Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/19/2023 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB45 | |
| SB85 | |
| SB126 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 45 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 85 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 85-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY
1:50:13 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 85 "An Act relating to record
checks for certain employees of the Department of Revenue;
relating to permanent fund dividends; and providing for an
effective date."
He stated that this is the second hearing of this bill. It is
the chair's intention to finish hearing public testimony, then
look to the will of the committee regarding an amendment.
1:50:59 PM
COREY BIGELOW, Operations Manager, Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
Division, Department of Revenue (DOR), Juneau, Alaska, gave a
recap of SB 85, stating it does four things. The first section
adds statutory authority for the PFD division to conduct
background checks on its employees and provides statutory
authority for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to conduct
those background checks for the division. The second section
would allow mariners attending qualified vocational programs to
qualify for an allowable absence. The next section adds a new
subsection to AS 43.23.008 to define the term "education on a
fulltime basis" for the purpose of calculating allowable
absences. Lastly it allows the division the use of electronic
notice of levy, which would streamline communication and save on
postage costs.
1:53:11 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 85; finding none,
he closed public testimony. He sought a motion to adopt the
amendment in the bill packets.
1:53:45 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 33-
GS1337\A.1, for SB 85 on behalf of Senator Bjorkman.
33-GS1337\A.1
Nauman
4/7/23
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BJORKMAN
TO: SB 85
Page 5, line 31, following "claimed":
Insert "(i)"
Page 6, line 1, following "subsection;":
Insert "or
(ii) under (5)
of this subsection if the individual
is not claiming an absence under (1) -
(4) or (6) - (16) of this subsection;"
1:54:10 PM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, gave a brief explanation of
Amendment 1 to SB 85.
1:55:19 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN sought clarification that under current law
someone can be gone for any reason for up to 180 days and still
receive their permanent fund dividend.
MR. JACKSON directed the question to the Permanent Fund Dividend
Division.
1:56:23 PM
KIM LANE, Eligibility Manager, Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD)
Division, Department of Revenue (DOR), Juneau, Alaska, answered
that someone can be gone for 180 days.
1:56:57 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked whether the current limit for purposes of
medical treatment was 45 days.
MS. LANE responded that the allowable absence is verified and
can be for as many days as necessary. She explained that if the
cumulative absence exceeds a medical absence of 45 days, such as
50 days of vacation time, the additional time would need to be
accounted for and verified.
1:58:08 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON sought clarification that 45 days of
medical leave, followed by 50 days of vacation days would still
qualify for the PFD.
MS. LANE answered yes, that would still be under 180 days and
explained further. She said that a resident can be out of state
for 45 days for medical purposes, and additionally another 180
days.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she would like to discuss this offline
to further understand.
MR. JACKSON clarified that he was talking about allowed
absences. He said that if a resident who would normally qualify
for the PFD went on vacation out of state for 50 days and upon
returning needed to take time for unforeseen medical
circumstances, they would now be disqualified.
2:00:21 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR asked whether the administration's position is
that this amendment would make a change to the existing statute
or if the division is stating what the law currently is.
MS. LANE replied that Amendment 1 is not changing the allowable
absence. The amendment changes the duration of an allowable
absence in addition to continuous medical treatment.
SENATOR DUNBAR sought clarification that Amendment 1 makes a
meaningful change by increasing the number of allowable absent
days.
MS. LANE responded that Amendment 1 does not change the
allowable absence period, rather the amount of time spent
outside the state in addition to the allowable absence period.
2:02:05 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN sought confirmation that Amendment 1 allows a
person to have an excused medical absence over and above 180
days, which is currently the maximum number of days allowed.
MS. LANE asked Senator Bjorkman to repeat the question.
CHAIR BJORKMAN repeated that Amendment 1 allows for a 45-day
absence on top of the 180-day absence currently allowed.
MS. LANE replied that Amendment 1 is extending how much time in
addition an individual can be out of the state.
MR. BIGELOW said it is a difficult concept to explain. Amendment
1 refers to the days in addition to the allowable absence. He
offered a supposition to explain the amendment. Suppose an
individual went on vacation for a duration longer than the
current allowable absence and then returned to Alaska. The
individual was later required to seek medical treatment out-of-
state. Amendment 1 would extend the initial 45 days to 180 days.
That is the "in addition to" that would add to.
2:04:22 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection and Amendment 1 was
adopted.
2:04:42 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR sought clarification that if someone was gone for
180 days and did not have a medical emergency, they would still
qualify for the PFD.
2:05:16 PM
MR. BIGELOW answered that is true.
2:05:41 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report SB 85, work order 33-
GS1337\A, as amended, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
2:06:00 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no objection and CSSB 85(L&C) was reported
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 85 Draft Proposed Amendment A.1.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 85 |
| SB 126 Fiscal Note-DCCED-CBPL-04.15.23.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 126 |
| SB 45 Draft Proposed Amendment U.6.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB 45 Draft Proposed Amendment U.5.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB 45 Draft Proposed Amendment U.1.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |
| SB 45 Draft Proposed CS ver R.pdf |
SL&C 4/19/2023 1:30:00 PM |
SB 45 |