Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

03/26/2021 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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Audio Topic
01:30:11 PM Start
01:31:08 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
02:00:19 PM SB86
02:28:23 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
+ Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy - TELECONFERENCED
Rachel Hanks, Steven Jordan
State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers, and Land Surveyors - Edward "Ed"
Leonetti, Jake Maxwell
Board of Chiropractic Examiners - Tim Kanady,
Brian Larson
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+= SB 86 TEMPORARY PERMITS & LICENSES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                         March 26, 2021                                                                                         
                           1:30 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Mia Costello, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator Roger Holland, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Gary Stevens                                                                                                            
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Joshua Revak                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative David Nelson                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy                                                                                      
Rachel Hanks - Fairbanks                                                                                                        
Steven Jordan - Anchorage                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors                                                              
Edward "Ed" Leonetti - Anchorage                                                                                                
Jake Maxwell - Anchorage                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                                               
Timothy Kanady - Anchorage                                                                                                      
Brian Larson - Soldotna                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 86                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to occupational licensing; relating to                                                                         
temporary licenses, permits, and certificates; and providing for                                                                
an effective date."                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB  86                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: TEMPORARY PERMITS & LICENSES                                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/15/21       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/15/21       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
02/24/21       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
02/24/21       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/24/21       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/26/21       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
RACHEL HANKS, Appointee                                                                                                         
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy                                                                                        
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska State                                                                
Board of Public Accountancy.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
STEVEN JORDAN, Appointee                                                                                                        
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy                                                                                        
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alaska State                                                                
Board of Public Accountancy.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EDWARD "ED" LEONETTI, Appointee                                                                                                 
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors                                                                
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of                                                                    
Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JAKE MAXWELL, Appointee                                                                                                         
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors                                                                
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  as  appointee  to  the  Board  of                                                            
Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
TIMOTHY "TIM" KANADY, DC; Appointee                                                                                             
Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                                                 
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  as  appointee  to  the  Board  of                                                            
Chiropractic Examiners.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN LARSON, DC; Appointee                                                                                                     
Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                                                 
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Soldotna, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  as  appointee  to  the  Board  of                                                            
Chiropractic Examiners.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MELODIE WILTERDINK, Staff                                                                                                       
Senator Mia Costello                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Reviewed  the  changes  from  version  A  to                                                            
version B of SB 86.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SARA CHAMBERS, Director                                                                                                         
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licenses                                                                   
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided supporting testimony on SB 86.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MARYBETH GOODMAN, representing self                                                                                             
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Invited testimony in support of SB 86.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TAMMIE L. PERREAULT, Northwest Regional Liaison                                                                                 
Defense-State Liaison Office                                                                                                    
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense                                                                             
Joint Base Lewis McCord, Washington                                                                                             
POSITION  STATEMENT: Invited  testimony  in support  of  SB 86  on                                                            
behalf of DoD.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:30:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MIA COSTELLO  called the Senate Labor and  Commerce Standing                                                            
Committee meeting  to order  at 1:30 p.m.  Present at the  call to                                                              
order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Holland, and Chair Costello.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
She reviewed the agenda.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                     CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                
             Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy                                                                       
 Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors                                                           
                 Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:31:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   COSTELLO   announced   the   consideration   of   Governor                                                              
Appointees to Boards and Commissions.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO  asked Rachel Hanks  to introduce  herself, provide                                                              
a  brief background,  and share  her  interest in  serving on  the                                                              
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:31:37 PM                                                                                                                    
RACHEL   HANKS,   Appointee,   Alaska  State   Board   of   Public                                                              
Accountancy,   Alaska   State   Board   of   Public   Accountancy,                                                              
Department  of  Commerce,  Community   and  Economic  Development,                                                              
Fairbanks,  Alaska,  stated  that   she  had  lived  in  Fairbanks                                                              
through  high school  and  university. She  related  that she  had                                                              
served on several  nonprofit boards to give back  to the community                                                              
and this  appointment would  provide an  opportunity to  give back                                                              
to her profession through state service.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO noted  the volunteer work listed on  her resume and                                                              
asked what  she hopes  to accomplish  or focus on  as a  member of                                                              
this board.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. HANKS answered  that she looks forward to being  a liaison for                                                              
and helping to  amplify the voice of the Fairbanks  community. She                                                              
also looks  forward to helping with  peer review, which  is up for                                                              
consideration. In  response to a request for  further explanation,                                                              
she said  the board is  looking at expanding  who is subject  to a                                                              
peer  review  and  including  prepared   financial  statements  in                                                              
audits and reviews.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLAND thanked  her for being so active  in her community                                                              
and for stepping up to serve on this board.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:34:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO  opened public  testimony  on the  appointment  of                                                              
Rachel  Hanks to  the Alaska  State Board  of Public  Accountancy;                                                              
finding none, she closed public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO asked  Steven Jordan to introduce  himself, provide                                                              
a  brief background,  and share  his  interest in  serving on  the                                                              
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:34:37 PM                                                                                                                    
STEVEN   JORDAN,  Appointee,   Alaska   State   Board  of   Public                                                              
Accountancy,  Department  of  Commerce,   Community  and  Economic                                                              
Development,  Anchorage, Alaska,  stated  that he  is a  life-long                                                              
Alaskan, served  in the  military, received  his degree  in public                                                              
accountancy   from  Gonzaga   University,  and   has  been   doing                                                              
governmental  accounting,  primarily  compliance,  expert  witness                                                              
work,  and government  contract  review. He  related  that he  has                                                              
been  a   CPA  for  12   years  and  holds   a  number   of  other                                                              
certifications.  He  said  he was  interested  in  broadening  his                                                              
technical expertise  and a mentor  suggested that he  volunteer to                                                              
serve on the  Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy.  He opined                                                              
that  his work  with  the Department  of  Defense, which  recently                                                              
adopted  new  requirements  for peer  review  and  investigations,                                                              
would be helpful  as the state board looks at  similar expansions.                                                              
He said he looks forward to the service.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:36:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO  opened public  testimony  on the  appointment  of                                                              
Steven Jordan  to the  Alaska State  Board of Public  Accountancy;                                                              
finding  none,   she  closed   public  testimony.  She   expressed                                                              
appreciation for his willingness to serve.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  asked if  he  was  with  the National  Guard  or                                                              
government services  when he was with Joint Task  Force Guantanamo                                                              
(JTF-GTMO).                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR. JORDAN  answered that  he mobilized  with the Alaska  National                                                              
Guard to  Cuba. When the accounting  staff at JTF-GTMO  Camp 5 was                                                              
removed for  irregularities, he served  for about 9 months  as the                                                              
deputy comptroller and then the comptroller.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  related  that in  2007  while  in the  US  Coast                                                              
Guard, he  patrolled the  water around  JTF-GTMO and visited  Camp                                                              
5. He thanked Mr. Jordan for stepping up to serve.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO asked  Ed Leonetti to introduce  himself, provide a                                                              
brief background, and  share his interest in serving  on the State                                                              
Board  of  Registration   for  Architects,  Engineers,   and  Land                                                              
Surveyors.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:39:24 PM                                                                                                                    
EDWARD  "ED"  LEONETTI,  Appointee,   Board  of  Registration  for                                                              
Architects, Engineers,  and Land  Surveyors (AELS),  Department of                                                              
Commerce, Community  and Economic Development,  Anchorage, Alaska,                                                              
said he  has called Alaska  home for the  last 20 years.  He lives                                                              
in  the  traditional  homelands  of the  dina'ina  people  and  is                                                              
thankful  for their  careful stewardship  of the  land. He  opined                                                              
that  he is  an  ideal  member of  the  AELS  board based  on  the                                                              
combination   of  his   work   experience   and  volunteer   board                                                              
experience. He is  a licensed professional landscape  architect in                                                              
Alaska and  four other  states. His  most recent project  included                                                              
integrating the  five Alaska Native  cultures into a  new facility                                                              
in Anchorage. He  related that his past board  experience includes                                                              
quasi-judicial commissions  and nonprofit boards, and  he believes                                                              
the AELS board  will benefit from his participation.  He committed                                                              
to collaborate  with the members,  follow state statutes,  and put                                                              
the  public  first   by  protecting  their  health,   safety,  and                                                              
welfare.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO, noting  that there  were  several nominations  to                                                              
the  AELS   board,  asked  if   the  nominations   primarily  were                                                              
reappointments or people who would bring a fresh perspective.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR. LEONETTI  said that  about half the  appointments are  new. He                                                              
was unfamiliar  with the  nominees so  he could  not speak  to the                                                              
perspectives  they  might  bring,  but  he  did  look  forward  to                                                              
meeting the  members. He specifically  mentioned Loren Leman  as a                                                              
returning member and that he looked forward to working together.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO  related that  she had the  honor of  serving Loren                                                              
Leman  in the  Senate and  she serves  with him  on the  Anchorage                                                              
Engineering  Advisory  Council  that works  toward  the  important                                                              
goal of Alaskan grown architects, engineers, and land surveyors.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:44:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO  opened public testimony  on the appointment  of Ed                                                              
Leonetti  to  the  State Board  of  Registration  for  Architects,                                                              
Engineers,  and Land Surveyors;  finding  none, she closed  public                                                              
testimony. She  thanked him for  his passion and being  willing to                                                              
serve.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO  asked Jake Maxwell  to introduce  himself, provide                                                              
a  brief background,  and share  his  interest in  serving on  the                                                              
State Board  of Registration for  Architects, Engineers,  and Land                                                              
Surveyors.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:44:48 PM                                                                                                                    
JAKE  MAXWELL, Appointee,  Board of  Registration for  Architects,                                                              
Engineers, and  Land Surveyors, Department of  Commerce, Community                                                              
and Economic Development,  Anchorage, Alaska, stated that  he is a                                                              
lifelong  Alaskan who has  worked on  a variety  of projects  as a                                                              
land surveyor for  the last 18 years. He said he  is familiar with                                                              
both field  and office work and  has a solid understanding  of the                                                              
guidelines  and  standards  at   the  local,  state,  and  federal                                                              
levels. He  said he strives for  excellence in his work  as a land                                                              
surveyor  and will  bring  that same  drive  to the  work on  this                                                              
board. This  service is also  an opportunity  to give back  to the                                                              
professional community.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  noted  that his  resume  mentions  working  with                                                              
drones.  He  said he  assumes  that  drone  use is  becoming  more                                                              
common in his profession.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MAXWELL replied  there  is  substantial new  technology  that                                                              
overlaps with a professional land surveyor.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  asked  whether  the  use  of  drones  in  design                                                              
surveys is to lay out plats.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MAXWELL  replied it is  primarily to digitize  high-resolution                                                              
imagery of topographic features.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLAND thanked him for stepping up to serve.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:47:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO  opened public  testimony  on the  appointment  of                                                              
Jake Maxwell  to the State  Board of Registration  for Architects,                                                              
Engineers,  and Land Surveyors;  finding  none, she closed  public                                                              
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO   asked  Timothy  Kanady  to   introduce  himself,                                                              
provide a brief  background, and share his interest  in serving on                                                              
the Board of Chiropractic Examiners.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:48:14 PM                                                                                                                    
TIMOTHY   "TIM"   KANADY,   D.C.;   CBP,   Appointee,   Board   of                                                              
Chiropractic  Examiners,  Department  of Commerce,  Community  and                                                              
Economic  Development,  Anchorage,  Alaska,  stated  that  he  has                                                              
lived in Alaska  for 49 years and has has been  a chiropractor for                                                              
38  years.   He  has  served   in  many  professional   capacities                                                              
including president  of the Alaska State Chiropractor  Society and                                                              
service on  a number  of professional  boards and commissions.  He                                                              
advised that  he has never had  a disciplinary action and  he sees                                                              
this service as one to serve and protect the people of Alaska.                                                                  
DR. KANADY  related that  he has always  treated patients  the way                                                              
he would like to be treated.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO thanked him for his service.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  thanked him  for being  willing to  serve on                                                              
this board  and in the  community. She noted  that she had  been a                                                              
patient of his for more than 15 years.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:50:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO  opened public  testimony  on the  appointment  of                                                              
Timothy Kanady  to the  Board of  Chiropractic Examiners;  finding                                                              
none, she closed public testimony.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  asked  Dr. Brian  Larson  to  introduce  himself,                                                              
provide a brief  background, and share his interest  in serving on                                                              
the Board of Chiropractic Examiners.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:51:14 PM                                                                                                                    
BRIAN  LARSON, DC;  Appointee,  Board of  Chiropractic  Examiners,                                                              
Soldotna,  Alaska,  stated that  he  has lived  in  Alaska for  41                                                              
years   and  worked   a  variety   of  jobs   before  becoming   a                                                              
chiropractic  sports  physician  18  years  ago.  He  has  treated                                                              
athletes  statewide.   He  advised   that  he  was   standing  for                                                              
reappointment  to serve  a  second  term. The  last  two years  he                                                              
served as the chair  of the board and will serve  in that capacity                                                              
again if confirmed.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DR. LARSON  said the  first duty  of the board  is to  protect the                                                              
citizens  of the state  and give  service in  fiscal, mental,  and                                                              
financial  obligations.  He  advised   that  the  board  has  been                                                              
reviewing  the   regulations  and   statutes  with  the   idea  of                                                              
modernizing  the chiropractic  scope of  practice. He  highlighted                                                              
that  he  recently  learned  about   legislation  that  created  a                                                              
certified  clinical  chiropractic   assistant  position,  but  the                                                              
certificate  has not  been created  and there  is no  way for  the                                                              
state to  track or  discipline those individuals.  That will  be a                                                              
board  responsibility, he  said.  He reported  that  the board  is                                                              
looking for  a sponsor for legislation  to clarify and  expand the                                                              
scope of practice for the chiropractic profession.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  thanked  him for  the  depth  and scope  of  his                                                              
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:57:27 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO  opened public  testimony  on the reappointment  of                                                              
Dr. Bran  Larson to the Board  of Chiropractic Examiners;  finding                                                              
none, she closed public testimony.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:57:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLAND stated  that in accordance with  AS 39.05.080, the                                                              
Senate  Labor   and  Commerce  Standing  Committee   reviewed  the                                                              
following  and  recommends  the  appointments be  forwarded  to  a                                                              
joint session for consideration:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy                                                                                      
Rachel Hanks - Fairbanks                                                                                                        
Steven Jordan - Anchorage                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors                                                              
Edward "Ed" Leonetti - Anchorage                                                                                                
Jake Maxwell - Anchorage                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Board of Chiropractic Examiners                                                                                               
Dr. Timothy "Tim" Kanady - Anchorage                                                                                            
Dr. Brian Larson -Soldotna                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Signing  the   reports  regarding   appointments  to   boards  and                                                              
commissions  in no way  reflects individual  members' approval  or                                                              
disapproval  of   the  appointees;  the  nominations   are  merely                                                              
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection and the names were forwarded.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:58:35 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
               SB 86-TEMPORARY PERMITS & LICENSES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:00:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   COSTELLO  reconvened   the  meeting   and  announced   the                                                              
consideration  of   SENATE  BILL  NO.  86  "An   Act  relating  to                                                              
occupational licensing;  relating to temporary  licenses, permits,                                                              
and certificates; and providing for an effective date."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
She  explained that  this committee  bill extracted  the issue  of                                                              
temporary  licensure  from the  Governor's  Disaster  Declaration.                                                              
This is  the second  hearing and there  is a committee  substitute                                                              
for the committee's consideration.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:00:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLAND moved  to adopt the Committee Substitute  (CS) for                                                              
SB 86, work order 32-LS0531\B, as the working document.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:01:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO objected for an explanation of changes.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:01:19 PM                                                                                                                    
MELODIE  WILTERDINK, Staff,  Senator  Mia  Costello, Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, recounted  that there were  just two                                                              
changes  between version  A and  version B  of SB  86. On page  1,                                                              
line 6, the  term "may" was  changed to "shall" so  subsection (a)                                                              
reads as follows:                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     (a) The  department may  on an  expedited basis issue  a                                                                   
     temporary  license, permit,  or  certificate under  this                                                                   
     section  to  engage  in an  occupation  regulated  under                                                                   
     this   chapter   to   an    individual   who   holds   a                                                                   
     corresponding  license, permit,  or certificate in  good                                                                   
     standing in  another jurisdiction and pays  the required                                                                   
     fee  for a  temporary  license, permit,  or  certificate                                                                   
     established by the department.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
On page  2, lines 2  through 5, a  new subsection (c)  establishes                                                              
that   the  Department   of  Commerce,   Community  and   Economic                                                              
Development  (DCCED)   shall  issue  a  temporary   license  to  a                                                              
qualified  military spouse  within  10 days  after  it receives  a                                                              
complete application  from the spouse  of an active  duty military                                                              
member.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:03:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO   removed  her   objection.  Finding   no  further                                                              
objection, version B was adopted.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:04:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SARA CHAMBERS,  Director, Division of Corporations,  Business, and                                                              
Professional   Licenses,   Department   of   Commerce,   expressed                                                              
appreciation   that  the  committee   was  working   on  temporary                                                              
licensure  for military  spouses, which  the governor  recommended                                                              
in  previous years  and the  division  has worked  on for  several                                                              
years   with  Alaska's   military  community.   She  offered   her                                                              
understanding that  SB 86 would  move all professional  licensures                                                              
forward  as   quickly  and  efficiently   as  possible   to  allow                                                              
individuals  to get  to  work while  they  finish their  permanent                                                              
license application in the state.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CHAMBERS   said  the  original   bill  and  the   CS  provide                                                              
safeguards   such  that   applicants   would  need   to  hold   an                                                              
unencumbered  license in  another  state, meaning  they have  been                                                              
vetted  and  they  meet  health   and  safety  standards.  The  CS                                                              
requires the division  to issue a temporary license  to applicants                                                              
that  meet those  requirements.  She shared  that  the number  one                                                              
complaint  the  division  receives  is  about  the  wait  time  to                                                              
receive a license  and get to work.  SB 86 would help  by allowing                                                              
the  individual  to  work  after  providing  proof  of  the  basic                                                              
education and safety  measures and allow time for the  rest of the                                                              
documents  to arrive.  In  particular, the  needs  of active  duty                                                              
military spouses are  a priority for the division  and SB 86 helps                                                              
in that regard, she said.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:07:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO asked  if the January 1, 2022 effective  date is to                                                              
allow  time  for  the  boards  to   write  regulations  or  if  an                                                              
immediate effective date would be more helpful.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CHAMBERS said  she was  satisfied  with the  January 1,  2022                                                              
effective date to  allow time for the boards  to write regulations                                                              
and complete forms and application processes.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO offered  her understanding that if  the legislature                                                              
passed  a  measure  that  allowed the  governor  to  address  some                                                              
pandemic  concerns without  a disaster  declaration,  SB 86  would                                                              
become  effective after  that  to  allow time  for  the boards  to                                                              
draft regulations.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. CHAMBERS said she agrees.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO asked  Ms. Goodman to share her story  and tell the                                                              
committee  whether  she believes  that  SB  86 would  address  her                                                              
concerns.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:09:59 PM                                                                                                                    
MARYBETH  GOODMAN, representing  self,  Anchorage, Alaska,  stated                                                              
support for SB 86 and offered the following personal account:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     I  am a  licensed professional  counselor  in the  great                                                                   
     state of Alaska.  I also hold licenses in  North Dakota,                                                                   
     Nebraska, Colorado,  Florida, Missouri, New  Mexico, and                                                                   
     Virginia.  I  also  hold  a  national  certification  in                                                                   
     counseling.  I have  been practicing  for over 22  years                                                                   
     and  I  hold  special  certification  in  trauma,  post-                                                                   
     traumatic  stress   disorder,  family  systems,   eating                                                                   
     disorders,  critical  incident  stress  management,  and                                                                   
     autism  and  sensory  processing  disorders.  My  resume                                                                   
     boasts   experience   with    inner   city   psychiatric                                                                   
     emergency   rooms,   residential    treatment   centers,                                                                   
     nationally  acclaimed   eating  disorder   clinics,  and                                                                   
     veteran rehabilitation  nonprofit organizations.  I have                                                                   
     a 25-year job  history that would impress  even the most                                                                   
     selective employers.  I have been diligent  in gathering                                                                   
     continuing  education  units for  all  my 22  years  and                                                                   
     have amassed well over 750 hours.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:11:09 PM                                                                                                                    
     I am  a veteran  spouse now  for 5  months and prior  to                                                                   
     that  an  active  duty  spouse   for  25  years.  Before                                                                   
     retiring  here   to  Alaska,  we  had  12   formal  duty                                                                   
     stations  in   10  different   states.  I  am   a  self-                                                                   
     proclaimed expert in transferring my license.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     I began the  process for licensure here in  Alaska as an                                                                   
     active  duty  spouse in  October  2019. My  license  was                                                                   
     granted  June  1,  2020,  nine  long  months  later.  My                                                                   
     process always  takes a little longer because  my degree                                                                   
     was  granted  in  1998,  long   before  digital  records                                                                   
     existed.  Anyone on the  committee remember  microfiche?                                                                   
     I was also  required to present all verification  of all                                                                   
     of  my licenses  held in  other states.  This means  not                                                                   
     only did  I have to  wait for them  to certify  and send                                                                   
     them,  I had to  pay 9 additional  states anywhere  from                                                                   
     $25 to  $100 for these  official verifications.  Packing                                                                   
     on transfer  fees and  application fees, my  application                                                                   
     cost well over $2000.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Requests  for this information  is a  needless delay  as                                                                   
     the  process is that  most states  verify through  their                                                                   
     website  and are monitored  by their  board. Now  I need                                                                   
     you to understand,  and please hear this;  I was treated                                                                   
     with  the utmost  kindness  and wonderful  curtesy  from                                                                   
     the counseling  board, often conversing with  them every                                                                   
     day for months.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     However,  throughout this  entire process,  I felt  like                                                                   
     my  experience   and  my   other  state  licenses   were                                                                   
     invalid,  that  my  22  years   of  clinical  experience                                                                   
     simply  did not  count. I  eventually had  to quote  the                                                                   
     Military  Spouse  Portability  Act or  House  Resolution                                                                   
     5683 and  asked if I needed  to get legal  assistance to                                                                   
     navigate this process.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     I  can only  speak from  my personal  experience in  the                                                                   
     area of  mental health counseling.  I can tell  you that                                                                   
     in  my  22  years  of  clinical   practice  in  multiple                                                                   
     states,  my  techniques  have   only  changed  based  on                                                                   
     clinical  empirical  evidence, not  based  on where  the                                                                   
     client lives.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:13:13 PM                                                                                                                    
     Temporary licenses  issued immediately upon  application                                                                   
     completion is  misleading. My application  was completed                                                                   
     in March  and my  license was issued  in June.  That's a                                                                   
     respectable   amount  of  time.   However,  getting   my                                                                   
     application complete  took a significant amount  of time                                                                   
     simply  because of  the  mandates places  on  me by  the                                                                   
     licensure  board.   It's  unnecessary  and   delays  the                                                                   
     process  of  getting  spouses to  work.  My  application                                                                   
     took nine  long months.  Nine months  that I could  have                                                                   
     been helping  the residents of Alaska, nine  months that                                                                   
     I  could  have  been  paying  income  tax.  Nine  months                                                                   
     matters.  Helping  military  spouses  establish  license                                                                   
     and  employment   benefits,  benefits  our   communities                                                                   
     financially    and   by   filling   critically    needed                                                                   
     positions.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     I  am  an  asset  to your  state.  I  am  here  to  fill                                                                   
     vacancies  that are  unfilled. I  am here  to solve  the                                                                   
     deficit  of  mental  health providers.  I  volunteer  20                                                                   
     hours  per month  to assist  in  suicide prevention  and                                                                   
     suicide  education in  our  community. I  am present  in                                                                   
     the  veteran  and military  mental  health  communities,                                                                   
     helping  individuals  who  are  at  high  risk.  I  will                                                                   
     supervise,  educate,  and  mentor  licensure  candidates                                                                   
     who  are graduating  from local  institutions.  I am  an                                                                   
     active voter,  I am your  constituent, I am  not unique.                                                                   
     There  are  many major  military  institutions  in  this                                                                   
     state  that  boast  the  highest   caliber  of  military                                                                   
     spouse. Please do not ignore this resource.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     In closing,  I would like to  thank you for  allowing me                                                                   
     to  practice mental  health counseling  here. Thank  you                                                                   
     for  giving me  the opportunity  to leave  this state  a                                                                   
     little bit  better than where  I found it. I'm  sure you                                                                   
     can relate  to that statement  because that is  what you                                                                   
     too have been called to do as legislators.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:12:28 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS joined the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  thanked  her  for   the  powerful  testimony  and                                                              
relayed  the  committee's   interest  in  helping   and  welcoming                                                              
military spouses.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLAND  described her qualifications as  unique and asked                                                              
if she agreed  that the temporary  license should be valid  for 12                                                              
months rather than 6 months.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. GOODMAN said she agrees.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO asked  Ms.  Perreault to  comment  on whether  Ms.                                                              
Goodman's experience  is common  for military  spouses and  if she                                                              
knows  of a  state  that handles  military  spouse licensure  more                                                              
expeditiously.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:17:11 PM                                                                                                                    
TAMMIE  L. PERREAULT,  Northwest  Regional Liaison,  Defense-State                                                              
Liaison  Office,  Office  of the  Deputy  Assistant  Secretary  of                                                              
Defense,  Joint   Base  Lewis  McCord,  Washington,   thanked  the                                                              
committee for  the opportunity to speak  in support of  SB 86. She                                                              
advised that  16 other  states provide  an exception for  military                                                              
spouses  to receive  a  temporary license  based  on licensure  in                                                              
another state. She  said Ms. Goodman's story is  not unique, which                                                              
is why the  Department of Defense  views it as a priority  to help                                                              
improve military  spouse licensure. She highlighted  that DoD sent                                                              
a letter to the  governor last year specifically  asking the State                                                              
of Alaska to move  forward on this issue. She said  SB 86 reflects                                                              
much  of  what  her office  and  Director  Chamber's  office  have                                                              
worked  toward on  this  issue. She  agreed  with Senator  Holland                                                              
that  one  year would  be  an  appropriate  time for  a  temporary                                                              
license that  is issued  based on  a license  in good standing  in                                                              
another state.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO stated  that the committee was open  to suggestions                                                              
from  both  the   Department  of  Defense  and   the  Division  of                                                              
Corporations, Business,  and Professional Licenses  to improve the                                                              
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HOLLAND  reminded those  listening  that  SB 86  captures                                                              
military  spouses,   but  it  is  an  effort   to  streamline  the                                                              
licensing  process  for all  individuals  who  come to  Alaska  to                                                              
enter the workforce.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO  said she  appreciated his  comments. She  said the                                                              
difference  between this  measure and the  temporary licensure  in                                                              
the  Governor's  Disaster  Declaration is  that  this  legislation                                                              
says the  division shall issue the  spouse of a military  member a                                                              
license within  10 [business]  days of  the complete  application.                                                              
She  noted that  other professions  would also  have a  temporary,                                                              
one-year license.  She asked  Ms. Chambers  if the division  could                                                              
achieve the 10-day statutory deadline should the bill pass.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:21:13 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. CHAMBERS  replied, it  would be difficult  to meet  the 10-day                                                              
deadline or any  mandated time because the division  does not have                                                              
the  staff  to take  on  additional  work. However,  the  division                                                              
would follow  the policy  set by the  legislature and  ensure that                                                              
happens  by  requesting  additional  resources.  She  offered  her                                                              
understanding  that one of  the best practices  DoD employs  is to                                                              
have a  single point  of contact  within the  licensing agency  to                                                              
assist  military  spouses  navigate the  labyrinth  of  government                                                              
requirements.  With additional  resources, the  division would  be                                                              
more likely  to be  able to  achieve the  mandated window  and the                                                              
increased  work  of  temporary  licensure  for  all  programs  and                                                              
follow best practices.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   COSTELLO  noted   Senator  Stevens'   presence  and   that                                                              
Representative David Nelson was in the audience.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:23:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS asked  what the division has to  accomplish in the                                                              
10-day  window   following  receipt   of  the  military   spouse's                                                              
complete application for the temporary license.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. CHAMBERS replied,  SB 86 requires the division  to ensure that                                                              
the  applicant's license  in  the other  jurisdiction  is in  good                                                              
standing.  Technological  advances  and  the ability  to  do  more                                                              
online  has   made  it   easier  to   check  licensure   in  other                                                              
jurisdictions. However,  the problem with meeting  any deadline is                                                              
that  the division  has 43  different licensing  programs; no  one                                                              
person is  an expert in  all programs;  and the division  does not                                                              
have staff  redundancy to cover when  someone is not at  work. She                                                              
emphasized  that the division  wants to  meet the requirement  for                                                              
military spouses  and improve the turnaround for  everyone seeking                                                              
a temporary license.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  asked Ms.  Chambers  and  Ms. Perreault  if  they                                                              
agree on the benefits  of having a point person in  Alaska to help                                                              
military spouses.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CHAMBERS agreed  that  having  such concierge  service  would                                                              
help the  division meet the needs  of military spouses  and reduce                                                              
their  frustration. She  highlighted that  DoD has  made it  clear                                                              
that  basing decisions  will in  part  be dependent  on a  state's                                                              
military family friendliness. She posited that meeting some of                                                                  
DoD's best practices would not only improve quality standards                                                                   
for spouses but also provide economic benefit to the state.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:27:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO thanked the invited testifiers and stated she                                                                    
would hold SB 86 in committee for further consideration.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:28:23 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Costello adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                                 
Committee meeting at 2:28 p.m.                                                                                                  

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SLAC GOV Appointee Rachel Hanks Board Application Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PA RACHEL HANKS
SLAC GOV Appointee Rachel Hanks Resume Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PA RACHEL HANKS
SLAC GOV Appointee Steven Jordan Board Application Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PA STEVEN JORDAN
SLAC GOV Appointee Steven Jordan Resume Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE PA STEVEN JORDAN
SLAC GOV Appointee Edward Leonetti Board Application Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE AELS EDWARD LEONETTI
SLAC GOV Appointee Edward Leonetti Resume Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE AELS EDWARD LEONETTI
SLAC GOV Appointee Jake Maxwell Resume Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE AELS JAKE MAXWELL
SLAC GOV Appointee Timothy Kanady Board Application Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE CE TIMOTHY KANADY
SLAC Gov Appointee Timothy Kanady Personal Statement.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE CE TIMOTHY KANADY
SLAC GOV Appointee Brian Larson Board Application Redacted.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SLAC GOV APPOINTEE CE BRIAN LARSON
CSSB 86 Version B.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SB 86
CSSB 86 Sectional Analysis Version B.pdf SL&C 3/26/2021 1:30:00 PM
SB 86