05/08/2002 09:31 AM Senate RLS

SENATE BILL NO. 252                                                                                                             
"An Act renaming  the Alaska Human Resource Investment  Council as                                                              
the  Alaska  Workforce  Investment   Board  and  relating  to  its                                                              
membership; repealing  the termination date of the  state training                                                              
and  employment  program;  relating  to  employment  and  training                                                              
activities; and providing for an effective date."                                                                               
     SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS indicated  that  Senator Ellis  had a  proposed                                                              
amendment to SB 252-EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM/BOARD.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS moved  to adopt Amendment 1. He said  Amendment 1 is                                                              
a  technical  amendment   and  that  a  representative   from  the                                                              
Department  of Labor and  Workforce Development  was available  to                                                              
answer questions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY objected.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER  ED  FLANAGAN,  Department  of  Labor  and  Workforce                                                              
Development (DOLWD),  told members that Amendment  1 is technical.                                                              
An  amendment was  adopted by  the Senate  Finance Committee  that                                                              
pertained to  the percentage  available for administrative  costs:                                                              
rather than 15 percent  of the total amount, it would  be based on                                                              
20 percent  of the  amount actually  expended  in the prior  year.                                                              
That  amendment changed  language  on page  16,  line 29.  Senator                                                              
Ellis's amendment  merely corrects an earlier reference  on page 9                                                              
to  make   it  consistent  with   the  Senate  Finance   Committee                                                              
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY removed his objection.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  asked if  Amendment 1  will make the  language                                                              
consistent throughout  that the administrative costs  are based on                                                              
20 percent of prior year expenditures.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER FLANAGAN said that is correct.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  asked if the  legislative auditor  agrees that                                                              
the two references need to be the same.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER FLANAGAN said he could  not speak for the legislative                                                              
auditor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT said he believes Amendment 1 is appropriate.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMISSIONER FLANAGAN clarified that  Amendment 1 makes the change                                                              
in two places: page 9 and page 21.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS noted that with  no further objection, Amendment                                                              
1 was adopted.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELLIS moved to  calendar SB  252-EMPLOYMENT AND  TRAINING                                                              
PROGRAM/BOARD   with  its   accompanying  fiscal   notes  at   the                                                              
Chairman's discretion.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS announced  that with  no objection, the  motion                                                              
carried.                                                                                                                        
SENATOR THERRIAULT  expressed concern about an amendment  that was                                                              
adopted to  SB 252.  He said  it was  his understanding  that they                                                              
were dealing with two sections pertaining  to administrative costs                                                              
on the  STIP funds. He  thought the two  sections, on pages  9 and                                                              
21,  dealt with  administrative costs.  However, on  page 21,  the                                                              
language  that  was  amended  has  nothing to  do  with  the  STIP                                                              
program. He asked that the bill be held for 24 hours.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  PHILLIPS  announced  that   he  would  hold  SB  252  in                                                              
committee for 24  hours for the purpose of clarification.  He then                                                              
adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.