Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/20/2003 04:20 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 20, 2003
4:20 PM
Due to Mechanical error, there is no tape of this meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Williams called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 4:20 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Harris, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Vice-Chair
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Beth Kerttula
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Bill Stoltze
Representative Jim Whitaker
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Berkowitz
Representative Kerttula
ALSO PRESENT
Pete Ecklund, Staff, Co-Chair Williams; Kathryn Daughhetee,
Director, Administrative Services Division, Department of
Law; John Greely, Staff, Representative Joule; Tim
Benintendi, staff, Representative Moses.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Steve Branchflower, Department of Law.
SUMMARY
CS SB 100(FIN)
An Act making capital appropriations, supplemental
appropriations, and reappropriations; capitalizing
funds; making other appropriations; and providing for
an effective date.
HCS CSSB 100(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation.
CS SB 215(STA)
"An Act relating to a lease-purchase agreement for, the
construction and equipping of, and the financing of a
seafood and food safety laboratory facility to be
operated by the Department of Environmental
Conservation, including the issuance of certificates of
participation, and the use of certain investment income
for certain construction and equipping costs; and
providing for an effective date."
CSSB 215 (STA) was REPORTED out of Committee with "no
recommendation" and two fiscal impact notes: #2 from
Department of Environmental Conservation and #3 from
the Department of Revenue.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 215(STA)
"An Act relating to a lease-purchase agreement for, the
construction and equipping of, and the financing of a
seafood and food safety laboratory facility to be
operated by the Department of Environmental
Conservation, including the issuance of certificates of
participation, and the use of certain investment income
for certain construction and equipping costs; and
providing for an effective date."
Co-Chair Harris MOVED to report CSSB 215 (STA) out of
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note and noted that
the fiscal notes were included in the capital budget.
Representative Stoltze OBJECTED for the record. He WITHDHREW
his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION it was so ordered.
CSSB 215 (STA) was REPORTED out of Committee with "no
recommendation" and two fiscal impact notes: #2 from
Department of Environmental Conservation and #3 from the
Department of Revenue.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 100(FIN)
An Act making capital appropriations, supplemental
appropriations, and reappropriations; capitalizing
funds; making other appropriations; and providing for
an effective date.
Vice-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT Work Draft 23-GS1003\B.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Williams MOVED to ADOPT Amendment A (copy on file.)
[Amendment A was an omnibus amendment.]
PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, CO-CHAIR WILLIAMS reviewed Amendment A.
Representative Berkowitz asked for more information
regarding page 5 of Amendment A.
KATHRYN DAUGHHETEE, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LAW explained that the amendment
pertained to section 54, which would allow the Department to
pay expert witness costs already incurred in the Planned
Parenthood suit.
Representative Berkowitz questioned how much money was
appropriated to the private attorney. Ms. Daughhetee
observed that $317 thousand was spent to pursue the case.
Ms. Daughhetee explained that the Department of Law did not
have a contract with the expert; the Legislative Budget and
Audit Committee had a contract with the expert. The existing
contract was amended to be able to pay the fee.
Representative Whitaker questioned if the claim was
legitimate. Ms. Daughhetee summarized that the state has an
obligation to pay the witness.
Representative Hawker questioned if the State would be
litigated if the funds were not available. Ms. Daughhetee
indicated that litigation could ensue.
Representative Berkowitz MOVED to Divide the question and
separate out the language on page 5 of Amendment A. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt page 5 of
Amendment A.
IN FAVOR: Foster, Hawker, Kerttula, Meyer, Moses, Stoltze,
Whitaker, Chenault, Harris, Williams
OPPOSED: Berkowitz
The MOTION PASSED (10-1).
There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment A was adopted.
Amendment B was not offered.
Representative Stoltze MOVED to ADOPT Amendment C. He
explained that the amendment would appropriate $28.8 million
from the Railbelt energy fund to the general fund.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Moses, Stoltze, Chenault
OPPOSED: Hawker, Kerttula, Meyer, Whitaker, Berkowitz,
Foster, Williams, Harris
The MOTION FAILED (3-8).
Amendment D was WITHDRAN.
Representative Kerttula MOVED to ADOPT Amendment E.
Amendment E would appropriate the unexpended and unobligated
balance, not to exceed $300,000, of the Alaska Technical and
Vocational Education Program Account as a grant to the
Kotzebue Technical Center for operational costs.
JOHN GREELY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE JOULE explained that
state grants are needed. He emphasized the high unemployment
rate.
Representative Kerttula WITHDREW Amendment E.
Representative Kerttula MOVED to ADOPT Amendment F.
Amendment F would add $3.4 million to Kawerak for
Shishmearef erosion control revetment.
Co-Chair Harris noted his support, but expressed concern
over the funding.
Mr. Greely noted that matching money is available.
Representative Kerttula WITHDREW the Amendment.
Representative Moses MOVED to ADOPT Amendment G. Amendment G
would add an additional project to reappropriation 23-LS
8002/A.118: pneumatic heating system, redesign and
reconstruction of the school roof.
TIM BENINTENDI, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE MOSES spoke in support
of the amendment. Co-Chair Harris added his support.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Moses MOVED to ADOPT Amendment H. Amendment H
would reappropriate $102 thousand from the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities harbor deferred
maintenance program to the Department of Community and
Economic Development for payment as a grant to the Lake and
Peninsula Borough for the Perryville Barge Ramp/Dock
project.
Co-Chair Harris questioned if the harbor would be taken over
by the local community. Mr. Benintendi explained that the
funds would assist in that goal.
Co-Chair Williams pointed out that it is statewide funding.
Mr. Benintendi explained that there is no legal restriction,
which would prevent the reappropriation.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Amendment
H.
IN FAVOR: Berkowitz, Kerttula, Moses
OPPOSED: Chenault, Foster, Hawker, Meyer, Stoltze,
Williams, Harris
The MOTION FAILED (3-8).
Representative Moses MOVED to ADOPT Amendment I. Amendment I
would add a reappropriation of $500 thousand from one
Unalaska dock project to another.
Mr. Benintendi explained that the dock project is in the
same community.
Co-Chair Williams OBJECTED.
IN FAVOR: Berkowitz, Kerttula, Moses
OPPOSED: Chenault, Foster, Hawker, Meyer, Stoltze,
Williams, Harris
The MOTION FAILED (3-8).
Representative Moses MOVED to ADOPT Amendment J. Amendment J
would reappropriate $153.7 thousand available in Legislative
Budget and Audit for settlement of attorney fees associated
with reapportionment lawsuits.
IN FAVOR: Berkowitz, Kerttula, Moses
OPPOSED: Chenault, Foster, Hawker, Meyer, Stoltze,
Williams, Harris
The MOTION FAILED (3-8).
Co-Chair Harris observed that money was received from the
state.
Co-Chair Williams MOVED to allow the Legislative Finance
Division to make technical corrections to the bill. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Foster MOVED to report HCS CSSB 100 (FIN) out
of Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. There being
NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 PM
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