Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/25/2020 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB81 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
February 25, 2020
1:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Joshua Revak
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mia Costello
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)
Board of Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors
Jeffrey Garness - Anchorage
Robert Bell - Anchorage
Eric Milliken - Anchorage
Loren Leman - Anchorage
- CONFIRMATIONS ADVANCED
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Marilyn Charles - Emmonak
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Pharmacy
Richard Holt - Eagle River
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
William Barnes - Palmer
- CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
SENATE BILL NO. 81
"An Act relating to electric and telephone cooperatives; and
relating to telephone service and related telecommunications
services."
- MOVED CSSB 81(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 81
SHORT TITLE: TELEPHONE COOPERATIVES; TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) HUGHES
03/06/19 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/06/19 (S) L&C
02/11/20 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/11/20 (S) Heard & Held
02/11/20 (S) MINUTE (L&C)
02/25/20 (S) L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
JEFFREY GARNESS, Appointee
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land
Surveyors
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the State Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors.
BOB BELL, Appointee
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land
Surveyors
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the State Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors.
ERIC MILLIKEN, Appointee
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land
Surveyors
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the State Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors.
LOREN LEMAN, Appointee
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land
Surveyors
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the State Board of
Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors.
MARILYN CHARLES, Appointee
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Division of Workers' Compensation
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD)
Emmonak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Fishermen's
Fund Advisory and Appeals Council.
RICHARD HOLT, Appointee
Board of Pharmacy
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Eagle River, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Pharmacy.
WILLIAM BARNES, Appointee
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Palmer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as appointee to the Board of
Certified Real Estate Appraisers.
CODY GRUSENSDORF, Staff
Senator Click Bishop
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed the changes from Version M to
Version S of SB 81.
BUDDY WHITT, Staff
Senator Shelley Hughes
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Stated that the sponsor was amenable to the
changes in CSSB 81, Version S.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:32:58 PM
CHAIR CLICK BISHOP called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Present at call to order
were Senators Revak, Stevens, Gray-Jackson, and Chair Bishop.
^Confirmation Hearing(s)
Confirmation Hearing(s)
State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers & Land
Surveyors
Fishermen's Fund Advisory & Appeals Council
Board of Pharmacy
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
1:33:45 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced the first order of business would be
consideration of governor appointees. 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. The hearing was
not a recommendation on any subsequent vote.
1:35:28 PM
JEFFREY GARNESS, Appointee, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage,
Alaska, stated that he has been an Alaska resident since 1969,
he graduated from UAA with a bachelor's degree in engineering
and master's degree in Arctic engineering, and he has been in
practice for 30 years. He recounted his experience serving on
both state and municipal boards and assured the committee that
he was ready, able, and willing to serve.
CHAIR BISHOP commented on his impressive resume and noted that
he had been chief of maintenance at Fort Richardson.
MR. GARNESS agreed and added that prior to that he worked at
what used to be the 21st Civil Engineering Squadron.
CHAIR BISHOP noted that his resume reflects his work throughout
Alaska applying his engineering skills.
CHAIR BISHOP asked Mr. Bell to provide testimony and advised
that the Vice Chair may have a comment on his military service.
1:37:56 PM
BOB BELL, Appointee, State Board of Registration for Architects,
Engineers & Land Surveyors, Division of Corporations, Business
and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage, Alaska, began his
testimony by chronicling his military service where he was able
to use his skills as a recent engineering graduate. His
experience in Vietnam, in particular, gave his career a head
start that would have been difficult to achieve in the private
sector. In 1969 he moved to Alaska to work for an engineering
firm doing projects across the state. He related that he started
his own business in 1974 and since then has worked with most of
the architectural engineering firms throughout the state. He
opined that 50 years of practice and 49 years of practice as a
land surveyor provides a lot of experience to draw on for issues
that will come before the board.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON commented that she was happy to see his
reappointment. She related that Mr. Bell was one of the 42
members she worked with when she was staff to the Anchorage
Assembly.
1:41:47 PM
SENATOR STEVENS thanked him for his service to the country and
state and noted that they served in the Army at the same time.
CHAIR BISHOP asked if he oversaw some civil projects with
private contractors while he was in Vietnam.
MR. BELL answered yes, but the majority of the projects were in
house.
1:43:45 PM
ERIC MILLIKEN, Appointee, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage,
Alaska, stated that he works throughout the state as the program
director at Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RURALCAL). He
has lived and worked in Alaska for nine years and considers it
home. He offered his belief that infrastructure development and
access will be a core component of building a future Alaska,
particularly in the rural areas. He pointed out that the
continued expansion of broadband infrastructure and basic water
and sewer services has been transformational in rural
communities. Clearly, the technical professionals that survey
the land, design homes, and build out community infrastructure
are important to the future of the state. He said he became
interested in serving as the public member on this board when he
learned that the average age of land surveyors in Alaska is 50
something. He said that with one percent of the land in the
state in private ownership, he wondered if the lack of capacity
of land surveyors contributes to the slow disposition of state-
owned land to the public. He offered his belief that his
peripheral contact with the profession and bachelor's degree in
economics from UAA and continuing business education enhance his
ability to think critically about public protections and
commonsense regulations from the consumer perspective. This
experience may add value as the board looks at streamlining
regulations.
CHAIR BISHOP expressed appreciation for his resume and interest
in his Youth Conservation Corps work.
MR. MILLIKEN replied the YCC is a great opportunity for young
people and he would be happy to talk offline about it any time.
1:46:36 PM
LOREN LEMAN, Appointee, State Board of Registration for
Architects, Engineers & Land Surveyors, Division of
Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Anchorage,
Alaska, stated that he has lived in Alaska since 1950 and has
practiced as a civil environmental engineer for 46 years. He
entered the profession in the first wave of young engineers
hired to solve wastewater challenges when the Clean Water Act
amendments passed in 1972. He reported that he has worked on
wastewater projects across Alaska and believes it has been a
great opportunity. His interest in serving on the board was
based on the Governor's request to serve and help address
challenges in Alaska. He recounted his involvement in boards and
commissions and community service activities relating to the
engineering profession, including a collaborative effort with
the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) education in the younger grades.
He brings that background and his legislative experience to the
board. He opined that he can also be an example for another
engineer who may want to serve in elective or appointed office.
1:51:12 PM
SENATOR STEVENS quipped about retirement.
MR. LEMAN responded that he is only semi-retired because he
still has clients who want his services.
CHAIR BISHOP thanked him for his service.
1:53:09 PM
MARILYN CHARLES, Appointee, Fishermen's Fund Advisory and
Appeals Council, Division of Workers' Compensation, Department
of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), Emmonak, Alaska,
stated that she grew up on the Yukon Delta and fished until she
was old enough to work for two different subsidiaries of the
Community Development Quota (CDQ) Program for the Yukon Delta
Fisheries Development Association. Her work experience includes
protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance work for land and
river. She was asked to serve because "it's right up my ally."
Her personal reason for wanting to serve is to show her children
it is possible to be successful regardless of impediments. She
has served for several months and is eager to continue.
CHAIR BISHOP commented that he spent a little time in "Emmo" in
the 1970s.
1:55:39 PM
RICHARD HOLT, Appointee, Board of Pharmacy, Department of
Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Eagle
River, Alaska, stated that he is the current chair of the board
and is a licensed pharmacist in New York, Alaska, and Florida.
He has lived in Alaska for about nine years and has served on
the board for four years. He expressed his desire to keep
serving as chair of the board in order to continue to advance
the practice of pharmacy in Alaska.
CHAIR BISHOP thanked him for his testimony.
1:57:27 PM
WILLIAM BARNES, Appointee, Board of Certified Real Estate
Appraisers, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional
Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic
Development (DCCED), Palmer, Alaska, stated that he moved to
Alaska two months after he graduated from Colorado State
University in 1974, worked on the Trans Alaska Pipeline System
(TAPS) for 2.5 years, and started his real estate appraisal
career in Juneau in 1978. The current chair asked him to apply
for this position and he has been serving since August. He
reported that he has been volunteering his appraisal skills for
the last 10 years and has found it rewarding.
1:59:43 PM
At ease
1:59:53 PM
CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting and stated the following:
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:
State Board of Regents for Architects, Engineers and Land
Surveyors
Robert Bell - Anchorage
Jeffrey Garness - Anchorage
Eric Milliken - Anchorage
Loren Leman - Anchorage
Fishermen's Fund Advisory and Appeals Council
Marilyn Charles - Emmonak
Board of Certified Real Estate Appraisers
William Barnes - Palmer
Board of Pharmacy
Richard Holt - Eagle River
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.
2:00:34 PM
At ease
SB 81-TELEPHONE COOPERATIVES; TELECOMMUNICATIONS
2:02:23 PM
CHAIR BISHOP reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 81, "An Act relating to
electric and telephone cooperatives; and relating to telephone
service and related telecommunications services."
He stated that this is the second hearing, there is a proposed
committee substitute, and the committee received an updated zero
fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED).
2:02:49 PM
He found no one in the room or online who wished to testify and
closed public testimony on SB 81.
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
(CS) for SB 81, work order 31-LS0379\S, as the working document.
2:03:09 PM
CHAIR BISHOP objected for an explanation of the changes.
2:03:14 PM
CODY GRUSENSDORF, Staff, Senator Click Bishop, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the following changes from
Version M to Version S for SB 81:
Section 8, page 4, lines 18-20: AS 10.25.090(a), adds
"another means of communication that ensures all
members participating can hear each other during the
meeting."
Section 10, page 5, line 7: AS 10.25.100 changes "if"
to "when" at the advice of the revisor.
Section 13, page 5, lines 29-31: AS 10.25.175(a) adds
"another means of communication that ensures all
participating directors can hear each other during the
meeting."
Section 14, page 6, lines 14-15: AS 10.25.175(c)(5)
changes the scope [of executive session] to "matters
that would have an adverse effect on the ability of
the cooperative to compete in the market served by the
cooperative."
2:04:13 PM
CHAIR BISHOP asked Mr. Whitt whether the sponsor was amenable to
the changes.
2:04:31 PM
BUDDY WHITT, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, answered yes; the sponsor agrees to
the changes in SB 81 that Mr. Grussendorf described.
2:04:52 PM
CHAIR BISHOP removed his objection. Finding no further
objection, he stated that Version S was adopted. He reviewed the
zero fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED); Allocation: Corporations, Business
and Professional Licensing; OMB Component Number 2360.
Finding no questions, he solicited a motion.
2:05:41 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the CS for SB 81, work order 31-
LS0379\S, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached zero fiscal note(s).
2:05:58 PM
CHAIR BISHOP found no objection and CSSB 81(L&C) was reported
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
2:06:26 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Bishop adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 2:06 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| L&C Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Bell #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Real Estate Appraisers Barnes #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Garness #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Pharmacy Board Holt #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Leman #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors Milliken #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| L&C Fishermans Fund Advisory and Appeals Charles #1.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
Confirmations |
| SB 81 Draft Committee Substitute Ver. S.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 81 Explaination of Changes M to S.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 81 |
| SB 81 UPDATED DRAFT Fiscal Note DCCED-CBPL-02-21-2020.pdf |
SL&C 2/25/2020 1:30:00 PM |
SB 81 |