ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
February 21, 2001
3:40 p.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
TAPES
01-22A, SIDES A & B
01-22B, SIDE A
CALL TO ORDER
REPRESENTATIVE LISA MURKOWSKI, Chair, called the House Labor and
Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:40 p.m.
PRESENT
Committee members present were Representatives Murkowski, Halcro,
Meyer, Kott, Rokeberg, Crawford, and Hayes.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
CHRIS MILLER, Chief, Research and Analysis Section, Department of
Labor and Workforce Development (DLWD), reported that Alaska's
population and, more notably, the change in migration to Alaska
affect the workforce. About 15 percent of Alaska's 622,000
residents move in and out of the state each year. When the economy
is bad in the Lower 48, more people migrate to Alaska. With the
Baby Boomers reaching retirement age, there will be plenty of
opportunities for work in the state. The service, healthcare, and
oil industries will be steadily growing. Nursing and retail sales
will experience the largest growth rates.
JIM SANDERS, Executive Director, Alaska Human Resource Investment
Council (AHRIC), presented an overview. He stated that AHRIC's
mission is to combine the needs of employers with the needs of
workers by facilitating communication between the two groups.
AHRIC also assists with training and developing policy between
institutions and employers through partnerships with the school
system, postsecondary institutions, the University of Alaska,
Native non profit agencies, and unions.
WENDY REDMAN, Vice President, University of Alaska, commented on
AHRIC's role in facilitating job training and its oversight of
training partnerships. She stated that under the direction of the
new university president, Mark Hamilton, there has been a
resurgence of job training within the university system. The
university has worked with five different consortiums to develop
new programs.
MIKE SHIFFER, Director, Alaska Workforce Investment Office (AWIO),
stated that the primary functions of AWIO include direct oversight
of training programs, grants administration, policy development,
and technical assistance to local areas providing job training
services. The agency also works directly with employers and
workers affected by mass layoffs and job losses. AWIO looks to the
AHRIC and DLWD for leadership and direction in promoting training
programs in the state.
FRED ESPOSITO, Director, Alaska Vocational Technical Center
(AVTEC), reported that AVTEC is a leader in providing technology
education and training in the state. Last year AVTEC certified
1,542 Alaskans who became certified mechanics, chefs, industrial
electricians, welders, physical plant managers, accounting clerks,
and healthcare providers. The graduates are educated in industry,
can choose from over 20 different fields, and can leave with
industry certification. AVTEC emphasizes timely programs and has
responded to industry requests by implementing new programs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no committee announcements.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
CHAIR MURKOWSKI adjourned the House Labor and Commerce Standing
Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and after
adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Second Alaska State
Legislature this information may be obtained by contacting the
Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.