Legislature(2005 - 2006)BELTZ 211

05/03/2005 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ HB 123 OCCUPATIONAL BDS:EXTENSION/RECEIPTS/PSYCH TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 123(RLS) am Out of Committee
+= HB 169 REAL ESTATE LICENSEES TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 169(FIN) Out of Committee
*+ SB 180 PERSONAL INFORMATION SECURITY/SS# TELECONFERENCED
<Above Item Removed from Agenda>
+ HB 120 HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEE PROTECTION TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 120 Out of Committee
+ HB 213 ALCOHOL SERVER EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 213 Out of Committee
+ HB 181 WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 181(L&C) Out of Committee
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
Including But Not Limited to:
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                          May 3, 2005                                                                                           
                           1:40 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ralph Seekins, Chair                                                                                                    
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair                                                                                             
Senator Bettye Davis                                                                                                            
Senator Ben Stevens                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Johnny Ellis                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                              
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 123(RLS) am                                                                                               
"An  Act  relating to  occupational  licensing  fees, fines,  and                                                               
penalties   and  to   regulatory  board   fines;  extending   the                                                               
termination  dates of  the Boards  of  Barbers and  Hairdressers,                                                               
Social   Work  Examiners,   Pharmacy,  Professional   Counselors,                                                               
Psychologist   and   Psychological   Associate   Examiners,   and                                                               
Veterinary  Examiners;  relating  to  psychologist  licensing  by                                                               
credentials; relating  to an  exemption that  allows one  bill to                                                               
continue more than one board,  commission, or agency program; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
     MOVED CSHB 123(RLS)am OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 169(FIN)                                                                                                  
"An  Act relating  to the  educational  requirements for  certain                                                               
real  estate brokers,  associate brokers,  and salespersons  with                                                               
new  or suspended  licenses; relating  to review  of real  estate                                                               
transactions by  attorneys or associate brokers;  relating to the                                                               
requirements for  a real estate  broker license and  an associate                                                               
real  estate  broker  license; and  providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
     MOVED CSHB 169(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 120                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to safety  devices and sharp instruments for the                                                               
prevention of the  spread of bloodborne pathogens  in health care                                                               
employees; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
     MOVED HB 120 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 213                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to alcohol server education."                                                                                  
     MOVED HB 213 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 181(L&C)                                                                                                  
"An Act authorizing a waiver  for active duty military service of                                                               
continuing  education requirements  for  renewal of  occupational                                                               
licenses."                                                                                                                      
     MOVED CSHB 181(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 180                                                                                                             
"An  Act  relating to  breaches  of  security involving  personal                                                               
information,  consumer  report  security freezes,  protection  of                                                               
social security  numbers, disposal  of records, and  the accuracy                                                               
of reports on credit history, score, and ranking."                                                                              
     REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 123                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: OCCUPATIONAL BDS:EXTENSION/RECEIPTS/PSYCH                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/02/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/02/05       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
02/07/05       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
02/07/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 123(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
02/07/05       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
02/09/05       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 6DP                                                                                    
02/09/05       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, LYNN, LEDOUX, GUTTENBERG,                                                                
                         ROKEBERG, ANDERSON                                                                                     
04/01/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/01/05       (H)       <Bill   Hearing   Postponed   to   Thurs                                                               
                         4/7/05>                                                                                                
04/07/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/07/05       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/07/05       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/11/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/11/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 123(FIN) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/11/05       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/12/05       (H)       FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 2DP 5NR 1AM                                                                         
04/12/05       (H)       DP: HAWKER, FOSTER;                                                                                    
04/12/05       (H)       NR: HOLM, STOLTZE, MOSES, WEYHRAUCH,                                                                   
                         MEYER;                                                                                                 
04/12/05       (H)       AM: KELLY                                                                                              
04/20/05       (H)       RLS AT 8:30 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
04/20/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 123(RLS) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/20/05       (H)       MINUTE(RLS)                                                                                            
04/21/05       (H)       RLS RPT CS(RLS) NT 2DP 1NR 3AM                                                                         
04/21/05       (H)       DP: COGHILL, ROKEBERG;                                                                                 
04/21/05       (H)       NR: MCGUIRE;                                                                                           
04/21/05       (H)       AM: KOHRING, BERKOWITZ, KERTTULA                                                                       
04/21/05       (H)       RETURNED TO RLS COMMITTEE                                                                              
04/22/05       (H)       RLS CS ADOPTED Y21 N13 E2 A4                                                                           
04/25/05       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/25/05       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 123(RLS) AM                                                                              
04/26/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/26/05       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/03/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 169                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: REAL ESTATE LICENSEES                                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) ROKEBERG                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
02/22/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/22/05       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/06/05       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/06/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 169(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/06/05       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/08/05       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) NT 5DP 1NR                                                                             
04/08/05       (H)       DP: CRAWFORD, LYNN, LEDOUX, ROKEBERG,                                                                  
                         ANDERSON;                                                                                              
04/08/05       (H)       NR: GUTTENBERG                                                                                         
04/13/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/13/05       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/13/05       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/14/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/14/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 169(FIN) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/14/05       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/18/05       (H)       FIN RPT CS(FIN) NT 7DP 2NR                                                                             
04/18/05       (H)       DP: HAWKER, STOLTZE, CROFT, HOLM,                                                                      
                         MOSES, FOSTER, MEYER;                                                                                  
04/18/05       (H)       NR: KELLY, CHENAULT                                                                                    
04/21/05       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/21/05       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 169(FIN)                                                                                 
04/22/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/05       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/26/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/26/05       (S)       -- Meeting Canceled --                                                                                 
05/03/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 120                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEE PROTECTION                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WILSON                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
02/02/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/02/05       (H)       HES, L&C                                                                                               
02/24/05       (H)       HES AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
02/24/05       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
02/24/05       (H)       MINUTE(HES)                                                                                            
02/25/05       (H)       HES RPT 4DP 1NR                                                                                        
02/25/05       (H)       DP: CISSNA, GARDNER, SEATON, WILSON;                                                                   
02/25/05       (H)       NR: KOHRING                                                                                            
03/22/05       (H)       L&C AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
03/22/05       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
03/22/05       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/23/05       (H)       L&C RPT 4DP 2NR                                                                                        
03/23/05       (H)       DP:    CRAWFORD,    LYNN,    GUTTENBERG,                                                               
                         ANDERSON;                                                                                              
03/23/05       (H)       NR: LEDOUX, ROKEBERG                                                                                   
04/12/05       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/12/05       (H)       VERSION: HB 120                                                                                        
04/13/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/13/05       (S)       HES, L&C                                                                                               
04/25/05       (S)       HES AT 2:00 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
04/25/05       (S)       Scheduled But Not Heard                                                                                
04/27/05       (S)       HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
04/27/05       (S)       Moved HB 120 Out of Committee                                                                          
04/27/05       (S)       MINUTE(HES)                                                                                            
04/28/05       (S)       HES RPT  3DP 1NR                                                                                       
04/28/05       (S)       DP: DYSON, ELTON, WILKEN                                                                               
04/28/05       (S)       NR: OLSON                                                                                              
05/03/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 213                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: ALCOHOL SERVER EDUCATION                                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RAMRAS                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
03/09/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/09/05       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/13/05       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/13/05       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
04/13/05       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/18/05       (H)       L&C RPT 5DP 1NR                                                                                        
04/18/05       (H)       DP: LYNN, KOTT, LEDOUX, ROKEBERG,                                                                      
                         ANDERSON;                                                                                              
04/18/05       (H)       NR: GUTTENBERG                                                                                         
04/25/05       (H)       FIN AT 1:30 PM HOUSE FINANCE 519                                                                       
04/25/05       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
04/25/05       (H)       MINUTE(FIN)                                                                                            
04/26/05       (H)       FIN RPT 6DP 2NR                                                                                        
04/26/05       (H)       DP: HAWKER, HOLM, WEYHRAUCH, FOSTER,                                                                   
                        MEYER, CHENAULT;                                                                                        
04/26/05       (H)       NR: JOULE, KELLY                                                                                       
04/29/05       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/29/05       (H)       VERSION: HB 213                                                                                        
05/01/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/01/05       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/03/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 181                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) COGHILL                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
02/28/05       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/28/05       (H)       MLV, L&C                                                                                               
03/17/05       (H)       MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 124                                                                             
03/17/05       (H)       Moved Out of Committee                                                                                 
03/17/05       (H)       MINUTE(MLV)                                                                                            
03/18/05       (H)       MLV RPT CS(MLV) 6DP                                                                                    
03/18/05       (H)       DP: THOMAS, GRUENBERG, CISSNA, ELKINS,                                                                 
                         MCGUIRE, LYNN                                                                                          
04/15/05       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM CAPITOL 17                                                                              
04/15/05       (H)       Moved CSHB 181(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/15/05       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/18/05       (H)       L&C RPT CS(MLV) 5DP                                                                                    
04/18/05       (H)       DP: LYNN, LEDOUX, GUTTENBERG, ROKEBERG,                                                                
                         KOTT                                                                                                   
04/19/05       (H)       CORRECTED L&C RPT CS(L&C) NT 4DP 1NR                                                                   
04/19/05       (H)       DP: GUTTENBERG, LYNN, LEDOUX, KOTT;                                                                    
04/19/05       (H)       NR: ROKEBERG                                                                                           
04/21/05       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/21/05       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 181(L&C)                                                                                 
04/22/05       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/22/05       (S)       STA, L&C                                                                                               
04/28/05       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
04/28/05       (S)       Moved CSHB 181(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/28/05       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/29/05       (S)       STA RPT 5DP                                                                                            
04/29/05       (S)       DP:    THERRIAULT,    ELTON,    WAGONER,                                                               
                         HUGGINS, DAVIS                                                                                         
05/03/05       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 211                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JOSH APPLEBEE                                                                                                                   
Staff to Representative Tom Anderson                                                                                            
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on HB 123 for the sponsor.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
PAT DAVIDSON                                                                                                                    
Division of Legislative Audit                                                                                                   
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 123.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG                                                                                                         
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 169.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
PEGGY ANN MCCHONNICHIE                                                                                                          
Alaska Association of Realtors                                                                                                  
Juneau AK                                                                                                                       
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 169.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON                                                                                                     
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT:  Sponsor of HB 120.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CAMILLE SOLEIL, Executive Director                                                                                              
Alaska Nurses Association                                                                                                       
Juneau AK                                                                                                                       
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 120.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
GREY MITCHELL, Director                                                                                                         
Labor Standards and Safety                                                                                                      
Department of Labor & Workforce                                                                                                 
  Development                                                                                                                   
PO Box 21149                                                                                                                    
Juneau, AK 99802-1149                                                                                                           
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 120.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
JANE PIERSON                                                                                                                    
Staff to Representative Ramras                                                                                                  
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 213 for sponsor.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
DOUG GRIFFIN, Director                                                                                                          
Alcohol Beverage Control Board (ABC)                                                                                            
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 213.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KAREN ROGINA, CEO                                                                                                               
Alaska Hospitality Alliance                                                                                                     
Anchorage AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 213.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
TAMMY KILBOURN                                                                                                                  
Fairbanks AK                                                                                                                    
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 213.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PAUL THOMAS                                                                                                                     
Alaska Cache Liquor                                                                                                             
Triangle Club Bar                                                                                                               
Juneau AK                                                                                                                       
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported HB 213.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
KAREN LIDSTER                                                                                                                   
Staff to Representative Coghill                                                                                                 
Alaska State Capitol                                                                                                            
Juneau, AK  99801-1182                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 181 for sponsor.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
[THE RECORDING FOR  THE 5/3/05 SENATE LABOR  AND COMMERCE MEETING                                                               
IS IN SENATE THE RESOURCES FOLDER IN THE FTR PLAYBACK PANEL]                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  RALPH  SEEKINS  called  the   Senate  Labor  and  Commerce                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 1:40:24  PM. Present were                                                             
Senators Davis, Ben Stevens and Chair Seekins.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
   CSHB 123(RLS)am-OCCUPATIONAL BDS:EXTENSION/RECEIPTS/PSYCH                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   SEEKINS  announced   CSHB   123(RLS)am  to   be  up   for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
JOSH  APPLEBEE, staff  to Representative  Tom Anderson,  sponsor,                                                               
said  that this  bill combines  six boards  into one  bill -  the                                                               
Board of  Barbers and Hairdressers, Social  Work Examiners, Board                                                               
of  Pharmacy, Professional  Counselors, Board  of Psychology  and                                                               
Psychological Associates  and Veterinary Examiners. They  are all                                                               
good boards and  have been extended as per  the recommendation of                                                               
the Division of Legislative Audit.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
In   addition,  the   Board  of   Psychology  and   Psychological                                                               
Associates  wanted  to  adopt regulations  that  recognize  other                                                               
organizations  that credential.  Currently, the  statute provides                                                               
for  licensing  by  credential  through  the  American  Board  of                                                               
Professional  Psychologists.  In adopting  regulations  regarding                                                               
licensing   by   credentials,   the  board   must   insure   that                                                               
requirements  are   essentially  similar   or  higher   than  the                                                               
requirements for licensure under the chapter.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PAT DAVIDSON,  Division of Legislative Audit,  said the extension                                                               
dates were recommended by her  division and are staggered so that                                                               
the number up  for sunset in any given year  is even as possible.                                                               
She saw no discrepancies.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SEEKINS noted  that no  one  opposed the  bill and  closed                                                               
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:43:22 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEN STEVENS moved to  pass CSHB 123(RLS)am from committee                                                               
with individual  recommendations and attached fiscal  note. There                                                               
were no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:43:22 recess 1:44:14                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
              CSHB 169(FIN)-REAL ESTATE LICENSEES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS announced HB 169to be up for consideration.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG, sponsor, explained  that HB 169 provides                                                               
for  post-licensing education  of 20  hours after  the individual                                                               
takes the examination  and receives his initial  license. This is                                                               
very much a  consumer protection bill and has the  support of the                                                               
industry. It also  ratifies the concept of hiring  an attorney to                                                               
review and supervise transactions,  which is particularly helpful                                                               
to large firms.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PEGGY   ANN  MCCHONNICHIE,   Alaska   Association  of   Realtors,                                                               
supported HB 169.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:46:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEN  STEVENS moved to  pass CSHB 169(FIN)  from committee                                                               
with attached fiscal notes  and individual recommendations. There                                                               
were no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
             HB 120-HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEE PROTECTION                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS announced HB 120 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PEGGY WILSON, sponsor, explained  that HB 120 is a                                                               
housekeeping  bill  that  brings  Alaska statutes  in  line  with                                                               
federal statutes as  far as blood borne  pathogens are concerned.                                                               
Dentists  and  medical offices  with  less  than 25  people  were                                                               
exempted from the provisions when  the legislature passed its law                                                               
in  2000.  The federal  law  passed  without the  exemption.  Not                                                               
aligning our  statutes with federal  statutes would  prohibit the                                                               
state  from  getting  federal  grants.  The  bloodborne  pathogen                                                               
statutes try  to keep patients  and employees safe  from diseases                                                               
like hepatitis and AIDS. Medical  offices already do all they can                                                               
to protect themselves  and their patients and this  change is not                                                               
expected to impact anyone.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:52:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS joined the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CAMILLE  SOLEIL, Executive  Director, Alaska  Nurses Association,                                                               
supported HB 120.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     It's clarification  of expectations for  compliance and                                                                    
     enables  safe practices  for our  nurses and  for their                                                                    
     patients. In  addition, if state  laws comply  with the                                                                    
     federal regulations,  state OSHA can then  enforce OSHA                                                                    
     standards  and any  OSHA-compliance  challenges can  be                                                                    
     heard locally,  which we  believe will  save businesses                                                                    
     money in the long run.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
GREY MITCHELL, Director, Division  of Labor Standards and Safety,                                                               
Department of Labor and  Workforce Development (DOLWD), supported                                                               
HB 120.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:54:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEN  STEVENS moved to  report HB 120 from  committee with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached  fiscal notes. There were                                                               
no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:54 - 1:55 - Recess                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                HB 213-ALCOHOL SERVER EDUCATION                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS announced HB 213 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JANE PIERSON, staff to  Representative Ramras, sponsor, explained                                                               
the provisions of  the bill. The alcohol  server education course                                                               
was instituted several years ago  with the intent of reducing the                                                               
number  of impaired  drivers on  the road  and it  has been  very                                                               
successful.  However,  every  three years  competent  bartenders,                                                               
servers and doormen  have to spend three to four  hours taking an                                                               
alcohol  server education  course, which  is quite  redundant. In                                                               
the service industry it could mean  losing three to four hours of                                                               
wages and gratuities. HB 213  will allow alcohol servers who have                                                               
been successfully working in the  industry to renew their alcohol                                                               
server education cards without retaking  the full course provided                                                               
that they pass the test. If a  server fails the test, he would be                                                               
required to retake the course.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:57:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DAVIS  asked if you  currently have  to take a  test each                                                               
time you renew your card.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. PIERSON replied yes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS asked where the test is administered.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. PIERSON replied that the  monitored tests are administered by                                                               
different agencies in different places throughout the state.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:57:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGGINS asked  if training  people in  rural communities                                                               
was a problem.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. PIERSON replied  that there are times when  the course cannot                                                               
efficiently be offered in small  rural communities, but there are                                                               
other ways to go about teaching it.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS said his number  one concern is that this becomes                                                               
a course where someone just comes in and gets his card signed.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DOUG  GRIFFIN, Director,  Alcohol Beverage  Control Board  (ABC),                                                               
responded that he  didn't think he should be  concerned. The role                                                               
of the  ABC Board is to  approve the courses and  several vendors                                                               
offer approved  alcohol server training. Nationwide  packages are                                                               
customized to reflect the rules and  laws of the State of Alaska.                                                               
He is  satisfied that they  are appropriately taught  even though                                                               
this area is evolving with  use of computer-generated instruction                                                               
and  testing, some  of which  were  approved for  the more  rural                                                               
locations.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:00:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS asked  if the training done in a  rural areas has                                                               
problems.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. GRIFFIN replied that it is  valid for him to be curious about                                                               
that, but  to his knowledge  vendors are doing  it appropriately.                                                               
He said  the board is  looking at  the new technology  that tests                                                               
people on  each module before  going forward to the  next module.                                                               
It seems  to be very  effective and  he believed the  board would                                                               
tweak the regulations to allow that technology within a year.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:02:07 PM                                                                                                                    
KAREN  ROGINA, CEO,  Alaska  Hospitality  Alliance, supported  HB
213.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     This bill  improves alcohol  server training  in Alaska                                                                    
     by making it faster  and easier for experienced servers                                                                    
     to  be in  compliance with  the law.  Effectively, this                                                                    
     bill  allows   someone  who  is  already   trained  and                                                                    
     certified  in  alcohol  server training  in  accordance                                                                    
     with the  State of  Alaska's provisions  in Title  4 to                                                                    
     renew their certification by taking  a test rather than                                                                    
     sitting through another four-hour class.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     It's important to  note that the cost of  the class and                                                                    
     the time  required to take  the class is often  paid by                                                                    
     the server,  not the employer  and is done  on server's                                                                    
     own  time.  Passing  a written  test  accomplishes  the                                                                    
     spirit of what  was intended by insuring  the server is                                                                    
     experienced in techniques of  alcohol serving and guest                                                                    
     management and  it makes compliance more  accessible as                                                                    
     it is easier to make a  test available to a server than                                                                    
     it is to bring an  instructor or otherwise make a four-                                                                    
     hour class available to rural areas....                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:03:56 PM                                                                                                                    
TAMMY KILBOURN,  Fairbanks, said she is  a professional bartender                                                               
and supported HB 213. She believes  the test needs to be taken to                                                               
remind you of your duties and  to keep everybody on the same page                                                               
of the new laws.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:04:47 PM                                                                                                                    
PAUL THOMAS,  Alaska Cache Liquor,  supported HB 213.  He thought                                                               
it  would  actually lead  to  advanced  training levels,  because                                                               
instructors  would be  at the  same level  and would  be able  to                                                               
respond to more specific questions.  He also would not be opposed                                                               
to charging the same fees for both types of classes.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:06:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEN STEVENS  moved HB 213 from  committee with individual                                                               
recommendations  and   attached  fiscal  notes.  There   were  no                                                               
objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:06 - 2:10 - Recess                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:11:33 PM                                                                                                                  
     CSHB 181(L&C)-WAIVE CONTINUING EDUC. REQ FOR MILITARY                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR SEEKINS announced HB 181 to be up for consideration.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KAREN   LIDSTER,  staff   to  Representative   Coghill,  sponsor,                                                               
explained  that  HB 181  is  a  continuing education  waiver  for                                                               
members of the armed forces  and it eliminates the possibility of                                                               
a  professional licensee  losing his  or her  license because  of                                                               
failure   to  fulfill   statutory  requirements   for  continuing                                                               
education  while serving  on active  duty,  especially in  places                                                               
where  continuing education  is not  available. In  the meantime,                                                               
they are penalized by losing their  license. It has a zero fiscal                                                               
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:12 - 2:17 - Recess                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:17:15 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGGINS moved  to report  CSHB  181(L&C) from  committee                                                               
with individual  recommendations and attached fiscal  note. There                                                               
were no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEEKINS adjourned the meeting at 2:19:03 PM.                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects