Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/22/1998 09:22 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE BILL NO. 230 "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." Senator Phillips briefly explained the Department of Administration subcommittee closeout. He reviewed the changes and reductions, specifically noting the reduction to Longevity Bonus in the amount of $560,000 from the Governor's amended version of the budget. He also noted the reductions to the Office of the Public Advocate and the Office of the Public Defender. There was a general deduction in the Division of Finance in the amount of $286,000. He MOVED the Department of Administration subcommittee closeout. Senator Adams OBJECTION. He requested Sharon Barton from the department be invited to join the committee. He said he wanted to know the problem areas of the subcommittee report. SHARON BARTON, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Administration was invited to join the committee. She said the Longevity Bonus cut should not be a problem because they were still funded at the high range. However, the level of the reduction to the Office of the Public Advocate and Office of the Public Defender may well result in a supplemental in 1999. The Commissioner's increment for $310,000 and APOC for $167,000 are priorities for the department and they have previously spoken to those details. It had been requested that those increments be rolled into the supplemental bill as one-time items using Longevity Bonus grants surplus from this fiscal year. She was also concerned about the reduction to the Division of Finance and explained there will be a charge- back or pro-ration for services. She reviewed the cut in Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in the amount of $250,000. She explained that $200,000 was for additional inspection staff to deal with the increase in drilling activity on the Slope. She also said the remaining $50,000 were for the State's dues for IOGC of which the State has been a member for many years. She explained a comparison to FY '98. Even though the costs this year are over and above, they would try to hold down on a supplemental request for FY '99. She said the reduction to the Division of Motor Vehicles in the amount of $485,000 was for license plates, manuals and equipment. These items have to be purchased for FY '99 as they do not have an ample supply on hand. If not funded it will be the same as a staff reduction or general reduction to DMV and will be taken by necessity from the personal services line item. The impact of that reduction would be those satellite offices now being contemplated for Anchorage and Matanuska Valley would not be established. It will take away their opportunity to redeploy staff from the back office into the front office to help eliminate long lines at DMV. Field service operations will also be reevaluated, especially the one-person offices that are less efficient than the larger offices. They will try to find a more cost-effective way to deliver services to the outlying communities. Senator Sharp asked if any numbers were available on how many people were using the relicensing tag options through emission control offices and new car dealers? JUANITA HENSLEY, Division of Motor Vehicles was invited to join the committee. She said the numbers were available at her office and she would get them to him promptly. She did note, however, that in 1997 the two dealers on line to issue titles for DMV issued only ninety-seven titles for that year. New dealers were being brought on this week. Those were: Anchorage Chrysler, Eero Volkswagen, Saturn, Continental Motors, Honda, and Dollar Rent-a-Car all of Anchorage. One dealer in Juneau is waiting the proper hardware so they could also come on line. Senator Adams asked the subcommittee chair what their position regarding the Office of the Public Advocate and the Office of the Public Defender in regards to Smart Start was. Senator Phillips said he thought that was going to be considered in another budget. Senator Adams also questioned the elimination of $310,000 from the Commissioner's Office for negotiations on on-going or future contracts and how that was going to be handled. Senator Phillips said the subcommittee would rather have those items addressed in a supplemental. Senator Adams advised Co-chair Pearce that he MAINTAINED his OBJECTION. By a roll call vote of 5 yeas (Pearce, Sharp, Donley, Parnell, Phillips) and 1 nay (Adams) (Torgerson absent) the Department of Administration subcommittee report was ADOPTED. Co-chair Pearce advised that the Department of Transportation closeout would be at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon. She then passed the gavel to Co-chair Bert Sharp. (pause on record)
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