[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328334,"mediaKeyId","2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def","parentId",2320455,"title","Senator Stedman presents options to address retirement gap for teachers; committee discussion but no vote","audioSeconds",758,"startMs",1494000,"endMs",2252000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def&start=1494&end=2252","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def/thumbnail_1494000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328334/Alaska/Senator-Stedman-presents-options-to-address-retirement-gap-for-teachers-committee-discussion-but-no-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328334-351d50caa716e199ecb655b9249026aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574773&Signature=ng79UmK3jeYX3OZY8n-3RZ-qqEOX2Edq96f2BDyv2zVlf3zunpX-tlXmpM9fF-ghYuI14KDBIuIlEDTFzBoTUPvr0Xx88nHECqaAsTYXipSZqxQz-IDlK0C78dXHDEljKL806Y3P9BLBmQf3j5GNzcP4UWgDOuVpzViTF4Pz15J7UzYAWzSkjMfyRWj5oI4b7LP64blhULyS4tFtbE0f-L27Kj4qgww6ugZqUQQ2PggullmIcl8cjQOzPjqR90tXDGez9CIseDM-Nq14HI48wDfRDK9b77eSzeZASP60qcMuYhJnY6wU2u9DKvq2VhYuCh3JYEoB0d9cwtM7ph5mRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 55, sponsored by Senator Bert Stedman, drew extended discussion on Feb. 12 in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee about a long-standing retirement gap for teachers who are not enrolled in Social Security or the state's Supplemental Benefit System (SBS). The committee did not record a motion or vote on SB 55 during the hearing.

\"We're looking at multiple options throughout the legislature,\" Senator Bert Stedman said in opening remarks. He explained the historical origin of the teachers' retirement system (TERS), noting teachers who did not opt into Social Security decades ago now lack the roughly 6.12% foundation provided by Social Security or SBS. Stedman described the gap in retirement contributions between typical state employees (roughly 25% of pay into retirement when combined employer/employee and SBS contributions are counted) and teachers (about 15% combined employer/employee contributions under TERS), calling the difference \"a 10% spread\" that leaves teachers at a disadvantage over a career.

Stedman laid out two discrete options in the bill: increase the state's employer contribution to teachers' retirement by 2 percentage points (from 7% to 9% in his example) or provide a pathway for teachers to enroll in the Supplemental Benefit System (SBS) or Social Security. He emphasized the bill is written to present options for consideration and said the final legislation would include only one option, not both.

Senator Yount asked about the scale of the increase and whether models show teachers would be better off over a 20–30 year career; Stedman said the change would likely get teachers \"pretty close\" when compounded over time. Committee members sought clarity on who would bear the cost. Stedman and staff explained that local school districts would pay the increased employer cost, which would then be billed back to the state through the normal budgeting process and the Bureau of Public School (BSA) mechanisms; \"we end up paying the fiddler,\" Stedman said, referencing statewide responsibility for the liability.

Rose Foley, staff to Senator Stedman, clarified a drafting detail: \"This bill doesn't contemplate a reduction in the employer contribution rate to TERS DC plans if they enrolled in SBS or Social Security. I think that is a good question and a good conversation point going forward... The bill as it's currently written does not include a provision to reduce the employer contribution rate.\" The committee had several follow-up questions about whether the two options would be combined (Stedman said they would not) and how final design choices would be handled in subsequent drafting.

No public testimony was recorded on SB 55 in the transcript, and the committee adjourned without taking formal action on the bill at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate LABOR & COMMERCE 02/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 55 prompted detailed discussion about a retirement gap for teachers who lack Social Security or the state's Supplemental Benefit System; the committee held questions but did not vote on the bill on Feb. 12.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Alaska, Alaska","taxId",78559,"location","Alaska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328337,"Committee advances bill allowing payroll card payments when employees lack direct-deposit instructions",103,1141000,1244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def&start=1141&end=1244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def/thumbnail_1141000.jpg","/articles/6328337/Alaska/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-payroll-card-payments-when-employees-lack-direct-deposit-instructions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328337-0d96b36f3942ccf82a7ec73c75f3b1c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574773&Signature=XwSD-C~dW40uw1lB21rXfTzK9NIDBy00RDrvYiKNTo~GvmDZBd9yAjl5vWIFKqGeGpLFWC8-HreeKhlEBhToue~Sqm4xTaKtTY5sjZbpUHZ3UmDTK1YuqQ1ANGISfGmd894OQE16dVQEbQ4fWVwQpVn6Bel1UFZAksKu7-Yrzxz3gChsZJHeNpbCaNW892e2CnMuvekUmrQaD71zqjLiUhcOpT3xKVfe9Gfy2gFjRyWgCBWW9XgkT7HstathvUVgrIA9DvwdeW9BeJNRmRkodpUpOqyBgjuGFgmYMt8-tLmiv0Luk0e9QJMHrTqZNDAJgf52Q4OaqTSWdsWC9Gy-rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 79, which would allow employers to deposit employee wages onto payroll cards in specified circumstances, was reported out of the Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on Feb. 12.

Sevea Bieber, staff to the committee chair, summarized SB 79: \"SB79 allows employers to credit employee wages to a payroll card account if an employee has authorized use of a payroll card or if they have failed to authorize deposit of wages to a specified account.\" Bieber said the bill aims to provide \"employees without a bank account a solution to accept payment of their wages that avoids a check cashing fee from a bank.\" Amy Miller, senior director of government relations for Automatic Data Processing (ADP), was available by phone to answer technical questions.

The committee opened and closed public testimony with no speakers. A committee member moved to report SB 79 from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the chair then announced there was no objection and the bill was reported out of committee. The transcript does not show a recorded roll-call vote.

Committee discussion in the transcript was limited to the staff recap and questions about the bill's intent. The committee took a brief recess after reporting the bill and moved on to the next agenda item.","Senate Bill 79, which permits employers to credit wages to a payroll card account when employees authorize a card or fail to specify a deposit account, was reported out of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee after a brief staff recap and no public testimony.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328339,"Senate committee advances bill to extend sunsets for three professional boards",76,647000,723000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def&start=647&end=723","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320455-105766c5e20bda945cd959d8afb74def/thumbnail_647000.jpg","/articles/6328339/Alaska/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-extend-sunsets-for-three-professional-boards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328339-c7c79e8acfb47c33bd4b50d37b0714df/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574773&Signature=k1qBmVBMegAqAaVYVfI1KkDxF24Zw--AODYWJuuNf0YMStFD5naEdaRH~RyfjEZM6tsQBOmpXkpxgynOKyLongSeC4OddTuxI9I1bcdBNfEtTUIQsUT-j9soaSxuWIu03Y8hweE3y3gtwFWqmG9ybJv5fhmvWUsym7T8-dhHqhvw-crD1PMg~s7LC5Tiw8KHeKQHx7VjEJcpHqt0CDZU9eKggCszUCe5Tn3W038Br9UOTGHhQcAwoiC1lHCsFXtITY9k2YvFBa9Xt5GYqg3Wiz08mgnE6nNZGG1feTLQCCMHwst0X8iYb8g5HD5kzivU9ub~yR8JRL2BlKYec5cmjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 80, which would extend the statutory sunset dates for three professional boards, was reported out of the Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee after brief staff remarks and board updates on Feb. 12.

Sevea Bieber, staff to Senator Bjorkman, told the committee that \"SB 80 extends the sunset date of 3 boards, the marijuana control board, board of massage therapy, and big game commercial services board.\" Bieber said the 2023 audits concluded the boards \"have operated in the public's interest by actively amending regulations and enhancing public safety.\" The committee had invited the legislative auditor and licensing officials to answer questions.

Bailey Stewart, chair of the Marijuana Control Board, described recent board work since the audit and told the committee she recently became chair on Feb. 6. Stewart said the board is reviewing handler-permit documentation and waiting on implementation of a new licensing and enforcement system; \"that is my current understanding,\" she said. Brittany Suava of the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office said she could \"look into it and provide more information.\" Chris Curtis, the legislative auditor, and Sylvan Raub, director of corporations, business and professional licensing, were present for questions.

No public testimony was offered during the hearing. A committee member moved to report the bill from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note; the chair asked, \"Is there any objection?\" and, \"Seeing and hearing none,\" the committee moved SB 80 out of committee.

The committee recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; the record shows the bill was reported from committee by voice approval and paperwork was signed following the motion. The committee then took a brief recess before proceeding to the next agenda item.","The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee voted to report Senate Bill 80, which would extend sunset dates for the Marijuana Control Board, the Board of Massage Therapy and the Big Game Commercial Services Board, after staff and board representatives described compliance steps taken since 2023 audits.","actionData","errors"]

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Senator Stedman presents options to address retirement gap for teachers; committee discussion but no vote

Committee advances bill allowing payroll card payments when employees lack direct-deposit instructions

Senate committee advances bill to extend sunsets for three professional boards