03/29/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB66 | |
| SJR20 | |
| SB207 | |
| SB195 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 195 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 207 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 29, 2022
3:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Shower, Chair
Senator Mia Costello
Senator Scott Kawasaki
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lora Reinbold, Vice Chair
Senator Roger Holland
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Commissioner, Department of Administration
Paula Vrana - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Personnel Board
Keith Hamilton, PhD. - Soldotna
-CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SENATE BILL NO. 66
"An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council;
and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and
Audit Committee."
- MOVED CSSB 66 (2D STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20
Urging the United States Congress to pass the Hearing Protection
Act.
- MOVED SJR 20 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 207
"An Act restricting the release of certain records of
convictions; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSSB 207(STA) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 195
"An Act relating to the compensation of certain public
officials, officers, and employees not covered by collective
bargaining agreements; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 66
SHORT TITLE: MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) BEGICH
02/03/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/03/21 (S) STA
03/16/21 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/16/21 (S) Heard & Held
03/16/21 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/10/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/10/22 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/17/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/17/22 (S) Moved CSSB 66(STA) Out of Committee
02/17/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
02/22/22 (S) STA RPT CS 1DP 3NR 1AM SAME TITLE
02/22/22 (S) DP: SHOWER
02/22/22 (S) NR: COSTELLO, REINBOLD, HOLLAND
02/22/22 (S) AM: KAWASAKI
03/28/22 (S) RETURNED TO STA COMMITTEE
03/28/22 (S) STA WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE
23
03/29/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SJR 20
SHORT TITLE: URGE PASSAGE OF HEARING PROTECTION ACT
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REVAK
01/18/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/18/22 (S) STA
02/17/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
02/17/22 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/01/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/01/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/03/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/03/22 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/08/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/08/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/08/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/22/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/22/22 (S) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/29/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 207
SHORT TITLE: ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) SHOWER
02/22/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/22/22 (S) STA, JUD
03/10/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/10/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/17/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/17/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/17/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/22/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
03/22/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/22/22 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/29/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 195
SHORT TITLE: PAY INCREASES FOR EXEMPT EMPLOYEES
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) KIEHL
02/15/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/15/22 (S) STA, FIN
03/29/22 (S) STA AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
PAULA VRANA, Commissioner Designee
Department of Administration
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as Commissioner Designee of the
Department of Administration.
ANDREE MCLEOD
Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of AKPIRG, expressed concern that
the deputy commissioner of the Department of Administration was
not following the Alaska Public Records Act.
KEITH HAMILTON, PhD. Appointee
Personnel Board
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as an appointee to the Personnel
Board.
ANDREE MCLEOD
Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of AKPIRG, testified in opposition
to the reappointment of Keith Hamilton to the Personnel Board.
SENATOR TOM BEGICH
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 66.
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff
Senator Josh Revak
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Refreshed the committee's recall of SJR 20.
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 195.
CATHY SCHLINGHEYDE, Staff
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented the sectional analysis for SB 195.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:35:55 PM
CHAIR MIKE SHOWER called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Kawasaki, Costello, and Chair Shower.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Commissioner, Department of Administration
Personnel Board
3:36:31 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of Governor Appointees
to Boards and Commissions.
He invited Commissioner Designee Paula Vrana to testify.
3:36:57 PM
PAULA VRANA, Commissioner Designee, Department of
Administration, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that she has a degree
in business administration from Boise State University and a
Juris doctorate from the University of Idaho. She related that
she has practiced law in Alaska since 1998. For the first 15
years she worked primarily in oil and gas administrative law.
Thereafter she transitioned into executive leadership and worked
for over three years as the chief executive officer for the
Copper River Native Association. An important accomplishment
during that time was building a $20 million, full-service health
facility in the Glennallen area. After that she took four years
to stay home on the farm with her young sons. For a year after
that she served as the executive director for Hospice of
Anchorage. At the beginning of Governor Dunleavy's
administration, she moved into the Department of Administration
(DOA) and most of the last three years were spent as deputy
commissioner. This has provided an opportunity to learn about
all the services DOA provides to the other state departments and
Alaskans. She said it's been a learning experience.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA shared that she was born and raised
in Skagway but has lived in Wasilla for the past 24 years. She
recounted her son's progress through school, her passion for the
farm, and the activities of her all-Alaskan family.
3:42:27 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO extended congratulations on her appointment to
arguably the most important department in state government. She
asked for her vision for the department and her plan to fill the
vacancies, including any challenges she foresees.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA replied that her plan for the
department for the next year is to complete the consolidation of
the Office of Information Technology (OIT), Human Resources
(HR), the Office of Procurement and Property Management (OPPM),
and Shared Services of Alaska (SSoA). She described the
consolidation of HR and SSoA as largely complete and said
leadership would focus this year on completing the
consolidations for OIT and OPPM. She offered her perspective
that DOA employees were looking forward to this.
COMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA stated that she was also committed
to a culture of providing excellent customer service, starting
in her office. With regard to filling the vacancies, she
explained that there are now just two deputy commissioners in
DOA rather than three, and both those positions have been filled
for several weeks. She acknowledged that the vacancies, some of
which are due to COVID, have been a challenge. She cited the
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as particularly challenged with
a vacancy rate of about 20 percent. Most of the positions were
entry-level and there was no opportunity for telework. The
situation has improved somewhat in recent months. She also noted
the challenges to fill attorney positions in the Public Defender
Agency and the Office of Public Advocacy.
3:49:00 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO noted that entry level DMV employees have a lot
of interaction with the public and that those positions pay very
little. She asked Commissioner Designee Vrana to talk about some
of the innovations, such as telework, that she was spearheading
at DOA.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA explained that the department's
Office of Information Technology scaled up telework capabilities
within a matter of weeks to allow thousands of DOA employees to
work from home. DOA continues to use hybrid teleworking as a
tool for recruitment and retention.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if her style of leadership was such that she
would feel comfortable telling the governor or lieutenant
governor that the "emperor was wearing no clothes" or if she
would shy away from those conversations.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA replied that her approach would be
to begin by consulting the DOA leadership team that would be
involved in the particular issue. Armed with this information,
she would share her honest feedback with the Governor directly
or the Governor's office, laying out her team's concerns.
CHAIR SHOWER offered his perspective that it is difficult for
policymakers to make good decisions when they don't have the raw
data.
3:54:18 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI highlighted that three administrations have
talked about the fact that entry level DMV employees receive
basically the same pay as someone who works at McDonald's. A key
difference is that these DMV employees are qualified to work
with personal information. He asked if she was looking at ways
to improve this situation and whether she might discuss this
with the Governor.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA replied the department acknowledges
the problem at DMV and has been addressing the situation in
several ways including: more flexible work schedules, telework
when it is appropriate, initiating a class study to address pay
levels, and the Division of Personnel and Labor Relations is
drawing on the experience in other states to help develop a
long-term strategy for workforce planning.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked for the status of the class study.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA replied it is in the beginning
stage of the process. She offered her understanding that it was
with the Division of Personnel and Labor Relations and the next
step would be to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She
predicted that the entire process would take longer than six
months.
3:58:10 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked if she would support establishing an
inspector general type office that would be responsible for
"watching the watchers." He argued that top level appointees,
such as the attorney general, have a clear conflict of interest
when it comes to advising the governor about issues that may be
antithetical to his agenda because their appointments are
political. He noted that the former commissioner supported the
idea of an inspector general office.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA replied she was familiar with the
former commissioner's efforts, and she wholeheartedly supports
that function going forward, but she wasn't sure where it should
reside.
4:00:35 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on the appointment of Paula
Vrana as Commissioner of the Department of Administration.
4:00:52 PM
ANDREE MCLEOD, Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG),
Anchorage, Alaska, expressed hope that the commissioner would
carry through on Deputy Commissioner Donley's duty to follow the
Alaska Public Records Act. She explained that AKPIRG had filed a
number of public records requests for audio recordings and many
of those requests had been disregarded.
4:03:08 PM
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony and asked Commissioner
Designee Vrana if she had any closing comments.
COMMMISSIONER DESIGNEE VRANA thanked the committee and requested
the member's support.
CHAIR SHOWER asked Keith Hamilton to tell the committee about
his interest in serving on the Personnel Board.
4:04:22 PM
KEITH HAMILTON, PhD. Appointee, Personnel Board, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Soldotna,
Alaska, stated that he has served as the president of Alaska
Christian College since he moved to Alaska 21 years ago. He
described the composition and focus of the college. He has a
doctorate in youth and family culture. This will be his third
appointment to the Personnel Board, and he serves concurrently
on the Board of Education and Early Development and the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education. He said he understands
Alaskans and their frustration with government.
CHAIR SHOWER expressed appreciation for the work he does and
then asked his usual question which was whether he had any
skeletons in the closet that the committee should know about now
that might come up later.
DR. HAMILTON replied there was nothing that would contaminate
his leadership in this role.
4:07:29 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO said she enjoyed serving with him on the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education and was impressed with his
willingness to serve the public.
DR. HAMILTON thanked her for her comments.
CHAIR SHOWER thanked him for his volunteerism.
4:08:37 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on the appointment of Keith
Hamilton to the Personnel Board.
4:09:02 PM
ANDREE MCLEOD, Alaska Public Interest Research Group (AKPIRG),
Anchorage, Alaska, stated that AKPIRG opposes the reappointment
of Keith Hamilton to the Personnel Board because the board is
not working in the public's interest to ensure that the
Executive Branch Ethics Act is followed.
She explained that AKPIRG submitted ethics complaints in May
2020 and March 2021 and is still awaiting any response or
communication from the Personnel Board. She said this violates
AS 39.52.335 of the Executive Branch Ethics Act that directs a
summary of the matter to be submitted to the board and
complainant if a complaint is dismissed.
MS. MCLEOD highlighted that AKPIRG also has submitted repeated
public records requests to the board during meetings and has
testified before the board about its failure to respond, but the
board continues to be unresponsive to those requests. She asked
the committee to ask Dr. Hamilton why he has failed to uphold
the duties of the board.
4:11:36 PM
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on the appointment of Keith
Hamilton to the Personnel Board.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked Dr. Hamilton to comment on Ms. McCloud's
allegation about upholding his oath of office and his duty as a
member of the Personnel Board.
DR. HAMILTON said he became aware of her complaint during the
hearing last week in the House. He took the matter to the
Department of Administration Division of Personnel and the
response then and now was that those concerns are outside the
scope of the Personnel Board. He said he did not know how that
was communicated to the complainant. He suggested Ms. McLeod
identify whether she opposed his candidacy in particular or the
Personnel Board in its entirety.
4:13:02 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if the Personnel Board has staff to
respond to requests that come in, and whether the board
adjudicates those matters.
DR. HAMILTON explained that complaints are stamped when they
arrive and then are referred to an independent third-party
attorney who reviews the complaint and determines whether or not
it is a valid ethics complaint under the statute. He offered his
understanding that notification is sent immediately once a
decision is made, but that is outside the board's purview.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he wanted to highlight the matter further.
DR. HAMILTON said his previous response would suffice.
CHAIR SHOWER found no further questions and solicited a motion.
4:14:44 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080,
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee reviewed the
following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration:
Commissioner, Department of Administration
Paula Vrana - Anchorage
Personnel Board
Keith Hamilton - Soldotna
CHAIR SHOWER reminded members that signing the reports regarding
appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects
individual members' approval or disapproval of the appointees;
the nominations are merely forwarded to the full legislature for
confirmation or rejection.
4:15:19 PM
At ease
SB 66-MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT
4:16:11 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 66 "An Act relating to the
membership of the legislative council; and relating to the
membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee."
CHAIR SHOWER explained that the bill was previously heard,
conceptually amended, and passed from committee on February 17,
2022. Due to a technical error, Senator Kawasaki's conceptual
amendment was not incorporated into a committee substitute
before the bill was transmitted to the next committee of
referral. The bill was back before the committee to remedy that
omission. He asked for a motion to adopt the corrected committee
substitute, which accurately reflects the committee's intention.
4:16:40 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to adopt CSSB 66(2dSTA), work order 32-
LS0410\I, as the working document.
4:16:50 PM
CHAIR SHOWER objected to entertain questions or debate.
4:17:01 PM
CHAIR SHOWER removed his objection; he found no further
objection and version I was adopted as the working document. He
asked the sponsor if he had any comments or closing remarks.
4:17:26 PM
SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 66, said he had no comments but was hopeful that
the bill would move forward.
CHAIR SHOWER solicited a motion.
4:17:46 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report CSSB 66, work order 32-
LS0410\I, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and CSSB 66 (2dSTA) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
SENATOR BEGICH thanked the members.
4:18:26 PM
At ease
SJR 20-URGE PASSAGE OF HEARING PROTECTION ACT
4:19:42 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Urging the
United States Congress to pass the Hearing Protection Act.
He noted that the bill was heard previously, public testimony
was taken, and his intention was to move the bill from
committee. He asked Ms. Torkelson if she had closing comments on
behalf of the sponsor.
4:20:03 PM
EMMA TORKELSON, Staff, Senator Josh Revak, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, summarized that SJR 20 urges
Congress to pass the Hearing Protection Act, which would
simplify the process to purchase firearm suppressors and protect
hearing.
CHAIR SHOWER highlighted that suppressors are not silencers, and
they are not small in size.
4:20:58 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report SJR 20, work order 32-LS1374\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SJR 20 was reported from the
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:21:18 PM
At ease
SB 207-ACCESS TO MARIJUANA CONVICTION RECORDS
4:22:05 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 207 "An Act restricting the
release of certain records of convictions; and providing for an
effective date."
He solicited a motion to adopt the committee substitute (CS)
that incorporates the amendment the committee adopted during the
previous hearing.
4:22:22 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS)
for SB 207, work order 32-LS1601\B, as the working document.
CHAIR SHOWER objected for discussion purposes. He explained the
amendment streamlined the intent section to read:
It is the intent of the legislature to reduce barriers
to employment for people who have been convicted of
low-level marijuana possession crimes that would be
legal on January 1, 2023.
4:23:24 PM
CHAIR SHOWER found no questions or comments and removed his
objection. Without further objection, version B was adopted as
the working document.
4:23:37 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 207; finding none, he
closed public testimony.
CHAIR SHOWER found no further comments or questions and
solicited a motion.
[Senator Costello made a motion and then corrected it with the
motion below.]
4:24:30 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO moved to report CSSB 207, work order 32-
LS1601\B, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and CSSB 207(STA) was reported
from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.
4:24:51 PM
At ease
SB 195-PAY INCREASES FOR EXEMPT EMPLOYEES
4:26:10 PM
CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 195 "An Act relating to the
compensation of certain public officials, officers, and
employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements; and
providing for an effective date."
4:26:31 PM
SENATOR JESSE KIEHL, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 195, described the legislation as a pay catchup
bill for exempt and partially exempt employees. He explained
that this refers to public workers who are not represented by a
union. This includes the civil attorneys, prosecutors,
administrative clerks, and paralegals at the Department of Law;
many of the people who work at public corporations such as the
line employees at the Alaska Industrial Development and Export
Authority (AICEA) who do the investment analysis; the employees
at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI); political
appointees within departments, other than commissioners;
legislative staff; all employees at the Alaska Court System,
including judges; and the nonpartisan staff at the Legislative
Affairs Agency.
In total, the bill applies to about 2,400 state workers.
Historically, when the General Government Unit, which is
represented by the Alaska State Employees Association,
negotiates a contract for a pay increase, the legislature has
applied those same pay increases to exempt and partially exempt
employees. The legislature did not do that when the last GGU pay
increase was negotiated so the pay for these employees is a full
contract cycle behind. SB 195 makes up that five percent
difference in pay over the course of two years.
SENATOR KIEHL noted that the Commissioner Designee of the
Department of Administration talked about the difficulties with
recruitment earlier in this meeting. He said this applies across
all departments and in the private sector and it does not make
it any easier when comparable jobs have a pay difference of five
percent. It will also feed into the retention problem because it
doesn't make sense to stay and get paid less. Similarly, it
doesn't make sense for the legislature to not catch up the pay
for those employees who are not in a union to the pay for those
who are represented.
SENATOR KIEHL said his staff Cathy Schlingheyde would present
the sectional analysis and the director of Personnel and Labor
Relations was available to answer more technical questions.
4:30:30 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO requested a copy of the salary schedule.
SENATOR KIEHL directed attention to Section 1 of the bill that
reflects the 2.5 percent increase for the first year. He offered
to provide the schedule for the following year that would
reflect the second 2.5 percent increase for a total of five
percent.
4:31:18 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if he had an analysis of the effect this
would have on the retirement system.
SENATOR KIEHL replied he did not have a standalone analysis, but
it is well within the actuarial assumptions the Alaska
Retirement Management (ARM) Board has made for funding the
Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) for defined benefits.
CHAIR SHOWER requested the sectional analysis and an explanation
of the fiscal note.
4:32:07 PM
CATHY SCHLINGHEYDE, Staff, Senator Jesse Kiehl, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 195 that read as follows:
Section 1: 2.5% salary increase for classified and
partially exempt employees in the executive branch not
covered by a collective bargaining unit and for all
legislative employees in FY 23.
Section 2: An additional 2.5% salary increase for
classified and partially exempt employees in the
executive branch not covered by a collective
bargaining unit and for all legislative employees in
FY 24.
Section 3: Repeals a defunct section of statute which
changed salaries in 2015.
Section 4: The salary increases in sections 1 and 2
apply to exempt employees in the executive branch.
Section 5: The salary increases in sections 1 and 2
apply to employees in the judicial branch not covered
by a collective bargaining unit.
Section 6: The salary increases in sections 1 and 2
apply to employees of the University of Alaska not
covered by a collective bargaining unit.
Section 7: The initial 2.5% increase takes effect for
FY 23.
4:33:15 PM
CHAIR SHOWER asked which University of Alaska employees would be
covered by Section 6.
MS. SCHLINGHEYDE replied she would follow up with the
information.
CHAIR SHOWER said he would appreciate the information.
SENATOR KIEHL clarified that this would not apply to the
university employees who are represented by the three bargaining
units at the university.
CHAIR SHOWER asked the sponsor to review the fiscal note.
4:34:16 PM
SENATOR KIEHL explained that the fiscal note includes the cost
estimates for the affected employees in all three branches of
government. The cost in year one will be $8.6 million and an
additional $8.8 million the second year. Of that, about $5.8
million is unrestricted general fund (UGF), a little is
designated general fund (DGF) and the rest comes from
interagency receipts.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if cost increases in program receipts were
anticipated to make up some of the revenue that will be
required.
SENATOR KIEHL offered his understanding that the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) included the university in its
fiscal note, but he would double check.
CHAIR SHOWER said he would like to know whether any of the cost
increases for wages would be passed along to the public. He also
asked if this would be the only fiscal note.
MS. SCHLINGHEYDE replied this is expected to be the final fiscal
note.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he expected the director of Personnel and
Labor Relations to testify.
SENATOR KIEHL replied he did not believe the administration had
prepared any testimony.
4:36:50 PM
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 195 in committee for future consideration.
4:37:08 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Shower adjourned the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting at 4:37 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 195 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 195 |
| SB 195 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 195 |
| Keith Hamilton CV_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| Paula Vrana Resume 2022_Redacted.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
|
| CS with Amendment.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 66 |
| CS w amend LEGAL.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 66 |
| SB195-VAR-EXE-3-29-22.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 195 |
| 32-LS1601B work draft.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 207 |
| SB195 follow ups to com questions march 30 2022.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 195 |
| SB 195 Letter of Support.pdf |
SSTA 3/29/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 195 |