Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/16/2021 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB100 | |
| HB92 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 100 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 100
"An Act relating to allocations of funding for the
Alaska Workforce Investment Board; and providing for
an effective date."
9:03:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM WOOL, SPONSOR, provided a brief
reintroduction of the Technical Vocational Education
Program (TVEP) bill that provided funding to 10 different
vocational schools or programs around the state using .016
percent of unemployment funds. The bill provided for a
three year authorization of the program.
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony.
9:04:38 AM
FRED VILLA, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of the legislation. He shared that he formerly was
the Associated Vice President for workforce programs for
the University of Alaska (UA) and administered the TVEP
program for 13 years. He believed that the TVEP funding was
an extremely important part of the workforce development
system. He indicated that the program had been in place for
over 20 years. He pointed to the annual program reports
that showed the incredible amount of outreach and industry
supported training programs that were a strong economic
driver and foundation for workforce development in Alaska.
He encouraged the legislature to consider continuing the
program in perpetuity instead of the proposed three year
extension. The program had proven itself in performance and
return on investment and was not a mere pilot program. He
understood there were other entities that would like to be
considered as a recipient of the funds. He suggested that
there were opportunities to expand the program to other
entities. He reported that the situation was similar to
when I?isagvik College [Utqiagvik, Alaska] was added as a
TVEP recipient, where the formula was adjusted by .01
percent to accommodate the change. The current recipients
were held harmless and did not experience any reduction in
their awards. He suggested ways new recipients could apply
for TVEP funding. He thanked Representative Wool for
bringing the bill forward and was deeply grateful to all
the entities involved in the program's success.
9:08:54 AM
DAVE REES, FACILITATOR, BUSINESS EDUCATION COMPACT (BEC),
EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), supported the bill. He
had been involved in workforce development in Alaska for
the past 30 years. He shared that he was a member of the
Alaska Workforce Investment Board at the programs
inception. He supported TVEP,s continuation for the long-
term. He shared that the BEC had continually supported the
program over the years as an effective approach to
delivering training across the state. The program provided
both secondary and post-secondary education for many of the
businesses in the state. He appreciated Representative Wool
for bringing the bill forward. He stated that the program
provided a pathway to jobs in many areas. He spoke to the
importance of getting unemployed individuals back in jobs.
He reported that the two major funding recipients, UA, and
Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) reached students
across the state. Other recipients of the funds were very
focused on local areas and workforce connections. He
reiterated his support for the program and for the
programs continuation in the long-term.
Representative Carpenter acknowledged that the TVEP program
was successful, highly sought after, and useful. He knew
there were some opportunities for high school students to
use the vocational schools and noted the waitlist for
programs. He asked if there were times unemployed members
of the community were unable to get into programs while
there were high school students enrolled.
Mr. Rees answered that he was aware of the situation in
rare instances. He was uncertain how prevalent the
situation was and deferred the answer to the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD).
9:14:14 AM
DOUG WALRATH, DIRECTOR, NORTHWESTERN ALASKA CAREER AND
TECHNICAL CENTER (NACTEC), NOME (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill. He explained that TVEP supported a
regional training center network that provided workforce
development training that was otherwise unattainable in the
regions and would increase training expenses for the state.
He delineated that in the Nome census area healthcare
training was a top priority. Norton Sound Health
Corporation was the largest regional employer that
partnered with NACTEC to deliver dual credit high school
courses and advanced technical training. The students
graduated high school and immediately began employment as
Certified Nurse Aides and Village Health Aides. He
continued that without the funding, graduated students
would wait until the following fall to begin a post-
secondary education program. In addition to healthcare
needs in Nome, in December 2020, Congress had authorized
over $379 million for construction of an Arctic deep draft
port in Nome. Furthermore, the federal permitting committee
designated Graphite Creek as a high priority infrastructure
project located 40 miles outside of Nome that had the
highest grade and largest known graphite deposit in the
country. He informed that committee that NACTED supported
both projects and the opportunity to provide workforce
training. In addition, NACTEC was a DMV third-party
provider for road test examinations and offered drivers
education classes because of the state DMV closure in Nome.
He believed that as the state budget decreased it became
increasingly necessary to develop a technically trained
workforce. He restated his strong support of the program.
9:17:31 AM
KATIE BENDER, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in favor of the legislation. She shared that TVEP
had been a vital part of the universitys funding stream to
ensure Alaskan's access to workforce training. The
university worked collaboratively with its partners to
identify holes in the states training system and addressed
the shortfalls with quality education. The university's
TVEP success had been solidly demonstrated in the states
construction, trades and careers, aviation and marine,
mining, oil, and healthcare system by putting people to
work and growing their wages. She stated that the system
was working and was providing critical training to meet the
states needs.
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.
9:19:17 AM
Co-Chair Merrick asked the departments to review its fiscal
notes.
LACEY SANDERS, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR (via teleconference),
spoke to the published fiscal note (FN1 EED) for the
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). She
indicated that the fiscal noted reflected an appropriation
of $463.4 thousand for the Galena City School District for
the Galena Interior Learning Academy. The department
distributed the grant funding to the district.
9:20:31 AM
DAN DEBARTOLO, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT
AND BUDGET, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR (via teleconference),
spoke to four DLWD fiscal notes related to the program. He
turned to the fiscal note appropriated to Employment and
Training Services (FN9 (EED)) that showed a reduction in
the amount of $68.9 thousand from the FY 2022 governors
request. He moved to the fiscal note (FN 8 (EED)) for the
Workforce Investment Board that was the department's
largest fiscal note related to the TVEP program [$665.4
thousand in FY 2022]. The department handled most of the
funds for the program. He highlighted the fiscal note
allocated to Unemployment Insurance (UI) (FN10 (EED)) that
was specifically for collection and enforcement related to
TVEP [$428.8 thousand in FY 2022]. He emphasized that the
department could not use UI Trust Fund money for anything
other than delivery of benefits. He spoke to the fiscal
note (FN7 (EED)) appropriated to the Alaska Vocational
Technical Center (AVTC) [$2.351.7 million in FY 2022] used
for general operations of AVTC. He noted the $382.3 million
reduction to the program in FY 2022.
Co-Chair Merrick asked Mr. DeBartolo to address
Representative Carpenters earlier question.
9:24:47 AM
Representative Carpenter restated his earlier question. He
asked if there were situations where high school students
were enrolled in TVEP courses and there was a waitlist for
unemployed adults to enter the program.
Mr. DeBartolo answered that he would respond in writing
after further research.
9:25:38 AM
CHAD HUTCHINSON, STATE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (via
teleconference), addressed the fiscal note for UA [FN 11
(UA)] allocated to Budget Reductions/Additions
Systemwide. He reported that the anticipated amount of the
appropriation in FY 2022 was $5.2 million. He added that
the operating expenditures were split evenly between
personal services and commodities.
9:26:49 AM
AT EASE
9:28:45 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Merrick announced that the amendment deadline for
HB 100 was the end of the day on April 17, 2021.
Representative Josephson voiced that the UI benefit amount
had not been updated in a long time. He wondered if the
benefit amount was updated whether it would affect the
program. Representative Wool answered that the percentage
for TVEP was .016 percent and if benefits were increased it
would be sustainable. He did not believe it would
jeopardize the program or the UI program. He thought the
issue was separate from funding the TVEP program.
HB 100 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
AT EASE
9:31:23 AM
RECONVENED
9:32:50 AM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 92 Transmittal Letter 02.04.21 .pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 92 |
| HB 92 Sectional.pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 92 |
| HB92 presentation FINAL.pdf |
HFIN 4/16/2021 9:00:00 AM |
HB 92 |