Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
03/07/2017 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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 | |
| HB150 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 150 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 150-PAY, ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS FOR MILITIA MEM
1:03:14 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 150, "An Act relating to pay, allowances, and
benefits for members of the organized militia."
CHAIR TUCK stated that the bill is part of an ongoing effort of
the Alaska State Legislature and the Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to modernize the 1955 Alaska Military
Code by providing statutory changes to better serve Alaska's
organized militia. He explained that HB 150 would authorize the
same pay, allowance, and benefits for the organized militia
whether they are called into state active duty by the governor
or adjutant general or called into federal active duty by the
President.
1:04:15 PM
ROBERT DOEHL, Commissioner, Department of Military & Veterans'
Affairs (DMVA), presented HB 150 at the request of the House
Military and Veterans' Affairs Special Committee, sponsor. He
stated his support for HB 150. He noted that Section 1 of HB
150 clarifies that when members of the organized militia - which
includes the Air National Guard, the Army National Guard, the
Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), and the Alaska Naval Militia
- are in state active duty, their wages would mirror the wages
of federal active status, as paid by the federal government. He
noted that the current situation is confusing: Those in Alaska
Naval Militia, the Air National Guard, or the Army National
Guard are on one pay system and the ASDF is on another pay
system. He remarked:
For the first three ... we have to look back to the
when the original act was enacted, take a consumer
price index (CPI) on an annual basis and amortize that
up to what the current value is today to set the base
value, and compare that with 200 percent of the basic
pay for an individual at a given rank to go forward to
determine what their pay should be for a given day.
That's the easy one. Ultimately you can take one or
two charts like this to figure the pay.
MR. DOEHL expressed that the pay system for the ASDF is more
"creative." When ASDF is called into active duty, pay is
determined by the duties an individual performs on a given day.
The pay range for each duty from each day is determined after
correlating the performed duties to the state official position
description system, a huge database of thousands of pages
maintained by the Department of Administration. The pay range
can vary from day to day based on the duties an individual
performs in a disaster such as answering phones, assisting with
field work, or doing warehouse work. He remarked:
The same individual on three different days can be in
three different official position description job
categories at three different ranges. And to further
compound that, some of those positions are salaried
positions overtime exempt, others are not.
MR. DOEHL explained that with all the different systems and
permutations, administrative overhead is excessive for state
active duty and the process is difficult to complete without
errors. He said:
If we could take one employee and put them in one
status doing one thing for an extended period, it
would be easy, but that's not what happens in a
disaster: In a disaster duties shift ... fluidly
based on what has to be done - which is why we support
this bill.
MR. DOEHL explained that an indeterminate fiscal note was
submitted because it is difficult to know the personnel needs
for a hypothetical disaster. He noted that the department
considered the "Sockeye Fire" a data benchmark. During the
fire, 179-person days were expended; the difference in pay
between the payment system proposed by HB 150 and the status quo
was a total increase of $3,000. He summarized that the
difference is negligible and could go up or down depending on
the type of personnel needed for a given disaster.
1:08:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked whether the expected reduction of
administrative work was calculated into the $3,000 increase
along with compensation.
MR. DOEHL answered that the calculation only considered the
payment to those working the disaster. He said that he is
confident that under HB 150, there would be a savings and a
substantial reduction in staff burden; however, he said he is
hesitant to say the savings would be $3,000. He remarked:
That staff time and burden is charged to the disaster
and the disaster relief funds that go in as additional
overhead costs that we would be able to reduce in
subsequent disasters by going to the new scheme. So
... that 3,000 is just what is paid out immediately to
the responders to that event.
1:09:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked for an approximate value of the
reduced administrative burden.
MR. DOEHL said that Administrative Services Director Brian Duffy
would follow up with a more complete overview of the effect on
staff within 24 hours. He listed other changes that HB 150
would make to statute. Section 2 would treat all the organized
militia as one entity for one compensation system. Section 2
would continue to maintain eligibility for travel allowances
under the state system, which is usually less expensive than the
federal system. Section 3 would set the base rate for workers'
compensation calculations. Section 4 would specify that members
of the Alaska Naval Militia, Air National Guard, and Army
National Guard would continue to accrue benefits paid into the
Alaska National Guard Naval Militia retirement system for state
active duty, as they currently do.
1:12:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked what branches of the military HB
150 would cover.
MR. DOEHL answered that HB 150 would apply to those uniform
services under the State of Alaska Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) - including the Alaska State Defense
Force, the Air National Guard, and the Army National Guard -
only when called into state active service. He explained that a
fire near Sutton last fall necessitated immediate response in a
federal capacity, paid entirely by "the feds." He remarked, "If
that fire had continued, they would have continued being paid as
the state equivalent to wildland firefighters under the
[Department of Natural Resources] (DNR) pay scheme." He relayed
that HB 150 would not cover any other part of state government
or military, or the Air or Army National Guard, when acting with
federal resources and pay under immediate response authority
within the first 24 hours.
MR. DOEHL, in response to a question, clarified that the
"organized militia" consists of the Air National Guard, the Army
National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force, and Alaska Naval
Militia. The Air National Guard, the Army National Guard, and
the Alaska Naval Militia have dual federal and state training
and readiness requirements. The ASDF is part of the organized
militia but is a state-only entity separate from the other
three.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked if any entity other than the state
pays wages [to the organized militia] under these circumstances.
MR. DOEHL responded that there are different scenarios: In the
case of immediate response by the Air or Army National Guard in
the first 24 hours, the federal government pays wages; in a
state only disaster, only the state pays wages; in a national
disaster, the federal government pays a portion of the wages -
usually 75 percent.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked whether [organized militia
members] get other pay besides the state in a state emergency.
MR. DOEHL responded, "generally no." He explained that some
employers opt to continue paying their employees who are serving
in a state emergency; however, there is no statutory requirement
to do so and no other government benefits are paid.
1:16:22 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD voiced that she is a big supporter of
ASDF. She drew attention to the indeterminate fiscal note and
the state's fiscal situation. She asked what Mr. Doehl
anticipates the 10-year fiscal impact would be.
MR. DOEHL offered that looking back on last 10 years, the $3,000
differential of the "Sockeye Fire" over 179 days, and the
substantial reduction in administrative burden, it would come
out fiscally neutral. He remarked, "I cannot tell you in the
future, though, what the distribution of individuals needed for
disasters will be. I believe we're within two percent of the
base."
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD asked how much of a priority HB 150 is
to the department. She stated her support for the department's
program of rural outreach by the department. She suggested that
all departments need to prioritize their constitutional and
statutory obligations and what benefits the people of Alaska the
most. She asked how HB 150 falls into the department's
priorities.
MR. DOEHL reported that HB 150 is important for two things. It
would contain administrative costs in addressing disasters by
allowing more of the money that comes from the disaster relief
fund to go to responders and reconstruction efforts rather than
to the administrative staff calculating responders' pay. The
bill would also make payment to responders more consistent and
quicker, creating more of an incentive for volunteers to come
forward and agree to serve Alaskans in a time of disaster. He
relayed that eliminating the uncertainty [in pay] would increase
the department's ability to provide emergency response
capability.
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD said that she loves the defense force,
she is glad HB 150 is cost neutral, and many people from her
district want her to support this effort. She mentioned again
that she wants the departments to prioritize. She added that
she hopes "the rural outreach goes forth" because being prepared
and ready is more cost effective than reacting.
1:20:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX stated that she understands the bill would
help militia members to know what their pay would be and to get
paid quickly. She asked whether less administrative personnel
would be required under HB 150. She asked how the bill would
contain costs without reducing personnel positions.
MR. DOEHL explained that disaster costs are largely paid for
through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which is refilled by a
capital appropriation as needed. The extra administrative time
needed to process wages for the first responders would also be
charged to the disaster. He offered his belief that the long-
term financial draw would be on the capital budget through the
DRF.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked if all the wages for employees and
those who administer the wages come from the DRF.
MR. DOEHL answered that generally for a state disaster the wages
come from the DRF; a federal disaster is funded 75 percent by
the federal government and 25 percent by the state. He
remarked, "The responder pay will come out of reimbursements of
the Disaster Relief Fund or other non-budget items. The second
item, in terms of the administrative overhead, is also charged
to the disaster for preparing those documents."
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked whether the department hires
additional personnel "dealing with the paychecks" during a
disaster other than those actually "fighting the disaster."
MR. DOEHL responded that for certain roles, the ASDF, the Air
National Guard, or the Army National Guard may bring finance
clerks on board or pay overtime to current staff. He added that
some salaried employees are worked "like a rented mule."
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX asked whether less overtime charged would
be under HB 150.
MR. DOEHL answered, "That is correct."
1:24:32 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if the passage of HB 150 would
lessen the paperwork burden for members of the militia.
Mr. DOEHL offered his belief that paperwork would be reduced for
individual ASDF members because there would be no need to track
their time doing each task at each range. He said that the most
exciting aspect proposed under HB 150 is the ability to pay
militia members faster when they are away from a civilian
employer.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked what the approximate time horizon of
payment is under the current system and what it would be under
HB 150.
1:26:18 PM
BRIAN DUFFY, Director, Administrative Services Division,
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) drew attention
to a calculation sheet that outlined the costs associated with
"Sockeye Fire" response as calculated under the old construct
and under HB 150. He remarked:
... For those 14 people that assisted in that effort,
the delta is only $364.40, an average of about $26 per
person to have a much more simplified and cleaner pay
structure than the current structure that is
cumbersome. We will use that example to develop the
estimates associated with the reduction of
administrative time to calculate that pay.
1:27:09 PM
CHAIR TUCK pointed out that the total of the old system was
$30,681.93 versus the new system total of $31,046.33: The
difference is less than $1,000.
1:27:32 PM
MR. DOEHL agreed. He stated that he had misspoke earlier when
he stated the difference was $3,000. He added that he would
follow up with Representative Parish's question about processing
time.
1:27:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER asked when the organized militia got its
name.
MR. DOEHL answered that differentiation between the organized
and unorganized militia in Alaska occurred shortly after
statehood with Title 26. He explained that all able-bodied
Alaskans are a part of the unorganized militia - any of those
who will step forward and do right by the nation and state. The
organized militia was then identified to be the group that wears
a uniform and falls into military formations.
1:29:52 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ commented that the difference between
old and new systems is $364.40. She expressed that it is very
likely that the state would save at least as much in paperwork
time for [responders] documenting their transitions in
activities and for the administrative personnel. She said, "I
would find it hard to imagine that actually it wouldn't be
revenue positive over the long run given the simplicity of the
new system."
MR. DOEHL stated that [the department] intuitively agrees with
Representative Spohnholz's comments, but it cannot accurately
determine the costs and needs in the future.
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ responded that that makes sense. She
added that it's important to note that the scale of the
difference in costs is negligible with a commensurate reduction
of administrative burden.
1:31:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH noted that some individuals are paid more
than others in the costs listed for the "Sockeye Fire." He
asked if there is support within militia for HB 150.
MR. DOEHL replied that the bill came about in response to
concerns voiced in the militia about predictability and quicker
pay.
1:32:19 PM
CHAIR TUCK opened public testimony on HB 150.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if support for HB 150 is high within
ASDF.
COLONEL JOHN JAMES, Commander, Alaska State Defense Force,
emphasized, "Absolutely."
1:33:43 PM
CHAIR TUCK, after ascertaining that there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 150.
CHAIR TUCK stated that the bill is part of the changes in Title
26 that would allow the department to more efficiently serve
Alaska. He announced that HB 150 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB150 version A.pdf |
HMLV 3/7/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Fiscal Note MVA 3.5.17.pdf |
HMLV 3/7/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Sponsor Statement 3.3.17.pdf |
HMLV 3/7/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Supporting Document-Sockeye Fire Spreadsheet from DMVA 3.7.17.pdf |
HMLV 3/7/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 150 |
| HB150 Supporting Document - 2017 Military Pay Chart 3.7.17.pdf |
HMLV 3/7/2017 1:00:00 PM |
HB 150 |