HOUSE BILL NO. 338                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to  applications, qualifications,  and                                                                   
     criminal   history   and   background   checks   for   a                                                                   
     certificate  of  fitness  for explosives  handlers;  and                                                                   
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
LALANYA   SNYDER,   STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE   MIKE   CHENAULT,                                                                   
explained  that  HB 338  is  designed  to tighten  up  Alaska                                                                   
statutes.    Currently,  the  Department  of  Labor  has  the                                                                   
authority  to  issue a  license  known  as a  certificate  of                                                                   
fitness to  work with explosives  in Alaska.   The department                                                                   
requires  that an  explosive handler  applicant  submit to  a                                                                   
criminal   background  check,   but  it   does  not   require                                                                   
fingerprinting.    This  bill  would  provide  the  necessary                                                                   
authority for the  Departments of Labor and  Public Safety to                                                                   
perform  a  fingerprint-based   nationwide  criminal  history                                                                   
search to better ensure the safety of Alaskans.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Kelly  asked  if   the  bill  only   changes                                                                   
requirements  for explosives handlers.   Co-Chair  Meyer said                                                                   
that is correct.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:45:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TOM  BRYCE,  ALASKA  DISTRICT   COUNCIL  OF  LABORERS,  whose                                                                   
organization   represents  explosives   handlers,   expressed                                                                   
support for HB 338.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stoltze MOVED to  REPORT CSHB 338 (L&C) out of                                                                   
Committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying zero  fiscal notes.   There being  NO OBJECTION,                                                                   
it was so ordered.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  338 (L&C)  was REPORTED  out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass"  recommendation and  with zero  fiscal note  #1 by  the                                                                   
Department of  Public Safety and  zero fiscal note #2  by the                                                                   
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.