Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/17/2022 09:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB232 | |
| HB132 | |
| Confirmation Hearing | |
| HB132 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 232 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 132 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 132-SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGS; TAX CREDITS
12:50:16 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 132(FIN) "An Act relating to technical education and
registered apprenticeships."
[SCS CSHB 132(EDC) was before the committee.]
12:50:29 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32-
LS0476\F.1.
32-LS0476\F.1
Klein
5/16/22
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR COSTELLO
TO: SCS CSHB 132(EDC)
Page 6, following line 22:
Insert a new subsection to read:
"(e) A contract under this section must
allow an apprentice enrolled in an apprenticeship
program under 29 U.S.C. 50 - 50c and the employer
of the apprentice to compete for construction
projects and may not require that the apprentice
or employer be a signatory to a collective
bargaining agreement."
SENATOR REVAK objected for discussion purposes.
12:50:44 PM
KATIE MCCALL, Staff, Senator Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that Amendment 1 would
insert a new subsection, the intent of which was to allow an
apprentice enrolled in an apprenticeship program and their
employer to compete for construction projects without being part
of a collective bargaining agreement.
12:51:58 PM
At ease
12:52:14 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and asked Representative
Fields to comment on Amendment 1.
12:52:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, speaking as co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce
Committee that sponsored HB 132, stated that he could answer
questions about Amendment 1, but he would not speak in favor or
against it because it touched on his private sector work with
the Anchorage School District.
12:52:54 PM
SENATOR REVAK asked where the bill goes next.
CHAIR COSTELLO replied it goes to Senate Finance.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS advised that the Senate Education
Committee removed the tax credit, which may eliminate the need
for the finance referral.
SENATOR REVAK asked for a plain explanation of what the
amendment would do.
12:53:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said his understanding was it would
restrict school districts from using state money awarded through
DEED for projects where a school board had put a student
community workforce agreement in place. He explained that
community workforce agreements were similar to project labor
agreements.
CHAIR COSTELLO said the intention of the amendment was to expand
the scope of application to provide more opportunities.
12:54:11 PM
At ease
12:58:11 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and advised that she would
recess the committee to provide members time to review the
amendment and bill, HB 132.
HB 132-SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGS; TAX CREDITS
3:05:03 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO returned attention to HB 132 and asked Alicia
Maltby to provide her comments on the proposed Amendment 1.
3:05:37 PM
ALICIA MALTBY, President and CEO, Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC) of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, shared the
history of the association and relayed that unions recently
received approval for community workforce agreements on all
Anchorage School District construction projects. She reported
that 75 percent of the Alaskan construction workforce is
nonunion and said these workers would be ineligible to work on
those projects under this agreement. She cited an example from
just one contractor member who won and completed the following
projects:
• $12 million for Chester Valley school renovation
• $15 million for Girdwood K-8 remodel
• $8 million for Rabbit Creek Elementary renewal
• $60 million Airport Heights school addition and
• $11.7 million for Eagle River earthquake recovery projects.
She pointed out that the contractor, the Alaskan employees, and
the Alaskan apprentices that worked on these projects will no
longer be eligible to work on Anchorage School District
projects.
MS. MALTBY stated support for Amendment 1 that says school
districts must allow apprentices and their employers that are
not in a bargaining unit to work on school projects. It means
that state funding may not be used to discriminate against
apprentices who choose not to join a union hall. She said the
apprenticeship program should be fair and open to all and this
amendment will allow for that. She urged the committee to pass
Amendment 1.
3:08:40 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO related her understanding that nothing in the
amendment or bill would prohibit ABC from using a project labor
agreement; it's just not a mandate. She asked if that was
correct.
MS. MALTBY answered yes; contractors may put a PLA on any of
their projects, but most ABC member contractors are not doing
so.
CHAIR COSTELLO discerned there were no questions and asked
Alicia Siira to comment on Amendment 1.
3:09:32 PM
ALICIA SIIRA, Executive Director, Associated General Contractors
(AGC) of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, advised that AGC is a trade
association that represents both union and nonunion contractors.
They support Amendment 1, and do not support a requirement to
use a project labor agreements on publicly funded projects. AGC
contractors are, however, free to use PLAs if they feel it would
be a good tool for a particular project. She concluded her
comments stating support for both the bill and amendment.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked Representative Spohnholz to comment on
Amendment 1 as co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee that sponsored HB 132.
3:11:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE IVY SPOHNHOLZ, Alaska State Legislative, Juneau,
Alaska, speaking as co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce
Committee that sponsored HB 132, said she appreciates the intent
but believes the amendment would prevent local communities from
exercising local control. The constitution supports local
control and she and Representative Fields believe that local
communities and jurisdictions should have the option of entering
into project labor agreements just as contractors have that
choice. She said PLAs ensure that the people who oversee
apprentices are well-trained and will receive a living wage. She
stressed that nothing in the legislation requires participation
in a PLA, but it would ensure that local jurisdictions have the
option of entering into a PLA. She concluded that she did not
support Amendment 1, because it would undermine the intention of
the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS, Alaska State Legislative, Juneau, Alaska,
speaking as co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce Committee
that sponsored HB 132, restated that he would not discuss the
amendment because it touches on his private sector work.
3:12:43 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding that projects that use
local funds would fall under the student community workforce
agreement. She said the amendment specifically addresses
projects that use state funds and both the Associated Builders
and Contractors (ABC) of Alaska and Associated General
Contractors (AGC) of Alaska said they had the option of using a
project labor agreement. She asked Representative Spohnholz if
she wanted to clarify her remarks related to the funding source.
3:13:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ said she and her co-chair generally
believe in local communities being able to make decisions at the
local level; that state funding is meant to augment local
funding for those projects; and that it is important to ensure
that communities continue to have the option to advance projects
using a PLA if they believe it is in their best interest to do
so. She underscored the emphasis the state constitution places
on local control to the maximum extent possible.
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if she was aware of any problems associated
with the construction projects for the elementary schools that
Ms. Maltby mentioned that would have been addressed had there
been a project labor agreement.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ replied she didn't have any comment on
specific projects other than that she attended Rabbit Creek
Elementary School and was pleased to see that work was done.
3:14:19 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for examples of projects he might be aware
of that would have problems under the proposed amendment.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON cited her positive experience with project
labor agreements and that the community had been well served by
qualified and well paid workers on these projects. She would
hate to see anything prevent the use of PLAs.
CHAIR COSTELLO related her understanding that Amendment 1 would
allow companies that don't require union membership to bid on
projects. She referenced the list of projects Ms. Maltby
mentioned that one contractor completed for the Anchorage School
District and others.
3:16:06 PM
At ease
3:17:50 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.
[CHAIR COSTELLO held HB 132 in committee.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 132 Amendment F.1.pdf |
SL&C 5/17/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 132 |