Legislature(1999 - 2000)
03/23/1999 10:50 AM Senate RLS
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SENATE RULES COMMITTEE
March 23, 1999
10:50 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Tim Kelly, Chair
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chair
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Drue Pearce
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 48
"An Act relating to health insurance provided by and provisions
relating to the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association."
-MOVED ALL VERSIONS OF SB 48 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 76(RLS) am
"An Act relating to an exemption from and deferral of payment on
municipal taxes on deteriorated property; and providing for an
effective date."
-MOVED CSHB 76(RLS)am OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 77
"An Act relating to civil actions by municipalities and certain
public corporations and prohibiting certain civil actions by them
against firearms or ammunition manufacturers and dealers."
-MOVED ALL VERSIONS OF SB 77 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 80(STA)
"An Act relating to a state employment preference for certain
members of the Alaska National Guard."
-MOVED SCSHB 80(RLS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 99
"An Act to clarify the meaning of 'decennial census of the United
States' in Article VI, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and to
prevent discrimination in the redistricting of the house of
representatives and the senate."
-MOVED ALL VERSIONS OF SB 99 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 48 - See Hess minutes dated 2/24/99. See Labor and Commerce
minutes dated 3/16/99.
HB 76 - No previous Senate action.
SB 77 - See Judiciary Committee minutes dated 3/12/99 and 3/15/99.
HB 80 - No previous Senate action.
SB 99 - See Judiciary Committee minutes dated 3-17-99.
WITNESS REGISTER
Doug Salik, Legislative Aide
Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about CSHB 76(RLS)
Chris Nelson, Staff
Joint Committee on Military Affairs
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SCSHB 80(RLS)
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-4, SIDE A
CHAIRMAN KELLY called the Senate Rules Committee meeting to order
at 10:50 a.m. All members were present.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to calendar SB 48-STATE HEALTH INSURANCE.
There being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIRMAN KELLY announced the Senate Rules Committee would take
public testimony on CSHB 76(RLS) am - MUNICIPAL TAXES ON
DETERIORATED PROPERTY today. He explained the measure makes a
technical correction to a bill that was passed by the Legislature
last year. Hopefully, the passage of CSHB 76(RLS)am will allow the
McKay building project to go forward, as well as others.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the technical change could have been made in
the Revisor's bill.
CHAIRMAN KELLY clarified the Anchorage municipal attorney asked
that last year's legislation be reworded, and the bill also
addresses a concern of the Kodiak Island Borough assessor. He
stated he is unaware of any substantial opposition to this bill.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if CSHB 76(RLS) am is identical to the final
version before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
DOUG SALIK, legislative staff to the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Committee, explained the House amended the bill on page 2,
line 5, by adding the phrase, "on the same portion of the
property." The owners of the McKay property are subdividing the
property and asked for clarification. Representatives Croft, Halcro
and Davies proposed the amendment which is the only change from the
Senate version of the bill.
MR. SALIK added that change was reviewed by two state assessors and
the developer's attorney.
SENATOR ELLIS asked why the state assessor was reticent to support
the bill.
MR. SALIK said Pat Carlson's concerns have been addressed.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if anyone has any objections at this point.
MR. SALIK replied not that he is aware of.
SENATOR LEMAN moved CSHB 76(RLS)am for calendaring. There being no
objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to calendar SB 77-LIABILITY RELATING TO
FIREARMS. SENATOR ELLIS objected to ask what the Alaska Municipal
League's (AML) position is on this measure. CHAIRMAN KELLY stated
if the bill is approved for calendaring, he would provide the AML's
position before the bill is scheduled for a floor vote. The motion
to calendar SB 77 carried with Senators Leman, Miller, Pearce, and
Kelly voting "yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay."
CHAIRMAN KELLY announced a proposed Senate Rules Committee
substitute had been prepared for HB 80.
CHRIS NELSON, Staff Director to the Joint Committee on Military
Bases, discussed the two changes made to the proposed committee
substitute. The first change increases, from three to five, the
number of preference points for hiring at the request of request of
the Administration through the Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs. That increase will place National Guard members on an
equal status with veterans who have served during periods of
conflict, and because the Department of Administration expressed
concern that creating too many categories in the point system could
complicate the hiring process. A ten point preference already
exists for disabled veterans and prisoners of war. MR. NELSON
informed committee members he has not received any objections to
this change from any of the veterans groups and that overall
support has been bipartisan.
CHAIRMAN KELLY stated that change is also favored by Pat Pourchot,
Legislative Director in the Office of the Governor.
MR. NELSON explained the second revision provides an employment
preference, consistent with the collective bargaining agreements,
in the event of layoffs. This revision grants the same employment
preference to National Guard members as that currently provided to
disabled veterans, prisoners of war and veterans, in the event that
layoffs occur. Public employee bargaining unit representatives
were concerned about seniority. Some of their suggestions were
adopted and those representatives have agreed to the changes made
in the bill. The actual language change begins on line 18, and
reads, "If all job qualifications are equal, a member of the
National Guard shall be given preference over a person who is not
a veteran, prisoner of war, or member of the National Guard."
CHAIRMAN KELLY clarified that language draws a middle line between
changes made by a House committee and what the bargaining units
wanted to see.
MR. NELSON explained that placing hiring preferences in statute
raises the question of whether the prerogatives of the bargaining
unit are being preempted. The addition of this language was
considered to be a middle ground because it requires that all
factors be considered equally.
Number 181
SENATOR ELLIS questioned whether veterans and prisoners of war have
preference over members of the National Guard. MR. NELSON said
that is how he reads the bill. The groups are listed in the bill
in priority and veterans and prisoners of war have a 10 point
preference.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the bill creates a hierarchy of preferences
with prisoners of war at the top of the list. MR. NELSON said that
is correct.
CHAIRMAN KELLY noted the available pool of veterans and prisoners
of war in the job market is rapidly diminishing.
SENATOR ELLIS asked if the bill in any way interferes with the
existing hierarchy of military people for the purpose of hiring
preferences.
MR. NELSON said it does not.
SENATOR LEMAN said he reads the bill to change the hierarchy a
little bit because it provides a preference equal to the five
points added for the passing grade of a veteran. MR. NELSON agreed
it changes the hierarchy on the hiring but the bill makes two
changes. It gives a competitive advantage during the hiring
process and recognizes that in the event of a layoff, they also
have a preference.
CHAIRMAN KELLY stated that because the bargaining unit is concerned
that wholesale layoffs will occur, it wanted to place the seniority
issue in statute. He felt that would interfere with the collective
bargaining process because the seniority issue is included in most
collective bargaining agreements.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt SCSHB 80(RLS). There being no
objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to calendar HB 80-EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE FOR
NAT'L GUARD. There being no objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to calendar SB 99-REDISTRICTING BOARD/CENSUS
FIGURES. CHAIRMAN KELLY noted there was objection. The motion
carried with Senators Miller, Pearce, Leman, and Kelly voting
"yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay."
There being no further business before the committee, CHAIRMAN
KELLY adjourned the meeting.
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