Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/19/1993 01:33 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 19, 1993
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Steve Rieger, Chairman
Senator Bert Sharp, Vice Chairman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Jim Duncan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Judy Salo
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 58
"An Act relating to the longevity bonus program."
SENATE BILL NO. 83
"An Act relating to an alcohol server education course."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 83 - No previous action to record.
SB 58 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Nancy Bear Usera, Commissioner
Department of Administration
P.O. Box 110200
Juneau, Alaska 99811-0200
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 58.
Joshua Fink, Legislative Staff
to Senator Tim Kelly
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave sponsor statement for SB 83.
Carol Wilson, Executive Director
Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant
and Retailers Association
P.O. Box 104839
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 83.
Dawn Jacobs
P.O. Box 3329
Valdez, Alaska 99696
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 83.
Joe Thomas, Board Member
Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant
and Retailers Association
P.O. Box 20977
Juneau, Alaska 99802
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 83.
Don Harris, Owner
Red Dog Saloon
300 Hermit Street, #17
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 83.
Jerry McCutcheon
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified against SB 83.
Patrick Sharrock
ABC Board
550 West 7th, Suite 350
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 83.
Joseph Riley
Owl Hoot Inn
P.O. Box 967
Gakona, Alaska 99586
POSITION STATEMENT: Asked questions relating to SB 83.
Glen Sodergren
P.O. Box 724
Valdez, Alaska 99696
POSITION STATEMENT: Asked questions relating to SB 83.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-14, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN RIEGER called the Senate Health, Education, and
Social Services Committee (HESS) to order at 1:33 p.m.
The first order of business to come before the committee was
SB 58 (PHASE OUT LONGEVITY BONUS). NANCY BEAR USERA,
Commissioner, Department of Administration, explained SB 58
is a phase out program for the longevity bonus. The first
provision is that it grandfathers in all current recipients.
The second provision is that there is a three year step down
phase out at $200, $150, and $100 for the next three years
as people become 65. The program would then end.
Commissioner Usera said each year the program grows not just
by $5 million in current dollars, but incurs a liability for
the state of over $100 million. The bill protects the
current senior population for many reasons. The department
believes that the current recipients should be grandfathered
in and it would better align the state to have financial
resources available to provide enhanced services for the
next generation of seniors coming up.
Number 049
There being no public testimony on the bill, SENATOR SHARP
moved to pass SB 58 out of the Senate HESS Committee with
individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal
notes. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.
Number 061
The last order of business was SB 83 (ALCOHOL SERVER
EDUCATION COURSE). The first person to testify was JOSHUA
FINK, legislative staff to Senator Tim Kelly, sponsor of the
measure. He explained that the legislation was introduced
by Representative Choquette last session, passed the House,
and died in the Senate Finance Committee. He said the bill
had a number of supporters: Department of Public Safety;
Department of Health and Social Services; Municipality of
Anchorage - Health and Human Services Commission; Mothers
Against Drunk Driving; Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation;
Daily News; ABC Board; Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and
Retailers Association; and the Anchorage Restaurant and
Beverage Association.
Mr. Fink explained that the legislation would help address
alcohol problems in the state by requiring alcohol servers
to take an alcohol server education course. Mr. Fink
continued to read the sponsor statement:
"Under SB 83, the ABC Board would establish criteria with
which to evaluate alcohol education programs currently
available, and then would approve a package of alcohol
server education courses. This package would include a
variety of courses which would ensure accessibility to
alcohol servers in both urban and rural Alaska. Various
instruction mediums, ranging from classroom instruction to
viewing a video cassette followed by written exercises,
would likely be utilized depending on the program.
"Courses would include such topics as alcohol's affect on
the body and behavior, particularly driving ability, drunk
driving and civil liability laws, identifying fraudulent
identification, methods of recognizing the problem drinker,
use of community treatment programs, and methods to
peacefully terminate service to the problem customer and get
him or her home safely, to name a few of the subjects.
"Alcohol servers would have 30 days from the date the ABC
Board approves a package to complete a course, and, for new
employees, 30 days from the date of hire. Proof of
completion of an approved course must be kept on the
licensed premises during working hours. Alcohol server
education is already required by ordinance in the
Municipality of Anchorage."
Mr. Fink said if SB 83 is enacted it should go a long way
towards helping alleviate some of the alcohol problems in
the state and it would increase the awareness of the alcohol
servers.
CAROL WILSON, Executive Director, Alaska Cabaret, Hotel,
Restaurant and Retailers Association (CHARR), said her
organization has been in favor of the bill for sometime and
is actively supporting it. She noted that there isn't 100
percent of unanimity of opinion, but the overwhelming
majority of the businesses that CHARR represents are
strongly in favor of SB 83.
Number 145
DAWN JACOBS, testifying from Valdez, asked if all employers
and employees would have to take an education course. MR.
FINK explained that all alcohol servers would be required to
take the course. Ms. Jacobs asked if there is a cost, and
if so, who would pay for it. Mr. Fink explained that there
is zero fiscal note, there wouldn't be a cost to the state.
He said there are many programs and the ABC Board would
approve a package of programs. They would set up criteria
as to what must be in a program. Ms. Jacobs said she
believes SB 83 is a great idea.
JOE THOMAS, Board Member, Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant
and Retailers Association, testified in support of SB 83.
He informed the committee he has been in the alcohol
industry in Juneau for 29 years. He referred to the TAMS
Program and said it is the first thing that he has seen that
gives the industry some sort of a standard criteria to deal
with people when they have had too much to drink and how and
when to turn them away. He said it has been very helpful,
and he has requested that all his employees attend the
course. He pointed out that the insurance industry feels it
is a valuable tool and some companies will give a 10 percent
discount on liquor liability insurance if 80 percent of the
employees have taken the class.
Number 214
DON HARRIS, Owner, Red Dog Saloon, testified in support of
SB 83. He said he has required his employees to take the
training. There is a benefit through insurance discounts
and reduction as well as credibility within the industry and
community. Mr. Harris said the entire industry, statewide,
should be looking at the long term impacts. Education is
one of the most positive ways to reach control of any
problems with liquor and drugs.
JERRY MCCUTCHEON, testifying from Anchorage, was against SB
83. He said he believes the bill doesn't do anything. A
similar program has existed for the last ten years and the
result of the training was teaching how to push drinks. The
bill does nothing but give a false appearance of progress.
He discussed forging identification, drunk drivers, and
changing the colors of the background of driver license
pictures.
Number 300
PATRICK SHARROCK, ABC Board, testified in support of SB 83.
He said the board was a participant in supporting the
legislation a couple of years ago and still supports it. He
said the board will probably be charged with drafting the
regulations. He indicated the board would work with any
party interested in what the content might be.
JOSEPH RILEY, Owl Hoot Inn, testified from Slana. He
indicated concern that the mechanics of writing the
regulations aren't included in the bill. He said that he is
the only person who tends his bar, but once in awhile
another person will stand in. Mr. Riley said if he has to
go to town for groceries, would he have to close his
business because he doesn't have somebody that has finished
the approved training course. He noted he might get five
customers in a day. The bill is great for urban areas where
there is a lot of turnover and a lot of customers. Mr.
Riley urged that provisions as to who pays for the training,
and which courses will be approved be included in the bill.
Number 361
CHAIRMAN RIEGER asked Mr. Sharrock if there is a tentative
outline of what the rural education would entail. MR.
SHARROCK indicated that the ABC Board hasn't gotten to the
point of outlining what the rural content of a program would
have to be. He noted Mr. Riley's point is well taken and
drafts of the regulations will be distributed to every
licensee in the state and all other parties that might have
an interest in the matter.
GLEN SODERGREN, testifying from Valdez, said if there is a
video program, how much would it cost and how much would
yearly renewals cost for four employees. MR. FINK explained
that there are many existing courses, but indicated he isn't
sure what the costs are. There are a number of courses and
the training would be provided through the private sector.
The ABC board would approve the courses. He said if an
owner has an approved video tape or course, it would seem
that there wouldn't be a cost after it was initially
purchased. Mr. Fink explained it would have to be worked
out in regulation. Mr. Sodergren said he thinks the course
may work very well.
Number 438
SENATOR LEMAN moved that SB 83 pass out of the Senate HESS
Committee with individual recommendations. There being no
objection, the motion passed.
Number 442
There being no further business to come before the
committee, SENATOR RIEGER adjourned the meeting at 2:07 p.m.
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