Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

03/17/2020 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

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Audio Topic
01:33:53 PM Start
01:34:49 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
01:46:43 PM SB173
01:48:30 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Consideration of Governor's Appointees: TELECONFERENCED
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
- Dana Walukiewicz
- Rex Leath
Real Estate Commission
- Samuel Goldman
+= SB 173 LICENSE MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDICS TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 173 Out of Committee
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                         March 17, 2020                                                                                         
                           1:33 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair                                                                                                
Senator Mia Costello (via teleconference)                                                                                       
Senator Joshua Revak                                                                                                            
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board                                                                                              
Dana Walukiewicz - Anchorage                                                                                                    
Rex Leath - Wasilla                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 173                                                                                                             
"An Act  relating to mobile  intensive care  paramedics; relating                                                               
to  duties of  the  State  Medical Board  and  the Department  of                                                               
Health  and  Social  Services; and  providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SB 173 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 173                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: LICENSE MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDICS                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) REVAK                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/03/20       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/03/20       (S)       HSS, L&C                                                                                               
02/17/20       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/17/20       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/17/20       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/26/20       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/26/20       (S)       Moved SB 173 Out of Committee                                                                          
02/26/20       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/28/20       (S)       HSS RPT 2DP 3NR                                                                                        
02/28/20       (S)       DP: WILSON, VON IMHOF                                                                                  
02/28/20       (S)       NR: BEGICH, GIESSEL, SHOWER                                                                            
03/12/20       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
03/12/20       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/12/20       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/17/20       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DANA WALUKIEWICZ, Appointee                                                                                                     
Alcohol Beverage Control Board                                                                                                  
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  as   appointee  to  the  Alcohol                                                             
Beverage Control Board.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REX LEATH, Appointee                                                                                                            
Alcohol Beverage Control Board                                                                                                  
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:  Testified  as   appointee  to  the  Alcohol                                                             
Beverage Control Board.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:33:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the  Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                             
Committee meeting to order at 1:33  p.m. Present at call to order                                                               
were  Senators Revak,  Gray-Jackson, Stevens,  and Chair  Bishop.                                                               
Senator Costello listened in via teleconference.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                        
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                 
                Alcoholic Beverage Control Board                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:34:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BISHOP announced  the  first order  of  business would  be                                                               
consideration of  governor appointees to boards  and commissions.                                                               
He asked  each appointee to  place their name and  affiliation on                                                               
the record,  give a  brief introduction,  and discuss  the reason                                                               
they want  to serve on the  board or commission. He  advised that                                                               
public  testimony  would  be  taken  after  all  appointees  have                                                               
testified and the  names would be forwarded to the  full body for                                                               
consideration.  This  hearing was  not  a  recommendation on  any                                                               
subsequent vote.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:35:37 PM                                                                                                                    
DANA  WALUKIEWICZ,  Appointee,  Alcohol Beverage  Control  Board,                                                               
Department  of  Commerce,   Community  and  Economic  Development                                                               
(DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska,  stated he has been  appointed as the                                                               
industry representative to  the board. He said that  he began his                                                               
involvement in the alcohol industry 10  years ago when he and his                                                               
business partner started King Street  Brewing Company. During the                                                               
first eight years  of operation they learned the  trade while the                                                               
company  distributed their  products  to  essentially every  bar,                                                               
restaurant,  and package  store  in the  greater Anchorage  area.                                                               
This  allowed  them  to  observe  many  operations  and  see  how                                                               
licensees provide service to the public.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He said  he has gained  a real  appreciation for the  effort that                                                               
hard-working people in this industry  put forth every single day.                                                               
He  discussed how  his business  has grown  from a  small brewing                                                               
operation  pieced together  from  personal savings  to opening  a                                                               
$6.5 million facility  in South Anchorage backed by  a U.S. Small                                                               
Business Administration  loan in  2018. It  is designed  to house                                                               
the  business for  the  next 40  years and  has  allowed them  to                                                               
double  production  and  serve the  entire  state  through  their                                                               
distributor  partner  while  increasing  work  opportunities  for                                                               
current and new  employees. As a way of giving  back to the local                                                               
community,  he  and  his partner  support  local  nonprofits  and                                                               
charitable  groups through  sponsorship of  events and  festivals                                                               
and   donating  merchandise   and  space   at  the   brewery  for                                                               
fundraising activities.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HMR. WALUKIEWICZ said he is proud  to be part of an industry that                                                               
represents Alaska  through shared development of  the hospitality                                                               
and tourism industry.  In 2019, his company was  granted a winery                                                               
license, which  he and  his partner pursued  to produce  cider, a                                                               
gluten free  alternative to beer.  As a  multiple license-holder,                                                               
he  understands the  complexities of  navigating federal,  state,                                                               
and municipal regulations. He has  gained a keen understanding of                                                               
the investment of time, money,  and resources it takes to develop                                                               
a business in Alaska. As a  board member he would work to support                                                               
those  who seek  to develop  responsible businesses  that respect                                                               
the process  and operate within  the intent  of the laws  so that                                                               
these businesses  have the same  opportunity to benefit  and grow                                                               
in Alaska  as his  business HAS  had. He said  that he  will work                                                               
with the  board and the  Alcohol and Marijuana Control  Office to                                                               
ensure that  noncompliant operators  correct deficiencies  or are                                                               
suspended. He  offered his view  that bad operators not  only can                                                               
create risks  to the health and  public safety of Alaska  but can                                                               
tarnish the  reputation of the  entire industry. He  committed to                                                               
work hard  to ensure  that the  industry operates  in a  safe and                                                               
healthy manner  for all Alaskans. He  said that he is  honored to                                                               
be asked to serve the state  in this capacity. He thanked members                                                               
for their consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:40:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS said  he  was impressed  with  his education  at                                                               
Georgetown University.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:41:19 PM                                                                                                                    
REX LEATH, Appointee, Alcohol  Beverage Control Board, Department                                                               
of   Commerce,  Community   and  Economic   Development  (DCCED),                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  stated that he  worked with the  Alaska State                                                               
Troopers for  just over  21 years  and has  attained the  rank of                                                               
captain.  He said  that  he has  lived in  both  urban and  rural                                                               
communities, has worked  as an investigator in  the Alaska Bureau                                                               
of Alcohol and Drug Enforcement,  and as the deputy commander for                                                               
the Statewide  Drug Enforcement Unit. That  entity is responsible                                                               
for alcohol  related crimes  in addition  to drug  enforcement as                                                               
they apply to Title 4.  He said that those investigations involve                                                               
working with  the alcohol industry, urban  and rural communities,                                                               
and the general public.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He said  he has  gained a strong  understanding of  the processes                                                               
between  the  public,  the  industry,   and  government.  He  has                                                               
experience negotiating the successful  coexistence of those three                                                               
entities while  maintaining public safety. He  offered his belief                                                               
that the industry and the  public can responsibly and safely work                                                               
together to comply  with Title 4. Further,  keeping public safety                                                               
in the  forefront will ensure  that the best results  will occur.                                                               
He has  served one term  on the board and  would like to  serve a                                                               
second  term.  He  has  a  large family  in  the  state,  and  he                                                               
volunteers  in his  church and  nonprofit  organizations to  help                                                               
individuals who  suffer from alcohol  problems. At  times alcohol                                                               
can be a negative and  cause problems that many rural communities                                                               
face  that  involve  but  when  properly  regulated  the  alcohol                                                               
industry can be successful, he said.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP thanked him for his continued service.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:44:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COSTELLO said that she  was listening online, but did not                                                               
have any questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:45:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BISHOP  stated that  in accordance  with AS  39.05.080, the                                                               
Senate  Labor  and  Commerce   Standing  Committee  reviewed  the                                                               
following  and  recommends the  appointments  be  forwarded to  a                                                               
joint session for consideration:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board                                                                                              
Dana Walukiewicz - Anchorage                                                                                                    
Rex Leath - Wasilla                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Signing  the   reports  regarding  appointments  to   boards  and                                                               
commissions in  no way reflects  individual members'  approval or                                                               
disapproval  of  the  appointees;   the  nominations  are  merely                                                               
forwarded to the full legislature for confirmation or rejection.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:45:27 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
        SB 173-LICENSE MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE PARAMEDICS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:46:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   BISHOP  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration of SENATE BILL NO.  173, "An Act relating to mobile                                                               
intensive  care  paramedics;  relating  to duties  of  the  State                                                               
Medical Board and  the Department of Health  and Social Services;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that this was  the second hearing and  public testimony                                                               
was heard and closed on 3/12/20.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:47:11 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  REVAK  expressed  appreciation   to  the  committee  for                                                               
hearing the  bill and  everyone who  worked to  bring it  to this                                                               
point. It has been a long time coming, he said.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   BISHOP  said   the   testimony   and  presentation   were                                                               
compelling.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:47:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS moved  to report SB 173,  work order 31-LS1365\M,                                                               
from  committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and  SB 173 was reported from the                                                               
Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:48:30 PM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Bishop adjourned Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                                       
Committee meeting at 1:48 p.m.                                                                                                  

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
L&C Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Leath #1.pdf SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
confirmations
L&C Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Walukiewick #1.pdf SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
confirmations
SB 173 Sponsor Statement.pdf SHSS 2/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/26/2020 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB 173 Sectional Analysis.pdf SHSS 2/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/26/2020 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB 173 Fiscal Note DHSS Public Health 2.13.20.pdf SHSS 2/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 173
SB 173 Fiscal Note DCCED CBPL 2.10.20.pdf SHSS 2/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SHSS 2/26/2020 1:30:00 PM
SL&C 3/17/2020 1:30:00 PM
SB 173