[{"_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",6097565,"mediaKeyId","2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d","parentId",2827977,"title","Business groups, police and fire chiefs back SB 28 reinstating public employee defined‑benefit option, sponsors present sectional chart","audioSeconds",231,"startMs",206375,"endMs",437858,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d&start=206&end=437","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d/thumbnail_206375.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6097565/Alaska/Business-groups-police-and-fire-chiefs-back-SB-28-reinstating-public-employee-definedbenefit-option-sponsors-present-sectional-chart","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097565-796e7a77adcb62f382007f0b703db2a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770762512&Signature=kWIEMHcQCShsjG6rAopbQxXpG0Lh0wYtVKsLvAOZjex5klLnhwHjLdj0sh4gdYXIsQEC8MuWJvBmHjQbRXZrE-tZ9BLjo3tMPxeB9s4LjXb0l1YQ5b36KrqHuUrRg0DfcScxxkm8qBMapAWrkgZr3GEAn8nnX6TD7Db2VeAntGBEDPD24MajcyMuAJEVoCNcS7KfjcPT9XipZYyNXulc~DxDEgMcJ9Q7Fuuzcr~X~ksctly76jZoGUH036pVEGRE6hWDc-d4ikD4SXTuLPAt8Mu10NtUk14QiLnhz0wVj~CBWLzTNBbyD9M56a4La8~qeHZMx8GGo0eoK-l5wh9dug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska State Legislature","date","2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Kathy Giesel, sponsor of Senate Bill 28, presented the committee with a seven‑page sectional chart summarizing proposed provisions to reinstate a public‑employee defined‑benefit retirement option for multiple employee groups, including public safety, public employees (PERS) and teachers (TERS).

Giesel described the chart as a guidance document showing proposed contributions, vesting rules, benefit formulas, final average salary calculations, post‑retirement adjustments and separate accounting for subtrusts. \"The chart guides you through the bill,\" she told the committee, noting the complexity and the need for a sectional format.

Keith Brainard, research director for the National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA), testified that a well‑designed retirement plan can achieve stability for employers, employees and taxpayers. \"If the Alaska legislature wishes to avoid unfunded liabilities and to ensure retirement plan cost remains stable, those objectives are reasonable and attainable,\" Brainard said, adding that plan design and cost‑sharing are critical to long‑term sustainability.

Anchorage Fire Chief Douglas Shrogy and Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case both urged support for SB 28 on recruiting and retention grounds. Chief Shrogy said the absence of a defined‑benefit pension for public safety harms retention: \"We are the only state that lacks a defined benefit pension for public safety,\" he said, and described recruiting challenges and competition from Pacific‑Northwest departments offering signing bonuses and lateral transfers. He told the committee Anchorage has paid more than $100,000 to train paramedic students, and that at least one outside department offered a $50,000 signing bonus.

Chief Case, president of the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police, said a defined‑benefit plan provides predictable retirement security, helps attract and retain officers, and promotes community stability. \"SB 28 not only provides the long term benefits to our officers, but the entire state of Alaska,\" Case said.

Representatives of organized labor and school boards also testified in favor. Bill Mears of Public Employees Local 71 said employers and unions are struggling to retain staff under the current defined‑contribution environment and urged lawmakers to consider SB 28 to improve recruitment and retention. Lon Garrison, executive director of the Association of Alaska School Boards, said ASB has repeatedly supported reinstating a defined‑benefit option to help hire and keep qualified teachers and staff.

Committee members asked technical questions about benefit adjustments and funding mechanics. Senator Yount asked whether post‑retirement inflation protection could shift costs back to current employees during periods of high inflation; the sponsor responded the proposal contains specific adjustments and limitations, including a provision that a retiree who leaves Alaska would receive 50% of the inflation adjustment, but the committee did not adopt changes during the hearing.

Keith Brainard said he would analyze how the SB 28 plan design compares with other states' plans if the committee wanted a comparative cost/value analysis. The hearing featured no final votes on SB 28; the committee set the bill aside for future consideration.

The committee scheduled additional hearings on other bills the following Wednesday and adjourned at 2:39 p.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/31/2025 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 28, which would reinstate a defined‑benefit retirement plan for public employees, drew invited testimony from retirement experts, Anchorage police and fire chiefs, unions and school boards. Supporters said the change would improve recruitment and retention; committee set the bill aside for further consideration.","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},6097570,"Senate committee hears Alaska Work and Save auto‑IRA; staff say program would be run by Revenue, not a new board",61,109152,170643,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d&start=109&end=170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d/thumbnail_109152.jpg","/articles/6097570/Alaska/Senate-committee-hears-Alaska-Work-and-Save-autoIRA-staff-say-program-would-be-run-by-Revenue-not-a-new-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097570-7723b26606d315df876565f502b5b947/orig.mp4?Expires=1770762512&Signature=ImV3NsG6lfuMphJzyJBUgFrtU7Qk7MtbTgfSfYTibtoa58zMWr-Bp3Xq~Odic6Bk~2be9~V-TDRAVUzedN~~iOV5dKS5-sXV3FALjfCBXKCoAzNKHCTDi3E1LbjAHvdGps1R-Vqgmz1V8PhETgT4cVyh2Ie0Tx3S9oWyl~bIZkI3nviTPdqMbjdSROn011wRun-08DV8fEPqmZj~Fo1dxbNXowBPzpTCxPuNAxpjD47qaytMHrpQbgmpD1~83DgaDTyUAxPHHsPh8FbAdUVIG7fwhKNYpIZc4poI~PG6ZBKx0RS5dPfJDHegRQRzhWdoafpV9k5xj~enngWnJl7exQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Labor and Commerce members discussed Senate Bill 21, the Alaska Work and Save program, which would establish an automatic individual retirement account (auto‑IRA) for eligible Alaska employees and permit participants to direct some or all of their Permanent Fund Dividend toward retirement savings.

Maxine LaBerge, staff to the bill sponsor, told the committee that under the committee substitute the program would be administered by the Department of Revenue and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee would carry out duties formerly assigned to a standalone board.

\"It establishes an auto individual retirement account program for all Alaskan employees who qualify and creates an option to allow for PFD checks to go towards retirement,\" LaBerge said. She said employees would be auto‑enrolled upon hiring, could opt out, and could change contribution rates.

Hunter Lotzfeld, also staff to the sponsor, explained the major change in the substitute: instead of creating a separate governing board, the administration duties would be a responsibility of the Revenue commissioner or designee to reduce administrative burden.

Presenters reviewed survey and cost data: LaBerge cited AARP materials showing 99% of Alaska businesses qualify as small businesses and that 64% of small businesses do not offer retirement plans, with cost and complexity the main reasons. She also said participating employers would not be required to contribute a match under the proposal. Committee members asked about employer administrative burden; LaBerge said Colorado administrators report it took employers \"less than an hour\" to set up and \"maybe less than 15 minutes every month\" to maintain payroll transmissions.

Senator Ray Jackson and others expressed support for the bill's goal, noting rising senior poverty and workforce out‑migration; Senator Merrick asked about joining an interstate partnership to reduce asset‑management fees, and staff said joining an established multi‑state compact (like Colorado's program) could reduce fees.

The committee adopted the draft proposed committee substitute as the working document and set SB 21 aside for further consideration at a future meeting. No formal vote on final passage occurred at this session.","Senate Labor and Commerce heard Senate Bill 21, the Alaska Work and Save program, which would create an auto‑IRA administered by the Department of Revenue and allow an option to direct Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) checks to retirement. The committee adopted a committee substitute as the working document and set the bill aside for future action.",{"_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},6097574,"Senate committee advances bill extending three professional boards; ACLU urges more parole-board transparency",41,45602,86602,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d&start=45&end=86","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2827977-60fd6c75a80474254f270e54350e9d3d/thumbnail_45602.jpg","/articles/6097574/Alaska/Senate-committee-advances-bill-extending-three-professional-boards-ACLU-urges-more-parole-board-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6097574-709b964005ed47551dc89905174353e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770762512&Signature=e~Z3BVYlQ-N1akZji0C2TysyTf2cZdoasGjrhVZs9DRVflN3zozWmdA6Iobr7dEVANKBMKspOsOtATl0f-N7joNz59I-ERNno-ZdApWm78-JxKKx-rF7XuvPB0zR3NnWfvSgXuS-vs2PdTGRFn5YBG32wO2k4MdHIy79Bj0vFw7BFBEBprLVjMXDaSr00hLgqifnVeM0Ns75LfQMKuSS5gB4FymhEFj4pxkSvf~Seu~Er9ebM8M0l0UUXwB4QeymNBqPIPUc3fVBdRBObCvg3XfYntqonMAkfIWlE~iCe21vOFJ6q1QV5PfLY86Fk~V5xTZp8dGFCvWikwfPz1gtoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Labor and Commerce Chairman Senator Bjorkman said the committee would take public testimony and then consider the will of the committee on Senate Bill 137, a measure to extend the statutory sunsets of three professional boards.

The bill would extend the boards that regulate direct-entry midwives and nursing to June 30, 2031, and would extend the Board of Parole to June 30, 2029, reflecting recommendations from the Division of Legislative Audit, staff told the committee.

The ACLU of Alaska’s policy director, Michael Garvey, told the committee he supported a four‑year extension for the parole board but urged additional reporting requirements so the Legislature could exercise more timely oversight. Garvey said aggregated outcome data is a routine tool in criminal‑justice oversight and could identify whether parole denials stem from lack of reentry services.

\"Requiring the board to reveal more about how it evaluates and considers these criteria would allow the legislature to exercise more timely oversight and to ensure the board is making decisions in a consistent and fair manner,\" Garvey said. He also cited state cost comparisons discussed in his testimony: about $202.21 per day to incarcerate someone in an institution versus \"just over $13 a day\" on probation and parole.

Committee staff Matt Churchill summarized the measure and the audit recommendations before the committee took public testimony. After public comment, Senator (not specified) moved to report SB 137 from committee \"with individual recommendations and 2 attached fiscal notes.\" The motion met no objection and the committee reported the bill with those recommendations, the chair announced.

The committee did not vote on any changes to the bill during this meeting. No additional statutory authorities or new reporting requirements were enacted at this session; Garvey asked the Legislature to consider adding them when renewing the board's authority.

The committee moved on after reporting the bill and took time to sign paperwork; the transcript records the committee adjourned later for other items on the agenda.

Votes at a glance: The committee reported SB 137 from committee \"with individual recommendations and 2 attached fiscal notes.\" The motion passed with \"no objection\"; a named teller or roll call tally was not recorded in the transcript.","The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee voted to report Senate Bill 137 — which extends sunset dates for boards of midwives, nursing and parole — after public testimony from the ACLU of Alaska urging more detailed parole-board reporting. The measure was reported from committee with individual recommendations and two attached fiscal notes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Business groups, police and fire chiefs back SB 28 reinstating public employee defined‑benefit option, sponsors present sectional chart

Senate committee hears Alaska Work and Save auto‑IRA; staff say program would be run by Revenue, not a new board

Senate committee advances bill extending three professional boards; ACLU urges more parole-board transparency