Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/19/2015 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing: Alaska Workers' Compensation Board | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 19, 2015
1:37 p.m.
1:37:58 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Chuck Collins, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Lake Williams, Fairbanks; Stacy A. Allen, Palmer; Pamela J.
Cline, Anchorage; Jacob A. Howdeshell, Fairbanks; Linda
Hutchings, Soldotna; Patricia A. Vollendorf, Anchorage;
Robert Weel, Anchorage; Rick Traini, Anchorage.
SUMMARY
^CONFIRMATION HEARING: ALASKA WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD
1:38:42 PM
Co-Chair MacKinnon explained that the Alaska Workers'
Compensation Board was located in AS 23.30.005. The Alaska
Workers' Compensation Board consisted of a southern panel
of the three members for the first judicial district; two
northern panels of three members sitting for the second and
fourth districts; five south-central panels of three
members each sitting for the third judicial district; and
one panel of three members that may sit in any judicial
district. Each panel must include the commissioner of
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD), or a
hearing officer designated to represent the commissioner; a
representative of the industry; and a representative of
labor. The latter two members of each panel shall be
appointed by the governor and were subject to confirmations
by the majority of members of the legislature in a joint
session. Each member, except the commissioner of DLWD,
served a term of three years.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for some comments regarding Mr.
Williams' desire to continue service on the board.
1: 40:21 PM
LAKE WILLIAMS, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), announced
that he was initially nominated for the board under
Governor Parnell, and was denominated under Governor
Walker. He was never officially confirmed, but found his
service continually enjoyable. He felt that his work on the
board had a balance of helping the workers and companies.
There were some difficult decisions on the board, but he
enjoyed the work and service of the board.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for some experience as related to
the board. Mr. Williams explained some of his
qualifications. He was currently the District 7
representative in Fairbanks for Local 302; he was the
presidents of Fairbanks Building and Trades; he was a
member of the Fairbanks Chamber Board; he was born and
raised in Fairbanks; he had a degree from the University of
Iowa in Business Administration; and was in the industry
for over 20 years. He felt that there was room for
improvement in the industry, and looked forward to making a
positive difference.
Co-Chair MacKinnon requested some opening comments
regarding Ms. Allen's nomination.
1:43:00 PM
STACY A. ALLEN, PALMER (via teleconference), highlighted
some of her qualifications and experience on the board. She
stated that she worked in the health care industry as an
obstetrics nurse. She remarked that there were not many
workers' compensation cases in the obstetrical practice,
but she remarked that the nursing industry faced workers'
compensation issues. She was the health care representative
for the members of Local 341, so she was able to demystify
the workers' compensation issues for the injured worker.
She stated that she was also able to help the relationship
between the employer and employee. She stressed that the
workers' compensation system was not adversarial, and
should not be feared. The system benefited both the
employer and employee. She remarked that it was interesting
to observe how the board worked among all facets. The
hearing officers were able to explain the laws. She
announced that she had enjoyed the collaborative process of
the board, and felt that her experience was beneficial to
the membership.
Co-Chair MacKinnon requested a description of Ms. Cline's
board qualifications.
1:45:18 PM
PAMELA J. CLINE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), announced
that she had a very positive experience serving on the
board. She felt that the board served in a capacity to
maintain fairness. She stressed the importance of getting
the individuals back to work after their injuries, whether
in their previous field or retrained in a new career. She
was a certified pharmacy tech, and worked at Mat-Su
Regional Hospital as a certified pharmacy tech in its
retail pharmacy. She restated that she enjoyed her
membership of the board, and felt it was an important board
for the community.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that Ms. Cline was a former PTA
president.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the qualifications of Mr.
Collins.
1:47:41 PM
CHUCK COLLINS, JUNEAU, stated that he was a former local
business owner. He felt that his service on the board was a
good use of his time. He remarked that the board changed
during his service, and currently worked well together. He
felt that the board worked well to make the system work
more efficiently. He stressed the importance of
rehabilitation and retraining. He felt that Alaskan
businesses could work to ensure the safety of all workers.
Senator Bishop complimented Mr. Collins, and appreciated
his service. He understood that the work was difficult.
Co-Chair Kelly agreed that the board was a difficult board.
He shared that he had some experience with the board.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that the following appointee
was the only first-year appointee.
1:51:29 PM
JACOB A. HOWDESHELL, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
explained that the committee had a document which was an
application for the Alaska Safety Advisory Council, on
which he currently served as a member. He would provide an
updated resume at a later date. He had worked in the
construction industry for ten years out of Local 942, and
he was currently employed as a business representative. He
had also served on the executive board of Local 942 for six
years. He was a member of the Alaska Petroleum Joint Crafts
Council (APJCC), and the Alaska Safety Advisory Council. He
was recently elected to the Alaska District Council of
Labors. He wished to serve on the Workers' Compensation
Board to ensure that Alaska's workforce had the opportunity
to recover from workplace injuries without undue economic
hardship, and to protect all participants of the program
against fraud.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried Ms. Hutchings' qualifications.
1:53:41 PM
LINDA HUTCHINGS, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), explained
that she was initially appointed to the board under
Governor Murkowski. She remarked that the board had become
more efficient, and become more active than what it had
been at her initial appointment. She pointed out that it
was difficult to receive a full complement on the board.
She stressed that the board currently offered board
training, and remarked that it took approximately two years
to understand the full expectations of the work of the
board.
Vice-Chair Micciche thanked Ms. Hutchings for her
dedication to the board.
Senator Bishop echoed Vice-Chair Micciche's comments. He
felt that Alaska could benefit from her service.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for a description of Ms.
Vollendorf's qualifications.
1:56:38 PM
PATRICIA A. VOLLENDORF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
stated that she was a teacher in Anchorage from 1963 to
1993. She was initially appointed to the board under
Governor Hickel, and served from 1993 to 1997. She was
reappointed in 2004, and had served on the board
subsequently. She remarked that board had changed over the
years, and hoped that the board had done proper work to
return the injured person to work. She stressed the
importance of providing the statutorily benefits to the
injured worker.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the qualifications of Mr. Weel.
1:57:57 PM
ROBERT WEEL, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), stated that he
was initially appointed to the board in 2005 by Governor
Murkowski, and had served since his initial appointment. He
was a resident of Alaska since 1957. He was currently
retired, but enjoyed serving on the board. He stated that
the focus of the board was getting employees back to work.
He provided experience in management and business to
represent the industry. He stressed his desire to continue
service on the board.
Vice-Chair Micciche wondered if Mr. Weel was appointed in
2006. He thought there may be a mistake in the
documentation. Mr. Weel replied that he was born in 1952.
Vice-Chair Micciche queried the first appointment date. Mr.
Weel replied that he believed that he was initially
appointed by Governor Murkowski in 2005.
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered if there was a cooperative
effort between the industry and workers, and whether there
was a balanced board. Mr. Weel replied in the affirmative.
There were currently 18 board members with 9 representing
industry and 9 representing labor. He stressed that there
were at least 2 members from each facet represented at each
meeting, as well as a hearing officer.
2:01:06 PM
AT EASE
2:04:42 PM
RECONVENED
2:05:22 PM
RICK TRAINI, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), stated that he
was initially appointed to the board by Governor Parnell in
2010, to fill a partial term. He was appointed to a full
term on the board in 2012. He worked for the Alaska
Teamsters for approximately 9 years, and was the executive
director and negotiation coordinator. He shared that he had
served on a special committee within the Workers'
Compensation Board to offer listening sessions as related
to the cost of employer premium. The focus of the committee
was to ensure the affordability of employer premiums, and
provide better employee benefits. He remarked that there
was a steep learning curve, but it provided an adjudication
opportunity for employers and employee cases.
Co-Chair MacKinnon FORWARDED the appointments of Lake
Williams, Stacy Allen, Pamela Cline, Chuck Collins, Jacob
Howdenshell, Linda Hutchings, Rick Traini, Patricia
Vollendorf, and Robert Weel to a Joint Session for
consideration in accordance with AS 39.05.080. This did not
reflect an intent by any member to vote for or against the
confirmation of the individuals during any further
sessions.
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed the following week's schedule.
ADJOURNMENT
2:09:39 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:09 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 031915 Alaska Worker's Compensation Board Confirmation Resumes.pdf |
SFIN 3/19/2015 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations 2015 |
| 031915 Updated Howdeshell Resume.doc |
SFIN 3/19/2015 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations 2015 |