03/05/2002 10:08 AM Senate RLS

MR. TIM LAMKIN, staff to Senator  Wilken, sponsor of SB 297-MENTAL                                                          
HEALTH  TRUST  LAND  UNIT  EMPLOYEES,  explained  that  this  bill                                                          
changes the  employment status of  the employees in the  Land Unit                                                              
of  the  Alaska   Mental  Health  Trust  Authority   (AMTHA)  from                                                              
partially to fully  exempt.  The AMHTA requested  the change in an                                                              
effort  to retain  the staff  it is  training, as  they are  often                                                              
"cherry-picked"  by other agencies.   The  change also  aligns the                                                              
land unit  staff with  the rest of  the management structure.  The                                                              
change will affect nine employees.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COWDERY  moved to  calendar SB  297 with its  accompanying                                                              
zero fiscal note at the Chairman's discretion.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN PHILLIPS  announced that with no objection,  SB 297 would                                                              
be placed on tomorrow's calendar.