SB 252-EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM/BOARD    CHAIRMAN STEVENS announced SB 252 to be up for consideration. MS. PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, said they had just completed an audit on the State Training and Employment Program. There were a number of purposes for the audit - to review the administration of the STEP by the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council (ERIC) to determine the compliance of the STEP with state laws, to assess the impact of the STEP on the solvency of the unemployment compensation fund and to calculate the employer and the calculation of the employers' insurance tax rates and to provide some detail expenditure information with regard to the STEP. Their conclusions are that the STEP was generally being administered in accordance with statutes with five main exceptions. The first one is that STEP served only a portion of those that were eligible. We had found that there was no systematic marketing of the STEP program to all those that were eligible for the program. Secondly, we found that federal and possibly state training funds were being displaced by STEP. Basically, STEP was created to assist clients that failed to meet the federal or other programs and that it was intended to be the employment training program of last resort. We found that in the Municipality of Anchorage employment coordinators used STEP funds when clients were potentially eligible for the federal program, that STEP grantees were not being required to ascertain if the trainees were eligible for the federal programs when recruiting, that STEP funds were used even when the federal funding had not been exhausted - for example, the Municipality of Anchorage carried forward over $650,000 in federal adult and dislocated worker funding and the balance of the state carried approximately $2 million of that same type of federal funds - and that STEP funds may be displacing private funding through union training programs. While employment coordinators are pleased with the partnership between the unions and the STEP funds, we question whether STEP funds are being used to supplant private union training funds. The third major exception was that there was a requirement to reimburse the Department for such things as tools, work-related clothing, safety gear or others and this was not being actively enforced. We found that the statutory program elements that define the STEP program do not include a category called "employment assistance." However, a lot of the funds were being spent under that categorization. We found that administrative costs exceeded the maximums defined in statute. In FY01, the Federal Employment Training Program was substantially changed, the old one being JDPA, the Job Training Partnership Act. The new federal program was a Workforce Investment Act and referred to as WIA. The new federal program is more inclusive and more people are eligible for this program. Additionally, the new federal program allows for funding of industry specific training and, therefore, the purpose and need for STEP needs to be reevaluated so again it's in the position where it's the training funds of last resort - that you maximize the use of those federal funds first. We found that as a result of the funding mechanism for STEP and the Alaska technical vocational education programs that the financial benefits accruing back into the UI fund do not exceed their cost. The difference is borne by employers through increased UI taxes. It should be pointed out that while all Alaskans are eligible for the STEP program, not all employers will shoulder the burden of the net costs of the STEP and the ATVE programs. We found that the STEP program does provide a direct, though not precisely measurable, benefit to the UI fund through either reduced UI benefit payments or larger wage base. The ATVE program doesn't have that direct measurable benefit. In our opinion the STEP program should be reauthorized. Our recommendation was for four years. The new Federal Employment Training Program addresses many of the reasons STEP was originally created and, therefore, STEP needs to be realigned to fill the missing gaps. In this report, we made seven recommendations to the Department and they include: -The need for additional outreach to those that are actually eligible for the STEP program. -To improve the monitoring of STEP grantees -That legislation that directs the unexpended, unobligated balance of the STEP funds to lapse into the UI fund -To actively monitor that admin costs to not exceed 15% of total STEP expenditures -That UI accounting costs that are charged to STEP and ATVE are done in an equitable and supported manner -That the programmatic data be collected and reported in a manner that demonstrates legal compliance with the statutes -And that labor and staff work together to ensure that STEP does not replace federal, private or other public training funds. MS. REBECCA GAMEZ, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, said she wanted to comment after she had a chance to read the amendments. SENATOR LEMAN asked why they changed the name to ERIC. MS. GAMEZ replied that under the Workforce Investment Act that replaces the Job Training Partnership Act on the federal level the name change - Alaska Workforce Board - falls in line with the local workforce board name. "It's kind of a naming protocol, if you will." SENATOR TORGERSON stated that he wouldn't move amendment #1, labeled GS2052\A.2, because the report said there was some concern about money going to the union training programs. He didn't have enough information to do a total ban on it. They are asking for reports to come back to the legislature next year to see if they have adjusted. SENATOR TORGERSON offered amendment A.4: 22-GS2052\A.4 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 1, line 2, following "membership;": Insert "providing that lapsing employment assistance and  training program account funds may be appropriated to the Alaska  technical and vocational education program;" Page 15, following line 9: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 11.  AS 23.15.625 is amended to read: Sec. 23.15.625. Employment assistance and training  program account. The employment assistance and training program account is established in the general fund. The commissioner of administration shall separately account for money collected under AS 23.15.630 that the department deposits in the general fund. The annual estimated balance in the account may be appropriated by the legislature to the department to implement AS 23.15.620 - 23.15.660. The [LEGISLATURE MAY APPROPRIATE THE] lapsing balance of the employment assistance and training program account may be  appropriated to the Alaska technical and vocational  education program established in AS 23.15.820 - 23.15.850 [UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FUND ESTABLISHED IN AS 23.20.130]." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 28, line 20: Delete "sec. 52" Insert "sec. 53" SENATOR DAVIS objected for purposes of explanation. SENATOR TORGERSON explained that the auditor suggested that there are currently about $2 million left of unobligated funds in the STEP and, "We created this program to train people, not to sit around in the bank for these guys. I didn't want it to go back to the UI trust because we're actually formally intercepting this money, the one tenth of one percent, and putting it back in there and taking it out again, so I would suggest this lapse into the Alaska Training and Vocational Educational Program, which is currently in a grant mode for one more year and then it will go into a new vocational education program. He asked his staff, Ms. Mary Jackson, to explain that. MS. MARY JACKSON, Staff to Senator Torgerson, said he was correct that this would lapse directly into the ATVE program. The Department is currently promulgating regulations for the program and it should be in place shortly. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to amendment #2. There were none and it was adopted. SENATOR TORGERSON moved amendment #3, GS2052\A.4: 22-GS2052\A.4 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 1, line 2, following "membership;": Insert "providing that lapsing employment assistance and  training program account funds may be appropriated to the Alaska  technical and vocational education program;" Page 15, following line 9: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 11.  AS 23.15.625 is amended to read: Sec. 23.15.625. Employment assistance and training  program account. The employment assistance and training program account is established in the general fund. The commissioner of administration shall separately account for money collected under AS 23.15.630 that the department deposits in the general fund. The annual estimated balance in the account may be appropriated by the legislature to the department to implement AS 23.15.620 - 23.15.660. The [LEGISLATURE MAY APPROPRIATE THE] lapsing balance of the employment assistance and training program account may be  appropriated to the Alaska technical and vocational  education program established in AS 23.15.820 - 23.15.850 [UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FUND ESTABLISHED IN AS 23.20.130]." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 28, line 20: Delete "sec. 52" Insert "sec. 53" Page 28, line 22: Delete "secs. 1 - 45" Insert "secs. 1 - 46" Page 29, line 13: Delete "Section 49(a)" Insert "Section 50(a)" Page 29, line 14: Delete "sec. 51" Insert "sec. 52" MS. JACKSON explained that the intent of this amendment is to rectify the problem that was identified by the audit concerning the 15% limitation on administrative expenses. There are two conflicting statutes and this clarified the intent, which is that it be 15% of program expenses. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to amendment #3. There were none and it was adopted. SENATOR TORGERSON moved amendment #4, GS2052\A.3: 22-GS2052\A.3 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 1, line 2, following "membership;": Insert "relating to repayment on promissory notes for work- related items paid for by grant programs;" Page 15, following line 9: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 11.  AS 23.15.640(c) is amended to read: (c) The department shall [, TO THE EXTENT ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL,] require an individual who participated in a program that was funded at least in part by a grant under AS 23.15.651 and that included as a program element the provision of necessary tools, work-related clothing, safety gear, or other necessities to obtain or retain employment under (a)(6) of this section to reimburse the department for the portion of the grant that was spent on an element listed in (a)(6) of this section. Repayment  shall begin no later than six months after the individual  completes or leaves the state training and employment  program and may not be less than $25 each calendar month. The department shall separately account for receipts under this subsection. The annual estimated receipts may be used by the legislature to make appropriations to the department to the employment assistance and training program account (AS 23.15.625) for grants under AS 23.15.651. The  department shall institute collection procedures on  outstanding promissory notes for amounts due under this  subsection. Collection procedures must include obtaining a  judgment for default on a promissory note. The department  shall seek satisfaction of the judgment from an individual's  permanent fund dividend to the extent possible under  AS 43.23.065 until the judgment has been satisfied. The department shall implement this subsection by regulation."  Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 28, line 20: Delete "sec. 52" Insert "sec. 53" Page 28, line 22: Delete "secs. 1 - 45" Insert "secs. 1 - 46" Page 29, line 13: Delete "Section 49(a)" Insert "Section 50(a)" Page 29, line 14: Delete "sec. 51" Insert "sec. 52" MS. JACKSON explained that this was also identified as an issue in the audit. The program provides for the STEP monies to be used for individuals to purchase tools, for example. It has always been if you purchase these tools and you get a job, you're supposed to reimburse the program. The audit found there was no mechanism in place to make that take effect. This amendment specifies procedures for that reimbursement to be accommodated. SENATOR AUSTERMAN asked how much that would offset the actual money. SENATOR TORGERSON said he understands that they hadn't collected any yet. He said there could be a cost for collections; he was sure it would take another employee. CHAIRMAN STEVEN asked if anyone objected to amendment #4. There were none and amendment #4 was adopted. MS. EDEN LARSON said the issue that concerns the builders and contractors is the funding of the union training programs to the exclusion of open shop construction train programs. SENATOR TORGERSON responded that he doesn't have enough information to act on that and it's a concern of the auditors. MS. LARSON said in the interim the language that's currently in this bill prohibits people training in the construction trades that are non-union from applying for grants under the STEP. For another year they would be concerned about that. CHAIRMAN STEVENS said the intent today was to adopt the amendments and circulate the new CS and then bring it up again at a later date. MS. LARSON said she would save her comments until she could see the CS. SENATOR TORGERSON moved amendment #5, GS2052\A.6: 22-GS2052\A.6 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 1, line 2: Delete "repealing" Insert "extending" Page 27, lines 24 and 25: Delete all material and insert:  "* Sec. 46. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska enacted in sec. 6, ch. 116, SLA 1996, as amended by sec. 9, ch. 85, SLA 1998, is amended to read: Sec. 6. AS 23.16.620, 23.15.625, 23.15.630, 23.15.635, 23.15.640, 23.15.645, 23.15.651, and 23.15.660 are repealed June 30, 2003 [2002]." Page 29, following line 12: Insert new bill sections to read:  "* Sec. 51. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: RETROACTIVITY OF SEC. 46. If sec. 46 of this Act takes effect after June 29, 2002, sec. 46 of this Act is retroactive to June 29, 2002. * Sec. 52. Section 46 of this Act takes effect June 29, 2002." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 29, line 14: Delete "sec. 51" Insert "secs. 52 and 53" He explained that this repeals the sunset clause and puts a one- year extension in. He added that the next amendment is requesting all the reports to come back, which is how they are trying to handle the auditor's issue so it didn't have to drag on for years. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to adopting amendment #5. There were no objections and it was adopted. CHAIRMAN TORGERSON moved amendment #6, GS2052\A.7: 22-GS2052\A.7 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 27, following line 25: Insert a new bill section to read: "* Sec. 47. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall present a written report to the legislature on the state training and resources program within 10 days of the beginning of the First Regular Session of the Twenty- Third Alaska State Legislature. The report must include (1) an outreach plan for the state training and resources program; (2) a certification verification plan; (3) the department's recommendations on allowable nonadministrative costs for program expenses; (4) a data collection and reporting plan; (5) the status of the governor's discretionary fund for statewide activities established as part of the 1999 Alaska Human Resource Investment Council action plan; (6) facts supporting the need for the state training and resources program; (7) the department's recommendations on including reimbursable employers in the state training and resources program, and excluding current and former employees of reimbursable employers from the program; and (8) an analysis of the reasons for decreased public training institution funding in relation to the increase in union training program funding." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 28, line 20: Delete "sec. 52" Insert "sec. 53" Page 29, line 13: Delete "Section 49(a)" Insert "Section 50(a)" Page 29, line 14: Delete "sec. 51" Insert "sec. 52" He explained that this is the laundry list of things that came out of the audit report and says that we want to have a report 10 days after the beginning of the first session of the 23rd Alaska Legislature and the report must include all of this. He didn't have a report ready to address the union concern with the private money and this is where he anticipated inserting that language. MS. JACKSON pointed out a technical amendment on lines 16 and 18. It should not say "training and resources", but "training and employment". SENATOR TORGERSON moved an amendment to the amendment to delete "resources" on lines 16 and 18 and insert "employment". There were no objections and it was adopted. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to adopting amendment #6 amended. There were no objections and it was so ordered. SENATOR TORGERSON moved amendment #7, GS2052\A.1: 22-GS2052\A.1 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 3, lines 30 - 31: Delete "The commissioner of administration is a nonvoting  member of the board." Page 4, lines 2 - 3: Delete ", and the commissioner of administration under (b)  of this section" Page 4, lines 9 - 10: Delete "and the commissioner of administration under  AS 23.15.550(b)" Page 5, line 4: Delete " or (b)," SENATOR TORGERSON said he has had many discussions with Mr. Andrews about the size of this group. "It's a herd of turtles that they're so damn big that they can't get anything done. I don't want to add to that." He didn't see any advantage to having the commissioner of Administration as another part of this. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any commissioners on it now. SENATOR TORGERSON replied that there are, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Department of Community and Economic Development. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to amendment #7. There were none and it was adopted. SENATOR TORGERSON moved amendment #8, GS2052\A.8: 22-GS2052\A.8 Craver 10/1/02 A M E N D M E N T OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR TORGERSON TO: SB 252 Page 5, lines 16 - 17: Delete "[NOT MORE THAN THREE TIMES IN A CALENDAR YEAR]" Insert "not more than three times in a calendar year" He explained that the Governor's bill took out the requirement that they couldn't meet more than three times a year and although he wanted to limit it to two, he thought they could just leave the language that's already in statute - three times per year. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked if there were any objections to amendment #8. There were none and it was adopted. He asked Ms. Gamez if she had enough time to read the amendments and she indicated she was ready to testify now. MS. GAMEZ said it was helpful to delay her testimony for the amendments. She was surprised that a few of the amendments went against the recommendations they both agreed on. On amendment #2, recognizing that amendment #1 has some work that Senator Torgerson would like to take care of, both the legislative audit report and the Department concurred that the lapsed money should go back into the UI trust funds. I think that that is more appropriate for the lapsing. There have been some problems with expenditures of STEP monies. Part of it was an appropriations problem and part of it was with one of the local workforce boards in terms of expending funds. So that has been a challenge. On amendment #3, we, too, would like to clarify the 15%. I did have an opportunity to talk with Ms. Jackson about this and if the language said Program Awards as opposed to expenses, we would be in the position of defining what is programmatic and what isn't programmatic expenses. For example, on something that the audit counted as an administrative cost it is necessary for us to have a STEP program in this state and I would argue that that would be programmatic cost. Because without that function in the data collection piece, we wouldn't be able to have a program. So I would argue that that's not administrative, that that would be a programmatic, but I think we could probably work those differences out now that we're hammering out the disagreement in those two statutes. MS. GAMEZ said if there were a three-year funding period that would be in line with the federal WIA funds, it would be easier for them to agree with this. Business statistics show that there are a certain amount of administrative costs regardless of program expenditures to a certain degree. Some of the sub- grantee adjustments affect expenditures and those can occur after the year-end. So, the accurate year-end expenditures aren't always known until the process is completed. Moving to amendment #4 that was adopted on the repayment of promissory notes, the point was brought up by one of the committee members here that there may be costs to the department to collect those funds. The STEP program is not a loan program. We do, however, have signed promissory notes for people who have received monies for tools or boots or other items that they may need. Collections will also represent an increased cost to the department for record keeping, tracking and accounting.   TAPE 02-23, SIDE B  MS. GAMEZ said that amendment #5 caused them concern because it's very difficult to think ahead if you have such a short period of time in which to make changes. On amendment #6 she was glad that Ms. Jackson caught the typo, because they would have to start calling it the STREP program and it would truly be unpopular with certain folks at the table. We are working on an outreach plan and I would like to make the comment that we have a certification verification plan for classroom training only and that is a recommendation that we have. When I was reading over Ms. Jackson's overview to Senator Torgerson, I think there was a typo and I would like the opportunity to talk with Ms. Jackson after the hearing because we already insure that there's authorization of training ACPE and the department will require certification of all classroom training… She said it would be helpful to see a comprehensive package with the CS and hoped she would be invited to staff discussions regarding the department's concerns before a CS is adopted. SENATOR AUSTERMAN asked her if she had concerns about the amendments, why didn't she speak up before they were adopted. MS. GAMEZ said she didn't realize she was in a position to disagree with the amendments until they were on the table. SENATOR TORGERSON said he wouldn't deviate a whole lot from what they have, but he wants to make it work. He wouldn't have gone with the sunset if it weren't for the reporting requirements. CHAIRMAN STEVENS said he had a concern on page 47, which is a summary of the type of vendors or clients served, and asked her for a short definition of the six categories. MS. GAMEZ said she would like to invite Mike Shiffer who is more technically versed in those things. MR. MIKE SHIFFER, Program Coordinator, Workforce Investment Office, responded that examples of a private training institution would be a charter college; the unions would be like the operating engineers who run a training program. Public training institutions would be things like the Alaska Vocational Technical School in Seward; Native organizations would be training programs such as the one run out of the Bristol Bay Native Association. He was drawing a blank on "other" kinds of training programs, but client reimbursements would be expenses paid directly back to an institute directly on behalf of a participant. CHAIRMAN STEVENS said he was confused about the difference between a private training institution and a public training institution. MR. SHIFFER explained that a public training institution would be things that the legislature appropriates directly to the University of Alaska and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center. CHAIRMAN STEVENS asked what the process was for the distribution of the money on an annual basis. MR. SHIFFER replied that in general the funds are distributed in two methods. The first is through direct client services - an individual comes in and is identified for services and goes to school - and the other option is through grant funds. Grants are announced and let out and training providers compete for the funds and provide training programs. CHAIRMAN STEVENS said he was concerned with the number of clients served and asked why the numbers have changed from public and private losses to gains with the unions. He asked if the funding mechanism inserting the money into the program has changed in correspondence with the change to the number of people that are receiving the benefit. MR. SHIFFER replied no. They rely on information received from research and analysis and there is a great deal of effort being focused on the areas of construction, the trades and things like that. They target the funds towards those areas where they see the most opportunity for creating employment opportunities for folks. Currently, those tend to rest with training programs that happen to parallel with union type training programs. SENATOR TORGERSON asked what the fund balance was right now of the STEP program. MR. SHIFFER replied that he didn't know that right now. SENATOR TORGERSON asked if he told him it was over $2 million, could he tell him why. MR. SHIFFER replied that a number of things contribute to that. First of all, when the appropriations were occurring, Ms. Gamez referred to that at one point where we were sort of chasing our tails. Each appropriation would occur and the amount that was available from the fund would exceed the appropriation and so we saw ourselves chasing after money that was increasing faster than we were using it. Another issue is that there has been several changes in terms of how services were delivered and that resulted in one of the local areas not expending the funds as greatly as they had done in the past. And other funds came into the state that were unexpected and in the form of an unusually large award for dislocated workers and for funds that related to foreign worker certification. Those large amount of funds that came into the program have served people who potentially could have been eligible for services here. SENATOR TORGESON asked what they were going to do with that money. It upsets me that it's not out in the street and that we're not training people. We went in there a couple of years ago and took $4 million out of there. Now you've got $2 million again. If you're not going to use the damn money, let's do away with the program. Put it in the ATV program. That's where I'm coming from on this… MR. SHIFFER replied that they have an opportunity to utilize those funds by looking at the way they're distributing the funds by focusing on the opportunities for spending the STEP funds as a last resort. "We'd be happy to work with you on clarifying how that goes." SENATOR TORGERSON replied, "Don't work with me. Work with the University…or work with others out there who are wondering why they can't get into this pot of money." SENATOR AUSTERMAN said he wanted to see a good description of how the grant program works - who sets it up, etc. - that might be helpful in figuring out exactly why there are institutions that want to train people, but can't get the funds. MR. SHIFFER said he would be happy to provide that information. MR. MIKE ANDREWS, Alaska Works Partnership, Inc., said they are a statewide construction job training organization that's formed in partnership with Alaska's construction trade unions and sponsors a statewide apprenticeship program that is not a union program. They have a lot of experience across the board with some of these issues. He thanked Senator Torgerson for withdrawing the one amendment until more information came forward in terms of why there is a discrepancy between union and non union training programs. He thought they could give them some reasoning behind that. MR. ANDREWS supported continuing the STEP program and said he used to work as director of the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council and worked very closely with the Senate Majority and Senator Torgerson on a lot of these issues of how to make a very hard-to-understand workforce development system in this state, particularly that is mostly federally funded, work well for Alaskans. "How do we align job training with the University of Alaska, with AVTEC, with Alaska Technical Center and also with private sector training that occurs in the state." With this kind of background, Mr. Andrews said he thought he had some things he could add and he would like to come back and add them. One of the problems that needs to be looked at is that STEP has been a pilot program for 10 years. It's reauthorized every two years and in 1997, when they did the major reform, they aligned STEP performance with the Job Training Partnership Act and other performance measures that the majority wanted to see in their performance based budgeting. Now there's quite an extensive performance report on all these programs. They can look at the performance of STEP, which is a high performing program, in terms of short-term less-expensive training that put people to work and keeps them employed. One of the problems they have reached with reauthorization is that STEP has always had a two-year timeline. Federal programs allow two or more years for a rollover for the ability to monitor and spend funds. STEP has always fought this battle of getting reauthorized and then trying to basically lurch out there again as a pilot, be a low priority on someone's table, because it's a pilot and try to function as well. We have worked hard, the state, the legislature, and people involved to cap administrative cost, to bring those costs down from 20% to 15% and to really understand what line items go into a program and what would go into actual admin. I would say just in general that's a good move to cap that, but that does also make it harder for some of the public institutions that have indirect cost fees that have administrative fees set who can't reach that barrier. They cannot necessarily apply for training because of that cap. I'm not saying remove that cap, but that may be one of the reasons why we're seeing more of the grants go out to private sector training vendors. For example, the union apprenticeship training programs are private sector programs funded by labor and management and they are one of the programs that has received more recently. To compete for that on the open market, announce bids, etc. One of the reasons I think is the actual nature of STEP being reauthorized on a two-year basis and then between that, there's all kinds of things added on in terms of performance and measuring and other things that people want to see done that add a cost to the system. I think what we really need to focus in on is, are we putting Alaskans to work? Are we increasing Alaska hire as a result of STEP? Are they getting more income in their pockets and are they paying less unemployment with this? Let's all work together so that we can have the best workforce in Alaska…. CHAIRMAN STEVENS thanked him for his testimony and adjourned the meeting at 3:30 pm.