ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                        
                          May 9, 2024                                                                                           
                           5:17 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson                                                                                                       
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator Forrest Dunbar                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Vice Chair                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(L&C)                                                                                
"An  Act relating  to insurance;  relating  to pharmacy  benefits                                                               
managers;  relating  to dispensing  fees;  and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCS CSHB 226(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 189(L&C) AM                                                                             
"An Act relating to the sale  of alcohol; relating to the posting                                                               
of warning  signs for alcoholic  beverages; and providing  for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCS CSHB 189(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 88(L&C)                                                                                 
"An  Act  relating to  work  quotas  for employees  at  warehouse                                                               
distribution centers; and providing for an effective date."                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCS CSHB 88(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 203 AM                                                                                                           
"An Act relating to wage payments."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCS HB 203(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 146(STA)                                                                                
"An  Act relating  to fireworks;  repealing  restrictions on  the                                                               
sale of fireworks;  directing the Department of  Public Safety to                                                               
adopt  fireworks  regulations;  and providing  for  an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED SCS CSHB 146(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 233(TRA) AM                                                                             
"An Act relating  to rates and time allowances  for motor vehicle                                                               
warranty   work;   and   relating    to   unfair   practices   by                                                               
manufacturers."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 233(TRA) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 251(L&C) AM                                                                             
"An  Act  exempting  certain  foods and  drinks  prepared  in  an                                                               
uninspected  kitchen from  state labeling,  licensing, packaging,                                                               
permitting, and inspection requirements;  and permitting a person                                                               
to acquire meat  from a producer by way of  an ownership share in                                                               
an animal if certain conditions are met."                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 146                                                                                                             
"An  Act relating  to pull-tabs;  relating to  persons prohibited                                                               
from involvement  in gaming;  and relating to  the duties  of the                                                               
Department of Revenue."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 226                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PHARMACIES/PHARMACISTS/BENEFITS MANAGERS                                                                           
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SUMNER                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       HSS, L&C, FIN                                                                                          
02/27/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/27/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/27/24       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
02/29/24       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM DAVIS 106                                                                               
02/29/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 226(HSS) Out of Committee                                                                   
02/29/24       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/04/24       (H)       HSS RPT CS(HSS) 6DP 1NR                                                                                
03/04/24       (H)       DP:   SUMNER,    RUFFRIDGE,   MCCORMICK,                                                               
                         SADDLER, MINA, PRAX                                                                                    
03/04/24       (H)       NR: FIELDS                                                                                             
03/06/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/06/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
03/11/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/11/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/11/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/25/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/25/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/25/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/03/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/03/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 04/05/24>                                                                 
04/05/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/05/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/15/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/15/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/15/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/22/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/22/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 226(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/22/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/24/24       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 4DP 1DNP 1NR                                                                 
04/24/24       (H)       DP: WRIGHT, CARRICK, SADDLER, RUFFRIDGE                                                                
04/24/24       (H)       DNP: PRAX                                                                                              
04/24/24       (H)       NR: FIELDS                                                                                             
04/24/24       (H)       FIN REFERRAL REMOVED                                                                                   
05/01/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/01/24       (S)       <Pending Referral>                                                                                     
05/02/24       (H)       L&C CS ADOPTED Y37 N3                                                                                  
05/03/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/03/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 226(L&C)                                                                                 
05/06/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/06/24       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 189                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: SALE OF ALCOHOL                                                                                                    
SPONSOR(s): LABOR & COMMERCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
05/03/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/03/23       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
03/06/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/06/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 03/08/24>                                                                 
03/08/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/08/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
03/11/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/11/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/11/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/22/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/22/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 189(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
03/22/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/25/24       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 4DP 1NR                                                                                
03/25/24       (H)       DP: CARRICK, PRAX, RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER                                                                   
03/25/24       (H)       NR: SADDLER                                                                                            
03/27/24       (H)       FIN REFERRAL ADDED AFTER L&C                                                                           
04/29/24       (H)       FIN REFERRAL REMOVED                                                                                   
05/06/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/06/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 189(L&C) AM                                                                              
05/07/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/07/24       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/08/24       (S)       FIN REFERRAL REMOVED                                                                                   
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB  88                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: WAREHOUSE WORK QUOTAS                                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): RAUSCHER                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
02/27/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/27/23       (H)       L&C, JUD                                                                                               
03/29/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/29/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/29/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/10/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/10/23       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
04/12/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/12/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/12/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/14/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/14/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/14/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/17/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/17/23       (H)       Moved CSHB 88(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                    
04/17/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/19/23       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) 3DP 4NR                                                                                
04/19/23       (H)       DP: FIELDS, CARRICK, SUMNER                                                                            
04/19/23       (H)       NR: SADDLER, PRAX, WRIGHT, RUFFRIDGE                                                                   
01/29/24       (H)       JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/29/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
01/29/24       (H)       MINUTE(JUD)                                                                                            
01/31/24       (H)       JUD AT 1:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
01/31/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 88(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                    
01/31/24       (H)       MINUTE(JUD)                                                                                            
02/02/24       (H)       JUD RPT CS(L&C) 6DP 1NR                                                                                
02/02/24       (H)       DP: C.JOHNSON, GRAY, CARPENTER, SUMNER,                                                                
                         GROH, VANCE                                                                                            
02/02/24       (H)       NR: ALLARD                                                                                             
04/26/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
04/26/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 88(L&C)                                                                                  
04/29/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/29/24       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/06/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/06/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/06/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       -- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be                                                                 
                         Set> --                                                                                                
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 203                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT                                                                             
SPONSOR(s): SUMNER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
05/16/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/16/23       (H)       L&C                                                                                                    
01/26/24       (H)       BILL REPRINTED                                                                                         
02/09/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/09/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
02/16/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/16/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
02/23/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/23/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
02/28/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/28/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/01/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/01/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
03/04/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/04/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/04/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/11/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/11/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/11/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/18/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/18/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/20/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/20/24       (H)       Moved HB 203 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/20/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/21/24       (H)       L&C RPT 4DP 3NR                                                                                        
03/21/24       (H)       DP: RUFFRIDGE, PRAX, SADDLER, SUMNER                                                                   
03/21/24       (H)       NR: FIELDS, CARRICK, WRIGHT                                                                            
05/01/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/01/24       (H)       VERSION: HB 203 AM                                                                                     
05/03/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/03/24       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/06/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/06/24       (S)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 146                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: REGULATION OF FIREWORKS                                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
03/29/23       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/29/23       (H)       STA, L&C                                                                                               
04/13/23       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/13/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/13/23       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
04/27/23       (H)       STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
04/27/23       (H)       Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/27/23       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/01/23       (H)       STA RPT CS(STA) 5DP 2NR                                                                                
05/01/23       (H)       DP:   CARPENTER,    C.JOHNSON,   ALLARD,                                                               
                         WRIGHT, SHAW                                                                                           
05/01/23       (H)       NR: ARMSTRONG, STORY                                                                                   
05/08/23       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/08/23       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/23       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
01/24/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
01/24/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee                                                                   
01/24/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
01/26/24       (H)       L&C RPT CS(STA) 7DP                                                                                    
01/26/24       (H)       DP: FIELDS, CARRICK, PRAX, WRIGHT,                                                                     
                         RUFFRIDGE, SADDLER, SUMNER                                                                             
03/21/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
03/21/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 146(STA)                                                                                 
03/22/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/22/24       (S)       STA, L&C                                                                                               
04/18/24       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/18/24       (S)       -- Public Testimony --                                                                                 
05/02/24       (S)       STA AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/02/24       (S)       Moved CSHB 146(STA) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/02/24       (S)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
05/03/24       (S)       STA RPT SCS 2NR 2AM   NEW TITLE                                                                        
05/03/24       (S)       AM: KAWASAKI, WIELECHOWSKI                                                                             
05/03/24       (S)       NR: MERRICK, BJORKMAN                                                                                  
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 233                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: RATES: MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTY WORK                                                                                 
SPONSOR(s): TOMASZEWSKI                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/24                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       L&C, JUD                                                                                               
03/06/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/06/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/06/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/15/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/15/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/22/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/22/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/22/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/18/24       (H)       TRA REPLACES JUD REFERRAL                                                                              
04/22/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/22/24       (H)       Moved HB 233 Out of Committee                                                                          
04/22/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/23/24       (H)       TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/23/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Canceled>                                                                                
04/24/24       (H)       L&C RPT 2DP 4NR                                                                                        
04/24/24       (H)       DP: WRIGHT, CARRICK                                                                                    
04/24/24       (H)       NR: FIELDS, PRAX, SADDLER, RUFFRIDGE                                                                   
04/25/24       (H)       TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/25/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/25/24       (H)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
04/27/24       (H)       TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/27/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/27/24       (H)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
05/02/24       (H)       TRA AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/02/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 233(TRA) Out of Committee                                                                   
05/02/24       (H)       MINUTE(TRA)                                                                                            
05/06/24       (H)       TRA RPT CS(TRA) NEW TITLE 2DP 4NR 1AM                                                                  
05/06/24       (H)       DP: STUTES, MCCABE                                                                                     
05/06/24       (H)       NR: C.JOHNSON, VANCE, MCKAY, MINA                                                                      
05/06/24       (H)       AM: SUMNER                                                                                             
05/06/24       (H)       TRA CS ADOPTED Y37 N1 A2                                                                               
05/06/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/06/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 233(TRA) AM                                                                              
05/07/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/07/24       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/08/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
05/08/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/08/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 251                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: EXEMPTIONS FOR HOMEMADE FOODS                                                                                      
SPONSOR(s): RAUSCHER                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
01/16/24       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/12/24                                                                               
01/16/24       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
01/16/24       (H)       L&C, RES                                                                                               
02/02/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/02/24       (H)       <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/05/24>                                                                 
02/05/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/05/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/05/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
02/14/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/14/24       (H)       Scheduled but Not Heard                                                                                
02/21/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
02/21/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/15/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/15/24       (H)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
03/27/24       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
03/27/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 251(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
03/27/24       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
03/28/24       (H)       L&C RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 2DP 5NR                                                                      
03/28/24       (H)       DP: RUFFRIDGE, SUMNER                                                                                  
03/28/24       (H)       NR: CARRICK, FIELDS, SADDLER, PRAX,                                                                    
                         WRIGHT                                                                                                 
04/08/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/08/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/08/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
04/15/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/15/24       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/15/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
04/17/24       (H)       RES AT 1:00 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/17/24       (H)       Moved CSHB 251(L&C) Out of Committee                                                                   
04/17/24       (H)       MINUTE(RES)                                                                                            
04/18/24       (H)       RES RPT CS(L&C) NEW TITLE 9DP                                                                          
04/18/24       (H)       DP: MEARS, ARMSTRONG, DIBERT, MCCABE,                                                                  
                         SADDLER, WRIGHT, BAKER, RAUSCHER, MCKAY                                                                
05/06/24       (H)       L&C CS ADOPTED Y37 N1 A2                                                                               
05/06/24       (H)       TRANSMITTED TO (S)                                                                                     
05/06/24       (H)       VERSION: CSHB 251(L&C) AM                                                                              
05/07/24       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/07/24       (S)       L&C                                                                                                    
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 146                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS                                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
05/10/23       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
05/10/23       (S)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
03/13/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
03/13/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/13/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
04/19/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/19/24       (S)       -- MEETING CANCELED --                                                                                 
04/22/24       (S)       L&C AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
04/22/24       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/22/24       (S)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/09/24       (S)       L&C AT 5:15 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DANIEL NELSON, Director of Pharmacy                                                                                             
Tanana Chiefs Conference                                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
BRANDY SEIGNEMARTIN, Executive Director                                                                                         
Alaska Pharmacy Association                                                                                                     
Eagle River, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY SCHABER, Chair                                                                                                           
Alaska Board of Pharmacy                                                                                                        
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 226.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff                                                                                                           
Senator Jesse Bjorkman                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided a summary of Amendment 1 (U.2) to                                                                
HB 189 and Amendment 2 (U.1) to HB 189.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
LEE ELLIS, President                                                                                                            
Brewers Guild of Alaska                                                                                                         
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 189.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
NOELLE LOCONTE, representing self                                                                                               
Madison, Wisconsin                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of cancer warning sign                                                               
provisions of HB 189.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
TIFFANY HALL, President and CEO                                                                                                 
Recover Alaska                                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of the cancer warning                                                                
sign provisions of HB 189.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS GREMILLION, Director                                                                                                     
Food Policy                                                                                                                     
Consumer Federation of America (CFA)                                                                                            
Washington, D.C                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 189.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff                                                                                                           
Senator Jesse Bjorkman                                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an explanation of the CS for HB 88,                                                              
work order 33-LS0516\S.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CLARK BICKFORD, Staff                                                                                                           
Representative Jesse Sumner                                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Responded to committee member questions on                                                                
HB 203.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
DAN LEWIS, Vice President of Government Affairs                                                                                 
Automatic Data Processing                                                                                                       
Roseland, New Jersey                                                                                                            
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 203.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
LISA PURINTON, Director                                                                                                         
Division of Statewide Services, Department of Public Safety                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the changes in the CS for HB 146.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
DAVID BRIGHT, Senior Attorney                                                                                                   
Alliance for Automotive Innovation                                                                                              
Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on HB 233.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
NICOLINA HERNANDEZ, Regional Director                                                                                           
Government Affairs                                                                                                              
Toyota Motors NA                                                                                                                
Sacramento, California                                                                                                          
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified with concerns on HB 233.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
RYAN MCKEE, Staff                                                                                                               
Representative George Rauscher                                                                                                  
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HB 251 on behalf of the sponsor,                                                               
Representative George Rauscher.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SARAH OATES, President                                                                                                          
Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant                                                                                               
and Retailers Association (CHARR)                                                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 251.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, Legislative Liaison,                                                                                          
Department of Environmental Conservation                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions on HB 251.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
JOHN POWERS, Owner                                                                                                              
Tudor Bingo Center                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition to SB 146.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DAVID LAMBERT, Charitable Gaming                                                                                                
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 146.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:17:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  JESSE  BJORKMAN  called  the  Senate  Labor  and  Commerce                                                             
Standing Committee meeting  to order at 5:17 p.m.  Present at the                                                               
call to  order were Senators  Merrick, Gray-Jackson,  Dunbar, and                                                               
Chair Bjorkman.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
        HB 226-PHARMACIES/PHARMACISTS/BENEFITS MANAGERS                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:19:09 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL                                                                 
NO. 226(L&C)"An Act relating to insurance; relating to pharmacy                                                                 
benefits  managers; relating  to dispensing  fees; and  providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He noted  that the  companion bill, SB  121 was  previously heard                                                               
and  before the  committee for  consideration was  SCS CSHB  226,                                                               
work order 33-LS0955\H.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:20:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 226.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:20:28 PM                                                                                                                    
DANIEL NELSON,  Director of  Pharmacy, Tanana  Chiefs Conference,                                                               
Anchorage, Alaska,  testified in  support of HB  226. He  said he                                                               
was an Alaskan  pharmacist for over 20 years and  the director of                                                               
pharmacy  for  the  Tanana  Chiefs   Conference  since  2007.  He                                                               
explained that  Pharmacy Benefit  Managers (PBMs)  were initially                                                               
created to  help rein in  prescription drug costs and  manage the                                                               
complex   reimbursement   environment  of   prescription   drugs.                                                               
Unfortunately,  a lack  of regulatory  and legislative  oversight                                                               
allowed  PBMs to  become vertically  and horizontally  integrated                                                               
oligopolies. He said  PBMs made an already complex  issue into an                                                               
utterly  illogical  world where  they  are  now  a, if  not  the,                                                               
primary driver of increasing prescription  drug costs in America.                                                               
He said this  was an issue he was very  passionate about, because                                                               
he  saw how  the many  problematic practices  of PBMs  negatively                                                               
impact clinical  outcomes for  patients, drive  prescription drug                                                               
costs up and  bankrupt Alaskan pharmacies through  a laundry list                                                               
of frankly  ludicrous business practices  designed with  the sole                                                               
intent of increasing PBMs' profit  margins and absolutely nothing                                                               
else. He said  he would not go  too far into the weeds  of HB 226                                                               
today, but  that the  bill was  a very modest  first step  in the                                                               
desperately needed arena  of PBM regulation and  reform. He urged                                                               
the committee to pass HB 226 out of committee today.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:22:04 PM                                                                                                                    
BRANDY   SEIGNEMARTIN,   Executive  Director,   Alaska   Pharmacy                                                               
Association, Eagle River, Alaska,  testified in strong support of                                                               
HB 226 on behalf of the  Alaska Pharmacy Association. She said HB                                                               
226  sought  to  address   anti-competitive,  unfair  and  opaque                                                               
business  practices  by  Pharmacy Benefit  Managers  (PBMs).  She                                                               
shared  new  data  from  a  first  of  its  kind  study  done  in                                                               
Washington State  that shed light on  the significant disparities                                                               
caused by  PBMs in the  employer and commercial  marketplace, the                                                               
sector HB 226 specifically applied  to. The study found that PBMs                                                               
were  steering patients  to their  own mail-order  pharmacies and                                                               
requiring the employer or plan sponsor  to reimburse the PBM at a                                                               
magnitude of  47 to 1400  times over acquisition costs  than they                                                               
reimburse   local  pharmacies.   She   emphasized  the   apparent                                                               
disparity and said the practice  resulted in erosion of the local                                                               
healthcare   infrastructure  and   the  closure   of  independent                                                               
pharmacies. She said HB 226  represented an important step toward                                                               
addressing these  harmful practices. She said,  while it wouldn't                                                               
solve  all the  issues,  it  would set  a  framework for  greater                                                               
oversight    and   accountability,    promoting   fairness    and                                                               
transparency  in  Alaska's health  care  industry.  She said  the                                                               
Alaska Pharmacy Association believed  HB 266 would help safeguard                                                               
local  pharmacies and  support better  health  care outcomes  for                                                               
patients. She thanked the committee  for their time and attention                                                               
and urged them to move HB  226 forward expeditiously to ensure it                                                               
would make it through this session.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:23:39 PM                                                                                                                    
ASHLEY  SCHABER,  Chair,  Alaska Board  of  Pharmacy,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  testified  on  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Pharmacy  who                                                               
unanimously supported HB 226. She said HB 226 would:                                                                            
   • promote choice for patients to access pharmacy services                                                                    
   • provide transparency                                                                                                       
   • protect safety and patient access to clinics who administer                                                                
     drugs                                                                                                                      
   • align with the Board's strategic plan                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHABER  said passage of HB  226 would help build  the needed                                                               
foundation to  assure Alaska's pharmacies can  continue to safely                                                               
serve  Alaska   patients  throughout   the  state.   She  thanked                                                               
committee members for hearing HB  266 and urged their support and                                                               
quick passage [of HB 266].                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:24:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 226.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:24:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:24:41 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to  report Senate Committee Substitute                                                               
(SCS) for  CSHB 226, work  order 33 LS0955\H from  committee with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:25:11 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:25:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN reconvened.  He found  no objection  and SCS  FOR                                                               
CSHB 226(L&C)  was reported  from the  Senate Labor  and Commerce                                                               
Standing Committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:25:29 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                     HB 189-SALE OF ALCOHOL                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:27:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of CS  FOR  HOUSE  BILL NO.  189(L&C)  am "An  Act                                                               
relating  to the  sale of  alcohol;  relating to  the posting  of                                                               
warning  signs  for alcoholic  beverages;  and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BJORKMAN stated  the motion  to adopt  SCS CSHB  189, work                                                               
order 33-LS0697\U, was  pending before the committee;  he said he                                                               
had maintained  his objection as  there was  a need to  amend the                                                               
bill further.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:27:41 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection;  found no further objection                                                               
and SCS CSHB 189 was adopted as the working document.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:28:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:28:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  adopt  Amendment  1 (U.2),  work                                                               
order 33-LS0697\U.2, for HB 189.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                 33-LS0697\U.2                                                                  
                                                   C. Radford                                                                   
                                                       5/9/24                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE                  BY SENATOR BJORKMAN                                                                 
     TO:  SCS CSHB 189(L&C), Draft Version "U"                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1, following "alcohol;":                                                                                    
          Insert "relating to the posting of warning signs                                                                    
     for alcoholic beverages;"                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 27:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
        "* Sec. 11. AS 04.21.065(b) is amended to read:                                                                     
          (b)  The warning signs required by (a) of this                                                                        
     section must  be at least  11 inches by 14  inches, and                                                                    
     the lettering must  be at least one-half  inch high and                                                                    
     in  contrasting  colors.  The  first  sign  must  read,                                                                    
     "WARNING:  Alcohol  use [DRINKING  ALCOHOLIC  BEVERAGES                                                                
     SUCH  AS  BEER,  WINE,   WINE  COOLERS,  AND  DISTILLED                                                                    
     SPIRITS  OR SMOKING  CIGARETTES]  during pregnancy  can                                                                    
     cause  birth defects.  Alcohol  use  can cause  cancer,                                                                
     including breast  and colon  cancers." The  second sign                                                                
     must read,  "WARNING: A  person who  provides alcoholic                                                                    
     beverages  to  a  person  under 21  years  of  age,  if                                                                    
     convicted under  AS 04.16.051, could be  imprisoned for                                                                    
     up to  five years and  fined up to $50,000."  The third                                                                    
     sign  must  read,  "WARNING:  An  unaccompanied  person                                                                    
     under  21 years  of age  who enters  these premises  in                                                                    
     violation  of   law  may,  under   AS 04.16.049(e),  be                                                                    
     civilly liable  for damages of $1,500."  The license or                                                                    
     permit holder shall display the  first and second signs                                                                    
     in  a manner  that  would make  them  conspicuous to  a                                                                    
     person who  will be  purchasing or  consuming alcoholic                                                                    
     beverages  or smoking  cigarettes  on  the licensed  or                                                                    
     designated  premises  and shall  conspicuously  display                                                                    
     the  third sign  at each  door through  which customers                                                                    
     enter the licensed premises."                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, following line 31:                                                                                                 
          Insert a new bill section to read:                                                                                    
        "*  Sec. 14.  Section 11  of this  Act takes  effect                                                                
     January 1, 2025."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Renumber the following bill section accordingly.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Page 6, line 1:                                                                                                            
          Delete "This"                                                                                                         
          Insert "Except as provided in sec. 14 of this                                                                         
     Act, this"                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:28:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:28:22 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  Juneau, Alaska,  said  Amendment 1  (U.2), page  1,                                                               
would restore language  which was removed from  CSHB 189, version                                                               
U,  and [Amendment  1  (U.2)],  page 2,  would  insert a  delayed                                                               
effective date  at the  request of Joan  Wilson, Director  of the                                                               
Alcohol and  Marijuana Control Office (AMCO)  to allow additional                                                               
time for [cancer  warning signs]to be printed  and distributed to                                                               
the various vendors in a reasonable time.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:29:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  asked  for   clarification  about  the  extended                                                               
effective date. He  asked whether it applied only  to the section                                                               
of HB 189 that addressed the [cancer warning] signs.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:29:25 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON affirmed  that only the effective date  for the signs                                                               
was  changed; the  effective  date  for HB  189  overall was  not                                                               
changed.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:29:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection;  found no further objection                                                               
and Amendment 1 (U.2), work order 33-LS0697\U.2 was adopted.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:29:59 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:30:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  adopt  Amendment  2 (U.1),  work                                                               
order 33-LS0697\U.1, to HB 189.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                 33-LS0697\U.1                                                                  
                                                   C. Radford                                                                   
                                                       5/8/24                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 2                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE                  BY SENATOR BJORKMAN                                                                 
     TO:  SCS CSHB 189(L&C), Draft Version "U"                                                                                  
     Page 4, line 28, following "(1)":                                                                                      
          Insert    "beverage    dispensary   or    beverage                                                                
      dispensary tourism licensee that has a large resort                                                                   
     endorsement,"                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, line 7:                                                                                                            
          Delete ";"                                                                                                        
          Insert "."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Page 5, lines 8 - 12:                                                                                                      
          Delete all material.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:30:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:30:21 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON stated  Amendment 2 (U.1) corrected  a minor drafting                                                               
error in  the rewrite  of Title  IV. He  explained that  Title IV                                                               
dealt  with large  resorts [who  hold  alcohol endorsements].  He                                                               
said  current statute  prohibits  small  children from  wandering                                                               
around [on resort premises] without  direct adult supervision. He                                                               
said  language was  inserted on  page four,  line 28  which would                                                               
permit children  to be on  the premises of large  resorts holding                                                               
alcohol endorsements. He  noted the large resort  in Girdwood was                                                               
the only resort that Amendment 2  (U.1) applied to. He said there                                                               
was also  language in the  amendment that deleted the  attempt on                                                               
page five  of HB 189,  which was inadvertently drafted  and which                                                               
would  have  allowed  children  16  years or  so  of  age  to  be                                                               
unaccompanied in a bar at a  large resort. He said that was never                                                               
the intention  of that  CS, so  that was  deleted [from  HB 189],                                                               
page five, lines eight through twelve.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:32:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection;  found no further objection                                                               
and Amendment 2 (U.1) was adopted.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:32:33 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  spoke in favor  of HB 189.  He noted that  it was                                                               
crucial to employers facing workforce  shortages. He also said it                                                               
was incredibly  important that young people,  eighteen, nineteen,                                                               
twenty  years old,  had access  to  employment opportunities.  He                                                               
noted  that young  people  in  this country  are  expected to  be                                                               
adults at 18 and we  should not further restrict their employment                                                               
opportunities.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:33:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 189.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:33:43 PM                                                                                                                    
LEE  ELLIS,  President,  Brewers   Guild  of  Alaska,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,   testified  in   support   of  HB   189.  He   expressed                                                               
appreciation  for  the  inclusion of  manufacturers  [of  alcohol                                                               
products in HB  189]. He emphasized the  importance of recruiting                                                               
new employees,  including college  students, and  highlighted the                                                               
benefits of  internships for students studying  food sciences. He                                                               
said HB  189 would allow  younger college students, under  21, to                                                               
work  in  various  roles  without   handling  alcohol,  which  is                                                               
beneficial  for  staffing  and family-owned  breweries.  He  also                                                               
mentioned collaborating with the  University of Alaska to develop                                                               
a brewing  education program,  which would  be possible  with the                                                               
bill's passage. He stressed the  brewing industry's commitment to                                                               
responsible    alcohol    consumption   and    the    educational                                                               
opportunities for younger workers.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:36:36 PM                                                                                                                    
NOELLE LOCONTE, representing  self, Madison, Wisconsin, testified                                                               
in support of  the cancer warning sign provisions of  HB 189. She                                                               
emphasized  the   low  awareness  nationwide  of   alcohol  as  a                                                               
carcinogen,  with   only  30  percent  of   the  U.S.  population                                                               
understanding this  link and she  said physicians'  awareness was                                                               
not much  better. She advocated  for increased awareness  to help                                                               
people make informed choices [about their alcohol consumption].                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
DR.  LOCONTE   listed  seven  cancers  associated   with  alcohol                                                               
consumption:   head   and   neck,  breast,   liver,   colorectal,                                                               
esophageal, gastric,  and pancreatic cancer. She  highlighted the                                                               
need for public education on this topic.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:38:00 PM                                                                                                                    
TIFFANY  HALL,  President  and CEO,  Recover  Alaska,  Anchorage,                                                               
Alaska,  testified   in  support  of  the   cancer  warning  sign                                                               
provisions of  HB 189.  She said Recover  Alaska was  a statewide                                                               
organization focused  on reducing  excessive alcohol use  and its                                                               
associated harms.  She highlighted the significance  of cancer as                                                               
the leading  cause of death  in Alaska  and alcohol as  the third                                                               
leading  modifiable  cause.  She   emphasized  that  alcohol  was                                                               
related to nine out of the top ten causes of death in the state.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. HALL said  there was no question that  alcohol causes cancer.                                                               
and there was no credible  authority that disputed that. Even so,                                                               
she said, it  was largely unknown. She said  knowledge was power.                                                               
Public awareness  was critical. She said  Recover Alaska believed                                                               
the [alcohol cancer risk] warning  signs would be reaching a very                                                               
relevant group. She thanked the  committee for hearing HB 189 and                                                               
expressed appreciation for  the very clean language  and the work                                                               
of the Alcohol Marijuana Control Office (AMCO).                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:39:37 PM                                                                                                                    
THOMAS GREMILLION, Director, Food  Policy, Consumer Federation of                                                               
America (CFA), Washington,  D.C, testified in support  of HB 189.                                                               
He said the Consumer Federation  of America (CFA) was a nonprofit                                                               
organization  established   in  1968  to  advance   the  consumer                                                               
interest in research, education  and advocacy. He explained that,                                                               
for  decades,  CFA  advocated  to  bring  alcohol  labeling  into                                                               
alignment with  other beverages and  food with respect  to things                                                               
like  calories, ingredients  and allergens.  They also  advocated                                                               
for updates  to health warning statements  on alcoholic beverages                                                               
to  include  alcohol  cancer warnings.  He  said  alcohol  cancer                                                               
warnings  are a  powerful public  policy tool,  precisely because                                                               
alcohol  cancer  risk  represents a  significant  health  burden,                                                               
killing  over  20,000  Americans   a  year,  dying  from  alcohol                                                               
attributable  cancers.  He  emphasized  previous  testimony  that                                                               
public awareness of  [alcohol cancer risk] is very  low and noted                                                               
that 10 percent of the  population thought alcohol reduced cancer                                                               
risk, at  least in  the form  of wine, and,  he said,  that's not                                                               
true.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GREMILLION  said  CFA  supported  federal  alcohol  labeling                                                               
reform and  state laws to  require point of sale  cancer warnings                                                               
for alcohol.  He referred to  a paper on their  website entitled:                                                               
State and  Local Public Policy  Options for Raising  Awareness of                                                               
Alcohol Cancer Risk. He said  it listed an extensive bibliography                                                               
of academic  research articles that  support provisions  like the                                                               
one in  HB 189.  He said point  of sale warning  signs do  have a                                                               
record  of success.  He pointed  out  that warning  signs on  the                                                               
dangers of drinking while pregnant,  which were adopted in Alaska                                                               
and nearly  half of the other  states in the union  in the 1990s,                                                               
are  associated  with  a  significantly  reduced  rate  of  fetal                                                               
alcohol syndrome.  He emphasized that  while it may seem  like no                                                               
one is paying  attention to these warning signs, they  do get the                                                               
message out, and slowly change the public mindset over time.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:42:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 189.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:42:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:42:45 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  report SCS  CSHB 189,  work order                                                               
33-LS0697\U,   as  amended,   from   committee  with   individual                                                               
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:43:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN found  no  objection and  SCS  CSHB 189(L&C)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:43:20 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                  HB  88-WAREHOUSE WORK QUOTAS                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:46:25 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of CS  FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 88(L&C)  "An Act relating                                                               
to work  quotas for employees at  warehouse distribution centers;                                                               
and providing for an effective date."                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
He noted that  this is the second hearing of  the bill and during                                                               
the last  meeting Amendment [1  (B.3), work  order 33-LS0516\B.3]                                                               
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:47:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  opened public testimony  on HB 88;  finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:47:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:47:36 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON   moved  to  adopt  the   Senate  Committee                                                               
Substitute for  CSHB 88, work  order 33-LS0516\S, as  the working                                                               
document.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:47:47 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:48:04 PM                                                                                                                    
KONRAD  JACKSON,  Staff,  Senator Jesse  Bjorkman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, began to  explain the SCS for HB 88,                                                               
work order  33-LS0516\S. He said  there were two changes,  one of                                                               
which  had been  made the  previous day  through the  adoption of                                                               
Amendment 1 (B.3).                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:48:31 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:49:38 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened the meeting.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:49:56 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. JACKSON  continued to explain the  SCS for HB 88,  work order                                                               
33-LS0516\S.  He referred  to  page  one, line  9,  and said  the                                                               
change  from  200  to  100  was  made  through  the  adoption  of                                                               
Amendment 1  (B.3) offered by Senator  Dunbar. He said if  the CS                                                               
were adopted by the committee that change would remain at 100.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. JACKSON  said the  second change  could be  found on  page 2,                                                               
line  28, subsection  (d).  A new  sentence  was inserted,  which                                                               
read: "a former  employee is limited to one request  under (a) of                                                               
this section." He  explained that this would  allow for employees                                                               
to  request quota  information and  other  information, from  the                                                               
employer.  He explained  that  page 2,  line  28, subsection  (d)                                                               
dealt with a  former employee being added to  language that would                                                               
allow for  one additional request  for information once  they are                                                               
no  longer an  employee. He  said  the remainder  of section  "D"                                                               
would allow an employer to  reject a former employee's request if                                                               
that request has already been fulfilled.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:51:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:51:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN  found no further  objection and the SCS  CSHB 88,                                                               
was adopted as the working document.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:52:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:52:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  adopt  Amendment  1 (S.1),  work                                                               
order 33-LS0516\S.1, to HB 88.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                               33-LS0516\S.1                                                                    
                                                  A. Radford                                                                    
                                                      5/8/24                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                          AMENDMENT 1                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     OFFERED IN THE SENATE                  BY SENATOR BJORKMAN                                                                 
     TO:  SCS CSHB 88(L&C)                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 6:                                                                                                            
          Delete "the employer may take"                                                                                        
          Insert "may result"                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 17, following "employee":                                                                                     
          Insert "who believes that meeting a quota                                                                             
      required the employee to violate a federal or state                                                                       
     occupational safety and health law"                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 20, following "data":                                                                                         
          Insert "; an employer is not required under this                                                                      
     paragraph to provide any portion of a qualitative                                                                          
     performance assessment, personnel record, or wage                                                                          
     statement that does not include information relating                                                                       
     to the employee's work speed data"                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 3:                                                                                                            
          Delete "a"                                                                                                            
          Insert "an overtime-eligible"                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 4, following "quota;":                                                                                        
          Insert ""employee" does not include a driver or                                                                       
     courier to or from a warehouse distribution center or                                                                      
       a person whose work duty is operating a tractor or                                                                       
     other motor vehicle"                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:52:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of discussion. He explained                                                                
the key points of Amendment 1 (S.1):                                                                                            
   • Page two, line six required a quota description to identify                                                                
     all potential adverse employment actions that may result in                                                                
     failing to meet the quota.                                                                                                 
   • Page two, line 17 is conceptually deleted and not included                                                                 
     in the amendment.                                                                                                          
   • Page two, line 20 clarified the information that must be                                                                   
    provided to an employee upon request of work speed data.                                                                    
   • Page three, line four clarified that HB 88 does not apply                                                                  
     to couriers and express delivery drivers.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN said the amendment  specified that work speed data                                                               
does  not  include  the  employee's  entire  work  history,  past                                                               
performance evaluations,  or wage  statements and that  only data                                                               
related to  work speed information  is required to  be disclosed.                                                               
He  said this  clarification would  ensure that  the request  for                                                               
work speed data would be limited  to relevant metrics. He said HB                                                               
88 would apply  to employees most likely subjected  to work speed                                                               
metrics as defined in the  Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which                                                               
would  be  those  employees eligible  for  overtime  pay.  Exempt                                                               
employees,  typically salaried,  are  not  eligible for  overtime                                                               
under the FLSA.  He said this clarification would  ensure that HB                                                               
88 would apply  to individual work speed data and  not company or                                                               
site-wide performance metrics.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN said that many  couriers and delivery companies in                                                               
Alaska are small businesses or  entrepreneurs, and that Amendment                                                               
1  (S.1)  seeks  to  avoid inadvertently  including  gig  economy                                                               
workers in HB 88's scope.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:55:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:55:09 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR objected.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:55:14 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR spoke  to his objection. He said  he preferred the                                                               
existing language  [of HB  88] which, he  said, came  through the                                                               
House with a lot of consideration.  He said the first part of the                                                               
amendment  creates  some  confusion.  He  acknowledged  that  the                                                               
second part  was to be  removed. He said  the third part  was too                                                               
broad  and the  fourth part  unnecessary. For  those reasons,  he                                                               
opposed Amendment 1 (S.1).                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:55:48 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:57:27 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN reconvened  the meeting and asked for  a roll call                                                               
vote.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:57:43 PM                                                                                                                    
A roll call  vote was taken. Senators Merrick  and Bjorkman voted                                                               
in  favor of  Amendment 1  (S.1)  and Senators  Dunbar and  Gray-                                                               
Jackson voted against it. The vote was 2:2.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:58:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN announced that Amendment  1 (S.1) failed on a vote                                                               
of 2:2.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:58:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:58:28 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved  to   report  the  Senate  Committee                                                               
Substitute  (SCS)  for  CSHB 88,  work  order  33-LS0516\S,  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:58:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  found no  objection  and  SCS CSHB  88(L&C)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
5:59:00 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
         HB 203-PAYMENT OF WAGES; PAYROLL CARD ACCOUNT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
6:00:45 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of HOUSE  BILL NO. 203 am "An Act  relating to wage                                                               
payments."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BJORKMAN noted  that in prior hearing, there  was a request                                                               
for  statistics  regarding  wage  theft. He  asked  Mr.  Bickford                                                               
whether he had statistics to share with the committee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
6:01:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CLARK  BICKFORD,  Staff,  Representative  Jesse  Sumner,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska,  reported that  he was  unable  to provide  hard data  in                                                               
response to  Senator Dunbar's  question [regarding  the potential                                                               
impact of HB 203 on the incidence  of wage theft]. He said he met                                                               
with the payroll  department for the [City and  Borough of Juneau                                                               
(CBJ)] and the  payroll department for the  state legislature. He                                                               
said they reported  less than ten percent of  their employees opt                                                               
for  paper checks,  and  that they  adamantly  push employees  to                                                               
electronic   payment  for   reasons  discussed   yesterday:  that                                                               
electronic   forms  of   payment   are   more  convenient,   more                                                               
environmentally friendly,  and less vulnerable to  theft. He said                                                               
it  was  also  important  to note  that  the  General  Government                                                               
bargaining  unit  (GGU),  which  is  the  largest  union  in  the                                                               
executive  branch  in  Alaska doesn't  give  a  [paper  paycheck]                                                               
option to their employees, for  the same reasons, that electronic                                                               
payment is more convenient and  less likely to [be vulnerable to]                                                               
theft of  wages or lost checks.  He said this is  the same choice                                                               
many  employers make  for their  employees. He  said the  sponsor                                                               
urged  the committee  to return  to the  original version  [of HB                                                               
203]  that  was passed  out  of  the  House, Labor  and  Commerce                                                               
[committee] before  it was passed out  of the House. He  said Mr.                                                               
Lewis was online with a short, prepared statement on wage theft.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:03:07 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN invited  Mr. Lewis to share his  statement on wage                                                               
theft with the committee.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:03:17 PM                                                                                                                    
DAN LEWIS,  Vice President of Government  Affairs, Automatic Data                                                               
Processing (ADP),  Roseland, New Jersey, clarified  that ADP does                                                               
not  track  specific  data  on  wage  theft.  He  said  employees                                                               
receiving pay through  pay cards or electronic  means receive the                                                               
same  information as  those with  paper paychecks.  He said  they                                                               
would have  available all the  records to validate  accurate pay.                                                               
He said  that information  would be  housed in  a portal  that is                                                               
electronically available and retained  for the employees, so they                                                               
have easy and  long-term access to the information  on their pay.                                                               
He  emphasized  that  employees have  access  to  that  [payroll]                                                               
information much  more quickly  than they  would through  a paper                                                               
paycheck,  allowing  for  quicker and  earlier  opportunities  to                                                               
identify discrepancies  in their  pay. He suggested  that Senator                                                               
Dunbar's  question my  have reflected  concern that  it would  be                                                               
more likely that unbanked or  underbanked employees would be more                                                               
likely  to receive  pay through  pay cards,  and that  population                                                               
also  may  be at  higher  risk  for  wage  theft. He  said  [that                                                               
population] should be afforded the  protections that he outlined.                                                               
He said  he did  not think  that there would  be greater  risk to                                                               
employees  that  are paid  through  pay  card rather  than  paper                                                               
checks. He said they would  probably be more protected [from wage                                                               
theft by receiving their pay through pay cards].                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:05:12 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON expressed appreciation  for the provision in                                                               
HB 203 for employees who were unable to have a bank account.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:05:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened  public testimony on HB  203; finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
6:06:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:06:02 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON   moved  to  adopt  the   Senate  committee                                                               
substitute  (SCS) for  HB  203, work  order  33-LS0857\A, as  the                                                               
working document.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:06:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN objected for purposes of explanation.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
6:06:17 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. BICKFORD explained  that HB 203 would give the  choice to the                                                               
employer whether to  offer paper checks. He said  if the employer                                                               
does  not  want  to  [offer paper  paychecks],  they  would  give                                                               
employees an option between direct  deposit or a payroll card. He                                                               
said  the  decision  would  lie  solely  with  the  employer.  He                                                               
referred to  the largest union in  Alaska [GGU] as an  example of                                                               
an employer offering only electronic forms of pay.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:07:01 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:07:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection  and the SCS for HB 203                                                               
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:07:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:07:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved  to report SCS HB 203,  work order 33-                                                               
LS0857\A,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:07:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  found  no  objection and  SCS  HB  203(L&C)  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:08:02 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
                 HB 146-REGULATION OF FIREWORKS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:11:32 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE  BILL NO. 146(STA):"An Act relating                                                               
to fireworks; directing the Department  of Public Safety to adopt                                                               
fireworks regulations; and providing for an effective date."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:12:02 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened  public testimony on HB  146; finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
6:12:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN stated there was a proposed committee substitute.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:12:28 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited a motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:12:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON   moved  to  adopt  the   Senate  committee                                                               
substitute  (SCS) for  CSHB 146,  work order  33-GH1356\U as  the                                                               
working document.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:12:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   objected  for   purposes  of   explanation  and                                                               
requested  an  overview  of  the   committee  substitute  by  Ms.                                                               
Purinton.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:12:51 PM                                                                                                                    
LISA   PURINTON,  Director,   Division  of   Statewide  Services,                                                               
Department  of  Public  Safety,  Juneau,  Alaska,  said  the  SCS                                                               
amended section seven, titled  "pyrotechnic licenses and permits"                                                               
found  on pages  four and  five of  the SCS.  She said  the issue                                                               
identified was  related to the  insurance requirements  for these                                                               
permits. She said  these licenses were for  large scale fireworks                                                               
displays, like those in Juneau  or Anchorage, and most areas, for                                                               
the Fourth  of July,  or for  Rondy. She  noted that  large scale                                                               
fireworks displays  require a special  license and a  permit. The                                                               
way the  bill was originally drafted,  the insurance requirements                                                               
were  tied to  the  license, and  should have  been  tied to  the                                                               
permit, so  that the insurance  requirement doesn't put  an undue                                                               
burden on the business to  maintain insurance throughout the year                                                               
when they only need the insurance  at the time of the permit when                                                               
the  display  of fireworks  occurs.  She  noted that  there  were                                                               
insurance  requirements   such  as  public   liability  insurance                                                               
coverage  to  ensure that  those  protections  are in  place  and                                                               
certain  time  frames  that  would   have  to  be  met  prior  to                                                               
scheduling  a  large-scale   fireworks  display.  She  concluded,                                                               
saying that  the SCS  would amend  HB 146  to properly  place the                                                               
insurance  requirements  with  a   permit  [rather  than  with  a                                                               
license].  She noted  the State  Fire Marshall  was available  to                                                               
provide technical information.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
6:14:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN removed his objection.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:14:56 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN found no further objection  and the SCS for HB 146                                                               
was adopted.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:15:04 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:15:07 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON  moved to  report SCS  CSHB 146,  work order                                                               
33-GH1356\U, from  committee with individual  recommendations and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:15:24 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:16:23 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN [reconvened the meeting].                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:16:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN found  no  objection and  SCS  CSHB 146(L&C)  was                                                               
reported from Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
           HB 233-RATES: MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTY WORK                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:16:53 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of CS  FOR  HOUSE  BILL NO.  233(TRA)  am "An  Act                                                               
relating to rates and time  allowances for motor vehicle warranty                                                               
work; and relating to unfair practices by manufacturers."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:17:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 233.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:17:39 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID   BRIGHT,   Senior   Attorney,  Alliance   for   Automotive                                                               
Innovation, Washington, D.C., testified  with concerns on HB 233.                                                               
He  said the  Alliance for  Automotive Innovation  was the  trade                                                               
association representing automobile  manufacturers. He noted that                                                               
he  submitted a  written  statement to  the committee  explaining                                                               
automakers'  concerns with  HB 233  and a  request that  they not                                                               
forward it. Rather  than repeating the content of  the letter, he                                                               
said he  wished to  address testimony  that this  committee heard                                                               
from  the proponents  of the  bill, and  to flag  a problem  that                                                               
amendments  to  HB  233  create, which  is  introduce  a  perhaps                                                               
unintended  level of  ambiguity  into the  bill  relative to  the                                                               
[original] introduced version.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
6:18:25 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. BRIGHT first  addressed the amendments. He  said the original                                                               
version of HB  233 required manufacturers to pay  car dealers the                                                               
number  of  hours  that that  particular  dealer  charged  retail                                                               
customers for similar work. The  [subsequent] B and C versions of                                                               
HB 233  instead required manufacturers  to pay not less  than the                                                               
time  allowances provided  in independent  labor time  guides. He                                                               
explained that the  problem with that is that  there were several                                                               
independent labor time  guides, and they don't  always agree with                                                               
each other  on the amount of  time for repair. So,  he said, what                                                               
this  language  would   do  is  create  a   situation  where  the                                                               
manufacturer doesn't know  even what it's supposed  to pay, which                                                               
he said he suspected, was  an unintended consequence. He referred                                                               
to the aforementioned written statement  and emphasized that none                                                               
of this is even necessary,  because, again, the manufacturer time                                                               
guides are still  the only ones that actually  measure the amount                                                               
of time that's necessary to complete a repair.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
6:19:28 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. BRIGHT  commented on a  discussion of an economic  study that                                                               
the Alexa Automobile Dealers pointed  to that came from Illinois,                                                               
looking at  the statute  that Illinois  passed recently.  He said                                                               
that study does,  in fact, not support the assertion  that HB 233                                                               
helps jobs.  He highlighted  two things.  First, figure  four [of                                                               
the  report  from  Illinois],  which   looks  at  the  change  in                                                               
employment  for  applicable number  of  employees  at dealers  in                                                               
Illinois which,  again, passed the  law, compared  to neighboring                                                               
states which  did not. He pointed  out that after two  years, the                                                               
difference in employment is only  0.3 percent. He opined that was                                                               
not much  of a  jobs bill.  He referred to  figure seven  [of the                                                               
report from  Illinois], which  looked at  the change  in earnings                                                               
for  dealer  employees  in  Illinois,   which  passed  the  bill,                                                               
compared to  earnings for dealer employees  in neighboring states                                                               
that did  not pass  [a bill  like HB 233].  He noted  both groups                                                               
enjoyed  wage  increases. He  said  the  [Indisc.] was  only  2.9                                                               
percent and given that the bill  called for a 50 percent increase                                                               
in  the amount  that  manufacturers pay  for  warranty labor  and                                                               
given the amount of such labor  that dealers do, one would expect                                                               
that  quite a  bit  more than  2.9 percent  would  have been  the                                                               
amount of wage increases for dealers working in Illinois.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:21:11 PM                                                                                                                    
NICOLINA  HERNANDEZ,   Regional  Director,   Government  Affairs,                                                               
Toyota   Motors  NA,   Sacramento,  California,   testified  with                                                               
concerns  on HB  233. She  said Toyota  would always  value their                                                               
Toyota  and Lexus  dealers in  Alaska.  She said  the Toyota  and                                                               
Lexus dealers in Alaska seemed  satisfied with Toyota's [warranty                                                               
repair] time allowances. She reported  that in 2022 and 2023 zero                                                               
Alaska dealers  requested flat time adjustments.  Nationally, she                                                               
said,  Toyota  did receive  24  requests  in  2022 and  about  50                                                               
percent of  that last year.  She said  it was with  this feedback                                                               
that Toyota  makes adjustments to increase  the [warranty repair]                                                               
time  allowances. She  said that  last year,  11 states  reviewed                                                               
warranty rate  legislation, and  all but  one were  rejected. She                                                               
said that now, only four states  total in the US have third party                                                               
time guides in the books. She  said Toyota had come to understand                                                               
that technician  pay specifically had not  increased commensurate                                                               
with the increases in the  rates charged. She sought to emphasize                                                               
that it was  in Toyota's best interest to make  sure that dealers                                                               
are  profitable,  that  they're  fully  reimbursed  in  a  timely                                                               
manner, and if for any  reason they need additional compensation,                                                               
Toyota works  with their field  technicians hand in hand  to make                                                               
sure  that they're  paid that  additional time.  She said  Toyota                                                               
continues to have  concerns, however, with the HB  233, even with                                                               
the third-party  time guide language.  She said third  party time                                                               
guides were not intended for  franchise dealers. Third Party time                                                               
guides use  multipliers on Toyota's time  allowances to determine                                                               
their rates,  which meant  they would  inherently be  higher. She                                                               
said that meant  it would cost more when  customers service their                                                               
cars and  trucks [through  third parties].  She said  third party                                                               
time guides would  also affect the cost of  selling vehicles, and                                                               
importantly,  the cost  of ownership  and the  cost of  long-term                                                               
loyalty to Toyota's Alaska dealers.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:23:15 PM                                                                                                                    
MS. HERNANDEZ  concluded that Toyota remained  sympathetic to the                                                               
workforce  challenges.  She  emphasized that  nothing  explicitly                                                               
linked the additional charges to  technician pay. She said Toyota                                                               
wanted  all dealers  to  have the  best  [employees] selling  and                                                               
servicing their  cars; and wanted  folks to drive away  happy and                                                               
feel good about coming back to  them. She said Toyota was engaged                                                               
on this  issue and wanted  to continue  the discussion to  find a                                                               
solution that would put customers first.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:23:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN [closed public testimony on HB 233.]                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:24:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:24:16 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON  moved  to  report CSHB  233(TRA)  am  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:24:34 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  found no  objection  and  CSHB 233(TRA)  am  was                                                               
reported from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:24:50 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
              HB 251-EXEMPTIONS FOR HOMEMADE FOODS                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
6:26:19 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of CS  FOR  HOUSE  BILL NO.  251(L&C)  am "An  Act                                                               
exempting  certain foods  and drinks  prepared in  an uninspected                                                               
kitchen  from state  labeling, licensing,  packaging, permitting,                                                               
and inspection  requirements; and permitting a  person to acquire                                                               
meat from  a producer by way  of an ownership share  in an animal                                                               
if certain conditions are met."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:26:53 PM                                                                                                                    
RYAN  MCKEE,  Staff,   Representative  George  Rauscher,  Juneau,                                                               
Alaska, said HB  251 would help promote food  security in Alaska.                                                               
He said Alaska's  food supply was fragile,  with the overwhelming                                                               
majority having to  be imported from out of state.  He noted that                                                               
a  huge lack  of homegrown  food industries  created a  strain on                                                               
local communities across the state. He  said HB 251 would allow a                                                               
producer to sell  homegrown and/or farmed local  food products to                                                               
an informed  end consumer  and allow  consumers to  purchase meat                                                               
directly from  ranchers if [the  meat product] complies  with the                                                               
animal share  agreements. He said  passing HB 251 would  help put                                                               
food  on the  tables of  Alaskans and  increase food  security in                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
6:27:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on HB 251.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:28:18 PM                                                                                                                    
SARAH  OATES, President,  Alaska Cabaret,  Hotel, Restaurant  and                                                               
Retailers   Association   (Alaska  CHARR),   Anchorage,   Alaska,                                                               
testified  with concerns  on HB  251. She  said Alaska  CHARR had                                                               
over 700  members across Alaska communities  and represented over                                                               
2000  hospitality   establishments  that  employed   over  30,000                                                               
workers around  the state. She  said Alaska CHARR was  opposed to                                                               
HB. She reported that:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
   • According to the Centers for Disease Control and                                                                           
     Prevention, 48 million people get sick from food borne                                                                     
     illnesses each year.                                                                                                       
        • 128,000 are hospitalized                                                                                              
        • 3000 people die from foodborne illnesses each year                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  OATES  said Alaska  Food  Code  required that  certain  food                                                               
establishments,   including   those   that   prepare   and   sell                                                               
potentially hazardous foods for  human consumption, have at least                                                               
one  certified Food  Protection Manager  on staff.  She said  the                                                               
training for a Food Protection  Manager thoroughly covered topics                                                               
like foodborne illness and proper cooking temperatures.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. OATES, as the leader of  an organization that taught the Food                                                               
Protection  Manager course,  urged the  committee to  ensure that                                                               
entrepreneurs  were  educated  and consumers  remained  protected                                                               
from  foodborne  illnesses by  requiring  that  any business,  or                                                               
individuals  that prepared  for themselves  potentially hazardous                                                               
foods  for personal  consumption,  would  obtain good  Protection                                                               
Manager Certification.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
6:30:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on HB 251.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:30:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR asked for clarification  about what changes HB 251                                                               
would provide. He specifically asked  which food (products) would                                                               
be  eligible to  buy and  sell that  were not  eligible for  sale                                                               
prior to HB 251.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
6:31:07 PM                                                                                                                    
MR. MCKEE deferred to Ms. Koeneman.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:31:26 PM                                                                                                                    
CRYSTAL KOENEMAN, Legislative Liaison, Department of                                                                            
Environmental Conservation, Juneau, Alaska said Alaska's cottage                                                                
food laws currently allowed for the sale of various baked goods,                                                                
such as cupcakes, cookies, and cakes, as well as jellies and                                                                    
jams. She said HB 251 would include those things and would                                                                      
extend the allowable list to include potentially hazardous                                                                      
foods, like focaccia with cheese, and charcuterie boards with                                                                   
meats and cheeses and cream cheese frosting. She offered to                                                                     
provide a more extensive list if requested by the Senator.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
6:32:37 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  noted that  HB 251,  [Section 1],  subsection (h)                                                               
allowed for  meats and meat  products. He asked what  was already                                                               
extant  in the  law and  what would  be changed  [by HB  251]. He                                                               
noted  that baked  goods  were already  allowed,  and fruits  and                                                               
vegetables were already allowed. He  asked whether the change was                                                               
to allow for [the sale of] meats and cheeses.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
6:33:17 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.   KOENEMAN  answered   that   items  considered   potentially                                                               
hazardous,  cream cheese,  because of  the water  content and  pH                                                               
value for example, would be allowed under HB 251.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:33:51 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNBAR noted  the use  of the  term hazardous  and asked                                                               
whether  the Department  of  Environmental Conservation  expected                                                               
there  to be  more  incidences  of food  borne  illness with  the                                                               
passage of HB 251.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
6:34:19 PM                                                                                                                    
MS.  KOENEMAN expressed  confidence on  behalf of  Representative                                                               
Rauscher and  the Department  of Environmental  Conservation food                                                               
sanitation and  safety team that  HB 251  would not lead  to more                                                               
foodborne  illness.  She  noted the  direct  producer-to-consumer                                                               
nature of the  sales in question and the  safety sidebars already                                                               
in place as [effective] consumer protections.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
6:35:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN held  HB 251  in  the Senate  Labor and  Commerce                                                               
Standing Committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:35:31 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
              SB 146-GAMING; ELECTRONIC PULL-TABS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
6:36:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration of  SENATE BILL NO.  146 "An Act relating  to pull-                                                               
tabs; relating to persons prohibited  from involvement in gaming;                                                               
and relating to the duties of the Department of Revenue."                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
[Before the committee  is CS for HB 146,  work order 33-GS1054\S,                                                               
as the working document.]                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:37:46 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN opened public testimony on SB 146.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:38:05 PM                                                                                                                    
JOHN  POWERS,  Owner,  Tudor  Bingo  Center,  Anchorage,  Alaska,                                                               
testified in  opposition to  the CS  for SB 146.  He said  he and                                                               
other pull tab stakeholders had reviewed  [the CS for SB 146]. He                                                               
noted the  announcement that there  were some new  changes coming                                                               
out.  He  said  the  stakeholders simply  could  not  assess  the                                                               
positive or  negative impacts  to the charities  in such  a short                                                               
amount of  time. He said  they were  putting together a  group of                                                               
Alaskan gaming industry experts to  review all the impacts to the                                                               
charities  and  businesses  involved in  charitable  gaming.  The                                                               
charitable  gaming  group  consisted  of  leaders  from  all  the                                                               
different  gaming  types,  such  as  Multiple-beneficiary  permit                                                               
holders  (MBPs), vendors,  self-directed operators  like himself,                                                               
fraternal organizations  and distributors.  He said they  did not                                                               
include electronic pull tab  manufacturers, because the assembled                                                               
group believed the  manufacturers had a conflict  of interest and                                                               
didn't  necessarily   keep  the   charities'  interests   in  the                                                               
forefront of  changes to  the regulation.  He said  the assembled                                                               
charitable  gaming   group  had   scheduled  meetings   and  were                                                               
recruiting  from the  different  types of  gaming operations  and                                                               
different  geographic locations  around the  state of  Alaska. He                                                               
noted that Senators Gray-Jackson and  Dunbar agreed that it was a                                                               
good idea  for Alaskans involved  in charitable gaming  to tackle                                                               
this  issue and  see if  they  could come  up with  some kind  of                                                               
electronic pull tab legislation  that would benefit the charities                                                               
more than the manufacturers.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:40:17 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  asked  whether   Mr.  Powers  could  suggest  an                                                               
appropriate  number for  the  limit  to the  number  of pull  tab                                                               
devices in a store.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
6:40:31 PM                                                                                                                    
Mr. Powers  said the stakeholders  had not had an  opportunity to                                                               
assess that.  He explained that  it would  depend in part  on the                                                               
size and type  of the establishment. He noted that  he operated a                                                               
1,200 square foot  pull tab store and a 20,000  square foot bingo                                                               
hall.  He  explained that  the  assembled  group of  shareholders                                                               
intended  to  consider  this  type  of  factor  and  layout  some                                                               
sidebars.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:41:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MERRICK  mentioned that  she had  a conflict  of interest                                                               
because  a charity  her husband  led  received charitable  gaming                                                               
proceeds   from    the   Tudor   Bingo   Center    (Mr.   Powers'                                                               
establishment).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:42:10 PM                                                                                                                    
DAVID  LAMBERT, Charitable  Gaming, Fairbanks,  Alaska, testified                                                               
on  HB 146.  He  expressed support  for  the ongoing  legislative                                                               
changes  in   charitable  gaming,  however,  he   emphasized  the                                                               
complexity  of the  changes  and the  need for  a  task force  to                                                               
protect   nonprofit  interests.   He   highlighted  the   current                                                               
regulations' lack  of restrictions  on machine placement  and the                                                               
necessity  to  safeguard  nonprofits. He  raised  concerns  about                                                               
increasing  machine   profit  limits  to  $5   million,  as  many                                                               
nonprofits would not have the  opportunity to receive funds until                                                               
another charity  organization "maxes out". Lambert  advocated for                                                               
collaboration  among   the  stakeholders   over  the   summer  to                                                               
formulate  a legislative  framework  for that  would support  the                                                               
nonprofit organizations.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
6:43:57 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BJORKMAN  said  he  looked forward  to  working  with  the                                                               
charitable gaming stakeholders to  deliver [good legislation] for                                                               
the nonprofits.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
6:44:20 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR BJORKMAN closed public testimony on SB 146.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
6:44:23 PM                                                                                                                    
[CHAIR  BJORKMAN held  SB 146  in the  Senate Labor  and Commerce                                                               
Standing Committee.]                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
6:44:41 PM                                                                                                                    
There being  no further  business to  come before  the committee,                                                               
Chair Bjorkman  adjourned the Senate Labor  and Commerce Standing                                                               
Committee meeting at 6:44 p.m.