Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/25/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Please Note Time Change --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 84 MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 84(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
+= SB 204 CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 204 Out of Committee
+= SB 131 ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 131 Out of Committee
+= SB 28 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 28(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      April 25, 2024                                                                                            
                         1:42 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:42:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  called the Senate Finance  Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 1:42 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ken Alper,  Staff, Senator Donny  Olson; Senator  Elvi Gray-                                                                    
Jackson,  Sponsor;  Senator  Matt  Claman,  Sponsor;  Claire                                                                    
Lubke, Staff, Senator Claman.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Robert   Schmidt,   Director,   Division  of   Banking   and                                                                    
Securities, Department of  Commerce, Community, and Economic                                                                    
Development, Anchorage;  Tracy Reno, Chief  of Examinations,                                                                    
Division of Banking and  Securities, Department of Commerce,                                                                    
Community, and Economic  Development, Anchorage; Dean Fleer,                                                                    
Financial  Examiner,  Division  of Banking  and  Securities,                                                                    
Department    of   Commerce,    Community,   and    Economic                                                                    
Development, Anchorage;  Scott Damerow, Chief  of Mechanical                                                                    
Inspection, Department  of Labor and  Workforce Development,                                                                    
Anchorage.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 28     WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROTECTIVE ORDERS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SB 28 was  REPORTED OUT of committee  with one "do                                                                    
          pass"  recommendation, four  "no recommendations";                                                                    
          three previously zero fiscal  notes: FN 4(LAW), FN                                                                    
          5(DPS),  and  FN   7(AJS);  and  three  previously                                                                    
          published  fiscal  impact  notes:  FN  2(ADM),  FN                                                                    
          3(ADM), and FN 6(DPS).                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 84     MONEY TRANSMISSION; VIRTUAL CURRENCY                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SB  84 was  REPORTED OUT  of committee  with three                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendation,   one  "do  not  pass"                                                                    
          recommendation, and  one "no  recommendation"; and                                                                    
          one  new  fiscal  note   from  the  Department  of                                                                    
          Commerce, Community and Economic Development.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SB 131    ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PROGRAM                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB 131  was REPORTED  OUT of committee  with three                                                                    
          "do     pass"     recommendations,     two     "no                                                                    
          recommendations";  and  one  previously  published                                                                    
          fiscal note: FN 1(EED).                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SB 204    CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB  204 was  REPORTED OUT  of committee  with four                                                                    
          "do   pass"    recommendations,   and    one   "no                                                                    
          recommendation",    and   with    one   previously                                                                    
          published fiscal note: FN 2(LWF).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 84                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act   relating   to   the   business   of   money                                                                    
     transmission; relating to  money transmission licenses,                                                                    
     licensure  requirements, and  registration through  the                                                                    
     Nationwide  Multistate Licensing  System and  Registry;                                                                    
     relating  to  the use  of  virtual  currency for  money                                                                    
     transmission;  relating to  authorized  delegates of  a                                                                    
     licensee;  relating  to  acquisition of  control  of  a                                                                    
     license;  relating to  record  retention and  reporting                                                                    
     requirements; authorizing  the Department  of Commerce,                                                                    
     Community, and  Economic Development to  cooperate with                                                                    
     other states  in the regulation of  money transmission;                                                                    
     relating  to   permissible  investments;   relating  to                                                                    
     violations and enforcement  of money transmission laws;                                                                    
     relating  to  money  transmission  license  exemptions;                                                                    
     relating  to  payroll  processing  services;  repealing                                                                    
     currency  exchange  licenses;   and  providing  for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:42:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                       
SB 84, Work Draft 33-GS1312\U (Klein\Gunther, 4/24/24).                                                                         
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:43:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He                                                                     
addressed the Summary of Changes (copy on file):                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Change 1 In  Secs. 6 and 63, changes  the submission of                                                                    
     an  applicant's  fingerprints  from the  Department  of                                                                    
     Public  Safety  to  the Nationwide  Mortgage  Licensing                                                                    
     System and Registry, (which  queries the Federal Bureau                                                                    
     of  Investigation),  unless  the individual  has  lived                                                                    
     outside the United States for the past 10 years.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Change 2  In Secs. 12  and 24, changes  the requirement                                                                    
     for a licensee to  submit certain reports and financial                                                                    
     statements  to the  end  of each  quarter,  and to  the                                                                    
    licensee's fiscal year rather than a calendar year.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Change 3  In Secs. 26  and 27, corrects a  reference to                                                                    
     letters of credit to the proper statute.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Change  4  In  Sec.   54,  reverts  the  definition  of                                                                    
     "control" from 10 percent of  a company's shares to the                                                                    
     current  statutory standard  of 25%,  and corrects  the                                                                    
    statutory reference to the term "passive investor."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Change 5 In  Sec. 71, amends the effective  date of the                                                                    
     bill from January 1, 2024 to January 1, 2025.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:45:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBERT   SCHMIDT,   DIRECTOR,   DIVISION  OF   BANKING   AND                                                                    
SECURITIES, DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  explained the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:47:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TRACY RENO,  CHIEF OF EXAMINATIONS, DIVISION  OF BANKING AND                                                                    
SECURITIES, DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT,  ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  stated  that                                                                    
division supported the committee substitute.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:47:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DEAN  FLEER, FINANCIAL  EXAMINER,  DIVISION  OF BANKING  AND                                                                    
SECURITIES, DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT, ANCHORAGE (via  teleconference), stated that he                                                                    
had no additional comments.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  wondered whether Mr.  Fleer was in  favor of                                                                    
the committee substitute.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Fleer replied in the affirmative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl MOVED  to REPORT  SB 84  from committee  with                                                                    
individual recommendations, and  attached fiscal note. There                                                                    
being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB 84  was REPORTED  OUT of committee  with three  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation, one  "do not  pass" recommendation,  and one                                                                    
"no  recommendation";  and  one  new fiscal  note  from  the                                                                    
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 204                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "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."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:49:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER,  STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON,  explained the bill.                                                                    
He stated  that the  legislation was primarily  an inflation                                                                    
adjustment, and there were no changes in the committee.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT  DAMEROW, CHIEF  OF MECHANICAL  INSPECTION, DEPARTMENT                                                                    
OF   LABOR  AND   WORKFORCE   DEVELOPMENT,  ANCHORAGE   (via                                                                    
teleconference),  stated that  he was  in supportive  of the                                                                    
bill. He remarked  that the bill would  help all electrician                                                                    
and   plumber    apprentices,   by    removing   unnecessary                                                                    
administrative hurdles.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson  wondered whether  he agreed with  the change                                                                    
from four to six years.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Damerow agreed.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  thanked the  commissioner of  the Department                                                                    
of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD).                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  MOVED to REPORT  SB 204 from  committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations, and  attached fiscal note. There                                                                    
being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB 204  was REPORTED  OUT of committee  with four  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations, and  one "no recommendation", and  with one                                                                    
previously published fiscal note: FN 2(LWF).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 131                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act requiring education in the history and                                                                             
     contributions   of   Asian    Americans   and   Pacific                                                                    
     Islanders."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:52:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER,  STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON,  explained the bill.                                                                    
He stated that  the bill made for public  school students to                                                                    
learn the contributions made by  Asian Americans and Pacific                                                                    
Islanders.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:53:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELVI GRAY-JACKSON,  SPONSOR, thanked  the committee                                                                    
and staff.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  MOVED to  REPORT SB  131 from  committee with                                                                    
individual recommendations, and  attached fiscal note. There                                                                    
being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                              
SB 131 was REPORTED OUT of committee with three "do pass"                                                                       
recommendations,   two   "no   recommendations";   and   one                                                                    
previously published fiscal note: FN 1(EED).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 28                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating  to  workplace  violence  protective                                                                    
     orders;   relating  to   the  crime   of  violating   a                                                                    
     protective order;  relating to  the powers  of district                                                                    
     judges  and  magistrates;  amending  Rules  4  and  65,                                                                    
     Alaska  Rules of  Civil Procedure,  and Rule  9, Alaska                                                                    
     Rules   of  Administration;   and   providing  for   an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:54:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                     
SB 28.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:55:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF, SENATOR DONNY OLSON, explained the CS. He                                                                     
referred to the Summary of Changes (copy on file):                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Change  1 Clarifies  that an  employer may  file for  a                                                                    
     workplace   violence  protective   order  if   violence                                                                    
     against  the  employer  or  employee  occurred  at  the                                                                    
     workplace or if there is  a threat of violence that may                                                                    
     be  carried  out  at   the  workplace.  This  addresses                                                                    
     concerns  that the  previous version  granted employers                                                                    
     access  to  workplace  violence  protective  orders  in                                                                    
     instances  of  violence   that  were  not  specifically                                                                    
     related to the workplace.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Change 2 Removes  the ability of an employer  to name a                                                                    
     designated employee  on a protective order  and to have                                                                    
     any provisions of the protective  order applied to that                                                                    
     employee. This ensures that  employers are empowered to                                                                    
     file  for  a  workplace violence  protective  order  to                                                                    
     protect their  workplace, but an  employer is  not able                                                                    
     to extend the protections into  the personal life of an                                                                    
     employee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:56:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, supported the CS.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1:57:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CLAIRE LUBKE, STAFF, SENATOR CLAMAN,  stated that she agreed                                                                    
with the changes.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:57:14 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:57:52 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick  MOVED to REPORT  SB 28 from  committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations,  and   attached  fiscal  notes.                                                                    
There being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SB  28 was  REPORTED OUT  of  committee with  one "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation, four "no  recommendations"; three previously                                                                    
zero fiscal notes: FN 4(LAW),  FN 5(DPS), and FN 7(AJS); and                                                                    
three previously  published fiscal impact notes:  FN 2(ADM),                                                                    
FN 3(ADM), and FN 6(DPS).                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
1:58:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 1:58 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 28 CS in SFin summary of changes version Y 4-25-24.pdf SFIN 4/25/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 28
SB 28 work draft version Y.pdf SFIN 4/25/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 28
SB 84 CS in SFin summary of changes version U 4-25-24.pdf SFIN 4/25/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 84
SB 84 work draft version U.pdf SFIN 4/25/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 84