04/01/1993 01:40 PM Senate L&C

                                                                               
               SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE                             
                          April 1, 1993                                        
                            1:40 p.m.                                          
                                                                               
  MEMBERS PRESENT                                                              
                                                                               
  Senator Tim Kelly, Chairman                                                  
  Senator Steve Rieger, Vice Chairman                                          
  Senator Bert Sharp                                                           
  Senator Judy Salo                                                            
                                                                               
  MEMBERS ABSENT                                                               
                                                                               
  Senator Georgianna Lincoln                                                   
                                                                               
  COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                           
                                                                               
  SENATE BILL NO. 174                                                          
  "An Act  exempting certain  taxicab operators  from coverage                 
  under the  Alaska Wage and  Hour Act, the  Alaska Employment                 
  Security Act, and the Alaska Workers' Compensation Act."                     
                                                                               
  PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION                                             
                                                                               
  SB 174 - See Labor & Commerce minutes dated 3/30/93.                         
                                                                               
  WITNESS REGISTER                                                             
                                                                               
  Josh Fink, Legislative Aide                                                  
   to Senator Tim Kelly                                                        
  State Capitol                                                                
  Juneau, Alaska 99811-1182                                                    
  POSITION STATEMENT:  Commented on CSSB 174(L&C)                              
                                                                               
  ACTION NARRATIVE                                                             
  TAPE 93-26, SIDE A                                                           
  Number 001                                                                   
  SENATOR KELLY called  the Senate Labor and  Commerce meeting                 
  to order at  1:40 p.m. and  announced SB 174 (EXEMPTING  CAB                 
  DRIVERS FROM EMPLOYMENT LAW) to be up for consideration.                     
                                                                               
  JOSH FINK, Legislative Aide for Senator Kelly, explained the                 
  Labor & Commerce  committee substitute  that was before  the                 
  committee.   He said  it includes he  Department of  Labor's                 
  request   that   contracts   establishing  the   independent                 
  contractor relationship  be written; an  immediate effective                 
  date has been added; and it addresses  the retro-activity by                 
  limiting  that  to  unemployment insurance  in  the  event a                 
  notice  of  determination   has  not   been  given  by   the                 
  Department.                                                                  
                                                                               
  SENATOR SALO noted that there were two letters in opposition                 
  to the legislation.   She asked if they were from former cab                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  drivers.  MR.  FINK explained that  one of  them was from  a                 
  former cab driver  in Ketchikan who was  denied benefits and                 
  had made false certifications.                                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR RIEGER moved to adopt the CSSB 174(L&C).  There were                 
  no objections and it was so ordered.                                         
                                                                               
  Number 77                                                                    
                                                                               
  SENATOR RIEGER moved  to pass  CSSB 174(L&C) from  committee                 
  with individual  recommendations.  There  were no objections                 
  and it was so ordered.                                                       
                                                                               
  SENATOR KELLY adjourned the meeting at 1:45 p.m.