SB 150-MILITARY TRAINING CREDIT  9:39:15 AM CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the consideration of SB 150. Speaking as the sponsor, he explained that the bill would help veterans get occupational and academic credit for military training and work experience. The United States Department of Defense has designated this effort as a top priority across the nation and has already passed similar legislation in Washington, Utah, Colorado, and West Virginia. Many other states have introduced similar legislation. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said a committee substitute (CS) for SB 150, version E, was before the committee. SENATOR PASKVAN moved to adopt CSSB 150, labeled 27-LS1117\E, as the working document. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI objected for discussion purposes. 9:40:09 AM KENDRA KLOSTER, staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, sponsor of SB 150, explained the changes in SB 150. Many of the changes are at the request of various departments. The first change is on page 2, lines 1-3; additional language was added stating a "temporary license is issued to a board which is already authorized to issue a temporary license". Previous language would have required all boards to issue temporary licenses that were not necessary. MS. KLOSTER described the second change on page 2, lines 13 and 14; the expediting language was removed. Another change on page 2, lines 12-15, came from the United States Department of Defense; the words "diploma or certificate" were added. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI requested an overview of the bill. MS. KLOSTER explained that the United States Department of Defense has been working on a national effort to help alleviate the problem of military service members not receiving credit for training received while they were in the service. As of June 2011 one million veterans were unemployed and the jobless rate for post-911 veterans was at 13.3 percent. Young male veterans experience an unemployment rate of 21.9 percent, according to the Department of Defense. The goal is to assist military veterans to find employment at a faster rate. It requires the Department of Education to accept military education, training, and service. It also requires the president of the University of Alaska, the Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education, and the Department of Labor to implement policies and procedures in order to accept military credit. This is already being done at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska, Anchorage, in some circumstances. 9:44:09 AM DIANE BARRANS, Executive Director, Post-Secondary Education Commission, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), offered to answer questions about SB 150. SENATOR PASKVAN asked if DEED was supportive of recognizing the diplomas issued by the military. MS. BARRENS explained that the Post-Secondary Education Commission has not taken a position on the issue. She said she applauds the efforts of the committee to promote assessing and providing credits for military education and training. It is outside the norm of what the Post-Secondary Education Commission does, which is more of a consumer protection entity. 9:47:03 AM MARK SAN SOUCI, Military Liaison, Department of Defense, Washington, D.C., spoke in support of SB 150. He thanked the committee for taking up the bill. He read from the following written testimony: Mr. Chair and committee, thank you for this opportunity to express Department of Defense support for the veterans credit Senate Bill 150. My name is Mark San Souci, Department of Defense Regional Liaison for Military Families for the Northwest, working for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Family and Community Policy. I'm sorry I can't be there in person today, but hope to be able to visit for future hearings on this issue. First off, we thank you for sponsoring and considering SB 150. Last year, with one million veterans unemployed; with a post 9/11 unemployment rate of 13.3%; and an unemployment rate for 18-24 year old veterans at 21.9%, the Department of Defense began supporting efforts in the states to ask states to give separating Service members credit, so that they may not be held back from finding employment or finishing a degree. We are asking legislative leaders like you to establish policies that ensure separating Service members do not have to repeat requirements completed during their military career to obtain academic credit or an occupational license. Last year, four states enacted new laws to help grant our veterans credit towards licensing and/or academic credit. So far for the 2012 session, there are 18 bills in 10 more states resembling the one before you today that we ask you to support. It is important to us that you know we are not asking for direct licensure if it is not equivalent. In cases where the regulatory agency or board determines partial credit but it saves time and expense and helps get them there, even if not completely, that is what we seek. We only seek credit where credit is due. A couple of other points to consider: You and I have already paid for this veteran's training within the Department of Defense schools and with years of experience while serving our Nation with our federal tax dollars. Also, the more credit given to a veteran towards licensing or a degree or certification, the more school slots can be made available to civilians, especially in programs where there may be waiting lists to get in. This issue is now the top of the Top Ten Key Issues of the Defense State Liaison Office. The Department of Defense has many highly qualified schools which train service members in a wide variety of skills and occupations. The Department of Defense is also, right now, working feverishly with the US Department of Labor to link military occupations with training/experience programs that most closely align to private sector licensure requirements, while also asking some state regulatory authorities in pilot states like Washington, to review select military occupations to determine whether the training and experience are sufficient to render licensing in that occupation. As you very well know, Alaska is home to thousands of veterans, and is a desired location for separating and retiring military members when choosing where to live after leaving the military. A 2010 Defense Manpower Data Center Study reported that Alaska had 1,286 military separate or retire to Alaska in Fiscal Year 2010. At roughly 1,286 annually, and more to come with draw-downs, we can expect that highly qualified ex- military people will continue to enjoy Alaska's quality of life, and many will continue to choose Alaska when transitioning into civilian careers. Finally, I'm frequently asked what other states are doing in this area. In 2011, Washington state passed two bills - one for medical occupations and one for non-medical occupations, into law as of July 22nd. Washington modifies the statutory chapters of 21 commercial occupations and 14 healthcare related occupations. It is considered by us as Best Practice legislation. Your bill is modeled after Washington State and also would be a Best Practice. Washington State's Department of Health and Department of Licensing accepted this challenge in legislation last year with 'zero' as fiscal notes, and they have the demands of a big military state with over 6,000 veterans annually choosing to separate or retire from the military and live there. We ask this committee and this legislature in Alaska to join the other ten states, rising now in session, and considering this help for our veterans, along with the four (WA, UT, CO, WV) that did it last year. Thank you for taking up this issue so quickly, and for your consideration. I stand by for any questions you may have. 9:53:23 AM SENATOR PASKVAN said he understood that about 1,300 military personnel per year retired to Alaska and asked if those numbers would change due to the pending "drawdown". MR. SAN SOUCI termed the projections speculative, and he suggested sticking with around 1,300 as the number. SENATOR PASKVAN said he thought SB 150, a best practices legislation, would make retired military personnel more employable more quickly. MR. SAN SOUCI agreed. 9:56:30 AM RIC DAVIDGE, President, Vietnam Veterans of America, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 150. He thanked the committee for considering the bill. He reported that the University of Alaska is already embracing the idea of credit for military training and experience. Some military personnel have better, more current training than that found in some vocational schools. SENATOR GIESSEL wondered which occupations are impacted by the legislation. MR. SAN SOUCI offered to provide the committee with that information. He read from a national list of occupations: air conditioning mechanics, automotive repair, barbering, boiler operators, contractors, cosmetologists, dental hygienists, electricians, emergency medical services, harbor marine pilots, home inspection investigators, license practical nurses, nutritionists, dieticians, oil and solid fuel technicians, personnel employment, professional planners, plumbers, private security, radiologists, respiratory care, roofing, and sanitarians. 10:00:30 AM MS. KLOSTER addressed Senator Giessel's question. She gave an example of a person in the nursing field who had difficulty transferring her nursing experience in the service for credit. SENATOR GIESSEL suggested the individual take the issue to the University Board of Regents. She spoke of the difficulty of credit transfer between university campuses. MS. KLOSTER said that the university has accepted over 15,000 military credits, but a concern remains whether the credits can be used for a degree program or just as electives. A system is currently in place at UAF. MR. SAN SOUCI offered to provide further information about occupations covered under Washington State's new law. SENATOR GIESSEL declined. 10:04:06 AM CHRIS CHRISTENSEN, Associate Vice President, State Relations, University of Alaska (UA), addressed Section 2 of the bill. He emphasized that the university is committed to offering quality educational experiences to active military veterans and their dependents. He said G.I. JOBS, a magazine and web portal, identified UAA and UAS as military-friendly institutions. Only 15 percent of all colleges and universities and vocational schools received that designation. MR. CHRISTENSEN agreed that transfer of credits is a big issue. The university has extensive policies and procedures in place for accepting credit, including military credit. The Board of Regents has adopted a written policy that the campuses accept and transfer as much credit as is appropriate to a student's new degree and graduation requirements. All campuses have established transfer credit policies designed to give maximum credit for courses and training taken elsewhere, including in the military. He said to keep in mind that a degree from an institution is a representation to a potential employer and to others that the holder has learned what the institution has deemed important for the degree. He concluded that awarding appropriate credit for military training is one of the university's core responsibilities and a way to show commitment to recruit and retain military students. The university is working on a matrix which shows what each campus offers. 10:08:03 AM MR. CHRISTENSEN explained that the credit transfer process is managed at the campus level. All three campuses accept transfer credit based on recommendations made by the American Council of Education (ACE), which has an agreement with the Defense Department to review military training and experience for the award of equivalent college credit. The three university campuses are also members of the Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of about 1,900 colleges and universities that enroll military veterans and dependents in special degree programs. The purpose is to let service members earn a degree, not just accumulate credits. He related that UAA is currently accepting an average of about 51 credits for military veterans who have attended an accredited military institution. He gave examples of the number of military credits needed for specific degrees. Neither UAA nor UAF has a limitation on the number of military credits accepted. UAF is working on developing a minor based on typical military credits. Last year, UAA awarded over 15,000 military transfer credits. The university reflects prevailing social values in welcoming and honoring the military. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the university has a position on the bill. MR. CHRISTENSEN responded that it would take a position shortly. 10:12:39 AM SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that the university is already implementing the goals stated in the bill. MR. CHRISTENSEN agreed that Alaska is fully on board with the program and the bill probably addresses a bigger picture - states that do not offer military credit. He did not know what would really change in Alaska. He concluded that it might address the perception of a problem. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI recalled many instances of students having trouble with credit transfers. MR. CHRISTIANSON agreed. He said there is an attempt to track down such stories and solve the problems. He requested that the committee let him know about credit transfer problems. SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the university was advertising this service. MR. CHRISTENSEN replied he believed so. He said he had seen many pages on the university's website. SENATOR PASKVAN inquired whether SB 150 manifests a statewide goal of best practices. He stressed the importance of having a state goal. 10:17:58 AM DON HABEGER, Director, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), supported the intent of SB 150. He voiced concern about Section 1 and the words "the department or applicable board shall accept". The way it is written, DCCED interprets it to mean that if the person has training that cannot be determined to have met Alaska standards, then the person receives licensure. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said his staff had been working with the department and will continue to do so. He asked for an alternative to the problem language. He suggested his office and the department continue to work together. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI addressed the fiscal note. He pointed out that all other states have zero fiscal notes. He inquired if the department expects the note to be zero, also. 10:22:12 AM SARA CHAMBERS, Professional Licensing Program Coordinator, Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (DCCED), addressed the department's fiscal note for SB 150. She spoke of what was needed to get the structure in place. SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if there was more to do to zero out the fiscal note. MS. CHAMBERS agreed to work in that direction. SENATOR PASKVAN agreed that the language "shall accept" in Section 1 was important. He pointed to language on line 9 of Section 1, "equivalent to some or all of the qualifications" and explained that his expectation was that equivalent or better military education, training, and service would be acceptable as credit. 10:24:58 AM MR. HABEGER said the problem is determining what level of training is acceptable. Senator Paskvan suggested the language is giving the university president wide latitude. He questioned if the state should be setting a separate goal. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI suggested "shall accept relevant". SENATOR GIESSEL spoke of outstanding healthcare providers. She wished to illuminate the purpose of the regulation of 67 professions. MR. HABEGER understood the regulations were for public protection; an expectancy for standards of care within professions. CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI closed public testimony and set SB 150 aside.