01/27/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

               SB  15-ALCOHOL: SALE, WARNING SIGNS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:32:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced  the consideration of SENATE  BILL NO. 15                                                              
"An Act relating  to the sale of alcohol; relating  to the posting                                                              
of warning  signs for  alcoholic beverages;  and providing  for an                                                              
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:32:44 PM                                                                                                                    
KERRY  CROCKER,   Staff,  Senator  Kelly  Merrick,   Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, paraphrased the  following submitted                                                              
document titled, Summary of Senate Bill 15:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     [Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Senate  Bill   15  introduces  updates  to   state  laws                                                                   
     governing   the  sale  and   consumption  of   alcoholic                                                                   
     beverages,  focusing  on  responsible  alcohol  service,                                                                   
     enhanced    youth    employment    opportunities,    and                                                                   
     protections for individuals under 21.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Key Provisions:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
   • Unemployment changes: Allows individuals aged 18-20 to                                                                   
     serve alcohol in restaurants, breweries, and other                                                                         
     establishments, with required supervision to prevent                                                                       
     underage consumption.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
   • Access for Minors: Permits individuals aged 16 and                                                                       
     older to dine in licensed premises under specific                                                                          
     protections.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
   • Flexibility in Service Hours: Adjusts alcohol service                                                                    
     hours for theaters to accommodate modern entertainment                                                                     
     needs while ensuring safety.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
   • Updated Warning Signs: Revises signage to better                                                                         
     communicate alcohol-related risks.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     These reforms aim to streamline operations for                                                                             
     businesses, balance public safety with economic                                                                            
     growth, and provide new job opportunities for young                                                                        
     residents while protecting minors.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:33:57 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK asked for an at ease.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:34:04 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:34:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:35:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN continued public testimony on SB 15.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:35:38 PM                                                                                                                    
DIANE  THOMPSON,  Vice  President,  Alaska  Hospitality  Retailers                                                              
Association,  Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in  support of  SB 15.                                                              
She  stated she  is one  of  the owners  of  Firetap Alehouse  and                                                              
Restaurant  in  South  Anchorage.  She gave  a  brief  history  of                                                              
[House Bill  189] from  last session.  She reiterated that  Alaska                                                              
is one  of three  states that  does not  allow 1820-year-olds   to                                                              
serve alcohol.  She testified concerning  the shortage  of workers                                                              
in  the  hospitality  industry  and the  lack  of  applicants  for                                                              
server and  bartender positions.  SB 15  will help students  under                                                              
the age of 21  with summer employment by allowing  them to work in                                                              
hospitality  industries  that serve  alcohol.  She encouraged  the                                                              
timely passage of SB 15.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:37:45 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID MCCARTHY,  CEO Northern Hospitality Group  Anchorage, Alaska                                                              
testified in  support of [SB  15] He opined  that all agree  SB 15                                                              
is  a  solution  to  the  labor   shortage  and  would  strengthen                                                              
communities. He  concluded that a  national debate would  ensue if                                                              
it was dangerous  for 16 - to  18- year-olds to serve  alcohol. He                                                              
stated his  establishments have  rules to  protect both  the minor                                                              
and the establishment. He stated taps training  requires education                                                              
on alcohol  consumption for  all employees. He  stated SB  15 will                                                              
enhance the  community by educating  younger adults that  have not                                                              
been allowed  to legally consume  alcohol. He explained  47 states                                                              
allow  18-year-olds  to  serve  alcohol.  He  said  the  plan  has                                                              
already  been  laid  out  with  examples  from  other  states.  He                                                              
questioned  how letting  teenagers work  is a  problem and  quoted                                                              
the International  Youth Foundation  as saying, "Youth  critically                                                              
need  life   and  employability  skills   as  a  way   to  prepare                                                              
themselves  to be  motivated and  confident  decision makers,  who                                                              
can overcome diversity  and realize their potential."  He said one                                                              
in  three  Americans receive  their  first  job  in the  food  and                                                              
service industry and  he provided reasons why working  in the food                                                              
and  service  industry  is  beneficial  to  others.  He  explained                                                              
Alaska is  not a tip credit  state, 1820-year-olds  will  now earn                                                              
minimum wage  plus tips  giving youth  financial opportunities  in                                                              
their communities.  He asserted  that building  the community  and                                                              
developing future  leaders begins  with the hospitality  industry.                                                              
He emphasized  the need to  make Alaska more forward-thinking  and                                                              
adaptable to the broader world.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:42:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 15.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:42:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:42:28 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK  moved to  report SB  15, work draft  34-LS0163\A,                                                              
from committee  with individual recommendations and  attached zero                                                              
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:42:42 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN  found no objection  and SB 15 was  reported from                                                              
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.