HB 89-VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COMMITTEE  4:21:30 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 89, "An Act repealing the governor's committee on employment of people with disabilities; creating the state vocational rehabilitation committee and relating to the committee; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 89 (L&C).] 4:22:28 PM CO-CHAIR HERRON moved to adopt CSHB 89 (L&C) as the work draft. There being no objection, it was so ordered. 4:23:09 PM PAULA SCAVERA, Special Assistant, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), said that HB 89 would bring compliance with federal law. 4:23:18 PM CHERYL WALSH, Director, Statewide Programs, Division Of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DLWD), explained that the state vocational rehabilitation committee would function as the state rehabilitation council and the assistive technology advisory committee, both of which were required by federal law. She explained that the bill also addressed the appointment, the number, the term, and the composition of the committee members. She shared that the committee members acted as the voice for the stakeholders in the public rehabilitation program. She relayed that the primary purpose of the bill was to bring the current statutes into compliance with federal law. 4:27:05 PM MS. WALSH opined that the committee would provide an external point of view to assess the needs of Alaskans with disabilities, survey customer satisfaction and allow for public comment, review and make recommendations for the policies and procedures, develop the state rehabilitation plan, and keep the program consumer focused. 4:28:35 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER asked about the concern with tying this to federal regulation. 4:29:27 PM MS. WALSH, in response to Co-Chair Keller, said that the role of the committee was very specific to oversight of the public program and the assistive technology program. 4:29:56 PM MS. SCAVERA noted that, when it was introduced three years ago, the language had been changed at the request of the legislature to include "as prescribed by the [federal regulations]." 4:30:42 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER commented that the federal regulations specified the board composition, and he asked if this was too restrictive. 4:31:41 PM MS. WALSH said that it allowed business, labor, and industry. 4:32:23 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER shared his experience with a tour of a rehabilitation center in Minnesota. 4:33:08 PM MS. SCAVERA noted that DLWD had a broad interpretation for business, to include all sizes. 4:33:45 PM JOHN CANNON shared that he served on the Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People With Disabilities. He noted that he had worked in the disabilities field in Alaska since 1981. He spoke in support of HB 89. He explained that a purpose of the committee was to maximize employment for Alaskans with disabilities. He emphasized that there was not a fiscal note attached to the bill. He pointed out that the proposed name change would reduce any confusion with a separate governor's council of similar name. He shared that the Committee had reviewed and discussed HB 89 and were unanimously in support. 4:38:07 PM PAMELA STRATTON, Director, Client Assistance Program, Governor's Committee on Employment and Rehabilitation of People With Disabilities, offered her support of HB 89, in order to be in compliance with federal regulation. 4:40:01 PM CO-CHAIR KELLER announced that HB 89 was going to be held over.