01/26/2012 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

                SB 150-MILITARY TRAINING CREDIT                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:05:54 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WIELECHOWSKI announced  that the  first order  of business                                                               
would  be SB  150.  At  the previous  meeting  the University  of                                                               
Alaska  testified about  progress in  providing retired  military                                                               
service  members  with  credit  for military  training  and  work                                                               
experience.   Diane  Barrens   of   the   Alaska  Commission   of                                                               
Postsecondary   Education,  Department   of  Education,   had  no                                                               
problems with the  bill. Don Habeger and Sarah  Chambers from the                                                               
Division of  Corporations, Business, and  Professional Licensing,                                                               
Department of  Commerce and Economic Development  (DCCED), raised                                                               
questions about some  of the wording in the bill.  As a result of                                                               
those discussions,  a new committee  substitute (CS),  version X,                                                               
is before the committee.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:06:38 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR PASKVAN moved  to adopt CSSB 150,  labeled 27-LS117\X, as                                                               
the working document before the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
KENDRA  KLOSTER, staff  to  Senator  Bill Wielechowski,  sponsor,                                                               
explained  that changes  to version  X were  made in  conjunction                                                               
with DCCED.  The first  change is  on page 2,  line 16;  the word                                                               
"temporary" was  added before "license"  to clarify  that section                                                               
(c) was referring  that the boards may issue  a temporary license                                                               
extension of 180 days.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
She noted  several changes on  page 5. On  line 15, Section  5 is                                                               
added  to  include  transitional   language  allowing  DCCED  and                                                               
applicable boards  to immediately begin  implementing regulations                                                               
to accept military education, training,  and service. On line 22,                                                               
Section  6 adds  an effective  date of  December 31,  2013, which                                                               
will  allow  the  department  and boards  enough  time  to  adopt                                                               
regulations   for   accepting  equivalent   military   education,                                                               
training, and  service. On line 23,  Section 7 is added  to allow                                                               
section 5 to take effect immediately.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:08:03 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  stated  that   he  and  Legislative  Legal                                                               
Affairs intend  that Section  1, part  B, of  SB 150  directs the                                                               
issuance of  temporary licenses  for only  those boards  that are                                                               
currently authorized  to issue a  temporary license and  any that                                                               
might be  authorized in the future.  The bill does not  direct or                                                               
require  boards  or  DCCED  to   issue  temporary  licenses.  The                                                               
issuance of temporary  licenses remains at the  discretion of the                                                               
department and boards.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DON   HABEGER,   Division    of   Corporations,   Business,   and                                                               
Professional  Licensing, Department  of  Commerce, Community  and                                                               
Economic   Development  (DCCED)   voiced  appreciation   for  the                                                               
committee's work on SB 150.  He said he appreciates that Sections                                                               
5  -  7  give  the   department  and  boards  time  to  implement                                                               
regulations. Some boards  meet only twice a year,  so this change                                                               
gives  them  ample  time.  He  said  he  also  appreciates  Chair                                                               
Wielechowski's clarification of intent.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  said  he  understood  that  with  the  new                                                               
language there  is a  zero fiscal  note forthcoming.  Mr. Habeger                                                               
said there was.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:11:16 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  noted  that Senator  Giessel  suggested  a                                                               
change; on  page 2, line  12, add  the word "degree,"  before the                                                               
word "diploma".  He requested a comment on the proposed change.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. HABEGER said that was acceptable.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI  withdrew his objection to  adopting version                                                               
X.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI  announced that  without objection,  version X                                                               
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI moved  to add "degree," on page  2, line 12,                                                               
after "was awarded a".   He announced that without objection, the                                                               
motion was adopted.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:13:00 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI requested a motion  to move version X out of                                                               
committee,  as  amended,   with  individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached two zero  fiscal notes from the Department  of Labor and                                                               
Workforce Development  and the University  of Alaska, and  with a                                                               
forthcoming  fiscal   note  from  the  Department   of  Commerce,                                                               
Community, and Economic Development.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR PASKVAN  moved [to report the  CS for SB 150,  version X,                                                               
as amended,  from committee  with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached two  zero fiscal notes.]  There being no  objection, the                                                               
motion carried.