2026-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 1486
SB 217                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 217 THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY                                                                               
REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to employer contributions to the                                                                     
          unemployment compensation fund; establishing an                                                                       
          employer contribution for the state training and                                                                      
          employment program; and providing for an effective                                                                    
          date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Labor and Commerce and                                                              
Finance Committees.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Labor and Workforce                                                                           
  Development                                                                                                                   
 Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Labor and Workforce                                                                           
  Development                                                                                                                   
 Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Labor and Workforce                                                                           
  Development                                                                                                                   

2026-01-21                     Senate Journal                      Page 1487
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 19:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska                                                                    
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to unemployment                                                                 
insurance contribution rates and the funding of workforce training                                                              
programs.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Alaska’s workforce requires consistent, high-quality training to meet                                                           
the demands of a modern economy. Stable, predictable funding                                                                    
ensures Alaskans gain in-demand skills and employers can fill jobs.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
This bill solves this challenge by restructuring the allocation of                                                              
unemployment insurance contributions to improve long-term stability                                                             
without increasing the overall tax burden on employers. It directs a                                                            
specific portion of collected revenue to these training accounts before                                                         
the funds are deposited into the Unemployment Compensation Fund.                                                                
This approach secures funding for workforce development while                                                                   
preserving the core purpose of unemployment insurance and                                                                       
maintaining the solvency of the unemployment insurance system.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor