Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

05/03/2023 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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Audio Topic
01:33:11 PM Start
01:34:17 PM SB85
01:44:14 PM Confirmation Hearings
01:50:47 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 73 REGISTER INTERIOR DESIGNERS TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
+= SB 85 PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 85(L&C) Out of Committee
Consideration of Governor’s Appointees:
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Board of Nursing
Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board
Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
Board of Dental Examiners
Board of Marital and Family Therapy
Board of Social Work Examiners
Alaska Labor Relations Agency
Board of Massage Therapists
Board of Pharmacy
Marijuana Control Board
Real Estate Commission
Board of Professional Counselors
State Physical Therapy and
Occupational Therapy Board
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
-- <Time Limit May Be Set> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                          May 3, 2023                                                                                           
                           1:33 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
Senator Forrest Dunbar                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 85                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to record checks for certain employees of the                                                                  
Department of Revenue; relating to permanent fund dividends; and                                                                
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSB 85(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Labor Relations Agency                                                                                                 
Jennifer McConnel  Girdwood                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board                                                                                            
John Corbett  Fairbanks                                                                                                         
Jonathon Dartt  Fairbanks                                                                                                       
Anthony Ladd  Anchorage                                                                                                         
Lake Williams  Fairbanks                                                                                                        
Steven Heidemann  Anchorage                                                                                                     
Marc Stemp  Anchorage                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board                                                                                              
Dana Walukiewicz  Anchorage                                                                                                     
David Koch  Anchorage                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers                                                                                             
Breanna Hardy  North Pole                                                                                                       
Glenda Ledford  Wasilla                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives                                                                                      
Darcy Lucey  Wasilla                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Board of Dental Examiners                                                                                                     
Jonathan Woller  Fairbanks                                                                                                      
Jesse Hronkin  Palmer                                                                                                           
Megan Ferguson  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Newell Walther  Wasilla                                                                                                         
Kenley Michaud  Anchorage                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Nursing                                                                                                              
Danette Schloeder  Anchorage                                                                                                    
Vianne Smith  North Pole                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Marital and Family Therapy                                                                                           
Noah Shields - Kenai                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION ADVANCED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Board of Massage Therapists                                                                                                   
Tonia Nelson  Anchorage                                                                                                         
Annetta Atwell  North Pole                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Pharmacy                                                                                                             
Sara Rasmussen  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Carla Hebert  Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Social Work Examiners                                                                                                
Stacey Stone  Anchorage                                                                                                         
Ann Applebee  Palmer                                                                                                            
Amber Taylor  JBER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Marijuana Control Board                                                                                                       
Ely Cyrus  Kiana                                                                                                                
Christopher Jaime  Anchorage                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Real Estate Commission                                                                                                        
Cheryl Markwood  Fairbanks                                                                                                      
Devon Thomas  Wasilla                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Board of Professional Counselors                                                                                              
Teresa Cotton  Bethel                                                                                                           
Rachel Buddin-Young  Eagle River                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
State Physical Therapy and                                                                                                    
Occupational Therapy Board                                                                                                      
Tina McLean  Seward                                                                                                             
Lindsey Hill  Sterling                                                                                                          
Valerie Phelps  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Bryan Murphy  Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 73                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to registered  interior designers  and interior                                                               
design; establishing requirements for  the practice of registered                                                               
interior  design; renaming  the State  Board of  Registration for                                                               
Architects,  Engineers, and  Land  Surveyors the  State Board  of                                                               
Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to the  State                                                               
Board  of  Registration  for Design  Professionals;  relating  to                                                               
liens  for   labor  or  materials  furnished;   relating  to  the                                                               
procurement  of interior  design services;  and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - BILL HEARING CANCELED                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 85                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/24/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/24/23       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
04/05/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/05/23       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/05/23       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/19/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/19/23       (S)       Moved CSSB 85(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                    
04/19/23       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/03/23       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff                                                                                                           
Senator Jesse Bjorkman                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented the  explanation of  changes found                                                             
in  the  committee   substitute  for  SB  85   and  reviewed  the                                                               
Governor's Appointees  referred to the Senate  Labor and Commerce                                                               
Standing Committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:33:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  JESSE  BJORKMAN  called  the  Senate  Labor  and  Commerce                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 1:33 p.m.  Present at the                                                               
call  to  order were  Senators  Dunbar,  Gray-Jackson, and  Chair                                                               
Bjorkman.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
            SB 85-PERM FUND; EMPLOYMENT; ELIGIBILITY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:34:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL NO. 85                                                               
"An Act  relating to record  checks for certain employees  of the                                                               
Department of Revenue; relating  to permanent fund dividends; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
He stated that this is the  third hearing of this bill. Amendment                                                               
1  was  adopted on  April  19  and  the  bill was  reported  from                                                               
committee.  It is  the intention  today to  rescind the  previous                                                               
action in  reporting the bill  from committee, adopt  a committee                                                               
substitute  that  incorporates  Amendment   1,  ensure  that  all                                                               
members  understand  the  changes,   and  report  the  bill  from                                                               
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN sought the will of the committee.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:35:19 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved  that   the  committee  rescind  its                                                               
previous action  in reporting SB  85, work order  33-GS1337\A, as                                                               
amended, from committee.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:35:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN found  no objection  and the  previous action  to                                                               
report the bill from committee was rescinded.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  solicited  a   motion  to  adopt  the  committee                                                               
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:35:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to  adopt  the committee  substitute                                                               
(CS) for SB 85, work order 33-GS1337\S, as the working document.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:36:07 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau,   Alaska,  presented  the   explanation  of                                                               
changes in the committee substitute for SB 85.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
He stated  that when  legislative legal reviews  a bill  they did                                                               
not  draft,  there  can be  substantial  changes.  The  following                                                               
explanation of the CS is an  effort to ensure that members of the                                                               
committee  are  still  in  agreement with  the  contents  of  the                                                               
committee substitute:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation has been provided.]                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Old Section 1 is deleted                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The language,  previously added in section  1, was then                                                                    
     added with  the new  language providing  for background                                                                    
     checks to  the appropriate subsection of  statute. That                                                                    
     being AS 12.62.400 (c) instead of (a).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
      That language can been seen on page 1, lines 7-9 of                                                                       
     the new CS.                                                                                                                
     There  are  conforming  changes made  to  that  section                                                                    
     referencing pfd statutes.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Renumbered  Section 2  now contains  the language  from                                                                    
     old  section 4,  which  deals with  breaks or  holidays                                                                    
     from secondary or postsecondary education.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     The  next  change to  CS  version  S  can be  found  in                                                                    
     section 2  on page  3, lines 5-10.  The change  here is                                                                    
     directly  to the  term found  in the  A version    "sea                                                                    
     engineer". This  term is  not found  in statute  and is                                                                    
     not a term used in the merchant marine trade.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     After  much  consultation  with the  Dept  of  Revenue,                                                                    
     Dept. of  Law, and expert on  merchant mariner training                                                                    
     and with  our Legal Services,  the language you  see on                                                                    
     page  3  refers to  a  vocational  program that  trains                                                                    
     students for  a career  in the  US merchant  marine and                                                                    
     meets the requirements of the US Coast guard.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     It is  felt that this  language is inclusive  enough to                                                                    
     ensure the original intent is upheld.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     The next change is found  in Section 3, in paragraph 12                                                                    
     on  page  6,  lines  11-14. "suitability"  was  in  the                                                                    
     original  bill.  "qualifications"   is  the  term  most                                                                    
     normally found in statute.                                                                                                 
     Instead  of a  deletion and  replacement, new  language                                                                    
     refers   to  both   a  person's   "qualifications"  and                                                                    
     "suitability"  for  administering  the  permanent  fund                                                                    
     dividend program under this chapter.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:42:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection; finding no further                                                                        
objection, [CSSB 85, version S, was adopted.]                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:42:23 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:42:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and requested a motion.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:43:16 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:43:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting and requested a motion.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:43:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to report  CSSB 85,  work order  33-                                                               
GS1337\S,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no objection  and CSSB 85(L&C),  version S,                                                               
was  reported  from  the  Senate   Labor  and  Commerce  Standing                                                               
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:43:57 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARINGS                                                                                                        
                     CONFIRMATION HEARINGS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:44:14 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting  and took up the governor's                                                               
appointees  to  boards and  commissions  referred  to the  Senate                                                               
Labor  and   Commerce  Committee.  The  committee   members  have                                                               
reviewed  the applications  and resumes  from the  appointees and                                                               
have  expressed no  concerns or  desire to  speak to  any of  the                                                               
appointees.  He asked  for a  motion to  refer the  names of  the                                                               
appointees  to  a  joint  session of  the  full  legislature  for                                                               
confirmation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON   moved  to   advance  the  names   of  the                                                               
governor's appointees that were referred  to the Senate Labor and                                                               
Commerce  Committee to  the full  legislature for  consideration.                                                               
Signing  the  reports  in no  way  reflects  individual  members'                                                               
intention to vote for or  against the appointees; the nominations                                                               
are merely forwarded to the  full legislature for confirmation or                                                               
rejection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN  objected for purposes  of discussion.  He invited                                                               
Mr. Jackson to walk through the appointees.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:46:08 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, stated  that none of  the committee                                                               
members had  questions or concerns about  the qualifications that                                                               
they  wished  to  discuss  with  the  appointees.  He  read  each                                                               
appointee's  name with  their corresponding  board or  commission                                                               
into the record.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:49:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Labor Relations Agency                                                                                                 
Jennifer McConnel  Girdwood                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Alaska Workers' Compensation Board                                                                                            
John Corbett   Fairbanks                                                                                                        
Jonathon Dartt  Fairbanks                                                                                                       
Anthony Ladd   Anchorage                                                                                                        
Lake Williams   Fairbanks                                                                                                       
Steven Heidemann  Anchorage                                                                                                     
Marc Stemp  Anchorage                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board                                                                                              
Dana Walukiewicz  Anchorage                                                                                                     
David Koch  Anchorage                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Board of Barbers and Hairdressers                                                                                             
Breanna Hardy  North Pole                                                                                                       
Glenda Ledford   Wasilla                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives                                                                                      
Darcy Lucey  Wasilla                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Board of Dental Examiners                                                                                                     
Jonathan Woller  Fairbanks                                                                                                      
Jesse Hronkin  Palmer                                                                                                           
Megan Ferguson  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Newell Walther   Wasilla                                                                                                        
Kenley Michaud  Anchorage                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Board of Nursing                                                                                                              
Danette Schloeder  Anchorage                                                                                                    
Vianne Smith  North Pole                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Board of Marital and Family Therapy                                                                                           
Noah Shields - Kenai                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Board of Massage Therapists                                                                                                   
Tonia Nelson   Anchorage                                                                                                        
Annetta Atwell  North Pole                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Board of Pharmacy                                                                                                             
Sara Rasmussen  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Carla Hebert   Anchorage                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Board of Social Work Examiners                                                                                                
Stacey Stone   Anchorage                                                                                                        
Ann Applebee  Palmer                                                                                                            
Amber Taylor  JBER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Marijuana Control Board                                                                                                       
Ely Cyrus  Kiana                                                                                                                
Christopher Jaime  Anchorage                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Real Estate Commission                                                                                                        
Cheryl Markwood  Fairbanks                                                                                                      
Devon Thomas  Wasilla                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Board of Professional Counselors                                                                                              
Teresa Cotton  Bethel                                                                                                           
Rachel Buddin-Young  Eagle River                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
State Physical Therapy and                                                                                                    
Occupational Therapy Board                                                                                                    
Tina McLean  Seward                                                                                                             
Lindsey Hill  Sterling                                                                                                          
Valerie Phelps  Anchorage                                                                                                       
Bryan Murphy  Anchorage                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:49:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   opened  public  testimony  on   the  governor's                                                               
appointees. Finding  no testifiers,  he closed  public testimony.                                                               
He removed his objection to  advancing the appointees. Finding no                                                               
further objection, the names were  advanced to a joint session of                                                               
the full legislature for consideration.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:47 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Bjorkman adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                                 
Committee meeting at 1:50 p.m.                                                                                                  

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 85 Draft Propsed CS ver S.pdf SL&C 5/3/2023 1:30:00 PM
SB 85
2023 Appointee Memo to Senate Secretary-DRAFT.pdf SL&C 5/3/2023 1:30:00 PM
Governor's Appointees