02/26/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB385 | |
| HB237 | |
| HB290 | |
| HB200 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 385 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 200 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 289 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 179 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 290 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 237 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
February 26, 2024
3:17 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jesse Sumner, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Stanley Wright
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Zack Fields
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Dan Saddler
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 385
"An Act relating to occupational licensing fees."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 237
"An Act relating to temporary permits for nurses with lapsed
licenses."
- MOVED HB 237 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 290
"An Act relating to the issuance of certificates of fitness for
plumbers and electricians; relating to fees for certificates of
fitness for plumbers and electricians; and providing for an
effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 200
"An Act relating to pull-tabs; relating to persons prohibited
from involvement in gaming; and relating to the duties of the
Department of Revenue."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 385
SHORT TITLE: OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FEES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) EASTMAN
02/20/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/20/24 (H) L&C
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 237
SHORT TITLE: TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR LAPSED NURSE LICENSE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) PRAX
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C
02/02/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/02/24 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/05/24>
02/05/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/05/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/05/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/19/24 (H) L&C AT 4:15 PM BARNES 124
02/19/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 290
SHORT TITLE: CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
01/24/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/24 (H) L&C, FIN
02/19/24 (H) L&C AT 4:15 PM BARNES 124
02/19/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/21/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/21/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 200
SHORT TITLE: GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
05/10/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/10/23 (H) L&C, FIN
02/09/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/09/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/12/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/12/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/12/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
02/16/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/16/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID EASTMAN
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 385.
CATHY MUNOZ, Commissioner Designee
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave introductory remarks on HB 290 on
behalf of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor by request
of the governor.
SCOTT DAMEROW, Chief
Mechanical Inspection
Division of Labor Standards and Safety
Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a PowerPoint, entitled "HB 290
Certificate of Fitness: Plumbers/Electricians" during the
hearing on HB 290.
SANDY POWERS, Owner
Big Valley Bingo
Willow, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on the proposed CS for HB 200, Version S.
DAVID LAMBERT, representing self
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on the proposed CS for HB 200, Version S.
JOSHUA LEWIS
representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on the proposed CS for HB 200, Version S.
JERRY LEWIS, Operator
Northern Lights Bingo
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony during the hearing
on the proposed CS for HB 200, Version S.
MIKE MINERS, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 200.
DAVID SANDEN
Hidden Treasures Multi Beneficiary Permit
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 200.
JOHN POWERS
Big Valley Bingo
Willow, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 200.
JACK HEESCH, President
Anchorage Youth & Recreation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 200.
DON WINCHESTER, Board Vice President
Alliance for American Legion Baseball
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to HB 200.
NANCY DECHERNEY, representing self
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 200.
MICHAEL TICE, President
Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
PAULETTE JOY, President
AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
SHARI FULTON, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
MICHELLE SAS, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
CHARLES BORING, representing self
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified during the hearing on HB 200.
CHRISTA FOLI, Department Commander
AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
DIANA TICE, Alternative Member in Charge
Old Town Bingo
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 200.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:17:26 PM
CHAIR JESSE SUMNER called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:17 p.m. Representatives Prax,
Ruffridge, Wright, Carrick and Sumner were present at the call
to order. Representative Fields arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 385-OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING FEES
[Contains discussion of HB 314.]
3:17:57 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 385, "An Act relating to occupational licensing
fees."
3:18:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DAVID EASTMAN, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented HB 385. He referred to a PowerPoint
presentation, entitled "HB 385 Occupational License Fees" [hard
copy included in the committee packet], and began on slide 2,
"The Problem," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
• High Volatility of License Fees as a
Barrier to Entry
• Excessive License Fees are a Detriment to Recruitment
and Retention for the affected licensed career field
• Military Spouses Also Impacted
3:21:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN continued to slide 3, "Solutions HB 385,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
PROS
• Reduction of Excessive Costs For Some
• Volatility of License Fees Reduced
CONS
• No Fees For Those Who Do Not Practice
Others Bear This Additional Burden
Through Increased Fees
• Personalized/Paper License Applications
• Additional Staff Time To Process
• Additional Costs Born By Department
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN contrasted HB 385 with HB 314 on slide 4,
"Solutions HB 314," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
PROS
• Reduction of Excessive Costs Due To Investigations
• More Certain Fee Environment
CONS
• Costs of Investigations Shifted To The Department
• Potential Moral Hazard
3:25:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK observed that the cap would be 20 percent
- or one-fifth - of total gross income. She asked how the bill
sponsor arrived at that number.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN opined that anything higher than 20
percent would be obviously excessive and would discourage
licensees from engaging in the occupation.
3:25:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked whether the 20 percent cap would
be a voluntary submission of gross income, such as a tax return.
For example, if a licensee earned $100,00 per year, he asked
whether the license fee would be assessed at $20,000.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN clarified that [the 20 percent would be
calculated from] only the portion of income that relates to the
license, which could not be assessed from a simple tax return.
He suggested that the department could create a form for
licensees to determine the dollar amount for their license-
generated income. He pointed out that this option would only be
exercised if the existing fee was in excess of that mount.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked which license types would be most
affected by the bill outside of midwives.
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN said the target is career fields with
excessive license [fees] and small applicant pools.
3:29:22 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that HB 385 would be held over.
HB 237-TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR LAPSED NURSE LICENSE
3:29:34 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 237, "An Act relating to temporary permits for
nurses with lapsed licenses."
3:29:47 PM
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 237. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public
testimony.
3:30:19 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 237 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 237 was reported from the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
3:30:41 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 3:30 p.m. to 3:33 p.m.
HB 290-CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS
3:33:10 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 290, "An Act relating to the issuance of
certificates of fitness for plumbers and electricians; relating
to fees for certificates of fitness for plumbers and
electricians; and providing for an effective date."
3:33:36 PM
CATHY MUNOZ, Commissioner Designee, Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Labor & Workforce Development, gave a summary of
HB 290 on behalf of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor
by request of the governor. She said the proposed legislation
would change the trainees' certificate of fitness (COF) for
plumbers and electricians from two years to six years.
Currently, if a trainee fails to renew the COF, the hours worked
during that lapse cannot be counted towards his/her journeyman
certification. The legislation would also increase the fee for
the journeyman level certificate from $200 to $300. She said
the elimination of the requirement for trainees to apply for and
pay for the renewals during the training period would expedite
apprenticeship procedure overall. Further, it would avoid the
difficult situation of rejecting training hours when an
individual is ready to sit for the journeyman test.
3:35:20 PM
SCOTT DAMEROW, Chief, Mechanical Inspection, Division of Labor
Standards and Safety, Department of Labor & Workforce
Development (DLWD), presented a PowerPoint, entitled "HB 290
Certificate of Fitness: Plumbers/Electricians." He began on
slide 2, "Proposal," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
This legislation would:
• Change trainee certificate of fitness
durations from two- to six-years
o No change to the $200 fee for this
license
• Increase the fees for journey-level licenses
from $200 biennially to $300 biennially
3:36:33 PM
MR. DAMEROW moved to slide 3, "Why the Change," which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Trainee certificate of fitness holders (enrolled in
the federal apprenticeship program) often lapse their
license during their apprenticeship. This results in:
• Time worked that cannot be counted towards
the journeyman license
• Administrative delays in processing licenses
• Delays in becoming a journeyman
MR. DAMEROW shared the mechanical inspection active licenses on
slide 4 and the amounts of each that were issued. Slide 5
showed new licenses issued by type and year from 2019-2023.
Slides 6-8 showed plumbing, electrical, and other licenses
issued from 2019-2023. He highlighted the overall decline in
plumbing and electrical journeyman licenses despite a slight
uptick in the number of trainees and noted the "alarming"
decline in other licenses issued by Mechanical Inspection as
well.
3:38:36 PM
MR. DAMEROW moved to slide 9, "Trainee Requirements," which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Requirements for a journeyman plumber or electrician
license are similar:
• Completion of 8,000 legally-obtained on-the-
job hours
o May include 1,000 classroom hours
o Hours are submitted on one or more
'Experience Verification Forms'
• Passing score of 70% or better on the exam
• Payment of $200 fee
MR. DAMEROW continued to slide 10, "Trainee Barriers," which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Barriers that can make it difficult to obtain a
journeyman license:
• Employers do not complete the 'Experience
Verification Form' correctly
• Employers are not available to complete the
'Experience Verification Form'
• Some of the hours worked were not legally-
obtained
o Maintenance hours may not be counted
o Trainee certificate of fitness was
lapsed when the hours were worked
MR. DAMEROW advanced to slide 11, "Lapsed Trainee Card Hours,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
In the period from 2019-2023:
• Electrical trainee license days lapsed: 21,142
(57.9 years)
o Average number of licensees affected per
year: 51.6
o Average days lapsed for each affected
licensee: 81.9
• Plumbing trainee license days lapsed: 15,513 (42.5)
o Average number of licensee affected per year:
28.8
o Average days lapsed for each affected licensee
(107.7)
3:40:20 PM
MR. DAMEROW moved to slide 12, "Trainee Card Renewal
Requirements," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Renewal of a two-year trainee certificate of fitness:
• Pay $200 renewal fee
MR. DAMEROW proceeded to slide 13, "Impact," which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
The proposed change to duration and fees would:
• Lower the cost of apprenticeship programs
for plumbers and electricians
• Reduce administrative requirement to renew a
trainee certificate of fitness in the middle
of an apprenticeship
• Result in much less time lost due to lapsed
licenses
Results:
• Incentivize more workers to enter the trade
apprenticeship programs
• Shift the financial burden to the higher-
paid journey-level workers
• Allow apprentices to "journey out" faster by
removing lapsed periods
3:41:23 PM
MR. DAMEROW moved to slide 14, "Proposed Fee Changes," which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Fee change results:
• $164.5 average increase in annual fees based on
2019-2023 data
• $58.75 average annual savings for trainees
• Trainee licenses will cost $200 for the entire
apprenticeship rather than the current $400
3:41:58 PM
MR. DAMEROW concluded on slide 15, "Reasoning for Proposed Fee
Increase," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The primary purpose of the proposed fee increase is to
offset the proposed lack of renewals for trainee
licenses
This number was selected to compensate for the lack of
fee increases since 2006
$200-$300 fee change matches the Consumer Price Index
from 2006-2023
Mechanical Inspection is self-funded from program
receipts
3:42:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX surmised that a person with a trainee
license might not get enough work. He asked whether there are
enough projects available.
MR. DAMEROW said that scenario is rare because there are a lot
more projects than people. The problem, he said, is when
trainees have an expired two-year card and at the end of the
four years, the hours worked during the lapsed period cannot be
counted. In other words, when trainees forget the
administrative requirement, they are punished for that.
3:44:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked whether the decreasing number of
electricians is due the training requirements or outmigration.
In addition, she asked Mr. Damrow to quantify that decrease "by
the numbers."
MR. DAMEROW acknowledged that the reduction is caused by many
factors that are probably beyond the department's control. He
reviewed the data on slide 5 and reiterated that both licensed
plumbers and electricians are suffering from the same downward
trend, which could result in a need to outsource that work.
3:46:37 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE returned to slide 3 and questioned the
need for additional revenue. He posited that the department's
effort for license renewals would go down if the trainees'
licenses was extended to six years.
MR. DAMEROW said fees have not been increased in the past 17
years. He acknowledged that the trainee extension would save
the department a slight amount in non-renewals; however, as a
self-funded agency, inflation has impacted everything from the
cost of travel, vehicles, and gas.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked what the department is shy of in
terms of funding to accomplish the task at hand, and whether the
fee increase would cover that shortfall.
MR. DAMEROW said the department lacks the funding for updated
databases and computer systems. He said the department is
spending on vital elements; however, infrastructure improvements
are needed to improve the safety of field officers and the speed
of delivery at the licensing desk.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE stated that those projects seem best
suited for a capital project. He asked whether ongoing funded
is needed in other areas.
MR. DAMEROW answered personnel costs. He said every self-funded
cost is increasing exorbitantly without any revenue gains. He
added that the bill would stabilize the department in today's
market without making up for lost revenue.
3:50:38 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that HB 290 would be held over.
HB 200-GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS
3:51:11 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 200, "An Act relating to pull-tabs; relating to
persons prohibited from involvement in gaming; and relating to
the duties of the Department of Revenue." [Before the
committee, adopted as the working document on 2/12/24, was the
proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 200, Version 33-
GH1054\S, Wallace, 2/8/24, ("Version S").]
CHAIR SUMNER opened invited testimony.
3:51:44 PM
SANDY POWERS, Owner, Big Valley Bingo, gave invited testimony on
Version S. She opined that there could be a version of
electronic pull-tabs ("E-Tabs") that could be workable in
Alaska. She said that Arrow International, the company behind
the proposed legislation, seems to be creating a monopoly in
Alaska because they bought the largest distributor, Whaler
Casino Supply, which is one of only four distributors in the
state. She explained that the E-Tab manufacturers would get
somewhere between 31 and 35 percent of the adjusted gross income
while charities would receive 30 percent. In contrast, she
noted that the cost of electronic bingo games in Alaska is
between 2 and 10 percent. She cited AS 05.15.128, which she
understood to mean that the game average payout cannot exceed 85
percent; however, she said most E-Tab companies want 90-92
percent. She questioned why the amount of money going to the
charities wouldn't increase if the volume of play increased.
Lastly, she expressed concern about the indeterminate fiscal
note, as the true cost to Alaska charities and businesses is
unclear. She said she would like to see the bill written for
the benefit of Alaska charities.
3:59:29 PM
DAVID LAMBERT, representing self, gave invited testimony on
Version S. He informed the committee that he is a licensed
charitable gaming operator who has been involved in charitable
gaming for 30 years to protect the interest of nonprofits. He
said Alaska has a unique charitable gaming system that needs to
be protected. He advocated for the switch the E-Tabs because
the cost of paper is "out of control." He expressed his
opposition to AS.05.15.180(a), which would grant the department
unrestricted authority in the future. He said the bill was
written by Arrow International for the company to create a
monopoly. He said the bill would ban other manufacturers and
put limitations on them that would not be good for the industry.
He explained that Arrow International owns most of the paper
pull-tab manufacturers and would take 50 percent of the profit.
He opined that HB 200 should be written by Alaskans, not by the
Department of Revenue (DOR). He acknowledged that pull-tabs
need to be regulated; however, non-profit protections need to be
prioritized.
4:07:29 PM
JOSHUA LEWIS, representing self, gave invited testimony on
Version S. He informed the committee that he is a charitable
gaming operator in Alaska and shared his experience working in
the field. He said the Alaska charitable gaming industry is the
poster child for charitable gaming nationally. He said
provisions for nonprofits to earn charitable gaming revenue
exists in several distinct ways, which is not offered in other
states. He said the introduction of E-Tab machines is
effectively the introduction of slot machines into the Alaska
market, and E-Tab manufacturers would take somewhere between 35-
50 percent of the charities' profit. Further, he reported that
E-Tab machines provide 5-15 percent profit [for charities],
while paper pull-tabs provide 20-23 percent profit. He reported
that currently, a $5 paper pull-tab purchase results in $1
profit to the charity, whereas E-Tabs require a four-fold
increase in volume to create an equivalent financial return. He
said early all participants in Alaska charitable gaming would
experience a significant decrease in profit if E-Tabs were
introduced, adding that only E-Tab manufacturers would see an
increase in revenue. He opined that HB 200 is not a good option
for the state of Alaska.
4:11:03 PM
JERRY LEWIS, Operator, Northern Lights Bingo, gave invited
testimony on Version S. He shared experience in the industry
and reiterated that Alaska has the gold standard for charitable
gaming. He said the numbers spouted by E-Tab projections are
hypotheticals based on states that are not similar to Alaska,
and asked why the state would risk charities' income on
hypotheticals. He estimated that if manufacturers would charge
between 40-50 percent, revenue would need to double or triple
for charities to break even. He noted the social ills that
would come from the expansion of gaming. He agreed that E-Tabs
are coming to Alaska; however, the bill as written, is not the
answer for Alaska. He urged a "no" vote.
4:13:20 PM
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 200.
4:13:42 PM
MIKE MINERS, representing self, testified during the hearing on
HB 200. He said the most important part of charitable gaming is
the charitable organization. He shared personal anecdotes and
said if vendors are to be trusted to use E-Tabs, someone must be
accountable to the money. He said pull-tab money must be "made
in one year and spent the next" because it is made for charities
to spend the money.
4:18:27 PM
DAVID SANDEN, Hidden Treasures Multi Beneficiary Permit,
testified in opposition to HB 200. He said the bill as written
does not propose a cap on what E-Tab manufacturers would be able
to charge, and without a cap, most if not all of the net gains
would be funneled out of state. In addition, it is unclear
whether the E-Tab software would allow permit holders to impose
a local sales tax on cash and the exchange of playbacks for
additional pull tabs. He argued that the lion's share of the
realized profits from an increase in net pull-tab receipts would
leave the state and only marginally benefit Alaska's charitable
organizations. Furthermore, many organizations would be unable
to run E-Tabs at all. He recommended including language to
limit the amount of ideal net that may be charged for the use of
E-Tab devices to no more than 15 percent. He voiced his
opposition to the proposed legislation as written.
4:22:40 PM
JOHN POWERS, Big Valley Bingo, testified during the hearing on
HB 200 and said he concurred with past testimony. He urged the
committee to speak with Deb McDaniel from North Dakota who is a
knowledgeable resource on charitable gaming. He said the bill
should be crafted by Alaskans for Alaska charities.
4:24:52 PM
JACK HEESCH, President, Anchorage Youth & Recreation, testified
during the hearing on HB 200. He reminded the committee that
there are smaller charitable organizations that help improve
lives in Alaska.
4:28:18 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 4:28 p.m.
4:28:46 PM
DON WINCHESTER, Board Vice President, Alliance for American
Legion Baseball, testified in opposition to HB 200. He shared
that his organization receives $30,000 annually from pull-tabs
for gap funding. He opined that the bill is loosely written and
said he would not want to gamble on the idea that increased
volume would result in more money [to the nonprofits].
4:31:26 PM
NANCY DECHERNEY, representing self, testified during the hearing
on HB 200. She said [E-Tabs] is the future, so a solution
should be found that benefits Alaska and the non-profits. She
said charitable gaming is an important way to have augmented
funding. She asked members to do what they can so that
charitable groups can do their work.
4:32:38 PM
MICHAEL TICE, President, Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club,
testified in support of HB 200. He likened the E-Tab proposal
to the electronic modernization of bingo. He opined that it
would increase [Peninsula Oilers Baseball Club's] revenue.
4:33:47 PM
PAULETTE JOY, President, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, testified in
support of HB 200. She emphasized the need to help veterans,
their families, and Alaska's active military.
4:35:16 PM
SHARI FULTON, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, testified in support of
HB 200. She said revenue needs to be provided for Alaska's
military. She pointed out that people are not responding to
traditional gatherings, such as bake sales; however, they do
play pull-tabs.
4:36:21 PM
MICHELLE SAS, representing self, informed the committee that she
is a member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary. She shared her
understanding that the bill would only add to the ability to
increase the available earnings for charities, not affect paper
pull-tabs. She said AMVETS relies on the money from pull-tabs
and looks forward to the potential increase in revenue that E-
Tabs would bring.
4:37:33 PM
CHARLES BORING, representing self, testified during the hearing
on HB 200. He said electronic gaming operators are looking hard
at HB 200 because it affects their operations. He said he
supports electronic gaming, but not HB 200 as written. He said
he would be glad to be involved in a re-write of the bill.
Nonetheless, he maintained that electronic gaming needs to be in
Alaska.
4:40:14 PM
CHRISTA FOLI, Department Commander, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary,
testified in support of HB 200. She said military clubs rely on
money from pull-tabs. She shared her understanding that paper
pull-tabs would not be affected, noting that electronic bingo
didn't replace paper bingo. She said she sees electronic gaming
as a benefit to Alaska.
4:42:09 PM
DIANA TICE, Alternative Member in Charge, Old Town Bingo,
testified in support of HB 200. She said E-Tabs would help grow
their customer base and increase customer engagement.
4:43:24 PM
CHAIR SUMNER closed public testimony on HB 200. He announced
that the bill would be held over.
4:43:45 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
4:43 p.m.