Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/03/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB14 | |
| SB77 | |
| SB73 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 77 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 77-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY
1:56:39 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 77 "An Act relating to national
criminal history record checks for certain employees of the
Department of Revenue; relating to allowable absences for
eligibility for a permanent fund dividend; relating to the
confidentiality of certain information provided on a permanent
fund dividend application; relating to the duties of the
Department of Revenue; and providing for an effective date."
1:56:56 PM
SENATORE JESSE KIEHL, District D, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, as sponsor of SB 77 he clarified it isn't a
dividend formula bill. The PFD provides checks to Alaskans
intending to remain residents. He stated that eligibility allows
up to 180 days out of state, with 16 allowable absence types. SB
77, based on prior requests from Governor Dunleavy, adds
merchant marine training and academic year college breaks as
allowable absences. It also simplifies medical absence rules, so
emergencies don't cost eligibility. He said the bill improves
PFD division security by allowing staff fingerprinting, making
the recipient list private, and permitting electronic notices.
He stated that it updates absence rules and boosts
administrative efficiency.
2:01:40 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced invited testimony on SB 77.
2:01:56 PM
KARI NORE, Director, External Affairs, Alaska Chamber,
Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 77. She read
the following:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Chair Bjorkman, and members of the Senate Labor and
Commerce Committee, thank you for the opportunity to
testify today. For the record, my name is Kari Nore,
and I serve as the director of external affairs for
the Alaska Chamber. I testify today in support of
Senate Bill 77, an Act relating to the permanent fund
dividend employment eligibility.
The Alaska Chamber was founded in 1953 and is Alaska's
statewide business advocacy organization. Our mission
is to promote a healthy business environment in
Alaska. The Chamber has more than 700 members and
represents businesses of all sizes and industries from
across the state, representing 58,000 Alaskan workers
and $4.6 billion in wages.
2:02:38 PM
MS. NORE continued with her testimony:
By vote of our diverse membership, the Alaska Chamber
has a formal policy position to support clarifying
vocational training absences for purposes of receiving
PFD benefits. We support the enactment of clarifying
changes to the PFD statute in order to assure Alaskans
who are members of the uniformed services or those
attending merchant marine training programs remain
eligible to obtain their PFD, provided they have met
all other eligibility criteria.
Since 1997, over 700 Alaskans have been recruited,
trained, and placed in deep-sea maritime employment by
attending the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education. Many of these candidates were youth,
Alaskan Natives, displaced workers, and veterans who
attended an apprentice program paid for through a
labor-management training trust fund. In so doing,
management can be assured the individuals they hire to
crew their vessels are thoroughly trained to USCG
standards and uniformly meet their security, safety,
and competency standards. Furthermore, by recruiting
Alaskans for this apprenticeship opportunity companies
in the Alaska maritime trade, like Alaska Tanker
Company, Crowley Maritime, Matson Navigation, and TOTE
Maritime Alaska, continue to meet their commitment to
hire local. Denying PFD benefits to Alaskans,
particularly younger Alaskans, while engaged in this
required training, discourages them from considering
this pathway as a career opportunity. The purpose for
the local hire effort is for these individuals to be
trained outside and to return to Alaska to spend their
earned wages and enjoy their benefits on their time
off.
In closing, the Chamber supports SB 77 and encourages
swift passage of this straightforward and good for
business bill. Thank you for considering the Alaska
Chamber's comments.
2:04:53 PM
EMILY NENON, Director, Alaska Government Relations, American
Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified by invitation on SB 77 and in support of removing
unnecessary barriers that affect cancer patients. She stated
that most cancer care is available in Alaska and most patients
are treated here but complex cases sometimes require out-of-
state care. SB 77 helps streamline confusing absence rules,
making it easier for patients to be honest on their PFD
applications and easing the burden during an already difficult
time.
2:06:55 PM
At ease.
2:09:14 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and held SB 77 in
committee.