03/11/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

             SB 12-MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:19:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 12                                                               
"An  Act relating  to temporary  courtesy  licenses for  military                                                               
spouses; and  relating to the Department  of Commerce, Community,                                                               
and Economic Development."                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:19:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 12.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:19:51 PM                                                                                                                    
JOMO  STEWART,  Military  Projects  Manager,  Fairbanks  Economic                                                               
Development   Corporation  (FEDC),   Fairbanks,  Alaska,   stated                                                               
support  for  SB  12  that   modifies  the  state's  professional                                                               
licensing   regime  to   recognize  licenses   earned  in   other                                                               
jurisdictions  and  increasing   legislative  oversight  for  the                                                               
special  accommodation   of  military  spouse   licenses  already                                                               
existing in the system.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. STEWART  reported that  in February  2018 the  secretaries of                                                               
the  Army, Navy,  and  Air Force  jointly sent  a  letter to  the                                                               
nation's governors  advising of the Military  Support of Families                                                               
Initiative  and  the intent  to  make  quality of  education  and                                                               
professional  license  portability   a  larger  consideration  in                                                               
future  basing considerations.  In 2019,  the Air  Force released                                                               
score cards for all 50 states  and Alaska ranked behind 35 states                                                               
for military spouse license portability.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  STEWARD stated  that the  responses to  the initiative  have                                                               
been dismally low and FEDC  hopes that strengthening departmental                                                               
reporting  requirements and  legislative  oversight of  temporary                                                               
licenses will help generate greater  response. He added that FEDC                                                               
also  believes  that Alaska  would  benefit  from legislation  to                                                               
improve licensure portability generally.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER noted  that Sara  Chambers with  the Department  of                                                               
Commerce,   Community  and   Economic  Development   (DCCED)  was                                                               
available online to answer questions.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:22:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 12.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  stated  strong support  for  Senator  Kawasaki's                                                               
efforts embodied in  SB 7. She highlighted that  the Senate Labor                                                               
and Commerce  Committee introduced a committee  bill on licensure                                                               
and that Senator Revak is also very interested in the process.                                                                  
She  emphasized that  improving  the process  for individuals  to                                                               
receive professional  licensure in order  to work in Alaska  is a                                                               
priority. She noted  that she and others discussed  this with the                                                               
Governor just this  morning. She agreed with  the previous caller                                                               
that this needs to be addressed in a number of ways.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SHOWER agreed  that it  was important  for the  state long                                                               
term.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:23:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 12 in committee for future consideration.