Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519

03/20/2023 01:30 PM House FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 39 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUND; SUPP TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= HB 41 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= HB 79 APPROP: SUPPLEMENTAL TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 79(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony - 2 Minute Limit --
- Public Testimony for HB 79 begins at 3:00 PM
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
HOUSE BILL NO. 39                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     loan  program  expenses  of state  government  and  for                                                                    
     certain   programs;    capitalizing   funds;   amending                                                                    
     appropriations;    making   reappropriations;    making                                                                    
     supplemental   appropriations;  making   appropriations                                                                    
     under art.  IX, sec.  17(c), Constitution of  the State                                                                    
     of  Alaska,  from  the  constitutional  budget  reserve                                                                    
     fund; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 41                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "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."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:40:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee                                                                               
substitute for HB 39, Work Draft 33-GH1347\B (Marx,                                                                             
3/15/23).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson  thanked  members  of  the  House  Finance                                                                    
Committee   for  their   work   in   the  operating   budget                                                                    
subcommittee  process.   She  explained  that   the  numbers                                                                    
section in  the CS  reflected the  work of  the subcommittee                                                                    
process  and   contained  few  other  changes.   There  were                                                                    
numerous  changes to  the language  section, which  would be                                                                    
reviewed  by her  staff. She  shared  that the  goal was  to                                                                    
produce  a balanced  and sustainable  operating budget  that                                                                    
held  state spending  down, included  smart reductions,  and                                                                    
allowed for a capital  budget to maintain infrastructure and                                                                    
jobs in  local communities.  She stated  that over  the next                                                                    
several  weeks   there  would   be  robust   discussions  on                                                                    
education,  the Permanent  Fund Dividend  (PFD), health  and                                                                    
social services,  and other major cost  drivers to Alaskans.                                                                    
She explained that the CS  represented a good starting point                                                                    
for discussions and  the amendment process. She  read from a                                                                    
prepared statement:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Highlighted  by the  recent  downswing  in oil,  Alaska                                                                    
     needed a  comprehensive fiscal solution to  provide the                                                                    
     certainty  our residents  deserve.  I know  we are  all                                                                    
     eagerly  awaiting the  release  of  the spring  revenue                                                                    
     forecast.  It  is  my  sincerest   hope  that  we  will                                                                    
     implement a  fiscal solution over  the next  two years;                                                                    
     however, what is  before us now is the  FY 24 operating                                                                    
     budget  -  that's  the  point of  the  pencil.  As  the                                                                    
     finance committee, it  is our job to  ensure the budget                                                                    
     balances   and  that   public  dollars   are  used   as                                                                    
     effectively as  possible where those funds  are needed.                                                                    
     I look forward to an  open dialogue with members of the                                                                    
     public   as  well   as  the   committee  on   potential                                                                    
     amendments over the next week.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson asked  her staff  to  review the  proposed                                                                    
changes in the committee substitute (CS).                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REMOND  HENDERSON,  STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  DELENA  JOHNSON,                                                                    
reviewed  the changes  in the  CS compared  to the  original                                                                    
version  of the  bill. He  highlighted reports  numbered one                                                                    
through four from the Legislative  Finance Division (copy on                                                                    
file). He read from prepared remarks:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The committee substitute includes  all changes from the                                                                    
     subcommittee  closeouts.   The  subcommittee  closeouts                                                                    
     include  all  of  the   governor's  amendments  to  the                                                                    
                                               th                                                                               
     numbers section  submitted on February  14,  so  I will                                                                    
     not  be discussing  these items  that the  subcommittee                                                                    
     chairs  have already  covered in  full finance  through                                                                    
     the   subcommittee  closeout   process.  However,   the                                                                    
                                                           th                                                                   
     governor submitted  additional amendments  on March  7                                                                     
     with a UGF [undesignated  general fund] increase of $16                                                                    
     million   that  were   not  included   in  subcommittee                                                                    
     reports.  These   items  were  all  increases   to  the                                                                    
     Department  of Education  [and  Early Development]  and                                                                    
     were presented  by the office  of Office  of Management                                                                    
     and  Budget [OMB]  to the  House  Finance Committee  on                                                                    
                      th                                                                                                        
     Monday,  March 13.   These  items are  not included  in                                                                    
     this CS and may be offered as amendments.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Madam Chair, I  will first provide a summary  of the FY                                                                    
     24 operating budget  request as reflected in  CS 1. For                                                                    
     FY 24, the House  Finance Committee substitute reflects                                                                    
     the  following. A  total budget  of $9,809,216,800  for                                                                    
     agency operations,  which is  primarily the day  to day                                                                    
     operations  of  state  government. A  total  budget  of                                                                    
     $571,852,300 for  statewide items. These  items include                                                                    
     debt    service,     retirement    payments,    special                                                                    
     appropriations, and  fund capitalizations.  The funding                                                                    
     sources for  agency operations and statewide  items are                                                                    
     as  follows:  $6,372,477,700  in  unrestricted  general                                                                    
     funds,     $910,511,300     in    designated     funds,                                                                    
     $1,728,782,100  in other  funds  (the  major source  of                                                                    
     these  funds  is  authorization of  corporate  receipts                                                                    
     such   as  AIDEA   and  AHFC,   aerospace,  interagency                                                                    
     receipts, and airport  receipts), and $3,208,757,900 in                                                                    
     federal funds.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:46:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson summarized  the few changes made in  the CS to                                                                    
the governor's amended budget. He  noted that details of the                                                                    
changes had  been provided during the  subcommittee closeout                                                                    
process. He read from prepared remarks:                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     There  were  15  agency  closeouts  with  virtually  no                                                                    
     changes in the governor's  amended request. Compared to                                                                    
     the   governor's  amended   budget,  the   unrestricted                                                                    
     general funds spent  in this CS reflects  a decrease of                                                                    
     $2,713,900  in  agency  operations,   which  is  a  0.1                                                                    
     percent  decrease  (one  tenth of  one  percent).  This                                                                    
     percentage  does   not  include  the  $16   million  in                                                                    
                                                 th                                                                             
     additional  amendments received  on  March 7.   The  CS                                                                    
     also  contains  a  $30 million  increase  in  statewide                                                                    
     items for community assistance,  this will be addressed                                                                    
     when we get into the language section.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     In  the Department  of  Environmental Conservation,  we                                                                    
     made a technical correction to  fund sources to reflect                                                                    
     $85.2  thousand  as  general funds  match  rather  than                                                                    
     general funds.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  directed committee  members  to  the CS.  He                                                                    
continued to read from prepared remarks:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     The Department  of Health on  page 20, lines  8 through                                                                    
     13,  the   following  wording  was  added:   "No  money                                                                    
     appropriated in this appropriation  may be expended for                                                                    
     an abortion  that is not  a mandatory  service required                                                                    
     under AS  47.07.030(a). The money appropriated  for the                                                                    
     Department  of   Health  may   be  expended   only  for                                                                    
     mandatory  services  required  under Title  19  of  the                                                                    
     Social  Security  Act  unless   a  U.S.  Supreme  Court                                                                    
     decision  provides  new   precedent  and  for  optional                                                                    
     services offered by the state  under the state plan for                                                                    
     medical  assistance  that  have been  approved  by  the                                                                    
     United   States   Department   of  Health   and   Human                                                                    
     Services."  This language  is the  exact same  language                                                                    
     that was  adopted in last year's  conference committee.                                                                    
     Also on  page 20,  line 7, we  remove $117,800  for the                                                                    
     amount of UGF that was spent in FY 22 on abortions.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     The  next change  is on  page 29,  line 24.  We made  a                                                                    
     technical correction  in the  Department of  Revenue to                                                                    
     reflect  the appropriation  name as  the Child  Support                                                                    
     Enforcement  Division.  The governor's  budget  changed                                                                    
     the allocation  name but  inadvertently did  not change                                                                    
     the appropriation name to match.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:50:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson reviewed  the other  changes in  the language                                                                    
section between the governor's request  and the CS. He noted                                                                    
there were several  changes in the language  section made by                                                                    
the governor in  his amendment process and  the changes were                                                                    
not  under  the  purview  of the  House  Finance  Committee;                                                                    
therefore, he would address them  as other language changes.                                                                    
He relayed that Legislative  Legal made some minor technical                                                                    
clarifying changes that did not  materially affect the bill,                                                                    
which  he would  cover at  the end  of the  language section                                                                    
changes if the committee desired.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson reviewed changes  pertaining to the Department                                                                    
of  Administration (DOA)  in  Section 7,  page  54, lines  1                                                                    
through 6. He  detailed it was a new section  with a June 30                                                                    
effective date. The section appropriated  the balance of the                                                                    
abandoned motor  vehicle fund estimated  at $110,000  to DOA                                                                    
Division of  Motor Vehicles to reimburse  municipalities for                                                                    
the cost  of removing  abandoned vehicles for  FY 23  and FY                                                                    
24.  Funds  were  collected  from   the  sale  of  abandoned                                                                    
vehicles, which  brought in approximately $10,000  per year.                                                                    
He explained that $100,000 UGF had  been added in FY 23, but                                                                    
DOA   needed   appropriation   of  the   fund,   which   was                                                                    
accomplished in the new section.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  turned to  a  change  to the  Department  of                                                                    
Education and Early Development  (DEED) budget in Section 8,                                                                    
page  55,  lines  3  through  8. The  section  was  new  and                                                                    
extended the use  of the Mount Edgecumbe  land sale proceeds                                                                    
through  FY  25,  which  had  to be  used  for  high  school                                                                    
maintenance and  operations. He noted that  Section 15(b) of                                                                    
the previous bill was removed as it was no longer needed.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  reviewed  Section  11,  page  55,  lines  24                                                                    
through  page   56,  line  6.   The  section  was   new  and                                                                    
reappropriated  the  unobligated  balance  of  general  fund                                                                    
appropriation to the Legislature in  FY 23, not to exceed $1                                                                    
million  for  the  purposes  of  a  30-day  special  session                                                                    
effective  for FY  23 through  FY 25  as recommended  by the                                                                    
subcommittee.  Section  15,  page  57 lines  22  through  29                                                                    
pertaining to  the Alaska Industrial Development  and Export                                                                    
Authority (AIDEA)  dividend. He explained that  the governor                                                                    
submitted  an amendment  deducting  $13.9  million from  the                                                                    
cash  dividend  to  the  general fund  and  instead  made  a                                                                    
transfer  of land  to the  Department  of Natural  Resources                                                                    
(DNR). The  CS did not incorporate  the governor's amendment                                                                    
and  retained the  governor's original  language related  to                                                                    
the dividend transfer.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:54:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson turned  to the  PFD in  Section 16,  page 58,                                                                    
lines 7  through 13. The governor's  original bill contained                                                                    
a percent of  market value (POMV) draw of  $3.5 billion with                                                                    
approximately  $2.5 billion  going  towards a  full PFD  and                                                                    
approximately  $1 billion  going  towards state  government.                                                                    
The CS  appropriated 50 percent  of the $3.5 billion  to the                                                                    
dividend  fund  and  50  percent to  the  general  fund  for                                                                    
government  operations  resulting in  a  PFD  of $2,689  per                                                                    
recipient compared to  the $3,801 in the  original bill. The                                                                    
CS  removed  Section  16(e)  of  the  previous  bill,  which                                                                    
included  a $1.4  billion appropriation  from the  Permanent                                                                    
Fund Earnings Reserve Account (ERA)  to the principal of the                                                                    
fund for inflation proofing.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  asked Mr. Henderson to  repeat the                                                                    
information about the removal of a subsection on page 58.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson  clarified that Section 16(e)  of the previous                                                                    
bill had been removed in the CS.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  asked if the section  had included                                                                    
$1.4 billion for inflation proofing the Permanent Fund.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson agreed.  He noted that there  was no inflation                                                                    
proofing in FY 16, FY 17, FY  18, FY 21, and FY 22; however,                                                                    
there had  been transfers from  the ERA to the  principal of                                                                    
$4 billion in FY 20 and FY 22.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson reviewed  a change  in Section  17, page  58,                                                                    
lines  17  through  page  59,  line  18  pertaining  to  the                                                                    
Technical  Vocational  Education   Program  (TVEP).  The  CS                                                                    
transferred the TVEP appropriation  from the numbers section                                                                    
to  the  language  section  with  an  estimated  amount.  He                                                                    
explained  that previously  the  numbers section  had to  be                                                                    
adjusted repeatedly  to match revenue estimates.  The change                                                                    
was a governor's amendment incorporated into the CS.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson turned  to the next change  located in Section                                                                    
18, page 59,  lines 19 through page 60, line  4. The section                                                                    
was new and related to  bonuses for certain employees of the                                                                    
executive branch.  The section replicated language  from the                                                                    
FY  23  budget  including   monetary  terms  of  letters  of                                                                    
agreement  between the  executive  branch  and employees  in                                                                    
collective bargaining agreements.  The section also required                                                                    
letters of agreement to be  sent to the finance co-chairs on                                                                    
March 14 and September 30.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson  reviewed a change to  the Reinsurance Program                                                                    
under  the Department  of Commerce,  Community and  Economic                                                                    
Development  (DCCED)  in  Section  20,  page  62,  lines  11                                                                    
through  15.  The  section  extended   the  use  of  federal                                                                    
receipts for the  reinsurance program to June  30, 2025 from                                                                    
June 30, 2024.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson noted that Section  14(i)   commerce broadband                                                                    
federal receipts  estimated to be  $0 - had been  moved from                                                                    
the language  section of  the original  bill to  the capital                                                                    
budget.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:59:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  asked Mr. Henderson to  repeat the                                                                    
information pertaining to broadband.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  replied   that  broadband  federal  receipts                                                                    
estimated to be $0 was  removed from the language section of                                                                    
the original bill and placed in the capital budget.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  moved to  a  change  pertaining to  DEED  in                                                                    
Section 21,  page 63,  lines 1 through  6 where  the wordage                                                                    
for  grants   or  reimbursement  to   educational  entities,                                                                    
nonprofit,  and nongovernment  organizations deleted  in the                                                                    
governor's  amended   budget.  The  change  gave   DEED  the                                                                    
authority to expend federal funds  received in excess of the                                                                    
amount  appropriated in  the numbers  section for  education                                                                    
support and  administrative services. The  change eliminated                                                                    
the restriction in  the original bill that  only allowed the                                                                    
funds   to  be   spent  on   grants  or   reimbursements  to                                                                    
educational   entities,   nonprofits,  and   nongovernmental                                                                    
organizations.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson   addressed  a   change  pertaining   to  the                                                                    
Department of Health (DOH) in  Section 22(b), page 63, lines                                                                    
21 through 28 regarding  the Homeless Management Information                                                                    
System.  The  section  was  moved   to  the  June  30,  2023                                                                    
effective  date  section  and  extended  use  of  the  funds                                                                    
through FY 25. The item  had originally been included in the                                                                    
numbers section  of the commissioner's office  allocation in                                                                    
FY  23. The  change reappropriated  the funds  for the  same                                                                    
purpose;  however, it  provided more  years to  complete the                                                                    
project.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson turned  to a change in Section  22(e), page 64                                                                    
lines 8  through 12 pertaining  to a DOH federal  grant. The                                                                    
section  was  modified  to  correct an  error  made  by  the                                                                    
department and to clarify that  the American Rescue Plan Act                                                                    
(ARPA)  dollars estimated  at $25  million were  to be  used                                                                    
specifically  for   a  grant  to  the   Division  of  Public                                                                    
Assistance  for childcare  versus any  DOH program.  Section                                                                    
22(f),  page 64,  lines 13  through 19  pertained to  public                                                                    
assistance,   Medicaid   eligibility  redetermination.   The                                                                    
governor  submitted  an  amendment adding  $8.9  million  in                                                                    
general funds  and $8.9  million in federal  funds as  an FY                                                                    
24/FY  25   multiyear  appropriation   to  cover   the  cost                                                                    
associated with Medicaid redeterminations.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:02:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tomaszewski requested the  last page and line                                                                    
numbers.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson provided  the details.  He  moved to  Section                                                                    
29(g)(12), page 70, lines 6  through 8 pertaining to GO bond                                                                    
debt. The change  was made in the  governor's amendments and                                                                    
replaced 2012A  and 2013B bonds  with 2023A bonds for  a net                                                                    
savings of $603,000. He reported  that two previous sections                                                                    
were deleted, and the new  section was added. He pointed out                                                                    
that another  reference to  2012A and  2013B bonds  had been                                                                    
deleted on lines 10 and 11 and replaced with 2023.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson moved  to  Section 30(e)  and  (f), page  72,                                                                    
lines  15  through 25.  He  stated  that federal  and  other                                                                    
program receipts  had been  modified to  add a  new section.                                                                    
The original  bill did not  contain language used in  the FY                                                                    
23  operating  bill  that  restricted the  use  of  the  RPL                                                                    
[revised  program  legislative]  process to  expend  federal                                                                    
funds in  excess amounts appropriated.  The CS  modified the                                                                    
section to place restrictions on  the use of the RPL process                                                                    
to expend various  federal and other funds in  excess of the                                                                    
amount  appropriated by  placing a  cap of  $15 million  per                                                                    
appropriation on  the use of the  RPL. The cap in  FY 23 was                                                                    
$10 million. He stated that  the limitation did not apply to                                                                    
federal  fisheries   disaster  funding.  There   were  seven                                                                    
declared fishery disasters, but  the amounts and timing were                                                                    
unknown. In  FY 23  there was about  $32 million  in federal                                                                    
funding for fish  processors that the governor  tried to add                                                                    
through  the RPL  process, but  the $10  million restriction                                                                    
resulted  in  the  Legislative Budget  and  Audit  Committee                                                                    
(LB&A)  denying  all  but  $10  million  of  the  RPLs.  The                                                                    
governor subsequently  went forward  with the  items despite                                                                    
LB&A's recommendation and had the  authority to do so within                                                                    
45 days. The change in  the CS would hopefully eliminate the                                                                    
issue and provide flexibility for fishery disasters.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson  stated there  was also  a restriction  on the                                                                    
use  of Coronavirus  state and  local federal  relief funds,                                                                    
which  were  flexible  federal funds.  He  relayed  that  no                                                                    
balance   was  expected   to  remain,   but  retaining   the                                                                    
restriction ensured if any funds  lapsed, the governor could                                                                    
not reallocate them through the RPL process.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:06:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson  turned to  Section 21(g),  page 73,  lines 23                                                                    
through 30 pertaining to fund  caps public education. The CS                                                                    
changed  the total  funding estimated  to be  $1,173,032,300                                                                    
and  adjusted the  general  fund appropriation  accordingly.                                                                    
The  governor's original  amount was  based on  the estimate                                                                    
that $48.4  million of FY  23 forward funding  would remain;                                                                    
however,  based  on  the  governor's  proposed  supplemental                                                                    
budget, the estimate  was $0. The change  reflected the full                                                                    
funding cost with no reduction due to forward funding.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  turned to  Section  31,  page 75,  lines  18                                                                    
through 21  showing a new  fund capitalization  section. The                                                                    
section appropriated  $1.2 million  to the Election  Fund as                                                                    
required by the federal 2002  Help America Vote Act from the                                                                    
following  sources:  $1  million  in  federal  receipts  and                                                                    
$200,000 from  the general fund.  The item was  a governor's                                                                    
amendment, the timing was unpredictable,  and the funds were                                                                    
also for  expenditure in the capital  budget. Section 31(u),                                                                    
page  75, lines  22 and  23  was a  new fund  capitalization                                                                    
section.  The section  appropriated $30  million UGF  to the                                                                    
Community Assistance  Fund in  FY 24.  He noted  the section                                                                    
was  not  included in  the  original  bill and  without  the                                                                    
appropriation, the FY 25 distribution  would be $20 million,                                                                    
which  was only  enough for  the base  payments and  did not                                                                    
allow for any per capita amounts.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson addressed Section 32(o),  page 78, lines 8 and                                                                    
9, that appropriated  $7.5 million from the  general fund to                                                                    
the Renewable Energy  Grant Fund. The item  was a governor's                                                                    
amendment, and the  funds were spent in  the capital budget.                                                                    
Section  34(a), page  79 lines  22 through  25 pertained  to                                                                    
salary  and   benefit  adjustments.  The  increment   was  a                                                                    
governor  amend   item  adding  two  newly   executed  union                                                                    
bargaining  agreements  including  the  Teacher's  Education                                                                    
representing the  teachers of Mt. Edgecumbe  High School and                                                                    
the  Inlandboatmen's  Union  of the  Pacific  Alaska  region                                                                    
representing the  unlicensed marine  unit. Section  38, page                                                                    
82, lines  28 through page  83, line 4 retained  the reverse                                                                    
sweep  but remove  the Constitutional  Budget Reserve  (CBR)                                                                    
deficit  filling language.  He  detailed that  based on  the                                                                    
fall revenue forecast, the budget  did not project to have a                                                                    
[deficit]; therefore,  the CBR section was  removed. Section                                                                    
40, page  83, lines  13 through  18 added  retroactivity for                                                                    
all  effective dates  in the  bill. The  bill also  included                                                                    
various technical  and conforming changes. He  concluded his                                                                    
report and was available for questions.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:12:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz  thought Mr. Henderson had  discussed a                                                                    
fund  source  change  for  DEC   at  the  beginning  of  his                                                                    
presentation.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson clarified  there was  one fund  source change                                                                    
that  was a  technical correction  from $85,000  UGF to  UGF                                                                    
match or vice versa.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz  looked at  page  73  of the  language                                                                    
section. He asked for the impact of the change described.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  replied   to  Representative  Ortiz's  first                                                                    
question and explained there was  a funding source change to                                                                    
$85,000 general  fund match from  general funds for  DEC. He                                                                    
responded to Representative Ortiz's  second question about a                                                                    
change on page 73. The  section included an appropriation to                                                                    
the Public Education Fund. He  explained there was an amount                                                                    
included  previously   based  on  $48  million   of  forward                                                                    
funding. The  money was no  longer available because  of the                                                                    
deficit   in  FY   23.  The   section  included   the  exact                                                                    
appropriation amount based on full funding.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:14:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan asked  Mr. Henderson  to restate  the                                                                    
information related to Section 38, page 82.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson  believed Representative Hannan  was referring                                                                    
to  the  fact  that  the CS  maintained  the  reverse  sweep                                                                    
language but  removed the CBR  vote requirement  because the                                                                    
budget was balanced  based on the fall  revenue forecast and                                                                    
the POMV draw included in the budget.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  asked  if the  change  would  happen                                                                    
automatically  if the  spring  revenue  forecast produced  a                                                                    
different amount.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  stated that as the  committee received the                                                                    
spring  forecast   it  would  be  necessary   to  reevaluate                                                                    
multiple  portions of  the budget.  She  stated the  updated                                                                    
forecast may  mean the need  for spending cuts, a  CBR draw,                                                                    
or  other. She  relayed  that any  change  would not  happen                                                                    
automatically  and  would  have  to  be  taken  care  of  in                                                                    
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan asked if  the operating budget usually                                                                    
specified whether the reverse sweep was called for or not.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson answered  that  some of  the language  had                                                                    
become  more specific  since the  occasions  there had  been                                                                    
challenges with  the reverse sweep.  She stated it  had been                                                                    
clarified over the past several years.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin looked at page  58, lines 7 through 13                                                                    
and stated  her understanding that  the CS included  a 50/50                                                                    
POMV/PFD  and  reduced  the  governor's  proposed  PFD  from                                                                    
$3,800 to $2,689.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  agreed.  He clarified  that  the  POMV  draw                                                                    
amount was the same, but  the allocation had been changed to                                                                    
50/50.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:18:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson remarked there  was a difference of                                                                    
about  $1,100 between  the governor's  proposed PFD  and the                                                                    
number  included in  the  CS, which  equated  to about  $800                                                                    
million. He stated  there was a spring forecast  that he had                                                                    
been told  left the budget $250  million short in FY  23. He                                                                    
calculated  that $800  million minus  $250 million  was $550                                                                    
million. He asked where the $550 million would be spent.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson replied that one  of the challenges was not                                                                    
yet  having  the spring  revenue  forecast.  She noted  that                                                                    
although the  governor's budget included  a $3,900  PFD, the                                                                    
earnings had  been significantly lower than  expected in the                                                                    
first  quarter  of the  year,  which  brought the  full  PFD                                                                    
amount to  approximately $3,200.  She was  not trying  to be                                                                    
nonspecific,  but  the  difference  between  the  governor's                                                                    
proposed PFD  and the PFD  in the  CS was hard  to calculate                                                                    
given the unknowns. She noted  that the difference was about                                                                    
$1,200 or $1,300.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson would follow up offline.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz  stated  that the  governor's  amended                                                                    
budget resulted  in a $431  million deficit. He asked  for a                                                                    
new estimate of the potential deficit under the CS.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson answered the  original governor's budget prior                                                                    
to  his amendments  had  a deficit  of  about $331  million,                                                                    
whereas the  current budget had  a deficit of close  to $450                                                                    
million.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz asked  for verification  Mr. Henderson                                                                    
was referring to the CS.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson agreed.  He noted  it did  not reflect  a $16                                                                    
million  amendment  submitted  for  education,  which  would                                                                    
increase the deficit.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson questioned the $450 million deficit.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:22:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  clarified that the  governor's amended                                                                    
budget  included  a  deficit   of  close  to  $500  million;                                                                    
however, the  CS did not  have a  deficit. He asked  for the                                                                    
accuracy of his statement.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson agreed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  asked Mr. Henderson to  review the numbers                                                                    
for clarification.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Henderson  confirmed   that  Representative  Stapp  was                                                                    
correct. He  explained that  because the  amount of  the PFD                                                                    
had been reduced  in the CS, the budget  contained a surplus                                                                    
instead of a deficit.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson stated, "At least today."                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  asked   for  verification  that  the                                                                    
surplus  in the  CS  did  not include  the  $16 million  the                                                                    
governor proposed  for education or any  other additions for                                                                    
education and other things.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Henderson  agreed.   He  noted   that  including   the                                                                    
governor's  proposed  $16  million  could  be  done  in  the                                                                    
upcoming budget amendment process in committee.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:23:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson thanked  Mr. Henderson for all  of his work                                                                    
on the budget.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson asked  if the committee would  like to address                                                                    
the mental health budget.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:24:21 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:26:35 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon WITHDREW the OBJECTION.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There being NO further OBJECTION, Work Draft 33-GH1347\B                                                                        
was ADOPTED.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:28:04 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:28:31 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Foster   MOVED   to  ADOPT   proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for   HB  41,  Work  Draft   33-GH1349\B  (Marx,                                                                    
3/15/23).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson asked  her staff  to  review the  proposed                                                                    
changes in the committee substitute (CS).                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REMOND  HENDERSON,  STAFF,  REPRESENTATIVE  DELENA  JOHNSON,                                                                    
reviewed  the  changes  in the  CS.  He  highlighted  report                                                                    
number  one from  the  Legislative  Finance Division  titled                                                                    
"Mental Health  Capital Project Detail"  (copy on  file). He                                                                    
began  on  page  11,  lines  25  to  26,  which  included  a                                                                    
governor's  amendment adding  $2.95 million  for the  Alaska                                                                    
Housing Finance Corporation's  (AHFC) beneficiary of special                                                                    
needs housing. The  item had inadvertently been  left out of                                                                    
the  governor's original  budget. The  second change  was on                                                                    
page  15,  lines 29  through  31,  that included  conforming                                                                    
language  with the  operating  budget  reflecting the  TEAME                                                                    
[Teachers  Education  Association  Mt.  Edgecumbe]  and  IBU                                                                    
[Inlandboatmen's  Union]  contract approvals.  He  concluded                                                                    
his report.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  asked   for  verification  that  the                                                                    
governor  had  included  an additional  $2.95  million  into                                                                    
special  needs  housing.  She asked  if  Mr.  Henderson  had                                                                    
stated  the item  had inadvertently  been left  out [of  the                                                                    
governor's original budget].                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson agreed.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon WITHDREW the OBJECTION.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There  being NO  further OBJECTION,  Work Draft  33-GH1349\B                                                                    
was ADOPTED.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  set an amendment deadline  for noon, March                                                                    
23 for both budget bills.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  noted that  a number  of committee                                                                    
members  had  been  anticipating an  amendment  deadline  of                                                                    
Friday, March 24. He requested  a deadline of Friday at 9:00                                                                    
a.m.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson   recalled  that   she  had   specified  a                                                                    
tentative  deadline  of Friday,  March  24.  She stated  the                                                                    
deadline had changed to the  time she had announced [noon on                                                                    
March 23].                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Henderson clarified the reason for the noon deadline.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:34:05 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:35:46 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  announced that the committee  would recess                                                                    
until 2:55 pm.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB  39  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
HB  41  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:36:07 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:59:56 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson asked Mr. Painter  to clarify the amendment                                                                    
deadline.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ALEXEI  PAINTER,  DIRECTOR,  LEGISLATIVE  FINANCE  DIVISION,                                                                    
clarified  the deadline  was not  necessarily for  completed                                                                    
amendments with  the actual language from  Legislative Legal                                                                    
Services. He  explained the  language and  numbers amendment                                                                    
submittal process.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Ortiz    appreciated   the   clarification;                                                                    
however,  it was  his  understanding  that public  testimony                                                                    
went through  Thursday afternoon [March 23].  He thought the                                                                    
original amendment  deadline of  Friday morning  would allow                                                                    
members to  listen to the  full public testimony  and enable                                                                    
them  to submit  any additional  amendments that  may result                                                                    
from  the   testimony.  He  thought  setting   an  amendment                                                                    
deadline  prior  to  the  end   of  public  testimony  would                                                                    
circumvent the public testimony process.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson stated  her understanding of Representative                                                                    
Ortiz's remarks.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Ortiz  clarified   the  idea   that  public                                                                    
testimony was  meant to  give the  public an  opportunity to                                                                    
provide input  on the  budget. He stated  it was  possible a                                                                    
significant idea could come up  through the public testimony                                                                    
process that  may cause any  member of the committee  to see                                                                    
the need for an amendment.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Johnson changed  the  amendment  deadline to  9:00                                                                    
p.m. on Thursday, March 23.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
CS WorkDraft HB 79 v.B HFIN 031623.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 79
CS Workdraft HB 39 v B Operating Budget 031523.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 CS v B 2 HCS1 Agency Summary All Funds.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 CS v B 1 HCS1 Agency Summary UGF Only.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 CS v B 4 HCS1 to GovAmend Transaction Compare.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 39
HB 39 v B 3 HCS1 Statewide Totals.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 39
CS Workdraft v. B HB 41 Mental Health Bill 031523.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 41
HB 41 CS v B HCS1 MH Capital Project Detail.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 41
HB 79 Amendments 1-2 032023.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 79
HB 79 Amendments with Actions 032023.pdf HFIN 3/20/2023 1:30:00 PM
HB 79