04/03/2007 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

        SB 124-ALASKA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BD ALLOCATION                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELLIS announced the first committee hearing for SB 124.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON, sponsor  of SB 124, said  Alaska Works Partnership                                                               
(AWP) originally asked him to  introduce SB 124 that reauthorizes                                                               
the  adult voc/tech  training  programs and  raises  the rate  of                                                               
contribution  to  pipeline  training   programs.  This  bill  was                                                               
expanded  to   address  training   needs  throughout   Alaska  in                                                               
forthcoming  pipeline  construction.  This  will  insure  that  a                                                               
greater number of  Alaskans will participate in  building the gas                                                               
line through the state's trade union apprenticeship program.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
In this  regard, the AWP has  put together a program  that offers                                                               
the  training  expertise  for  all  trades  operating  under  one                                                               
umbrella organization.  He said that AWP  has effectively reached                                                               
out  to  bring  residents  from  all areas  of  Alaska  into  its                                                               
program. It  has extended its  training program and  expertise to                                                               
other   voc/tech   programs   in   Alaska   through   cooperative                                                               
arrangements. These efforts  have proven to be  very effective in                                                               
providing skilled  workers for public construction  projects from                                                               
residents of the community.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:52:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  OLSON explained  that the  CS, version  M, reflects  the                                                               
recommendations  Alaska Works  Partnership had  put forth  in its                                                               
March   16  letter.   It  essentially   increases  the   employee                                                               
contribution rate  to the technical vocational  education program                                                               
by  .005 percent.  It enacts  a  new allocation  listing for  the                                                               
program funds for  a five-year period between FY08  and FY13. The                                                               
new allocation of  funds adds the Northwestern  Alaska Career and                                                               
Technical  Center  (NACTEC)  in Nome,  Delta  Career  Advancement                                                               
Career Advancement Center in Delta  Junction and the Alaska Works                                                               
Partnership to its list.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS asked if line 10 on  page 2 of the CS, version M,                                                               
meant a  reduction in  funds to  the Alaska  Vocational Technical                                                               
Center.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  OLSON asked  the  chair  if he  wanted  to  work off  of                                                               
version M.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:53:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR ELLIS said no; he wanted  to work off the original bill. He                                                               
also stated that  he didn't want to damage  the existing programs                                                               
at the  University and had  asked folks to discuss  this together                                                               
in the hopes  of bringing another CS to the  committee. He wanted                                                               
it to allow them to use  some monies without hurting the UI trust                                                               
fund, which he thought was doable  at a certain level, to pump up                                                               
some of these programs that might be justified across the state.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:56:06 PM                                                                                                                    
MIKE ANDREWS,  Director, Alaska Works Partnership  Inc., said AWP                                                               
is a statewide not-for-profit  dedicated to construction industry                                                               
workforce  development. He  stated  that  this legislation  could                                                               
significantly  contribute to  increasing the  number of  Alaskans                                                               
who are  attracted to  construction jobs  and career  training in                                                               
the state. He  looked forward to working with the  committee on a                                                               
positive resolution.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELLIS said they were open to his suggestions.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:57:20 PM                                                                                                                    
JEFF SELVEY,  Director, Northwestern Alaska Career  and Technical                                                               
Center (NACTEC) said  that it had existed in Nome  for four years                                                               
and  that  they  worked  with   AWP,  the  University  of  Alaska                                                               
Northwest and Norton  Sound Health Corp. in  developing a program                                                               
for  training  high  school students  and  supported  educational                                                               
services for  adults throughout  the region.  He stated  he would                                                               
like to  continue using his  facilities to train a  workforce for                                                               
his area.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELLIS asked how many people use the NACTEC facilities now.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SELVEY recapped  that  in  its first  year  the high  school                                                               
program had  112 students, the second  year - 224, and  last year                                                               
it had 239. This year their  goal is to have 250 students. NACTEC                                                               
has served  over 500  students so far.  Alaska Works  Program and                                                               
students  from the  Northwest campus  use their  facilities after                                                               
hours and they have trained about 70 people.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ELLIS  responded  that  he  appreciated  that  cooperative                                                               
attitude in sharing resources.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:59:07 PM                                                                                                                    
PHIL  REESE,   Director,  Post-Secondary  Program,   Galena  City                                                               
Schools, supported  SB 124.  He said they  had been  in existence                                                               
for five years. He is  always looking for opportunities to extend                                                               
training opportunities.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:00:29 PM                                                                                                                    
WENDY  REDMAN, University  of Alaska,  thanked Senator  Olson for                                                               
introducing this bill. She said they  are very close to finding a                                                               
solution without hurting other programs.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  OLSON closed  his comments  relating that  their efforts                                                               
are on track.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELLIS held SB 124.