CHAIRMAN RIEGER introduced  SB 255  (STATE POLICY ON HUMAN RESOURCE           
 DEVELOPMT) as the next order of business before the committee.  He            
 noted the request for an amendment from Senator Randy Phillips.               
                                                                               
 SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG, staff to Senator Randy Phillips, stated that               
 SB 255 was introduced on behalf of the Alaska Joint Training                  
 Council.  She urged passage of SB 255.  The proposed amendment was            
 passed by the Alaska Joint Training Council at their last meeting             
 in order to assure the departments coordination of education and              
 training programs.  She offered to answer any questions.                      
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER moved Senator Randy Phillips amendment, Amendment             
 1, for discussion purposes.                                                   
                                                                               
  AMENDMENT 1                                                                
                                                                               
 Page 3, line 5:                                                               
  Insert a new subsection to read:                                             
  "(h) The legislative auditor shall conduct a performance audit               
  of the implementation of the policy provided in this section                 
  during fiscal year 1998 and every four years thereafter."                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS asked if the Alaska Job Training Council was the                
 overall pick for the state under JTPA.  SHIRLEY ARMSTRONG said yes            
 and noted membership from the state, various industries, all the              
 departments, and various disciplines.                                         
                                                                               
 CHAIRMAN RIEGER reminded the committee of the motion before them.             
 Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted into a HES CS.                  
                                                                               
 DEBBIE CALL, Chair of the Alaska Job Training Council, supported              
 SB 255 and Amendment 1.  She clarified that the Alaska Job Training           
 Council is an advisory council to the Governor which oversees the             
 Private Industry Council around the state.  The Council advises the           
 Governor on JTPA programs and human resource development issues.              
 She stated that SB 255 is a comprehensive policy relating the human           
 resource development in Alaska.  Alaska will have to better                   
 coordinate the human resource development programs, especially in             
 rural areas.  She noted her own experience as a private sector                
 employer who was attempting her own human resources development               
 programs on the North Slope.  SB 255 would help achieve better                
 coordination and programs.                                                    
                                                                               
 Number 182                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR ELLIS thanked Ms. Call for her testimony and the language             
 on page 2 that addresses incentives and disincentives regarding the           
 state public assistance programs to move people from public                   
 assistance to private sector employment.  He encouraged everyone to           
 be aware of federal level tools and initiatives, such as President            
 Clinton's apprenticeship proposal, that could be used.                        
                                                                               
 DEBBIE CALL said that SB 255 does realize the national issues.  She           
 noted that some council members attend meetings in Washington, D.C.           
                                                                               
 MARY SHIELDS, General Manager of the Northwest Technical Services             
 and Vice-Chair of the Alaska Job Training Council, stated that                
 SB 255 would enable movement forward on these human resource                  
 development issues.  She urged passage of SB 255 with Amendment 1.            
 She mentioned that the business community does like SB 255.                   
                                                                               
 DAN MIDDAUGH, Alaska Training Coordinators Association, explained             
 that he is currently recoordinating labor's attempt to create a               
 statewide job placement referral system, the Apprenticeship                   
 Information Center.  He asserted that apprenticeship is the primary           
 manner in which to train individuals to their highest potential               
 through the trade.  He expressed the need and desire to improve on            
 these issues in rural areas.  He stated support for SB 255 and                
 Amendment 1 from the Alaska Training Coordinators Association.                
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved SB 255 as amended out of committee with                  
 individual recommendations.  Hearing no objections, it was so                 
 ordered.