Legislature(1995 - 1996)
04/13/1995 03:32 PM Senate STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
April 13, 1995
3:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Sharp, Chairman
Senator Randy Phillips, Vice-Chairman
Senator Loren Leman
Senator Jim Duncan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Dave Donley
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 142
"An Act establishing the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council
and transferring certain functions of other entities to the
council; establishing a planning mechanism for employment training
and other human resource investment needs; and providing for an
effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 146
"An Act relating to the Alaska Election Code and to state election
administration."
HOUSE BILL NO. 173
"An Act relating to reports by state agencies."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 142 - No previous senate committee action.
SB 146 - No previous senate committee action.
HB 173 - No previous senate committee action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Brad Pierce, Senior Policy Analyst
Office of Management & Budget
P.O. Box 110020, Juneau, AK 99811-0020¶465-4677
POSITION STATEMENT: representative of prime sponsor of SB 142
Jerry Lewis, Executive Director
Governor's Council on Vocational & Career Education
211 4th St., Ste. 101, Juneau, AK 99801-1172¶586-1736
POSITION STATEMENT: supports SB 142
Jan Tatlow
P.O. Box 1621, Palmer, AK 99645¶745-4488
POSITION STATEMENT: testified on SB 142
Debra Call, Chairperson
Alaska Job Training Council
2525 C St., Anchorage, AK 99501¶561-3200
POSITION STATEMENT: supports SB 142
Mary Shields
4041 B St., #102, Anchorage, AK 99503¶562-1633
POSITION STATEMENT: supports SB 142
Teeny Metcalf, Job Training Council
Department of Community & Regional Affairs
333 W. 4th Ave., Ste. 220, Anchorage, AK 99519-2341¶269-4659
POSITION STATEMENT: supports SB 142
Sherman Ernouf, Aide to Senator Kelly
State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska, 99801-1182¶465-3822
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of SB 146
David Koivuniemi, Acting Director
Division of Elections
P.O. Box 110017, Juneau, AK 99811-0017¶465-4611
POSITION STATEMENT: testified on SB 146
Barbara Whiting
Division of Elections
P.O. Box 110017, Juneau, AK 99811-0017¶465-4611
POSITION STATEMENT: testified on SB 146
Representative Gary Davis
State Capitol, Juneau, Alaska, 99801-1182¶465-2693
POSITION STATEMENT: prime sponsor of HB 173
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-18, SIDE A
Number 001
SSTA - 4/13/95
SB 142 HUMAN RESOURCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN SHARP calls the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at
3:32 p.m. and brings up SB 142 as the first order of business
before the committee. The chairman notes that the committee does
not yet have a quorum, but will begin by taking testimony.
Chairman Sharp calls the first witness.
Number 020
BRAD PIERCE, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Management & Budget,
reads a written statement consisting of information contained in
the transmittal letter from the governor.
Number 098
MR. PIERCE reads a sectional analysis for SB 142.
Number 190
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS expresses concern over the fiscal note,
which is for a larger sum than last year's fiscal note.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Pierce to explain why, since funding is
being transferred from other sources, the fiscal note is not a zero
fiscal note. The chairman notes that when he sees a fiscal note
with money on it, that means additional funding.
MR. PIERCE states there is no additional funding. This is
transferring money from existing programs to the Governor's Office.
SENATOR DUNCAN adds that the fiscal note he has shows interagency
receipts. The funding source does not show under general funds, so
he would assume the money is already in the budget, and is not a
new expenditure.
MR. PIERCE responds that is a correct observance. He states the
fiscal note shows how the money is being transferred.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if there is any new money, since there will be
one new position created by SB 142.
MR. PIERCE replies that the cost of the new position is being
absorbed.
Number 222
SENATOR LEMAN comments that a four person staff for the council
seems like a large staff. Also, he thinks a board of 23 to 26
members is very large, and may be unwieldy. Senator Leman asks if
there will be a net savings from SB 142.
Number 235
MR. PIERCE responds that a net savings over time is anticipated.
At this time, there are three poorly-staffed councils. What SB 142
will do is give us one adequately-staffed council. However, the
primary reason for SB 142 is not as a cost-saving measure: it is to
increase effectiveness in job-training programs.
SENATOR LEMAN would like to see larger fiscal savings, while still
increasing efficiency.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Mr. Pierce if he has a copy of last
year's fiscal note.
MR. PIERCE responds he probably has one in his office. He
reiterates that the fiscal note is a zero fiscal note, and there
will be no new expenditures due to SB 142.
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Pierce if the council will just serve in an
advisory capacity in relation to the private industry councils
(pic).
MR. PIERCE replies that it will assume to functions of the Job
Training Coordinating Council, which currently oversees the pics.
Number 270
JERRY LEWIS, Executive Director, Governor's Council on Vocational
& Career Education, states the council supports SB 142. He asks
that the committee consider including the School to Work Transition
Council under the umbrella of the Alaska Human Resource Investment
Council. Mr. Lewis also suggests requiring that the chairperson of
the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council be from the private
sector. He also suggests not requiring every member of every
council to attend all meetings, because he did not think that would
be very workable.
Number 311
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS notes that his staff just looked up the
fiscal notes from last year: there were ten fiscal notes, and all
of them were zero. He asks if there is a difference between last
year's bill and this year's bill.
MR. PEARCE responds that the bills are very similar; it is the same
zero fiscal note. There are no new general fund monies.
Number 319
CHAIRMAN SHARP asks Mr. Lewis about his recommendation that one of
the co-chairpersons be from the private sector.
MR. LEWIS replies that the Governor's Council on Vocational &
Career Education is recommending that, instead of co-chairs, the
new council have a chairperson and a vice-chairperson, with the
chairperson from the private sector.
Number 330
JAN TATLOW, Member, Private Industry Council, testifying from
Matsu, states she is concerned with the composition of the council.
She recommends that the three private industry councils in the
state be given a seat on the new council to ensure a local linkage.
Number 350
DEBRA CALL, Chairperson, Alaska Job Training Council, testifying
from Anchorage, states she is a strong proponent of SB 142. Ms.
Call thinks the current educational system is gearing students
toward college education, but in reality, only a small percentage
of students actually go to college. She hopes this legislation
will help resolve the future for the students who do not go to
college. Ms. Call also hopes SB 142 will help increase hiring and
employment opportunities for state residents.
MS. CALL states that consolidation of employment and training
programs is also occurring on the national level and in other
states. We need a state council to set priorities based upon
employment needs and opportunities within the state. The existing
councils are only serving the requirements of the federal programs
which established the councils. Ms. Call states also, that it is
her understanding that U.S. Senator Stevens is very supportive of
this legislation.
Number 412
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Ms. Call if she has seen the fiscal
note for SB 142.
MS. CALL responds she does not believe there is a fiscal note.
There will be no new general fund monies.
Number 417
SENATOR LEMAN asks Ms. Call if 23-26 members is necessary.
MS. CALL replies the number of members reflects the recommendation
of the JTPA.
SENATOR LEMAN asks if that number is similar to the number
specified in last year's bill.
MS. CALL thinks the number is similar.
MR. PIERCE adds that last year's bill did not consolidate the three
councils; it just created an additional council to oversee the
three existing councils. The number of members does reflect the
requirements of JTPA.
MS. CALL agrees that the size of the council could be cumbersome.
Number 451
MARY SHIELDS, testifying from Anchorage, informs the committee that
she runs a contract employment service. Ms. Shields states she
supports SB 142. She sees a lack of training opportunities for
people who are out of highschool or have dropped out of college.
She also sees a great many people returning to college for a second
degree because they are unable to get a job, even though they have
a college education. In trying to help people find work, she
understands how hard it is to be laid of from an industry in
decline and have to be retrained for a different industry. She has
seen these problems in both the oil and the logging industries.
Coordination of employment services will save time and money and
will be more efficient.
Number 498
MS. SHIELDS informs the committee that U.S. Senator Stevens
supports SB 142.
Number 500
TEENY METCALF, Alaska Job Training Council, Department of Community
& Regional Affairs, testifying from Anchorage, states the
department is in favor of SB 142.
CHAIRMAN SHARP notes that the legislation will be held over until
the next committee meeting.
Number 510
SENATOR LEMAN asks what the language, "local public education"
means.
MR. PIERCE responds that refers to K-12 education. He believes
that is a JTPA requirement.
Number 520
CHAIRMAN SHARP states it is his intention to move SB 142 out at the
next committee meeting.
SSTA - 4/13/95
SB 146 ELECTION CODE AND ADMINISTRATION
SENATOR SHARP brings up SB 146 as the next order of business before
the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness.
Number 527
SHERMAN ERNOUF, Aide to Senator Kelly, prime sponsor of SB 146,
reads the sponsor statement for the bill.
Number 540
MR. ERNOUF reviews the sectional analysis on SB 146.
Number 560
MR. ERNOUF notes that three amendments proposed by Senator Kelly
have been submitted to the committee; members have those amendments
in their bill files.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if any employees of the Division of Elections
will be able to join collective bargaining units.
DAVID KOIVUNIEMI, Acting Director of the Division of Elections,
responds that no employees will be able to join a collective
bargaining unit.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if presently employees of the Division of
Elections are members of collective bargaining units.
Number 588
MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds, "No." Presently, all employees of the
division are in the exempt service. The amendment would retain
employees in the exempt service, however, they would be granted
some protections.
TAPE 95-18, SIDE B
Number 591
MR. KOIVUNIEMI states that the status of directors and supervisors
would not change at all. However, other full-time employees of the
division would have some protections and could only have employment
terminated for cause. There would be a grievance procedure, and
the department would be able to have a probationary period. The
main objective is to prohibit what occurred in the division four
years ago, when the whole division was wiped out.
Number 581
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks what the Lieutenant Governor Ulmer's
position is on SB 146.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that the lieutenant governor supports the
amendments.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if the lieutenant governor supports the bill.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that the only sections Lieutenant Governor
Ulmer has not endorsed are those relating to the placement of names
on the primary election ballot by party petition. She is taking a
neutral position on that section.
Number 560
SENATOR LEMAN asks which amendment repeals paying $0.50 for each
voter registration.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies it is in amendment #1. That has not been a
cost-efficient program. For example, in March of 1995, we paid
registrars a total of $74.50. The administration cost for doing so
was about $200 just for computer time; that does not include staff
time. With mandatory voter registration at the Department of Motor
Vehicles and several other state agencies, we have registered over
19,900 voters just since January 1st of this year. We are also
working with the Permanent Fund Dividend Division to develop voter
registration on pfd applications.
SENATOR LEMAN asks if the division supports the section relating to
rotation of names.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that the division does support that
section. It is estimated that provision will save about $105,000.
Number 528
SENATOR DUNCAN asks if there have been studies that show whether or
not rotating names on the ballot has an effect on how people vote.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that in the studies he has seen, there
appears to be an impact in non-partisan, low-profile races, such as
water district board elections. In those types of races, it is
usually the first and last position on the ballot that get the most
votes. But in higher profile races, from city council on up, there
is no discernable impact related to placement of names on the
ballot.
Number 515
[There is a general discussion regarding the ballot rotation
process.]
SENATOR LEMAN, SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS, and SENATOR DUNCAN all
express concern about changing the ballot rotation process.
Number 428
SENATOR DUNCAN makes a motion to adopt amendment #1.
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #1 has been
adopted.
Number 422
SENATOR LEMAN makes a motion to adopt amendment #2.
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #2 has been
adopted.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to adopt amendment #3.
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states amendment #3 has been
adopted.
Number 406
CHAIRMAN SHARP expresses concern regarding Section 17.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that section states that petition
candidates will have to appear on the primary election ballot, and
not just on the general election ballot.
CHAIRMAN SHARP, after hearing that explanation, states he has no
further concern with Section 17.
SENATOR DUNCAN asks what happens if a candidate dies after the
primary election.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies that it depends on when they die: if a
candidate dies more than 48 days before the general election, then
their name will be removed from the ballot. A political party can
make a substitution to a race for specific reasons, such as the
death, resignation, withdrawal, disqualification, etcetera, of a
candidate.
SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS makes a motion to delete Section 7.
Number 365
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, states Section 7 has been
deleted.
Number 362
SENATOR LEMAN asks if there is a specific reason to require the
ballots to be printed on white paper.
MR. KOIVUNIEMI responds that is what is required in the general
election.
SENATOR LEMAN understands that the ballots should be the same
color, but asks if there is any reason to specify white. Is it
less expensive?
BARB WHITING, Division of Elections replies it is probably cheaper
and easier to read.
SENATOR LEMAN asks, if there is an off-white, recycled paper that
is cheaper than white paper, would the division be able to use the
recycled paper?
MR. KOIVUNIEMI replies the division would consider something like
that to be white.
SENATOR LEMAN makes a motion to discharge SB 146 from the Senate
State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.
Number 345
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders SB 146 released from
committee with individual recommendations.
SSTA - 4/13/95
HB 173 REPORTS TO THE LEGISLATURE
SENATOR SHARP brings up HB 173 as the next order of business before
the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness.
Number 341
REPRESENTATIVE GARY DAVIS, prime sponsor of HB 173, reads the
sponsor statement for the bill.
Number 293
SENATOR LEMAN makes a motion to discharge HB 173 from the Senate
State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations.
Number 291
CHAIRMAN SHARP, hearing no objection, orders HB 173 released from
committee with individual recommendations.
Number 280
CHAIRMAN SHARP adjourns the Senate State Affairs Committee meeting
at 4:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|