Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
05/01/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Regulatory Commission of Alaska|| Occupational Safety and Health Review Board|| Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy|| State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors|| Board of Barbers and Hairdressers|| Alaska Labor Relations Agency|| Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers|| Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission|| Alaska Workers' Compensation Board|| Board of Pharmacy | |
| HB360 | |
| SB239 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 360 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 239 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 360-HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
5:21:58 PM
VICE CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 360, "An Act establishing the Home Care
Employment Standards Advisory Board; and providing for an
effective date."
5:22:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX, as prime sponsor, presented HB 360. He
shared the sponsor statement for HB 360 [included in committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in the
state of Alaska1 and are living longer lives. The
state's 85+ population is expected to increase by 500%
between 2022 and 2050, of which, 1/3 will experience
Alzheimer's and Related Dementia. Alaska Department of
Labor and Workforce Development predicts home care, a
part of Alaska's continuum of care services to the
aging and people with disabilities, to be one of the
fastest growing and most in demand occupations in the
state. However, the potential provider workforce
demographic, those age 18 to 64, is in decline.
Furthermore, low wages and lack of benefits force many
caregivers out of the profession and make recruitment
and retention increasingly more difficult for agencies
providing in-home care services.
We need to create strong home care infrastructure in
Alaska which will expand access to quality, affordable
home and community-based care for seniors and people
with disabilities, keep people in their homes and out
of costly facilities, and bolster the creation of
jobs. HB 360 helps accomplish this by establishing a
Home Care Employment Standards Advisory Board that
will investigate, advise, and develop recommendations
on Medicaid rates and other policies to improve the
wages, working conditions, and recruitment and
retention of direct care workers.
5:25:13 PM
RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Prax, prime sponsor,
offered to read the sectional analysis.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE advised that Mr. Nye forego the
sectional.
5:25:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked how other states with similar
structures have improved working conditions.
5:26:24 PM
ALEXIS RODICH, Research and Policy, SEIU775, confirmed that
similar boards exist in Nevada and Washington. The scope of
those boards are slightly different; however, they bring
together a similar group of stakeholders who advise and make
recommendations based on their understanding of the needs of the
workforce.
5:27:22 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:27 p.m. to 5:29 p.m.
[Vice Chair Ruffridge returned the gavel to Chair Sumner.]
5:29:07 PM
VANESSA LISTON-CUNNINGHAM, representing self, gave invited
testimony on HB 360. She shared a personal anecdote and
discussed how the state cares for people with disabilities. She
opined on the lack of agency accountability with regard to the
use of disability funds. She asked members to consider giving
caregivers a voice and recognition and urged them to consider HB
360.
5:32:13 PM
TONDA LUNDIN, representing self, gave invited testimony in
support of HB 360. She emphasized her passion for caregiving
and stressed that, at some point in every Alaskan's life, they
will need quality care. She opined that the time for change is
now, and that a foundation of fair pay, healthcare benefits, and
quality providers should be laid for future Alaskans. She said
the bill would give Alaskan caregivers a voice in the process
and hold companies accountable by ensuring that allotted funds
go directly to caregivers.
5:34:44 PM
EDNA BEEBE, representing self, gave invited testimony in support
of HB 360. She described elements of a subsistence lifestyle in
Eek and discussed the high cost of living in rural Alaska. She
described her experience as a caregiver and advocated for
receiving more hours and higher pay with benefits. She opined
that caregivers should have a say in the process of funding
distribution and stated her support for HB 360.
5:38:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS opined that HB 360 would be a good vehicle
for ensuring that caregivers are directly receiving the funding.
He assured testifiers that legislators are working on the issue;
however, there are not adequate statutory guidelines in place
yet.
CHAIR SUMNER said the bill would be held over.
5:39:51 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:39 p.m. to 5:41 p.m.
5:41:49 PM
CHAIR SUMNER clarified that the committee would continue the
hearing on HB 360.
5:41:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1 to
HB 360.
CHAIR SUMNER objected for purposes of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK stated that Conceptual Amendment 1 would
change the number of positions on the board from 11 to 9,
thereby removing one member representing a personal care agency
and one member representing a personal care assistant.
CHAIR SUMNER removed his objection. There being no further
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
5:42:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 360, as amended, out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes, and to authorize Legislative Legal
Services to make any necessary technical or conforming changes.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected. He noted that the committee had
not held public testimony on HB 360.
5:43:30 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded that public testimony is
advisable, though not required, and he commented on the short
timeframe until the end of session and the value of the proposed
legislation.
5:44:00 PM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Wright, Carrick,
Fields, Prax, and Sumner voted in favor of the motion to report
HB 360, as amended, out of committee with individual
recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
Representatives Ruffridge voted against it. Therefore, CSHB
360(L&C) was reported out of the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee by a vote of 5-1.