HB 46-WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD VETERAN MEMBER  2:30:22 PM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of HB 46. "An Act relating to membership in the Alaska Workforce Investment Board." 2:30:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Sponsor of HB 46, introduced the legislation speaking to the following sponsor statement: House Bill 46 will improve the Alaska Workforce Investment Board's ability to improve employment prospects for an important and growing segment of the state's workforce, by adding a seat to represent veterans. The Alaska Workforce Investment Board (AWIB) is a 25- member board charged with helping unemployed Alaskans find jobs, and helping current workers upgrade skills find better jobs. Board members represent business, industry, education, organized labor, state government and community-based service organizations. However, there is no representation specifically for veterans, who represent a significant and growing segment of Alaska's population. Alaska is home to more than 73,000 veterans, and boasts the highest per- capita veteran population in the nation. Each month about 320 service members separate from service at Alaska's three main military facilities: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, and Ft. Wainwright. Polls show 80 percent of these new veterans would love to remain in Alaska, but only 20 percent do. The inability to find a good job plays a significant part in the state's loss of these highly trained, civic- minded individuals and their families. Having a veterans' seat on the AWIB will help the board develop workforce development policies to meet this group's significant needs. It will help provide a pool of well-trained employees for Alaskan employers. And it will help veterans transition from uniformed service, close any skills gap, find work and remain in Alaska as productive citizens. 2:32:46 PM SENATOR STEVENS asked if the bill specifically asks for a veteran to sit on the board. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered yes. CHAIR COSTELLO asked if there is any opposition to the bill. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered no, it enjoys broad support. CHAIR COSTELLO asked what the unemployment rate is for veterans in Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER surmised it's about 6.7 percent. 2:34:10 PM SENATOR STEVENS asked him to clarify the meaning of veteran. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER replied the definition of "veteran" in this legislation is someone who has served honorably and received an honorable discharge from the armed forces, including the reserves; the National Guard, the Alaska Territorial Guard, and the Alaska Naval Militia. GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), reported that the department provides training programs specifically for veterans. He highlighted that if this bill were to pass, the veteran seat would replace one of the public seats on the AWIB. CHAIR COSTELLO offered her understanding that there are currently five public seats on the board. MR. CASHEN agreed. CHAIR COSTELLO asked if the administration supports the bill. MR. CASHEN replied the administration has not taken a position on the bill. SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the veteran seat would be filled immediately or when one of the public seats terms out. MR. CASHEN offered his belief that the veteran seat would be filled when a public seat expires and three seats will do so on October 13, 2015. 2:37:04 PM At ease 2:37:22 PM CHAIR COSTELLO reconvened the meeting. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER explained that the five public seats are designed specifically to ensure that there is a majority of private sector members on the board. The balance would be maintained if one of those seats was designated for a veteran. SENATOR STEVENS commented that a private sector member could also be a veteran. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER agreed. CHAIR COSTELLO opened and closed public testimony. 2:38:17 PM SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report HB 46, labeled 29-LS0282\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR COSTELLO announced that without objection, HB 46 is reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.