Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1995-03-20 House Journal
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Full Journal pdf1995-03-20 House Journal Page 0814 HB 270 was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs, Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. The following fiscal notes apply: Fiscal notes (2), Dept. of Administration, 3/20/95 Indeterminate fiscal note, Office of the Governor/All Depts., 3/20/95 The Governor's transmittal letter, dated March 20, 1995, appears below: "Dear Speaker Phillips: Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that establishes a temporary retirement incentive program for employees of the state, its subdivisions, and its school districts, and a temporary separation incentive program for employees of the state. Closing the state's fiscal gap will require major changes in state operations over the next several years. We need to make state government more efficient and eliminate nonessential services. Our challenge is to accomplish these goals without forcing large layoffs of employees, which could ripple through the private sector and endanger the health of Alaska's economy. Retirement and separation incentive plans have been successfully used by the private sector and government to scale back payroll while eliminating or minimizing the need for layoffs. Properly structured, these plans can be a cost-effective and humane method of downsizing. This legislation will make these restructuring tools available to the State of Alaska, and will extend the retirement incentive program as an option for municipalities and school districts, which are also facing the need to restructure their operations and work forces. My Administration will use the retirement and separation incentives in a strategic approach, different from prior programs. The last state retirement incentive program applied to all departments regardless of their budget or personnel situation, and had little effect on downsizing or restructuring government.