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Labor Department highlights new citizen assistance office, OSHA diversionary program, testing and training changes
Summary
Commissioner Kathy Munoz told the Senate committee about the new Office of Citizenship Assistance, an OSHA diversionary program that waived more than $650,000 in penalties, SkillBridge hiring, expanded third‑party testing for electrical and plumbing certificates of fitness, and AVTEC training highlights.
Juneau — Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Kathy Munoz gave senators an overview of program changes and recent initiatives on Jan. 29, including a new Office of Citizenship Assistance, an OSHA diversionary program that has waived penalties for businesses that remediate hazards, and reforms to licensing and testing that aim to speed credentialing.
Office of Citizenship Assistance: Munoz said the department opened an Office of Citizenship Assistance in Anchorage to help new legal immigrants navigate employment barriers, including credential translation for professionals arriving from other jurisdictions.
OSHA diversionary program: The department implemented the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health Diversionary Program, which allows businesses that receive a financial penalty citation for certain workplace violations to enter consultation and training; if they successfully address hazards, the department will waive the financial penalty. Munoz said the program resulted in more than 200 citations waived and over $650,000 in penalties waived in the last year.
Certificate of fitness and testing changes: Munoz described reforms to certification for electricians and plumbers, including provisional licensing approved by last year's legislature to allow provisional licensure for up to one year based on out‑of‑state credentials, expansion of reciprocity (currently with 13 states, with a stated goal toward 40), allowance of military credit toward licensure, and newly implemented third‑party testing that enables training providers to administer certificate of fitness tests when students are ready.
SkillBridge and AVTEC: Munoz said the department became a Department of Defense SkillBridge site, which allows employers to hire transitioning service members with the DoD covering the first six months of wages while trainees receive on‑the‑job experience. She also noted AVTEC (Alaska Vocational Technical Center) offers short‑term training where "a career in under a year" is possible, and emphasized partnerships with the Department of Education and Early Development on teacher apprenticeship pathways and career guide expansion to improve rural awareness of careers.
Unemployment trust fund and research: Munoz pointed to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance, telling the committee that the fund now has a balance above $700 million after dipping during the pandemic. She also described the department's research and analysis products, including the Monthly Trends Magazine.
Ending: Munoz closed by asking senators to contact the department with questions and noting staff contact information is in the slide deck.
