
can get a state ID card.
Number 2191
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES asked about the person with an out-of-state
license or military ID. He thought there were "cracks in the
system there." He also thought the person who kept alcohol at
home would not be affected by HB 42.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if those in the military had to get a
state driver's license.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES said those in the military can drive with a
license from their state of record.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said according to HB 42, those people would
have to get a state ID card from DMV if they wanted to purchase
alcohol in Alaska. He acknowledged that someone with a good
supply of liquor at home could "beat the rap for a long time."
Furthermore, a person could get someone else to buy for him, but
the person who supplies the alcohol takes a risk.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES expressed concern about imposing a hardship
on those serving in the military.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it was no more of a hardship on them
than on anyone else. He added that if that person had been
convicted of driving a killing machine while under the influence
of alcohol, he did not think that was too much to ask.
Number 2399
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON thought HB 42 took a unique approach. She
wondered if there was any way to punish a person who bought
alcohol for someone who was disqualified to buy.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied yes, it is in the bill.
MR. LOGAN pointed out that on page 3, line 16, the bill
addresses "a person furnishing or delivering an alcoholic
beverage to a person whose privilege has been revoked."
Number 2460
ACTING CHAIR FATE asked, "Are you saying that because a person
has a pink slip that he cannot drink any more ... and that
anybody that ... even serves him a drink is going to be a
criminal?"
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN replied, "He's not going to be a criminal,
he's going to be in violation.... It's a misdemeanor."
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON expressed approval of that provision.
"When innocent people are being killed by drunk drivers, we need
to take some drastic steps," she said.
Number 2528
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES disagreed. "Historically, we have always
tried to find the guilty people by inconveniencing the law-
abiding," she said. "What we're doing is putting a
responsibility on every single other person to try to be sure
that the person who would drive drunk doesn't get drunk." She
said she believes that people who are going to drink in excess
cannot be stopped by others. She observed that a person who
wants to buy alcohol can go to a community that does not require
ID to be checked.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said she is assuming that these people are
addicted to alcohol, and that they will go to great lengths to
get it. Therefore, she doubted that HB 42 would stop those
people. She also thinks the public wants to do something to
stop drunk driving. She indicated that other legislation being
considered might be more effective, even though it has a much
higher fiscal note. She said she would rather pay for people to
take treatment that might not work than to be personally
inconvenienced. She expressed great reluctance to make other
people take responsibility for an individual's crimes, which she
thought HB 42 would do.
Number 2707
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES noted that it is already illegal for a
bartender to serve a person who obviously has had too much to
drink. This legislation goes a step further by requiring the
bartender to check ID. She added, "They say a person who is
stopped for drunk driving probably has done it 80 or 100 times
before...."
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he thought it takes about 5 seconds to
show ID, and he didn't think that was too much inconvenience.
He acknowledged that HB 42 would not stop everyone [from
drinking and driving], but he thought it would stop some.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said he appreciated Representative James'
thoughts on inconvenience, but he said he was willing to put up
with a small inconvenience if it helps protect his family. He
asked why [this bill] uses a local option [approach] versus a
statewide [approach].
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he wished it would be adopted
statewide, but there are some areas that feel it is an
infringement...
TAPE 01-40, SIDE B
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN commented that he would like to see it
nationwide as well.
Number 2962
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES expressed continuing concern about HB 42
and the large number of military personnel in the state. To
him, it sounds like personnel stationed in Alaska will need to
get state identification, and that the inconsistency across the
state will be cumbersome.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said military personnel in places that
adopt the local option would need to get state ID to purchase
alcohol there. It might create a slight inconvenience for a
person coming into that area, but it isn't against the law for
that person [if he has not been convicted of drunk driving] to
get someone else to buy alcohol for him.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES said he would be afraid to buy alcohol for
somebody because if that person were lying, he would be in just
as much trouble as that person. He thought HB 42 would affect
military people differently than everyone else, and he would
like the sponsor to look into that.
Number 2816
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD commented that he believes that over
all, this is a good piece of legislation that will help cure the
problem.
Number 2777
JENNIFER RUDINGER, Executive Director, Alaska Civil Liberties
Union (AkCLU), testified by teleconference. She noted that she
sent the committee a position paper. She mentioned that she did
not have a copy of the CS and thus would base her remarks on the
original bill.
MS. RUDINGER said the AkCLU was concerned about unintended
consequences of HB 42 as they relate to the right to privacy.
Although she commended the sponsor for "thinking outside the
box" in order to find a way to curtail drunk driving, she
believes HB 42 "sweeps too broadly." There are many occasions
in which a person is asked for a driver's license that has
nothing to do with drinking or driving, and she gave several
examples. Colorizing a driver's license forces an individual to
display a "badge of shame," she said.
Number 2539
MS. RUDINGER said another privacy issue relates to the database
that is created. She expressed concern that the database
listing offenders might not be kept current. She also pointed
out that HB 42 could interfere with the constitutionally
guaranteed free exercise of religion because it does not provide
any exception for using wine for religious ceremonies. Further,
she said, the bill seems to invade the sanctity of the home by
requiring hosts to request identification from friends to whom
they wished to serve alcohol. She also pointed out that the
bill prohibits a person whose privilege has been revoked from
entering any premises where alcohol is served, which would
prevent that person from going out to eat in many restaurants,
or from attending a concert or a sporting event. There are many
unintended consequences of HB 42.
ACTING CHAIR FATE told her the committee had now received her
written testimony.
Number 2316
ALVIA S. DUNNAGAN, Lieutenant, Department of Public Safety,
Division of State Troopers, testified by teleconference. He
said he was available for questions regarding how HB 42 related
to law enforcement.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES expressed concern that if HB 42 were the
law and police had a drunk driver in custody, what would be the
police procedure to find out who else might be to blame for the
driver's having too much alcohol.
LT. DUNNAGAN replied that as part of a normal investigation into
a driving while under the influence case, several questions are
asked of the driver. About 60 percent of the time, people are
willing to answer all questions. He thought it would not be a
problem to ask that type of question. He also noted that the
person is not always carrying a driver's license.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked what step the police would take,
under existing law, after they knew where the driver had
obtained alcohol.
LT. DUNNAGAN said if the person was intoxicated and caused an
accident, and police were looking into the possibility of a
licensee serving an impaired person, police would go to the bar
and try to find employees who were on duty and other patrons who
might be able to provide information.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES posed a situation in which the police found
that an establishment served someone who was incapacitated and
there was a serious accident in which people were killed. She
inquired as to the kind of action that would be taken against
the person who made that sale and the penalties that would
result.
LT. DUNNAGAN said the information would go to the district
attorney's office and the person might be cited on the spot. He
pointed out that it is a misdemeanor to serve an intoxicated
person on licensed premises. The district attorney would look
at all the evidence that was gathered and if there was enough to
support a prosecution, then the prosecution would go forth.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked how much easier it would be to get
this person for selling to "them" under HB 42.
LT. DUNNAGAN said police would have to know that the drunk
driver's privilege to purchase alcohol had been revoked, where
he or she had purchased the alcohol, and if that establishment
was in a location covered by the local option. Therefore,
obtaining that information might take some time and legwork.
Number 2045
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked Lt. Dunnagan if he viewed HB 42 as a
something positive or negative to help with the problem of drunk
driving.
LT. DUNNAGAN replied, "I look at just about anything that we
could do to reduce the number of ... serious accidents and
fatalities caused by drunk drivers as a positive step as long as
what we're doing is going to stand the test of legality ... and
that we're not creating major inconveniences for everybody.
Those not affected by it, ... law enforcement, [and] DMV would
have to be considered."
LT, DUNNAGAN noted that HB 42 could be circumvented because it
does not specify [require] State of Alaska identification.
Other identification would show no tie to revocation, and
therefore the seller would be off the hook and there would be no
violation because the person was able to show legal
identification. There are many kinds of identification,
including driver's licenses from other states, military ID
cards, and passports.
Number 1917
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked whether it would help if HB 42 were
changed to specify [require] State of Alaska identification.
LT. DUNNAGAN said it definitely would help if HB 42 required the
kind of ID that DMV was going to be issuing to people whose
privilege to buy alcohol was revoked. However, he pointed out,
the offender could leave the state ID card at home and just show
a passport in order to buy alcohol.
Number 1831
ACTING CHAIR FATE asked a hypothetical question:
I go into a nice dinner place with my family. My wife
orders the dinner for everybody and she orders wine,
and I have a pink driver's license, and I have one
glass of wine. After the dinner, we go out and I get
into an automobile accident, not a serious one ...,
and of course the officer come up and looks at my
driver's license and here it is pink. Now he checks
back and finds out that I had wine, which I'm not
supposed to have, at a dinner. Now who's responsible
for this ... misdemeanor, my wife ... or the
establishment?
LT. DUNNAGAN said the guilt would fall on his wife, who ordered
the wine and let her husband drink some while knowing that his
privilege to buy liquor had been revoked.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if the incident involved underage
drinking, wouldn't the server be responsible for checking the ID
of anyone who drank that wine.
LT. DUNNAGAN said that was a good point, and he didn't know if
HB 42 would specifically require identification checks of
everyone at the table who has a glass of wine.
Number 1690
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES asked how the local control option would
work in conjunction with the statewide ID.
LT. DUNNAGAN said if your privilege to buy is revoked, DMV still
will issue you a license to drive. The only time you will have
to show that colored ID mandated by HB 42 is when you are trying
to buy alcohol in a community that has adopted the local option.
So if you walk into a liquor store in a community that does not
have the local option, and you are obviously of legal age,
nobody is going to ask you for your identification.
Number 1561
ACTING CHAIR FATE observed that it creates the opportunity for
people whose privilege to buy has been revoked to go into a
community that does not have the local option and load up their
cars with alcohol.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said Texas has a local option in counties
and the system works there.
Number 1525
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked Lt. Dunnagan if there is a
pervasive problem with fake IDs.
LT. DUNNAGAN replied that in his 21 years of experience, he has
only run across a handful of actual fake IDs. He said police
more often see legitimate ones on which the date of birth has
been altered or the card has been damaged so it is very hard to
read. He didn't think it was a big issue.
Number 1428
MARY MARSHBURN, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department
of Administration, testified by teleconference. A driver's
license or state ID card is not required to purchase alcohol;
other types of identification that carry a photograph and a
birth date generally are acceptable. Military personnel usually
carry both a military ID and a driver's license. The license is
confiscated at the time a person is picked up for driving while
intoxicated. At the time the license revocation ends, the
driver can obtain a license from either Alaska or the home
state. So military personnel who wished to evade the provisions
of HB 42 could do so. Ms. Marshburn also noted that the time
periods for license renewal are not the same as for suspension
[of the right to purchase] under HB 42.
Number 1187
MS. MARSHBURN asked the committee to consider amending HB 42 to
include marked state ID cards, as the bill now only speaks to
driver's licenses. She also corrected a statement made earlier
in the meeting, saying that DMV does not issue ID cards through
the mail.
Number 1117
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES said he didn't see any requirement in HB 42
that military personnel obtain Alaska ID.
MS. MARSHBURN agreed, explaining that active duty military
personnel can operate on their home state drivers licenses.
Number 1077
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS expressed concern about how long the
colored license would last. He asked Ms. Marshburn if he
understood correctly that a person could apply for an unmarked
license after one year.
MS. MARSHBURN said that was correct on a first offense. After
that, the period is three years after a second offense and five
years after a third or subsequent offense within a five-year
period.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if that was the current practice or
that specified under HB 42.
MS. MARSHBURN said under current law, a driver's license is
revoked for one year following a first conviction for drunk
driving. Under HB 42, that driver's privilege to purchase
alcohol is revoked for three years. After the first year, the
driver would be issued a marked license to use for the next two
years. At the end of that time, the driver would be eligible
for an unmarked license.
Number 0949
BLAIR McCUNE, Deputy Director, Public Defender Agency,
Department of Administration, testified by teleconference. He
observed that there had been a lot of good discussion about HB
42 and said he was available to answer questions. He pointed
out that the section about which the Public Defender Agency
would be concerned is [AS] 04.16.160(d) that makes it a
misdemeanor for someone to knowingly purchase alcohol after that
person's privilege to purchase alcohol has been revoked or
relinquished. "This would be a Class A misdemeanor and we would
have quite an increase in our caseload if this was enacted and
enforced," he said.
Number 0852
DOUGLAS B. GRIFFIN, Director, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
testified by teleconference. He stated that he was available to
answer any questions specific to the affect of HB 42 on liquor
licensees.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD asked about offering alcohol to people
in one's own home. He asked if the host would be responsible
for carding guests.
Number 0968
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said he thought that knowingly serving
someone who has lost the privilege to drink would be a
violation, just as it is when marijuana is offered. However, he
thought it would probably not be enforced.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said "knowingly" was the key word. He
asked if HB 42 would put the onus on the homeowner to request
that information before giving someone a beer.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it would. He said the homeowner could
be guilty of a misdemeanor if he or she served beer to a guest
who went out and had an accident.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD asked if HB 42 prohibits an offender
entering a place where alcohol is served, such as the Performing
Arts Center in Anchorage.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN thought that had been included in an
earlier version.
Number 0566
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said that would make a big difference.
He then asked Lt. Dunnagan if the marked license would give a
police officer reasonable cause to search for and seize alcohol
he suspected might be in the car.
LT. DUNNAGAN said alcohol in the back seat could be seized under
the "plain view" law, but a marked license would not give the
officer the right to search the trunk of a vehicle stopped for
speeding. If the officer smelled alcohol on the driver's
breath, that driver is subject to arrest under HB 42. If the
driver were arrested, police would have to tow the car, and be
required to inventory its contents before it is impounded.
Alcohol found in the trunk under those circumstances may or may
not be admissible evidence in court.
Number 0957
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES asked if it was the intention of HB 42 that
everyone have a state identification card or license to get into
bars or buy alcohol.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said the intent was to prevent consumption,
not to prevent entering premises.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES said he still was troubled by the effect on
military personnel if that provision is included in the bill.
Number 0251
ACTING CHAIR FATE asked Lt. Dunnagan if he knew the ratio of
first-time offenders to repeat offenders.
LT. DUNNAGAN said he thought there were about 3,500 first-time
offenders and 1,000 second offenders in the state, and that the
number took a big drop after that.
MS. MARSHBURN confirmed that Lt. Dunnagan's estimate was
correct.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said she thought she had heard in the
[House] Judiciary Committee that about 80 percent of first time
offenders do not re-offend.
LT. DUNNAGAN said he thought that sounded right. He then
referred to an earlier question from Representative James,
saying that a server probably would not check the identification
of all adults at a table where wine was served, but would do so
if there appeared to be underage or questionable persons in the
group.
TAPE 01-41, SIDE A
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if HB 42 would make the server
responsible for checking all those IDs.
LT. DUNNAGAN said he thought it would.
Number 0050
ACTING CHAIR FATE asked how many of the drivers who get into
serious accidents are multiple offenders of driving under the
influence. He wondered if it was a disproportionate number.
LT. DUNNAGAN said that was an interesting question, but he did
not have the numbers available to answer it. However, he
provided 1988 National Traffic Safety Association figures
indicating that high blood alcohol levels [of .10 or above] were
associated with 2,700 crashes that killed 28 and injured 1,500
people. Blood alcohol levels of .08 to .09 were associated with
50 crashes, in which 1 person was killed and 100 injured. Blood
alcohol levels that were detectable but below .08 were involved
in an estimated 100 crashes that killed 2 and injured 100. He
said the monetary cost was estimated at $5.1 million for every
alcohol-related traffic fatality in Alaska.
ACTING CHAIR FATE asked if he understood correctly that there
were more accidents and more fatalities at the lowest blood
alcohol level than there were at the second lowest.
LT. DUNNAGAN said that was correct.
Number 0210
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if he had any statistics showing the
blood alcohol level of drivers involved in serious accidents.
LT. DUNNAGAN said he did not have those numbers at hand, but
thought if one were to look at all of the information available,
it shows that Alaska has an abnormally higher blood alcohol
range than any of the Lower 48 states "for just about
everything."
Number 0294
LT. DUNNAGAN offered a final comment regarding people serving
alcohol to guests in their home. He said as he understands HB
42, it pertains to identification checks by those who are
licensed by the Alcohol Beverage Control Board and would not
apply to a homeowner serving guests.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES wondered if any other states required one
form of identification for those purchasing alcoholic beverages
[a liquor ID card].
MS. MARSHBURN said she had inquired about that last year through
the national DMV network. There were no jurisdictions doing so
that they could find.
ACTING CHAIR FATE announced that he intended to hold over HB 42
until some of the questions could be answered. He expressed
concern about HB 42 becoming a "legal playground." However, he
applauded Representative Green's thinking out of the box in an
attempt to alleviate the problem of drunk driving.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if he would be privy to the
questions.
ACTING CHAIR FATE replied, "Absolutely."
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked if this was "stonewalling" the bill.
ACTING CHAIR FATE assured him that was not his intent. "You've
heard the testimony. There are some serious questions, I
believe." He specifically mentioned questions raised by
Representative Hayes and some confusion about places where the
bill might or might not apply, and said he hoped some of those
questions could be clarified. [HB 42 was HEARD AND HELD.]
HB 242 - TRS & PERS REEMPLOY & MED BENEFITS; COLA
Number 0661
ACTING CHAIR FATE announced that the next order of business
before the committee would be HOUSE BILL NO. 242, "An Act
relating to reemployment of and medical benefits for retired
members of the teachers' retirement system and public employees'
retirement system; relating to the inclusion of cost-of-living
differentials on compensation and benefits under the public
employees' retirement system; and providing for an effective
date."
Number 0740
ROGER WORTMAN, Staff to Representative Pete Kott, Alaska State
Legislature, came forward to introduce the bill on behalf of the
sponsor. He noted that baby boomers are about to retire en
masse in the years 2008-2009, leaving a big void in the state
work force. Some of those shortages will be critical, such as
in education and law enforcement. He explained that HB 242
"provides a carrot" to retain employees after they are eligible
for retirement.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said he thinks it is a great idea. He
asked what the cost would be.
MR. WORTMAN deferred the question to Mr. Bell, Director of
Retirement, and Benefits.
Number 0965
ACTING CHAIR FATE mentioned that there was little meeting time
remaining, and that it was his intent to move the bill out of
committee if there were not too many questions.
GUY BELL, Director, Division of Retirement and Benefits,
Department of Administration, explained that HB 242 was a
component of a workforce development initiative that the state
and a number of other employers have undertaken in an effort to
address workforce shortages. The bill was developed by a
working group made up of employers and employee organizations,
and it has been endorsed by the Public Employees and Teachers
Retirement boards.
MR. BELL said Sections 1 and 2 of HB 242 relate to the Teachers
Retirement System (TRS). As an incentive to bring back retired
teachers, it would allow them to continue receiving retirement
benefits in addition to earning a salary. Currently on re-
employing in a permanent full-time capacity, a retired teacher's
retirement benefits stop, but that teacher begins to accrue a
second retirement benefit. House Bill 242 gives the teacher the
choice of accruing that additional benefit or continuing to
receive a retirement check. There is no fiscal impact on the
retirement system.
Number 1107
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked about the geographic pay differential
in relation to retirement benefits.
MR. BELL referred to Section 7 of the bill. He said HB 242
does not change the geographic pay differential. In 1986, the
law was changed by adding two provisions to the calculation, he
explained. One is that a person must have worked in the
geographic differential area for at least half of his or her
career. The second one is to be included [in calculating
retirement benefits], the differential must be in a comparable
amount or of at least as many steps when compared to the entire
pay differential service. "That second piece is the clause that
is confusing to us and to members in terms of how it applies in
the calculation of retirement benefits, and that's the clause
that we're trying to address," he said.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said she was thinking about state troopers,
who move around the state. If a trooper was in a geographic
differential area for more than half of his or her career, how
would that affect that person's retirement benefit.
MR. BELL explained that under the current law, those calculating
retirement benefits find the midpoint salary in the geographic
differential years and apply the higher salary to retirement
income only for those years in which income exceeded the
midpoint. The problem with that is that it is very difficult
from a career planning perspective for people to know the
impact, he added. State Troopers are transferred throughout the
state throughout their careers, and they [as well as the
retirement people] think this provision addresses that concern.
MR. BELL explained that there is, for Tier 3 members, a
requirement that the final average salary for calculating
benefits be three consecutive years, and the final average
salary for Tier 2 [people hired after 1996] is five consecutive
years.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if a person being paid at a
geographic differential is paying more into the retirement
system based on that higher salary.
MR. BELL said that is correct.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked, "Isn't your retirement based on
whatever your salary is at the end?"
MR. BELL explained that the calculation of a person's retirement
benefit is based on that person's three highest years, whenever
those occur.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked how HB 242 would change that.
MR. BELL explained, "If you spend 50 percent of your career in a
geographic differential area, at least 50 percent, your high
final average salary calculations will include geographic
differential."
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES inquired, "Average over the full time would
include that higher rate?"
MR. BELL replied, "Exactly. Your high three will include the
geographic differential you received."
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked, "And that's not the way it's done
now?"
MR. BELL said no. "First we have to use the 50 percent criteria
and then we go to comparable amount of at least that many
steps," he explained.
Number 1556
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said in general he thinks it is a
tremendous idea to try to retain good people and keep them from
leaving the state. He asked what the costs would be for
sections of HB 242 other than Section 1. He wondered whether it
might be advisable to allow for a local option.
MR. BELL said:
In the Teachers Retirement System, a person can retire
after 20 years of service. What this would do is
provide medical benefits if a person stays 25 years.
Right now, that person wouldn't be entitled to medical
benefits until age 60, at which point it pays half or
age 65 when they get the same benefits as a Tier 1
member. So what we're trying to look at with this
section is a retention incentive to keep teachers on
an additional five years by offering full medical --
retirement system-provided medical coverage after 25
years of teaching; and similar language for Section 6
for public employees.
There is a cost to this. It's a modest cost. It's
.17 percent of salary, which on a per teacher basis is
something less that $60 a year. So if you boil it
down to individual employee cost, it's modest, but we
think you get a large gain in terms of retention of
long-service employees.
Number 1700
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES commented that the committee in the past
had struggled with the Reduction In Force (RIP) program to allow
higher-paid people to leave early and be replaced with people
who cost less. That was a very controversial issue, she
recalled. "I really like the idea of letting people stay
longer," she said. She noticed that there was a small fiscal
note related to counseling these people, "but if they choose to
take the retirement and then [return to] work without us paying
the retirement, what is the savings that would be achieved ...?"
she asked.
MR. BELL said he did not think the retirement system could
calculate a savings, although it would be possible to make some
assumptions.
Number 1878
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if a teacher returning from
retirement would be paid the same amount, or did Mr. Bell think
those people would be willing to work for less?
MR. BELL said the school district would save 11-12 percent of
the teacher's salary as a result of not having to pay that
amount into the retirement system. He said the amount they
would be paid would be subject to negotiation between the
employer and the employee. There would have to be a break in
service, he added.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES emphasized that it would give the employer
the opportunity to offer less. Moreover, a teacher who was
already receiving retirement income might be willing to take it,
thereby creating more savings while [the employer retains] a
good employee.
ACTING CHAIR FATE welcomed Chair Coghill and turned over the
gavel.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said it would be a tremendous asset to
every district to be able to re-hire experienced teachers who he
thought might very well be willing to come back, especially part
time, at a lower pay rate in addition to their retirement
income.
MR. BELL told the committee that as of June 30, 1999, there were
1,300 retired teachers between the ages of 45 and 54.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said she was ready to move the bill.
Number 2091
VERNON MARSHALL, Executive Director, National Education
Association - Alaska, came forward to testify. He commended the
sponsor of HB 242 and expressed appreciation to Representative
Stevens for introducing HB 240, calling those "two pieces of
legislation designed to attract and retain qualified workers ...
during this period of shortage." He said HB 242 would have an
immediate impact, serving as a powerful recruiting tool and
aiding in retention. He said he has heard that teachers are
staying for an average of just under 23 years. To offer an
incentive to stay two or three more years in exchange for full
medical benefits is commendable, he said.
MR. MARSHALL then called attention to Sections 4, 5, and 6, all
dealing with PERS. He emphasized that he deals with school
employees, roughly 11,000 members, including the noncertificated
school employees such as aides, secretaries, cooks, custodians,
and assistants. Most of those people work nine months of the
year. He said they get 75 percent of a year's service credit
toward retirement, which means it takes them 6 years, 5 months
to become vested and 13 years to qualify health insurance, and
39 years [instead of 30] to retire. He expressed hope that the
"30 and out" or "age 60 and out" policy to these PERS employees.
CHAIR COGHILL suggested that Mr. Marshall discuss that with the
sponsor of HB 242.
Number 2409
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES expressed concern about the nine-month
issue, but thought it was a different one from the one being
addressed in HB 242. She said she would be happy to address
that in separate legislation, but was not in favor of amending
this bill to include it.
REPRESENTATIVE HAYES said his former boss and current senator
had introduced legislation related to that concern.
MR. MARSHALL said nine-month employees now could pay a surcharge
in order to buy a full year of service credit, however, most of
those positions are not paid enough for the employees to afford
the surcharge. He noted the desire to provide a similar
incentive for noncertificated employees.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Department of
Education and Early Development, came forward to testify. He
said the department supports HB 242. He noted that Alaska in
recent years has needed to recruit 12,000 to 13,000 new teachers
each year. At the largest job fair, which recently took place,
there were fewer than 300 applicants. He said he thinks many
teachers who retire would feel re-energized and ready to come
back for a few more years, but he did not think they would be
willing to give up their retirement benefits to do so.
CHAIR COGHILL asked if he thought the geographic pay
differential was helpful in recruiting.
MR. JOHNSON said that is not an issue for teachers. He
explained that school districts receive that money and can use
it to increase teachers' salaries or for other purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS said the cost of HB 242 seems minimal to
him and wondered if school districts would support it.
MR. JOHNSON said he could not speak for all districts, but based
on what he had hear from superintendents, he thought few would
hesitate to support having this tool available to them.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he felt like he was missing
something, as a short time ago, legislators were offering an
incentive to get employees to leave and now they were
considering offering them an incentive to come back.
Number 2757
MR. JOHNSON said he thought the recent reduction in force had a
lot to do with the fact that inflation was eating away at school
districts' purchasing power and they could not afford the
employees they had. [At that time] the school districts were
confident they could recruit lower paid employees to replace the
veterans. The issue then had more to do with staying afloat
financially, he said. However, some school districts could see
this problem coming and opted not to participate in all or part
of the RIF programs.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES turned to Representative Crawford's
concern. She recalled [that the legislature] resisted [the RIF]
very hard, but that the school districts prevailed for the
reasons Mr. Johnson had explained.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON asked if some of the teachers who received
financial incentives for retiring now would receive bonuses for
coming back.
MR. BELL said that problem was anticipated for both the PERS and
TERS retirement programs and thus the RIF participants are
excluded from the return provision.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD asked if there is more money in the
system today so that school districts can hire teachers back.
MR. JOHNSON said there is a shortage of teachers that requires
action. Last school year began with 86 unfilled positions
statewide and many of those remained unfilled for months or for
the whole year. There is no new money, but there are some
potential savings in HB 242. Most important, he said, is that
there are well qualified people available to fill that void for
Alaska's children.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES said the RIF allowed people who were within
a few years of retirement to "buy their way out" by contributing
to the retirement system the amount that would qualify them for
full retirement pay.
TAPE 01-41, SIDE B
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS voiced his opinion that "RIF was an
absolute disaster; I hope that we will never consider it again.
There were entire departments of the university that were
devastated. School districts wound up getting rid of some of
the finest teachers and I do believe that teachers get better
the longer they teach." He asked Mr. Bell if PERS and TERS are
financially healthy because he wanted assurance that HB 242
would, in no way, be detrimental to either of those systems.
MR. BELL said the system is very healthy right now and HB 242 is
"of minimal to no cost," and would have no impact on them.
Number 2900
CHAIR COGHILL asked what the impact of HB 242 might be on the
supplemental Benefits System (SBS).
MR. BELL said SBS affects state employees and employees of 13
political subdivisions. It was to some extent a replacement for
Social Security, he explained. "On re-employment, a person
would continue to contribute and so would their employer to the
Supplemental Benefits System, so anyone who re-employed with ...
either the state or one of those political subdivisions would
continue to contribute and then ultimately benefit from the
Supplemental Benefits System," he said.
Number 2870
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES moved to report HB 242 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 242 was moved from the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 10:30
p.m.
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