March 20 was the 60th day of the first session of the 29th Alaska Legislature. That means that we are two-thirds of the way through the 90-day session. The Senate is moving toward closing out operating budget subcommittees by the end of next week.
They are well into reviewing the capital budget, which will be smaller than many would like. The House is starting to look at the capital budget and is beginning to move bills through the Finance Committee. By tradition, the House moves the operating budget first sending it to the Senate while the Senate works on the capital budget sending its bill over to the House.
Veterans’ Employment
House Bill 6 would allow, not mandate, private employers to offer a veteran’s preference in employment. It was amended by the House Military and Veterans Committee to limit the ability to provide a veterans’ employment preference by private employers to the veterans, deleting the spouse and domestic partner language. The bill moved to the House Labor & Commerce Committee.
Senate Bill 12, the companion to HB 6, was heard in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee and held for amendments similar to those adopted in HB 6.
Medicaid Expansion
Gov. Bill Walker introduced his Medicaid expansion bills this week, House Bill 148 and Senate Bill 78. Included in the bills is language that is intended to begin the process of reforming the Medicaid program. HB 148 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Health & Social Services Committee on March 24. SB 78 has not yet been scheduled.
Senate Bill 47, Medicaid reform — without expansion — by Sen. Pete Kelly is scheduled for hearing in Senate Health & Social Services, March 23.
Loss of Business Income
Senate Bill 5, by Sen. Peter Micciche, which includes loss of business income in restitution consideration, moved through Senate Finance to the Senate floor. We expect it will be voted on in the next week or so.
Workers Compensation Benefit
House Bill 114, by Rep. Andy Josephson, has been scheduled for hearing in the House Labor & Commerce Committee, March 25. This bill would raise the Workers Compensation death benefit from $177,000 to $255,854 and allows an estate to receive the benefit if there are no surviving dependents. NFIB opposes this legislation.
Past Reports
