01/25/2000 08:15 AM House CRA

    HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                        January 25, 2000                                                                                        
                           8:15 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Dept overview re: implementation of HB 40 changes                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
TAPE(S)                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
00-1, SIDE(S) A & B                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Harris, Co-Chairman, convened the House Community                                                                
and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting at 8:15 a.m.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Committee members present at the call to order were Representatives                                                             
Harris, Halcro, Murkowski, Dyson, Joule, and Kookesh.                                                                           
Representative Kohring was also present.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JEFF BUSH, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Community & Economic                                                              
Development, described the consolidation as a holistic approach.                                                                
He mentioned the Governor's strong commitment to rural Alaska.  Mr.                                                             
Bush informed the committee of the hurdles that occurred due to the                                                             
consolidation of the departments and expressed optimism with regard                                                             
to the future of the newly organized department.  In response to                                                                
questions,  Mr. Bush spoke to the unanticipated human resource                                                                  
expenses, the Rural Governance Commission's report, the transition                                                              
at the village level, the possibility of future changes, the                                                                    
outlook of the Division of Tourism, the one-stop shopping approach                                                              
specifically in rural Alaska, and power cost equalization.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DWIGHT PERKINS, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor &                                                                      
Workforce Development, began by thanking all of the state employees                                                             
effected by this consolidation.  He noted some of the difficulties                                                              
that arose from this consolidation, but he too expressed optimism                                                               
with regard to the future of the new organization.  With regard to                                                              
the one-stop shopping approach, he indicated that this                                                                          
consolidation will speed up that process.  He informed the                                                                      
committee of the 30 percent increase in employees in the                                                                        
department.  Although he has not yet seen any efficiencies, he                                                                  
certainly anticipated such in the future.  He discussed the goal of                                                             
working towards employment and how now there is less red tape.  In                                                              
response to Representative Joule, Mr. Perkins addressed                                                                         
unemployment in Alaska, specifically in the rural areas.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
KAREN REHFELD, Director, Education Support Services, Department of                                                              
Education and Early Development, stated that the transition went                                                                
smoothly and she anticipated success.  She was also optimistic with                                                             
regards to finding efficiencies under the new organization.  She                                                                
also discussed the licensing of child care whether in a facility or                                                             
an individual's home.  There was discussion of whether there would                                                              
be the need for new regulations.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The committee took no action, although there was discussion                                                                     
regarding having another review of these departments next year.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The meeting adjourned at 9:58 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
NOTE:                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken.  A                                                               
copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by contacting the                                                             
House Records Office at 129 6th Street, Suite 229, Juneau, Alaska                                                               
99801, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the second session                                                              
of the Twenty-first Alaska State Legislature this information may                                                               
be obtained by contacting the Legislative Reference Library at 129                                                              
6th Street, Suite 102, Juneau, Alaska  99801, (907) 465-3808.