Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/29/2022 09:00 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development | |
| SB186 | |
| SB193 | |
| HB402 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 185 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 402 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HB 382 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 29, 2022
9:05 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage
Representative Liz Snyder
Representative David Nelson
Representative James Kaufman
Representative Ken McCarty
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Julie Sande Juneau
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 186
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Examiners
in Optometry; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED SB 186 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 193(FIN)
"An Act extending the termination date of the Board of
Chiropractic Examiners; requiring a report on audit compliance
by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners; and providing for an
effective date."
- MOVED CSSB 193(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 402
"An Act relating to identification requirements for contractors
and home inspectors."
- HEARD & HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 185(L&C)
"An Act relating to exemptions from minimum wage."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 190(FIN)
"An Act extending the termination date of the Regulatory
Commission of Alaska; relating to Regulatory Commission of
Alaska regulations regarding refuse utilities; relating to the
powers and duties of the legislative audit division; and
providing for an effective date."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
HOUSE BILL NO. 382
"An Act relating to insurance coverage for pharmacy services."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 186
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) STEVENS
02/09/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/09/22 (S) L&C, FIN
03/07/22 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/07/22 (S) Moved SB 186 Out of Committee
03/07/22 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/08/22 (S) L&C RPT 3DP
03/08/22 (S) DP: MICCICHE, GRAY-JACKSON, STEVENS
03/21/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/21/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/21/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/23/22 (S) FIN AT 1:00 PM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/23/22 (S) Moved SB 186 Out of Committee
03/23/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/25/22 (S) FIN RPT 5DP
03/25/22 (S) DP: STEDMAN, BISHOP, HOFFMAN, WILSON,
WIELECHOWSKI
03/28/22 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/28/22 (S) VERSION: SB 186
04/04/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/04/22 (H) L&C, FIN
04/25/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/25/22 (H) <Bill Hearing Postponed to 4/27/22>
04/27/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/27/22 (H) Heard & Held
04/27/22 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/29/22 (H) L&C AT 9:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 193
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) MICCICHE
02/15/22 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/15/22 (S) L&C, FIN
02/28/22 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/28/22 (S) Heard & Held
02/28/22 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/21/22 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/21/22 (S) Moved CSSB 193(L&C) Out of Committee
03/21/22 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
03/23/22 (S) L&C RPT CS 4DP NEW TITLE
03/23/22 (S) DP: COSTELLO, GRAY-JACKSON, STEVENS,
MICCICHE
03/28/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/28/22 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/30/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/30/22 (S) Heard & Held
03/30/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/05/22 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
04/05/22 (S) Moved CSSB 193(FIN) Out of Committee
04/05/22 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
04/06/22 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 2NR NEW TITLE
04/06/22 (S) DP: BISHOP, HOFFMAN, WILSON, OLSON, VON
IMHOF
04/06/22 (S) NR: STEDMAN, WIELECHOWSKI
04/08/22 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/08/22 (S) VERSION: CSSB 193(FIN)
04/09/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/09/22 (H) L&C, FIN
04/25/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/25/22 (H) <Bill Hearing Postponed to 4/27/22>
04/27/22 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/27/22 (H) Heard & Held
04/27/22 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/29/22 (H) L&C AT 9:00 AM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 402
SHORT TITLE: IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR IN ADS
SPONSOR(s): COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
03/18/22 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/18/22 (H) CRA, L&C
03/29/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
03/29/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/05/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/05/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/07/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/07/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/12/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/12/22 (H) Heard & Held
04/12/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/14/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/14/22 (H) Heard & Held
04/14/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/21/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/21/22 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/26/22 (H) CRA RPT 5DP
04/26/22 (H) DP: DRUMMOND, MCCARTY, MCCABE, SCHRAGE,
HANNAN
04/26/22 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
04/26/22 (H) Moved HB 402 Out of Committee
04/26/22 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
04/29/22 (H) L&C AT 9:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
JULIE SANDE, Commissioner-Designee
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as commissioner-designee to the
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development.
RYAN JOHNSTON, Staff
Representative Calvin Schrage
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 402 on behalf of the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee, sponsor, on
which Representative Schrage serves as co-chair.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:05:30 AM
CO-CHAIR IVY SPOHNHOLZ called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
Representatives Kaufman, McCarty, Snyder, Nelson, Fields, and
Spohnholz were present at the call to order. Representatives
Schrage arrived as the meeting was in progress.
The committee took an at-ease from 9:06 p.m. to 9:07 p.m.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development
Department of Commerce, Community, & Economic Development
9:07:20 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the first order of business
would be the confirmation hearing for the governor's appointee
of commissioner to the Department of Commerce, Community, and
Economic Development.
9:07:36 AM
JULIE SANDE, Commissioner-Designee, Department of Commerce,
Community, and Economic Development, testified as commissioner-
designee to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development (DCCED). She related that she was mostly raised in
logging camps in rural Southeast Alaska, went to high school in
Ketchikan, and volunteered as a youth at the Ketchikan Pioneer
Home where the elders and pioneers shaped her as much or more
than did her parents. She said she received her master's degree
at the University of Southern California (USC), then worked in
nonprofits a bit before returning to the [Ketchikan] Pioneer
Home where she was a social worker and then director until
retiring a couple years ago. She stated that while in the
public sector she had several small businesses that provided
services throughout the state. This public/private experience,
she added, gave her balance in the differences and challenges
between the two. She noted that she also served on the Alaska
Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) and Alaska
Energy Authority (AEA) boards, which provided her with insight
into large infrastructure projects.
COMMISSIONER SANDE pointed out that with six divisions and eight
corporate agencies, DCCED is wide-ranging in the services it
provides across the state. She said the team of staff she
represents works hard on behalf of Alaskans and she is proud of
the team. She explained that DCCED's mission is to protect the
consumer and build a healthy economy and strong communities.
[As commissioner], she related, she serves on 12 boards, which
shows that the range provided by DCCED is big. She said she
offers balance given all the experiences she has had that led
her to the seat she is in today. A quality she has for this
position, Commissioner Sande continued, is the ability to multi-
task at a high rate of speed. Caring for a son, she added, has
taught her the ability to be calm in an emergency and able to
think on her feet. She assured the committee that each decision
she will make will be based on what she thinks is best for
Alaska and Alaskans.
9:13:36 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS remarked that a state can be judged by how it
treats its elders and its children, so he supports Commissioner
Sande based on her long service with the Ketchikan Pioneer Home.
He stated that since being elected he has been surprised at the
number of emails he receives expressing skepticism and distrust
of AIDEA and AEA. He said he sees the administration's "Green
Bank" bill [SB 125/HB 154] as an opportunity to rebuild trust in
AIDEA and he supports its passage. He inquired about the
commissioner's opinion in this regard. He clarified that
people's mistrust of the agency has nothing to do with
Commissioner Sande's merits as the commissioner.
COMMISSIONER SANDE replied that she learned about the Green Bank
bill while at a recent infrastructure symposium and she thinks
it provides great opportunity. She expressed her respect for
AEA director Curtis Thayer and his staff. She said she knew
nothing about AEA's work and mission to lower the cost of energy
for Alaskans when she started serving on the board. She stated
she often finds that the most vocal folks do not represent the
majority, they are just the most vocal. She related that she
bases her decision on looking at all the information rather than
on the very vocal folks.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS recounted that during consideration of the
administration's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) bill in the
House Special Committee on Energy, a question was asked about
whether federal or other resources could be brought in to pay
for transmission to reduce consumers overall cost and help
deploy some of the generation envisioned in that bill. He
offered his hope that Commissioner Sande can consider looking
for those resources to help build out the transmission that will
enable deployment of renewable generation consistently with the
RPS bill. Passing an RPS bill, he added, would be a good thing
for Alaska.
COMMISSIONER SANDE expressed her appreciation.
9:17:26 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ stated that the legislature and others have
been working for a long time on infrastructure relating to
transmission, but Alaska lacks some of the basic infrastructure
to ensure that Alaskans can have sustainable and predictable
access to energy in most parts of the state, including the
Railbelt. She pointed out that there is no redundancy of the
system as seen in other states because of Alaska's large size
and the high cost of infill structure.
COMMISSIONER SANDE answered that prior to the [wildfire] of a
year or more ago, she was not aware of the challenges with the
Railbelt lines, which brought to light many things. She said
she has toured the [Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Project] and has
supported its expansion. She stated she is aware of the needs
for the transmission lines and the upgrades that may need to
occur. However, she continued, the cost of some of those
projects are worrisome, while needed, so balance must occur as
decisions are made on where to invest in these large
infrastructure projects. She offered to discuss this further at
another time.
9:19:16 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SNYDER requested Commissioner Sande to speak to
the issue of recruitment and retention and the impact on the
services that the department is expected to provide.
COMMISSIONER SANDE replied that it comes down to workforce;
folks are needed in the seats to do the job and do the job well.
Regarding recruitment and retention, she related advice that she
was given in the past, which was that it should be the reverse -
retention and recruitment - because the emphasis should always
be on retaining good employees first instead of recruiting more.
When making decisions, she advised, the solution will be found
by bringing the decisions closest to the folks who are doing the
job, especially in state government. If asked, these folks have
the answer, and it is just a matter of giving them the tools
that they need. So, [administrators] first need to ask the
folks around them what they need to stay. The State of Alaska,
she said, puts a lot of time and attention into training folks
at a state level who are then lured away for higher salaries in
the private sector. This has always been a challenge, but it is
more of a challenge now, Commissioner Sande continued. She
related that commissioners in the administration have discussed
the large infrastructure projects that are coming and have
asked, How will the state properly staff these projects, and can
that be done? At the level of the administration, retention and
recruitment is certainly a resounding theme, if not the number
one priority, but the other emphasis is on retaining the staff
that the state does have.
9:23:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY inquired about the commissioner's ideas
for expediting the [state's] system and process for business and
industry to report to the state for licensing corporations. He
pointed out that protocols done in an expeditious manner help
business as well as help the state in processing things so that
the state isn't overwhelmed.
COMMISSIONER SANDE responded that during her individual meetings
with committee members, she consistently heard concerns related
to business licensing and professional licensing in Alaska. For
many reasons, she said, including the COVID-19 pandemic, there
was an increase in the need for licenses, especially in the
healthcare field as the state was trying to get more workers
into the system. Unfortunately, at the same time the state had
less folks to do the work. It is never a good model to have an
increase in workload and less bodies to do the work, she
specified, which is part of where the frustration is coming
from. She explained that a look has been taken at why something
is being done and, at least for now, to stop doing it if not
mandated to do it because the department needs to resolve how to
get the backlog out and alleviate the pressure. She related
that she thought [the department] was under pressure in January,
but now with tourist season ramping up she is finding that that
wasn't pressure. She expressed her appreciation for the
[Dunleavy Administration's] support to figure out solutions.
Whether it is a large-scale change of the department's software
system, she said, or making changes to the department's myAlaska
portal system, the division should be commended for the changes
that [staff] have made with the tool they had in front of them.
[The department] is now looking at other things, Commissioner
Sande continued, which may require a large ask next year as
other software systems are explored. While she does not yet
have an answer on what that might be, she added, she does know
that almost everything is on the table at this point.
9:26:54 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ offered the committee's appreciation for the
focus on removing unnecessary barriers to licensing.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS offered his appreciation for Commissioner
Sande's statement about recognizing and listening to rank-and-
file employees.
[The confirmation hearing was held over.]
SB 186-EXTEND BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY
9:27:41 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business
would be SENATE BILL NO. 186, "An Act extending the termination
date of the Board of Examiners in Optometry; and providing for
an effective date."
9:28:02 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony on SB 186. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, she closed public
testimony.
9:28:36 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report SB 186 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
There being no objection, SB 186 was moved out of the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
SB 193-EXTEND BOARD OF CHIROPRACTIC EXAMINERS
9:29:00 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the next order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 193(FIN), "An Act extending the
termination date of the Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
requiring a report on audit compliance by the Board of
Chiropractic Examiners; and providing for an effective date."
9:29:28 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to report CSSB 193(FIN) out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, CSSB 193(FIN) was moved out of
the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
HB 402-IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR IN ADS
9:29:45 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that the final order of business
would be [HOUSE BILL NO. 402], "An Act relating to
identification requirements for contractors and home
inspectors."
9:30:03 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
9:30:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE introduced HB 402 on behalf of the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee, sponsor, on
which he serves as co-chair. He deferred to Mr. Ryan Johnston
to present the bill.
9:31:09 AM
RYAN JOHNSTON, Staff, Representative Calvin Schrage, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 402 on behalf of the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee, sponsor, on
which Representative Schrage serves as co-chair. He paraphrased
from the sectional analysis included in the committee packet
titled "HB 402: IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS AND HOME
INSPECTORS Version A," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided with some formatting changes]:
Section 1 AS 08.18.051(b) Page 1, Line 3 through
Page 1, Line 12
Amends AS 08.18.051 regarding identification
requirements for contractors in advertisements. The
new language specifies that a contractor's internet
website or landing page satisfies the contractor's
identification requirements in advertisements so long
as it contains the identifiers required under AS
08.18.051 and the advertisement states that the
required information is contained on the contractor's
Internet website or landing page.
Section 2 AS 08.18.053(b) Page 1, Line 13 through
Page 2, Line 6
Amends AS 08.18.051 regarding identification
requirements for registered home inspector or
associate home inspector in advertisements. The new
language specifies that a registered home inspector or
associate home inspector internet website or landing
page satisfies the registered home inspector or
associate home inspector identification requirements
in advertisements so long as it contains the
identifiers required under AS 08.18.051 and the
advertisement states that the required information is
contained on the registered home inspector or
associate home inspector Internet website or landing
page.
Section 3 AS 08.18.171 Page 2, Line 7 through Page
2, Line 10
Adds a definition for "landing page", means a single
web page that appears in response to clicking on a
search engine optimized search result, marketing
promotion, marketing email, or online advertisement.
MR. JOHNSTON explained that the root of this bill is
allowing for another option. The bill does not
require contractors or home inspectors to do this, it
just gives the option. This is modernizing the
efforts for advertising licenses for contractors and
home inspectors. Currently for a contractor to take
out a print ad the contractor would have to list out
every license they have. Many small contractors have
multiple licenses, so it is not cost effective for
them to do that, and now allowing this singular
website would essentially make that a moot point where
at the bottom of the print ad the contractor could
simply put that all licenses can be seen by going to
their website.
9:33:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SCHRAGE specified that no changes were made to
the original bill when it was moved out of the House Community
and Regional Affairs Standing Committee. He drew attention to
the letter of support from Associated General Contractors of
Alaska. He stated that this modernization would ensure that all
information is still provided but in a more efficient way.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY thanked Representative Schrage for the
bill.
9:34:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN asked whether the bill's scope covers any
contractor that may be considered someone who does work under
contract.
MR. JOHNSTON responded that it would only apply to contractors
covered under AS 08.18.051. There are two sections, he noted,
because one section is for home inspectors.
9:35:38 AM
CO-CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that HB 402 was held over.
9:38:53 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
9:39 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Julie Sande Resume 2022_Redacted.pdf |
HL&C 4/25/2022 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HLAC Confirmations 2022 |
| HB 402 Sponsor Statement 3.30.2022.pdf |
HCRA 4/5/2022 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/7/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 402 |
| HB 402 Sectional Analysis 3.30.2022.pdf |
HCRA 4/5/2022 8:00:00 AM HCRA 4/7/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 402 |
| HB 402 AGC Letter of Support.pdf |
HCRA 4/21/2022 8:00:00 AM HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 402 |
| HB 402 - Letter of Support AGC 4.17.22.pdf |
HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
HB 402 |
| SB 190 Amendment #1 - Fields 4.27.22.pdf |
HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 190 |
| HLC SB 193 Follow-Up Information from CBPL (5.2.22).pdf |
HL&C 4/29/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 193 |