Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
02/24/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation(s): Informational Hearing on Private Equity in Healthcare | |
| HB23 | |
| HB34 | |
| Presentation(s): Informational Hearing on Private Equity in Healthcare | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 34 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 34-AK INNOVATION COUNCIL
4:08:53 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 34, "An Act establishing the Alaska Innovation
Council; and relating to financial disclosures for members of
the Alaska Innovation Council."
4:09:13 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL moved to adopt the proposed CS for HB 34, Version
34-LS0353\G, Gunther, 2/24/25, ("Version G") as a working
document.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS objected for the purpose of discussion.
4:09:44 PM
CAMERON EBERSOLD, Staff, Representative Ky Holland, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Holland, prime sponsor,
explained that the changes proposed under the proposed CS to HB
34 incorporate feedback from committee members from the previous
two hearings. He noted that the most substantial change is the
reduction of members of the proposed Alaska Innovation Council
from 19 to 15. He spoke to one other change, noting that the
council shall "identify gaps in Alaska capital markets." He
stated that all of the specific changes were distributed to
committee members in a document, titled "House Bill 34: Alaska
Innovation Council Explanation of Changes" [available in
committee file].
4:10:54 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS invited questions from committee members.
4:10:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE questioned the need for an organized
labor group, citing one proposed CS change would be requiring
one member of the council to have an association with an
organized labor group.
4:11:23 PM
MR. EBERSOLD responded that access to skilled labor was
requested by some committee members in previous hearings. He
further commented that skilled labor is an important part of a
growing, thriving economy.
4:11:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE commented that the inclusion of an
organized labor group appeared to be outside of the scope of the
original presentation for HB 34. She remarked that she
envisioned innovators that "need help and resources to get off
the ground" and "the Small Business Development Center couldn't
help because this was a step behind."
4:12:12 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS noted that "in some areas of economy [there is]
growing dispatch through digital devices." He remarked that
some labor organizations have worked with companies, Lyft for
example, to make benefit packages available to independent
contractors. He stated that a changing labor market would
justify the need for access to benefits and training.
4:12:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE offered her understanding that the
purpose of the proposed council was to "get innovators going."
She asked the reasoning for a one-year term of the chair of the
proposed Alaska Innovation Council.
4:13:22 PM
MR. EBERSOLD responded that the term is one year but,
theoretically, a chair may serve up to three consecutive terms.
He stated the purpose of the proposed Alaska Innovation Council
would be to create a series of recommendations. He offered his
belief that the chair of the proposed council would shepherd
other members as they move through recommendations.
4:14:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON stated that he appreciated the reduction
of members. He requested an updated fiscal note for the
proposed CS.
MR. EBERSOLD replied that he would follow up with the updated
fiscal note.
4:14:49 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:14 p.m.
4:15:08 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS requested an update on the status of the fiscal
note for the proposed CS to HB 34.
4:15:15 PM
HANNAH LAGER, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
(DCCED), responded that there is not yet an updated fiscal note,
but that DCCED would prepare one upon the adoption of the
proposed CS for HB 34.
REPRESENTATIVE NELSON requested a ballpark estimate. He asked
for clarification that the original fiscal note was
approximately $500,000.
MS. LAGER confirmed that it was correct. She repeated that she
did not have an updated fiscal note, but expected that the
number would be lower, given the reduction in members under the
proposed CS for HB 34.
4:15:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked for the positions that were
eliminated under the proposed CS for HB 34.
4:16:04 PM
MR. EBERSOLD replied that the members removed from the proposed
council were the governor or direct designee, the commissioner
of the Department of Revenue or designee, the executive director
of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation or designee, one member
from the House of Representatives, and one member from the
Senate. He stated that in the original version of HB 34, the
House of Representatives and the Senate each would have two
members in the proposed Alaska Innovation Council.
4:17:22 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS withdrew his objection to the motion to adopt
the proposed CS for HB 34, Version 34-LS0353/G, Gunther,
2/24/25, as a working document. There being no further
objection, Version G was before the committee.
4:17:43 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS set an amendment deadline for HB 34, Version G.
4:18:14 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that HB 34, Version G, was held over.