Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
05/10/2019 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB109 | |
| Presentation(s): State Career & Technical Education Plan; Reauthorization, Carl Perkins Act | |
| HB67 | |
| HB155 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 67 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 155 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 67-DEPT. OF LABOR: TECHNICAL ED. PROGRAMS
8:28:54 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 67, "An Act relating to the duties of the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and providing for
an effective date."
CO-CHAIR STORY stated that before the committee considers HB 67,
she would first like the committee to better understand the
cooperative work that has been underway to support and advance
CTE in Alaska. She has therefore invited representatives from
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), the
Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), and the
University of Alaska (UA) to give a description of their role in
providing CTE to Alaska.
8:29:39 AM
PAUL LAYER, Vice President for Academics, Students and Research,
University of Alaska (UA), described the university's role in
providing career and technical education in Alaska and how the
university interfaces with DEED and DLWD. He pointed out that
the University of Alaska is the largest provider of career and
technical education in the state and provides those programs for
both postsecondary students and the university's dual enrollment
programs with kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students.
The university works closely with DLWD and DEED through
committees, which has been ongoing for a long time. The
university values those collaborations with those departments
and looks forward to continuing to serve Alaskans through its
career and technical education programs.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired about the sort of data that the
university works with and provides to DLWD and DEED.
MR. LAYER deferred to Ms. Cothren to provide an answer.
8:32:32 AM
TERI COTHREN, Project Manager, Workforce Programs, University of
Alaska, offered two examples to answer the question about data
and how the university works with DEED and DLWD. She said the
university works through its institutional research office with
DEED annually to report on postsecondary data related to Perkins
to meet the federal requirements. The university also works
with DLWD annually to report on the technical/vocational
education program to meet the requirements for that program and
provide that data through an annual report to the legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether this work of data sharing,
planning, and coordination is ongoing throughout the year with
DEED and DLWD or whether the university sits once a year with
the departments to work together.
MS. COTHREN replied it is ongoing. She explained there are
monthly meetings throughout the year with DLWD Research and
Analysis, and an individual from that office is shared with DEED
for the Perkins reporting. The meetings are monthly to
coordinate efforts. While the examples she mentioned are
related to CTE, there are other reporting efforts that come up
throughout the year.
CO-CHAIR STORY requested Ms. Riddle to describe the role of DEED
in providing career and technical education in Alaska and how
DEED currently interfaces with its partners at the University of
Alaska and DLWD.
8:34:55 AM
DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Administrator, CTE
Program, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
explained that DEED is the main source of the Perkins funds and
disseminates those funds to the districts. She said DEED
provides guidance and information for the districts to receive
and utilize those funds according to the federal requirements.
As well, DEED promotes CTE within the state. The department
tries to be more than just Perkins and tries to keep its finger
on the pulse of what schools are doing. The department helps
districts coordinate with the university system to articulate
their programs all the way from the beginning to where they can
go right into a program at the university. The department has a
member who sits on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB)
and participates in several of the committees to provide the
education perspective to those committee meetings. There is
more, but those are the big ones.
8:36:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked how much money the State of Alaska
receives in federal Perkins funds.
MS. RIDDLE answered that this last year the state received $4.7
million and the preliminary numbers for next year are a little
over $5 million. For the prior 25 years it was $4.25 million as
Alaska was a minimum allocation state and additional funds have
now been put in.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired whether DEED also disseminates
State of Alaska funds on that.
MS. RIDDLE replied there is a match of $250,000. Responding
further, she confirmed it is $5 million plus the $250,000 match.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted there is already a significant amount of
ongoing cooperation between DEED, DLWD, and the University of
Alaska in relation to the Perkins funds. She recognized HB 67
is not DEED's bill but asked why the bill is necessary.
MS. RIDDLE answered DEED feels it is important to collaborate
with everyone and it is a requirement of the Act and she
believes DEED also has some requirements that way. She said it
is important that DEED use the resources and the perspectives of
the different entities that work together.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked whether he is correct in understanding
that HB 67 does not look at just state agencies, but looks at
all CTE that is being provided, whether private or public.
8:38:05 AM
GREG CASHEN, Career and Technical Education Coordinator,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD), replied it
is just state funded training programs, not private.
CO-CHAIR STORY offered her understanding that the Perkins
funding is going to all the districts. She asked whether the
primary role played by DEED is helping the districts with their
CTE decisions or whether it is the districts' decisions that
drive the programs that are developed for secondary, high
school, school boards, superintendents, and communities.
MS. RIDDLE responded that Perkins sets a guideline, a standard,
for a quality CTE program. Not all the courses that are offered
in high schools are CTE funded, but most of them follow that
same framework for the rigor. The department does provide a lot
of guidance and assistance, but it is local control and the
districts choose what programs they want. The districts must
fulfill requirements in order to receive the Perkins funding.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK drew attention to the proposed new language
that would be added by HB 67 in Section 1, paragraph (8), on
page 2, lines 9-12. He observed that lines 11-12 state "and any
other entities involved in providing or funding the programs."
He presumed that "programs" means career and technical
education. He asked what the other entities would be.
MR. CASHEN offered his belief that it is only looking at state
funded programs, but DLWD would also coordinate with private
entities and attempt to coordinate what career and technical
education programs that private entities provide, although DLWD
would not have any oversight of any private training entities.
He said he believes that was referenced in the bill's first
hearing [4/5/19] before the committee.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated that it helps to know what the intent
is. He said he isn't sure the language reflects that intent
entirely and therefore is something that needs to be worked on.
8:41:25 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND recalled that during the bill's first hearing
it was heard that the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary
Education (ACPE) already has oversight over the private career
training programs throughout the state. She offered her belief
that that needs to be coordinated with this entire effort to
pull in the private piece, so the departments know exactly what
is going on in the state in terms of every career and technical
education program, whether postsecondary or in a public school.
She said she will at some point be proposing an amendment in
addition to those recommended by Mr. Layer of the university.
All the incredible ongoing efforts in the state absolutely need
to be coordinated and she appreciates the effort of the
department to un-silo the various efforts and firm those up in
the bill. It is unlikely the bill will change what is
happening, it just needs to be formalized, and pulling in the
ACPE would be a good idea.
CO-CHAIR STORY referenced the language on page 2, line 11, of
the bill that states, "and any other entities". She asked
whether DEED thinks this language means the school districts or
whether the school districts are covered under DEED.
MS. RIDDLE answered she would say through DEED.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK further observed that lines 11-12 state,
"and any other entities involved in providing or funding the
programs." He inquired whether donations that take advantage of
the state's education tax credits would be considered the
"providing or funding" of any of these state programs.
MR. CASHEN replied he is unsure and will get back to the
committee with an answer.
8:44:08 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY requested Mr. Cashen to describe his role and
sense of collaboration between the university and DEED.
MR. CASHEN explained that his role is with the Alaska Workforce
Investment Board (AWIB), located in the commissioner's office of
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He said AWIB
is the lead state planning and coordinating entity for human
resource programs in the state and AWIB's role under statute is
that it is responsible for the facilitation and development of
an effective employment training and education system which
aligns workforce, education, and economic development.
MR. CASHEN noted that DLWD didn't have a career and technical
education coordinator until about 2009. In 2009 AWIB began
working with DEED and the university to develop the first
statewide career and technical education plan. The plan called
for strategies to improve career and technical education and
prepare Alaskans with required skills needed for postsecondary
training and careers in high growth occupations in Alaska.
MR. CASHEN said another role of AWIB is to provide oversight of
employment related education training programs operated by the
state. The Alaska Workforce Investment Board is required to
report annually to the legislature on the performance of these
training programs, including Carl Perkins, the state training
employment program, as well as workforce innovation opportunity
or federal funded programs that the department operates.
MR. CASHEN explained that AWIB's role is more of a coordinating
entity to get all the different entities together to improve the
current technical education in Alaska. The Workforce Investment
Board consists of representatives from DEED, University of
Alaska, and DLWD, as well as organized labor, other education,
postsecondary education, business, and industry. Meetings are
on a regular monthly basis and AWIB is involved in Perkins V
reauthorization and contributes at meetings every month related
to that plan.
8:47:16 AM
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated that Mr. Cashen just described what is
included in Section 1, paragraph (8), and therefore it sounds
like DLWD, through AWIB, is already doing what is in paragraph
(8). She asked where this is enumerated in other statute and
why it needs to be said again in HB 67.
MR. CASHEN offered his belief that the new requirements of
Perkins V, the new state plan, require that DEED consult with
the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and create further
alignment between the Perkins V plan as well as the Workforce
Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan. Nationwide,
states are working to create more synergies between the WIOA
state plan and Perkins V. Some states, such as Montana, are
submitting a combined state plan that includes both WIOA and
Perkins V. Many states are trying to create more alignment
between the current technical education system and postsecondary
and employment training opportunities.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND surmised the missing piece is the coordination
with the Department of Education and Early Development, which it
still appears has been ongoing.
MR. CASHEN replied correct. Responding further, he said the
Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal act
where the U.S. Department of Labor provides most of the federal
funding to the [Alaska] Department of Labor & Workforce
Development for job training efforts.
8:49:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK inquired whether Mr. Cashen's quotes related
to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) are in statute.
[MR. CASHEN nodded in the affirmative.]
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked which title in statute is related to
the Alaska Workforce Investment Board.
MR. CASHEN responded that it is Alaska Statute (AS) 23.15.
8:50:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS observed that the bylaws for the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board are in AS 23.15.550 and that DEED and
DLWD sit on AWIB. He surmised that the coordination exists in
AWIB's quarterly meetings and that the monthly meetings follow
up with the different breakout committees.
MR. CASHEN replied correct.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether those are separate meetings
from when the university meets to share data, programs, and
processes with DLWD.
MR. CASHEN answered correct.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired whether the data and analytic
person at DLWD is also shared with DEED.
MS. RIDDLE replied, "We meet every month ... we have a data
person ... we have a data sharing agreement with the University
of Alaska, and that's how we get our information."
8:51:50 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY offered her appreciation to all the partners and
everyone involved in working on this important part of education
and workforce development in Alaska. She offered further
appreciation for bringing HB 67 forward, stating it is good to
take a re-look at this and to hear the partners before the
committee today.
8:52:52 AM
The meeting was recessed at 8:52 a.m.
9:33:06 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY called the meeting back to order. Present at the
call back to order were Representatives Hopkins, Tuck, Drummond,
and Story.
9:33:31 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY drew attention to the 4/8/19 letter from Mr.
Layer to Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter of the Department of
Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), which proposes two
amendments to HB 67. She invited Mr. Layer to comment about
these two proposed amendments. ["Page 2, Line 10 - Remove the
word 'programs'"; and "Page 2, Line 12 - Remove 'providing or
funding the programs' and replace with 'career and technical
education'"].
MR. LAYER pointed out that the rationale for the amendments
regarding use of the word "programs" is stated in the letter.
The university develops programs and has that in place. He
offered his appreciation for the commissioner's and the
department's willingness to entertain those amendments. He
emphasized that the university has a great working relationship
with the departments regarding CTE programs and the monthly
meetings do work to coordinate and to inform each of the groups
about where they are with their programs.
9:35:11 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY inquired whether the two proposed amendments
effectively deal with the issue of monitoring and what that
might mean in regulating or guiding what CTE courses are taught
in the state. She recalled that in a previous meeting the
definition of "monitoring" was discussed and requested Mr.
Layer's thoughts on that.
MR. LAYER responded that the monitoring is not addressed in the
university's comments. He stated that working closely with the
department at the meetings and looking at data and doing data
analysis has been working very well for the university. That
coordination is the most important of that for the university.
CO-CHAIR STORY recalled the committee's 4/5/19 hearing on HB 67
at which Commissioner Ledbetter spoke about the need for
alignment between jobs and training to ensure that the state is
not training more people or less people than the state needs.
She requested Mr. Layer's thoughts on how that might work and
whether that would impact university training programs.
MR. LAYER answered that that has been addressed through the
coordination meetings. In working with the [Department of Labor
& Workforce Development] the university helps to coordinate an
assessment of workforce needs in the state and because the
university is part of that conversation the university can
quickly develop and expand certain programs to meet those needs.
This collaboration with the workforce reporting has worked very
well for the university.
9:37:24 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY requested that a representative of DEED answer
the same question about monitoring, what impact that would have
on DEED programs, and what that means to the department.
MS. RIDDLE offered her understanding that the intent of HB 67 is
just to keep track of what is going on and to help coordinate
those efforts. That definition of monitoring works well for
DEED should the language need to be changed to reflect the
intent of the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK related that he has looked up the function
of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and AWIB's function is
to coordinate and plan. He suggested that "coordinate and
monitor" be replaced with "coordinate and plan" because he
believes that planning is what is wanted -- the ability to plan
any type of career and technical education by looking at the
Department of Education and Early Development, the University of
Alaska, and other career and technical entities. He recalled
from the bill's first hearing that "monitor" is the ability to
audit, and he doesn't believe that that is the intention.
9:39:19 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY invited DLWD to make any further comments.
MR. CASHEN stated his department doesn't have any additional
testimony and is open to some of the recommendations to modify
the language to improve the comfort level of the committee and
university and other entities.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted there is likely not enough time to move
HB 67 beyond this committee this session, but there would be
time next session. She said the committee has ideas on what
needs to be done in terms of amending the bill. She inquired
whether it would create problems for DLWD if HB 67 didn't pass.
MR. CASHEN replied he doesn't believe so. He said DLWD will
continue working with DEED, the University of Alaska, and other
training providers statewide to promote career and technical
education, provide efficiencies, and prepare Alaskans for the
available employment opportunities in the future.
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND commented that it is clear the cooperation is
ongoing, and she congratulates the department on that.
REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS stated he thinks the entire bill would be
problem solved if the commissioner of DLWD was elected as chair
of AWIB because AWIB's bylaws state that the board shall act as
the lead state planning and coordinating entity for state
workforce investment programs including, but not limited to, all
state laws involving employment training, career, and technical
education workforce development.
9:42:31 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY said she would like to hear Representative Tuck's
proposed amendment so it would be out there to discuss.
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated he is concerned about the term
"monitor" because that could mean getting into people's business
and he doesn't believe that that is DLWD's intent. Further, the
University of Alaska is concerned about the term as well. He
offered his belief that DLWD's intent is to see what is going on
and then make necessary adjustments to ensure that workforce
needs are being met. Given that the statutes for AWIB use the
terms "planning and coordinating," he suggested the following:
on page 2, line 9, of the bill, replace the word "monitor" with
"plan" and after the word "state" insert "provided"; on page 2,
line 10, delete "programs"; and on page 2, line 12, delete
"providing or funding the programs" and insert "career and
technical education."
REPRESENTATIVE TUCK posited that his proposed amending language
would allow DLWD to coordinate and plan future needs in career
and technical education by looking at DEED, the University of
Alaska, and other entities to see what is going on in the state.
With his proposed amending language, page 2, lines 9-12, would
read as follows: "coordinate and plan state provided career and
technical education through a cooperative effort with the
Department of Education and Early Development, the University of
Alaska, and other entities involved in career and technical
education."
9:44:47 AM
CO-CHAIR STORY stated she welcomes any comments to the committee
on Representative Tuck's proposed amendment. She said it's
clear that career and technical education is important to the
state. She thanked the partners for bringing forth the bill.
[CO-CHAIR STORY held over HB 67.]