ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS  February 15, 2018 1:06 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Chris Tuck, Chair Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Vice Chair Representative Justin Parish Representative George Rauscher Representative Dan Saddler MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Ivy Spohnholz Representative Lora Reinbold COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 262 "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for certain nonresident professionals; and relating to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development." - MOVED CSHB 262(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 262 SHORT TITLE: MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KAWASAKI 01/16/18 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/18 01/16/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/16/18 (H) MLV, L&C 02/06/18 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 02/06/18 (H) Heard & Held 02/06/18 (H) MINUTE(MLV) 02/15/18 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120 WITNESS REGISTER WILLIAM JODWALIS, Staff Representative Scott Kawasaki Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Offered a review of the provisions of HB 262 and explained changes proposed under Amendment 1, on behalf of Representative Kawasaki, prime sponsor. ACTION NARRATIVE 1:06:27 PM CHAIR CHRIS TUCK called the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. Representatives Rauscher, LeDoux, Parish, and Tuck were present at the call to order. Representative Saddler arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 262-MILITARY SPOUSE COURTESY LICENSE  1:07:07 PM CHAIR TUCK announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 262, "An Act relating to temporary courtesy licenses for certain nonresident professionals; and relating to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development." 1:07:32 PM WILLIAM JODWALIS, Staff, Representative Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State Legislature, offered a review of the provisions of HB 262 on behalf of Representative Kawasaki, prime sponsor. He said "nonresident professionals" are military spouses who come to Alaska and are looking for employment. He said House Bill 28, passed in 2011, established the expedited licensure program for military spouses. He advised that HB 262 would require the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development (DCCED) to submit an annual report to the legislature describing the progress of that program. 1:08:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE PARISH moved to adopt Amendment 1, labeled 30- LS1079\D.1, Radford, 2/15/18, which read as follows: Page 1, line 7: Delete "fiscal" Insert "calendar" Page 2, lines 4 - 5: Delete "each regular session of the legislature" Insert "March each year" Page 2, line 6, following "of": Insert "March during" 1:09:13 PM MR. JODWALIS explained the reason for the first proposed change under Amendment 1 is that the military uses the calendar year rather than the fiscal year. The reason for the second change to "March each year" is to allow the same amount of time originally in the bill for the department to compile the report. 1:10:43 PM CHAIR TUCK announced that there being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 1:11:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that on page 2, lines 3-4, the department is directed to submit the annual report to the Joint Armed Services Committee, and he asked why that committee instead of [the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs]. MR. JODWALIS answered there are several reasons. Primary is that Joint Armed Services Committee deals directly with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) installations in Alaska. Additionally, he said the precedence was set by legislation in the State of Washington and the State of Connecticut, and HB 262 would follow suit. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER remarked that a joint committee probably has "a little more heft" and a broader reach than does the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. CHAIR TUCK added that the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs is a special committee, and there may be legislation in the future that does not approve the special committee. 1:12:51 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:12 p.m. to 1:13 p.m. 1:13:53 PM REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX moved to report HB 262, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 262(MLV) was reported out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs. 1:14:59 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.