Legislature(2017 - 2018)BARNES 124
03/31/2018 01:00 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB262 | |
| HB374 | |
| HB384 | |
| HB401 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 262 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 374 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 384 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 401 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 262-MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE
1:03:42 PM
CHAIR KITO announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 262, "An Act relating to temporary courtesy
licenses for certain nonresident professionals; and relating to
the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic
Development."
1:04:03 PM
WILLIAM JODWALIS, Staff, Representative Scott Kawasaki, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HB 262 on behalf of Representative
Kawasaki, prime sponsor. He paraphrased the sponsor statement
[in committee packet], which reads as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
In 2011, HB 28 was passed to provide expedited
temporary courtesy licenses to eligible individuals
transferred to Alaska with their active duty service
member spouse, so they can practice their trade
without experiencing extensive wait times for
licensure approval. For a military spouse, expedited
temporary courtesy licenses are the fastest method of
obtaining licensure and getting back to their
profession.
Similar legislation was also passed by several other
states. However, states such as Washington and
Connecticut, also included a reporting mechanism so
that the Legislature and Joint Armed Services
Committee equivalent in that state could track the
executive branch's progress of implementation and
occupational board communication. HB 28 did not
include a reporting requirement when it was passed.
In fall 2017, legislators voiced concern that full
implementation of HB 28 (2011) was not yet completed,
and that not all occupational boards were aware of the
now 7-year-old statute. While questions remain, the
bill simply seeks to strengthen the ability of
military spouses to obtain these occupational licenses
in an efficient and expedited manner as prescribed by
law.
HB 262 seeks to amend AS 08.01.063 to include that the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development prepare an annual report regarding
courtesy licenses issued the previous calendar year.
This simple reporting mechanism will help facilitate
communication between occupational boards, the
department and the legislators. It will also aid in
making occupational board staff and legislators more
aware of what opportunities are available for helping
military spouses get back into the workforce.
The passage of HB 262 would improve communication
between the boards, the department and the legislator
and by improving efficiency and awareness about what
opportunities are available, will help welcome
military families to Alaska and encourage their
integration into our local economy. I respectfully
urge your support of HB 262, a corrective bill that is
in the interest of improving communication,
accountability and helping with the transition of
Alaska's military families.
1:06:49 PM
DALE VANDE HEY, Department of Defense (DoD) State Liaison
Office, testified in the hearing on HB 262. He explained the
DoD works with state legislators who work on legislation that
impacts and supports military members and their families. He
stated the proposed bill was "top of the list", as military
spouses continue to need assistance. He said it is "not a give-
away," but merely recognizing a license from another state and
expediting the process for transitioning military spouses.
1:08:35 PM
ROBERT DOEHL, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), testified in the hearing on HB 262.{
He said military spouses have to figure out what licenses and
standards are current in the new state and they end up doing
this on their own through word-of-mouth as the DoD doesn't
provide any assistance. He said DMVA has reached out to the
active military to offer informal avenues, but it still comes
down to the military spouse to navigate. He added that
typically they have to do this about every four years.
1:10:30 PM
CHRISTIE RODRIGUEZ testified in support of HB 262. She shared
her experience with moving every few years as a military spouse.
She said military spouses are 38 percent under-employed compared
to their civilian counterparts.
CHAIR KITO asked about the fiscal note (FN) for HB 262.
1:13:06 PM
SARA CHAMBERS, Deputy Director, Division of Corporations,
Businesses, and Professional Licensing (DCBPL), Department of
Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED), answered
questions in the hearing on HB 262. She addressed the fiscal
note and explained that currently the department does provide
updates on an ad hoc basis. She said $5,000 in expenditure
authority was the request.
1:14:18 PM
CHAIR KITO asked whether the amount is a one-time request and in
future years the amount would be incorporated into the budgets
of individual boards.
MS. CHAMBERS answered in the affirmative.
1:14:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked about producing a report every
calendar year rather than every fiscal year. He further asked
about renewals.
MS. CHAMBERS answered that there are existing practices for
military spouses. She said there are over 100 license types and
nearly every type offers the process. She added that the ones
that don't are the ones that don't need it or have safety
requirements. She said there were only 35 military spouse
license requests in the previous year. She said she was very
interested in hearing from the Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) and other groups who could help meet
the needs. She underlined that currently the division was not
hearing from them about any problems.
1:18:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked whether Ms. Chambers understands the
need to move to reporting on the calendar year.
MS. CHAMBERS answered the department is happy to provide the
information whenever it is necessary.
REPRESENTATIVE WOOL asked about the timing of reporting.
MS. CHAMBERS said the timing gives the department plenty of time
to produce a report.
1:21:32 PM
CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on HB 262.
CHAIR KITO held over HB 262.