05/03/2022 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 416                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating  to   the  compensation  of  certain                                                                    
     executive  branch employees  not covered  by collective                                                                    
     bargaining agreements;  and providing for  an effective                                                                    
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:44:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick relayed that  the bill was previously heard                                                                    
on  April  29,   2022.  Amendments  for  HB   416  were  due                                                                    
yesterday, and none were received.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
KEVIN  HIGGINS,   SELF,  JUNEAU,  supported  the   bill.  He                                                                    
believed  that retention  bonuses  were a   great idea.   He                                                                    
noted  retention bonuses  were included  in HB  281 and  the                                                                    
operating  budget   bill  provided  bonuses  for   some  DOL                                                                    
attorneys. He indicated that the  Civil Division was at risk                                                                    
of  losing  valuable  support   staff  like  paralegals  and                                                                    
associated  attorneys who  were  not covered  under GGU.  He                                                                    
voiced that the structure  would collapse without additional                                                                    
support.  He felt  that the  bonuses granted  in HB  281 for                                                                    
attorneys  could  be  reappropriated to  DOL  support  staff                                                                    
considering  the increase  awarded  in HB  226. He  stressed                                                                    
that  the   support  staff  needed  the   increase  and  the                                                                    
department needed to retain them.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:46:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster MOVED  to REPORT  HB 416  out of  committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB  416 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with six  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations, one "do not  pass" recommendation, and four                                                                    
"no  recommendation"   recommendations  and  with   one  new                                                                    
indeterminate   fiscal  note   from   the   Office  of   the                                                                    
Governor/Various.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:46:38 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:54:49 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED