Solicitation for Public Input – Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Employment and Training Services, Workforce Services and Development Regulatory Revisions – Administrative Order 360

Notice of Public Scoping Under Administrative Order (AO) 360 for possible Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) Division of Employment and Training Services (DETS) Workforce Services and Development (WSD) Regulatory Changes, Title 8 Alaska Administrative Codes (AAC), Chapter 85 Employment Security and Chapter 99 Alaska Adult Education and Diplomas Under Special Conditions.

Background. On August 4, 2025, Governor Mike Dunleavy issued AO 360 to improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of Alaska’s regulatory environment by requiring a 15 percent reduction in regulations by the end of 2026 and a cumulative 25 percent reduction by the end of 2027. In response, WSD is soliciting written and oral comments from affected industries, community organizations, and the general public regarding regulations 8 AAC 85.810-842 and 8 AAC 99.010-200  and related materials.

WSD is undertaking this solicitation process to seek ideas, suggestions, and input from the public before WSD drafts or proposes any specific regulation amendments or repeals for public review.

WSD is particularly interested in specific ideas for regulatory change that may:

• Clarify existing regulatory obligations;
• Reduce costs for the public, industries, or the government;
• Improve or streamline procedures, application requirements, and review processes;
• Reduce administrative burdens;
• Improve communication procedures;
• Provide greater transparency with respect to standards, decision-making, and rationales for application processing; or
• Clarify interagency roles.

Written comments. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date in the Public Comment Period in the Public Meeting and Comment Schedule table below. Written comments may be sent to ettu.regs@alaska.gov or mailed to Employment & Training Tech Unit, P.O. Box 115509, Juneau, AK 99811-5509. Reference “2025 WSD Regulation Reform” in the subject line. Include your name, organization (if applicable), contact information, and any supporting documentation. Comments provided should relate to the program topics detailed below, and specifically cite, if known, the portion of regulation under 8 AAC 85.810-842 and 8 AAC 99.010-200 and related materials.

Public Meeting and Comment Schedule.

Public Meeting. WSD will hold a series of meetings from Friday, October 24, 2025, through Thursday, November 6, 2025. Public meetings will be held in person at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 104.  Members of the public may also participate in the meetings virtually via TEAMS. Meeting details and connection information are available below.

1. Alaska Adult Education (AAE) Program Stakeholder Meeting

   Alaska Adult Education (AAE) Program includes the following subtopics: AlaskaJobs, Curriculum, Assessments, Grant Agreements, Reporting, E-Grams.

   In addition to written comments submitted during the open public comment period, oral and written comments may be submitted at a hearing scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 104. Members of the public may also participate in the meeting virtually via TEAMS. To attend via TEAMS, please register here or join by phone +1 907-202-7104,535226870#.

2. Eligible Training Provider List Stakeholder Meeting

   In addition to written comments submitted during the open public comment period, oral and written comments may be submitted at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Alaska Time at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 208.  Members of the public may also participate in the meeting virtually via TEAMS. To attend via TEAMS, please register here or join by phone +1 907-202-7104,474589790#.

3. WSD’s Employer Services Stakeholder Meeting

   Employer Services includes the following subtopics: Job Center Business Connection Services, Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), Fidelity Bonding, Incumbent Worker Training, Rapid Response, AlaskaJobs, On-the-Job Training, Testing Services, Webpage Resources, Seafood, and Foreign Labor Certification (FLC).

   In addition to written comments submitted during the open public comment period, oral and written comments may be submitted at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 104.  Members of the public may also participate in the meeting virtually via TEAMS. To attend via TEAMS, please register here or join by phone +1 907-202-7104,355577350#.

4. WSD’s Job Seeker Services Stakeholder Meeting

   Job Seeker Services includes the following subtopics: AlaskaJobs, Job Center Resource Room Services, Testing and Assessment Services, and Webpage Resources.

   In addition to written comments submitted during the open public comment period, oral and written comments may be submitted at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Alaska Time at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 104.  Members of the public may also participate in the meeting virtually via TEAMS. To attend via TEAMS, please register here or join by phone +1 907-202-7104, 317994825#.

5. WSD’s Job Training Services Stakeholder Meeting

Job Training Services includes the following subtopics: AlaskaJobs, Job Center Career Support and Training Services, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult, WIOA Dislocated Worker, State Training & Employment Program, Apprenticeship Grants, and Webpage Resources.

In addition to written comments submitted during the open public comment period, oral and written comments may be submitted at a hearing scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Alaska Time at 3301 Eagle St., Anchorage, AK 99503, Room 104. Members of the public may also participate in the meeting virtually via TEAMS. To attend via TEAMS, please register here or join by phone +1 907-202-7104, 390096429#.

Commenters will be given the opportunity to discuss what regulatory practices they feel are overly burdensome and provide specific ideas for regulatory change. To make the process more efficient, please identify the specific regulation in question (e.g. 8 AAC 85.810.  Employment service.).

To ensure everyone has a chance to speak and that we finish on time, the facilitator may limit the time allowed for each person providing oral testimony, to conclude the hearing in the allotted time. Please submit your comments in writing to: ettu.regs@alaska.gov.

If you are a person with a disability who needs a special accommodation to participate in this process, please contact Nakita Mongar at ettu.regs@alaska.gov or +1 (907) 269-3016 at least seven days before the accommodation is needed, to ensure that any necessary accommodation can be provided.

Please note that input provided in response to this solicitation will be subject to inspection, copying, and distribution as public records under Alaska Statute (AS) 40.25.110 – 40.25.220. Please do not include any confidential information in written or oral comments.

Questions. For questions or more information, contact our Agency Regulatory Liaison, Kimberly Kolvig at dolwd.regs@alaska.gov or +1 (907) 465-5870.

WSD is not currently proposing any specific regulation change and there are no draft regulations prepared for public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act at this time. If the division undertakes revisions to these regulations, there will be an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed regulation changes that are released for public review and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act.

WSD will maintain a list of individuals and organizations interested in its regulations. Those on the list will automatically be sent a copy of all the WSD notices of proposed regulation changes. To be added to or removed from the list, send a request to WSD at ettu.regs@alaska.gov, including your name, and either an e-mail or mailing address based on your preference for receiving notices.

Individuals can also sign up to receive automated notifications of all State of Alaska notices, including public notice for regulation changes, by subscribing to the Alaska Online Public Notices System: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Default.aspx.