Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/16/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB131 | |
| HCR10 | |
| SB107 | |
| HB41 | |
| HB123 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HCR 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 41 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 107 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HCR 10-MARITIME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
3:13:50 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of HCR 10. A resolution "Supporting the Alaska
Maritime Workforce Development Industry Advisory Committee, the
Alaska Workforce Investment Board, the Alaska Vocational
Technical Education." [CSHCR 10(FSH) was before the committee.]
3:15:33 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LOUISE STUTES, sponsor of HCR 10, introduced
herself and her staff.
3:15:53 PM
REED HARRIS, Staff, Representative Louise Stutes, introduced the
HCR 10 on behalf of the sponsor speaking to the following
sponsor statement:
HCR 10 declares the Legislature's recognition of the
need for the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development
Plan, the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and Alaska
Vocational & Technical Education Center in Seward
(AVTEC). It conveys support for the Alaska Maritime
Workforce Industry Advisory Committee, whose guidance
and leadership will be an integral component of the
implementation of the Plan. HCR 10 encourages support
and participation by various state agencies already
tasked with the mission of workforce development and
includes a goal of increasing resident hire in the
maritime industry to 75 percent by 2020.
MR. HARRIS highlighted that the resolution has a zero fiscal
note, aligns state agencies already tasked with workforce
development, and creates high paying blue collar jobs for
Alaskans.
SENATOR STEVENS expressed support for the resolution.
3:17:10 PM
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (DOLWD), said he appreciates the sponsor
adding to HCR 10 the Alaska Workforce Investment Board, the
advocacy for increasing resident hire in this industry, and also
the AVTEC Maritime Training Center in Seward. He stated that
DOLWD fully supports HCR 10.
CHAIR COSTELLO highlighted that several sessions ago the
legislature passed legislation asking the departments to submit
reports in an electronic form. She asked if he would be
responsible for submitting this report to the legislature and,
if so, if it could be electronic.
MR. CASHEN replied the department would not be submitting the
report but would help to ensure it is in electronic format.
3:19:52 PM
AGGIE FOUTS, Maritime Workforce Coordinator, Industry Advisory
Committee (IAC), Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan,
Anchorage, Alaska, expressed gratitude to the sponsor for
introducing HCR 10, which will help the IAC further implement
the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan and encourage a
wide range of state agencies to participate in this effort. The
collaborative approach is particularly important to accomplish
the goals of preparing, training, and employing more Alaskans in
the maritime industry. This will increase Alaska's competitive
advantage and ultimately improve the economy.
3:20:57 PM
CHRIS SANNITO, Alaska Marine Advisory Program, and the
University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Kodiak, Alaska, voiced support
for HCR 10. He reminded the committee that the maritime industry
represents more than 500 businesses, employs over 68,000
persons, and in 2011 added $6.7 billion to the state's economy.
He described the seafood training and quality workshops and
HACCP seafood safety workshops he conducts statewide. He said
there is great demand for this training because of the turnover
in the seafood industry. Passing HCR 10 will further support
this important industry.
3:22:49 PM
CHAIR COSTELLO found no further testifiers and closed public
testimony.
SENATOR MEYER noted that the sponsor statement speaks to the
goal of increasing the resident hire to 75 percent by 2020. He
asked what percent it is now and questioned why the goal isn't
higher than 75 percent.
MR. HARRIS offered to follow up with the information. He noted
that the goal was suggested by the Alaska Workforce Investment
Board.
SENATOR STEVENS referred to the last two resolves in HCR 10 and
questioned who would write the report regarding the
collaboration.
MR. HARRIS replied the report will be written by the Department
of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD).
CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the goal of 75 percent resident hire is
mentioned in the resolution.
MR. HARRIS directed attention to page 3, lines 9-10.
CHAIR COSTELLO commented that it appears to be a goal of the
Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB), but she, too, wonders
why it isn't higher than 75 percent. She asked Senator Meyer if
he wanted to offer an amendment.
SENATOR MEYER replied he didn't want to offer an amendment when
he didn't know the current percent.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES offered her understanding that resident
hire is currently below 50 percent, so 75 percent is a high bar.
The hope is to train young Alaskans, perhaps even in high
schools, so they could move directly into the seafood industry
after graduation.
SENATOR MEYER questioned why more people in the high
unemployment rural areas aren't going into the seafood industry.
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES explained it is because there aren't
enough training programs.
3:27:19 PM
SENATOR MEYER motioned to report HCR 10 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR COSTELLO announced that without objection, CSHCR 10(FSH)
is reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee.