2002-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 2043
HB 353                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 353 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act renaming the Alaska Human Resource Investment                                          
     Council as the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and relating to                               
     its membership; repealing the termination date of the state training                           
     and employment program; relating to employment and training                                    
     activities; and providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Labor & Commerce and                                    
Finance Committees.                                                                                 
                                                                                                    

2002-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 2044
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                  
2.  Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                  
3.  Fiscal, Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development                                                  
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 21, 2002, appears                                   
below:                                                                                              
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Training of our workforce is key to keeping the Alaska economy                                      
competitive in the future and making our state an attractive place for                              
new business development.  The State Training and Employment                                        
Program (STEP) has proven to be a valuable player in helping                                        
Alaskans find and retain jobs.  The STEP is due to sunset on June 30.                               
This bill I transmit today continues and makes permanent the STEP                                   
and its vital work.                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
Since 1989 the STEP has successfully served more than 10,000                                        
eligible Alaskans.  The training and employment program is financed                                 
by employee contributions to the unemployment compensation fund                                     
and has actually reduced claims against the fund by bringing                                        
unemployed Alaskans back into the work force.                                                       
                                                                                                    
The STEP is under the oversight of the Alaska Human Resource                                        
Investment Council, renamed the Alaska Workforce Investment Board                                   
under this bill.  The STEP was first established as a pilot program, but                            
its success has led to its continued reauthorization through the years.                             
It supplements and compliments federal employment and training                                      
programs, providing services when many other programs cannot.                                       
                                                                                                    
Renaming the oversight board the Alaska Workforce Investment                                        
Board clearly signifies the important role that body plays in guiding                               
the development of our workforce.  The name change also is in line                                  
with terminology under the federal Workforce Investment Act of                                      
1998.  In addition, the bill removes the limitation on the number of                                
times the board could meet in a year.  It also proposes miscellaneous                               
amendments to update the statutes regarding employment and training                                 
activities.                                                                                         

2002-01-23                     House Journal                      Page 2045
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                            
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Tony Knowles                                                        
                                 Governor"