ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE  March 30, 2022 1:32 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Mia Costello, Chair Senator Gary Stevens Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Joshua Revak, Vice Chair Senator Peter Micciche COMMITTEE CALENDAR  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 125(L&C) "An Act relating to employment preferences for active service members, veterans, and spouses and dependent children of active service members and veterans; relating to employment preferences for surviving spouses of deceased service members and veterans; and relating to employment preferences for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war." - MOVED CSHB 125(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE SENATE BILL NO. 197 "An Act relating to direct health care agreements; and relating to unfair trade practices." - BILL HEARING CANCELED PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 125 SHORT TITLE: MILITARY AND FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) NELSON 03/05/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/05/21 (H) MLV, L&C 03/16/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/16/21 (H) Heard & Held 03/16/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 03/18/21 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 03/18/21 (H) Moved HB 125 Out of Committee 03/18/21 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 03/20/21 (H) MLV RPT 6DP 03/20/21 (H) DP: CLAMAN, TARR, SHAW, NELSON, RAUSCHER, TUCK 04/16/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 04/16/21 (H) Heard & Held 04/16/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 04/23/21 (H) L&C AT 8:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 04/23/21 (H) Moved CSHB 125(L&C) Out of Committee 04/23/21 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 04/26/21 (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 6DP 1NR 04/26/21 (H) DP: SCHRAGE, MCCARTY, SNYDER, NELSON, FIELDS, SPOHNHOLZ 04/26/21 (H) NR: KAUFMAN 05/07/21 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 05/07/21 (H) VERSION: CSHB 125(L&C) 05/10/21 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 05/10/21 (S) L&C 05/17/21 (S) L&C AT 2:00 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg) 05/17/21 (S) Heard & Held 05/17/21 (S) MINUTE(L&C) WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 125. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:32:14 PM CHAIR MIA COSTELLO called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:32 p.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Stevens, and Chair Costello. HB 125-MILITARY AND FAMILY EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE  1:32:46 PM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 125(L&C) "An Act relating to employment preferences for active service members, veterans, and spouses and dependent children of active service members and veterans; relating to employment preferences for surviving spouses of deceased service members and veterans; and relating to employment preferences for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war." [This is the second hearing. The bill was first heard last year and public testimony was closed.] CHAIR COSTELLO asked Representative Nelson to refresh the committee's recall of HB 125. 1:33:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAVID NELSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 125, stated that the bill extends the current employment hiring preference to military spouses and selected dependents. CHAIR COSTELLO noted that when the bill was heard previously, his aide testified that, at the minimum, this would allow an interview. She asked if that was correct. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON answered yes. 1:34:12 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked what the term "selected" means in this context. REPRESENTATIVE NELSON explained that the bill originally gave hiring preference to all dependents and the House Labor and Commerce Committee amended it to include just Goldstar dependents. These are family members of fallen members of the U.S. military. CHAIR COSTELLO found no further questions and solicited a motion. 1:35:03 PM SENATOR STEVENS moved to report HB 125, work order 32-LS0602\B, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 1:35:19 PM CHAIR COSTELLO found no objection and CSHB 125(L&C) moved from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee. 1:35:36 PM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Costello adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting at 1:35 p.m.