Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/14/2017 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB104 | |
| HB49 | |
| HB141 | |
| SB104 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 141
"An Act relating to allocations of funding for the
Alaska Workforce Investment Board; and providing for
an effective date."
2:41:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACH FANSLER, SPONSOR, introduced himself.
MARY SCHLOSSER, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ZACH FANSLER,
introduced herself.
Representative Fansler introduced the legislation. The bill
was the renewal of funding allocations for ten programs
through the Technical and Vocational Education Program
(TVEP). The purpose of the funding was to put Alaskans back
to work and into the job market. The program was regionally
aimed at ten different institutions across the state. The
institutions concentrated on the skills that were needed
for the jobs in the region. He went through the ten
programs and the allocations in the bill.
2:45:21 PM
Senator von Imhof wondered whether TVEP analyzed the number
of people obtained jobs after training, and whether those
jobs were retained a year later. Representative Fansler
replied in the affirmative.
Senator Olson queried the reason for the change to the one-
year extension. Representative Fansler replied that he
assumed that there was a concern about changing the
reporting requirements to ensure that the programs were
adequately serving and accomplishing their tasks. He
stressed that there was a hope to provide stable funding
for the programs. He remarked that the programs depended on
the funding.
2:50:23 PM
Senator Olson stressed that the concern was about
addressing the same issue in a year.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried information about the change to
a one-year extension.
Senator Hughes felt there was a varied cost per student.
She felt that there would be consideration with
recommendations of how to be sure that the dollars were
well spent. The hope was that the funds would be used to
assist students in preparation for needed jobs. She noted
that there was funding for office training, but there may
be redundancies in the programs.
2:55:01 PM
Senator Micciche wondered whether there reporting
requirements could be improved while the training was
occurring as normal. Representative Fansler replied in the
affirmative.
Senator Micciche felt hoped that there may be a compromise
on the length of effectiveness of the bill.
Co-Chair MacKinnon announced that amendments were due the
following day at noon.
2:58:09 PM
DOUG WALRATH, DIRECTOR, NORTHWESTERN ALASKA TECHNICAL
CENTER, NOME (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
bill.
3:00:25 PM
DENNIS DISHION, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YUUT ELITNAURVIAT,
BETHEL (via teleconference), he felt that a one-year sunset
would be detrimental to the rural training centers.
3:02:23 PM
ANNETTE CARUSO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHWEST ALASKA
VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATION CENTER, KING SALMON (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill, with a five-
year reauthorization.
3:04:32 PM
PEARL BROWER, ILISAGVIK COLLEGE, BARROW (via
teleconference), supported the five-year extension in the
bill.
3:05:24 PM
FRED VILLA, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, WORKFORCE PROGRAMS,
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill.
3:07:23 PM
CHERYL EDENSHAW, DIRECTOR, ALASKA TECHNICAL CENTER,
KOTZEBUE (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
five-year extension in the bill.
3:08:45 PM
JOEY CRUM, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), supported
the current version of the bill, in order to determine the
effectiveness of the programs.
3:11:23 PM
CATHY LECOMPTE, DIRECTOR, ALASKA VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
CENTER, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke in support of
the bill.
Co-Chair MacKinnon CLOSED public testimony.
3:13:07 PM
GREG CASHEN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, introduced himself.
PALOMA HARBOUR, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,
introduced herself.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried comments regarding the reduction
from five years to one year. Mr. Cashen replied that an
extension of more than one year would allow for stability,
and allow for examination of the performance measures.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that there was approximately $12.5
million distributed between the programs. Ms. Harbour
agreed. She stated that there was an average cost of $1215
per student, which was an affordable training program.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the percentage of unemployment
contributions overall. Ms. Harbour replied that she needed
a moment to collect that information.
3:15:05 PM
AT EASE
3:15:47 PM
RECONVENED
3:15:53 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon restated her question. Ms. Harbour
replied that the contribution that the employee made into
TVEP was 0.16 percent of their taxable wage base, which was
a maximum of $63.84 in 2017 per employee. She stated that
the overall collection percentage in 2017 was approximately
11 percent of total unemployment insurance from employers
and employees in 2017.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried comments on the assertion that
there were no clearly defined goals for the program. Ms.
Harbour replied that there were statutory requirements for
reporting performance of the program. She noted that there
was an examination of the fact that some performance
measures were implemented at establishment, but did not fit
the program.
3:18:38 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the investment board
had created a master list of education opportunities in the
state. Mr. Cashen replied that the Eligible Training
Providers list had all the training providers in the state
that may receive funding.
Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that there was training
opportunities available in multiple regions in the state.
She wondered whether there may be a duplication of services
by providing additional state money. Ms. Harbour replied
that the Workforce Investment Board outlined areas of high-
demand occupations and industries to invest in training.
The board did a review to determine a workforce demand, the
training capacity, and the possible gaps. She stressed that
the training did not meet the needs in the state. She did
not believe that there was a program by program review.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the department had never
quantified private training sources, so other similar
training was available.
Senator Olson wondered whether any for profit corporations
that received TVEP funding. Ms. Harbour replied that TVEP
funding was only available for not for profit entities. She
furthered that there was the State Training and Employment
Program (STEP) which had private entities that applied for
that program.
Senator Olson wondered whether the private entity received
TVEP funding. Ms. Harbour replied in the negative; a
private entity could only receive STEP funding.
Co-Chair MacKinnon requested a list of recipients of STEP
grant program. Ms. Harbour agreed to provide that
information.
Vice-Chair Bishop queried the list of all the Individual
Training Accounts (ITA) recipients. Ms. Harbour agreed to
provide that information
Co-Chair Hoffman requested a list of the areas of the state
with the highest unemployment rates. Ms. Harbour agreed to
provide that information.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that the fiscal notes needed to
be corrected.
3:22:38 PM
AT EASE
3:23:10 PM
RECONVENED
3:23:19 PM
JULI LUCKY, STAFF, SENATOR ANNA MACKINNON, explained the
forthcoming fiscal notes.
Co-Chair MacKinnon remarked that the numbers would be
replicated in the out years, based on the number of years
in the extension.
HB 141 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
3:26:32 PM
AT EASE
3:28:05 PM
RECONVENED
3:28:09 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon announced the following day's schedule.
3:28:33 PM
RECESS
3:45:10 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 49 Supporting Document Medicaid Cost Savings CDMs 2015.pdf |
SFIN 4/14/2017 1:30:00 PM |
HB 49 |
| HB 49 Supporting Document Licensing Fees FY06-17.pdf |
SFIN 4/14/2017 1:30:00 PM |
HB 49 |
| HB049 Support Letters 020217.pdf |
SFIN 4/14/2017 1:30:00 PM |
HB 49 |
| HB049 Supporting Documents-Full Sunset Audit 01.30.17.pdf |
SFIN 4/14/2017 1:30:00 PM |
HB 49 |
| SB 104 Amendment Consolidated 1 MacKinnon.pdf |
SFIN 4/14/2017 1:30:00 PM |
SB 104 |