SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS introduced SB 255 (STATE POLICY ON HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMT) as the next order of business. TAPE 94-6, SIDE B Number 001 DEBRA CALL, Chairman of the Alaska Job Training Council, stated their support for SB 255. She pointed out that there is a nationwide movement to establish comprehensive policies of human resources elements, and the Council believes this particular policy needs to start with the State of Alaska as it begins to address the budget concerns within the state. Number 012 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS directed attention to some suggested changes to language in the bill that have been submitted by the Alaska Job Training Council. Number 015 SENATOR ADAMS commented that the Governor promised a thousand jobs in rural Alaska and that he has not kept up with that particular promise. He expressed his hope that through this bill the Legislature will try to find ways in making people in rural Alaska a productive work force. He then asked why the Department of Fish and Game is not included in the list of departments that will plan and implement programs to better achieve the state's primary goal. MS. CALL replied that they weren't aware that Fish and Game had any training or employment programs. Number 030 SENATOR TAYLOR asked what the bill does other than renders a report every two years to the Legislature. MS. CALL answered that they are trying to develop a human resource policy for the state, and one of things SB 255 does is to see where certain programs can be combined, or to know exactly which programs may be duplicative of another program, and to develop a comprehensive policy for the state. She said she would like to see the state programs working together more to supply qualified skilled workers for major employers in the State of Alaska. Number 075 SENATOR TAYLOR asked if anyone can show him how by passing this legislation the educational community, especially those involved in vocational education, will somehow be better prepared by this bill. MS. CALL answered that there are many programs within the state, but part of the problem is that there are different goals for different educational programs, especially between urban and rural areas. In rural areas the programs need a simple focus which is to get people ready and skilled for economic opportunities that could happen in their village like mining, petroleum, retail business, etc. Number 125 SENATOR LEMAN said the language in subsection(e) on page 2, lines 17 - 18 could be strengthened to do more than "provide the avenue", by "requiring" the transition from welfare to employment. MS. CALL supported his statement. Number 160 BRUCE GERAGHTY, Department of Community and Regional Affairs, said he supports this bill. SENATOR TAYLOR asked how much money was being spent on these programs. MR. GERAGHTY said they do a good job of coordinating. Job Training Council does a two-year plan which affects a number of departments. Specifics on the federal legislation side of things make it so complex to have one entity, at this point, directing federal dollars into the state programs. Meeting all of their requirements becomes rather cumbersome and almost frightening. MR. GERAGHTY informed the Committee that they tried to draft legislation last year that would consolidate everything. There are about 8 pieces of federal legislation, one of which is 400 - 500 pages long. He said this bill establishes a policy that will basically be the umbrella so they can eliminate some of the problems of interpretation between the various coordination departments. It's premature at this point to bring them all together under one roof. Number 180 SENATOR PHILLIPS reiterated the question of why was ADF&G omitted from the list of state agencies. MR. GERAGHTY answered that perhaps the reason was that the departments listed have on-going training in transition programs that prepare people for the work force. ADF&G might have training programs for their employees which is different. SENATOR PHILLIPS thanked everyone for their participation and adjourned the meeting at 10:07 a.m.