HB 88-WAREHOUSE WORK QUOTAS  1:39:53 PM CHAIR VANCE announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 88, "An Act relating to work quotas for employees at warehouse distribution centers; and providing for an effective date." [Before the committee was CSHB 88(L&C).] 1:40:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor, presented CSHB 88(L&C). He shared the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows: House Bill 88 Warehouse Worker Protection Act is designed to provide transparency for warehouse and logistic workers when they agree to a pay scale based on a quota or production goal. HB 88 is also designed to provide protections for workers against counterproductive methods employers miss the mark on, to speed up production and save on costs. Alaska is one of the most bountiful states in the country with its salmon runs, wild game, and natural resources. The abundance of the state is a blessing but there is still a need for supplies and goods to be imported, stored, and delivered. The workers who manage the logistics of these imports are the unsung heroes of Alaskan food security and supply chain. With over 90% of food coming from outside Alaska, these workers are the lifeline to keep the state operational. Warehouse and logistic workers face many challenges in the workplace, HB 88 will allow workers to focus on delivering goods and maintaining a healthy supply chain while also ensuring they are able to work in a safe environment where employers don't encourage speed over safety. 1:42:11 PM RYAN MCKEE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Rauscher, prime sponsor, presented the sectional analysis for CSHB 88(L&C) [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Sec 1. Amends AS 23.10 by adding new sections Article 9. Work Quotas at Warehouse Distribution centers. Section 23.10.700. - Specifies what types of employers the newly added sections AS 23.10.700-23.10.725 apply to. Specifically, 100 or more employees at a single warehouse distribution center, or 1,000 or more employees at one or more warehouse distribution centers in the state. Section 23.10.705. - Specifies when an employer that is subject to AS 23.10.700 23.10.725 needs to provide a written description of each quota that applies to the employee. It further describes what needs to be included in that written quota description. Section 23.10.710. States what specifically an employer is not allowed to require in order for employees to meet quota expectations. Section 23.10.715. States that a current or former employee may request, orally or in writing a request for a quota description. And specifies what needs to be included in the request as well as a timeline for when an employee will receive the requested description. Section 23.10.720. States that an employee may seek an injunction in the superior court to enjoying an employer violating AS 23.10.700- 23.10.715. Section 23.10.725. Provides definitions for terms listed in the above language. Sec 2. Sets an effective date of January 1st, 2025. CHAIR VANCE opened invited testimony. 1:44:23 PM PATRICK FITZGERALD, Political Coordinator, Alaska Teamsters Union, gave invited testimony during the hearing on CSHB 88(L&C). He stated that the bill would add to statute protections for warehouse and logistic workers to curb predatory practices that come with a quota-based warehouse job. The legislation would allow these employees to access their work speed data, and to advocate for themselves when the quota is changed. He argued that access to the data would allow for more efficient production and would bring solutions to problems regarding retention and turnover; transparency; and better understanding of operations. He urged legislators to protect warehouse workers by passing CSHB 88(L&C). CHAIR VANCE sought questions from committee members. 1:46:25 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRAY questioned the increase from 100 to 200 workers. MR. MCKEE explained that the sponsor wanted to focus on larger warehouse groups and ensure that small businesses were excluded to avoid unintended consequences. 1:47:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD shared an example of a bank employee whose quota was increased. She asked whether the purpose of the bill was to regulate businesses and make them implement these changes to avoid being sued by workers who oppose quota increases. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER said Representative Allard had phrased the bill in a light that did not accurately reflect the bill's intent. He shared a personal anecdote and opined that workers should not need to "drop [dead]" in order to earn a salary because quotas have been raised beyond the expectations expressed at the time of hire. 1:51:15 PM REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD asked why a representative from the union was testifying unless the goal was to unionize. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER contended that the bill resonated with him because of his personal background. He clarified that the goal was not to unionize, adding that, as a legislator, he was trying to do something that would benefit the workers in Alaska. MR. FITZGERALD, in response to Representative Allard, explained that in a quota-based industry, work speed data was already being kept by employers and used to track the efficiency of employees. The bill would simply allow employees to track that data. He clarified that the law would apply to all employees, both union and nonunion, in Alaska. 1:54:58 PM CHAIR VANCE cited the "Right to request a quota description" on page 2 of the bill and asked the bill sponsor to address the impact of the 21-day calendar, [as referenced on lines 23-25]. REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER offered to follow up with the requested information. He reiterated that he was not pushing a union plan with the proposed legislation, just trying to protect workers. 1:57:07 PM REPRESENTATIVE C. JOHNSON shared his understanding that should the bill pass, it was still the employer's ability to change the quota; however, it would allow the employee to know about that change. For that reason, he surmised that the bill was an "employer full disclosure to employees act." In addition, he noted that the fiscal note was incomplete. CHAIR VANCE announced that CSHB 88(L&C) would be held over.