Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/04/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB55 | |
| SB65 | |
| SB66 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 55 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 65
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development; and providing for an
effective date."
9:06:00 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof noted that the bill had one section.
9:06:09 AM
TAMIKA LEDBETTER, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, spoke from prepared talking points
(copy on file):
Good Morning Madame/Mister Chair and members of the
Senate Finance Committee. Thank you for the opportunity
to be here and to present for your consideration of
Senate Bill 65. at the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, connecting Alaskans to the job opportunities
in our state is a primary focus of our work. Our goal is
to reach more young Alaskans and to connect them with
training that will lead to family-wage job opportunities
in their home regions. Whether those individuals live in
coastal Alaska or the interior, we are working to
identify partnerships with employers and training
organizations that will best prepare Alaskans for these
opportunities.
• Senate Bill 65 adds language in Title 44 directing
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to
coordinate and monitor state career and technical
education programs. This will be accomplished in
collaboration with the Department of Education and
Early Development, the University of Alaska, and
other entities that provide career and technical
training.
• Federal legislation governing the use of Workforce
Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding, as well
as Carl Perkins career and technical education
funding requires agency coordination and
collaboration. The specific language in this bill
formalizes that requirement.
• The Department of Labor and Workforce Development
works to provide job seekers and workers with high
quality training, education and career services.
This is a central focus of our mission.
• The department also helps employers find skilled
workers and identifies education and training
opportunities for their current workforce.
• The Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) located
in the Commissioners office is the lead state
planning and coordinating entity for human resource
programs in the state. Members represent a diverse
dross-section of business and educational partners.
• In 2010, the AWIB worked in cooperation with the
Department of Education and Early Development and
the University of Alaska to develop the 2010 Alaska
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Plan witch
called for strategies to improve Career and
Technical Education and prepare Alaskans with
required skills needed for postsecondary training
and careers in high growth occupations in Alaska.
• The CTE Plan called for increasing efforts to
develop career pathways, career counseling,
standards for training programs, coordination, and
program delivery.
• The Plan addressed the individual need for career
preparedness as well as the broader need for a
training and education system that is efficient,
effective and coordinated with current and future
workforce needs.
• In 2018, these same partners developed the 2018
Addendum to the Alaska Career and Technical
Education (CTE) Plan to reenergize the conversation
around CTE, reexamine CTE Plan strategies, and help
ensure that our broad spectrum of education and
training opportunities are communicated to Alaskans.
• A CTE Coordinator located within the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development works to implement
these CTE Plan strategies.
• AVTEC the Alaska Vocational Tech Education Center
- is the premiere state training school for
customized trainings directed at specific employers,
and longer-term trainings averaging 9 months in
duration in maritime, applied technology, culinary
arts, energy and building technology, and
information technology.
• Another key role that the Department of Labor plays
in the dissemination of career and technical
training funds thorough, STEP, TVEP and many federal
grant programs.
• Senate Bill 65 formalized the role of the Department
of Labor and Workforce Development as the lead
agency in coordinating and monitoring state career
and technical education.
9:11:11 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof wondered they the role needed to be
formalized in statute if programs were already monitored
under the CTE Plan.
9:11:25 AM
Commissioner Ledbetter replied that the legislation offered
more structure to the process and gave the department more
of a leadership role in ensuring that technical education
was properly coordinated and monitored across the state.
Co-Chair von Imhof thought that the formalization was
unnecessary but deferred to the department's judgement that
it would give the department the teeth to work with the
federal government for federal grant funding.
9:12:42 AM
Senator Shower wondered who previously performed the duty
of coordinating and monitoring state career and technical
education.
Commissioner Ledbetter replied that AWIB had monitored
career and technical education.
9:13:51 AM
Senator Olson pointed to the fiscal note, which showed zero
from 2021 through 2025. He wondered how confident the
department was that the program would continue without
additional funding.
9:13:57 AM
Commissioner Ledbetter replied that she was very confident.
Senator Olson asked where future funding would be found.
Commissioner Ledbetter replied that the program was already
underway and urged the passing of the legislation so that
the department could have a more formalized role.
9:14:48 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof asked whether the bill would have a
fiscal impact to the state.
9:15:03 AM
Commissioner Ledbetter agreed to provide that information.
9:15:11 AM
Senator Shower asked whether vacant PCNs had been used for
the hiring of the new Career and Technical Education
Coordinator.
Commissioner Ledbetter said that the position had already
been filled.
9:15:42 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.
9:16:15 AM
JOEY CRUM, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NORTHERN INDUSTRIAL TEACHING,
PALMER (via teleconference), spoke in support of the
legislation.
9:18:28 AM
LOUISE DEAN, DIRECTOR, ALASKA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD
(via teleconference), was available for questions.
9:18:45 AM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill.
9:19:46 AM
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.
SB 65 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 55 Work Draft Version U.pdf |
SFIN 4/4/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 55 |
| SB 66 support ASHBA.pdf |
SFIN 4/4/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 66 |
| SB 66 - transmittal letter.pdf |
SFIN 4/4/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 66 |
| SB 66 Commissioner Ledbetter Testimony.pdf |
SFIN 4/4/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 66 |
| SB 66 Bill and Sectional Analysis - DOLWD.pdf |
SFIN 4/4/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 66 |