03/11/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 206(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     capital    expenses   of    the   state's    integrated                                                                    
     comprehensive mental health  program; and providing for                                                                    
     an effective date."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:05:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute                                                                      
for CSHB 206(FIN), Work Draft 31-GH2198\K (Bruce, 3/10/20).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:05:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, explained the                                                                        
committee substitute.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman noted that $13.9 million was for FY 20,                                                                        
and there was roughly $250 million approved to draw from                                                                        
the CBR.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:09:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund continued to discuss the changes in the                                                                             
committee substitute.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman remarked  that the $9 million  was listed as                                                                    
grants, and he appreciated the  issue because of the eminent                                                                    
threat  of  Covid-19.  He  wondered   whether  there  was  a                                                                    
determination  of  how  the  $9   million  grants  would  be                                                                    
distributed to the people that need it.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund understood  that there would be  10 people hired                                                                    
in the  epidemiology unit,  and did  not know  whether there                                                                    
was a plan for the grant distribution.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman REMOVED  their OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, the proposed committee substitute was ADOPTED.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman wondered  if  there was  someone from  the                                                                    
department  that   could  speak  about  the   issue  of  the                                                                    
coronavirus.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof believed that  the money would be used to                                                                    
hire   five   public   health    nurses,   three   or   more                                                                    
epidemiologists,  and one  emergency technicians.  She noted                                                                    
that  there  could  potentially   be  tents,  testing  kits,                                                                    
oxygen, and  other things related  to containing  the virus.                                                                    
She  stressed the  importance of  distributing the  money as                                                                    
soon as possible.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:15:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  stressed  that  the funds  needed  to  be                                                                    
available as soon as possible.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Olson  wondered   whether  the   tents  were   for                                                                    
prevention.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von  Imhof believed  that the  actual documentation                                                                    
for  the  supplemental  item addressed  the  employees.  She                                                                    
remarked  that   there  were  other  discussion   about  the                                                                    
possible alternative location to send people.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  remarked that  it  was  difficult to  get                                                                    
answers.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator    Hoffman   noted    that    Alaska   received    a                                                                    
disproportionate number of travelers,  because of the cruise                                                                    
industry. He  reiterated the importance  of the  approval of                                                                    
the funding.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof MOVED to  report SCS CSHB 206(FIN) out of                                                                    
Committee  with individual  recommendations. There  being NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman remarked  that the  bill would  be on  the                                                                    
floor of the Senate that day.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SCS CSHB 206(FIN)  was REPORTED out of committee  with a "do                                                                    
pass" recommendation.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Co-Chair von Imhof.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:19:12 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:21:57 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED