Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/24/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 04/24/24 - 1:30 PM>
+= HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 04/24/24 - 1:30 PM>
Presentation: Fiscal Update by
Alexei Painter, Director, Legislative Finance
Division
<Above Items Removed from Agenda>
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 85 PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 85(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 206 WORKERS' COMP. STAY-AT-WORK PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 206 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      April 24, 2024                                                                                            
                         9:03 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:03:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting                                                                      
to order at 9:03 a.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ken Alper, Staff to Senator Olson; Senator Elvi Gray-                                                                           
Jackson, Sponsor; Luma Diaz, Staff to Senator Gray-Jackson.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 85     PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 85(FIN)  was REPORTED  out of  committee with                                                                    
          two "do  pass" recommendations  and with  five  no                                                                    
          recommendation   recommendations,   and  with  one                                                                    
          forthcoming zero  fiscal note from  the Department                                                                    
          of Revenue.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB 206    WORKERS' COMP. STAY-AT-WORK PROGRAM                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
          SB 206 was REPORTED out  of committee with two "do                                                                    
          pass"   recommendations   and    with   four    no                                                                    
          recommendation   recommendations,   and  with  one                                                                    
          previously published fiscal impact note: FN                                                                           
          1(LWF).                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 85                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act   relating  to   record  checks   for  certain                                                                    
     employees  of the  Department of  Revenue; relating  to                                                                    
     permanent   fund  dividends;   and  providing   for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:03:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the  committee heard the bill on                                                                    
February 26, 2024 and had taken public testimony.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:04:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN  ALPER,  STAFF TO  SENATOR  OLSON,  discussed the  bill,                                                                    
which was the  governor's bill that came  to the legislature                                                                    
through the  Department of Revenue. The  bill addressed some                                                                    
issues related to Permanent  Fund Dividend (PFD) eligibility                                                                    
specifically for  university students and  Merchant Marines.                                                                    
The  bill  also  allowed  the division  to  fingerprint  and                                                                    
background check employees as a security measure.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper  continued that  there  were  a couple  of  minor                                                                    
changes  in the  committee  substitute  pertaining to  fraud                                                                    
issues and confidential personal  information as well as the                                                                    
effective date.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  asked how many  people would be  affected by                                                                    
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  did not have  a figure  to offer but  thought the                                                                    
Merchant Marine number  was close to ten.  He estimated that                                                                    
the  number  of university  students  would  be small.    He                                                                    
deferred to the administration and the University.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:06:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson considered the fiscal note.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper explained that the  fiscal note reflected a change                                                                    
in administrative  function and  the work would  be absorbed                                                                    
with existing resources.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl MOVED to report  CSSB 85(FIN) out of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSSB  85(FIN) was  REPORTED out  of committee  with two  "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations  and  with five   no  recommendation                                                                     
recommendations, and  with one forthcoming zero  fiscal note                                                                    
from the Department of Revenue.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:07:40 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:09:55 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 206                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating  to workers' compensation reemployment                                                                    
     benefits;  establishing a  workers' compensation  stay-                                                                    
     at-work program; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:09:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  relayed that the  committee first  heard the                                                                    
bill  on March  20, 2024,  no amendments  had been  received                                                                    
from committee members.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  explained that  the sponsor  had worked  with the                                                                    
Division  of Workers'  Compensation. The  bill pertained  to                                                                    
employees injured on  the job staying in  contact with their                                                                    
employer. The  communication and rehabilitation  process was                                                                    
to provide support for injured workers.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:11:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:11:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:11:33 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  ELVI GRAY-JACKSON,  SPONSOR, thanked  the committee                                                                    
and considered  that Mr.  Alper did  a fine  job summarizing                                                                    
the legislation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
LUMA DIAZ,  STAFF TO SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON, had  no comments                                                                    
for the committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick MOVED  to report  SB 206  out of  Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB  206 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with two  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations   and   with    four    no   recommendation                                                                     
recommendations,  and with  one previously  published fiscal                                                                    
impact note: FN 1(LWF).                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson discussed housekeeping.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
9:12:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 a.m.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects