HB 67-DEPT. OF LABOR: TECHNICAL ED. PROGRAMS  8:28:54 AM CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 67, "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and providing for an effective date." CO-CHAIR STORY stated that before the committee considers HB 67, she would first like the committee to better understand the cooperative work that has been underway to support and advance CTE in Alaska. She has therefore invited representatives from the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), and the University of Alaska (UA) to give a description of their role in providing CTE to Alaska. 8:29:39 AM PAUL LAYER, Vice President for Academics, Students and Research, University of Alaska (UA), described the university's role in providing career and technical education in Alaska and how the university interfaces with DEED and DLWD. He pointed out that the University of Alaska is the largest provider of career and technical education in the state and provides those programs for both postsecondary students and the university's dual enrollment programs with kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students. The university works closely with DLWD and DEED through committees, which has been ongoing for a long time. The university values those collaborations with those departments and looks forward to continuing to serve Alaskans through its career and technical education programs. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired about the sort of data that the university works with and provides to DLWD and DEED. MR. LAYER deferred to Ms. Cothren to provide an answer. 8:32:32 AM TERI COTHREN, Project Manager, Workforce Programs, University of Alaska, offered two examples to answer the question about data and how the university works with DEED and DLWD. She said the university works through its institutional research office with DEED annually to report on postsecondary data related to Perkins to meet the federal requirements. The university also works with DLWD annually to report on the technical/vocational education program to meet the requirements for that program and provide that data through an annual report to the legislature. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether this work of data sharing, planning, and coordination is ongoing throughout the year with DEED and DLWD or whether the university sits once a year with the departments to work together. MS. COTHREN replied it is ongoing. She explained there are monthly meetings throughout the year with DLWD Research and Analysis, and an individual from that office is shared with DEED for the Perkins reporting. The meetings are monthly to coordinate efforts. While the examples she mentioned are related to CTE, there are other reporting efforts that come up throughout the year. CO-CHAIR STORY requested Ms. Riddle to describe the role of DEED in providing career and technical education in Alaska and how DEED currently interfaces with its partners at the University of Alaska and DLWD. 8:34:55 AM DEBORAH RIDDLE, Division Operations Manager, Administrator, CTE Program, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), explained that DEED is the main source of the Perkins funds and disseminates those funds to the districts. She said DEED provides guidance and information for the districts to receive and utilize those funds according to the federal requirements. As well, DEED promotes CTE within the state. The department tries to be more than just Perkins and tries to keep its finger on the pulse of what schools are doing. The department helps districts coordinate with the university system to articulate their programs all the way from the beginning to where they can go right into a program at the university. The department has a member who sits on the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) and participates in several of the committees to provide the education perspective to those committee meetings. There is more, but those are the big ones. 8:36:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked how much money the State of Alaska receives in federal Perkins funds. MS. RIDDLE answered that this last year the state received $4.7 million and the preliminary numbers for next year are a little over $5 million. For the prior 25 years it was $4.25 million as Alaska was a minimum allocation state and additional funds have now been put in. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired whether DEED also disseminates State of Alaska funds on that. MS. RIDDLE replied there is a match of $250,000. Responding further, she confirmed it is $5 million plus the $250,000 match. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted there is already a significant amount of ongoing cooperation between DEED, DLWD, and the University of Alaska in relation to the Perkins funds. She recognized HB 67 is not DEED's bill but asked why the bill is necessary. MS. RIDDLE answered DEED feels it is important to collaborate with everyone and it is a requirement of the Act and she believes DEED also has some requirements that way. She said it is important that DEED use the resources and the perspectives of the different entities that work together. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked whether he is correct in understanding that HB 67 does not look at just state agencies, but looks at all CTE that is being provided, whether private or public. 8:38:05 AM GREG CASHEN, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD), replied it is just state funded training programs, not private. CO-CHAIR STORY offered her understanding that the Perkins funding is going to all the districts. She asked whether the primary role played by DEED is helping the districts with their CTE decisions or whether it is the districts' decisions that drive the programs that are developed for secondary, high school, school boards, superintendents, and communities. MS. RIDDLE responded that Perkins sets a guideline, a standard, for a quality CTE program. Not all the courses that are offered in high schools are CTE funded, but most of them follow that same framework for the rigor. The department does provide a lot of guidance and assistance, but it is local control and the districts choose what programs they want. The districts must fulfill requirements in order to receive the Perkins funding. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK drew attention to the proposed new language that would be added by HB 67 in Section 1, paragraph (8), on page 2, lines 9-12. He observed that lines 11-12 state "and any other entities involved in providing or funding the programs." He presumed that "programs" means career and technical education. He asked what the other entities would be. MR. CASHEN offered his belief that it is only looking at state funded programs, but DLWD would also coordinate with private entities and attempt to coordinate what career and technical education programs that private entities provide, although DLWD would not have any oversight of any private training entities. He said he believes that was referenced in the bill's first hearing [4/5/19] before the committee. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated that it helps to know what the intent is. He said he isn't sure the language reflects that intent entirely and therefore is something that needs to be worked on. 8:41:25 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND recalled that during the bill's first hearing it was heard that the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) already has oversight over the private career training programs throughout the state. She offered her belief that that needs to be coordinated with this entire effort to pull in the private piece, so the departments know exactly what is going on in the state in terms of every career and technical education program, whether postsecondary or in a public school. She said she will at some point be proposing an amendment in addition to those recommended by Mr. Layer of the university. All the incredible ongoing efforts in the state absolutely need to be coordinated and she appreciates the effort of the department to un-silo the various efforts and firm those up in the bill. It is unlikely the bill will change what is happening, it just needs to be formalized, and pulling in the ACPE would be a good idea. CO-CHAIR STORY referenced the language on page 2, line 11, of the bill that states, "and any other entities". She asked whether DEED thinks this language means the school districts or whether the school districts are covered under DEED. MS. RIDDLE answered she would say through DEED. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK further observed that lines 11-12 state, "and any other entities involved in providing or funding the programs." He inquired whether donations that take advantage of the state's education tax credits would be considered the "providing or funding" of any of these state programs. MR. CASHEN replied he is unsure and will get back to the committee with an answer. 8:44:08 AM CO-CHAIR STORY requested Mr. Cashen to describe his role and sense of collaboration between the university and DEED. MR. CASHEN explained that his role is with the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB), located in the commissioner's office of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He said AWIB is the lead state planning and coordinating entity for human resource programs in the state and AWIB's role under statute is that it is responsible for the facilitation and development of an effective employment training and education system which aligns workforce, education, and economic development. MR. CASHEN noted that DLWD didn't have a career and technical education coordinator until about 2009. In 2009 AWIB began working with DEED and the university to develop the first statewide career and technical education plan. The plan called for strategies to improve career and technical education and prepare Alaskans with required skills needed for postsecondary training and careers in high growth occupations in Alaska. MR. CASHEN said another role of AWIB is to provide oversight of employment related education training programs operated by the state. The Alaska Workforce Investment Board is required to report annually to the legislature on the performance of these training programs, including Carl Perkins, the state training employment program, as well as workforce innovation opportunity or federal funded programs that the department operates. MR. CASHEN explained that AWIB's role is more of a coordinating entity to get all the different entities together to improve the current technical education in Alaska. The Workforce Investment Board consists of representatives from DEED, University of Alaska, and DLWD, as well as organized labor, other education, postsecondary education, business, and industry. Meetings are on a regular monthly basis and AWIB is involved in Perkins V reauthorization and contributes at meetings every month related to that plan. 8:47:16 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated that Mr. Cashen just described what is included in Section 1, paragraph (8), and therefore it sounds like DLWD, through AWIB, is already doing what is in paragraph (8). She asked where this is enumerated in other statute and why it needs to be said again in HB 67. MR. CASHEN offered his belief that the new requirements of Perkins V, the new state plan, require that DEED consult with the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and create further alignment between the Perkins V plan as well as the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) state plan. Nationwide, states are working to create more synergies between the WIOA state plan and Perkins V. Some states, such as Montana, are submitting a combined state plan that includes both WIOA and Perkins V. Many states are trying to create more alignment between the current technical education system and postsecondary and employment training opportunities. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND surmised the missing piece is the coordination with the Department of Education and Early Development, which it still appears has been ongoing. MR. CASHEN replied correct. Responding further, he said the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal act where the U.S. Department of Labor provides most of the federal funding to the [Alaska] Department of Labor & Workforce Development for job training efforts. 8:49:43 AM REPRESENTATIVE TUCK inquired whether Mr. Cashen's quotes related to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) are in statute. [MR. CASHEN nodded in the affirmative.] REPRESENTATIVE TUCK asked which title in statute is related to the Alaska Workforce Investment Board. MR. CASHEN responded that it is Alaska Statute (AS) 23.15. 8:50:21 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS observed that the bylaws for the Alaska Workforce Investment Board are in AS 23.15.550 and that DEED and DLWD sit on AWIB. He surmised that the coordination exists in AWIB's quarterly meetings and that the monthly meetings follow up with the different breakout committees. MR. CASHEN replied correct. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS asked whether those are separate meetings from when the university meets to share data, programs, and processes with DLWD. MR. CASHEN answered correct. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS inquired whether the data and analytic person at DLWD is also shared with DEED. MS. RIDDLE replied, "We meet every month ... we have a data person ... we have a data sharing agreement with the University of Alaska, and that's how we get our information." 8:51:50 AM CO-CHAIR STORY offered her appreciation to all the partners and everyone involved in working on this important part of education and workforce development in Alaska. She offered further appreciation for bringing HB 67 forward, stating it is good to take a re-look at this and to hear the partners before the committee today. 8:52:52 AM The meeting was recessed at 8:52 a.m. 9:33:06 AM CO-CHAIR STORY called the meeting back to order. Present at the call back to order were Representatives Hopkins, Tuck, Drummond, and Story. 9:33:31 AM CO-CHAIR STORY drew attention to the 4/8/19 letter from Mr. Layer to Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter of the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), which proposes two amendments to HB 67. She invited Mr. Layer to comment about these two proposed amendments. ["Page 2, Line 10 - Remove the word 'programs'"; and "Page 2, Line 12 - Remove 'providing or funding the programs' and replace with 'career and technical education'"]. MR. LAYER pointed out that the rationale for the amendments regarding use of the word "programs" is stated in the letter. The university develops programs and has that in place. He offered his appreciation for the commissioner's and the department's willingness to entertain those amendments. He emphasized that the university has a great working relationship with the departments regarding CTE programs and the monthly meetings do work to coordinate and to inform each of the groups about where they are with their programs. 9:35:11 AM CO-CHAIR STORY inquired whether the two proposed amendments effectively deal with the issue of monitoring and what that might mean in regulating or guiding what CTE courses are taught in the state. She recalled that in a previous meeting the definition of "monitoring" was discussed and requested Mr. Layer's thoughts on that. MR. LAYER responded that the monitoring is not addressed in the university's comments. He stated that working closely with the department at the meetings and looking at data and doing data analysis has been working very well for the university. That coordination is the most important of that for the university. CO-CHAIR STORY recalled the committee's 4/5/19 hearing on HB 67 at which Commissioner Ledbetter spoke about the need for alignment between jobs and training to ensure that the state is not training more people or less people than the state needs. She requested Mr. Layer's thoughts on how that might work and whether that would impact university training programs. MR. LAYER answered that that has been addressed through the coordination meetings. In working with the [Department of Labor & Workforce Development] the university helps to coordinate an assessment of workforce needs in the state and because the university is part of that conversation the university can quickly develop and expand certain programs to meet those needs. This collaboration with the workforce reporting has worked very well for the university. 9:37:24 AM CO-CHAIR STORY requested that a representative of DEED answer the same question about monitoring, what impact that would have on DEED programs, and what that means to the department. MS. RIDDLE offered her understanding that the intent of HB 67 is just to keep track of what is going on and to help coordinate those efforts. That definition of monitoring works well for DEED should the language need to be changed to reflect the intent of the bill. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK related that he has looked up the function of the Alaska Workforce Investment Board and AWIB's function is to coordinate and plan. He suggested that "coordinate and monitor" be replaced with "coordinate and plan" because he believes that planning is what is wanted -- the ability to plan any type of career and technical education by looking at the Department of Education and Early Development, the University of Alaska, and other career and technical entities. He recalled from the bill's first hearing that "monitor" is the ability to audit, and he doesn't believe that that is the intention. 9:39:19 AM CO-CHAIR STORY invited DLWD to make any further comments. MR. CASHEN stated his department doesn't have any additional testimony and is open to some of the recommendations to modify the language to improve the comfort level of the committee and university and other entities. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND noted there is likely not enough time to move HB 67 beyond this committee this session, but there would be time next session. She said the committee has ideas on what needs to be done in terms of amending the bill. She inquired whether it would create problems for DLWD if HB 67 didn't pass. MR. CASHEN replied he doesn't believe so. He said DLWD will continue working with DEED, the University of Alaska, and other training providers statewide to promote career and technical education, provide efficiencies, and prepare Alaskans for the available employment opportunities in the future. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND commented that it is clear the cooperation is ongoing, and she congratulates the department on that. REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS stated he thinks the entire bill would be problem solved if the commissioner of DLWD was elected as chair of AWIB because AWIB's bylaws state that the board shall act as the lead state planning and coordinating entity for state workforce investment programs including, but not limited to, all state laws involving employment training, career, and technical education workforce development. 9:42:31 AM CO-CHAIR STORY said she would like to hear Representative Tuck's proposed amendment so it would be out there to discuss. REPRESENTATIVE TUCK stated he is concerned about the term "monitor" because that could mean getting into people's business and he doesn't believe that that is DLWD's intent. Further, the University of Alaska is concerned about the term as well. He offered his belief that DLWD's intent is to see what is going on and then make necessary adjustments to ensure that workforce needs are being met. Given that the statutes for AWIB use the terms "planning and coordinating," he suggested the following: on page 2, line 9, of the bill, replace the word "monitor" with "plan" and after the word "state" insert "provided"; on page 2, line 10, delete "programs"; and on page 2, line 12, delete "providing or funding the programs" and insert "career and technical education." REPRESENTATIVE TUCK posited that his proposed amending language would allow DLWD to coordinate and plan future needs in career and technical education by looking at DEED, the University of Alaska, and other entities to see what is going on in the state. With his proposed amending language, page 2, lines 9-12, would read as follows: "coordinate and plan state provided career and technical education through a cooperative effort with the Department of Education and Early Development, the University of Alaska, and other entities involved in career and technical education." 9:44:47 AM CO-CHAIR STORY stated she welcomes any comments to the committee on Representative Tuck's proposed amendment. She said it's clear that career and technical education is important to the state. She thanked the partners for bringing forth the bill. [CO-CHAIR STORY held over HB 67.]