2000-05-04                     House Journal                      Page 3795
HB 3001                                                                      
HOUSE BILL NO. 3001 by the House Rules Committee by request of                 
the Governor, entitled:                                                        
                                                                               
"An Act appropriating amounts to cover the fiscal year 2001                   
monetary terms of the collective bargaining agreements for                     
employees of the University of Alaska and the fiscal year 2001                 
salary and benefit adjustments for university employees who are                
not members of a collective bargaining unit; appropriating amounts             
to cover the fiscal year 2001 monetary terms of all executive                  
branch collective bargaining agreements and the fiscal year 2001               
salary and benefit adjustments for elected officials, officers, and            
employees of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches who             
are not members of a collective bargaining unit; and providing for             
an effective date."                                                            
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter dated May 4, 2000, appears below:            
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                          
                                                                               
I am transmitting two bills to this third special session of the Twenty-       
First  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Alaska  which  provide  necessary      

2000-05-04                     House Journal                      Page 3796
HB 3001                                                                      
appropriations and statutory authorizations to honor our collective            
bargaining agreements and to extend similar provisions to non-covered          
employees in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.                
                                                                               
I believe these modest increases are fair.  The yearly increases of            
approximately 2%, 2% and 3% are far below most federal and local               
government contracts.  In response to recent low oil revenues, last year       
state workers had no increase and for the last four years had increases        
less than half the cost of living.  We all know it is necessary to keep        
state compensation competitive in an environment where private,                
federal and local employers have made significantly larger gains.  Each        
day these dedicated state employees provide vital services to keep the         
public safe and healthy, and keep state services functioning efficiently.      
Some are even called upon to risk their lives in service to the state.         
I believe we all value the work that these men and women perform for           
all Alaskans.                                                                  
                                                                               
The appropriations in this bill use the same wide variety of fund              
sources which currently finance state government, such as federal              
funds, general funds and corporate receipts.  The Administration will          
work with the Legislature to look for fund sources which could reduce          
the need for general funds.                                                    
                                                                               
Now that the other business of the regular session has been concluded,         
there is an opportunity to focus on the contracts.  I will work with you       
to achieve a swift and successful conclusion to this special session.          
                                                                               
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"