Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/12/1993 01:35 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 55
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"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and to
capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date."
ALASKA COURT SYSTEM
The House Finance Subcommittee for the Alaska Court System
consists of Chair Parnell with members Representatives
Barnes, Porter, Navarre and Grussendorf.
Representative Parnell provided members with a letter from
the Alaska Court System answering questions regarding their
budget (Attachment 1). Representative Parnell asked the
Alaska Court System to respond to the following questions:
* What specific areas of responsibility have
increased significantly in the past five years?
* What budgetary or planning action, if any has
taken place to address these demands?
* Over the next five to ten years, what areas of the
respective division or agency are anticipating
increased workloads?
* How does the department's proposed FY 94 budget
help to prepare the department for these demands.
Representative Parnell presented members with the Alaska
Court System FY 94 Operating Budget, Impact of House Budget
Reduction (Attachment 2).
Representative Parnell stressed that the Alaska Court System
is not just another department but a branch of government.
He pointed out that the Governor's proposed FY 93 Alaska
Court System budget is $44,362.5 million general fund
dollars. This is a 4.1 percent increase. The Subcommittee
was given a 2 percent reduction target. The Subcommittee's
proposed budget for the Alaska Court System is 2.1 percent
over FY 93 Authorized.
Representative Parnell provided members with the
Subcommittee's Transaction Summary for the Governor to House
(Attachment 3). He reviewed Attachment 3.
* Trail courts - <642.3 thousand dollars>
$140.4 thousand dollars in new positions were
deleted as prioritized by the Alaska Court System.
Other reductions were; new equipment <$10.1
thousand dollars> and office space <$23.4
thousand dollars>. The Subcommittee deleted a
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$401.2 thousand dollars request for jury fee
increases.
A $67.5 thousand dollars reduction was made to the
mediation pilot project. The project was
suggested by the legislature for divorce and
family law mediation. The project will be
conducted only in Anchorage.
* Administration and Support - <210.0 thousand
dollars>
New positions were deleted.
* Commission on Judicial Conduct - <$3.0 thousand
dollars>
An investigator position was eliminated. The
position's funds were transferred to contractual
with a $3.0 thousand dollar reduction.
* Judicial Council - <$68.0 thousand dollars>
Funding for a malpractice project was reduced.
Representative Hoffman noted that the court clerk position
was eliminated in Dillingham. He stressed that there has
been a 71 percent increase in caseload in Dillingham. He
emphasized that the area needs to have a district judge and
attorney. He asked why the Bristol Bay area is being
neglected.
ARTHUR H. SNOWDEN, II, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT
SYSTEM agreed that problems in the Bristol Bay area need to
be addressed. He stated that the Alaska Court System had to
chose between deletions in court personnel or magistrate
training. He expressed his desire to reinstate the court
clerk position at a later date. Representative Hoffman
reiterated his concerns.
Representative Grussendorf expressed concern that 3 court
clerk positions were deleted in Ketchikan, Dillingham and
Craig. He also expressed concern that the Internal Auditor
position was deleted. He emphasized that the internal
auditor was requested through the Legislative Budget and
Audit Committee.
Representative Parnell MOVED to adopt and INCORPORATE into
HB 55 the proposals by the House Finance Subcommittee on the
Alaska Court System. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so
ordered.
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HB 55 was HELD in Committee.
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