SB 159-TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT PROG: CONTRIBUTIONS                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:28:48 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN announced  the consideration  of  SENATE BILL  NO.                                                              
159 "An  Act increasing contributions  to the Department  of Labor                                                              
and Workforce  Development for the  State Training  and Employment                                                              
Program."                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:29:20 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator  Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska, provided  a brief  recap of  SB 159.                                                              
He   said  the   bill  proposes   increasing   the  STEP   program                                                              
contribution  from  0.1 percent  to  0.2 percent  of  unemployment                                                              
insurance  payments,  reflecting  demonstrated funding  needs  and                                                              
was  requested   by  the   Department  of   Labor  and   Workforce                                                              
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:30:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:30:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK  moved to report  SB 159, work order  34-LS0615\A,                                                              
from  committee  with  individual   recommendations  and  attached                                                              
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:30:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no  objection and SB  159 was reported  from                                                              
the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.