(a) Immediately following a determination by the commissioner that the female residents of a zone are economically disadvantaged, and for the next two fiscal years after the determination, qualified female residents of the zone who are eligible under AS 36.10.140 shall be given preference in hiring for at least 25 percent of employment on each project under AS 36.10.180 that is wholly or partially sited within the zone. The preference applies on a craft-by-craft or occupational basis.
(b) The commissioner shall determine that the female residents of a zone are economically disadvantaged if the commissioner finds that
(1) either the percent of unemployment of female residents of the zone is at least two times the percent of unemployment of male residents of the zone or the female population of the zone has suffered past economic discrimination;
(2) the economic disadvantage of female residents of the zone has substantially contributed to serious social or economic problems in the zone; and
(3) employment of workers who are not residents is a peculiar source of unemployment of female residents of the zone.