02/15/2001 09:02 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     SENATE BILL NO. 80                                                                                                         
     "An  Act making a  special appropriation  to the Department  of                                                            
     Military  and Veterans'  Affairs  for a grant  to 2001  Special                                                            
     Olympics  World Winter  Games; and providing  for an  effective                                                            
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the first  hearing  for this  bill in  the Senate  Finance                                                            
Committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
BILL STOLTZ,  staff  to the bill's  sponsor,  Senator Rick  Halford,                                                            
testified that the $500,000  allocated to the Department of Military                                                            
and Veterans Affairs is  to help cover the costs of food and housing                                                            
for the approaching 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Donley  referred to the proposed Amendment  #1 and asked if                                                            
the bill's sponsor supported it.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Stoltz responded  that  the amendment  is consistent  with  the                                                            
intent of  the legislation  to fund food  and housing expenses  with                                                            
the expectation  that any remaining  funds would be returned  to the                                                            
agency.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MARY  GORE,  Juneau  Area  Director,  Special  Olympics  in  Juneau,                                                            
emphasized  the  need for  food to  feed  the hungry  athletes.  She                                                            
introduced  three athletes  pointing  out the medals  each wore  and                                                            
explaining that  the victories qualified them to participate  in the                                                            
world games.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN MAGALOTTI,  Special Olympic snowboarder, spoke  of his love for                                                            
the sport and  the opportunity to  meet athletes from 80  countries.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JUSTIN ROBERTS,  Special Olympic alpine skier expressed  that he has                                                            
been  skiing  his  whole  life, the  past  seven  with  the  Special                                                            
Olympics. He stated  that he trains and tries to do  his best in the                                                            
competitions.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
NIALL  JOHNSON,  Special Olympic  snowboarder,  told  the  Committee                                                            
about the Air  Force Band dances held during the games,  noting that                                                            
at the last event, he danced with Miss Teen Juneau.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The Committee members and others present applauded the athletes.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Amendment #1: This amendment  replaces "operating costs" with "costs                                                            
related  to housing  and food  expenses".  It also adds  a new  bill                                                            
section to  read, "Any  portion of this  appropriation not  expended                                                            
lapses June 30, 2001."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Leman moved for  adoption. Without objection it was ADOPTED.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Ward  noted the great  amount of  volunteer efforts  and the                                                            
exposure the  games would bring to  Alaska. He stated, "this  is one                                                            
example of  public funds … [where]  we're going to have a  roll-over                                                            
effect and  good will for  years and years  to come not only  in the                                                            
lives of  the participants  but all  those who got  to enter  in and                                                            
help along with this."                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  RICK HALFORD  arrived  and  stated that  the  bill and  the                                                            
accompanying  sponsor  statement  were  self-explanatory.  [Copy  on                                                            
file.] He  added that the  amendment is consistent  with his  intent                                                            
that any unused funds would lapse.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Donley  shared his discussion with US Senator  Ted Stevens,                                                            
Honorary Chair,  2001 Special Olympics  World Winter Games,  and was                                                            
assured there would be an effort to lapse any unnecessary funds.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Leman  concurred with  Senator  Ward's  statement.  Senator                                                            
Leman  stated  that  he  carefully  scrutinizes  supplement   budget                                                            
requests,  but that this  request, "is one  that I believe  rises to                                                            
the top." He continued,  "These three young men well-represent  what                                                            
this is  about." He stated  that he was proud  to be a supporter  of                                                            
the legislation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Donley  reminded   the  Committee   of  the  legislative                                                             
commitment  made to  support the  world games,  which helped  secure                                                            
Anchorage as the chosen site.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Leman  offered  a motion  to  move SB  80  22-LS0550\A,  as                                                            
amended, from Committee.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The  motion  carried  without  objection  and the  bill  MOVED  from                                                            
Committee.