05/09/2024 05:15 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB226 | |
| HB189 | |
| HB88 | |
| HB203 | |
| HB146 | |
| HB233 | |
| HB251 | |
| SB146 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 226 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 189 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 88 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 203 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 146 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 146 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 233 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 251 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
May 9, 2024
5:17 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator Forrest Dunbar
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Click Bishop, Vice Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(L&C)
"An Act relating to insurance; relating to pharmacy benefits
managers; relating to dispensing fees; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 226(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 189(L&C) AM
"An Act relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting
of warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 189(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 88(L&C)
"An Act relating to work quotas for employees at warehouse
distribution centers; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 88(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 203 AM
"An Act relating to wage payments."
- MOVED SCS HB 203(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 146(STA)
"An Act relating to fireworks; repealing restrictions on the
sale of fireworks; directing the Department of Public Safety to
adopt fireworks regulations; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED SCS CSHB 146(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 233(TRA) AM
"An Act relating to rates and time allowances for motor vehicle
warranty work; and relating to unfair practices by
manufacturers."
- MOVED CSHB 233(TRA) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 251(L&C) AM
"An Act exempting certain foods and drinks prepared in an
uninspected kitchen from state labeling, licensing, packaging,
permitting, and inspection requirements; and permitting a person
to acquire meat from a producer by way of an ownership share in
an animal if certain conditions are met."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 146
"An Act relating to pull-tabs; relating to persons prohibited
from involvement in gaming; and relating to the duties of the
Department of Revenue."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 226
SHORT TITLE: PHARMACIES/PHARMACISTS/BENEFITS MANAGERS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SUMNER
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) HSS, L&C, FIN
02/27/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/27/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/27/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
02/29/24 (H) HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106
02/29/24 (H) Moved CSHB 226(HSS) Out of Committee
02/29/24 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
03/04/24 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP 1NR
03/04/24 (H) DP: SUMNER, RUFFRIDGE, MCCORMICK,
SADDLER, MINA, PRAX
03/04/24 (H) NR: FIELDS
03/06/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/06/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/25/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/25/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/25/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/03/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/03/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 04/05/24>
04/05/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/05/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/15/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/15/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/15/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/22/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/22/24 (H) Moved CSHB 226(L&C) Out of Committee
04/22/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/24/24 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 4DP 1DNP 1NR
04/24/24 (H) DP: WRIGHT, CARRICK, SADDLER, RUFFRIDGE
04/24/24 (H) DNP: PRAX
04/24/24 (H) NR: FIELDS
04/24/24 (H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
05/01/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/01/24 (S) <Pending Referral>
05/02/24 (H) L&C CS ADOPTED Y37 N3
05/03/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/03/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 226(L&C)
05/06/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/06/24 (S) L&C
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 189
SHORT TITLE: SALE OF ALCOHOL
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE
05/03/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/03/23 (H) L&C
03/06/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/06/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 03/08/24>
03/08/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/08/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/22/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/22/24 (H) Moved CSHB 189(L&C) Out of Committee
03/22/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/25/24 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 4DP 1NR
03/25/24 (H) DP: CARRICK, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER
03/25/24 (H) NR: SADDLER
03/27/24 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
04/29/24 (H) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
05/06/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/06/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 189(L&C) AM
05/07/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/07/24 (S) L&C, FIN
05/08/24 (S) FIN REFERRAL REMOVED
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 88
SHORT TITLE: WAREHOUSE WORK QUOTAS
SPONSOR(s): RAUSCHER
02/27/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/27/23 (H) L&C, JUD
03/29/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/29/23 (H) Heard & Held
03/29/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/10/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/10/23 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/12/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/12/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/14/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/14/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/17/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/17/23 (H) Moved CSHB 88(L&C) Out of Committee
04/17/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/19/23 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 4NR
04/19/23 (H) DP: FIELDS, CARRICK, SUMNER
04/19/23 (H) NR: SADDLER, PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE
01/29/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/29/24 (H) Heard & Held
01/29/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
01/31/24 (H) JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
01/31/24 (H) Moved CSHB 88(L&C) Out of Committee
01/31/24 (H) MINUTE(JUD)
02/02/24 (H) JUD RPT CS(L&C) 6DP 1NR
02/02/24 (H) DP: C.JOHNSON, GRAY, CARPENTER, SUMNER,
GROH, VANCE
02/02/24 (H) NR: ALLARD
04/26/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/26/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 88(L&C)
04/29/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/29/24 (S) L&C
05/06/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/06/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be
Set> --
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 203
SHORT TITLE: PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT
SPONSOR(s): SUMNER
05/16/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/16/23 (H) L&C
01/26/24 (H) BILL REPRINTED
02/09/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/09/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/16/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/16/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/23/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/23/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/28/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/28/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/01/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/01/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/04/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/04/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/18/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/18/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/20/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/20/24 (H) Moved HB 203 Out of Committee
03/20/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/21/24 (H) L&C RPT 4DP 3NR
03/21/24 (H) DP: RUFFRIDGE, PRAX, SADDLER, SUMNER
03/21/24 (H) NR: FIELDS, CARRICK, WRIGHT
05/01/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/01/24 (H) VERSION: HB 203 AM
05/03/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/03/24 (S) L&C
05/06/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/24 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 146
SHORT TITLE: REGULATION OF FIREWORKS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
03/29/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/29/23 (H) STA, L&C
04/13/23 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/13/23 (H) Heard & Held
04/13/23 (H) MINUTE(STA)
04/27/23 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
04/27/23 (H) Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee
04/27/23 (H) MINUTE(STA)
05/01/23 (H) STA RPT CS(STA) 5DP 2NR
05/01/23 (H) DP: CARPENTER, C.JOHNSON, ALLARD,
WRIGHT, SHAW
05/01/23 (H) NR: ARMSTRONG, STORY
05/08/23 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
05/08/23 (H) Heard & Held
05/08/23 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
01/24/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/24/24 (H) Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee
01/24/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
01/26/24 (H) L&C RPT CS(STA) 7DP
01/26/24 (H) DP: FIELDS, CARRICK, PRAX, WRIGHT,
RUFFRIDGE, SADDLER, SUMNER
03/21/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/21/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 146(STA)
03/22/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/22/24 (S) STA, L&C
04/18/24 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/18/24 (S) -- Public Testimony --
05/02/24 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/02/24 (S) Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee
05/02/24 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/03/24 (S) STA RPT SCS 2NR 2AM NEW TITLE
05/03/24 (S) AM: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI
05/03/24 (S) NR: MERRICK, BJORKMAN
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 233
SHORT TITLE: RATES: MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTY WORK
SPONSOR(s): TOMASZEWSKI
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C, JUD
03/06/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/06/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/06/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/15/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/15/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/22/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/22/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/22/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/18/24 (H) TRA REPLACES JUD REFERRAL
04/22/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/22/24 (H) Moved HB 233 Out of Committee
04/22/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/23/24 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/23/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/24/24 (H) L&C RPT 2DP 4NR
04/24/24 (H) DP: WRIGHT, CARRICK
04/24/24 (H) NR: FIELDS, PRAX, SADDLER, RUFFRIDGE
04/25/24 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/25/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/25/24 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
04/27/24 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/27/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/27/24 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
05/02/24 (H) TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
05/02/24 (H) Moved CSHB 233(TRA) Out of Committee
05/02/24 (H) MINUTE(TRA)
05/06/24 (H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) NEW TITLE 2DP 4NR 1AM
05/06/24 (H) DP: STUTES, MCCABE
05/06/24 (H) NR: C.JOHNSON, VANCE, MCKAY, MINA
05/06/24 (H) AM: SUMNER
05/06/24 (H) TRA CS ADOPTED Y37 N1 A2
05/06/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/06/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 233(TRA) AM
05/07/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/07/24 (S) L&C
05/08/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/24 (S) Heard & Held
05/08/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 251
SHORT TITLE: EXEMPTIONS FOR HOMEMADE FOODS
SPONSOR(s): RAUSCHER
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C, RES
02/02/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/02/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/05/24>
02/05/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/05/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/05/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/14/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/14/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/21/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/21/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/15/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/15/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/27/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/27/24 (H) Moved CSHB 251(L&C) Out of Committee
03/27/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/28/24 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 2DP 5NR
03/28/24 (H) DP: RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER
03/28/24 (H) NR: CARRICK, FIELDS, SADDLER, PRAX,
WRIGHT
04/08/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/08/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/08/24 (H) MINUTE(RES)
04/15/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/15/24 (H) Heard & Held
04/15/24 (H) MINUTE(RES)
04/17/24 (H) RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124
04/17/24 (H) Moved CSHB 251(L&C) Out of Committee
04/17/24 (H) MINUTE(RES)
04/18/24 (H) RES RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 9DP
04/18/24 (H) DP: MEARS, ARMSTRONG, DIBERT, MCCABE,
SADDLER, WRIGHT, BAKER, RAUSCHER, MCKAY
05/06/24 (H) L&C CS ADOPTED Y37 N1 A2
05/06/24 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
05/06/24 (H) VERSION: CSHB 251(L&C) AM
05/07/24 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/07/24 (S) L&C
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 146
SHORT TITLE: GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
05/10/23 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/10/23 (S) L&C, FIN
03/13/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/13/24 (S) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
04/19/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/19/24 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/22/24 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/22/24 (S) Heard & Held
04/22/24 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/09/24 (S) L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
DANIEL NELSON, Director of Pharmacy
Tanana Chiefs Conference
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.
BRANDY SEIGNEMARTIN, Executive Director
Alaska Pharmacy Association
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.
ASHLEY SCHABER, Chair
Alaska Board of Pharmacy
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a summary of Amendment 1 (U.2) to
HB 189 and Amendment 2 (U.1) to HB 189.
LEE ELLIS, President
Brewers Guild of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 189.
NOELLE LOCONTE, representing self
Madison, Wisconsin
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of cancer warning sign
provisions of HB 189.
TIFFANY HALL, President and CEO
Recover Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the cancer warning
sign provisions of HB 189.
THOMAS GREMILLION, Director
Food Policy
Consumer Federation of America (CFA)
Washington, D.C
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 189.
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an explanation of the CS for HB 88,
work order 33-LS0516\S.
CLARK BICKFORD, Staff
Representative Jesse Sumner
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to committee member questions on
HB 203.
DAN LEWIS, Vice President of Government Affairs
Automatic Data Processing
Roseland, New Jersey
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 203.
LISA PURINTON, Director
Division of Statewide Services, Department of Public Safety
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes in the CS for HB 146.
DAVID BRIGHT, Senior Attorney
Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Washington, D.C.
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on HB 233.
NICOLINA HERNANDEZ, Regional Director
Government Affairs
Toyota Motors NA
Sacramento, California
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on HB 233.
RYAN MCKEE, Staff
Representative George Rauscher
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 251 on behalf of the sponsor,
Representative George Rauscher.
SARAH OATES, President
Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant
and Retailers Association (CHARR)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 251.
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, Legislative Liaison,
Department of Environmental Conservation
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 251.
JOHN POWERS, Owner
Tudor Bingo Center
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 146.
DAVID LAMBERT, Charitable Gaming
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 146.
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:17:42 PM
CHAIR JESSE BJORKMAN called the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 5:17 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Merrick, Gray-Jackson, Dunbar, and
Chair Bjorkman.
HB 226-PHARMACIES/PHARMACISTS/BENEFITS MANAGERS
5:19:09 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 226(L&C)"An Act relating to insurance; relating to pharmacy
benefits managers; relating to dispensing fees; and providing
for an effective date."
He noted that the companion bill, SB 121 was previously heard
and before the committee for consideration was SCS CSHB 226,
work order 33-LS0955\H.
5:20:00 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 226.
5:20:28 PM
DANIEL NELSON, Director of Pharmacy, Tanana Chiefs Conference,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 226. He said he
was an Alaskan pharmacist for over 20 years and the director of
pharmacy for the Tanana Chiefs Conference since 2007. He
explained that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) were initially
created to help rein in prescription drug costs and manage the
complex reimbursement environment of prescription drugs.
Unfortunately, a lack of regulatory and legislative oversight
allowed PBMs to become vertically and horizontally integrated
oligopolies. He said PBMs made an already complex issue into an
utterly illogical world where they are now a, if not the,
primary driver of increasing prescription drug costs in America.
He said this was an issue he was very passionate about, because
he saw how the many problematic practices of PBMs negatively
impact clinical outcomes for patients, drive prescription drug
costs up and bankrupt Alaskan pharmacies through a laundry list
of frankly ludicrous business practices designed with the sole
intent of increasing PBMs' profit margins and absolutely nothing
else. He said he would not go too far into the weeds of HB 226
today, but that the bill was a very modest first step in the
desperately needed arena of PBM regulation and reform. He urged
the committee to pass HB 226 out of committee today.
5:22:04 PM
BRANDY SEIGNEMARTIN, Executive Director, Alaska Pharmacy
Association, Eagle River, Alaska, testified in strong support of
HB 226 on behalf of the Alaska Pharmacy Association. She said HB
226 sought to address anti-competitive, unfair and opaque
business practices by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). She
shared new data from a first of its kind study done in
Washington State that shed light on the significant disparities
caused by PBMs in the employer and commercial marketplace, the
sector HB 226 specifically applied to. The study found that PBMs
were steering patients to their own mail-order pharmacies and
requiring the employer or plan sponsor to reimburse the PBM at a
magnitude of 47 to 1400 times over acquisition costs than they
reimburse local pharmacies. She emphasized the apparent
disparity and said the practice resulted in erosion of the local
healthcare infrastructure and the closure of independent
pharmacies. She said HB 226 represented an important step toward
addressing these harmful practices. She said, while it wouldn't
solve all the issues, it would set a framework for greater
oversight and accountability, promoting fairness and
transparency in Alaska's health care industry. She said the
Alaska Pharmacy Association believed HB 266 would help safeguard
local pharmacies and support better health care outcomes for
patients. She thanked the committee for their time and attention
and urged them to move HB 226 forward expeditiously to ensure it
would make it through this session.
5:23:39 PM
ASHLEY SCHABER, Chair, Alaska Board of Pharmacy, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified on behalf of the Board of Pharmacy who
unanimously supported HB 226. She said HB 226 would:
• promote choice for patients to access pharmacy services
• provide transparency
• protect safety and patient access to clinics who administer
drugs
• align with the Board's strategic plan
MS. SCHABER said passage of HB 226 would help build the needed
foundation to assure Alaska's pharmacies can continue to safely
serve Alaska patients throughout the state. She thanked
committee members for hearing HB 266 and urged their support and
quick passage [of HB 266].
5:24:31 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 226.
5:24:39 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
5:24:41 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report Senate Committee Substitute
(SCS) for CSHB 226, work order 33 LS0955\H from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
5:25:11 PM
At ease
5:25:20 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened. He found no objection and SCS FOR
CSHB 226(L&C) was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee.
5:25:29 PM
At ease
HB 189-SALE OF ALCOHOL
5:27:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 189(L&C) am "An Act
relating to the sale of alcohol; relating to the posting of
warning signs for alcoholic beverages; and providing for an
effective date."
CHAIR BJORKMAN stated the motion to adopt SCS CSHB 189, work
order 33-LS0697\U, was pending before the committee; he said he
had maintained his objection as there was a need to amend the
bill further.
5:27:41 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection; found no further objection
and SCS CSHB 189 was adopted as the working document.
5:28:00 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
5:28:02 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt Amendment 1 (U.2), work
order 33-LS0697\U.2, for HB 189.
33-LS0697\U.2
C. Radford
5/9/24
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BJORKMAN
TO: SCS CSHB 189(L&C), Draft Version "U"
Page 1, line 1, following "alcohol;":
Insert "relating to the posting of warning signs
for alcoholic beverages;"
Page 5, following line 27:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 11. AS 04.21.065(b) is amended to read:
(b) The warning signs required by (a) of this
section must be at least 11 inches by 14 inches, and
the lettering must be at least one-half inch high and
in contrasting colors. The first sign must read,
"WARNING: Alcohol use [DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
SUCH AS BEER, WINE, WINE COOLERS, AND DISTILLED
SPIRITS OR SMOKING CIGARETTES] during pregnancy can
cause birth defects. Alcohol use can cause cancer,
including breast and colon cancers." The second sign
must read, "WARNING: A person who provides alcoholic
beverages to a person under 21 years of age, if
convicted under AS 04.16.051, could be imprisoned for
up to five years and fined up to $50,000." The third
sign must read, "WARNING: An unaccompanied person
under 21 years of age who enters these premises in
violation of law may, under AS 04.16.049(e), be
civilly liable for damages of $1,500." The license or
permit holder shall display the first and second signs
in a manner that would make them conspicuous to a
person who will be purchasing or consuming alcoholic
beverages or smoking cigarettes on the licensed or
designated premises and shall conspicuously display
the third sign at each door through which customers
enter the licensed premises."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
Page 5, following line 31:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 14. Section 11 of this Act takes effect
January 1, 2025."
Renumber the following bill section accordingly.
Page 6, line 1:
Delete "This"
Insert "Except as provided in sec. 14 of this
Act, this"
5:28:10 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
5:28:22 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said Amendment 1 (U.2), page 1,
would restore language which was removed from CSHB 189, version
U, and [Amendment 1 (U.2)], page 2, would insert a delayed
effective date at the request of Joan Wilson, Director of the
Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office (AMCO) to allow additional
time for [cancer warning signs]to be printed and distributed to
the various vendors in a reasonable time.
5:29:16 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for clarification about the extended
effective date. He asked whether it applied only to the section
of HB 189 that addressed the [cancer warning] signs.
5:29:25 PM
MR. JACKSON affirmed that only the effective date for the signs
was changed; the effective date for HB 189 overall was not
changed.
5:29:34 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection; found no further objection
and Amendment 1 (U.2), work order 33-LS0697\U.2 was adopted.
5:29:59 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
5:30:02 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt Amendment 2 (U.1), work
order 33-LS0697\U.1, to HB 189.
33-LS0697\U.1
C. Radford
5/8/24
AMENDMENT 2
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BJORKMAN
TO: SCS CSHB 189(L&C), Draft Version "U"
Page 4, line 28, following "(1)":
Insert "beverage dispensary or beverage
dispensary tourism licensee that has a large resort
endorsement,"
Page 5, line 7:
Delete ";"
Insert "."
Page 5, lines 8 - 12:
Delete all material.
5:30:11 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
5:30:21 PM
MR. JACKSON stated Amendment 2 (U.1) corrected a minor drafting
error in the rewrite of Title IV. He explained that Title IV
dealt with large resorts [who hold alcohol endorsements]. He
said current statute prohibits small children from wandering
around [on resort premises] without direct adult supervision. He
said language was inserted on page four, line 28 which would
permit children to be on the premises of large resorts holding
alcohol endorsements. He noted the large resort in Girdwood was
the only resort that Amendment 2 (U.1) applied to. He said there
was also language in the amendment that deleted the attempt on
page five of HB 189, which was inadvertently drafted and which
would have allowed children 16 years or so of age to be
unaccompanied in a bar at a large resort. He said that was never
the intention of that CS, so that was deleted [from HB 189],
page five, lines eight through twelve.
5:32:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection; found no further objection
and Amendment 2 (U.1) was adopted.
5:32:33 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR spoke in favor of HB 189. He noted that it was
crucial to employers facing workforce shortages. He also said it
was incredibly important that young people, eighteen, nineteen,
twenty years old, had access to employment opportunities. He
noted that young people in this country are expected to be
adults at 18 and we should not further restrict their employment
opportunities.
5:33:21 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 189.
5:33:43 PM
LEE ELLIS, President, Brewers Guild of Alaska, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of HB 189. He expressed
appreciation for the inclusion of manufacturers [of alcohol
products in HB 189]. He emphasized the importance of recruiting
new employees, including college students, and highlighted the
benefits of internships for students studying food sciences. He
said HB 189 would allow younger college students, under 21, to
work in various roles without handling alcohol, which is
beneficial for staffing and family-owned breweries. He also
mentioned collaborating with the University of Alaska to develop
a brewing education program, which would be possible with the
bill's passage. He stressed the brewing industry's commitment to
responsible alcohol consumption and the educational
opportunities for younger workers.
5:36:36 PM
NOELLE LOCONTE, representing self, Madison, Wisconsin, testified
in support of the cancer warning sign provisions of HB 189. She
emphasized the low awareness nationwide of alcohol as a
carcinogen, with only 30 percent of the U.S. population
understanding this link and she said physicians' awareness was
not much better. She advocated for increased awareness to help
people make informed choices [about their alcohol consumption].
DR. LOCONTE listed seven cancers associated with alcohol
consumption: head and neck, breast, liver, colorectal,
esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. She highlighted the
need for public education on this topic.
5:38:00 PM
TIFFANY HALL, President and CEO, Recover Alaska, Anchorage,
Alaska, testified in support of the cancer warning sign
provisions of HB 189. She said Recover Alaska was a statewide
organization focused on reducing excessive alcohol use and its
associated harms. She highlighted the significance of cancer as
the leading cause of death in Alaska and alcohol as the third
leading modifiable cause. She emphasized that alcohol was
related to nine out of the top ten causes of death in the state.
MS. HALL said there was no question that alcohol causes cancer.
and there was no credible authority that disputed that. Even so,
she said, it was largely unknown. She said knowledge was power.
Public awareness was critical. She said Recover Alaska believed
the [alcohol cancer risk] warning signs would be reaching a very
relevant group. She thanked the committee for hearing HB 189 and
expressed appreciation for the very clean language and the work
of the Alcohol Marijuana Control Office (AMCO).
5:39:37 PM
THOMAS GREMILLION, Director, Food Policy, Consumer Federation of
America (CFA), Washington, D.C, testified in support of HB 189.
He said the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) was a nonprofit
organization established in 1968 to advance the consumer
interest in research, education and advocacy. He explained that,
for decades, CFA advocated to bring alcohol labeling into
alignment with other beverages and food with respect to things
like calories, ingredients and allergens. They also advocated
for updates to health warning statements on alcoholic beverages
to include alcohol cancer warnings. He said alcohol cancer
warnings are a powerful public policy tool, precisely because
alcohol cancer risk represents a significant health burden,
killing over 20,000 Americans a year, dying from alcohol
attributable cancers. He emphasized previous testimony that
public awareness of [alcohol cancer risk] is very low and noted
that 10 percent of the population thought alcohol reduced cancer
risk, at least in the form of wine, and, he said, that's not
true.
MR. GREMILLION said CFA supported federal alcohol labeling
reform and state laws to require point of sale cancer warnings
for alcohol. He referred to a paper on their website entitled:
State and Local Public Policy Options for Raising Awareness of
Alcohol Cancer Risk. He said it listed an extensive bibliography
of academic research articles that support provisions like the
one in HB 189. He said point of sale warning signs do have a
record of success. He pointed out that warning signs on the
dangers of drinking while pregnant, which were adopted in Alaska
and nearly half of the other states in the union in the 1990s,
are associated with a significantly reduced rate of fetal
alcohol syndrome. He emphasized that while it may seem like no
one is paying attention to these warning signs, they do get the
message out, and slowly change the public mindset over time.
5:42:23 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 189.
5:42:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
5:42:45 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS CSHB 189, work order
33-LS0697\U, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
5:43:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS CSHB 189(L&C) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
5:43:20 PM
At ease
HB 88-WAREHOUSE WORK QUOTAS
5:46:25 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 88(L&C) "An Act relating
to work quotas for employees at warehouse distribution centers;
and providing for an effective date."
He noted that this is the second hearing of the bill and during
the last meeting Amendment [1 (B.3), work order 33-LS0516\B.3]
was adopted.
5:47:03 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 88; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
5:47:35 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
5:47:36 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the Senate Committee
Substitute for CSHB 88, work order 33-LS0516\S, as the working
document.
5:47:47 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
5:48:04 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, began to explain the SCS for HB 88,
work order 33-LS0516\S. He said there were two changes, one of
which had been made the previous day through the adoption of
Amendment 1 (B.3).
5:48:31 PM
At ease
5:49:38 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.
5:49:56 PM
MR. JACKSON continued to explain the SCS for HB 88, work order
33-LS0516\S. He referred to page one, line 9, and said the
change from 200 to 100 was made through the adoption of
Amendment 1 (B.3) offered by Senator Dunbar. He said if the CS
were adopted by the committee that change would remain at 100.
MR. JACKSON said the second change could be found on page 2,
line 28, subsection (d). A new sentence was inserted, which
read: "a former employee is limited to one request under (a) of
this section." He explained that this would allow for employees
to request quota information and other information, from the
employer. He explained that page 2, line 28, subsection (d)
dealt with a former employee being added to language that would
allow for one additional request for information once they are
no longer an employee. He said the remainder of section "D"
would allow an employer to reject a former employee's request if
that request has already been fulfilled.
5:51:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
5:51:52 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and the SCS CSHB 88,
was adopted as the working document.
5:52:05 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
5:52:08 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt Amendment 1 (S.1), work
order 33-LS0516\S.1, to HB 88.
33-LS0516\S.1
A. Radford
5/8/24
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BJORKMAN
TO: SCS CSHB 88(L&C)
Page 2, line 6:
Delete "the employer may take"
Insert "may result"
Page 2, line 17, following "employee":
Insert "who believes that meeting a quota
required the employee to violate a federal or state
occupational safety and health law"
Page 2, line 20, following "data":
Insert "; an employer is not required under this
paragraph to provide any portion of a qualitative
performance assessment, personnel record, or wage
statement that does not include information relating
to the employee's work speed data"
Page 3, line 3:
Delete "a"
Insert "an overtime-eligible"
Page 3, line 4, following "quota;":
Insert ""employee" does not include a driver or
courier to or from a warehouse distribution center or
a person whose work duty is operating a tractor or
other motor vehicle"
5:52:13 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion. He explained
the key points of Amendment 1 (S.1):
• Page two, line six required a quota description to identify
all potential adverse employment actions that may result in
failing to meet the quota.
• Page two, line 17 is conceptually deleted and not included
in the amendment.
• Page two, line 20 clarified the information that must be
provided to an employee upon request of work speed data.
• Page three, line four clarified that HB 88 does not apply
to couriers and express delivery drivers.
CHAIR BJORKMAN said the amendment specified that work speed data
does not include the employee's entire work history, past
performance evaluations, or wage statements and that only data
related to work speed information is required to be disclosed.
He said this clarification would ensure that the request for
work speed data would be limited to relevant metrics. He said HB
88 would apply to employees most likely subjected to work speed
metrics as defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which
would be those employees eligible for overtime pay. Exempt
employees, typically salaried, are not eligible for overtime
under the FLSA. He said this clarification would ensure that HB
88 would apply to individual work speed data and not company or
site-wide performance metrics.
CHAIR BJORKMAN said that many couriers and delivery companies in
Alaska are small businesses or entrepreneurs, and that Amendment
1 (S.1) seeks to avoid inadvertently including gig economy
workers in HB 88's scope.
5:55:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
5:55:09 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR objected.
5:55:14 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR spoke to his objection. He said he preferred the
existing language [of HB 88] which, he said, came through the
House with a lot of consideration. He said the first part of the
amendment creates some confusion. He acknowledged that the
second part was to be removed. He said the third part was too
broad and the fourth part unnecessary. For those reasons, he
opposed Amendment 1 (S.1).
5:55:48 PM
At ease
5:57:27 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and asked for a roll call
vote.
5:57:43 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Senators Merrick and Bjorkman voted
in favor of Amendment 1 (S.1) and Senators Dunbar and Gray-
Jackson voted against it. The vote was 2:2.
5:58:05 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced that Amendment 1 (S.1) failed on a vote
of 2:2.
5:58:26 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
5:58:28 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report the Senate Committee
Substitute (SCS) for CSHB 88, work order 33-LS0516\S, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
5:58:50 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS CSHB 88(L&C) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
5:59:00 PM
At ease
HB 203-PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT
6:00:45 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 203 am "An Act relating to wage
payments."
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted that in prior hearing, there was a request
for statistics regarding wage theft. He asked Mr. Bickford
whether he had statistics to share with the committee.
6:01:10 PM
CLARK BICKFORD, Staff, Representative Jesse Sumner, Juneau,
Alaska, reported that he was unable to provide hard data in
response to Senator Dunbar's question [regarding the potential
impact of HB 203 on the incidence of wage theft]. He said he met
with the payroll department for the [City and Borough of Juneau
(CBJ)] and the payroll department for the state legislature. He
said they reported less than ten percent of their employees opt
for paper checks, and that they adamantly push employees to
electronic payment for reasons discussed yesterday: that
electronic forms of payment are more convenient, more
environmentally friendly, and less vulnerable to theft. He said
it was also important to note that the General Government
bargaining unit (GGU), which is the largest union in the
executive branch in Alaska doesn't give a [paper paycheck]
option to their employees, for the same reasons, that electronic
payment is more convenient and less likely to [be vulnerable to]
theft of wages or lost checks. He said this is the same choice
many employers make for their employees. He said the sponsor
urged the committee to return to the original version [of HB
203] that was passed out of the House, Labor and Commerce
[committee] before it was passed out of the House. He said Mr.
Lewis was online with a short, prepared statement on wage theft.
6:03:07 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN invited Mr. Lewis to share his statement on wage
theft with the committee.
6:03:17 PM
DAN LEWIS, Vice President of Government Affairs, Automatic Data
Processing (ADP), Roseland, New Jersey, clarified that ADP does
not track specific data on wage theft. He said employees
receiving pay through pay cards or electronic means receive the
same information as those with paper paychecks. He said they
would have available all the records to validate accurate pay.
He said that information would be housed in a portal that is
electronically available and retained for the employees, so they
have easy and long-term access to the information on their pay.
He emphasized that employees have access to that [payroll]
information much more quickly than they would through a paper
paycheck, allowing for quicker and earlier opportunities to
identify discrepancies in their pay. He suggested that Senator
Dunbar's question my have reflected concern that it would be
more likely that unbanked or underbanked employees would be more
likely to receive pay through pay cards, and that population
also may be at higher risk for wage theft. He said [that
population] should be afforded the protections that he outlined.
He said he did not think that there would be greater risk to
employees that are paid through pay card rather than paper
checks. He said they would probably be more protected [from wage
theft by receiving their pay through pay cards].
6:05:12 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON expressed appreciation for the provision in
HB 203 for employees who were unable to have a bank account.
6:05:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 203; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
6:06:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
6:06:02 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the Senate committee
substitute (SCS) for HB 203, work order 33-LS0857\A, as the
working document.
6:06:16 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of explanation.
6:06:17 PM
MR. BICKFORD explained that HB 203 would give the choice to the
employer whether to offer paper checks. He said if the employer
does not want to [offer paper paychecks], they would give
employees an option between direct deposit or a payroll card. He
said the decision would lie solely with the employer. He
referred to the largest union in Alaska [GGU] as an example of
an employer offering only electronic forms of pay.
6:07:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
6:07:13 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and the SCS for HB 203
was adopted.
6:07:21 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
6:07:25 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS HB 203, work order 33-
LS0857\A, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
6:07:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS HB 203(L&C) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
6:08:02 PM
At ease
HB 146-REGULATION OF FIREWORKS
6:11:32 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 146(STA):"An Act relating
to fireworks; directing the Department of Public Safety to adopt
fireworks regulations; and providing for an effective date."
6:12:02 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 146; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
6:12:24 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN stated there was a proposed committee substitute.
6:12:28 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
6:12:30 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the Senate committee
substitute (SCS) for CSHB 146, work order 33-GH1356\U as the
working document.
6:12:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of explanation and
requested an overview of the committee substitute by Ms.
Purinton.
6:12:51 PM
LISA PURINTON, Director, Division of Statewide Services,
Department of Public Safety, Juneau, Alaska, said the SCS
amended section seven, titled "pyrotechnic licenses and permits"
found on pages four and five of the SCS. She said the issue
identified was related to the insurance requirements for these
permits. She said these licenses were for large scale fireworks
displays, like those in Juneau or Anchorage, and most areas, for
the Fourth of July, or for Rondy. She noted that large scale
fireworks displays require a special license and a permit. The
way the bill was originally drafted, the insurance requirements
were tied to the license, and should have been tied to the
permit, so that the insurance requirement doesn't put an undue
burden on the business to maintain insurance throughout the year
when they only need the insurance at the time of the permit when
the display of fireworks occurs. She noted that there were
insurance requirements such as public liability insurance
coverage to ensure that those protections are in place and
certain time frames that would have to be met prior to
scheduling a large-scale fireworks display. She concluded,
saying that the SCS would amend HB 146 to properly place the
insurance requirements with a permit [rather than with a
license]. She noted the State Fire Marshall was available to
provide technical information.
6:14:52 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
6:14:56 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and the SCS for HB 146
was adopted.
6:15:04 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
6:15:07 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SCS CSHB 146, work order
33-GH1356\U, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
6:15:24 PM
At ease.
6:16:23 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN [reconvened the meeting].
6:16:39 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS CSHB 146(L&C) was
reported from Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
HB 233-RATES: MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTY WORK
6:16:53 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 233(TRA) am "An Act
relating to rates and time allowances for motor vehicle warranty
work; and relating to unfair practices by manufacturers."
6:17:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 233.
6:17:39 PM
DAVID BRIGHT, Senior Attorney, Alliance for Automotive
Innovation, Washington, D.C., testified with concerns on HB 233.
He said the Alliance for Automotive Innovation was the trade
association representing automobile manufacturers. He noted that
he submitted a written statement to the committee explaining
automakers' concerns with HB 233 and a request that they not
forward it. Rather than repeating the content of the letter, he
said he wished to address testimony that this committee heard
from the proponents of the bill, and to flag a problem that
amendments to HB 233 create, which is introduce a perhaps
unintended level of ambiguity into the bill relative to the
[original] introduced version.
6:18:25 PM
MR. BRIGHT first addressed the amendments. He said the original
version of HB 233 required manufacturers to pay car dealers the
number of hours that that particular dealer charged retail
customers for similar work. The [subsequent] B and C versions of
HB 233 instead required manufacturers to pay not less than the
time allowances provided in independent labor time guides. He
explained that the problem with that is that there were several
independent labor time guides, and they don't always agree with
each other on the amount of time for repair. So, he said, what
this language would do is create a situation where the
manufacturer doesn't know even what it's supposed to pay, which
he said he suspected, was an unintended consequence. He referred
to the aforementioned written statement and emphasized that none
of this is even necessary, because, again, the manufacturer time
guides are still the only ones that actually measure the amount
of time that's necessary to complete a repair.
6:19:28 PM
MR. BRIGHT commented on a discussion of an economic study that
the Alexa Automobile Dealers pointed to that came from Illinois,
looking at the statute that Illinois passed recently. He said
that study does, in fact, not support the assertion that HB 233
helps jobs. He highlighted two things. First, figure four [of
the report from Illinois], which looks at the change in
employment for applicable number of employees at dealers in
Illinois which, again, passed the law, compared to neighboring
states which did not. He pointed out that after two years, the
difference in employment is only 0.3 percent. He opined that was
not much of a jobs bill. He referred to figure seven [of the
report from Illinois], which looked at the change in earnings
for dealer employees in Illinois, which passed the bill,
compared to earnings for dealer employees in neighboring states
that did not pass [a bill like HB 233]. He noted both groups
enjoyed wage increases. He said the [Indisc.] was only 2.9
percent and given that the bill called for a 50 percent increase
in the amount that manufacturers pay for warranty labor and
given the amount of such labor that dealers do, one would expect
that quite a bit more than 2.9 percent would have been the
amount of wage increases for dealers working in Illinois.
6:21:11 PM
NICOLINA HERNANDEZ, Regional Director, Government Affairs,
Toyota Motors NA, Sacramento, California, testified with
concerns on HB 233. She said Toyota would always value their
Toyota and Lexus dealers in Alaska. She said the Toyota and
Lexus dealers in Alaska seemed satisfied with Toyota's [warranty
repair] time allowances. She reported that in 2022 and 2023 zero
Alaska dealers requested flat time adjustments. Nationally, she
said, Toyota did receive 24 requests in 2022 and about 50
percent of that last year. She said it was with this feedback
that Toyota makes adjustments to increase the [warranty repair]
time allowances. She said that last year, 11 states reviewed
warranty rate legislation, and all but one were rejected. She
said that now, only four states total in the US have third party
time guides in the books. She said Toyota had come to understand
that technician pay specifically had not increased commensurate
with the increases in the rates charged. She sought to emphasize
that it was in Toyota's best interest to make sure that dealers
are profitable, that they're fully reimbursed in a timely
manner, and if for any reason they need additional compensation,
Toyota works with their field technicians hand in hand to make
sure that they're paid that additional time. She said Toyota
continues to have concerns, however, with the HB 233, even with
the third-party time guide language. She said third party time
guides were not intended for franchise dealers. Third Party time
guides use multipliers on Toyota's time allowances to determine
their rates, which meant they would inherently be higher. She
said that meant it would cost more when customers service their
cars and trucks [through third parties]. She said third party
time guides would also affect the cost of selling vehicles, and
importantly, the cost of ownership and the cost of long-term
loyalty to Toyota's Alaska dealers.
6:23:15 PM
MS. HERNANDEZ concluded that Toyota remained sympathetic to the
workforce challenges. She emphasized that nothing explicitly
linked the additional charges to technician pay. She said Toyota
wanted all dealers to have the best [employees] selling and
servicing their cars; and wanted folks to drive away happy and
feel good about coming back to them. She said Toyota was engaged
on this issue and wanted to continue the discussion to find a
solution that would put customers first.
6:23:54 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN [closed public testimony on HB 233.]
6:24:15 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
6:24:16 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report CSHB 233(TRA) am from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
6:24:34 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSHB 233(TRA) am was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
6:24:50 PM
At ease
HB 251-EXEMPTIONS FOR HOMEMADE FOODS
6:26:19 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 251(L&C) am "An Act
exempting certain foods and drinks prepared in an uninspected
kitchen from state labeling, licensing, packaging, permitting,
and inspection requirements; and permitting a person to acquire
meat from a producer by way of an ownership share in an animal
if certain conditions are met."
6:26:53 PM
RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Juneau,
Alaska, said HB 251 would help promote food security in Alaska.
He said Alaska's food supply was fragile, with the overwhelming
majority having to be imported from out of state. He noted that
a huge lack of homegrown food industries created a strain on
local communities across the state. He said HB 251 would allow a
producer to sell homegrown and/or farmed local food products to
an informed end consumer and allow consumers to purchase meat
directly from ranchers if [the meat product] complies with the
animal share agreements. He said passing HB 251 would help put
food on the tables of Alaskans and increase food security in
Alaska.
6:27:57 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 251.
6:28:18 PM
SARAH OATES, President, Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and
Retailers Association (Alaska CHARR), Anchorage, Alaska,
testified with concerns on HB 251. She said Alaska CHARR had
over 700 members across Alaska communities and represented over
2000 hospitality establishments that employed over 30,000
workers around the state. She said Alaska CHARR was opposed to
HB. She reported that:
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 48 million people get sick from food borne
illnesses each year.
• 128,000 are hospitalized
• 3000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year
MS. OATES said Alaska Food Code required that certain food
establishments, including those that prepare and sell
potentially hazardous foods for human consumption, have at least
one certified Food Protection Manager on staff. She said the
training for a Food Protection Manager thoroughly covered topics
like foodborne illness and proper cooking temperatures.
MS. OATES, as the leader of an organization that taught the Food
Protection Manager course, urged the committee to ensure that
entrepreneurs were educated and consumers remained protected
from foodborne illnesses by requiring that any business, or
individuals that prepared for themselves potentially hazardous
foods for personal consumption, would obtain good Protection
Manager Certification.
6:30:08 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 251.
6:30:23 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked for clarification about what changes HB 251
would provide. He specifically asked which food (products) would
be eligible to buy and sell that were not eligible for sale
prior to HB 251.
6:31:07 PM
MR. MCKEE deferred to Ms. Koeneman.
6:31:26 PM
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, Legislative Liaison, Department of
Environmental Conservation, Juneau, Alaska said Alaska's cottage
food laws currently allowed for the sale of various baked goods,
such as cupcakes, cookies, and cakes, as well as jellies and
jams. She said HB 251 would include those things and would
extend the allowable list to include potentially hazardous
foods, like focaccia with cheese, and charcuterie boards with
meats and cheeses and cream cheese frosting. She offered to
provide a more extensive list if requested by the Senator.
6:32:37 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR noted that HB 251, [Section 1], subsection (h)
allowed for meats and meat products. He asked what was already
extant in the law and what would be changed [by HB 251]. He
noted that baked goods were already allowed, and fruits and
vegetables were already allowed. He asked whether the change was
to allow for [the sale of] meats and cheeses.
6:33:17 PM
MS. KOENEMAN answered that items considered potentially
hazardous, cream cheese, because of the water content and pH
value for example, would be allowed under HB 251.
6:33:51 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR noted the use of the term hazardous and asked
whether the Department of Environmental Conservation expected
there to be more incidences of food borne illness with the
passage of HB 251.
6:34:19 PM
MS. KOENEMAN expressed confidence on behalf of Representative
Rauscher and the Department of Environmental Conservation food
sanitation and safety team that HB 251 would not lead to more
foodborne illness. She noted the direct producer-to-consumer
nature of the sales in question and the safety sidebars already
in place as [effective] consumer protections.
6:35:17 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held HB 251 in the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee.
6:35:31 PM
At ease
SB 146-GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS
6:36:12 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 146 "An Act relating to pull-
tabs; relating to persons prohibited from involvement in gaming;
and relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue."
[Before the committee is CS for HB 146, work order 33-GS1054\S,
as the working document.]
6:37:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 146.
6:38:05 PM
JOHN POWERS, Owner, Tudor Bingo Center, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in opposition to the CS for SB 146. He said he and
other pull tab stakeholders had reviewed [the CS for SB 146]. He
noted the announcement that there were some new changes coming
out. He said the stakeholders simply could not assess the
positive or negative impacts to the charities in such a short
amount of time. He said they were putting together a group of
Alaskan gaming industry experts to review all the impacts to the
charities and businesses involved in charitable gaming. The
charitable gaming group consisted of leaders from all the
different gaming types, such as Multiple-beneficiary permit
holders (MBPs), vendors, self-directed operators like himself,
fraternal organizations and distributors. He said they did not
include electronic pull tab manufacturers, because the assembled
group believed the manufacturers had a conflict of interest and
didn't necessarily keep the charities' interests in the
forefront of changes to the regulation. He said the assembled
charitable gaming group had scheduled meetings and were
recruiting from the different types of gaming operations and
different geographic locations around the state of Alaska. He
noted that Senators Gray-Jackson and Dunbar agreed that it was a
good idea for Alaskans involved in charitable gaming to tackle
this issue and see if they could come up with some kind of
electronic pull tab legislation that would benefit the charities
more than the manufacturers.
6:40:17 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether Mr. Powers could suggest an
appropriate number for the limit to the number of pull tab
devices in a store.
6:40:31 PM
Mr. Powers said the stakeholders had not had an opportunity to
assess that. He explained that it would depend in part on the
size and type of the establishment. He noted that he operated a
1,200 square foot pull tab store and a 20,000 square foot bingo
hall. He explained that the assembled group of shareholders
intended to consider this type of factor and layout some
sidebars.
6:41:38 PM
SENATOR MERRICK mentioned that she had a conflict of interest
because a charity her husband led received charitable gaming
proceeds from the Tudor Bingo Center (Mr. Powers'
establishment).
6:42:10 PM
DAVID LAMBERT, Charitable Gaming, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
on HB 146. He expressed support for the ongoing legislative
changes in charitable gaming, however, he emphasized the
complexity of the changes and the need for a task force to
protect nonprofit interests. He highlighted the current
regulations' lack of restrictions on machine placement and the
necessity to safeguard nonprofits. He raised concerns about
increasing machine profit limits to $5 million, as many
nonprofits would not have the opportunity to receive funds until
another charity organization "maxes out". Lambert advocated for
collaboration among the stakeholders over the summer to
formulate a legislative framework for that would support the
nonprofit organizations.
6:43:57 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN said he looked forward to working with the
charitable gaming stakeholders to deliver [good legislation] for
the nonprofits.
6:44:20 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 146.
6:44:23 PM
[CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 146 in the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee.]
6:44:41 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 6:44 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB88 Draft Proposed Amendment ver S.1.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 88 |
| SB146 Draft Proposed CS ver U.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
SB 146 |
| SB146 Public Testimony-Jack Heesch 04.22.24.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
SB 146 |
| HB251 U.A.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 251 |
| HB251 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 251 |
| HB251 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 251 |
| HB251 Fiscal Note DEC-EH 01.26.24.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 251 |
| HB146 Draft Proposed CS ver U.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 146 |
| HB146 Fiscal Note DPS-FLS 01.11.24.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 146 |
| HB189 Draft Proposed Amendment U.2.pdf |
SL&C 5/9/2024 5:15:00 PM |
HB 189 |