Legislature Funds Response

to COVID-19

Dear Neighbor,

Today, the House voted to leverage federal funding to address the Coronavirus in Alaska. With massive decline in oil prices and a collapse of the stock market, the budget has deteriorated to the point we may not be able to afford a PFD this year. We need new revenue ASAP to sustain essential services and protect the Permanent Fund.

API Reform Bills Advance:

Yesterday, Representatives Zulkosky, Spohnholz, Claman, Drummond, and Tarr in the House Health and Social Services committee voted to pass out HB 86 and HB 183, two bills I introduced to maintain that API is operated by the State of Alaska, and ensure staff wages are competitive and enough beds are available for those who need it.

Pioneer Home Bill Hearing:

Thank you to the Senate Finance Committee for hearing HB 96, the bill Representative Shaw and I introduced last year to address the Governor's outrageous Pioneer Home rate increases.

Private Prisons:

On Friday last week, House Finance heard and held HB 187, our bipartisan legislation to permanently prevent for-profit prisons or shipment of prisoners out of state. This is the last stop before the House Floor, and we look forward to it's second hearing in the committee.

Senator Begich's SB 6

Thank you to Senator Begich for being a champion of universal childhood Pre-K. The House version of the bill, HB 153, has public testimony scheduled for this Saturday at 1pm. If you're calling from Anchorage, you can dial 563-9085.

Apprenticeship Regulations

This afternoon, the House Labor & Commerce Committee passed out HB 301, a bill that protects Registered Apprenticeship programs for electrical workers, plumbers, and pipefitters. Representative LeDoux and I introduced this legislation in response to the Governor's attempt to gut apprenticeship regulations and to support contractors who use apprenticeship.

I hope to see you around the neighborhood soon,

Zack

Real ID Coming Soon: Beat the lines and visit the DMV now

Reminder: Beginning

in October 2020, you will need a Real ID or it's equivalent to board a commercial airline, enter a federal building, or gain access to a military base. For more information, visit: http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/akol/ID%20News.htm