ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  March 17, 2020 1:33 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Click Bishop, Chair Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair Senator Mia Costello (via teleconference) Senator Joshua Revak Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson MEMBERS ABSENT  All members present COMMITTEE CALENDAR  CONFIRMATION HEARING(S) Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Dana Walukiewicz - Anchorage Rex Leath - Wasilla - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED SENATE BILL NO. 173 "An Act relating to mobile intensive care paramedics; relating to duties of the State Medical Board and the Department of Health and Social Services; and providing for an effective date." - MOVED SB 173 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 173 SHORT TITLE: LICENSE MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDICS SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REVAK 02/03/20 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/03/20 (S) HSS, L&C 02/17/20 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/17/20 (S) Heard & Held 02/17/20 (S) MINUTE(HSS) 02/26/20 (S) HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205 02/26/20 (S) Moved SB 173 Out of Committee 02/26/20 (S) MINUTE(HSS) 02/28/20 (S) HSS RPT 2DP 3NR 02/28/20 (S) DP: WILSON, VON IMHOF 02/28/20 (S) NR: BEGICH, GIESSEL, SHOWER 03/12/20 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 03/12/20 (S) Heard & Held 03/12/20 (S) MINUTE(L&C) 03/17/20 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) WITNESS REGISTER DANA WALUKIEWICZ, Appointee Alcohol Beverage Control Board Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. REX LEATH, Appointee Alcohol Beverage Control Board Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Anchorage, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:33:53 PM CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at call to order were Senators Revak, Gray-Jackson, Stevens, and Chair Bishop. Senator Costello listened in via teleconference. ^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S) CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)  Alcoholic Beverage Control Board  1:34:49 PM CHAIR BISHOP announced the first order of business would be consideration of governor appointees to boards and commissions. He asked each appointee to place their name and affiliation on the record, give a brief introduction, and discuss the reason they want to serve on the board or commission. He advised that public testimony would be taken after all appointees have testified and the names would be forwarded to the full body for consideration. This hearing was not a recommendation on any subsequent vote. 1:35:37 PM DANA WALUKIEWICZ, Appointee, Alcohol Beverage Control Board, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, stated he has been appointed as the industry representative to the board. He said that he began his involvement in the alcohol industry 10 years ago when he and his business partner started King Street Brewing Company. During the first eight years of operation they learned the trade while the company distributed their products to essentially every bar, restaurant, and package store in the greater Anchorage area. This allowed them to observe many operations and see how licensees provide service to the public. He said he has gained a real appreciation for the effort that hard-working people in this industry put forth every single day. He discussed how his business has grown from a small brewing operation pieced together from personal savings to opening a $6.5 million facility in South Anchorage backed by a U.S. Small Business Administration loan in 2018. It is designed to house the business for the next 40 years and has allowed them to double production and serve the entire state through their distributor partner while increasing work opportunities for current and new employees. As a way of giving back to the local community, he and his partner support local nonprofits and charitable groups through sponsorship of events and festivals and donating merchandise and space at the brewery for fundraising activities. HMR. WALUKIEWICZ said he is proud to be part of an industry that represents Alaska through shared development of the hospitality and tourism industry. In 2019, his company was granted a winery license, which he and his partner pursued to produce cider, a gluten free alternative to beer. As a multiple license-holder, he understands the complexities of navigating federal, state, and municipal regulations. He has gained a keen understanding of the investment of time, money, and resources it takes to develop a business in Alaska. As a board member he would work to support those who seek to develop responsible businesses that respect the process and operate within the intent of the laws so that these businesses have the same opportunity to benefit and grow in Alaska as his business HAS had. He said that he will work with the board and the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office to ensure that noncompliant operators correct deficiencies or are suspended. He offered his view that bad operators not only can create risks to the health and public safety of Alaska but can tarnish the reputation of the entire industry. He committed to work hard to ensure that the industry operates in a safe and healthy manner for all Alaskans. He said that he is honored to be asked to serve the state in this capacity. He thanked members for their consideration. 1:40:41 PM SENATOR STEVENS said he was impressed with his education at Georgetown University. 1:41:19 PM REX LEATH, Appointee, Alcohol Beverage Control Board, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, stated that he worked with the Alaska State Troopers for just over 21 years and has attained the rank of captain. He said that he has lived in both urban and rural communities, has worked as an investigator in the Alaska Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement, and as the deputy commander for the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit. That entity is responsible for alcohol related crimes in addition to drug enforcement as they apply to Title 4. He said that those investigations involve working with the alcohol industry, urban and rural communities, and the general public. He said he has gained a strong understanding of the processes between the public, the industry, and government. He has experience negotiating the successful coexistence of those three entities while maintaining public safety. He offered his belief that the industry and the public can responsibly and safely work together to comply with Title 4. Further, keeping public safety in the forefront will ensure that the best results will occur. He has served one term on the board and would like to serve a second term. He has a large family in the state, and he volunteers in his church and nonprofit organizations to help individuals who suffer from alcohol problems. At times alcohol can be a negative and cause problems that many rural communities face that involve but when properly regulated the alcohol industry can be successful, he said. CHAIR BISHOP thanked him for his continued service. 1:44:40 PM SENATOR COSTELLO said that she was listening online, but did not have any questions. 1:45:00 PM CHAIR BISHOP stated that in accordance with AS 39.05.080, the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee reviewed the following and recommends the appointments be forwarded to a joint session for consideration: Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Dana Walukiewicz - Anchorage Rex Leath - Wasilla 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. 1:45:27 PM At ease SB 173-LICENSE MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDICS  1:46:43 PM CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 173, "An Act relating to mobile intensive care paramedics; relating to duties of the State Medical Board and the Department of Health and Social Services; and providing for an effective date." He noted that this was the second hearing and public testimony was heard and closed on 3/12/20. 1:47:11 PM SENATOR REVAK expressed appreciation to the committee for hearing the bill and everyone who worked to bring it to this point. It has been a long time coming, he said. CHAIR BISHOP said the testimony and presentation were compelling. 1:47:52 PM SENATOR STEVENS moved to report SB 173, work order 31-LS1365\M, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and SB 173 was reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting. 1:48:30 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Bishop adjourned Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting at 1:48 p.m.