[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6063131,"mediaKeyId","3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3","parentId",3270685,"title","Committee introduces committee substitute for pay‑card bill; public hearing set for Monday","audioSeconds",142,"startMs",5130000,"endMs",5272000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3&start=5130&end=5272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3/thumbnail_5130000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063131/Alaska/Committee-introduces-committee-substitute-for-paycard-bill-public-hearing-set-for-Monday","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063131-30306635690b0fc1a061b02576afd34f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604993&Signature=B5p1ioknoJ8MIMSAzGF3P5rSPhHM0hLOkzQ0VoX-DYA~-hua7plSTtnplZKEBJAEiv89Z7wO5Kei~2~HkfPLazRMUkK-N-D0W24nOxITh1hYwNqWgpQ-J3JPEBoE~726k91qOkVdNo-lyEm-H58GoYfoNcrOp8zctdlR5qPgNtZZwu~BH8~I6BiO0MJmKuXJyJJvk9BWHP3ivs2jPRVoMX-bGg35XjrxRiuy51mi51lhoeEkeXxWbGagMUY9Nu7ylULoMVkJumVe77ykPk92ZRy9lXiuDjqJX0-Jm1sP7eLyec8hlYT3XVQvfUXsGYQm8yzaVNqLue880sQRqvFKAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alaska Legislature","date","2025-05-09T00:00:00Z","article","The House Labor and Commerce Committee introduced a committee substitute to Senate Bill 79 on pay‑card processing and adopted the substitute for consideration. Committee staff summarized new statutory language that would prohibit interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portion of electronic payment transactions, allow merchants up to 180 days to submit documentation, and establish a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation plus refund requirements.

Evan Anderson, committee staff, summarized the CS and said it adds sections to AS 6.09.020 that: bar issuers or payment networks from charging interchange fees on tax or gratuity when merchants provide proper documentation during authorization; permit merchants to provide documentation up to 180 days after a transaction if it was not transmitted initially; require issuers to refund interchange fees within 30 days of receiving documentation; and limit the use of transaction data to processing and legal requirements. The CS also amends AS 45.50.471(b) to add a new violation for misuse of electronic payment transaction data.

Senator Bjorkman and staff were present in the gallery. Several committee members asked whether the CS would be re‑noticed for public testimony; the chair set public testimony on the committee substitute for Monday, May 12, and set an amendment deadline of 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 12. The committee did not take final action on the substitute on May 9 and set it aside for the scheduled public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/09/2025 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE","oneSentenceSummary","The committee introduced a committee substitute to Senate Bill 79 that would bar interchange fees on tax and gratuity portions of card transactions, permit merchants to submit documentation up to 180 days later, and establish penalties for violations; public testimony on the substitute was scheduled for May 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},6063135,"Committee amends wage‑transparency bill to remove fines, adds privacy carve‑out",604,4380000,4984000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3&start=4380&end=4984","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3/thumbnail_4380000.jpg","/articles/6063135/Alaska/Committee-amends-wagetransparency-bill-to-remove-fines-adds-privacy-carveout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063135-a718f48c7323c6294105946a3cb51a84/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604993&Signature=WBvGU8XiUskseKFvDsoUdVpkGFgUR7zjTueIZ-R1nx3x71OP8b-3cJul7VQCyILGkGROQQELjbrHSYpeTIlTz13L4i8ju1~SA2gZgq08B83cc68jGNBVjTgc6R~MVPrSjkDni5Y-SFCTYZC9wqsvj~ZG4tDyLLnN2CjVE00yer~prMIph7JHD8gTa4A-MmF3X7WDQiaefQR7SfhMqGdYJktSc3tDAZ0ViCjrXiSwYQe~Sq~2yEQ5zc8UTrYvSGYYtbFd4eHiTSX4yrOGFmRr73BbMZxSuVvryIciVEsaQhz9yY5Hj6WAhymot14pGCi-pzXI09CxL6X8TZzmgn2avA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee reported House Bill 156 out of committee as amended, adopting changes that remove civil fines tied to noncompliance and clarify that employers are not required to disclose the compensation of an individual employee unless another law requires it.

Representative Genevieve Mina, the bill sponsor, said she supports the amendment package and appreciated members' work to mitigate burdens on small businesses while pursuing wage‑transparency goals. Jeremy Applegate, chief of Wage and Hour for the state of Alaska, told the committee that deleting investigative enforcement language would eliminate the need to add investigator positions: \"If you take away the investigative components, then you take away our need for investigator and at least 1 of the 2 admin staff that we have indicated.\" He said the department would reassess staffing if enforcement needs later change.

Committee member amendments included A.6, which added language specifying that employers are not required to disclose compensation of any individual employee unless otherwise required by law, and A.8, which removed civil fines tied to violations; both amendments were adopted. Earlier proposed amendments to shorten statute‑of‑limitations windows and to change penalty calculation were not adopted.

Representative Mina said the changes were intended to preserve the bill’s information goals while avoiding new enforcement costs and job‑creating PCNs (position control numbers) in the Department of Labor where possible.

By roll call the committee reported the bill out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes; the vote was 4‑2. Committee staff will finalize fiscal notes and committee paperwork for the bill’s next steps.","Lawmakers amended and reported House Bill 156 out of committee after adopting changes that remove civil fines and clarify employers are not required to disclose individual employees' compensation; proponents said the change reduces administrative burdens while retaining reporting goals.",{"_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},6063140,"Committee advances 98 funding bill after fraught debate over rate and scope",2167,2062000,4229000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3&start=2062&end=4229","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3/thumbnail_2062000.jpg","/articles/6063140/Alaska/Committee-advances-98-funding-bill-after-fraught-debate-over-rate-and-scope","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063140-4107e8c2245ba93ff7581d8e441f1bac/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604993&Signature=Dz5OmIGEORsM0Dpldqv-raD9imN0TtFE9bcw29k0WztxTcg-rDwrL13ueZYQ5nhJX~7mJNb2wASPhPRJzKBgbguWXk7jJyl3aEudBzsk4U4wq9~lcRtYyIQjAI3IiWcyR25d6u6bsHXlstE5ABP43Il-mpQUc2TSEa6OXXE~t79YXqu~SoK0Nnd73w6XzMh9VEcg9t3aDsmNkllCkXYWpEtpwU8m-W0qCln7bMpWZYkm~fRAPo2CyR0QMfiJgOnnlVIvg9vH-wmljyRGUe-y60VJnwEqmwufEbQ7OSwXfLiMjrikmKLrmqxsVRb41tXkcOJtjRZNLuzYD1nmjDu5sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee voted 4‑2 to report House Bill 138 out of committee as amended, advancing legislation that would create a monthly surcharge on wireless and landline telephone service to fund behavioral‑health crisis services, including 988 crisis‑line support, mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization centers.

Supporters from state boards, health systems and first responders said the surcharge would provide a sustainable funding stream for growing demand. Kermit Wilson, executive director of the governor’s advocacy boards for the Alaska Board of Mental Health and the Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said calls to crisis services set a record in 2024 at \"just under 40,000 calls.\" South Central Foundation told the committee it is investing more than $120 million to build crisis stabilization and residential centers; Darcy Nazaroff, director of operations for South Central Foundation’s Behavioral Services Division, said the surcharge would help make those facilities sustainable.

Opponents — including utilities — warned the surcharge is regressive and could push low‑income customers off service. Jason Custer, vice president of Alaska Power & Telephone, said a 98‑cent monthly surcharge would raise a typical Lifeline bill of about $8 by roughly 12% and that utilities would likely pass administrative costs to consumers. \"We anticipate the rate increase will cause some customers to just discontinue telephone service,\" he told the committee.

Committee debate focused on the per‑line amount and allowable uses for the new fund. Representative Colom offered amendments to lower the surcharge (proposed 48¢) and to restrict expenditures to 988 operations; those narrower amendments failed on recorded votes of 2‑4. Representative Sadler proposed an amendment to allow the surcharge to be adjusted annually based on actual costs but with a cap; that amendment also failed 2‑4 after a conceptual change was rejected. Representative Fields offered an amendment to delay the bill’s effective date to 2026 to give telecommunications providers more time to implement billing changes; that amendment was adopted.

Representative Mina, the bill sponsor, said she is open to excluding Lifeline telephone lines from the surcharge to reduce burden on low‑income Alaskans.

Representative Sadler warned the bill could be seen as a \"phone line tax\" and said altering the 988 structure risks losing federal grant eligibility; he voted against the committee report. The committee attached individual recommendations and fiscal notes; the bill moves forward for further consideration.","The House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 138 to create a telephone surcharge to fund behavioral‑health crisis services, approving the bill as amended after months of debate over the per‑line fee and permitted uses.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":92,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6063145,"House committee advances bill to join social work interstate compact",1238,824000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3&start=824&end=2062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3270685-421b58befc3194ce1b82463d47104cb3/thumbnail_824000.jpg","/articles/6063145/Alaska/House-committee-advances-bill-to-join-social-work-interstate-compact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063145-3c651e8c37b92793b4ba721fc49b3a48/orig.mp4?Expires=1773604993&Signature=agcP252KKuO1Ks3W6sHi9ufFyQDetYPseW6E72pYdiXPSQi3G8BnSfHktLxTL-Xk8vRBFevoLRMmiAH0HrUmtZ1lnrNvw-yCTged3-BGOp8nsGXGiTPUEVK6SQoqNG4wSANHQ-Vw1ZsGSyQ60mAyzQdIAiBiSYsV2l0NHWarXDGV42RpW-bmkihG3qsub-SLOUQ-fckanfi-xO9UmGYMGfPYsa8FE5C171O3jFGfT~4ln3l763vxEKo4IniNzhJbJaRjvQrTgqTxJVqrFTIu9aCGNznPLgWufDkN0p9a2XEPNO3W8WEpfHtwQYjtyJNqYaAtpkTKhlTFX~Ej9TkqWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee voted to report House Bill 110, legislation to bring Alaska into the social work interstate licensure compact, out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.

Supporters told the committee the compact would expand Alaskans' access to licensed social workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas where in‑person care is limited. Dr. Yvonne Chase, president of the National Association of Social Workers and a University of Alaska professor, said, \"This is really about saving lives.\" Representative Gray sponsored the bill.

The bill's proponents described telehealth and multistate licensure as tools to reduce gaps in continuity of care. Kiernan Riley, who identified as a recent master of social work graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage, testified that telehealth can be \"our only option\" for many Alaskans and urged the committee, \"Please pass HB 110.\" Jennifer Peck, a licensed clinical social worker in Anchorage, described her licensing experience: \"The licensing process was long, tedious, and expensive,\" and said maintaining multiple state licenses reduces continuity for clients who travel or move.

Representatives and testifiers said the compact does not lower professional standards; rather, they said it reduces duplicative requirements that delay practitioners from serving Alaskans. Toni Protsman, executive director of the Alaska chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, said a member survey (she described it as a small sample) showed improved continuity of care as a primary reason for support. Dr. Tasha Childs, a social work educator and military spouse, noted the administrative and financial burden on military families who maintain multiple licenses across states.

Committee members asked whether Alaska is in a behavioral‑health \"crisis.\" Representative Sadler and others pressed testifiers and the sponsor for specifics; Dr. Chase said she could not name a single year when the situation became a crisis but noted longstanding workforce shortages and higher suicide and homelessness rates than national averages. Representative Gray pointed to shortages in the Department of Corrections and the Office of Children’s Services as examples of unmet need where additional social workers could help.

No public amendments were filed for HB 110 at the committee deadline. The committee moved the bill forward by voice vote; the committee then briefly recessed to sign the report.

The bill will next proceed with the committee's recommendations and fiscal notes attached for floor consideration.","The Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee advanced House Bill 110 to allow licensed social workers from other states to practice in Alaska through the social work licensure compact, supporters said it would increase access to behavioral health care across rural and urban communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee introduces committee substitute for pay‑card bill; public hearing set for Monday

Committee amends wage‑transparency bill to remove fines, adds privacy carve‑out

Committee advances 98 funding bill after fraught debate over rate and scope

House committee advances bill to join social work interstate compact