2000-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1990
HB 316                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 316 by the House Rules Committee by request of                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act relating to standard industrial classification for, eligibility       
for benefits under, and the definition of 'benefit year' for, the              
Alaska Employment Security Act; and providing for an effective                 
date."                                                                         
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce                   
Committee.                                                                     
                                                                               
                                                                               
The following fiscal note applies:                                             
                                                                               
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development, 1/24/00              
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2000, appears              
below:                                                                         
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
Recent amendments to federal law regarding job training and                    
unemployment insurance require the state to update certain statutory           
references in these areas.  This bill I transmit today accomplishes this       
requirement.                                                                   
                                                                               
                                                                               
Congress repealed the Job Training Partnership Act, replacing it with          
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.  This bill makes corresponding           
changes to state law.  Similarly, the bill updates the classification          
system for employers determining their contribution rate to the                
unemployment compensation fund.  The federal Office of Management              
and Budget decided in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial                  
Classification Code with the North American Industry Classification            
System.  The updated coding system was developed jointly by the                
United States, Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in              
data about business activity across North America.                             
                                                                               
                                                                               

2000-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 1991
HB 316                                                                       
The bill also clarifies that an unemployment insurance claimant is not         
entitled to benefits for the first six weeks of unemployment if                
termination was for misconduct connected with the claimant's last            
work.  Finally, the bill provides definite beginning and ending dates          
for a claimant's "benefit year."                                               
                                                                               
In order to keep Alaska's labor and unemployment statutes current with         
federal law, I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.          
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"