Legislature(2005 - 2006)HOUSE FINANCE 519

03/18/2005 01:30 PM House FINANCE


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01:36:55 PM Start
04:38:53 PM HB66
05:30:29 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 66 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 67 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS/CBR TELECONFERENCED
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
Public Testimony:
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Juneau
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Break
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Fairbanks
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      March 18, 2005                                                                                            
                         1:36 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 1:36:55 PM.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Richard Foster                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Hawker                                                                                                      
Representative Jim Holm                                                                                                         
Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                     
Representative Mike Kelly                                                                                                       
Representative Carl Moses                                                                                                       
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Eric Croft                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
HB 66     "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."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          HB 66 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 67     "An Act making appropriations for the operating                                                                       
          and loan program expenses of state government, for                                                                    
          certain programs, and to capitalize funds; 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."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          HB 66 was heard and HELD in Committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Public Testimony Operating Budget:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Juneau and Fairbanks                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
JUNEAU:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Carol Edwards,  Alaska Nurses Association;  Ric Iannalino,                                                                      
Coordinator, Juneau FASD Diagnostic  Clinic; Karen Cashen,                                                                      
Parent; Catherine Reardon, Parent; Barbara Thurston, Parent;                                                                    
Lucy Hudson, Member, Governor's Advisory Board on Alcoholism                                                                    
and  Drug Abuse; Jeannie  Monk, Parent;  Holly Cockerille,                                                                      
Social Worker; Merle  Ritter, Southeast Alaska Independent                                                                      
Living; Cheryl Hull,  Southeast Alaska Independent Living;                                                                      
Cathy  Johnson, Member,  Board of  Directors, AWARE;  Marc                                                                      
Wheeler; Walter  Majoris, Director, Juneau  Youth Service;                                                                      
Brian  Johnson,   Director,  Juneau  Economic  Development                                                                      
Council;  Pam  Johansen, Parent;  Ruth  Simpson,  National                                                                      
Council on Alcohol and other Drug Dependency; Ruth Simpson,                                                                     
National Council  on  Alcohol and  other Drug  Dependency;                                                                      
Elizabeth Ruder, National Council on Alcohol and other Drug                                                                     
Dependency;  Chava  Lee;  Sherrie   Wenzlau,  Meeting  the                                                                      
Challenge Campaign; Barbara Belknap,  Board Member, AWARE;                                                                      
Nancy Karacand, Alaska Commission on Aging; Kevin Ritchie,                                                                      
Alaska  Municipal League; Karen  Sidell,  Bethel; Virginia                                                                      
Smiley; Caren Robinson, Alaska Women's Lobby; Lance Miller,                                                                     
Executive Director, Juneau Economic Development                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
TIME        SPEAKER         DISCUSSION                                                                                      
1:38:24 PM Carol Edwards, Spoke in favor of maintaining health                                                                
            Alaska   Nurses care services in the budget, as well as                                                             
            Association     funding   for   breast  and   cervical                                                              
                            prevention and early detection.  She                                                                
                            highlighted expenses related to breast                                                              
                            cancer compared to preventative costs.                                                            
1:44:23 PM Ric Iannalino, Stressed the importance of continued                                                                
            Coordinator,    funding for  FASD diagnostic services.                                                              
            Juneau    FASD  Shared expenses related  to prevention                                                              
            Diagnostic      and treatment.                                                                                    
            Clinic                                                                                                              
1:46:47 PM Karen Cashen, Spoke of personal experience with                                                                    
            Parent          expenses related to having an FASD                                                                  
                            child.   Testified in  support of  the                                                              
                            Governor's request to  replace federal                                                              
                            funding  for  diagnostic services  for                                                              
                            Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.                                                                  
1:49:40 PM Catherine        Encouraged funding for small public                                                               
            Reardon,        charter schools.  She related how they                                                              
            Parent          are funded as a separate school if it                                                               
                            has an ADM of at least 150 students.                                                              
1:53:01 PM Barbara          Explained the inequity in funding of                                                              
            Thurston,       small public charter schools in the                                                                 
            Parent          Juneau School District.  She spoke in                                                               
                            favor of adding the charter school                                                                  
                            grant back into the budget.                                                                       
1:55:19 PM Lucy     Hudson, Testified in support of the Governor's                                                            
            Member,         request to replace federal funding for                                                              
            Governor's      diagnostic services for Fetal Alcohol                                                               
            Advisory  Board Spectrum    Disorder.   She    related                                                              
            on   Alcoholism advantages  of  funding  programs  for                                                              
            and Drug Abuse  prevention.  She also spoke in favor of                                                             
                            funding substance abuse programs.                                                                 
1:58:49 PM  Jeannie   Monk, Spoke in  favor of  equalizing funding                                                            
            Parent          for charter schools because they offer                                                              
                            more educational options.                                                                         
2:01:07 PM Holly            Stressed the importance of continued                                                              
            Cockerille,     funding for FASD diagnostic services.                                                             
            Social Worker                                                                                                       
2:02:17 PM  Merle   Ritter, Related  personal   experience  as   a                                                            
            Southeast       beneficiary of SAIL programs, such as                                                               
            Alaska          visual aids, which enable her to live                                                               
            Independent     at home.  She encouraged continued                                                                  
            Living          funding.                                                                                          
2:03:56 PM  Cheryl    Hull, Requested   continued    funding   for                                                            
            Southeast       independent living centers provided by                                                              
            Alaska          SAIL.                                                                                             
            Independent                                                                                                         
            Living                                                                                                              
2:07:29 PM  Cathy  Johnson, Shared   personal   experiences   with                                                            
            Member,   Board domestic  and sexual  violence.    She                                                              
            of   Directors, requested additional funds of $300,000                                                              
            AWARE           for victims of domestic violence and                                                                
                            sexual assault.                                                                                   
2:10:19 PM  Marc Wheeler    Stressed the  importance  of continued                                                            
                            funding for FASD diagnostic services.                                                               
                            He pointed out the advantages of                                                                    
                            investing in prevention.                                                                          
2:12:06 PM Walter           Spoke about the Governor's Bring Youth                                                            
            Majoris,        Home Initiative, and in favor of                                                                    
            Director,       funding for the Mental Health Grant in                                                              
            Juneau    Youth Medicaid,  FASD  and  substance  abuse                                                              
            Service         prevention.                                                                                       
2:14:56 PM  Brian  Johnson, Requested    funding     for    micro-                                                            
            Director,       enterprises,   18   percent   of   all                                                              
            Juneau          employment in Alaska, to support                                                                    
            Economic        development of small businesses.                                                                  
            Development                                                                                                         
            Council                                                                                                             
2:18:04 PM  Pam   Johansen, Spoke  in  favor  of  supporting small                                                            
            Parent          public charter school funding.                                                                    
2:19:50 PM  Ruth   Simpson, Related reports  of  drug  and alcohol                                                            
            National        abuse by youth and the need for more                                                                
            Council     on prevention programs.                                                                               
            Alcohol    and                                                                                                      
            other     Drug                                                                                                      
            Dependency                                                                                                          
2:22:26 PM Elizabeth        Spoke of her job as a social worker at                                                            
            Ruder,          the Johnson Youth Center and the need                                                             
            National        for continued prevention services.  She                                                             
            Council     on related success stories and emphasized                                                               
            Alcohol    and the need for continued funding.                                                                    
            other     Drug                                                                                                      
            Dependency                                                                                                          
2:25:41 PM Chava Lee        Testified in support of continued                                                                 
                            funding for  positions  at the  Juneau                                                              
                            Pioneer  Home.    She  suggested  that                                                              
                            Alaska become a leader in  the care of                                                              
                          the elderly.                                                                                        
2:30:08 PM Sherrie          Shared personal experiences with drug                                                             
            Wenzlau,        and   alcohol   abuse    and   related                                                              
            Meeting    the  statistics about drug and alcohol abuse                                                             
            Challenge       of youth.  She emphasized the need for                                                              
            Campaign        continued funding for drug and alcohol                                                              
                            abuse prevention.                                                                                 
2:34:08 PM Barbara          Urged appropriation of additional funds                                                           
            Belknap,  Board for prevention of domestic violence and                                                             
            Member, AWARE  prevention programs.                                                                               
2:36:41 PM Nancy            Expressed   concern   for   vulnerable                                                            
            Karacand,       Alaskans, especially the elderly. She                                                               
            Alaska          urged support for additional staff at                                                               
            Commission  on  the Pioneer Home, and increased funding                                                             
            Aging           for the home nursing program, and for                                                               
                            adult protective services program.                                                                
2:40:32 PM  Kevin  Ritchie, Shared financial information  on small                                                            
            Alaska          communities  (copy   on   file.)   and                                                              
            Municipal       requested assistance for them.                                                                    
            League                                                                                                              
2:42:46 PM  Karen   Sidell, Spoke   about   cost  containment   of                                                            
            Bethel          Medicaid benefits.  She requested                                                                   
                            continued funding of Medicaid programs.                                                           
2:46:50 PM Virginia         Testified as a breast cancer survivor                                                             
            Smiley          in support of the Governor's $1.8                                                                   
                            million dollar request for continuation                                                             
                            and expansion for  cervical and breast                                                              
                            cancer screening.   She  spoke of  the                                                              
                            benefits of prevention from a personal                                                              
                           experience.                                                                                        
2:49:27 PM Caren            Spoke to two issues: in support of                                                                
            Robinson,       continuation and expansion for cervical                                                             
            Alaska  Women's and breast cancer screening, in support                                                             
            Lobby           of additional funding for domestic                                                                  
                            violence   programs.     She   related                                                              
                            personal  stories  of  the  women  she                                                              
                           represents.                                                                                        
2:53:22 PM At ease.                                                                                                           
3:13:25 PM  Lance   Miller, Spoke  in  favor   of  small  business                                                            
            Executive       development.  He shared information                                                                 
            Director,       about Springboard, a resource for small                                                             
            Juneau          business projects.                                                                                
            Economic                                                                                                            
            Development                                                                                                         
#           RECESSED        The meeting was recessed at 3:16 PM                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  reconvened the House  Finance Committee                                                                      
meeting to order at 4:38:41 PM.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Richard Foster                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Hawker                                                                                                      
Representative Jim Holm                                                                                                         
Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                     
Representative Mike Kelly                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Eric Croft                                                                                                       
Representative Carl Moses                                                                                                       
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
FAIRBANKS:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ruth Prokopowich;  Murray Richmond; George  Hisamoto; Andy                                                                      
Harrington;  Taber  Rehbaum;   Kimerbly  Banderhoof;  Webb                                                                      
Phillips;  David Jacobson;  Brenda  Stanfill; Cami  Aries;                                                                      
Hadahra Ben-Israel; Deborah Allman  Reynolds; Sandy Young;                                                                      
Pam Karalunas; Shayle Hutchison, Stevie's Place, Fairbanks;                                                                     
Annie  Hopper, Fairbanks; Mike  Powers,  Fairbanks; Cheryl                                                                      
Keepers,  Fairbanks  Borough Health  and  Social  Services                                                                      
Commission; Sandra  Bond, Legal Advocate,  Interior Alaska                                                                      
Center   for  Non-Violence   Living,  Fairbanks;   Annette                                                                      
Freiburger,  Fairbanks;  Karen   McLain,  Fairbanks;  Luke                                                                      
Hopkins, Fairbanks North Star Assembly, Fairbanks; Ruthamae                                                                     
Karr, Fairbanks; Philip, Fairbanks.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
TIME        SPEAKER         DISCUSSION                                                                                      
4:38:53 PM CO-CHAIR         Convened the House Finance Committee                                                              
            CHENAULT        meeting in order to take statewide                                                                  
                            testimony on the operating budget from                                                              
                            the Fairbanks area.                                                                               
4:43:03 PM RUTH             Testified on behalf of continued FAS                                                              
            PROKOPOWHICH,   funding.  She spoke to the current                                                                  
            FAIRBANKS       programs and the families that they                                                                 
                            serve.  She requested more programs for                                                             
                            those people that suffer substance                                                                  
                            abuse.                                                                                            
4:45:40 PM MURRAY           Spoke in support of continued funding                                                             
            RICHMOND,       for public broadcasting.                                                                          
            FAIRBANKS                                                                                                           
4:47:17 PM GEORGE           Spoke in support of restoration of                                                                
            HISAMOTO,       independence living grants and capital                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       requests   to   assist    those   with                                                              
                            disabilities.                                                                                     
4:49:44 PM ANDY             Spoke in support of continued funding                                                             
            HARRINGTON,     for public broadcasting, Human Services                                                             
            FAIRBANKS       Matching   Grant   to   2.2   million.                                                              
                            Testified in support of the Governor's                                                              
                            $1.8   million  dollar   request   for                                                              
                            continuation and expansion for cervical                                                             
                            and breast  cancer screening. Stressed                                                              
                            the importance of continued funding for                                                             
                            FASD diagnostic services.                                                                         
4:52:16 PM  TABER  REHBAUM, Testified in support of restoration of                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       the Human Services Matching Grant of                                                                
                            2.2 million.  Testified in  support of                                                              
                            the  Governor's  $1.8  million  dollar                                                              
                            request for continuation and expansion                                                              
                            for   cervical   and   breast   cancer                                                              
                            screening. Testified in support of the                                                              
                            Governor's request to  replace federal                                                              
                            funding  for  diagnostic services  for                                                              
                            Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.                                                                  
4:54:17 PM KIMBERLY         Spoke in support of programs to prevent                                                           
            BANDERHOOF,     suicide.                                                                                          
            FAIRBANKS                                                                                                           
4:56:27 PM  WEBB  PHILLIPS, Spoke in support of independent living                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       services.                                                                                         
4:58:03 PM DAVID            Testified in support of full funding                                                              
            JACOBSON,       for Independent Living Grants and a                                                                 
            FAIRBANKS       capital appropriation and transition                                                                
                            funds, which help individuals return to                                                             
                          their homes.                                                                                        
5:00:06 PM BRENDA           Testified in support of funding for                                                               
            STANFILL,       domestic violence and sexual assault                                                                
            FAIRBANKS       programs.                                                                                         
5:02:23 PM  HADAHRA   BEN-Testified   in  support  of  funding for                                                            
            ISRAEL,         domestic violence and sexual assault                                                                
            FAIRBANKS       programs.                                                                                         
5:04:15 PM  DEBORAH  ALLMAN Testified in  support  of  funding for                                                            
            REYNOLDS,       domestic violence and sexual assault                                                                
            INTERIOR        programs. She stressed for additional                                                               
            ALASKA CENTER fund.                                                                                               
            FOR       NON-                                                                                                      
            VIOLENCE                                                                                                            
            LIVING,                                                                                                             
            FAIRBANKS                                                                                                           
5:05:20 PM  PAM  KARALUNAS, Testified in support of the Governor's                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       request for funding of diagnostic                                                                   
                            services  for  Fetal Alcohol  Spectrum                                                              
                            Disorder  (FASD) and  other  substance                                                              
                            abuse programs.                                                                                   
5:07:31 PM SHAYLE           Stressed the importance of continued                                                              
            HUTCHISON,      funding for FASD diagnostic services.                                                               
            STEVIE'S        She gave examples of parents raising                                                              
            PLACE,          children with FASD.                                                                               
            FAIRBANKS                                                                                                           
5:09:20 PM  ANNIE   HOPPER, Spoke in support  of continued funding                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       for public broadcasting. Testified in                                                               
                            support of the Governor's $1.8 million                                                              
                            dollar  request for  continuation  and                                                              
                            expansion  for  cervical   and  breast                                                              
                            cancer    screening.   Stressed    the                                                              
                            importance of   continued funding  for                                                              
                            FASD diagnostic services.                                                                         
5:11:57 PM  MIKE    POWERS, Testified in support of the Governor's                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       $1.8   million  dollar   request   for                                                              
                            continuation and expansion for cervical                                                             
                            and breast cancer  screening. Spoke in                                                              
                            support of continued funding for public                                                             
                            broadcasting.                                                                                     
5:14:08 PM CHERYL           Spoke in support of full funding the                                                              
            KEEPERS,        Human Services Matching Grant of 2.2                                                                
            FAIRBANKS       million.                                                                                          
            BOROUGH HEALTH                                                                                                      
            AND      SOCIAL                                                                                                     
            SERVICES                                                                                                            
            COMMISSION.                                                                                                         
5:19:13  PM SANDRA    BOND, Testified in  support  of  funding for                                                            
5:16:25 PM LEGAL            domestic violence and sexual assault                                                              
            ADVOCATE,       programs.                                                                                         
            INTERIOR                                                                                                            
            ALASKA CENTER                                                                                                       
            FOR       NON-                                                                                                      
            VIOLENCE                                                                                                            
            LIVING,                                                                                                             
            FAIRBANKS                                                                                                           
5:17:15 PM ANNETTE          Testified in support of the Governor's                                                            
            FREIBURGER,     request to replace federal funding for                                                              
            FAIRBANKS       diagnostic services for Fetal Alcohol                                                               
                            Spectrum Disorder.                                                                                
5:19:16 PM  KAREN   MCLAIN, Testified in support of the Governor's                                                            
            FAIRBANKS       $1.8   million  dollar   request   for                                                              
                            continuation and expansion for cervical                                                             
                            and breast cancer screening.                                                                      
5:21:23 PM  LUKE   HOPKINS, Asked the Committee to increase funding                                                           
            FAIRBANKS       for Community Matching Block grants. He                                                             
            NORTH     STAR observed that these grants help senior                                                               
            ASSEMBLY,       transportation, homelessness, and youth                                                             
            FAIRBANKS       at risk. He also spoke in support of                                                                
                            reinstating revenue sharing.  Spoke in                                                              
                            support of continued funding for public                                                             
                            broadcasting.                                                                                     
5:24:06 PM  RUTHAMAE  KARR, Noted the importance of cancer research                                                           
            FAIRBANKS       and testified in support of the                                                                     
                            Governor's $1.8 million dollar request                                                              
                            for  continuation  and  expansion  for                                                              
                            cervical and breast cancer screening.                                                             
5:25:44 PM PHILIP,          Spoke in support of the Department of                                                             
            FAIRBANKS       Fish and Game, Hunter Education Range.                                                            
5:30:29 PM                  ADJOURNMENT                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                            The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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