ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
March 20, 2024
3:18 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jesse Sumner, Chair
Representative Justin Ruffridge, Vice Chair
Representative Mike Prax
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Stanley Wright
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Zack Fields
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 203
"An Act relating to wage payments."
- MOVED HB 203 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 290
"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."
- MOVED HB 290 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 285
"An Act relating to insurance; relating to mammograms; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 285 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 218
"An Act relating to coverage for disability from diseases for
certain firefighters; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 55
"An Act relating to allocations of funding for the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board; and providing for an effective
date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 147(L&C)
"An Act relating to reemployment rights and benefits; and
providing for an effective date."
- BILL HEARING RESCHEDULED TO 3/22/24
HOUSE BILL NO. 150
"An Act relating to residential building codes; relating to
construction contractors and residential contractor
endorsements; and providing for an effective date."
- SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 203
SHORT TITLE: PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SUMNER
05/16/23 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/16/23 (H) L&C
01/26/24 (H) BILL REPRINTED
02/09/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/09/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/16/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/16/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/23/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/23/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
02/28/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/28/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/01/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/01/24 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
03/04/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/04/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/11/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/11/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/11/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/18/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/18/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/20/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 290
SHORT TITLE: CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
01/24/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/24 (H) L&C, FIN
02/19/24 (H) L&C AT 4:15 PM BARNES 124
02/19/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/21/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/21/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/26/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/26/24 (H) Heard & Held
02/26/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/04/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/04/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/20/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 285
SHORT TITLE: MAMMOGRAMS: INSURANCE COVERAGE
SPONSOR(s): FIELDS
01/22/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/24 (H) HSS, FIN
01/29/24 (H) L&C REFERRAL ADDED AFTER HSS
01/29/24 (H) BILL REPRINTED
02/14/24 (H) HSS REFERRAL MOVED TO AFTER L&C
02/21/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/21/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
02/28/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/28/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/04/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/04/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/04/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/13/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/13/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/13/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/20/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
BILL: HB 218
SHORT TITLE: FIREFIGHTER WORKERS COMP REQUIREMENTS
SPONSOR(s): SADDLER
01/16/24 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24
01/16/24 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/24 (H) L&C
02/28/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
02/28/24 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/01/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
03/01/24 (H) Heard & Held
03/01/24 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
03/20/24 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN DELLACROCE, Former Assistant Chief
Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department
Chugiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave testimony on HB 218.
ADONIS BUZARD, Staff
Representative Dan Saddler
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: On behalf of Representative Saddler, prime
sponsor, answered committee member's questions on HB 218.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:18:37 PM
CHAIR JESSE SUMNER called the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:18 p.m. Representatives Prax,
Ruffridge, Saddler, Wright, Carrick, Fields, and Sumner were
present at the call to order.
HB 203-PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT
3:19:29 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 203, "An Act relating to wage payments."
3:19:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 203 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 203 was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
HB 290-CERT. OF FITNESS: PLUMBERS/ELECTRICIANS
3:20:02 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HB 290 HOUSE BILL NO. 290, "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."
3:20:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 290 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 290 was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
HB 285-MAMMOGRAMS: INSURANCE COVERAGE
3:20:33 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the next order of business would be
HB 285 HOUSE BILL NO. 285, "An Act relating to insurance;
relating to mammograms; and providing for an effective date."
3:20:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 285 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 285 was reported out of the
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.
HB 218-FIREFIGHTER WORKERS COMP REQUIREMENTS
3:21:05 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the final order of business would be
HB 218 HOUSE BILL NO. 218, "An Act relating to coverage for
disability from diseases for certain firefighters; and providing
for an effective date."
3:21:15 PM
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 218.
3:21:3 PM
JOHN DELLACROCE, Former Assistant Chief, Chugiak Volunteer Fire
Department, gave testimony on HB 218. He said that HB 218 would
affect all fire departments in Alaska. He said reducing the
current requirement for benefits from seven years to three years
would improve retention. He concluded his testimony by adding
that reducing the number of medical exams to one upon entry and
one every five years would be more palatable for small
departments with financial constraints.
3:23:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked Mr. Dellacroce if he has checked his
specific city's policy on workers' compensation to see if the
city would sell the fire department an insurance policy, if [Mr.
Dellarcore] were self-insured.
MR. DELLACROCE answered that his fire department has not checked
with its provider regarding insurance premiums.
3:23:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked for clarification relating to the
language change on page 2, line 16, asking the difference
between becoming a firefighter and becoming a certified fire
fighter.
3:24:50 PM
CHAIR SUMNER, after ascertaining there was no one else who
wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 218.
3:24:56 PM
ADONIS BUZARD, Staff, Representative Dan Saddler, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Saddler, prime sponsor
of HB 218, said he did not have an answer to Representative
Field's question at this time and would follow up later.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he likes the language that reduces
required exams but asked for more explanation regarding the
frequency of exams proposed in the bill.
3:26:35 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said the intent of HB 218 is to provide
more flexibility so that coverage and workers' compensation
aren't lost because of a time requirement.
3:26:58 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX said he would like to hear from insurance
carriers about the financial risk for their companies. He said
that if a carrier cannot determine the risk, it could refuse to
provide coverage. He asked if it is known how HB 218 would
affect coverage.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered that the risk doesn't change,
and he said he could confirm with insurance companies about the
question of coverage.
3:28:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE gave his understanding of
Representative Prax' question that he is speaking not of the
risk to the fire fighter but the risk to the insurance company
and whether it would have to pay out benefits more frequently if
HB 218 were to become law.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX confirmed that's correct.
3:29:31 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said he would follow up with
Representative Fields about the current credentialing
organizations and processes.
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked Representative Saddler if someone
would be delayed in working as a firefighter if they haven't yet
become certified.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER responded that while there might be a gap
between certification and employment, the examinations are
spaced out accordingly to the certification programs.
[HB 218 was held over.]
3:31:13 PM
ADJOURNMENT
The House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee was recessed at
3:31 p.m. to a call of the chair. [The meeting never
reconvened.]