04/02/2015 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

         SB  44-RELIGIOUS UNION EXEMPTION: PERA & AKRR                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:30:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO announced  the consideration  of SB  44. "An  Act                                                               
relating  to the  religious exemptions  in the  Public Employment                                                               
Relations  Act  and the  Alaska  Railroad  Corporation Act."  She                                                               
noted that this  was the second hearing and  public testimony was                                                               
closed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:31:50 PM                                                                                                                    
FORREST  WOLFE, Staff,  Senator Cathy  Giessel offered  to answer                                                               
questions related to SB 44.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS  summarized  his  understanding  that  the  bill                                                               
allows an employee  to select the charity to  which his/her union                                                               
dues equivalent will be contributed.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  WOLFE  agreed  with the  description.  Currently  the  union                                                               
collects the  fees and in  lieu of them  going to the  union they                                                               
are  contributed  to a  charitable  organization  of the  union's                                                               
choosing. The bill allows the  employee to select where the funds                                                               
are contributed.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS  offered  his   understanding  that  under  this                                                               
exemption the employee would pay dues  but not be a member of the                                                               
bargaining unit.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. WOLFE confirmed that was correct.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:33:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COSTELLO  found no further  questions and asked  the will                                                               
of the committee.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:33:46 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL  motioned to report  SB 44,  labeled 29-LS0061\W,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  announced  that  without  objection,  SB  44  is                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.