00 HOUSE BILL NO. 479                                                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to recognition of employers who hire Alaskans."                                                        
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03    * Section 1.  AS 23.05 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                 
04 Article 6.  Recognition of Employers Who Hire Alaskans.                                                               
05  Sec. 23.05.400.  Certificates and identification seals in recognition of                                             
06 employers who hire Alaskans.  (a)  An employer who meets the requirements of this                                      
07 section may apply to the department for a certificate and an identification seal in                                     
08 recognition of having met the standards of this section.                                                                
09  (b)  An employer is entitled to display a certificate and use a seal under this                                       
10 section if the employer meets the employment standards established by the department                                    
11 under (d) of this section.  An employer who employs only state residents is entitled                                    
12 to a certificate and to use the Alaska Hire seal on items made by Alaska employees.                                     
13 An employer who employs some employees who are not state residents is entitled to                                       
14 a certificate and to use of a seal only if the percentage of employees who are state                                    
01 residents is at least as great as the minimum percentage established by the department                                  
02 under (d) of this section.                                                                                              
03  (c)  An employer who does not meet standards established by this section is not                                       
04 entitled to display the certificate or use the Alaska Hire seal.                                                        
05  (d)  The department shall establish minimum employment levels for eligibility                                         
06 for recognition under this section.  The department shall establish appropriate                                         
07 minimum standards for different industries and for other categories of employment.                                      
08 The minimum state resident employment standards shall reflect the availability of                                       
09 workers in the state who are able and willing to engage in that work.  The minimum                                      
10 standards shall be set at a level that recognizes employers who have made a good faith                                  
11 effort to hire Alaskans.  The department shall periodically review and, if appropriate,                                 
12 revise the standards.                                                                                                   
13  (e)  A certificate awarded under this section shall state the period for which it                                     
14 is awarded.                                                                                                             
15  (f)  The department shall implement this section by regulation adopted under                                          
16 AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).                                                                                
17     * Sec. 2.  The commissioner of labor shall request the State Arts Council to sponsor a                            
18 contest for the design of the Alaska Hire seal provided for in AS 23.05.400, enacted by sec. 1                          
19 of this Act.  The council shall select the winning entry in consultation with the commissioner.                         
20 The commissioner shall by regulation designate the winning entry as the official Alaska Hire                            
21 seal.