Legislature(1993 - 1994)
02/23/1994 01:40 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 441 An Act reducing certain appropriations for fiscal year 1994; and providing for an effective date. HB 441 was held in Committee for further discussion. HOUSE BILL 441 "An Act reducing certain appropriations for fiscal year 1994; and providing for an effective date." KAREN PETERSON, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WOMEN IN SAFE HOMES (WISH), KETCHIKAN, spoke in opposition to HB 441, specifically the retroactive reduction. She pointed out that most organizations identified for cuts have fixed costs which have already been implemented. Recuperating those costs will severely impact the direct operations of services. 2 CHARLES MALLOTT, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), KETCHIKAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, KETCHIKAN, spoke in opposition to HB 441 and asked Committee members not to cut funding for women's shelters throughout the State. He advised, that these programs are "cost efficient" noting that women centers receive funding from other sources besides state grants, for example donations. JOY ALBIN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), FAIRBANKS, spoke against HB 441 and any further cuts proposed to the mental health component. CATHY WINGROVE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), DIRECTOR, WOMEN IN CRISIS (WICCA), FAIRBANKS, spoke against HB 441. She explained that women's shelters have received a maintenance budget for the past three years while the costs of running these shelters has increased. She pointed out that a retroactive charge would remove services for victims of abuse. Shelters can not afford that loss. BOB IRVINE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), DIRECTOR, LIFEQUEST, MAT-SU, spoke against HB 441 and the proposed retroactive three percent cut from community mental health services from the FY94 budget. Mr. Irvine asked for long range consideration of adequate "front-end" funding. MICHELLE CALAHAN,(TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), CITY HALL, UNALASKA, spoke against HB 441. She requested that domestic violence and sexual assault programs be exempt from funding cuts. PATRICK OWEN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), FRONTIER TRAUMA CENTER (FTC), KENAI, spoke against HB 441 expressing concern with decreased funding for community based mental health services. WINI CROSBY, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), FRONTIER TRAUMA CENTER (FTC), KENAI, spoke against HB 441, echoing the concerns of Mr. Patrick Owen. LAUREE HUGONIN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), PRESIDENT, TUNDRA WOMEN'S COALITION (TWC), BETHEL, spoke against HB 441. She urged that continued funding be allocated to programs addressing sexual assault and domestic violence. Ms. Hugonin recommended that budget cuts be taken from capital improvement projects or that a statewide sales tax be implemented to cover budget deficits. CHARMI OLSON, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), BERING SEA WOMEN'S GROUP (BSWG), NOME, spoke against HB 441. She requested that services for women suffering from domestic 3 violence continue to receive full funding adding that services available in the Nome area are always fully utilized. (Tape Change, HFC 94-39, Side 2). PAULA JOHNSON, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), ALASKA WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, ANCHORAGE, spoke against HB 441 stating that social service programs are being targeted during revenue depletion. She stressed that retroactive cuts will dramatically affect the programs which assist women moving into the job market from public assistance support. CATHY SCHINDLER, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), ABUSED WOMEN AID IN CRISIS (AWAIC), ANCHORAGE, spoke against HB 441 stressing the "front line" safety that shelter agencies provide. Most of the funding received by AWAIC originates from social service block money and grants. These are designated funds. The proposed cuts would greatly affect all programs since that money has already been budgeted for the current fiscal year. Ms. Schindler urged the Committee to reconsider the proposed legislation and exempt domestic violence and sexual assault from any further cuts. MARY WHITE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), GENERAL MANAGER, KRBD RADIO STATION, KETCHIKAN, spoke against HB 441 and any legislation which might establish the precedence to take money retroactively. She added that public radio stations in the State have received a lot of budget cuts in the past few years and those cuts affect quality service. DIXIE DUEHN, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), OCRA, KETCHIKAN, spoke against HB 441 and asked that continued funding be provided to OCRA, a program which keeps families together. These funds are administered through the WISH program. GIGI PILCHER, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WOMEN IN SAFE HOMES (WISH), KETCHIKAN, spoke in opposition to HB 441. Ms. Pilcher stressed that further cuts will deplete life threatening services to recipients suffering from domestic violence and sexual assault. She asked that the Committee exempt those services from further budget cuts. PAM CREEKMORE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), WICCA, FAIRBANKS, spoke in opposition to HB 441 while encouraging further support of domestic violence programs. LONNA NEVIL, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), WOMEN IN SAFE 4 HOMES (WISH), KETCHIKAN, spoke in opposition to HB 441 requesting that Committee members become more educated to the amount of and degree of domestic violence occurring within the State to women and children. CLYDE FERGUSON, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), DIRECTOR, MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, BETHEL, spoke in opposition to HB 441 requesting no further cuts to mental health practitioners particularly in the rural areas. He pointed out there are no private practitioners available in his area. Counselors in the Bethel area are presently functioning at an emergency crisis care level. Mr. Ferguson emphasized that it is the responsibility of the State to provide Alaskans essential services. HB 441 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.
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