Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124
03/13/2019 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Commissioner, Department of Labor & Workforce Development | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
March 13, 2019
3:18 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Co-Chair
Representative Adam Wool, Co-Chair
Representative Zack Fields
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Dave Talerico
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Josh Revak
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Commissioner, Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Tamika Ledbetter, Ph.D. Anchorage
- CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
TAMIKA LEDBETTER, Ph.D., Commissioner-Designee
Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as commissioner-designee of the
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:18:50 PM
CO-CHAIR ADAM WOOL called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:18 p.m. Representatives LeDoux,
Wool, Fields, Hannan, Stutes, and Talerico were present at the
call to order.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
^Commissioner, Department of Labor & Workforce Development
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
Commissioner, Department of Labor
& Workforce Development
3:19:19 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL announced the only order of business would be
confirmation hearing(s).
3:20:05 PM
TAMIKA LEDBETTER, Ph.D., Commissioner-Designee, Department of
Labor & Workforce Development (DOLWD), stated she had been with
the department since 2007, working in the Division of Employment
and Training Services (DETS). The core workforce and
development philosophy at DETS was to [help people] get a job,
keep a job, and earn more income. Commissioner Ledbetter said
she believes she represents the embodiment of that philosophy
and has contributed in some way to every population served by
the department. The commissioner stated, "The answer to many of
the ills of society is a good paying job She shared her
fundamental belief that work brings dignity and that a good
paying job can fundamentally change the trajectory of someone's
life for the better. She believes in hiring and training highly
qualified staff to elevate their careers, as well as
facilitating the career advancement of those people looking for
advancement in their own careers. Commissioner Ledbetter said
she holds several degrees but recognizes there are many paths to
finding good careers and believes in promoting all avenues of
career growth. She mentioned her vision for the department was
to lead with integrity, demonstrate commitment to the
departments core functions, increase training and employment
opportunities, promote workers safety, and ensure Alaskans are
paid a commensurate wage for the work they're doing. She
welcomed the collective sharing of ideas from all stakeholders
who are invested in building partnerships for a stronger
workforce and economy. Commissioner Ledbetter expressed her
appreciation for the opportunity to build Alaska's workforce and
increase job opportunities across the state.
3:29:26 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL thanked the commissioner.
3:29:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS disclosed he had previously worked with
Commissioner Ledbetter and had a positive bias based on his
history with the designee. He then asked the commissioner to
address recent efforts to assist the Alaska Department of
Corrections (DOC) and other departments with workplace reentry.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER shared she had a meeting scheduled with
Commissioner Dahlstrom of DOC to share information regarding
what DOLWD had already done and what she would like to have the
department continue to do regarding workforce reentry. She
mentioned the departments rapid attachment" environment for
citizens returning to the workforce. The commissioner said the
way to reduce recidivism is to help individuals get immediate
employment upon release. In the past, the department had
imbedded employees into some correctional facilities to assist
inmates in job skills training, but those services are no longer
available. She said she would like to see the department work
with local employers to have jobs available for those people
reentering the workforce immediately following incarceration.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether if the reduction in services
to the prisons was related to the end of the Linking Employment
Activities for Pre-release (LEAP) grant and, if so, whether
there were opportunities to replace that capacity. He then
asked if the DOLWD could help the DOC start to look at reentry
from the beginning of a persons incarceration.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER answered yes. She explained the
department(s) need to develop a plan that starts immediately
upon incarceration.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS mentioned that many seafood processors
have expressed openness to excepting people reentering the
workforce. He asked the commissioner to share where the
department was in regard to offering opportunities for Alaskans
to work in the seafood processing industry.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER replied the department had talked with
seafood processors, and they have many vacancies for people who
will show up and do a good job. She discussed the seafood
processing industries needs for workers; and the DOC desire for
individuals to have jobs upon release.
3:35:58 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked if it was the commissioner's plan to keep
the Muldoon Job Service Center open.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER shared that her goal was to make sure
that the Muldoon community had the same level of service or
better than they have always had. She shared her belief there
is an opportunity to do more in the Muldoon community to make
sure people can connect with jobs.
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked the commissioner to elaborate on how the
department could do more for the Muldoon community.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER explained she started her career at the
Muldoon Job Service Center. The commissioner described having
more job fairs, specific employer hiring events, and more
services that had been provided in the past. She went on to say
that across the nation there were 7 million vacancies and many
vacant jobs in Alaska. She indicated there is no reason for
someone not to have a job, unless there is a skills deficiency
issue, and the department needs to work with job seekers to
increase their job skills to facilitate finding a job.
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked if the commissioner happened to know the
lease information for the Muldoon Job Service Center building.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER indicated she would find that information
for the committee.
3:38:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN queried the commissioner regarding the
2020 U.S. Census and what the state needs to do to ensure that
there is an accurate account of Alaskans.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER said the department will help in
recruiting-services and encourage citizens to complete the
Census.
3:40:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS mentioned that DOLWD had brought federal
money to the state for Primary Care Association (PCA)
apprenticeships and asked whether the commissioner anticipated
expansion of the program or possibly other apprenticeship
programs.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER responded that she didn't foresee any
reduction in federal support for apprenticeships and would
continue to support apprenticeship programs.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked the commissioner to talk about HB 79
th
[passed during the 30 Legislature] and how she saw the
department's support for implementing the bill.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER stated that over the last several weeks
the department had worked very hard to streamline the definition
of independent contractor to be consistent with what was passed.
She shared that the department wants to ensure when employers
looks at the definition, they understand it.
3:43:07 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked the commissioner if a criminal record
prohibited people from finding work.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER answered she found that employers in
Alaska are very friendly to people who have had troubled
backgrounds. She indicated job opportunities are available for
everyone, but there is a need to reduce the myth that employers
might not want to hire someone because of their background.
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked the commissioner for her thoughts on why
many jobs in Alaska are being done by out-of-state workers.
3:46:19 PM
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER shared her opinion that the state needs
to tap into a new workforce, such as younger Alaskans, to help
them become aware of Alaska industries. The commissioner
explained the need to develop programs for teenagers to be
introduced to industries well before they're 18.
3:47:47 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX asked the commissioner if she intended to work
with the schools to introduce younger students to Alaska jobs
and industries.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER replied, absolutely. She further
explained that Governor Mike Dunleavy has put forward
legislation to put all monitoring and coordination of career and
technical education under the department. The commissioner
indicated her desire to expose children to information and
opportunities regarding jobs and industry at an early age.
3:49:45 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES described an encounter with a fisherman
whose son was not legally allowed to work hydraulic equipment
because he was under 18. She asked for the commissioner's
thoughts.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER indicated she had recently talked to
[United States Department of Labor] Secretary Acosta, regarding
regulations in Alaska which could impede employment
opportunities. Commissioner Ledbetter said she was assured that
Secretary Acosta would be willing to entertain certain waivers.
3:53:31 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked about the best ways to encourage youth to
become interested in taking a job.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER referred Co-Chair Wool to her February
letter in Trends Magazine. She explained that in the letter she
wrote about first jobs. The commissioner shared her philosophy
that work brings dignity and pride.
3:57:29 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL requested that the commissioner talk about Alaska
being one of the states with low unemployment reimbursement.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER shared that unemployment was not to help
people live for extended periods of time; it is to provide them
the ability to purchase staples while they look for work. The
commissioner said all the department's programs are about
helping people find a job.
CO-CHAIR WOOL discussed the possibility of a worker with a good
salary being laid-off and not being able to adequately support
his/her family.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER described DOLWD's support for dislocated
workers.
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked if there was a website that would assist
someone who was collecting unemployment find a job.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER replied there is a website and a variety
of online ways for the department to track unemployment
activities.
4:00:58 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX inquired whether someone seeking unemployment
had to physically go to a job center.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER indicated that someone seeking work
didn't have to go to the job center, he/she could search online.
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX advocated for meeting a person at a job site to
introduce yourself.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER responded that employers have a variety
of ways they search for employees and a job seeker should use
the method an employer chooses when seeking a job.
4:02:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO asked the commissioner to share her
thoughts on safety within the workforce.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER shared she had already asked the
departments enforcement units to add a consultative approach in
how they interact with the business community and to help the
business community establish a culture of a safety.
4:04:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked the commissioner to talk about
whether the department is doing anything special regarding state
jobs that are being lost in the governor's proposed budget.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER replied that the department had
proactively sent out an email to the governors chief of staff
to share with commissioners reminding them what the DOLWD does.
She explained that the department's rapid response team was
ready to extend services to the laid off employees prior to
their last day of work. The commissioner explained how the
department helps with a wide variety of job search skills.
4:08:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked when the governor's safety and
health conference is scheduled.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER answered April 2, 2019.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked that the commissioner report back to
the committee following the conference.
4:09:43 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked whether the job centers were keeping up
regarding changing times and technologies.
COMMISSIONER LEDBETTER replied that the job centers have kept up
with changing times and were successfully marketing what they
offer.
4:11:04 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL opened public testimony. After determining that
no one wished to testify, he closed public testimony.
4:11:24 PM
CO-CHAIR WOOL asked for final comments from the committee and
received none.
4:11:34 PM
CO-CHAIR LEDOUX stated:
The Labor and Commerce Committee has reviewed the
qualifications of the Governor's appointee and
recommends that the following name be forwarded to a
joint session for consideration: Dr. Tanika Ledbetter
for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
This does not reflect the intent by any of the members
to vote for or against this individual during any
further sessions for the purposes of confirmation.
4:12:27 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
4:12 P.M.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Tamika Ledbetter Resume.pdf |
HL&C 3/13/2019 3:15:00 PM |