Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/26/2020 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB301 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 301 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 301-ELECTRICIAN & PLUMBER APPRENTICESHIPS
1:30:47 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL
NO. 301(L&C), "An Act relating to certificates of fitness for
plumbers and electricians."
He stated that this was the first hearing and there was a
committee substitute (Committee Substitute) to consider after
the bill was presented.
1:31:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACH FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, cosponsor of HB 301, stated that this bill protects the
status quo for electrical, plumbing, and pipefitting
apprenticeships. He explained that when the Department of Labor
and Workforce Development (DOLWD) proposed regulations last
December that would have radically shaped the way occupational
licensing works for these skilled trades, the industry rose up
to urge the department to not create a work-around for these
apprenticeships and to not change the trainee to journeyman
ratio. The department pulled the regulation package, but said it
would continue to look at it. He said he and Representative
Shaw, along with 17 other cosponsors, introduced HB 301 to give
the skilled workers in this industry more certainty in these
uncertain economic times by providing a sound pro-business
regulatory environment. He highlighted that the testimony in the
House Labor and Commerce Committee was very positive. He said
Representative Shaw would discuss the bill's broader
relationship to returning servicemembers in the workforce.
1:33:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, prime sponsor of HB 301, stated that his interest in the
apprenticeship issue was as a veteran who is very aware that
uncertainty in the workplace and the lack of transferable skills
can lead to unemployment for many military members. Further, the
lack of career options has led to many veterans having financial
struggles.
He related that the Transition Program, which was available to
returning Vietnam Veterans, allowed active duty military members
to transition into any field they wanted to enter. It also
allowed active duty members to attend a semester of schooling
that was paid for by the government. He said HB 301 is in that
same vein; it protects veterans seeking new careers as they
transition to civilian life. Today, two of the multiple programs
that help returning servicemembers enter skilled trades are the
IBEW's veteran electrical entry program and the veteran piping
program. The IBEW offers both these programs to veterans on
active duty at no cost to the veteran. He said HB 301 is
critical to ensure public safety for both these workers and
those living in homes they built. He confirmed Representative
Fields' statement that there are 17 cosponsors to this
legislation as well as many stakeholders across the state.
1:35:42 PM
SENATOR STEVENS asked what regulations DOLWD proposed that would
have radically reshaped things for these skilled trades.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS replied the department had two proposals,
both of which were unpopular with the industry. One proposal was
to change the trainee/apprentice to journeyworker ratio from 1:1
to as high as 10:1. He said people in these highly skilled jobs
work with things like high voltage electricity, high pressure
boilers, and oxygen lines. From the public safety and worker
perspective, mistakes in these jobs can cause loss of life. The
proposed 10:1 ratio is inconsistent with the longstanding
federal apprenticeship rules and very unpopular in the industry.
The other proposal would allow trainees to get their 8,000 hours
of experience outside an apprenticeship program. This is despite
the fact that registered apprenticeship is and has been
regulated by the federal government for many years. The
standards of apprenticeship outline what the work processes are
for someone to be a skilled worker in these skilled trades. The
alternative proposal would effectively be a workaround to an
apprenticeship. Someone could spend 8,000 hours installing
electrical boxes but they wouldn't have the skills to be a power
lineman or to do utility work. This workaround has been
criticized by industry and training programs because it does not
provide standards or accountability.
1:38:15 PM
SENATOR STEVENS indicated that the explanation was helpful.
CHAIR BISHOP found no further questions and solicited a motion
to adopt the CS.
1:38:25 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the [Senate] CS for CSHB 301,
work order 31-LS1506\O, as the working document.
CHAIR BISHOP objected for an explanation of the changes.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS replied there is just one substantive
change. The plumber utility trainee certificate of fitness is a
limited license that is only required for installing utility
sewer and water mains for work outside and up to a building. A
plumber trainee certificate of fitness covers all the work from
the street where the utility stops through the roof of the
structure. Plumber utility work is restricted to work performed
up to the building property line. The clarification in the CS is
necessary to ensure the bill institutes just the status quo so
contractors can continue to work as they have been.
CHAIR BISHOP explained that the exemption in the CS for a
plumber utility trainee level certificate of fitness is
important because that certificate level covers just the work on
the 1.5 inch copper line that runs from the street to the
foundation. The work from the foundation on inside the building
gets very technical so it is important to maintain the status
quo level of training required for the plumber trainee level
certificate of fitness.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS agreed.
1:40:16 PM
CHAIR BISHOP removed his objection and the CS was adopted. He
opened public testimony and asked Senator Costello if she had
any comments.
SENATOR COSTELLO, via teleconferenced, expressed appreciation
for the bill.
1:40:47 PM
CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony.
1:41:01 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON commented that this is a good bipartisan
bill that supports the safety of the public and the workforce.
She also expressed appreciation that the chair stepped away from
an important finance committee meeting to hear this bill.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if the department was going to speak to
the bill.
CHAIR BISHOP said the department was not online but he'd had
contact with the commissioner and they understand the bill.
SENATOR REVAK echoed Senator Gray-Jackson's comments.
CHAIR BISHOP thanked Representative Shaw for bringing the bill
forward and expressed appreciation of his comments on employment
of veterans. He noted that the Marine Corps program, Helmets to
Hardhats, initiated in the 2000s for veterans was still going
today.
He solicited the will of the committee.
1:42:29 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the Senate CS for CSHB 301, work
order 31-LS1506\O, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and SCS CSHB 301(L&C) was
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 301 Draft L&C CS ver. O.pdf |
SL&C 3/24/2020 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/25/2020 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/26/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 301 |
| HB 301 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HL&C 3/9/2020 3:15:00 PM HL&C 3/11/2020 3:15:00 PM SL&C 3/26/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 301 |
| HB 301 Public Comment received 03-24-20.pdf |
SL&C 3/24/2020 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/25/2020 1:30:00 PM SL&C 3/26/2020 1:30:00 PM |
HB 301 |