Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/04/2024 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB154 | |
| SB102 | |
| SB257 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 154 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 257 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 154-BIDDER PREF MILITARY CAREER SKILLS PROG
1:33:55 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO.
154, "An Act relating to bidder preferences in state
procurement."
1:34:12 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, District K, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 154. He gave a brief overview of
SB 154. He explained that this legislation would establish a
bidder preference for state contracts for veterans and service
members. It does this by encouraging businesses to hire service
members who are taking part in apprentice-type programs. He said
that 43 percent of post-9/11 veterans could not find work within
six months of transitioning from military service. Veterans'
labor force participation is around 47.7 percent, compared to 64
percent for non-veterans. He added that the unemployment rate
for the spouses of active-duty members is around 21 percent.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI stated that barriers to veteran employment
include a lack of transition support, negative experience with
support services, a feeling of completely starting over, and
perceived employer/societal stigma and discrimination. He
reiterated that SB 154 would give bidder preference to companies
who hire employees who have taken part in training programs that
are designed to help service members find employment once they
have completed their military service.
1:36:35 PM
KALEB CALLAHAN, Intern, Senator Bill Wielechowski, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented SB 154 on behalf of the
sponsor. He explained that the intent behind this legislation is
to close the transition gap between military service members who
have completed their long military contracts as they transition
into the civilian workforce. He said he considers SB 154 to be a
"supporting pipeline" to aid exiting service members in finding
employment while also giving bonuses to those businesses that
employ them. He explained that the programs are DOD SkillBridge
and Army Career Service (ACS) programs, which are completed
during the last 180 days of the servicemember's contract. These
programs offer apprenticeships, internships, and training
programs that allow the servicemember to transition directly
into a career field of their choice.
MR. CALLAHAN pointed out that both ACS and SkillBridge support a
variety of professions and have locations across the state -
including locations at Fort Richardson, Fort Wainwright, and a
number of locations in Anchorage and Fairbanks. These
professions range from those in the medical industry to
mechanics and heavy equipment operators. He explained that this
would allow the skills obtained during military service to
transfer more easily to the civilian workforce - e.g. a
Blackhawk mechanic could find work in a Ford factory; a combat
medic could work in nursing; and Army construction officers
could obtain certifications to be heavy equipment operators.
MR. CALLAHAN stated that SB 154 establishes a 2 percent bidder
preference; however, the preference is capped at $5 thousand,
regardless of bid size. He opined that this is a modest
expenditure and a win-win scenario. He stated that entities that
have employed at least one person enrolled in - or recently
graduated from - United States Department of Defense (US DOD),
SkillBridge, or ACS would be eligible for bidder preference. He
added that this applies to both service members and their
spouses.
1:39:45 PM
SENATOR BISHOP asked how this compares to the Helmets to
Hardhats (H2H) program. He asked for clarification on the $5
thousand cap for bidder preference and how this would apply to
large contracts of $1 million or more.
1:40:55 PM
MR. CALLAHAN replied that the 2 percent bidder preference is
capped at $5 thousand. He surmised that the majority of the
contracts would likely be much less than $1 million. He stated
that the intent of SB 154 is to use bidder preferences to
encourage businesses to utilize the aforementioned programs.
With respect to H2H, he stated that he is not familiar with this
program; however, he said that it sounds similar to DOD
SkillBridge.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI clarified that - in contrast to H2H - SB
154 provides a bidder preference to companies.
SENATOR BISHOP shared his understanding that the goal is to get
more skilled people in the workforce.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied yes.
1:43:11 PM
MR. CALLAHAN noted that veteran preference is already in
statute; however, statute does not mention transitionary bidder
preferences. He explained that SB 154 works as a pipeline by
giving preference for servicemembers to become veterans and
providing a 2 percent bidder preference. This would eventually
enable businesses to employ enough veterans to qualify for the 5
percent bidder preference that is already in statute.
1:43:53 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN asked if a company would track how many employees
are within the two-year graduation window from these programs
and submit this information in their bid packet to determine
their eligibility for the bidder preference.
1:44:20 PM
MR. CALLAHAN replied yes. He added that this amount of tracking
would be unnecessary, as only one employee would need to be
associated with one of these programs in order to qualify for
the bidder preference.
1:45:08 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 154.
1:45:23 PM
KYLE KAISER, President, VIPER Transitions, Anchorage, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 154. He explained that part of the
problem for servicemembers, veterans, and their spouses is
access to the jobsite. He noted that there is a great deal of
discussion around how to keep these individuals from pursuing
careers outside of Alaska. He stated that around 80 percent of
servicemen and women leave Alaska once they have completed their
military career. He expressed a desire to change this and
emphasized the importance of addressing the issue before they
are completely separated from the military. He emphasized the
importance of the 180 window to determine where these
servicemembers will go and what career they will follow. He
added that the apprenticeships and other skill-building
opportunities will help them to step directly into the civilian
workforce. He opined that SB 154 is great for servicemembers,
businesses, the military, and for the state of Alaska. With
respect to Helmets to Hardhats, he said that SB 154 would
incentivize employers to create more spots for apprentices on
their staff, thus connecting more servicemembers with the
apprenticeship opportunities that organizations like helmets 2
hardhats advertise.
1:48:01 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held public testimony on SB 154 open.
1:48:11 PM
SENATOR BISHOP commented that broadband expansion in Alaska has
a workforce need of 17 thousand people.
1:48:52 PM
CHAIR BJORKMAN held SB 154 in committee.