Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/09/1993 01:35 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 55 An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date. DEPARTMENT OF LAW The Department of Law House Finance Subcommittee was Chaired by Representative Larson with members Representative Porter, Representative Olberg, Representative Davidson, Representative Navarre and Representative Barnes. Co-Chair Larson provided the Committee with handouts. [Attachment #1 & #3]. He stated that the target reduction for the Subcommittee was $610,900 thousand dollars. The Subcommittee used the Governor's 1994 proposed budget from 2 which to base the increment/decrements. Co-Chair Larson referenced "The Transaction Summary for the Governor to the House" [Attachment #1]. The Subcommittee made four changes to the Governor's proposed budget. * Prosecution - reduction - $47.4 thousand dollar * Legal Services - Operations Divisions The Governor proposed an increase of twelve attorneys to work on natural resource issues. The proposed increment to the Governor's budget would be $1.998 million dollars. The Subcommittee reduced that increment by $549.9 thousand dollars. * Exxon Valdez Litigation - reduction: $3.462 million dollars. With the completion of the Alyeska settlement, the Department of Law stated they could reduce the request by $1.433 million dollars. The Subcommittee recommends a reduction of $1.5 million dollars. Co-Chair Larson noted the proposed decrement to the Department of Law budget would be $2.473 million dollars general funds, adding back the $50 thousand dollar increment for the position in Barrow. This would make the total proposed reduction - $1.197 million dollars in general funds for the FY 94 budget. The Law Subcommittee addressed the supplemental bill HB 135. The Department of Law addresses five sections. * Section 8 increases the supplemental request for $400 thousand dollars for prosecution costs. * Section 9 is a request for $6.600 million dollars in general funds and $2.200 million dollars in Permanent Fund Corporation receipts for oil and gas litigation. [Attachment #2]. * Section 10 requests $280 thousand dollars for outside counsel to the Department of Law in joint proceedings with the Federal Communications Commission and the Alaska Public Utilities Commission. * Section 11 is a request for $35 thousand dollars for implementing the 1992 Subsistence Law. 3 * Section 12 is a request for $1.087 million dollars in judgement claims. Co-Chair Larson explained that the Governor has requested an increase of $220.4 thousand dollars in "other fund" increments. These would be interagency receipts obtained from Alaska Housing Finance Corporation for the Department of Law to provide legal support. Co-Chair Larson recommended the increment be zeroed out. Representative Grussendorf questioned the $549.8 thousand dollar decrement to natural resource PCN's. Co-Chair Larson replied, the Governor's budget requested twelve full time positions at a cost of $1.998 million dollars. The Subcommittee reduced the recommendation by half. Representative Grussendorf noted his concern with inadequate protection of the State fishery resources placing the State at a disadvantage in treaty negotiations. Representative Hoffman pointed out that the Department of Law has received an increase of thirty positions since 1992. Co-Chair Larson MOVED incorporating the Department of Law Subcommittee recommendations including the amendment reduction of $220.4 thousand dollars into HB 55. There being NO OBJECTIONS, it was incorporated. DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME The Department of Fish and Game Subcommittee was Chaired by Representative Hanley with members Representative Moses, Representative Hudson, Representative Bunde, Representative Gail Phillips, Representative Hoffman, Representative Davidson, Representative Nicholia and Representative Grussendorf. Representative Hanley provided the Committee with handouts of the Department of Fish and Game Subcommittee proposed budget closeouts. [Attachments #4 & #5]. He stated, the FY 93 authorized general fund amount was $46.889 million dollars. The FY 93 supplemental added an additional $584.3 thousand dollars. The Governor's proposed FY 93 is $44.256 million dollars. The Subcommittee was able to reach a two percent reduction beyond that proposed by the Governor. The Subcommittee did not have any increments, although there were switches within the Department. Representative Hanley pointed out that in FY 92, the Department of Fish and Game began reducing funds that provided economic development to the commercial fisheries. 4 The goal of the Subcommittee was to increase commercial fish harvest opportunities. Representative Hanley referenced Attachment #5, "The Transaction Summary for the Governor to the House". * Commercial Fisheries total component increase of $333.2 thousand dollars increasing the harvest opportunities by $333.2 thousand dollars. * Special Projects decrement of $20.4 thousand dollars. * Sport Fisheries decrement of $488.7 thousand dollars. * F.R.E.D. increment of $297.4 thousand dollars. He pointed out that four hatcheries had been zeroed out last year. This increment would allow the Department more time for the closure transition of those hatcheries. Funds had been added back to Deer Mountain Hatchery and Crooker Creek Hatchery. * Wildlife Conservation decrement for $318.9 thousand dollars. Fees have been switched from this component. * Administration and Support decrement for $131.0 thousand dollars. * Boards of Fisheries and Game decrement for $21.9 thousand dollars. * Advisory Committee/Regional Council reduction for $240.5 thousand dollars including a reduction of regional coordinators. * Habitat decrement of $50.0 thousand dollars. * Special Projects reduction from the 470 Funds from the Department of Environmental Conservation for $25.2 thousand dollars. * Subsistence reduction for $63.9 thousand dollars. Representative Hanley reiterated, the Fish and Game Subcommittee's recommended closeout would be two percent below the Governor's proposed budget and five percent below last year. 5 Co-Chair MacLean asked if there were any duplication of projects requested in the capital budget and the subcommittee proposals. Representative Hanley stated there was not. Co-Chair MacLean noted for the record that the Department of Fish and Game recommended the closure of the Kotzebuque Office asking that it be transferred to Fairbanks. She advised that subsistence offices should be located at the regional areas and should not be moved to the urban centers. Representative Hoffman stressed his concern in spending less money on the management of renewable resources. He felt the State could benefit in the long run from better resource management. Representative Hanley MOVED incorporating the Subcommittee recommendations into HB 55. There being NO OBJECTION, it was incorporated. (Tape Change HFC 93-41, Side 2).
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