Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/18/2002 03:25 PM House MLV
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 324-HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS Number 0317 CHAIR CHENAULT announced the final order of business, HOUSE BILL NO. 324, "An Act making supplemental and other appropriations for homeland security; and providing for an effective date." [The committee had heard from numerous department personnel and asked questions, but there had been little committee discussion and no action to date.] Number 0320 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS), version 22-GH2078\F, Utermohle, 4/16/02, as a work draft. CHAIR CHENAULT announced that [Version F] was before the committee. Number 0520 CHAIR CHENAULT reminded members that HB 324 had been in the committee's possession for some time. He said a lot of good intentions had gone into the bill; he indicated the departments had tried to think of every [possible need]. He explained the reasoning behind Version F, saying that no amount of money that could be provided, either through state or federal government, will be enough. He offered his belief that what is felt to be reasonable can be provided, however. He added: I had asked [unspecified] committee members to go over the appropriations to help make a determination, what they felt or what we felt was reasonable to this particular appropriation. Some things were left in; some things were taken out, ... realizing that we have responsibilities not only to ... protect citizens in the state of Alaska, but also any U.S. citizen that [is] here. But we also have a responsibility to our constituents and to Alaskans, that we try to make sure we get the most bang for the buck. Number 0680 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT commended Chair Chenault for a good job of paring things down. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it was an excellent job. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT agreed the state doesn't have the resources to do everything. He noted that Version F has prioritized and leveraged federal funding to the extent possible. He said he believes it goes a long way toward implementing many of the recommendations outlined by the Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet and forwarded with the original bill. He pointed out that the House Finance Committee eventually would review this and either concur or make changes. Number 0767 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI mentioned the numerous spreadsheets provided at the various hearings. She said it wasn't clear, looking at Version F, what hadn't been included. She requested that Chair Chenault provide a better sense regarding that. CHAIR CHENAULT referred to the handout titled "Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet: Cost Estimates for Highest Priority Recommendations," dated 1-14-02; a new, highlighted copy had been provided to members that day. He explained: Basically, ... we went down and looked at federal funds, and naturally the federal funds are ... the biggest. We pretty much agreed that ... we would like to monopolize all the federal funds we can get for this, ... realizing that some may be matching. And, as you know, ... there were continual changes where [general] funds were moved to federal funds. Some things were dropped completely out, either ... because we didn't act in a timely enough manner ... for the departments to be able to institute them, or they found that ... they weren't required. You know, there are some things in here that ... we may have to address at a different time if they do not get the waivers that they're asking for. Number 0951 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked whether those are included. CHAIR CHENAULT said no. He explained, "I could not justify allocating money to a department beforehand, figuring that we may have to try to get it back at a later time." He suggested that can perhaps be done in a supplemental [budget] later. CHAIR CHENAULT noted that many general fund items weren't included or were included in the "fast-track supplemental" just approved. He added, "There's some ... other issues in here that in my opinion, and some of the other committee members' opinions, did not really fit in to ... what this appropriation is." He cited as an example [a request for] 20 new Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs); he questioned whether that really was added to this [appropriation] package because of the [terrorism attacks on September 11, 2001], considering that it has been before the legislature previously. CHAIR CHENAULT pointed out that there is money in there for additional troopers, for field surveillance and analysis, and for continuing their drills with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on pipeline safety issues. There also is money for HAZMAT [hazardous materials] suits. He remarked: Some departments were more forthcoming than other departments were, as far as what their actual needs were. I did kind of find that refreshing, and not to show any favoritism, but I did let them bend my ear considerably more than maybe others. ... There's some parts and pieces out of this 1-14-02 recommendations that ... kind of fell by the wayside, either on their own or because the funding is not needed at this particular time. CHAIR CHENAULT again offered to discuss each dollar amount proposed to be given to each department in Version F. Number 1173 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said she didn't think it was necessary. She said, however, it was helpful to look at the highlighted copy [of the handout] regarding the federal dollars, which she hadn't seen before or talked to the chairman about. She referred to proposed funding for the Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR) system and remarked about the federal component. CHAIR CHENAULT acknowledged it was confusing, saying that as the numbers changed, projects were either deleted "or they elected not to ask for the funding at this particular time, in this particular appropriation." He added that [Version F] was the best recommendation he could make at this time. Number 1288 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked whether the committee would be generating a fiscal note to reflect what the front page of Version F indicates, a total of [$58,781,800]. CHAIR CHENAULT said yes. He also indicated he'd agreed with other committee chairs to bring them up to speed on what the current committee has done, and why it was decided to fund certain items, in order to speed the process along. Number 1520 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move CSHB 324 [version 22- GH2078\F, Utermohle, 4/16/02] out of committee with individual recommendations and an accompanying fiscal note that reflects the funding levels on page 1 of the bill. CHAIR CHENAULT, hearing no objection, announced that the bill was moved. Number 1560 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT brought attention to the letter of intent in committee packets. It read [punctuation added]: Legislative Intent CS for HB 324(MLV) The intent of Committee Substitute for House Bill 324, "An Act making supplemental and other appropriations for homeland security; and providing for an effective date," is as follows: It should be clear that appropriations as outlined in the above-referenced bill be spent only in the manner as the Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet recommended in their report dated 1-14-02 delivered with the bill at the time of filing. Should it become necessary for a court of law to determine allocations, this is the standard to which each department should be held. Number 1606 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI pointed out that since the initial spreadsheet was provided, there have been instances of discovering that there are available funds or that there is a "waiver." She noted that the language of the letter says "spent only in the manner" that is recommended in the report of January 14. However, there have been changes to that report regarding where those funding sources are or whether they are even needed. She questioned tying it to the report of that particular date. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT said he thinks that is a good point, then added: I think all we're saying here is that at this particular point in time, based on this snapshot, this is hopefully an up-to-date version. If there are later changes in the committee process, then it'd be up to that committee to make those changes and accept the recommendations from the various departments. And at that point they would, then, not adopt our letter of intent, but may, then, move their own letter of intent forward, if they should choose to do so. Number 1694 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI clarified that her concern is with the word "only". It is a specific tie-in to that list. She then commented that letters of intent are about as good as the paper they're written on. REPRESENTATIVE GREEN agreed they carry no legal weight. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT said he didn't think eliminating the word "only" would do anything drastic to the letter; he also agreed it doesn't carry any weight. He suggested the next committee could accept it, amend it, or reject it outright. "This gives an indication to the next committee of referral that we've done the best we could with what we had available, and we believe that everything's up to date," he said. Number 1784 CHAIR CHENAULT remarked, "I believe that our intent is that they spend the funds on the priorities and the recommendations that they have." REPRESENTATIVE KOTT surmised that federal funds would come with strings attached to those various programs. He indicated it would be general funds that could be in question, unless there were substantial matching funds. Number 1836 REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI told members she wasn't entirely satisfied with the legislative intent as outlined [in the letter]. She therefore stated for the record, "We want the expenditures and the appropriations to reflect what the Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet ... had initially proposed, recognizing that there may be changes within the funding sources, ... whether or not that has been a priority." Number 1872 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move the letter of intent along with the bill. There being no objection, the letter of intent was moved along with CSHB 324(MLV) out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|