(a) A person is eligible for an employment preference under this chapter if the person certifies eligibility as required by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, is a resident, and
(1) is receiving unemployment benefits under AS 23.20 or would be eligible to receive benefits but has exhausted them;
(2) is not working and has registered to find work with a public or private employment agency or a local hiring hall;
(3) is underemployed or marginally employed as defined by the department; or
(4) has completed a job-training program approved by the department and is either not employed or is engaged in employment that does not use the skills acquired in the job-training program.
(b) In approving job-training programs under (a) of this section, the department shall use information and findings from other state and federal agencies as much as possible.
(c) An employer subject to a resident hiring requirement under this chapter shall certify that persons employed as residents under the preference were eligible for the preference at the time of hiring.
(d) A labor organization that dispatches members for work on a public works project under a collective bargaining agreement shall certify that persons dispatched as residents to meet a preference were eligible for the preference at the time of dispatch.
(e) An employer or labor organization may request assistance from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development in verifying the eligibility of an applicant for a hiring preference under this chapter.