04/16/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB96 | |
| HB193 | |
| HB144 | |
| HB161 | |
| SB80 | |
| State Nursing Board | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 144 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 161 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
April 16, 2025
4:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall, Co-Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Julie Coulombe
Representative David Nelson
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 96
"An Act establishing the Home Care Employment Standards Advisory
Board; relating to payment for personal care services; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 193
"An Act establishing a paid parental leave program; relating to
unemployment benefits; relating to the collection of child
support obligations; and relating to the duties of the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 144
"An Act relating to prior authorization requests for medical
care covered by a health care insurer; relating to a prior
authorization application programming interface; relating to
step therapy; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 161
"An Act relating to minimum paid sick leave requirements; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 80(FIN)
"An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game
Commercial Services Board; extending the termination date of the
Board of Massage Therapists; extending the termination date of
the Alaska Commission on Aging; extending the termination date
of the Marijuana Control Board; and providing for an effective
date."
- MOVED CSSB 80(FIN) OUT OF COMMITTEE
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S):
State Nursing Boarding
Cheryl Payne Anchorage
Marianne Murray Chugiak
- CONFIRMATION(S) [ADVANCED]
Board of Massage Therapists
Michelle Steiner Kodiak
- REMOVED FROM AGENDA
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 96
SHORT TITLE: HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) PRAX
02/12/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/12/25 (H) HSS, L&C
03/25/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
03/25/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/25/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/08/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
04/08/25 (H) Moved CSHB 96(HSS) Out of Committee
04/08/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/09/25 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP
04/09/25 (H) DP: PRAX, FIELDS, SCHWANKE, RUFFRIDGE,
MEARS, MINA
04/09/25 (H) FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C
04/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/16/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 193
SHORT TITLE: UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS; PAID PARENT LEAVE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) HALL
04/15/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/15/25 (H) L&C, FIN
04/16/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 144
SHORT TITLE: INSURANCE; PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RUFFRIDGE
03/21/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/21/25 (H) HSS, L&C
04/03/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
04/03/25 (H) Heard & Held
04/03/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/08/25 (H) HSS AT 3:15 PM DAVIS 106
04/08/25 (H) Moved CSHB 144(HSS) Out of Committee
04/08/25 (H) MINUTE(HSS)
04/09/25 (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 5DP 2NR
04/09/25 (H) DP: PRAX, FIELDS, RUFFRIDGE, MEARS,
SCHWANKE
04/09/25 (H) NR: GRAY, MINA
04/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/16/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 161
SHORT TITLE: PAID SICK LEAVE EXEMPTION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) RUFFRIDGE
03/28/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/28/25 (H) L&C, FIN
04/14/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/14/25 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
04/16/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: SB 80
SHORT TITLE: EXTEND BOARDS
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE
01/31/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/31/25 (S) L&C
02/07/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/07/25 (S) Heard & Held
02/07/25 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/12/25 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/12/25 (S) Moved SB 80 Out of Committee
02/12/25 (S) MINUTE(L&C)
02/14/25 (S) L&C RPT 2DP 2NR
02/14/25 (S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON
02/14/25 (S) NR: MERRICK, YUNDT
02/14/25 (S) FIN REFERRAL ADDED
03/06/25 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/06/25 (S) Heard & Held
03/06/25 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/10/25 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532
03/10/25 (S) Moved CSSB 80(FIN) Out of Committee
03/10/25 (S) MINUTE(FIN)
03/12/25 (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP NEW TITLE
03/12/25 (S) DP: HOFFMAN, KAUFMAN, CRONK, MERRICK,
KIEHL
03/24/25 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/24/25 (S) VERSION: CSSB 80(FIN)
03/26/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/25 (H) L&C, FIN
03/31/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/31/25 (H) Heard & Held
03/31/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
04/02/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
04/02/25 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
04/16/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE PRAX
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented CSHB 96(HSS).
RILEY NYE, Staff
Representative Mike Prax
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Prax, prime
sponsor, presented CSHB 96(HSS).
JUDY JESSEN, Senior Political & Advocacy Organizer
The Caregivers' Union SEIU 775
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of CSHB
96(HSS).
TONY NEWMAN, Deputy Director
Division of Senior & Disabilities Services
Department of Health
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on
CSHB 96(HSS).
REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented HB 193.
TRISTAN WALSH, Staff
Representative Carolyn Hall
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HB 193 on behalf of
Representative Hall, prime sponsor.
ALLISON RADFORD, Legislative Counsel
Legislative Legal
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the hearing on HB
193.
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As prime sponsor, presented CSHB 144(HSS);
as prime sponsor, presented HB 161.
BUD SEXTON, Staff
Representative Justin Ruffridge
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Ruffridge,
prime sponsor, presented CSHB 144(HSS); presented HB 161 on
behalf of Representative Ruffridge, joint sponsor.
JARED KOSIN, President & CEO
Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association
POSITION STATEMENT: Anchorage, Alaska Gave invited testimony on
CSHB 144(HSS).
GARY STRANNIGAN, Vice President
Congressional & Legislative Affairs
Premera Blue Cross
Everett, Washington
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on CSHB 144(HSS).
KATI CAPOZZI, President & CEO
Alaska Chamber
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 161.
JOHN WEDDLETON, Business Owner
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 161.
REGINA DAVIS, Vice President
Davis Block & Concrete
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony on HB 161.
SAVAYA BIEBER, Staff
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave summary of SB 80 on behalf of Senator
Bjorkman, chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee, prime sponsor of SB 80.
CHERYL PAYNE
Appointee, Board of Nursing
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony as a governor appointee to
the Board of Nursing.
MARIANNE MURRAY
Appointee, Board of Nursing
Chugiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony as a governor appointee to
the Board of Nursing.
ACTION NARRATIVE
4:33:05 PM
CO-CHAIR ZACK FIELDS called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
Representatives Coulombe, Burke, Co-Chair Hall, and Co-Chair
Fields were present at the call to order. Representatives
Nelson, Carrick, and Saddler arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
HB 96-HOME CARE EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS ADV BOARD
4:33:17 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 96, "An Act establishing the Home Care
Employment Standards Advisory Board; relating to payment for
personal care services; and providing for an effective date."
[Before the committee was CSHB 96(HSS).]
4:33:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE PRAX, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSHB 96(HSS). He gave a prepared sponsor
statement [included in the committee file] for CSHB 96(HSS),
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Seniors are the fastest growing demographic in the
state of Alaska and are living longer lives. The
state's 85+ population is expected to increase by 500%
between 2022 and 2050, of which, 1/3 will experience
Alzheimer's and Related Dementia. The Alaska
Department of Labor and Workforce Development predicts
home care, a part of Alaska's continuum of care
services for seniors and people with disabilities, to
be one of the fastest growing and most in demand
occupations in the state.
Alaska faces an acute shortage of direct care workers,
particularly outside of population centers. The
potential provider workforce demographic, those age 18
to 64, is in decline. Furthermore, low pay and lack of
benefits force many caregivers out of the profession
and make recruitment and retention increasingly more
difficult for agencies providing in-home care
services.
We need to create strong and long-lasting home care
infrastructure in Alaska which will expand access to
quality, affordable home and community-based care for
seniors and people with disabilities, keep people in
their homes and out of costly facilities, and bolster
the creation of jobs. We also need to ensure that
Medicaid funding for personal care services is wisely
spent, with an adequate portion of the rate going to
pay and benefits for direct care workers, in order to
help address the workforce shortage. HB 96
accomplishes both of these objects by:
• Establishing a Home Care Employment Standards
Advisory Board that will investigate, advise, and
develop recommendations on Medicaid rates and other
policies to improve the wages, working conditions, and
recruitment and retention of direct care workers.
• Requiring that agencies providing personal care
services spend at least 70 percent of the total annual
funding they receive from the department for personal
care services on the pay and benefits of Personal Care
Assistants providing such services.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX provided a personal anecdote about his
family's experience with home care providers with his aunt and
uncle.
4:37:29 PM
RILEY NYE, Staff, Representative Mike Prax, Alaska State
Legislature, presented the sectional analysis [included in the
committee file] on behalf of Representative Prax, prime sponsor
of CSHB 96(HSS), which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Section 1 amends AS 44.29 by adding new sections to it
and various aspects of the Home Care
Employment Standards Advisory Board. Thus,
Sec. 44.29.900. Home Care Employment Standards
Advisory Board. This section is added to
establish the advisory board on Home Care Employment
Standards in Alaska.
Sec. 44.29.905. Composition of the board. This section
elaborates on the composition of the
board which will consist of a chair, 6 voting, and 4
non-voting members. The section clarifies
how many members should be sought from each
represented group or institution. The members
will be appointed by the Commissioner of Health after
solicitation of applications. Thus,
• Commissioner of Health or commissioner's designee
(non-voting unless in the event of a
tie)
• Commissioner of Labor and workforce development (or
the commissioner's designee)
(non-voting)
• Two members representing covered providers, (with
variance in terms of size, services
provided and geographical location) (voting)
• Two members who represent direct care workers
(voting)
• One member who is an enrollee or representative of
enrollees receiving covered services
(voting)
• One member who represents the office of rate receive
(voting)
• A representative of the Alaska Commission on Aging
or another organization that
represents seniors in the state (non-voting)
• A representative of the Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education another
organization that represents people with disabilities
in the state (non-voting)
Sec. 44.29.910. Term of office, vacancies, removal.
This section explains how the members of
the board appointed in AS 44.29.905(3) will serve and
establishes how long they shall serve,
options for reappointment and how vacancies will be
filled.
Sec. 44.29.915. Meetings. The section establishes the
duty of the chair to call for meetings of the
board with regularity and as needed. It also
establishes that the board should meet at least three
times each year and hold additional meetings as often
as necessary to accomplish its duties. At
every meeting, the Board will provide space for public
testimony.
Sec. 44.29.920. Quorum. The section clarifies that a
majority of the members of the Board
constitute a quorum in a meeting of the board for it
to transact its official business and to approve
any recommendations of the Board.
Sec. 44.29.925. Compensation. This section refers to
established rules under AS 39.20.180 to
guide compensation of members of the board through per
diem and expenses reimbursement.
Other than that, members of the Board will not receive
compensation.
Sec. 44.29.930. Powers and duties. This section
establishes the duties and powers of the board
which include advising and consulting the department
on medical assistance program payment
rates for covered services and payment rate adequacy
for covered services, as well as
investigating employment issues and concerns including
wages, working conditions and
workforce development and making recommendations. This
section also describes state
compliance with information requests and testimony,
and ensures the board will have access to
data needed to fulfill its responsibilities.
Sec. 44.29.935 Biennial report. The section requires
the board to submit a written report
biennially to the Commissioner. It also requires the
department to take the recommendations of
the board into consideration when setting rates for
covered services. If the department sets a rate
that differs significantly from the recommendation of
the board, the commissioner shall provide
written notification to the board and chair of each
legislative committee having jurisdiction over
Health and Social Services.
Sec. 44.29.940. Publication of reports. This section
mandates the publication of the reports on
July 1 each year and the reports must be publicly
accessible. The section also elaborates on what
shall be included in the published reports.
Sec. 44.29.945. Definitions. This section specifies
the definitions of all the terms used in the
sections above i.e. AS 44.29.900 - 44.29.945 including
those that relate to Section 1915(c) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396n(c))
Section 2 amends AS 47.07.045 by adding new
subsections that require an agency providing
personal care services to pay as compensation and
benefits to employees providing personal care
services at least 70 percent of total annual funding
received by the agency for the purposes of
providing personal care services, increasing to 80
percent by July 1, 2030, unless the agency
receives a hardship exemption from the department.
This section also requires the department to
establish procedures and objective criteria for
granting a hardship exemption, and sets alternative
minimum requirements for an agency that qualifies for
such an exemption.
Section 3 amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska by adding a new section establishing
when the board should be appointed, that the first
meeting should be held on or before October 1,
2025, and the issues to be investigated for the
preliminary report which will be presented at the
first meeting.
Section 4 amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska by adding a new section establishing
the date for preliminary internet website publication
of the publication to be no later than July 1,
2026.
Section 5 amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska by adding a new section instructing
the Department of Health to amend the state plan under
AS 47.07.045 and submit for approval to
the United States Department of Health and Human
Services, to the extent necessary.
Section 6 amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska by adding a new section that makes
this Act conditional on the United States Department
of Health and Human Services approving
amendments submitted in accordance with section 5, or
determines that approval is not
necessary.
Section 7 sets the day after the date on which the
United States Department of Health and
Human Services approves amendments to the state plan
or determines that approval is not
necessary under section 6 of this act, as the date
section 2 of this Act takes effect.
Section 8 sets July 1, 2025 as the date the Act takes
effect, except as provided in section 7.
4:44:45 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS suggested that increased support for home care
would decrease the cost to Alaska with regards to nursing home
care.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX responded that home care services are
typically cheaper than care in nursing facilities or hospitals.
4:46:00 PM
JUDY JESSEN, Senior Political & Advocacy Organizer, The
Caregivers' Union SEIU 775, began her invited testimony by
stating that SEIU 775 represents more than 55,000 direct care
workers in Alaska, Montana, and Washington. She reported that
Alaska is experiencing a demographic shift, noting that Alaska
has had the fastest-growing senior population per capita in the
country in the past decade. She further noted that this trend
is expected to continue into the next decade and will create
increased demand for care. She reported that older residents in
Alaska and residents with disabilities are living longer lives,
noting that needs become more complex with age. She also noted
that Alzheimer's and elders dementia is "on the rise." She
cited the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DOLWD),
predicting that "in-home care will be one of the fastest growing
and in-demand occupations in the state." She further reported
that the number of potential caregivers is in decline and
stressed that the shortage was "even more stark" in rural and
remote Alaska. She stated that the highest concentration of
seniors lives in Southeast Alaska and the Peninsula.
MS. JESSEN emphasized that institutional care and congregate
care settings could cost the state hundreds of thousands of
dollars per person per year. She cited a Department of Health
(DOH) study, reporting that care provided in-house can cost 59
percent less than services received through intermediate care
facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She
additionally reported that in-home care services can cost
between 45- to 90-percent less that nursing home care for
seniors and people with disabilities. She cautioned that the
problem would only become more costly for Alaska without
immediate change to support a strong, well-trained professional
direct care workforce in Alaska.
MS. JESSEN asserted that CSHB 96(HSS) would ensure that the
state is maximizing the state's Medicaid personal care rate by
creating a labor rate for personal care services which, she
explained, was a percent of the Medicaid rate received by
agencies for personal care assistant (PCA) services which is
required to go into direct pay and benefits for direct care
workers. She stated that Alaska's personal care services were
provided through a non-traditional consumer-directed agency with
choice model, meaning that less money was needed for overhead,
as the agency held fewer responsibilities. She stated that the
consumer, not the agency, was responsible for recruitment,
hiring, training, et cetera. Additionally, she asserted that
CSHB 96(HSS) would create transparency with regards to the
distribution of the Medicaid personal care rate. She stated
that the reporting requirements under CSHB 96(HSS) would help
assess and change the efficacy of current personal care rates.
She stated that the workforce standards advisory board, modelled
after Delaware and created under CSHB 96(HSS) would help
identify and plan long-term workforce needs and additionally
assess whether the [personal care] rates are adequately meeting
those needs. She stated that the proposed board, made up of
various stakeholders, would identify priorities, recommend
solutions, and assess resource needs for the caregiving
industry. She said that demographic changes are underway, and
caregiver shortages are deeply felt in Alaska. She concluded
by asserting that CSHB 96(HSS) would be far less costly for
Alaska in the long-term and provide Alaska residents with much-
needed care. She thanked the committee.
4:53:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked whether there was a set hourly
rate for PCAs.
MS. JESSEN responded that "there are different service
categories for which there are different rates." She explained
that the hourly rate is set by DOH. She noted that the personal
care services rate is one of the lower rates in Alaska. She
further explained that CSHB 96(HSS) would allocate 70 percent of
the personal care services rate, not 70 percent of the money
received by agencies overall.
4:54:48 PM
TONY NEWMAN, Deputy Director, Division of Senior & Disabilities
Services, Department of Health (DOH), answered questions during
the hearing on CSHB 96(HSS). He clarified that DOH establishes
rates for personal care and pays $8.53 per 15-minute increment
for PCAs.
4:55:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that the proposed advisory board
in CSHB 96(HSS) appears to have a lot of authority and power,
citing the powers and duties listed in the proposed legislation.
He asked whether DOH was functioning adequately.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX deferred to Mr. Newman.
MR. NEWMAN responded that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) created a rule in 2024 called the Medicaid
Ensuring Access Rule ("Access rule"), which requires the
establishment of an "interested parties advisory group." He
noted that the Access rule requires by law a variety of things
to be implemented by the state over the next 8 to 10 years. He
explained that the advisory board established under CSHB 96(HSS)
would serve as the "interested parties advisory group" whose
function was to assess rates of payment for personal care and
other services. He said that Alaska was federally required by
2028 or 2030 to set an adequacy rule of 80 percent, meaning that
80 percent of Medicaid rate paid for personal care services
would need to be given to the direct care worker.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated that in 2020 or 2021, the legislature
heard that there was a crisis in workforce availability,
especially in homecare. He noted that a shift to nursing home
care would be significantly more expensive for Alaska. He
reported that Alaska attempted to ensure that there was adequate
workforce availability for homecare and that it became unclear
whether the workforce was being adequately paid. He asserted
that CSHB 96(HSS) was necessary to collect data on pay.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether the powers and tools of the
proposed advisory board were necessary to fulfill the requests
of CMS. He referred to the proposed board as "nuclear-powered."
4:59:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE thanked Representative Prax for CSHB
96(HSS), noting that she had heard through public testimony in
prior years that caregivers were overworked and underpaid, and
that there was little oversight.
CO-CHAIR FIELDS offered his agreement with Representative
Coulombe, opining that CSHB 96(HSS) was very important in both
providing adequate care and containing long-term Medicaid
spending.
[CSHB 96(HSS) was held over.]
HB 193-UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS; PAID PARENT LEAVE
5:00:55 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 193, "An Act establishing a paid parental
leave program; relating to unemployment benefits; relating to
the collection of child support obligations; and relating to the
duties of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development."
5:01:00 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:01 p.m. to 5:02 p.m.
5:02:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN HALL, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, gave the prepared sponsor statement for HB 193
[included in the committee file], which read as follows,
[original punctuation provided]:
House Bill 193 would establish the Alaska Parental
Leave Program. As the State seeks to recruit, attract
and retain young families, this policy would serve a
crucial purpose: giving parents the time to bond with
their child. By helping families take important time
off for childbirth, adoption, or fostering, the State
can ensure that parents and newborns can attend follow
up doctors appointments; lower the risk for re-
hospitalization; have economic security that reduces
stress on parents & children; further cement the bond
between parents and an adopted child or foster youth;
and help mothers re-enter the workforce after any one
of these scenarios.
By building off of existing infrastructure in the
State Department of Labor & Workforce Development, an
employee's current contributions can go towards an
invaluable program that
returns many benefits back to our society.
5:03:48 PM
TRISTAN WALSH, Staff, Representative Carolyn Hall, Alaska State
Legislature, gave a presentation on behalf of Representative
Hall, prime sponsor of HB 193, via PowerPoint, titled "HB 193:
Paid Parental Leave." He began on slide 2 of the PowerPoint
[included in the committee file], and gave a summary of the
bullet points, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
? Currently, the State of Alaska only has the Alaska
Family and Medical Leave Act, which provides for
unpaid absences for state employees and employers over
a certain size.
? Paid parental leave is known to help improve the
health and life outcomes of infants and parents of
newborns and allows for fostering and adoption.
? 2019 National Defense Authorization Act extended
paid parental leave to federal employees.
? Alaska is in competition with many states for young
and talented workers. Paid parental leave provides a
well known and
valuable benefit at low cost and high benefit.
? All other states are pursuing these policies. Alaska
cannot afford to be left behind.
? Paid parental leave allows women to reenter the
workforce without being penalized.
MR. WALSH moved to slide 3, citing that in the absence of paid
parental leave, "23 percent of mothers return to work within 10
days of giving birth ... due to the financial burden on the
household." He further reported that is against most doctors
orders.
MR. WALSH moved to slide 4, drawing the committee members'
attention to a graph representative of the Heckman [Curve], a
statistical model used to illustrate the importance of early
investment in the first three years of a child's life. He
reported that individuals have better socioemotional outcomes,
and less likely to be dependent on drugs. He asserted that
bonding with parents is a very transformative first step in
early investment.
MR. WALSH gave an overview of how paid parental leave supports
parents, shown on slide 5, which read [original punctuation
provided]:
? Women who take paid leave have a 51% reduction in
the odds of being rehospitalized within 21 months of
giving birth.
? Has positive associations with reductions in stress
and increase in exercise, both critical for new
mothers.
? Mothers with paid leave are less likely to report
postpartum depression, with some studies showing a 2%
reduction in poor mental health with each week of paid
leave.
? Can reduce maternal health disparities for at risk
populations, such as African American and American
Indian/Alaska Native mothers.
? Fathers are more likely to report greater engagement
in children's lives, boosting cognitive and
developmental benefits for children.
? Fathers who take paid leave are more likely to live
longer.
5:06:38 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS requested statistics on estimated savings were
Alaska to achieve a 51 percent reduction of hospitalizations
based on percentage of women on Medicaid for birthing care.
5:07:08 PM
MR. WALSH continued with the presentation, moving on to slide 6,
and gave an overview on how paid parental leave would impact
Alaska, which read as follows [original punctuation provided,
with some formatting changes]:
• Most working people in the United States do not have
paid leave through their jobs, including about 75
percent of Alaskans, which is ~270,000 workers in our
state.
• Even unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical
Leave Act is inaccessible for 68 percent of Alaskans.
• If women in Alaska participated in the labor force at
the same rate as women in countries with paid leave,
there would be an estimated 8,000 additional workers
in the state and $313,870,000 more wages earned
statewide.
• Women make up 47% of our total workforce; 28% of
business owners are women.
• Paid leave can reduce working women's reliance on
public assistance and SNAP by as much as 40% compared
to women who do not have this benefit.
MR. WALSH gave an overview on how paid parental leave
supports businesses, shown on slide 7, which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
? In states that implemented paid leave such as NY,
businesses reported significantly easier time managing
long absences.
? Two thirds of businesses report that they managed
the absence by temporarily re-assigning work.
? Studies in California found small businesses saw a
14% decrease in per worker labor costs when workers
took paid family leave; the smallest businesses had
the greatest percentage based savings.
? In CA, 92% of businesses reported that paid family
leave had a positive impact on employee turnover.
? Workers who have access to paid leave are more
likely to return to work than drop out of the labor
pool.
5:09:55 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS asked about the gender wage gap in Alaska. He
remarked that the biggest driver of the gender wage gap in
Alaska was mothers who temporarily left the workforce after
giving birth and thus experienced an interruption in their pay
and career.
5:10:37 PM
MR. WALSH continued with an overview on how paid parental leave
helps businesses, shown on slide 8, which read [original
punctuation provided]:
? Turnover at small businesses has been shown to cost
approximately 23.5% of that worker's annual wage, and
can go as high as 150% as a vacancy goes on. Paid
leave can dramatically increase retention of
employees.
? Studies have found that firms implementing these
policies have greater revenue and profit per full time
equivalent employee; technology companies saw a $2.64
return for every $1.00 invested. Manufacturers saw a
$2.57 return for every $1.00.
? A recent study found that workers with paid leave
are 22% more likely to recommend their job to a friend
who does not have that benefit.
? Further polling found that Generation Z workers
identified paid family leave as the number one policy
they consider when relocating for work.
MR. WALSH moved to slide 9 and spoke to paid parental leave
policies in other states. He reported that, in 2024, 199
bills [regarding paid parental leave] were filed in 36
states. He further reported that three states Kentucky,
Illinois, and South Carolina - passed legislation for paid
parental leave. He noted that seventeen states were
considering expansions to existing programs and drew
committee members' attention to the map on slide 9, which
was representative of the status of paid parental leave in
each state as of January 15, 2025.
MR. WALSH gave an overview of the unemployment insurance
model policy that HB 193 was based upon, shown on slide 10,
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
? Unemployment insurance: wage replacement for when
you are unemployed and looking for work. Established
in 1935 by President Roosevelt in the Social Security
Act.
? Another type of wage replacement, such as short term
disability is widely available: however, limited
application available for family purposes beyond
pregnancy complications.
? Public and private employers are familiar with
unemployment insurance, payroll processes.
? State of Alaska requires employers to collect this
on behalf of employees.
? Employee contribution is unique amongst many states,
and can be diverted towards paid parental leave.
? Establishes a separate fund where employee's
contribution is held for the collection of a claim.
? HB 193 also adjusts benefits so that an employee's
wage replacement is always at least 50% of their
earnings in the base period.
MR. WALSH moved to slide 11, drawing committee members'
attention to a flowchart, titled "UI Parental Leave Model
Flowchart," and explained that the employee contribution
collected for unemployment insurance would be bifurcated,
sending 0.35 percent to the State Training and Employment
Program/Alaska Technical Vocational Education Program
(STEP/TVEP) and sending 0.15 percent to the parental leave
program envisioned by HB 193. He further explained that 0.15
percent currently goes toward the unemployment insurance (UI)
trust fund. He cited Legislative Legal and the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development(DOLWD) in explaining that the
0.15 percent of employee contribution could be diverted into a
paid leave program for parents. He noted that the employer tax
rate would be held harmless under the proposed legislation.
5:16:20 PM
MR. WALSH, in response to a question from Co-Chair Fields,
noting that they will be presenting more modelling to the
committee in the future regarding the funding mechanism under HB
193 and the solvency of the unemployment insurance (UI) trust
fund.
5:17:00 PM
MR. WALSH moved to slide 12, drawing committee members'
attention to a flowchart, titled "Example: hypothetical
employee with the maximum taxable wage of $51,700," and noted
that the UI Tax Rate would be $775.50, with the employee portion
representing $258.50. He further noted that of the employee
portion, $180.95 would go towards the STEP/TVEP programs and the
remainder, would go towards the paid family medical leave
program envisioned under HB 193. Additionally, he noted that
the employer portion of $517 would go into the UI Trust Fund.
MR. WALSH moved to slide 13 and gave an overview of the
different policy levers that the legislators could pull when
considering HB 193, which read [original punctuation provided]:
HB 193
In determining the program, the four
main factors to consider are:
-Benefit duration
-Benefit amount (% wage replacement)
-Contribution rate
-Eligible uses
5:18:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE stated that she received a legal memo
stating that employer and employee contributions are held in the
same regard by the federal government.
MR. WALSH deferred to Legislative Legal Services.
5:20:40 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 5:20 p.m. to 5:21 p.m.
5:21:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE asked whether there would be any concern
of legality with the employer and employee contributions, noting
that she received a legal memo stating that the contributions
are restricted similarly.
ALLISON RADFORD, Legislative Counsel, Legislative Legal
Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, replied that once the
state collects funds for the purpose of unemployment insurance,
federal law dictates that it must be used accordingly. She
explained that, under HB 193, an additional special contribution
would be added and collected in the same manner as unemployment
insurance contributions from the employee and deposited into a
separate fund, so it is not collected for the purpose of
unemployment insurance. She further explained that the amount
that is collected from the employee is "credited back to the
employee against their unemployment insurance burdens."
[HB 193 was held over.]
HB 144-INSURANCE; PRIOR AUTHORIZATIONS
5:23:46 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 144, "An Act relating to prior authorization
requests for medical care covered by a health care insurer;
relating to a prior authorization application programming
interface; relating to step therapy; and providing for an
effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 144(HSS).]
5:23:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, presented CSHB 144(HSS). He explained that prior
authorization (PA) was a requirement for health services and
medications to be approved by the payer before a patient
receives said services or medications. He noted that prior
authorization has been a barrier to receiving healthcare due to
both technology and old equipment. He stated that CSHB 144(HSS)
was a collaborative effort to address prior authorizations in
Alaska, adapt timelines for access to care, particularly in
urgent or emergency situations, update access for chronic care,
and update requirements for response time. He concluded that
CSHB 144(HSS) was designed to be "good for patients," and
improve access to healthcare.
5:26:10 PM
BUD SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Ruffridge, prime
sponsor of CSHB 144(HSS), began on slide 2 of the PowerPoint
[included in the committee file], and outlined problems that the
proposed legislation was meant to address. Slide 2 read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
• Need for Prior Authorization (PA) before obtaining
services.
• Time
• Individuals with Chronic Conditions.
• Crafting a solution that takes into account the
needs
and protocols for all parties.
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 3, giving an overview of the
collaborative efforts put into crafting CSHB 144(HSS) and
outlined the goals of the proposed legislation, which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• Over the past year, numerous meetings between
stakeholders.
• Easy to understand process.
• Establish timelines
• Enforcement
MR. SEXTON clarified that CSHB 144(HSS) would establish
mechanisms of enforcement for the Division of Insurance.
MR. SEXTON gave an overview of the timelines expected under
CSHB 144(HSS), shown on slide 4, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
• Easy to understand by patients and healthcare
providers.
• Process must be reasonable and efficient.
• Determination with 72 hours for standard request.
• 24 hours for an expedited request.
• Prior Authorization request is approved if timeline
is not met under the updated process.
MR. SEXTON gave a summary of the proposed process for prior
authorizations with incomplete information, shown on slide 5,
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• If more information is needed to make a
determination,
the insurer shall send a request within one calendar
day
for an expedited request and three calendar days for a
standard request.
• Information due to the insurer between five to 14
days.
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 6 of the PowerPoint, and gave a
summary of improvements to the prior authorization process,
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
• PA standards listed on the health care insurer's
website
or portal (both locations if available).
• PA criteria based on peer-reviewed, evidenced-based
clinical review criteria.
• Consistently applied by all sources including
Utilization Review Organizations.
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 7 and asserted that CSHB 144(HSS) was
intended to be favorable to the patients. He gave the bullet
points of slide 7, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
• Patients benefit?if the standards by the insurer and
the
utilization review organization are different.
• For each service, the insurer must list:
• If a prior authorization process is necessary.
• Date the requirement became effective
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 8 and gave an overview of changes
to care regarding chronic conditions, which read [original
punctuation provided]:
• PA is valid for not less than 12 months.
• Automatic renewal if condition remains unchanged.
• Stage 4 metastatic cancer/Step therapy.
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 9 and gave an overview of
accountability and compliance under CSHB 144(HSS), which
read [original punctuation provided]:
• Dept of Insurance Director shall monitor compliance.
• Examination of health care insurers at least every
two years:
• PA response times and adherence to timeframes.
• Accuracy and completeness of PA requirements.
• Consistency of PA practices by Utilization Review
Organizations and Third-Party Administrators.
MR. SEXTON moved to slide 10 and gave an overview of
enforcement mechanisms under CSHB 144(HSS), which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
• The director may impose penalties
• May impose a penalty for each instance of
noncompliance
• Persistent or severe violations may warrant
suspension or revocation of health insurer's
certificate of authority
5:30:50 PM
JARED KOSIN, President & CEO, gave invited testimony on CSHB
144(HSS). He stated that AHHA strongly supported CSHB 144(HSS).
He asserted that, while prior authorization is a useful process
for reviewing appropriateness of medical care, it was a deeply
flawed process that has, in past, led to critical delays in
patient care. He stated that CSHB 144(HSS) was a collaboration
among providers, insurers, regulators to improve the PA process
for patients. He highlighted improvements for patients under
CSHB 144(HSS), including: long-term approval for chronic
conditions, decreasing turnaround times from five days to 72
hours, no restrictions on key therapies for stage IV cancers,
and requiring an exception process to step therapy protocol. He
asserted that the proposed legislation creates transparency
around "the processes that are used, how they're used, when
they're effective, who [is] doing these reviews, ... how
accountability is going to be applied, and ... how bill is being
enforced." He concluded by asserting that CSHB 144(HSS) was a
comprehensive bill with strong support from both insurers and
hospitals in Alaska and invited questions from the committee.
5:33:25 PM
GARY STRANNIGAN, Vice President, Congressional & Legislative
Affairs, Premera Blue Cross, gave invited testimony on CSHB
144(HSS). He stated that Premera Blue Cross has been providing
services to residents in Alaska before statehood. He stated
that Premera Blue Cross supported efforts to promote the
affordability of their products in continued service of their
customers. He asserted that affordability has become a gateway
in restricting access to care. He stated that prior
authorization was important to affordability in helping ensure
that members are getting the "right care at the right time in
the right setting at the right price." He asserted that CSHB
144(HSS) was representative of a reasonable compromise by all
parties and encouraged the passage of CSHB 144(HSS).
[CSHB 144(HSS) was held over.]
HB 161-PAID SICK LEAVE EXEMPTION
5:35:13 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 161, "An Act relating to minimum paid sick
leave requirements; and providing for an effective date."
5:35:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RUFFRIDGE, Alaska State Legislature, as
prime sponsor, presented HB 161. He stated that, upon the
passage of Ballot Measure 1, there were concerns across the
small business community in Alaska about the effect on small
businesses. He asserted that the proposed legislation would not
change key provisions of or repeal Ballot Measure 1, "most
notably the increase to minimum wage," which he stated was
broadly supported across Alaska. He explained that HB 161 would
alter some sections regarding change to paid sick leave
requirements for businesses. He stated that the adjustments
made by HB 161 would alleviate some of the burden on small
businesses under Ballot Measure 1.
5:37:34 PM
BUD SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State
Legislature, presented HB 161 on behalf of Representative
Ruffridge, joint sponsor of HB 161. He began on the second
slide of the PowerPoint [included in the committee file] and
drew committee members' attention to a graph representative of
comparisons between Ballot Measure 1 and HB 161 with regards to
the number of employees, leave cash out option, employer
notification, and seasonal workers. The second slide read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
# of employees
[Ballot Measure 1] Leave accrual applies to small
businesses with
15 or more employees, not more than 56 hours
a year
[HB 161] Leave accrual applies to businesses
with 50 or more employees
# of employees
[Ballot Measure 1] Leave accrual applies to small
businesses with
fewer than 15 employees, not more than 40
hours a year.
[HB 161] Applies to businesses with 50 or
more employees
Leave cash out
[Ballot Measure 1] No language
[HB 161] An employer may, at the
employee's request, allow an
employee to exchange accrued sick
leave for the cash value of the
accrued sick leave.
Notify employer
[Ballot Measure 1] No requirement for good faith
effort by
employee to notify the employer before the
workday begins
[HB 161] Requires the employee to make a
good faith effort to provide notice
to the employer in advance of the
use of paid sick leave and before
the start of the workday.
Seasonal workers
[Ballot Measure 1] No language
[HB 161] Exempt seasonal workers from sick
leave accrual.
MR. SEXTON moved to the third slide of the presentation and drew
committee members' attention to the image which listed entities
in support of HB 161. He concluded by reading the third slide
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Enables Alaskan businesses to thrive
Taking care of our local businesses
means taking care of our workforce
Allows employees to cash out their
accrued sick leave
5:39:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK asked how HB 161 compared to the law pre-
Ballot Measure 1.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE responded that prior to Ballot Measure
1, there were no requirements regarding paid sick leave. He
further noted that everything in Ballot Measure 1 was
"essentially new." He explained that HB 161 was constitutional
in allowing the amending of Ballot Measure 1, as it would be
unconstitutional to repeal it or return to law pre-Ballot
Measure 1.
5:41:19 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:41 p.m.
5:42:03 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE stated that most of the businesses in
her district, while aware of the minimum wage provision, were
not aware of the provisions for paid sick leave under Ballot
Measure 1. She stressed that, without the amendments under HB
161 to Ballot Measure 1, small businesses would close, increase
prices, or lose workers. She noted that she and Representative
Ruffridge worked with Legislative Legal to ensure that they were
within legal parameters and not undermining the intent of Ballot
Measure 1. She opined that HB 161 would help small businesses
transition into the paid sick leave requirements of Ballot
Measure 1.
5:44:07 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS facilitated a brief discussion of the remaining
agenda items.
5:45:18 PM
KATI CAPOZZI, President & CEO, Alaska Chamber, began her invited
testimony by introducing the Alaska Chamber, noting that it
represents businesses of "all sizes and industries across the
state." She emphasized that the legislature has broad powers to
amend initiatives and encouraged committee members to "fix the
most harmful records" of Ballot Measure 1. She stated that
small businesses owners, particularly those in hospitality and
tourism, have experienced a lot of hardship, including a global
pandemic, workforce shortages, inflation, and newly introduced
tariffs. She stated that Ballot Measure 1 introduced a "one-
size-fits-all" mandate across Alaska. She stated that since its
passage, many voters did not understand the true implications of
the ballot measure. She cited the Alaska Chamber's most recent
public opinion survey, reporting that 40 percent of Alaska
residents did not know that mandated paid sick leave was
included in the ballot measure. Additionally, she reported that
58 percent of respondents affirmed that they would support a
paid sick leave exemption for employers with fewer than 50
employees. She asserted that exemptions to paid sick leave
[under HB 161] were necessary because Ballot Measure 1 had
duplicative compliance measures for employers that already
provided comprehensive paid sick leave and paid time off. She
asserted that Ballot Measure 1 would cause recordkeeping and
administrative complications for small- and medium-sized
employers and additionally asserted that it would cause
operational disruptions due to inflexible accrual and usage
standards, particularly with regard to seasonal and hospitality
businesses.
MS. CAPOZZI stated that the Alaska Chamber supports HB 161
because it would introduce "critical guardrails and
clarifications that would allow businesses to comply with the
spirit of paid sick leave while reducing regulatory overreach
and economic harm." She stated that HB 161 would reduce
compliance burdens, clarify sick leave definitions, exempt
seasonal employers whose operations peak at six months or less,
and provide flexibility by permitting employees to cash-out
unused sick leave. She said that HB 161 would encourage
voluntary compliance over mandates. She asserted that HB 161
encourages job protection and growth and protects remote and
rural businesses in Alaska. She thanked the committee for their
consideration and stated that she was available for questions.
5:50:26 PM
JOHN WEDDLETON, Business Owner, began his invited testimony by
stating that his business was celebrating 41 years. He reported
that his business had provided paid time off for the past 20
years. He noted that in his first 10 to 20 years of business,
Ballot Measure 1 would have proved difficult for his business.
He opined that the cap at 50 employees [under HB 161] was
important, noting that it's likely that most businesses in
Alaska have less than 50 employees. He suggested that HB 161
would set a standard that all businesses provide paid time off.
He offered appreciation for the option under HB 161 that would
allow employees to cash out paid time off. He offered his
support for HB 161 and encouraged committee members to support
the proposed legislation.
5:52:50 PM
MS. CAPOZZI, in response to a question from Co-Chair Hall on the
history of the Alaska Chamber's position on Ballot Measure 1,
responded that her organization had been leading in their
efforts to oppose Ballot Measure 1 for over a year.
5:54:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE commented that the Alaska Chamber had
been in opposition for a long time, but that the Anchorage
Chamber did not declare an official position.
5:54:44 PM
REGINA DAVIS, Vice President, Davis Block & Concrete, began her
invited testimony by stating that her business has supplied
concrete for construction projects throughout the state for over
50 years, employing locals. She asserted that HB 161 was a
practical solution that balanced "worker protections with the
realities of running a small business in Alaska's unique
economy." She said that HB 161 would protect small businesses
by mitigating the burdensome paid sick leave requirements
imposed by Ballot Measure 1. She said that the mandate to
provide paid sick leave to every employee, including temporary
staff, would strain their finances and administrative resources.
She stated that HB 161 would raise the threshold to businesses
with 50 or more employees. She further stated that HB 161 would
support Alaska's seasonal economy, noting that her business
projects increase in the summer and rely on seasonal workers.
She asserted that requiring paid sick leave for seasonal workers
creates administrative challenges and costs that do not align
with the temporary nature of seasonal workers. She asserted
that the exemption for seasonal workers under HB 161 would
ensure that her business could continue to hire locally during
the summer months. Additionally, she asserted that her business
would need to raise prices or cut jobs to meet the requirements
of Ballot Measure 1. She echoed other speakers in acknowledging
the many obstacles small businesses have faced in recent years.
She concluded by urging committee members' support of HB 161 and
said that she was available for questions.
[HB 161 was held over.]
SB 80-EXTEND BOARDS
5:58:44 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the next order of business would
be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 80(FIN), "An Act extending the
termination date of the Big Game Commercial Services Board;
extending the termination date of the Board of Massage
Therapists; extending the termination date of the Alaska
Commission on Aging; extending the termination date of the
Marijuana Control Board; and providing for an effective date."
5:58:57 PM
SAVAYA BIEBER, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkamn, Alaska State
Legislature, summarized CSSB 80(FIN).
5:59:56 PM
CO-CHAIR HALL moved to report CSSB 80(FIN) out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, CSSB 80(FIN) was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
^State Nursing Board
State Nursing Board
6:00:20 PM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the final order of business would
be confirmation hearing on the governor's appointees to the
Board of Nursing.
6:00:40 PM
CHERYL PAYNE, Appointee, Board of Nursing, gave testimony as a
governor appointee to the Board of Nursing. She stated that she
has worked primarily in the airline and tourism industry. She
said that her experience caring for her elderly parents sparked
her desire to give back to the nursing community. She stated
that she was dedicated to adequate resources, support systems,
and training in the nursing field. She further stated that she
was dedicated to high standards of nursing practice and patient
safety, highlighting quality care as critical to improving
health outcomes for all communities. She emphasized the
importance of fostering cooperation between nurses, educators,
and regulatory bodies. She stated that diverse representation
in the public seat was important. She acknowledged the
importance of public input during the Board of Nursing's
quarterly meetings with regard to nursing practices. She
concluded by stating that she hoped to continue to represent the
public seat on the Board of Nursing with meaningful
contribution. She thanked the committee members for their time.
6:03:31 PM
MARIANNE MURRAY, Appointee, Board of Nursing, gave testimony as
a governor appointee to the Board of Nursing. She stated that
she has been a nurse for over 32 years, noting that she has
worked in an emergency room, in nursing administration, and in
the educational realm. She stated that she has worked as a
faculty member at both the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA)
and Alaska Pacific University (APU). She stated that she served
as the Executive Director of the Alaska Board of Nursing during
2019 and 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She asserted that
nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system, noting that
they provide "compassionate care, advocating for patients, and
upholding the highest standards of practice." She stated that
she understood the "unique logistical hurdles," required
cultural training, and the critical need for a well-supported
and competent nursing workforce in Alaska. She said that her
service on the Board of Nursing was not just a professional
aspiration, but a deeply felt responsibility. She asserted that
her passion for nursing, understanding of healthcare in Alaska,
and commitment to effective and ethical governance would allow
her to make meaningful contributions to the Board of Nursing.
She concluded by thanking the committee members for their
consideration.
[The committee did not make a statement on the record regarding
the confirmation hearings but after reviewing the qualifications
of the governor's appointees, the following names were forwarded
to a joint session for consideration: Cheryl Payne and Marianne
Murray to the Board of Nursing. Signing the report regarding
appointments to boards and commissions in no way reflects an
individual member's approval or disapproval of the appointee,
and the nomination is merely forwarded to the full legislature
for confirmation or rejection.]
6:06:39 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
[6:06] p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Marianne Murray Nursing Resume_Redacted 4.16.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
|
| Cheryl Payne Nursing Resume_Redacted 4.16.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
|
| HB 193 Sponsor Statement 4.16.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 193 |
| HB 193 Ver G Sectional Analysis 4.10.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 193 |
| HB 193-Paid Parental Leave HL&C PPT 4.16.2025 UPDATED.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 193 |
| HB 96 Version I.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 96 |
| HB 96 Sectional Analysis ver I.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 96 |
| HB 96 Supporting Document-Cost of Home, Community Based, and Institutional Care 4.10.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 96 |
| HB 96 Supporting Document-Background and Policy Overview 4.10.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 96 |
| HB 96 Supoprting Document-DoH Continuum of Care 4.10.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 96 |
| HB 96 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 96 |
| CSHB 144 Supporting Document-PPT Ver N 4.9.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| CSHB 144 Ver N 4.9.25.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| HB 144 Summary of Changes Ver A to Ver N 4.9.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 144 |
| HB 144 Sectional Summary 4.9.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/23/2025 9:00:00 AM |
HB 144 |
| HB 161 Legislative Legal Memorandom-2.19.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 161 |
| HB 161 Sectional Analysis Ver G 4.3.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 161 |
| HB 161 PPT 4.13.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 161 |
| HB 161 Sponsor Statement Ver G 4.3.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/14/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 161 |
| 2025.04.09 ANTHC LOS HB144.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| Alaska Chamber HB144 Support Letter HLC 4.14.2025.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| ASMA Prior Auth ltr support HB 144 H LC.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| DOG_ASCO_HB 144_Prior Auhtorization_Support.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 144 |
| HB 161 Letters of Support and Opposition - 4.16.25.pdf |
HL&C 4/16/2025 3:15:00 PM HL&C 4/28/2025 3:15:00 PM |
HB 161 |