03/16/2022 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

            SB 185-ELIMINATE MINIMUM WAGE EXEMPTION                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:03:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO announced  the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
185 "An Act relating to exemptions from minimum wage."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
She  stated that  this was  the  second hearing  and solicited  a                                                               
motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:03:49 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS   moved  to  adopt  the   work  draft  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)  for SB  185,  work  order 32-LS1443\I,  as  the                                                               
working document.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
2:04:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO objected for an explanation of the changes.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:04:07 PM                                                                                                                    
MELODIE  WILTERDINK, Staff,  Senator Mia  Costello, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,   Alaska,  reviewed  the   changes  between                                                               
version B and version I for SB 185.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Page 1, lines  8-9. The language about an  exemption that allowed                                                               
subminimum wages to  be paid to someone under  age 18 temporarily                                                               
employed by a  nonprofit was removed. The  following two sections                                                               
were renumbered.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:04:56 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:06:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.  She removed her objection                                                               
and asked if there was further objection.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:06:26 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MICCICHE stated support for  the change and restated that                                                               
the  primary  intent of  the  bill  is  to remove  the  offensive                                                               
language from statute that  discriminates against individuals who                                                               
have a disability.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding  that the CS, version I,                                                               
still would allow a nonprofit to  hire an underage person as long                                                               
as the wage was not below the federal minimum.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MICCICHE  answered that is  correct. The other  option is                                                               
for the  nonprofit to engage  volunteers to teach them  the value                                                               
of hard work and thank them in a way other than a wage.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO clarified  that she  would like  young people  to                                                               
receive the  minimum wage  but if  a nonprofit  has no  money, it                                                               
would have the  option to offer underage  individuals the federal                                                               
minimum wage.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:08:27 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO   removed  her  objection;  finding   no  further                                                               
objection, the Committee  Substitute for SB 185  was adopted. She                                                               
noted that Tanya Keith was available to answer questions.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:09:04 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:09:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:09:17 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS  moved to  report  CSSB  185, work  order  32-LS                                                               
1493\I,  from  committee   with  individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:09:36 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection  and CSSB 185(L&C) was reported                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.