Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
01/31/2017 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB2 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 2-PRIV EMPLOYER VOLUNTARY VET PREFERENCE
1:07:32 PM
CHAIR TUCK announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 2, "An Act relating to a voluntary preference for
veterans by private employers."
CHAIR TUCK reviewed that HB 2 would extend a veteran employer
preference opportunity to private employers, which is already in
place for public employers. The bill uses the exemption under
the Civil Rights Act. It is not a mandate, but would provide an
option for employers wishing to extend this preference.
1:08:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 30-
LS0071\A.3, Martin, 1/27/17, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 6:
Delete "honorably discharged"
Insert "discharged under honorable conditions"
Page 2, line 2:
Delete "honorably discharged"
Insert "discharged under honorable conditions"
1:09:05 PM
CHAIR TUCK objected for discussion purposes.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER described that Amendment 1 would add
"discharged under honorable conditions", which would cover
general discharge.
1:09:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the amendment concords with the
sponsor's goal.
CHAIR TUCK, as sponsor of HB 2, answered that it does. He added
that he just wanted to ensure it didn't include dishonorable
discharges.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that in the statute regarding
veteran preference for public employees, the condition states
"other than dishonorable". He asked if the sponsor was
comfortable with the difference.
CHAIR TUCK stated that he is okay with that.
1:10:56 PM
VERDIE BOWEN, Director of Veterans Affairs, Office of Veteran
Affairs, Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA),
responded to Representative Saddler's question, stating the
language in Amendment 1 covers all the benefits offered by the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through general and
honorable discharge.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Bowen if he is okay with the
slight differing definitions of discharge for public and private
employees.
MR. BOWEN answered yes.
1:12:07 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 1:12 p.m.
1:12:20 PM
CHAIR TUCK removed his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was
adopted.
1:12:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH moved to adopt Amendment 2, labeled 30-
LS0071\A.4, Wayne, 1/30/17, which read as follows:
Page 1, line 1, following "for":
Insert "members of the national guard and"
Page 1, line 5, following "a":
Insert "member of the national guard or a"
Page 1, line 6, following "subsection,":
Insert "(1) "member of the national guard" means
a person presently serving as a member in good
standing in the national guard;
(2)"
Page 1, line 7:
Delete "(1)"
Insert "(A)"
Page 1, line 8:
Delete "(2)"
Insert "(B)"
Page 1, line 9:
Delete "(3)"
Insert "(C)"
Page 1, line 10:
Delete "(4)"
Insert "(D)"
Page 1, line 11:
Delete "(5)"
Insert "(E)"
Page 1, line 12:
Delete "(6)"
Insert "(F)"
Page 1, line 14, following "of":
Insert "Members of the National Guard and"
Page 1, line 15:
Delete "Veteran"
Insert "National guard member and veteran"
Page 2, line 1:
Following "a":
Insert "member of the national guard or a"
Following "section,":
Insert "(1) "member of the national guard" means
a person presently serving as a member in good
standing in the national guard;
(2)"
Page 2, line 3:
Delete "(1)"
Insert "(A)"
Page 2, line 4:
Delete "(2)"
Insert "(B)"
Page 2, line 5:
Delete "(3)"
Insert "(C)"
Page 2, line 6:
Delete "(4)"
Insert "(D)"
Page 2, line 7:
Delete "(5)"
Insert "(E)"
Page 2, line 8:
Delete "(6)"
Insert "(F)"
Page 2, following line 8:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 3. AS 39.25.159(f)(3) is amended to read:
(3) "member of the national guard" means a
person who
(A) is presently serving as a member in good
standing in [OF] the national guard; or
(B) was released from service in the
national guard under honorable conditions [ALASKA
NATIONAL GUARD AND WHO HAS AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS OF
SERVICE IN THE ALASKA NATIONAL GUARD];"
1:13:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH stated that Amendment 2 is a suggestion of
DMVA and would extend the private employee preference option to
include active duty National Guard and remove the eight-year
service requirement for the National Guard for the public
employee preference currently in statute. He stated that the
changes would ensure that Alaskan hiring pools would have
important individuals already trained by the government to be
focused, flexible, and results oriented.
1:14:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if Mr. Bowen thinks Amendment 2 is
good policy.
1:14:07 PM
CHAIR TUCK objected to the motion to adopt Amendment 2.
1:14:13 PM
MR. BOWEN stated his belief that this is a great change to
statute to bring equity to National Guard members.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what percentage of Alaskan National
Guard or Air Force members is in the first eight years of
service.
MR. BOWEN responded that about 30 percent of the force is in its
first enlistment.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for clarification as to whether a
first enlistment is no more than five years.
MR. BOWEN stated that the first enlistment is six years.
1:15:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH asked if, under current statute, someone
who transferred to the Alaska National Guard with six years of
previous service in a different state would qualify for the
preference.
MR. BOWEN stated that [current statute] does not stipulate which
state the National Guard member serves in for the preference.
He stated that the aforementioned eight-year requirement is
applicable to all guardsmen.
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH opined it is in the best interest of
Alaska to broaden the language to be more inclusive. He
referred to AS 39.25.159(f)(3), which gives a definition of a
member of the National Guard as follows:
(3) "member of the national guard" means a person who
is presently serving as a member of the Alaska
National Guard and who has at least eight years of
service in the Alaska National Guard;
REPRESENTATIVE PARISH clarified that under Amendment 2, "Alaska
National Guard" would be deleted.
MR. BOWEN confirmed that is correct. The way [statute] is
presently written is discriminatory.
1:18:09 PM
CHAIR TUCK highlighted the aforementioned language of AS
39.25.159(f)(3).
1:18:44 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the amendment eliminates the
eight-year requirement, and if there is any other place in
statute that lists where the eight-year requirement.
CHAIR TUCK observed that Amendment 2 would not only remove the
language regarding the eight-year requirement, but also would
add language regarding release under honorable conditions.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated the proposed amendment
accomplishes the goal, and he believes the language in Amendment
2 is a good compromise.
1:20:02 PM
CHAIR TUCK removed his objection to the motion to adopt
Amendment 2. There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was
adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER opined that the bill is a good
opportunity for private employers who want to "do the right
thing by our veterans" to do so without an equal rights
challenge. He stated his belief that veterans deserve extra
consideration due to their service on behalf of the country, and
that it is good to be able to offer them extra consideration in
the private sector.
1:21:12 PM
CHAIR TUCK stated his belief that the bill will help in
recruitment for the National Guard, as it eliminates a hesitancy
of balancing private employment with National Guard service.
1:21:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report HB 2, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 2(MLV) was moved
from House Military and Veterans' Affairs Special Committee.
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