05/16/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB121 | |
| SB154 | |
| SB62 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 121 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
May 16, 2025
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair
Senator Kelly Merrick, Vice Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Forrest Dunbar
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Robert Yundt
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 121
"An Act relating to the practice of accounting; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED SCS HB 121(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 154
"An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory
Board; relating to payment for personal care services; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SSSB 154 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 62
"An Act relating to the board of parole; and providing for an
effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 89
"An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to
collaborative agreements between physicians and physician
assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to
health care providers; and relating to provisions regarding
physician assistants in contracts between certain health care
providers and health care insurers."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 121
SHORT TITLE: ACCOUNTING; PRACTICE PRIVILEGE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SCHRAGE
02/28/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/28/25 (H) L&C
03/10/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/10/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/12/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/12/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/12/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/14/25 (H) Moved HB 121 Out of Committee
03/14/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/17/25 (H) L&C RPT 5DP 1NR
03/17/25 (H) DP: COULOMBE, BURKE, NELSON, HALL,
FIELDS
03/17/25 (H) NR: CARRICK
03/17/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/17/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/24/25 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
03/24/25 (H) VERSION: HB 121
03/26/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/25 (S) EDC, L&C
04/09/25 (S) EDC REFERRAL REMOVED
04/09/25 (S) STA REFERRAL ADDED
04/22/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/22/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/22/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/06/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/25 (S) Heard & Held
05/06/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/08/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/08/25 (S) Moved SCS HB 121(STA) Out of Committee
05/08/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
05/09/25 (S) STA RPT SCS 2DP 3NR NEW TITLE
05/09/25 (S) DP: KAWASAKI, GRAY-JACKSON
05/09/25 (S) NR: YUNDT, WIELECHOWSKI, BJORKMAN
05/14/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/14/25 (S) Heard & Held
05/14/25 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/16/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 154
SHORT TITLE: HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) YUNDT
04/02/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/02/25 (S) L&C, FIN
04/22/25 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
04/22/25 (S) L&C, FIN
05/14/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/14/25 (S) Heard & Held
05/14/25 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/16/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 62
SHORT TITLE: BOARD OF PAROLE: MEMBERSHIP, REPORT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) TOBIN
01/24/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/25 (S) STA, L&C
02/19/25 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
02/19/25 (S) STA, L&C
03/11/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/11/25 (S) Heard & Held
03/11/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
04/08/25 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/08/25 (S) Moved SSSB 62 Out of Committee
04/08/25 (S) MINUTE(STA)
04/09/25 (S) STA RPT 3NR 1DP
04/09/25 (S) NR: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI, YUNDT
04/09/25 (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON
04/30/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/30/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/30/25 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
05/16/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
AMANDA NDEMO, Staff
Representative Calvin Schrage
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a brief summary of HB 121.
NOAH KLEIN, Associate Counsel
Alaska Court System
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about HB 121.
RYAN MCKEE, Staff
Senator Rob Yundt
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a brief summary of SB 154.
TONY NEUMAN, Director
Division of Senior and Disability Services
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a summary of the fiscal note of SB
154.
LOUIE FLORA, Staff
Senator Loki Tobin
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a brief summary of SB 62.
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a summary of changes for SB 62
from version N to version H.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:28 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Merrick, Gray-Jackson, Dunbar and Chair
Bjorkman.
HB 121-ACCOUNTING; PRACTICE PRIVILEGE
[SCS HB 121(STA) was before the committee.]
1:34:48 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 121
"An Act relating to the practice of accounting; and providing
for an effective date."
1:35:14 PM
AMANDA NDEMO, Staff, Representative Calvin Schrage, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided a brief summary of HB 121:
[Original punctuation provided.]
House Bill 121 modernizes Alaska's CPA licensure
process to help address the state's accountant
shortage and align with national standards. The bill
reduces the required education from 150 to 120 credit
hours for CPA candidates, provided they have two years
of relevant experience, making the pathway to
licensure more accessible. It also updates practice
privilege provisions, allowing qualified out-of-state
CPAs to practice in Alaska without obtaining a
separate license. These changes aim to increase the
state's CPA workforce while maintaining professional
standards and supporting economic development.
1:36:26 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN said that he would like to discuss the
differences between the House and Senate versions of HB 121 and
the changes made so far, including provisions added in the State
Affairs Committee to allow Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
to serve as professional conservators. He asked Mr. Klein to
talk about the provisions added.
1:37:25 PM
NOAH KLEIN, Associate Counsel, Alaska Court System, Juneau,
Alaska, answered questions about HB 121. He stated that SB 99,
now included in HB 121, removes the requirement for private
professional conservators who are certified public accountants
to also be certified as guardians. He said these CPAs would
still need to complete the standard conservator training. The
court remains neutral, noting that the change could increase the
number of professional conservators by easing licensing
requirements, leaving the policy decision to the legislature.
1:39:14 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked him to explain the training or education
required for guardianship that CPAs would be exempt from when
becoming private professional conservators.
1:39:29 PM
MR. KLEIN replied that CPA's would not take the 20-30 question
test that licensed guardians are required to take.
1:40:28 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked what knowledge guardians needed that
conservators did not need to fulfill their duties responsibly.
1:40:44 PM
MR. KLEIN replied that it's not that guardians need different
knowledge, but that their duties differ. Guardians oversee all
aspects of a ward's life, including housing, living
arrangements, and access to benefits, while conservators focus
solely on managing the ward's financial affairs.
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked for confirmation that 90 percent of people
with conservatorship would need guardianship status.
MR. KLEIN replied that the vast majority of wards in Alaska have
a guardianship and conservatorship or just a guardianship. He
said a private professional conservator's certification would
only apply to cases requiring conservatorship; if guardianship
were also needed, the guardianship requirements would still
apply.
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether the policy question before the
committee is whether CPAs should be allowed to serve as
guardians without taking the guardianship test.
1:42:24 PM
MR. KLEIN replied that he would phrase it as whether the
legislature believes CPAs should be allowed to serve as
conservators without taking the guardianship test, while still
completing the required training that family member conservators
currently undergo.
1:42:52 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether SB 99 would prohibit a CPA from
serving as a guardian.
MR. KLEIN replied that a certified public accountant (CPA) could
serve as a guardian after completing the additional requirements
for private professional guardians.
1:43:13 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked if guardianship was even being
considered. She thought the discussion was only about
conservatorship for CPAs.
1:43:25 PM
MR. KLEIN replied that guardianship is part of the discussion
because certification as a guardian currently includes both
guardianship and conservatorship, which is legally sufficient to
become a private professional conservator.
1:43:49 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked if conservators deal with finances
and guardianship deals with everything, including finances.
1:43:57 PM
MR. KLEIN replied that guardianship covers all aspects of a
ward's life, and guardianship certification tests all areas of
responsibility.
1:44:25 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 121; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:44:59 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that he would prefer to advance the State
Affairs Committee version, which includes the conservatorship
portion, and move both CPA-related bills simultaneously to
achieve some efficiency.
1:45:46 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN stated his agreement.
1:46:14 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:46:16 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report SCS HB 121(STA), work order 34-
LS0382\G, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:46:34 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SCS HB 121(STA) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:46:54 PM
At ease.
SB 154-HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
1:48:58 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 154 "An
Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory
Board; relating to payment for personal care services; and
providing for an effective date."
1:49:28 PM
RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Senator Rob Yundt, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided a brief summary of SB 154:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Alaska faces an acute shortage of direct care workers,
particularly outside of population centers. The
potential provider workforce demographic, those age 18
to 64, is in decline. Furthermore, low pay and lack
of benefits force many caregivers out of the
profession and make recruitment and retention
increasingly more difficult for agencies providing in-
home care services.
We need to create a strong and long-lasting home care
infrastructure in Alaska which will expand access to
quality, affordable home and community-based care for
seniors and people with disabilities, keep people in
their homes and out of costly facilities, and bolster
the creation of jobs. We also need to ensure that
Medicaid funding for personal care services is wisely
spent, with an adequate portion of the rate going to
pay and benefits for direct care workers, in order to
help address the workforce shortage. SB 154
accomplishes both objects by:
• Establishing a Home Care Employment Standards
Advisory Board that will investigate, advise, and
develop recommendations on Medicaid rates and
other policies to improve the wages, working
conditions, and recruitment and retention of
direct care workers.
• Requiring that agencies providing personal care
services spend at least 70 percent of the total
annual funding they receive from the department
for personal care services on the pay and
benefits of Personal Care Assistants providing
such services.
1:51:51 PM
TONY NEUMAN, Director, Division of Senior and Disability
Services, Juneau, Alaska, provided a summary of the fiscal note
for SB 154, Department of Health, OMB component 2663, dated May
9, 2025. He stated that the fiscal note estimates would require
$163,000 in the first year and $327,200 in FY 2027. SB 154 would
be funded 50/50 by federal receipts and the general fund,
allowing for one full-time position initially and a second in FY
2027.
1:53:07 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 154; finding none,
he closed public testimony.
1:53:39 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.
1:53:41 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to report SSSB 154, work order 34-
LS0836\N, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
1:53:55 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and SSSB 154 was reported from
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
1:54:10 PM
At ease.
SB 62-BOARD OF PAROLE: MEMBERSHIP, REPORT
1:56:13 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 62 "An
Act relating to the board of parole; and providing for an
effective date."
1:56:37 PM
LOUIE FLORA, Staff, Senator Loki Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided a brief summary of SB 62:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 62 will create a Board of Parole equipped with
expertise in a wide spectrum of the criminal justice,
corrections, reentry, mental health and substance
abuse fields.
1:56:58 PM
MR. FLORA continued with the summary for SB 62:
This will inform parole decisions in a new,
potentially more holistic way. It also will help
broaden the public understanding of parole decisions
by requiring an annual report.
The Legislative audit identified that the Board of
Parole has maintained extra staff positions provided
under the 2016 criminal justice reform act SB 91- so
the cost of adding two new board members is net zero
if the additional staff costs are transferred. (I
rambled off script for a few sentences after this)
• SB 62 also expands the expertise of the
Parole Board, designating a seat for a
person with Drug and Alcohol counseling 80
percent of our inmates have a drug or
alcohol addiction issues.
• It designates a seat for an Alaska Native
Tribal member 40 percent of the
incarcerated population are Alaska Natives.
• It designates a seat for a professional
physician, psychologist or psychiatrist with
mental health expertise and
• It designates a seat for a crime victim,
family member of a crime victim or a member
of victim's rights organization
• Intent is create a board of parole with
relevant expertise in addition to the
correctional expertise already found the
parole board and that this board will do
more to support affirmative parole
decisions, with greater transparency.
1:59:18 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.
1:59:21 PM
SENATOR MERRICK moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 62, work order 34-LS0227\H, as the working document.
1:59:32 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.
1:59:48 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented summary of changes from
version N to version H for SB 62 and read the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Summary of Changes
CS for Sponsor Substitute for Senate Bill 62 (L&C)
Version 34-LS0227\N to 34-LS0227-H
Sections 1: Delete all material.
Renumber remaining sections accordingly.
Section 2:Inserts new Section 2, Amending AS
33.16.020(c) by adding a limit of service
as presiding officer to one term.
Section 3: Amends AS 33.16.030(b) (1) to require the
physician, psychologist or
psychiatrist board member have experience
treating drug or alcohol
addiction.
Deletes AS 33.16.030(b) (3).
Section 6: Amends AS 33.16.080 Establishing the
Commissioner shall hire the executive
director and for administrative purposes, be located
in the of the Commissioner.
Renumber remaining sections accordingly.
2:01:25 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN expressed his personal comments on the committee
substitute (CS), he collaborated with the bill sponsor and the
Department of Corrections to ensure SB 62 has full departmental
support, improves Board of Parole efficiency, and clarifies
board decisions. He said key discussions include defining
qualifications for a victim-of-a-crime board member without
overly limiting candidates, considering an ex-officio member to
represent victims' interests, and potentially limiting
consecutive terms for board officers.
2:04:06 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.
2:04:14 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and CSSB 62 was
adopted as the working document.
2:04:36 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 62 in committee.
2:05:33 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 2:05 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Belle Merritt 05.01.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Ann Pence 05.07.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Deirdre Downey 05.06.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Kathleen Gordon 05.06.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Neville Bruce 05.07.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Public Testimony-Email-Samantha Drake 05.06.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB62 Draft Proposed CS ver H.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 62 |
| SB89 Public Testimony-Letter- APCA 04.29.25.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| SB89 Draft Proposed CS ver G.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| HB121 ver N.pdf |
SL&C 5/16/2025 1:30:00 PM |
HB 121 |