Legislature(2015 - 2016)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/03/2015 01:00 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB72 || HB73 | |
| Public Testimony: Juneau | |
| Public Testimony: Homer, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-su, Seward | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 3, 2015
1:04 p.m.
1:04:13 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Neuman called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:04 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mark Neuman, Co-Chair
Representative Steve Thompson, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Saddler, Vice-Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Les Gara
Representative Lynn Gattis
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Scott Kawasaki
Representative Cathy Munoz
Representative Lance Pruitt
Representative Tammie Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Patty George, Alaska Literacy Council, Juneau; Denise
Daniello, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging,
Juneau; Dan Etheridge, AK AFLCIO, Juneau; Anita C. Evans,
Juneau Interpreters Referral Line, Juneau; Pam Mueller-Guy,
Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Interpreter Referral
Line, Juneau; Morgan Evans, Southeast Alaska Independent
Living, Interpreter Referral Line, Juneau; Christy Montero,
Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Interpreter Referral
Line, Juneau; Alex Pastorino, Self, Juneau; Lynn Campbell,
Southeast Conference, Juneau; Dr. George Brown,
Pediatrician, Juneau; Michael Byer, Alaska Learning Network
(AKLN), Juneau; Frank Coenraad, AKLN, Juneau; Conor O'Dea,
Southeast Senior Services, Juneau; Alyson Currey, Planned
Parenthood Votes Northwest, Juneau; Sioux Douglas, KTOO,
Juneau; Walter Majoros, Executive Director, Juneau Youth
Services (JYS), Juneau; Bob Coghill, Chair, Advisory Board
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Juneau; Meghan Johnson,
THREAD, Juneau; Emily Ferry, Parent, Juneau; Sheryl
Weinberg, SERRC, Juneau; Darcy Markovich, SERRC, Juneau;
David Dierdorff, Self, Juneau; Samantha Coronell, Juneau
Construction Academy, Juneau; Andy Story, Member, Juneau
School Board, Juneau; Lynnette Dihle, Self, Juneau; Aura
Landau, Parent, Juneau; Lisa Arehart, Parent, Juneau;
Marian Clough, Self, Juneau; Lauren Smoker, Parent, Juneau;
Jeannie Monk, Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home,
Juneau; Averyl Veliz, Parent, Juneau; Emily Coate Thompson,
Parent, Juneau; Josh Campbell, Alaska Construction Academy,
Juneau; Beth Leban, Director, Juneau Youth Court, Juneau;
Madeline Handley, High School Student and Volunteer, Juneau
Youth Court, Juneau; Jarmyn Kramlich, University of Alaska
Student (UAS), Juneau; Jennifer Walker, Parent, Juneau;
Jaeleen Araujo, General Counsel, Sealaska Corporation,
Juneau; Satnam Sears, Parent, Juneau; Talea Kellar, Parent,
Juneau; Laura Powers, Self, Juneau; Julianne Curry, United
Fishermen of Alaska, Juneau; Russ McDougal, Alaska State
Homebuilders Association, Juneau; Melinda Messner, Parents
as Teachers, Juneau; Mark Miller, Superintendent, Juneau
School District, Juneau; Joy Lyon, Executive Director,
Association for the Southeast Education of Young Children,
Juneau; Rye Sperl, Student Government, University of Alaska
Southeast, Juneau; Felix Thillet, University of Alaska
Southeast, Juneau; Lisa Skiles Parady, Executive Director,
Alaska Council of School Administrators, Juneau; Pam Watts,
Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Juneau; Sabrina Nelson,
Parent, Juneau; Laine Rinehart, Discovery Preschool,
Juneau; Ray Wilson, Self, Juneau; Kirk Perisich, Pacific
Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Local, Juneau;
Ryan M. Herbert, Outside Education, Juneau; Albert Judson,
Self, Juneau; Dixie Hood, Counselor, Juneau; Doug Blonc,
Communities In School and Parent, Juneau; Larry West, Self,
Juneau; Ben Goldrich, Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association Representative and the Masters, Mates, and
Pilots, and the Inlandboatsmen's Union, Juneau; Nancy
Seamount, Self, Juneau; David Anderson, General Manager,
KBBI Public Radio, Homer; Representative Sam Kito III;
Representative Cathy Tilton; Representative Louise Stutes;
Representative Dan Ortiz; Representative Mike Chenault.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Richard Malley, Independent Living Center, Homer; Savely
Kalugin, University of Alaska, Kachemak Bay Campus Student
Association President, Homer; Claudia Haines, Homer Public
Library Youth Services Librarian and Parent, Homer; Cristy
Fry, Self, Homer; Mark Robl, Chief of Police, Homer Police
Department, Homer; Beth Carroll, Self, Fritz Creek;
Virginia Espenshade, Kenai Peninsula Youth Court, Executive
Director, Kenai; Terry Bookey, KDLL, Kenai; Jackson
Blackwell, Youth Courts of Alaska Board, Soldotna; Laurie
Olson, Director of Finance, Kenai Peninsula Borough School
District (KPBSD), Kenai; Jim White, Director of Information
Services for KPBSD, Kenai; Elizabeth Hardie, University of
Alaska Statewide Mining and Petroleum Training Service
(MAPTS), Kenai; Glenn Turner, Independent Living Center,
Kenai; William Bieber, Executive Director, University of
Alaska Mining and Petroleum Training Service, Kenai; Cheryl
Tuttle, Kenai Peninsula College (KPC), Kenai; Marsea
Hansen, KPC, Kenai; Jayce Robertson, KPC, Kenai; Megan
LaCross, Self, Kenai; Justin Dahlgren, Kenai Peninsula
Youth Court, Soldotna; Dave Brighton, Self, Kenai; Pepper
Pond, Greater Kenai-Soldotna Imagination Library and Best
Beginnings, Soldotna; Elena Milette, Self, Kenai; Michael
Nelson, Self, Soldotna; Fred Sturman, Self, Soldotna; Mary
Jo Mettler, Northern Lighthouse Day Center, Soldotna;
Stephanie Queen, Kenai Peninsula College Council, Soldotna;
Kris Holdried, Self, Homer; Paul Slenkamp, AK Mental Health
Trust/UAA Land Trust Office, Ketchikan; Ed Zastrow,
Ketchikan Senior Services and AARP, Ketchikan; Juanita Diaz
Camilon, Rendezvous Senior Center, Ketchikan; Licha Kelly
King, Executive Director, Rendezvous Senior Day Service
Center, Ketchikan; Stewart Whyte, Development Director,
KRBD, Ketchikan; Anita Maxwell, Self, Ketchikan; Lisa
Pearson, Adult Services Librarian, Ketchikan Public
Library, Ketchikan; Margaret Clabby, Self, Ketchikan;
Caitlin Jacobson, Librarian, Ketchikan High School,
Ketchikan; Mike Jausoro, Alaska Escrow and Title Agency,
Ketchikan; Chris French, Ketchikan Gateway Borough,
Ketchikan; Les Cronk, Employee, Southeast Stevedoring
Corporation, Ketchikan; Eric Nichols, Owner, Alcan Forest
Products, Ketchikan; Denise Jausoro, District Recorder,
Ketchikan Recorders Office, Ketchikan; Sam Hernandez,
Physical Education Teacher, Ketchikan Schools, Ketchikan;
Alan Schmitt, Self, Kodiak; Arthur Shultz, Self, Kodiak;
Mike Korsmo, Self, Skagway; Jeff Stephans, Manager, United
Fisherman's Marketing Association, Kodiak; Marita Kaplan,
Director, Adult Service Program, Kodiak; Jonathan Strong,
Self, Kokiak; Terry Haines, Self, Kodiak; Nancy Jones,
Self, Kodiak; Sonjah Schumacher, Self, Mat-Su; Carl Baker,
Self, Wasilla; Brittnie DeLaGrange, Employee, Alaska
Construction Academy, Palmer; Chuck Kaucic, District
Manager, Wasilla Soil and Water Conservation District,
Wasilla; Jonathan Wyckoff, Self, Wasilla; Ingrid Ling,
Wasilla Area Seniors, Wasilla; Chuck Foster, Wasilla Area
Seniors, Wasilla; Kenni Linden, Self, Palmer; Mark Lackey,
Self, Wasilla; Rachel Greenberg, Self, Palmer; Carol
Christiansen, Self, Palmer; Tim Walters, President, Mat-Su
Education Association, Mat-Su; Helen Mathias, Self, Seward;
Valarie Kingsland, Director, Alaska Library Association,
Seward; Karen Shemet, Self, Homer.
SUMMARY
HB 72 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 73 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 72
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs, capitalizing funds, making
reappropriations, and 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. 73
"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."
1:04:22 PM
Co-Chair Neuman discussed that the committee would hear
public testimony on the operating and mental health
budgets.
Co-Chair Thompson asked members of the public to leave the
room after testifying to make room for additional
testifiers.
Co-Chair Neuman read public testimony protocol. He
understood that the budget was complex in the current year;
the committee had made extra time available to accommodate
the high volume of anticipated public testimony. He
stressed that public testimony, both verbal and written,
was considered by the committee.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: JUNEAU
1:10:22 PM
PATTY GEORGE, ALASKA LITERACY COUNCIL, JUNEAU, spoke in
favor of funding for the Alaska State Literacy Association.
She provided information about the organization. The
organization supported literacy for all, lifetime learning,
and informed decision making. She urged the committee to
fund Best Beginnings, Parents as Teachers, and Pre-K
programs. She discussed the improvement in children's
kindergarten entry testing scores after participating in
the Imagination Library program. She communicated that
1,000 Juneau families had participated in the program in
2014. She discussed that the kindergarten readiness score
had risen by 11 percent during the same period. She
stressed the importance of books in children's homes. She
thanked the committee for its time.
Co-Chair Neuman welcomed Representative Sam Kito III to the
committee room.
1:12:49 PM
DENISE DANIELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
AGING, JUNEAU, spoke against cuts to the Alaska Senior
Benefits Program administered by the Division of Public
Assistance and to the Adult Day Services senior grant
program. She emphasized that the senior benefits program
provided a critical safety net for more than 11,000
Alaskans aged 65 and older who lived on a fixed income. The
program helped pay for food, fuel, and maintenance. The
average recipient was 75 years of age and the majority of
recipients were women. The proposed reduction of $500,000
for adult day services would result in program closures and
reduced services for seniors. The adult day services
program was the primary senior program that directly
benefitted working family caregivers caring for a loved one
with dementia at home. She stated that without the services
people may be faced with placing their loved one in a
higher cost care setting. She shared that 416 seniors had
been served by the program in 2014; many of the recipients
had dementia. She spoke to the unintended consequences of a
reduction in funding.
1:15:03 PM
DAN ETHERIDGE, AK AFLCIO, JUNEAU, testified in support of
the reinstatement of funds for the Alaska Construction
Academy. He emphasized the importance of the funds for
individuals seeking work. He discussed the increase of non-
resident hire in Alaska and stressed the importance of
training for residents. The academy provided training for
high school students, retired military personnel, and
other. He referred to the high number of out-of-state
workers in the construction and mining industries. He asked
for the reinstatement of OSHA safety program funding. He
relayed that seafood processors had made great strides in
the area safety; a major reduction in injuries had taken
place.
1:17:11 PM
ANITA C. EVANS, JUNEAU INTERPRETERS REFERRAL LINE, JUNEAU,
urged support of funding for interpreters. She shared
information about her background and the multitude of
places she had acted as an interpreter. She spoke to the
range of skills and adaptability required for interpreters.
She discussed that an interpreter had to think on their
feet; technology could not do it all. She stated that
auditory information coming from a variety of directions
meant that auditory technology was not a workable solution.
She spoke to the importance of interpreters for the state's
deaf community. Without funding, deaf people throughout the
entire region would be impacted.
1:19:25 PM
PAM MUELLER-GUY, SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING,
INTERPRETER REFERRAL LINE, JUNEAU, testified in support of
Southeast Alaska Independent Living. She was concerned
about the elimination of funding for the interpreter
referral line; she accessed the program on a weekly basis
for meetings. She stressed that replacing live interpreters
with technology was not an effective way to provide the
best communication. She spoke to the importance of an
interpreter to allow for the best clear conversation. She
stated that the Americans with Disabilities Act was
established to provide equal services to individuals with
disabilities. She stressed that interpreters allowed her
and others to have equal access to employment and other.
She urged that the committee restore the funding for
interpreters. She thanked the committee for its time.
Co-Chair Neuman thanked Gerlene Davis for interpreting and
for her work with the hearing impaired.
1:21:51 PM
MORGAN EVANS, SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING,
INTERPRETER REFERRAL LINE, JUNEAU, spoke in support of SAIL
and the interpreter line [through an interpreter]. He
thanked the committee for its time. He stated that the
interpreter line allowed him to have independence. He noted
his involvement in various activities (e.g. ski team, Cub
Scouts, work, training, and other) that he needed an
interpreter for. He believed that the budget cut was
discriminatory against the deaf. He communicated that a
live interpreter acted as a role model. He shared that
interpreters to the deaf were very valuable to deaf people.
1:24:17 PM
CHRISTY MONTERO, SOUTHEAST ALASKA INDEPENDENT LIVING,
INTERPRETER REFERRAL LINE, JUNEAU, expressed her concern
about the elimination of funding for the Interpreter
Referral Line [a copy of her written testimony was provided
to committee members (copy on file)]. Her written testimony
stated that the cut would "make it difficult or impossible
to achieve effective communication as required by the
Americans with Disabilities Act. I know the state has less
money to work with trying to balance the Alaska budget, but
isn't it important not to eliminate this program." She
stated that most of the deaf community could not afford the
high-speed internet connections like many wealthy Alaskans
could afford at home. Her testimony stated that
interpreters were needed to provide a "clear understanding
especially in very important areas, such as with the
courts, hospital staff, public safety, schools, or possible
job prospects." She urged the committee to restore the
funding to the referral line and thanked the committee for
its time.
1:26:36 PM
ALEX PASTORINO, SELF, JUNEAU, thanked the committee for
passing one-time grant funds for education the prior year.
She stressed the importance of restoring the funds. She
spoke in support an increase in the Base Student Allocation
funding that occurred the previous year. She emphasized the
importance of making the state's children a priority. She
asked the committee to restore the one-time grant funds for
children.
1:28:26 PM
LYNN CAMPBELL, SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE, JUNEAU, spoke strongly
against proposed cuts to the Division of Forestry budget.
He stated that the cuts would result in the closure of all
of the division's Southeast offices. He testified that many
of the state's rural communities statewide had converted to
woody biomass fuel sources and would run out of supply. He
stated that a lack of timber sale revenue and timber
purchasers would cease to provide road maintenance. He
relayed that hundreds of miles of roads would need to be
closed, which would impact road access and firefighting
efforts. He believed the cuts would cripple the timber
industry in the state. He urged the committee to not turn
its back on an industry.
1:30:13 PM
DR. GEORGE BROWN, PEDIATRICIAN, JUNEAU, spoke to the
importance of investing in children. He stated that
prevention worked. He asked the committee to think about
what was right and to think optimisitcally about the
future. He stated that Alaska was capable of overcoming the
current fiscal crisis. He respected the committee's public
service.
1:31:49 PM
MICHAEL BYER, ALASKA LEARNING NETWORK (AKLN), JUNEAU, spoke
in support of restoring AKLN funds for online remedial,
enrichment, vocational, and other education courses. He
shared information about the program. He stated that online
learning was the future and was efficient. He detailed that
many students in small rural schools offered limited
courses needed for success and that met the requirements of
the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
1:33:10 PM
FRANK COENRAAD, AKLN, JUNEAU, testified in support of
funding for AKLN. He referred to a program brochure that
had been passed out to committee members. He discussed what
college and career-readiness meant in addition to what made
students successful. He stated that college eligible, did
not necessarily mean college ready. He shared information
about a college-ready math course that helped to prepare
students. The program included English and had expanded
into advanced placement and career technical education
courses. He referred to Alaska science and geology courses
that were offered; the courses were developed by Alaska
teachers for Alaska students. He spoke to an indigenous
studies program.
1:35:24 PM
CONOR O'DEA, SOUTHEAST SENIOR SERVICES, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of a reinstatement of $500,000 for the Adult Day
Program. The decrease in funds would mean cuts in services
for Adult Day Programs, which would mean families would
need to find services in other places. He noted that due to
a lack in long-term care the decrease in services would
result in seniors leaving Alaska, which meant dollars would
leave the state as well. He stated that the increment
represented a 5 percent cut. He suggested spreading out the
cut to other grants including the Senior In-Home, Traumatic
Brain Injury Education, Alzheimer's Disease and Related
Dementia Education, and Adult Day Programs. He stated that
spreading out the cut would mean that the adults in the
program to continue receiving services. He spoke to the
crucial role the program played for Alaska's aging
population.
1:37:32 PM
ALYSON CURREY, PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES NORTHWEST, JUNEAU,
asked the committee to reinstate funds of $360,000 from the
prior year for the final year of the Chlamydia Campaign.
She spoke in support of funds for Planned Parenthood. She
communicated that the organization operated four health
centers statewide; it served over 13,000 people in 2013.
She stressed the high rates of chlamydia in Alaska and
asked the committee to help protect Alaskans overall
reproductive health outcomes. She stressed that untreated
chlamydia could lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
She asked the committee to fund sensible solutions such as
accessible sexually transmitted disease testing and
treatment. She testified in support of funding for Medicaid
expansion. She stressed that access to affordable
healthcare should not depend on who a person is and where
they live and work. She elaborated that the expansion would
ensure that individuals would remain productive members of
the economy. She emphasized that the state could not afford
to wait to expand Medicaid.
1:39:41 PM
SIOUX DOUGLAS, KTOO, JUNEAU, testified in support of public
broadcasting. She stated that to underfund the program by
60 percent would be detrimental to broadcasting. She
currently chaired the Legacy Foundation at KTOO. She spoke
as a beneficiary of the services and programs provided by
the public station. She understood the complex situation
facing the state and legislature financially, but stressed
the importance of the statewide services provided by public
broadcasting. She stressed that keeping Alaskans connected
was imperative in a large state with many separate regions.
1:42:01 PM
WALTER MAJOROS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUNEAU YOUTH SERVICES
(JYS), JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for behavioral
health services. The agency provided a range of children's
behavioral health services including emergency, community-
based, residential. The agency served approximately 450
youth and families annually; it additionally coordinated
the Suicide Prevention Coalition. He communicated that most
of the clients had experienced significant childhood trauma
(e.g. abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence and
substance abuse in the family, and other). He spoke to
reducing abuse and neglect. He stated that children who
experienced trauma were at a much higher risk of serious
physical and mental health problems including suicide. He
stressed that there had not been a Medicaid rate adjustment
for behavioral health residential services since 2006 and
for community-based services since 2008. He urged funding
for Medicaid behavioral health to help reduce trauma
experienced by children.
1:44:06 PM
BOB COGHILL, CHAIR, ADVISORY BOARD ON ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG
ABUSE, JUNEAU, spoke in support of treatment programs. He
thanked the committee for recognizing the importance of
people in the state by providing funding to the Department
of Health and Social Services. He stated that board staff
had assisted the governor with creating a budget that would
keep treatment programs in the budget. He recognized that
the ball was still in the air. He stressed that treatment
helped and worked. He shared a story about a baby born with
heroin in her system; she was currently receiving services
as a young adult. He hoped for a positive outcome.
1:46:21 PM
MEGHAN JOHNSON, THREAD, JUNEAU, stressed the importance of
reinstating funding for young children and families. She
spoke in support of reinstating funds for Best Beginnings.
She testified in favor of restoring funds for the Parents
as Teachers program. She spoke in support of full funding
for Pre-K programs. She stressed that the programs were
critical and had long-lasting benefits for children and the
state's economy. She stated that the investment was the
best that the state could make. She shared that there were
approximately 80,000 children in Alaska with two parents in
the workforce; unfortunately, Alaska's current early care
and learning could only meet approximately 50 percent of
the need. She spoke to a high financial return on
investment provided by early learning programs.
1:48:45 PM
EMILY FERRY, PARENT, JUNEAU, urged the reinstatement of
$1.1 million that had been funded to Juneau schools the
prior year. She stressed that education was the priority.
She spoke in strong support of funding for the Alaska
Marine Highway System (AMHS). She discussed that many
individuals had made travel plans for the upcoming summer
based on the published ferry schedule. She detailed that
money spent by marine highway travelers in communities may
not occur if the ferry service was not available. She
stated that the cuts to Lynn Canal service were
particularly confusing; she referred to high demand in
conjunction with a proposed cut to service by 25 to 50
percent.
1:50:56 PM
SHERYL WEINBERG, SERRC, JUNEAU, testified in support of
funding for education. She asked the committee to retain a
two-year one-time increment for the second year of a STEM
pilot program. The agency provided statewide education
services. She spoke in support of a competitive STEM pilot
project passed the prior year that would serve underserved
and underrepresented middle school students. She relayed
that the pilot was based on previously successful SERRC
programs; it served a cohort of 45 students. She provided
detail about the program.
1:53:26 PM
DARCY MARKOVICH, SERRC, JUNEAU, asked the committee to
continue funding a two-year one-time increment for the
second year of a STEM pilot program. The program served 45
6th grade students and was designed to serve students
throughout their middle school careers. The program
recipients represented 15 school districts and 28
communities. The program was based on prior SERRC programs
that had been proved successful. She stressed that the
services made a difference in children's lives. She shared
a story about a student. She urged the committee to fund
the program.
1:54:42 PM
DAVID DIERDORFF, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in opposition to a 60
percent reduction proposed by the finance subcommittee. He
urged support for public broadcasting. He communicated that
public broadcasting provided a balanced content of local,
state, national, and international news. He stressed the
importance of keeping informed. Public radio improved the
quality of residents' lives and provided excellent
resources for citizens of all ages. He shared a personal
story about his lifelong experience with public radio.
1:56:59 PM
SAMANTHA CORONELL, JUNEAU CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY, JUNEAU,
spoke in strong support of a SERRC Learning Connection
service and the Juneau Construction Academy. She
communicated her interest in working with her hands and in
welding; the construction academy had taught her how to
weld. She had been given the confidence to work in a field
that was not dominated by females. She commented on her
work as an apprentice carpenter with North Pacific
Erectors. She had been working full-time and was happy to
be self-sufficient. She shared the story of two classmates.
She understood that the budget was tight, but the program
had been extremely important for her.
1:58:51 PM
ANDY STORY, MEMBER, JUNEAU SCHOOL BOARD, JUNEAU, urged the
reinstatement of $1.1 million for the Juneau School
District. She spoke to the importance of an excellent
education system. She shared that school boards across the
state had worked to improve education; the efforts were
paying off. Current graduation rates in Juneau were the
highest they had ever been at 80 percent. The state's
economic well-being was tied to the success of its
students. She asked for restored funding for the Alaska
Construction Academy, Pre-K, Best Beginnings, and other.
2:01:16 PM
LYNNETTE DIHLE, SELF, JUNEAU, asked for the restoration of
one-time education grant funds. She recalled Senator Lisa
Murkowski's statement that during tough times for farmers
to not use the "seed corn." She likened education as a
large amount of seed corn for the state's future. She
thanked committee members for their service.
2:02:20 PM
AURA LANDAU, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers program. She
was grateful for past funding of the program. She spoke to
the program's success for children and her own children.
She detailed that the program helped better prepare
children for school. Additionally, healthy parental
interaction helped reduce high-cost criminal, health, and
other interventions later on. She provided a personal story
about her experience as a mother. She stressed that her
Parents as Teachers coordinator had helped her to learn
healthier ways work with her son. She emphasized that the
program had helped to make her parenting and home safe for
her little boy.
2:05:04 PM
LISA AREHART, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers program. She
discussed her commitment to childhood education. She spoke
to the importance of early education. The program valued
early education through its promotion of skill sets for
parents, child engagements in play and learning, early
developmental awareness, and fostering hands on parenting
practices. The approach helped parents to better understand
their role in becoming engaging parents. Most importantly,
the program emphasized building a learning relationship
between parents and children in the early years. She
provided further detail about the program.
2:07:22 PM
MARIAN CLOUGH, SELF, JUNEAU, asked the committee to restore
the 60 percent cut to public broadcasting. She understood
the revenue implications of a drop in oil prices. Her
primary source of information had been public broadcasting,
which had consistently offered Alaskans the most
comprehensive coverage of the issue. She spoke to the
importance public radio provided for the broadly diverse
state. She spoke to the importance of KTOO's broadcasting
of Juneau Assembly meetings and of the role that Gavel to
Gavel played throughout the state. She shared a personal
story about the birth of her grandson who she and her
husband had signed up as a sustaining member of KTOO.
2:09:57 PM
LAUREN SMOKER, PARENT, JUNEAU, urged funding for education
and Alaska School Districts. She asked the committee to
restore the one-time education funds passed the prior
session. She urged the committee to keep from cutting any
further. She spoke to the high-quality teaching staff in
Juneau. She had participated in budget conversations for
Dzantik'l Heeni Middle School; the school had nothing left
to cut but teachers. She stressed that the cuts would
directly and adversely affect the state's children its
future.
2:11:41 PM
JEANNIE MONK, ALASKA STATE HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME,
JUNEAU, testified in support of funding for Medicaid
expansion. She communicated that Alaska had the opportunity
to close the coverage gap that would allow an additional
40,000 Alaskans access to healthcare. The agency believed
there was a path forward for Medicaid expansion and urged
the legislature to keep the conversation going. The agency
believed Medicaid expansion could be used as a catalyst for
reform. She spoke to the importance of working together to
find something that would work for everyone.
2:12:51 PM
AVERYL VELIZ, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers program. She
shared her personal story as a mother. She communicated
that the program had helped her and her husband to
understand childhood development, to make sure their son
was on track, and other. The program had helped to build
her son's motor, fine-motor, speech, literacy, and social-
emotional skills. She believed that most parent confusion
was rooted in not understanding a child's communication
tactics or developmental ability. She stressed that chronic
misunderstanding and lack of support resulted in the abuse
of a child from overly tired, isolated, and stressed
adults. She spoke in support of the Imagination Library.
She relayed that due to the constant emphasis in reading
her child could spell many words and read much of his own
library.
2:15:15 PM
EMILY COATE THOMPSON, PARENT, JUNEAU, implored the
committee to restore funds for the Parents as Teachers and
Best Beginnings programs. She spoke to the adverse effects
of childhood trauma including heart disease, depression,
and cancer. She asked for investment in children; children
grew up and became parents. She discussed the difficulty of
raising a child in Alaska. The two programs were the only
options that served children aged zero to three years.
2:16:20 PM
JOSH CAMPBELL, ALASKA CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY, JUNEAU, urged
the committee to restore funding for the Alaska
Construction Academy. He discussed his personal experience
with the academy. He was grateful to have a good job. He
stressed that without skills it was not possible to get
jobs that paid a living wage. He had been enrolled in the
academy for one year and had learned many skills and had
doubled his income. He shared his intent to join the local
plumbers' and pipefitters' union. The academy had opened
many doors for him. He stressed that cuts to the program
would be a great disservice to Alaska.
2:19:06 PM
BETH LEBAN, DIRECTOR, JUNEAU YOUTH COURT, JUNEAU, asked the
committee to reinstate funding for statewide youth court
programs. She shared that youth court programs resulted in
reduced re-offense rates and saved the state money. She
spoke to the role of the courts that worked as a diversion
program for teens who break the law for the first time;
there were 11 statewide. The courts handled minor offences
including underage drinking, trespassing, vandalism, and
shoplifting. She stressed that without the youth courts
juvenile probation officers, law enforcement, district
court judges, and magistrates would become involved in the
minor cases. The costs would be higher as a result. The
programs were evidence-based and saved the state money.
2:20:51 PM
MADELINE HANDLEY, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND VOLUNTEER, JUNEAU
YOUTH COURT, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the Juneau Youth
Court. She shared that her experience as a youth court
volunteer had given her the opportunity to help her
community and had taught her about the legal system in a
hands on way. She wanted the new volunteers to have the
same valuable experience she had received. She thanked the
committee for its reconsideration.
2:21:33 PM
JARMYN KRAMLICH, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA STUDENT (UAS),
JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for the university. He
relayed that UAS was special and it acted as a positive
force in the lives of many Alaskans. He believed the
university had a strong commitment to his educational
success. He opined that the university was doing an
extraordinary job at educating citizens statewide. He spoke
to the importance of e-learning and distance delivery
options.
2:23:00 PM
JENNIFER WALKER, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers and Best
Beginnings programs. She spoke to the support she had
received from the Parents as Teachers program. She relayed
that the knowledge she had gained from the program had
helped her with her small daycare business.
2:24:14 PM
JAELEEN ARAUJO, GENERAL COUNSEL, SEALASKA CORPORATION,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of rural communities. She
highlighted concerns about cuts to the Division of
Forestry. She discussed the importance of the timber
program. She feared that the cuts may mean the timber
industry would collapse in the region. She stressed that
the Division of Forestry was an important component of
overseeing compliance with the Alaska Forest Resources and
Practices Act, which ensured protection of the state's
habitat and resources; cuts to the division would mean that
the important public interest may not be served. The
division was an important source of timber, local jobs, and
positive revenue. She asked the committee to restore
funding to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS).
2:26:46 PM
SATNAM SEARS, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers program. The
program had helped her personally with her son. She was
thankful for the program.
2:27:46 PM
TALEA KELLAR, PARENT, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
reinstating funds for Best Beginnings, Pre-K, and Parents
as Teachers. She shared information about her personal
experience as a parent. She believed Alaska was the best
place to raise a child; however, she had been discouraged
to hear about cuts to early learning. She pointed to the
importance of the first five years of brain development;
the programs were designed to foster the development and to
support parents.
2:28:41 PM
LAURA POWERS, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of funding
for Medicaid expansion. She stated that Medicaid made good
sense for the economy and health of Alaskans. She asked for
the reinstatement of funds for chlamydia prevention. She
stressed that Alaska was ranked in the top two for rates of
chlamydia since 2000; the disease was preventable and
easily treated. She believed that the state should fund
evidence-based solutions to improve reproductive health
outcomes such as access to free testing and treatment for
sexually transmitted infections. She stated that teenagers
and young adults were particularly prone to infection,
which put them at risk for lifelong and costly health
complications. She stated that it was important to empower
youth to make smart decisions by providing them with fact-
based, age-appropriate sex education statewide.
2:31:21 PM
JULIANNE CURRY, UNITED FISHERMEN OF ALASKA, JUNEAU, spoke
in support of funding for the fishing industry. She asked
the committee to reinstate funds to the Alaska Seafood
Marketing Institute (ASMI) program. She detailed that ASMI
was proven to work; each $1 million spent resulted in $100
million back. She testified in support of full funding for
the Seafood Certification Program in order to maintain
control of the Alaska Seafood brand. She relayed that 72
percent of active permit holders were Alaska residents; the
seafood industry was the state's top private sector
employer. She shared statistics related to the commercial
fisheries industry. She thanked the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development Finance Subcommittee for
fully restoring the governor's cut for the Alaska Marine
Safety Education Association. The organization supported
the subcommittee recommendations for the Department of Fish
and Game budget. She stated that under the proposed budget
reductions the seafood industry would continue to create
economic opportunity to benefit the state.
2:33:15 PM
RUSS MCDOUGAL, ALASKA STATE HOMEBUILDERS ASSOCIATION,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for the Juneau
Construction Academy and other construction programs
throughout the state. He spoke to learning about the
problem in the state related to a lack of education for
young people entering into the construction trades. He had
been advocating for the education ever since learning about
the problem. He shared a personal story about his
background. He stressed the importance of the construction
academies. He thanked the committee for its time.
2:35:38 PM
MELINDA MESSNER, PARENTS AS TEACHERS, JUNEAU, shared
testimony on behalf of a family. She testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers program. The
mother of the family had Crohn's disease and the father was
a stay-at-home dad; both parents had no high school
education and were isolated with no family support. Through
the Parents as Teachers program she had provided the family
with support and had connected them with the Infant
Learning Program, Kinder-music, and autism services. The
programs had helped to provide the child with verbal
language and other. She thanked the committee for its time.
2:38:03 PM
MARK MILLER, SUPERINTENDENT, JUNEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT,
JUNEAU, urged the committee to reinstate the one-time $1.1
million for the district. He relayed that a loss of funding
would mean cutting new teachers and an increase in class
size as a result. He communicated that a loss in funding
equated to the elimination of 11 positions; another 4 staff
would be cut in preschool. He elaborated that a cohort of
kindergartners would show up woefully behind their peers
with little or no chance to catch up. He recalled a
television commercial and the importance of paying upfront
versus paying more in the future.
2:40:12 PM
JOY LYON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION FOR THE SOUTHEAST
EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUNEAU, advocated for funding
for Best Beginnings, Parents as Teachers, and Pre-K
programs. She urged the reinstatement of funding that would
allow 22,000 children to continue receiving their books in
the mail. She spoke to early literacy efforts in
communities. She stressed the importance of teaching
children at a young age. She used a small plant as an
example; a plant would not thrive if it did not get watered
from the beginning. She stressed the importance of
nurturing children. She relayed that parents appreciated
the support.
2:42:46 PM
RYE SPERL, STUDENT GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
SOUTHEAST, JUNEAU, testified in support of the university.
He shared a personal experience related to his education.
He spoke to the quality and commitment of teachers at UAS,
especially considering the low tuition costs paid by Alaska
residents. He was grateful for his experience and planned
on completing a degree in business administration in
Juneau. He thanked the committee for its time.
2:44:19 PM
FELIX THILLET, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SOUTHEAST, JUNEAU,
spoke in support of funding for the university. He shared a
personal experience related to his family and his
education. He relayed that UAS offered a great education ad
a great price. He had integrated into the community and
worked on campus. He stressed the helpfulness of the
university's academic advisors. He valued the quality of
the professors at the university. He discussed a fundraiser
event that had raised money for the Glory Hole in Juneau.
He was grateful to the university system for allowing him
to complete his education. He hoped to make Alaska his new
home.
2:46:30 PM
LISA SKILES PARADY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COUNCIL OF
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the
restoration of $32 million in one-time funds passed the
prior session for school districts statewide. She detailed
that many districts were reliant on the funds and
commitment that had been made by the legislature the prior
year. She spoke to the importance of funding for broadband
and digital equity; the proposed cuts would widen the
digital divide in the state. She spoke to the federal e-
rate match; a $5 million investment was really $35 million
to $40 million with the addition of federal funds. She
spoke in support AKLN and early childhood programs. She
testified in support of statewide mentoring programs that
improved retention. She noted that there was a 30 percent
turnover rate for teachers in Alaska; mentoring was a
proven retention tool. She understood that the state was in
a budget crisis, but believed it was also in an education
crisis.
2:48:52 PM
PAM WATTS, JUNEAU ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, JUNEAU, spoke
in support of funds for behavioral health. She thanked to
committee for recognizing the importance of behavioral
health services in Alaska and the role they played in the
reduction of more expensive services to people such as
repeated psychiatric and medical hospitalizations and
incarcerations of mentally ill persons. She shared
information about the adults the program served. A number
of the clients served were just under the Alaska
Psychiatric Institute level of need for hospitalization;
the clients were served in outpatient services, highly
structured group homes, and supported living apartments.
She discussed services provided by the program. She relayed
that the prior year the agency had served 589 people on an
outpatient basis. Additionally, the agency provided
psychiatric emergency services. Approximately 30 percent of
the program recipients were not Medicaid eligible; they
were covered with behavioral health grants. She thanked the
committee for its support.
2:51:10 PM
SABRINA NELSON, PARENT, JUNEAU, testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers and Best
Beginnings programs. She spoke in support of the
Imagination Library. She shared her personal experience
with motherhood. She spoke to guidance and support she had
received from the programs. The programs had provided
information on childcare, first foods, developmental
milestones, and communication. The program had provided
networking with other families. She referred to a family
library night that was offered through the program.
2:53:32 PM
LAINE RINEHART, DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of full funding for Pre-K programs. He recalled
memories of his preschool teacher. He remembered the
individual time his teacher had taken to read to him. He
detailed that early life experiences effected people
through the rest of their lives. He implored the community
to continue funding for Parents as Teachers, Best
Beginnings, and early Head Start Pre-K programs. He stated
that the programs provided a safe place for parents and
children to continue their education and to have an
advantage. He elaborated that the programs provided
consistency for the young families and children needing
support.
2:54:52 PM
RAY WILSON, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke to the importance of Alaska
Legal Services for seniors. He stated that many older
Native Alaskans neglected to create a will. He referred to
a friend who had gone through much legal work because their
mother had no will. He had trouble with creating a will and
kept postponing it. He believed Alaska Legal Services was
important for senior citizens. He asked the committee to
continue funding for the agency.
2:56:51 PM
KIRK PERISICH, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGIONAL COUNCIL OF
CARPENTERS LOCAL, JUNEAU, against cuts to education and the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development. He
communicated that the Juneau Construction Academy and the
Alaska Construction Academy provided services for several
fields including residential and commercial. The academies
provided training and education towards specific fields
(e.g. carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and other). He
relayed that the provided the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development was helping unions and contractors
with misclassifications on pay rates and some of the people
who may try to abuse the system. He believed a strong
Department of Labor and Workforce Development and strong
education would provide a good infrastructure for building
a better budget, which would help to keep money and worker
resources in Alaska.
2:58:20 PM
RYAN M. HERBERT, OUTSIDE EDUCATION, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of outside education. He provided information about
his professional career. He emphasized the evolution of
education and Darwin's theory that beings that evolved the
quickest were the most likely to survive. He stressed that
there was money outsourced that could be sourced in Alaska,
such as information technology services. He believed the
outsourced jobs meant there were jobs missing for children.
He provided an example related to teaching youths. He
relayed that his education had been inexpensive, but had
provided him with positive career options. He noted that he
taught children on a daily basis in his auto shop. He urged
teaching children how to be responsible.
3:00:53 PM
ALBERT JUDSON, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in opposition of the 10
percent cut to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). He
wondered about a justification for the proposed cut to the
AMHS. He believed that both cuts and increases to the
budget should be justified. He opined that justification
for cuts related to the AMHS was more important because of
way the cuts affect people's lives. He commented that it
was important not to alienate one region over another
possibly leading to polarization between people. He
suggested forming regional subcommittees within the finance
committee to ensure that each region has input on the
budget for their area. He stated that he was just
speculating in order to address polarization. He opposed
any cuts to the AMHS budget. He justified his position
indicating that the AMHS was already in a poor financial
position and that any cuts to it would be devastating. He
also conveyed that the AMHS gene-Rated revenue for the
state. He indicated that with a little research a person
would find that there had been times in which the AMHS was
self-supporting. He referenced an editorial article from
the Juneau Empire from March 1, 2015 concerning the AMHS
and suggested that it provided a major answer to the issue.
Co-Chair Thompson thanked Mr. Judson for his testimony and
confirmed that the committee also had his written version.
3:04:27 PM
DIXIE HOOD, COUNSELOR, JUNEAU, She opposed any budget cuts
to existing programs and supported increased financing for
pre-kindergarten education. She shared her experience with
her own children in a co-op nursery school program which
greatly influenced her career path. In her experience she
found that the home environment, nurturance, and sense of
security from birth through preschool years established the
thinking, emotions, and self-value of a child. She
attributed the proposed budget cuts to a lack of focus on
specific social and economic needs on the part of the state
administration and the legislature. She spoke in opposition
to the cuts to the AMHS and advocated for Medicaid
expansion. She referenced an article from the previous
Sunday in the Juneau Empire that proposed an increase to
the fuel excise tax.
3:08:07 PM
DOUG BLONC, COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL AND PARENT, JUNEAU, He
spoke in support of AKLN. He asserted that distance
learning offered flexibility and depth of curriculum,
making small schools big and big schools bigger. He claimed
that it could turn a home, a workplace, or a coffee shop
into a classroom. He commented that distance learning made
the state much more nibble and empowered students. He
informed the committee that AKLN offered quality courses
and support from Alaskan teachers for students enrolled in
schools that were not able to offer a wide variety of
classes. He believed that AKLN would play an increasingly
important role as enrollment and state financing declined.
He advocated that AKLN met many of the distant learning
needs of the state. He urged to committee to continue to
fund AKLN.
3:10:24 PM
LARRY WEST, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in favor of supporting the
AMHS. He mentioned his tourism background. He reported that
the community of the City of Haines depended heavily on the
AMHS as well as other communities in the Northern Lynn
Canal. He expressed his concern with the current budget cut
to the ferry system and remarked that the effects on
families, kids, and groups would be unconscionable and
devastating. He opined that those currently traveling the
AMHS would otherwise have to be transported by air, an
option he did not feel would work well. He claimed that
cutting $9.5 million from the AMHS budget would also result
in reduced revenues to the state. He favored funding AMHS's
existing service rather than funding a new capital project.
3:12:39 PM
BEN GOLDRICH, MARINE ENGINEERS BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION
REPRESENTATIVE AND THE MASTERS, MATES, AND PILOTS, AND THE
INLANDBOATSMEN'S UNION, JUNEAU, spoke in opposition to the
proposed budget cuts to AMHS. He was concerned with the
effects the budget cuts would have to the bottom line for
businesses throughout coastal Alaska. He opined that
cutting a published schedule would result in a loss of
revenue for the AMHS. He furthered that without much
advance notice the cuts would affect the lives of 750 AMHS
residents and employees as well as independent travelers.
He urged the committee to consider the impacts of the cuts
to the AMHS.
3:15:07 PM
NANCY SEAMOUNT, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in favor of a state
income tax and urged the legislature to consider other
sources of revenue.
Co-Chair Thompson indicated that after a short break the
committee would be hearing testimony from Homer, Kenai,
Ketchikan, Kodiak, Mat-Su, and Seward.
3:17:16 PM
AT EASE
3:33:30 PM
RECONVEYNED
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: HOMER, KENAI, KETCHIKAN, KODIAK, MAT-SU,
SEWARD
Co-Chair Neuman called the meeting back to order. He
announced the order in which the committee would be hearing
testimonies from individuals at the community legislative
information offices.
3:34:13 PM
RICHARD MALLEY, INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, HOMER (via
teleconference), spoke in opposition to the 13.5 percent
cut to the independent living line item in the budget. He
relayed that the cut would have a huge impact. He explained
that centers for independent living were non-residential
Alaskan non-profits that provided independent living
services to older Alaskans and people with disabilities. He
cited a list of center locations in the state. He reported
that the governor's budget removed $164 thousand from the
statewide independent living budget. He relayed that in the
previous year 3700 Alaskans with disabilities were assessed
to obtain independence or remain independent. He furthered
that the centers only employed 65 individuals with
disabilities. He relayed that 175 people would be impacted
by the budget cut. He stated that if only one of the 175
people impacted by the budget cut ended up in a higher
level of care such as assisted living or in a nursing home
the savings would be erased. In FY 14 transitions of
persons from assisted living homes to their home
communities made by independent living centers saved the
state over $400 thousand in Medicare costs. He asked that
most, if not all, of the funds be restored to the statewide
independent living budget.
Co-Chair Neuman acknowledged Representatives Dan Ortiz and
Mike Chenault in the audience.
3:37:16 PM
SAVELY KALUGIN, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, KACHEMAK BAY CAMPUS
STUDENT ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, HOMER (via teleconference),
spoke in opposition to the budget cuts to the University of
Alaska. He expressed his concerns about the effect of the
budget cuts on rural campuses. He suggested that budget
cuts be implemented slowly over time.
3:38:51 PM
CLAUDIA HAINES, HOMER PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUTH SERVICES
LIBRARIAN AND PARENT, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the budget cut that eliminates the Online
With Libraries (OWL) program. She reported that for four
years the state library had used state, federal, and
foundation funding to supply nearly 100 libraries in the
state with the equipment and broadband to provide Alaskans
with a digital connection. She furthered that in some
communities the connection is the only one available. The
cut will also mean a loss to the state of $2 million in
federal e-Rate monies that helped to provide access to many
other communities. She cited additional statistics
concerning internet connectivity. She also spoke in support
of other programs including Homework Help, Best Beginnings,
and Parents as Teachers. She pleaded with the committee to
reinstate funding for the programs.
3:41:02 PM
CRISTY FRY, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to proposed cuts to public broadcasting. She
recalled the efforts of the people to get public radio on
the air in 1979. She referred to KBBI radio station in
Kenai. She applauded the legislature for its attempts to
cut the budget. However, she opposed the 59 percent cut to
public broadcasting. She reported that public radio
stations across the state provided critical information in
emergencies and disasters such as volcanic eruptions,
wildfires, severe weather, and tsunami warnings. She opined
that a 59 percent budget reduction was out of proportion to
other services and department cuts and would result in a
loss of local, state, and international news and
programming. She also pointed out that am radio
broadcasting reached remote areas, many of which existed in
the state. She asked the committee to reconsider the
devastating cut to public broadcasting.
3:42:53 PM
MARK ROBL, CHIEF OF POLICE, HOMER POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOMER
(via teleconference), spoke in favor of restoring full
funding for the community jails program and the Alaska Land
Mobile Radio System (ALMR). He pointed out that community
jails are state jails run by local communities. He
continued that state statue required the Department of
Public Safety to pay for all prisoner care costs including
incarceration and transportation. The proposed budget cuts
would reduce the level of services currently provided and
could result in decreased prison safety for inmates and
staff. He felt that the largest impact would fall on state
troopers in a number of ways. He requested reconsideration
of full funding for the community jail program and for
ALMR.
3:45:16 PM
BETH CARROLL, SELF, FRITZ CREEK (via teleconference), spoke
in opposition of the 59 percent funding cut to public
broadcasting. She stressed the vital importance of public
broadcasting. She indicated that public radio already
operated with a bare bones staff. KBBI played an important
role in communications including Tsunami warnings and fire
alerts. The reduction to KBBI would amount to $77 thousand
which would decimate the station. Stations around the state
share resources and were interdependent. She reemphasized
the devastating impact of the state's proposed budget cut
to public broadcasting.
Co-Chair Neuman recognized Representative Louise Stutes in
the audience. He asked if there were additional testifiers
at the Homer LIO. Hearing none, he switched to the Kenai
LIO to hear public testimony.
3:47:19 PM
VIRGINIA ESPENSHADE, KENAI PENINSULA YOUTH COURT, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
restoring funding for Alaska youth courts. She reported
that she filed a written copy of a fact sheet about the
program for the committee's review. The report stated that
in FY 14 over 400 cases were handled in Alaskan youth
courts. She offered that every one of the cases saved money
for the state in a number of ways. Youth court has impacted
recidivism rates and saved thousands of future dollars
otherwise spent on the traditional criminal justice system.
She asked the committee to fully restore the youth court
funding that was cut in the budget.
3:49:24 PM
TERRY BOOKEY, KDLL, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the proposed cuts to public broadcasting. He
noted that public radio provided crucial services otherwise
not provided in many communities within the State of
Alaska. He elaborated that the 59 percent cut that was
proposed by the finance subcommittee would be devastating
to stations around the state. He further informed the
committee that stations relied upon other stations within
the state. He understood that cuts had to be made. However,
he urged reconsideration of the extreme level of proposed
cuts.
3:51:14 PM
JACKSON BLACKWELL, YOUTH COURTS OF ALASKA BOARD, SOLDOTNA
(via teleconference), spoke in support of restoring full
funding for youth court. He explained the services and
benefits of the program. He indicated that statistics
showed that the youth court's reoffending rates were half
of those that did not go through the program. In the long
run the program saved the state money. He felt that youth
court was where he could make the most difference. He asked
the committee to restore the program's funding.
3:53:02 PM
LAURIE OLSON, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT (KPBSD), KENAI (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the one-time funding in the amount of $2.26
million in the FY 15 projection. She relayed that in
Governor Walker's address he stated that the one-time
funding would be removed. She observed additional comments
being made that support the governor's position. She
pointed out that the reduction in the funding caused a
larger loss to the district's revenue budget because
reduction in state funding meant a reduction in funding
from the Kenai Peninsula Borough amounting to more than
$520 thousand. The total amount of revenue lost to the
school district was more than $2.8 million. She conveyed
that the board was looking at reductions in staff and
outlined specific cuts under consideration. She relayed
that the board would be adopting a balanced budget at its
April 6th board meeting without knowing what the borough or
the state would be providing for revenue. She wished the
committee all the best in determining the course of the
state budget.
3:55:15 PM
JIM WHITE, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES FOR KPBSD,
KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in favor of supporting
the school broadband assistance grant, referred to as
"School Bag." He reported that Kenai requested funding in
the amount of $27 thousand for the program and received $21
thousand. The award was supposed to be a three-year award.
He read directly from the February 2, 2015 award letter. He
noted the instructions for the 2015 e-Rate year. It
encouraged the school district to apply for 10 megabit on
the e-Rate application which was due March 26, 2015 for the
following school year. It stated that the grant program
would require an e-Rate match for increased bandwidth going
forward. He commented that he had included the information
in the school district's request. He mentioned that there
would be changes to the e-Rate program in the following
year and there would be reduced funding in the amount of
$100 thousand in e-Rate subsidies for the following school
year. He elaborated about other funding reductions. He
concluded that there could be unintended consequences of
the proposed cuts.
3:57:36 PM
ELIZABETH HARDIE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA STATEWIDE MINING AND
PETROLEUM TRAINING SERVICE (MAPTS), KENAI (via
teleconference), spoke in opposition to the 20 percent
statewide budget cut to the University of Alaska. She
detailed the services of the MAPTS program and the
program's efficiencies. She reported that the program gene-
Rated revenue and would provide the funding to purchase the
Delta Mine Training facility that would gene-Rate addition
revenue. She requested that University leadership be
allowed to examine revenues, to decide about educational
values, and to decide what programs will be allowed to
continue and grow. She encouraged the committee to allow
the incoming leadership to examine incoming revenue and
programs and to accomplish the restructuring that was
needed to make the university run more efficiently.
4:00:07 PM
GLENN TURNER, INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, KENAI (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of supporting the
Independent Living Center. He listed various agencies that
had provided him services including hospitals, Heritage
House, and Independent Living. He relayed that Independent
Living was beneficial and inexpensive. He thanked the
committee and hoped to see the program continue.
4:00:52
WILLIAM BIEBER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
MINING AND PETROLEUM TRAINING SERVICE, KENAI (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the
university and the Alaska Mining and Petroleum Training
Service. He provided information on the training programs
offered to producers and industry support companies. He
detailed that the program generated some independent
revenues, which helped to fund its own facilities. He spoke
in support of a statewide Mine Safety Compliance training
program. He spoke in support of the new Mine Training Hard-
Skills Program that partnered with companies to provide
hands on training; the service had been provided for under
one year and had produced 19 students. He spoke to wage
revenues brought in by the program. He relayed that the
three programs cost less than $900,000 per year in general
funds.
4:03:10 PM
CHERYL TUTTLE, KENAI PENINSULA COLLEGE (KPC), KENAI (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the campus and
ensuring its funding for the future.
4:04:03 PM
MARSEA HANSEN, KPC, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of distance learning. She provided information about
her class schedule; e-learning made classes at other
campuses available when subjects were not taught at KPC.
She thanked the committee for its time.
4:05:04 PM
JAYCE ROBERTSON, KPC, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for KPC. He stressed that the college
represented a vital aspect of the community and provided
many educational opportunities. He asked the committee to
reconsider cuts to the University of Alaska budget. He
provided information about his degree program. He relayed
that his education received at KPC enabled him to better
provide for his family and to act as a more robust member
of his community. He asked the committee to consider how
the cuts would impact communities throughout the state. The
cut equated to a loss of over $660,000 for KPC. He thanked
the committee for its work.
4:06:58 PM
MEGAN LACROSS, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the Adult Day Services program and senior
benefits. She relayed a personal experience about her
husband's fight with Alzheimer's. She detailed that grant
services had enabled her husband to use the Adult Day
Services program. She stressed the importance of the
services to caregivers and the break it provided them. She
stated that caregivers were saving the state a significant
amount of money by caring for their loved ones at home. She
relayed her appreciation for the program. She also spoke in
support of the Independent Living Center. She urged the
committee to think about the state's most vulnerable
population and to reinstate full funds to the programs.
4:08:39 PM
JUSTIN DAHLGREN, KENAI PENINSULA YOUTH COURT, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of supporting funding for
the Alaska Youth Court. He had worked with the program for
six years and had seen the positive impact the program had
on youth on a daily basis. He detailed that the program
provided youths with a second chance and an opportunity to
reevaluate their lives. He stated that removing a program
that educated youth on the judicial system and gave
juvenile offenders a second chance would be a mistake. He
asked the committee to reconsider the cuts.
4:09:29 PM
DAVE BRIGHTON, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of supporting education. He stated that after several
years of flat funding the Kenai School District had to make
an increase to the teacher/student ratio, which had led to
teacher cuts. He encouraged the legislature to keep its
promise from the prior year to fund at the existing level.
4:10:23 PM
PEPPER POND, GREATER KENAI-SOLDOTNA IMAGINATION LIBRARY AND
BEST BEGINNINGS, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in
favor funding the Best Beginnings and Parents as Teachers
programs. Best Beginnings provided the Imagination Library
with over 50 percent of its funding. She explained that
children received a free book every month from age zero to
five. The program targeted foster children and any children
who did not have the opportunity to visit a library. She
spoke to a significant increase in Pre-K literacy as a
result of the program. She stated that the program would be
eliminated if funding was not received. The local community
worked hard to match approximately 50 percent of the funds
provided by Best Beginnings.
4:12:20 PM
ELENA MILETTE, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the Independent Learning Center. The program had
helped to find her a job and education. She was very
appreciative of the help.
4:13:00 PM
MICHAEL NELSON, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke
against education cuts. He relayed the challenge he had as
a parent with a child with a learning disability. He
stressed that there was insufficient support in schools for
children with disabilities. He spent time four days per
week helping with his son's disabilities. He noted that
other children with disabilities were not getting the
services they needed. He believed teachers were doing the
best they could with their resources.
4:14:30 PM
FRED STURMAN, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
testified that legislature needed to make greater cuts. He
suggested cutting the salaries of a minimum of 2,000
employees; he believed the cut would save approximately
$2.8 million. He thought departments should either be
eliminated completely or fully funded. He advocated
eliminating the Division of Motor Vehicles. He wanted to
see $4 billion cut from the current budget.
4:16:19 PM
MARY JO METTLER, NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE DAY CENTER, SOLDOTNA
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the restoration
of $500,000 for the Adult Day Service grant program. She
communicated that the program provided family care givers
with the ability to continue working and to keep loved ones
at home. She noted that in-home care saved the state money.
4:17:53 PM
STEPHANIE QUEEN, KENAI PENINSULA COLLEGE COUNCIL, SOLDOTNA
(via teleconference), encouraged the committee to support
the university funding proposed in the governor's version
of the budget. She stated that KPC and the university
served an important role in the regional and statewide
economies. She opined that developing a skilled workforce
that could meet the opportunities in the state would be a
challenge. She elaborated that KPC was strategic in its
partnership with the private sector to tailor programs to
meet the state and local need. She discussed the average
earnings of graduates of various degree programs. She
reiterated her support of funding at the governor's
proposed levels.
4:20:07 PM
KRIS HOLDRIED, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), asked the
committee to maintain the university budget at the
governor's proposed level. She shared a couple of stories
related to how the university was helping to build the
workforce the state needed in order to be economically
sound in the future. She relayed that she was involved in
energy task group in the inlet; the group had worked with
students from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She spoke
to the great training provided to university students. She
discussed marine programs offered by the university. She
believed the university was building a great workforce in
science and technology.
4:22:13 PM
PAUL SLENKAMP, AK MENTAL HEALTH TRUST/UAA LAND TRUST
OFFICE, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), expressed his
support of the University of Alaska Lands and Alaska Mental
Health Trust Lands Offices. He spoke against the proposed
elimination of the Division of Forestry timber program in
Southeast Alaska. He elaborated that the university and the
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) derived
significant revenues from timber. He discussed efforts to
provide a sufficient timber base to stabilize the timber
industry in Southeast and to maintain the required
infrastructure. He shared that AMHTA and the university had
joined together to work with the Division of Forestry to
preserve the Southeast Alaska forest products industry. He
stated that without a competitive market the assets would
lose value. He discussed providing maximum return to
landowners by combining infrastructure and utilize mutual
developed road systems and other. He provided additional
information about the program. He asked the committee to
allow funding for one position in Southeast Alaska.
4:25:20 PM
ED ZASTROW, KETCHIKAN SENIOR SERVICES AND AARP, KETCHIKAN
(via teleconference), testified in support of the proposed
budget for the state's senior population. He spoke in favor
of the Senior Care Program; the basic money went to the
basic needs of seniors. He relayed a story about a senior
trying to decide what food to purchase at the store on a
limited budget. He spoke in support of programs that
provided seniors with assistance getting to doctor
appointments and other. He stressed that heating programs
and home care provided a base need for seniors. He asked
the committee to carefully look at funding the needs-based
programs. He recommended looking for areas of duplicate
services when considering where to make cuts.
4:27:45 PM
JUANITA DIAZ CAMILON, RENDEZVOUS SENIOR CENTER, KETCHIKAN
(via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the
Rendezvous Day Care Center. She relayed that the center was
a blessing for seniors in Ketchikan. She stressed that the
staff of four did everything to make people feel at home.
She provided the names of the staff at the center. She
thanked the committee for its time.
4:29:22 PM
LICHA KELLY KING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RENDEZVOUS SENIOR DAY
SERVICE CENTER, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for Adult Day Services. She shared
that the day service centers were for older adults who
could no longer manage independently, or who were isolated
and lonely. The day centers enabled seniors to socialize
while still receive needed care services. The centers
allowed caregivers some respite from the caregiving duties
in other areas. Most of the seniors did not have family
members to care for them. During the day they were able to
receive nutritious food, participate in healthy activities,
and make use of their valuable skills and talents. She
shared that many of the seniors had severe problems, and
the centers provided much needed help. She stressed that
the participants were valuable members of the community,
and it was Alaska's duty to provide care for them.
4:31:51 PM
STEWART WHYTE, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, KRBD, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), testified in support of funds for public
broadcasting. He shared that radio stations were mandated
by the federal government to serve their communities of
license as public trustees. Which meant that the stations
were a part of the community, and had a duty to engage the
citizens to ensure their safety and wellbeing. The
emergency alert system and other systems were a part of
that federal mandate. Public broadcasting was sometimes the
only means to send and receive vital information for some
rural communities. There were many places in Alaska that
were considered under-served rural areas, so they relied on
public broadcasters, and many were only served by the
translator signals. He stated that there were numerous
nonprofit organizations that recorded Public Service
Announcements, Native Language Modules, and other programs;
honor interviews; and provide cultural enrichment to the
audience. The volunteers represented a wide cross-section
of community members.
4:34:08 PM
ANITA MAXWELL, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funds for public radio. She shared that
public radio was an essential service in Ketchikan and
throughout Alaska. The community relied on public radio for
accurate, timely, and unbiased information. The public
radio shared school reports and other local issues to
provide her family with information that helped them make
decisions throughout the day. The radio brought the
community together through meaningful dialogue and outreach
to all different types of people. She shared that she had
helped to produce educational programming for public radio,
and used it as a resource to share information and
education. Public radio had an immense impact on
individuals and organizations.
4:35:44 PM
LISA PEARSON, ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN, KETCHIKAN PUBLIC
LIBRARY, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in support
of funding for Online With Libraries (OWL). She stated that
OWL provided the infrastructure for statewide communication
and collaboration for state, municipal, tribal, and
nonprofit agencies in 96 communities. The OWL network
allowed Alaskan agencies a savings of hundreds of thousands
of dollars in travel costs, and hundreds of hours in lost
productivity time. She stated that there were many small
communities that would be burdened by time and money to
attend meetings in person. She remarked that OWL allowed
remote communities to be active members of statewide and
regional partnerships.
4:37:50 PM
MARGARET CLABBY, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for public broadcasting. She
stated that Ketchikan's public radio station, KRBD, was an
important reason for her choice to reside in Ketchikan. She
was a teacher, and took groups of students to tour the
radio station. The children then grew up to volunteer at
the radio station. She shared that the public radio
broadcasted candidate forums for public elections;
information from the Department of Fish and Game; emergency
alerts; jobs reports; and local news reports. The radio
provided reports from communities across the state, which
helped her familiarize with the other residents of the
state. She shared that there was information ranging from
gardening, to public safety, to the arts. The local public
radio station educated, informed, and broad generations of
residents together. She felt that the public radio stations
produced better and happier Alaskans.
4:39:41 PM
CAITLIN JACOBSON, LIBRARIAN, KETCHIKAN HIGH SCHOOL,
KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding
for technical services. She stressed that access to
information is critical for students and communities. She
felt that the current proposed cuts would be devastating,
and would limit the residents from needed services. The
essential services included programs such as public
broadcasting and broadband services. Public radio provided
unbiased reporting and programing that kept the residents
informed. Communities also relied on broadband services,
which had only recently risen above substandard levels
across the state. She shared that the OWL program provided
broadband services to an area of Alaska that was the size
of Ohio.
4:41:34 PM
MIKE JAUSORO, ALASKA ESCROW AND TITLE AGENCY, KETCHIKAN
(via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
recording centers. The closing of the offices would have a
very serious effect on how real property transactions were
handling. Recording documents could be done with a
different format, many recordings would be presenting to a
recording office, especially those handled by individuals
or small offices. Only two businesses had a simple-file in
the three recording districts served by the Ketchikan
Recording Office. Local attorneys, surveyors, real estate
offices, banks, and credit unions relied on the recorder's
office. In 1984, he was affiliated with the only title
insurance agency ever to open an office in Bethel. That
office served both the Bethel and Kuskokwim recording
district. That office was then closed for an extended
period of time, and it was long enough to force the title
insurance agency to move to Anchorage. The closing of that
office occurred during a downturn in the economy related to
the oil industry.
4:44:25 PM
CHRIS FRENCH, KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
Ketchikan District Recorders Office. Several departments
within the Ketchikan Gateway Borough utilized the
recorder's office on a regular basis. The borough would be
required to file most documents electronically or by mail,
which would cost an additional $1400 per year, if the
office closed. Many recorded documents affecting property
owners were not available in the state recorder's website.
Residents would most likely seek property information at
the borough, which would necessitate the allocation of
additional borough resources to provide resources
eliminated by the state. The Ketchikan office served 70
outlying communities, and if it closed the nearest office
would be in Juneau.
4:45:41 PM
LES CRONK, EMPLOYEE, SOUTHEAST STEVEDORING CORPORATION,
KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding
for maintaining the State Timber Office in Ketchikan. He
stressed that timber gene-Rated revenue for the state, and
was critical to Southeast Alaska. He understood that there
may be cuts to the office, but stressed that people must be
employed to bring the state timber to market. The timber
industry was very dependent on that office, due to the
failure of the federal government to supply the timber that
was needed to keep the industry and infrastructure
available.
4:47:17 PM
ERIC NICHOLS, OWNER, ALCAN FOREST PRODUCTS, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding the
Department of Forestry timber sale program. He stated that
his company depended on the program, and would fail if
eliminated. There was not enough volume to sustain the
weakened timber industry. The other private land owners
would continue to gene-Rate less revenues for the public
trusts. The program could gene-Rate a positive income to
the state, and his company recently had a 150 acre timber
sale that would gene-Rate $1 million for the state. There
would be $1 million to $2 million in state revenue with a
substantial harvest yield, and would gene-Rate an
additional $6 million to $7 million in expenditures to all
the local communities in the harvesting of timber.
4:48:53 PM
DENISE JAUSORO, DISTRICT RECORDER, KETCHIKAN RECORDERS
OFFICE, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding for the Ketchikan Recorders Office. The
mission statement for the offices stated, in part, that the
state recorder's office administers the statewide recording
system and the uniform commercial code. The mission was to
provide a secure, accessible, and impartial place to record
and preserve the permanent public record of Alaska as
directed by statute under 19 separate titles and by
regulation. The offices were the singular point of access
to all of the recorded public records. The offices served
approximately 50,000 residents in the remote areas of
Alaska, which was approximately 7 percent of the state's
population. The Ketchikan office services were available to
approximately 20,000 residents in the area, including
Petersburg and Wrangell. The other offices served major
ports such as Valdez, Homer, Bethel, and the Yukon
Kuskokwim Delta.
4:51:47 PM
SAM HERNANDEZ, PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER, KETCHIKAN
SCHOOLS, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), urged support of
funding for wellness programs in schools. He stated that
the wellness grants helped students to learn proper skills
to fight obesity. He announced that 42 percent of the
students in Ketchikan were categorized as obese. Wellness
funds provided new equipment and after school programs to
help the students stay active. The current wellness staff
was continually planning new programs and activities to
help the students.
4:52:41 PM
DAVID ANDERSON, GENERAL MANAGER, KBBI PUBLIC RADIO, HOMER,
spoke in support of funding for public broadcasting. He
stated that the proposed budget reduction would have a
devastating effect on the radio stations statewide, and
specifically the scholar stations that did not have the
commercial base to gene-Rate additional revenue. He stated
that the radio stations provided important services
including broadcasting borough assembly meetings, city
council meetings; and state and local news. He stressed the
importance of the access to emergency response, and KBBI
had invested considerable money in generators and propane
takes to maintain the transmitter building functional in
the case of an emergency. Emergency service information was
provided to many listeners in life-threatening situations
where their homes and lives were at risk. The radio worked
closely with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of
Emergency Management, and the Homer Fire Department in
coordinating the accurate and timely information to the
impacted individuals.
4:55:07 PM
ALAN SCHMITT, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for public broadcasting. The Kodiak
Public Broadcasting Corporation, which owned and operated
KMXT, was the only broadcast source for local news. He
stated that KMXT broadcasted local public meetings and
provided many other services including emergency broadcast
services to the island communities, which included six
remote villages. He felt that public broadcasting should
not be singled out for such a substantial budget decrease.
The public radio united the community and depended on
continued state funding.
4:56:30 PM
ARTHUR SHULTZ, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of funding Alaska Marine Safety Education Association
(AMSEA). There was no other safety and survival training
program to Alaskan fisherman, and the AMSEA program reached
the entire coast of Alaska. It was a forum for survivors
for every type of marine tragedy met to pass on their often
hard-earned wisdom. The AMSEA program had measurable
results as seen in the dramatic decrease in the death rate
in commercial fishing in recent years. In the previous
year, fourteen fishermen directly credit their AMSEA
training for their survival. The training had extremely
limited budget. He stressed that AMSEA was the most
effective way to support the lives and safety of commercial
fishermen.
4:58:16 PM
MIKE KORSMO, SELF, SKAGWAY (via teleconference), testified
in favor of funding for the Alaska Marine Highway System
(AMHS). He shared that he had worked extensively with past
administrations and marine highway staff to ensure that the
coastal communities received optimal service to support the
residents and economies. He felt that AMHS had recently
stabilized its scheduling and routes to provide the minimal
service to the coastal communities. Destabilizing the
system would have a drastic effect on the coastal
communities. Recent efforts to build efficient vessels must
come to fruition. He felt that reducing service to Kodiak,
Prince William Sound, Southeast Alaska, and the Aleutian
Chain, would create a substantial transportation halt that
would require many years to remedy. He believed that funds
were available to adequately fund the system, while
management creates a plan to deal with the fiscal problems.
He shared that there was at least $14 million of
unobligated funds for Juneau Access that could be used to
keep the coastal transportation system functional.
Co-Chair Neuman remarked that written testimony could be
submitted to the committee.
5:00:11 PM
JEFF STEPHANS, MANAGER, UNITED FISHERMAN'S MARKETING
ASSOCIATION, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in support
of funding for the Alaska Fish and Marketing Institute
(ASMI). He felt that the state should invest in enterprises
that provided jobs, tax revenues, and economic development.
He stressed that the fishing industry met those
requirements. The ASMI investment had substantial return.
It served many coastal communities, and the fishing
industry was a basic foundation to many of those
communities. He stated that ASMI helped with the seafood
pricing and distribution across the world. The industry was
facing increased competition in species and price, and ASMI
helped the industry flourish on a global level.
5:02:32 PM
MARITA KAPLAN, DIRECTOR, ADULT SERVICE PROGRAM, KODIAK (via
teleconference), testified in favor of Centers for
Independent Living. She remarked that she had first-hand
experience with the benefits of senior independent living.
She felt that the programs provided a great benefit to the
communities.
5:04:48 PM
JONATHAN STRONG, SELF, KOKIAK (via teleconference),
testified in favor of Centers for Independent Living. He
shared a story about his mother's unfortunate accident at
her home. He had to move his mother to Alaska, and stressed
that there were various issues that were very stressful.
The adult aide programs were extremely beneficial to the
health and wellbeing of his mother.
5:06:34 PM
TERRY HAINES, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding public broadcasting and the Alaska
Marine Highway System. He shared that the public radio
services were extremely beneficial to the community. There
were many volunteers who worked to keep the public station
functioning. He shared that the funding requirements were
minimal.
5:08:42 PM
NANCY JONES, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for Adult Day Services Gran Program.
The program made a positive difference in her life.
5:09:31 PM
SONJAH SCHUMACHER, SELF, MAT-SU (via teleconference),
testified in favor of Centers for Independent Living. She
felt that the funding would be specifically used for human
beings. She remarked that the legislature should also
reduce its own budget. She felt that the people should not
be criticized, and should be respected.
5:11:10 PM
CARL BAKER, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for the Adult Day Services Grant
Program. He felt that the program was very benefit, and
shared that the governor's father had used the program. He
encouraged the members to visit the program, so they could
see the positive care that the seniors were receiving. The
program allowed family members the ability to support
themselves and their families. The program helped reduce
abuse and other travesties for the senior population.
5:13:08 PM
BRITTNIE DELAGRANGE, EMPLOYEE, ALASKA CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY,
PALMER (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding
for the Alaska Construction Academy. The academy provided
free, entry-level construction training for adults who want
to work in construction in Alaska. The program depended
entirely on grant funding from the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development to train Alaskans, and teach
necessary skills for construction careers. It was the only
program in the state that gave adults access to high
quality construction training at a reasonable cost.
Training was offered in a variety of fields to meet the
current and future demands of Alaska's construction
industry.
5:15:15 PM
CHUCK KAUCIC, DISTRICT MANAGER, WASILLA SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT, WASILLA (via teleconference),
testified in support funding for conservation programs. He
specifically addressed the Alaska Association for
Conservation Districts, the Natural Resources Conservation
Development Board, and the Student Intern Program through
the Division of Forestry. The Alaska Association for
Conservation Districts represented twelve state soil and
water conservation districts, and was formed in 1965. It
provided conservation best management practices in
agriculture; soil and water quality; salmon restoration;
forestry; invasive weeds; non-motorized trail use
degradation; and other areas. He felt that the return in
the conservation district was ten to one. Operating funds
were necessary to keep the offices open in order to receive
capital grants and produce outcomes. The Natural Resources
Conservation Development Board was reduced from the
operating budget, and would be required to seek funds
through the capital budget. Student Intern Program through
the Division of Forestry provided a summer crew of high
school and college students to perform natural resource
field projects. It produced many productive citizens and
professionals.
5:17:20 PM
JONATHAN WYCKOFF, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for the Alaska Construction Academy.
He stated that that program had allowed him the opportunity
to apprentice, and he knew several people that had moved
directly into electrical construction jobs. The classes
were free, and he shared that he would not have been able
to attend classes, had he been required to purchase them.
Co-Chair Neuman stated that a signed-in testifier, Barbara
McDaniel, would have testified for Alaska Now.
5:18:56 PM
INGRID LING, WASILLA AREA SENIORS, WASILLA (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for Older
Adults Fall Prevention Program. According to a January 23,
2015 press release from the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development, Alaska's senior population was
71,080. It was reported that one in three adults, age 65
and older, fall each year. This meant that 23,456 older
Alaskans fell each year. It was further reported that of
those who fall, 20 to 30 percent were seriously injured.
Therefore, between 4500 and 7000 older Alaskans were
seriously injured due to a fall. The falls cost $36 billion
nationwide in 2012, and were the number one reason for
hospitalization for older Alaskans.
5:21:22 PM
CHUCK FOSTER, WASILLA AREA SENIORS, WASILLA (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for Older
Adults Fall Prevention Program. He felt that the program
would save the state money. He shared that 60 percent of
adult fractures were the result of falls. He felt that the
program was fully peer-reviewed, and therefore proven
extremely beneficial.
5:23:35 PM
KENNI LINDEN, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for Medicaid expansion; sexually
transmitted infection (STI) treatment and prevention; and
early childhood education. Medicaid expansion would include
41,000 Alaskans, and the federal government would cover 100
percent of the cost through 2016. At most, after 2017, the
state would be responsible for 10 percent of the cost.
Between 2014 and 2017, the state Medicaid costs would be
higher without expansion. It was estimated that Medicaid
expansion would result in 4000 new jobs, and $2 billion in
economic activity. She furthered that Alaska let the nation
in STI rates. She encouraged reconsideration of reductions
to early childhood education programs.
5:25:27 PM
MARK LACKEY, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of reinstating funds for Best Beginnings, Parents
as Teachers, and other Pre-K programs. He had first-hand
experience with the importance of early childhood education
for the child and the parent. It was a critical window of
time to make a substantial impact. He currently volunteered
as the chairperson for the Early Childhood Partnership of
Mat-Su, which was primarily funded by Best Beginnings. All
but one person in the partnership was a volunteer. The
partnership accomplished a great amount of work, by
bringing together the Head Start program, school district,
infant learning program, public health, Imagination
Library, child care providers, parents, and concerned
citizens. He stressed that the partnership worked to ensure
that all the programs worked together to make an impact on
early childhood development in the Mat-Su community.
5:28:33 PM
RACHEL GREENBERG, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for the Adult Day Services
Grant Program. She felt that it was important to invest in
the lowest cost option for seniors. She remarked that there
was misunderstanding about the Adult Day Services budget.
Families relied on the Adult Day Services for everyday
activities, which included other important programs.
5:31:39 PM
CAROL CHRISTIANSEN, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for broadband services. He felt
that the broadband services were necessary to maintain
functioning community. He remarked that the legislative
affairs agency budget may eventually be reduced. He
furthered that the senior support programs should remain
fully-funded. It was important for the seniors to stay in
their homes.
5:34:05 PM
TIM WALTERS, PRESIDENT, MAT-SU EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAT-
SU (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
public schools. He remarked that the legislature had
promised continued funding for public schools in the
previous session. The Mat-Su School District had the
largest class sizes in the state, as it continued to
provide a quality public education. The school district
dealt with the recent flat funding, and stressed that there
was no room to decrease its budget. Reductions to public
education funding would ultimately affect the children by
amplifying the problems of large class sizing; implementing
new, innovative programs; and servicing the most at-risk
students.
5:35:27 PM
HELEN MATHIAS, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), testified
in favor of Centers for Independent Living. She shared that
she used the program, and allowed her to purchase vouchers.
She stated that that program allowed for entertainment and
travel. She was helped with her documents, and provided
needed social outlets. She stressed that the disabled
members were in need of the program. The program helped
many people, and was one of the ways that she could have at
least one bit of entertainment per month. She felt that the
program could not be reduced in any fashion, and it
provided a much needed service to the senior community in
Seward.
5:37:44 PM
VALARIE KINGSLAND, DIRECTOR, ALASKA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,
SEWARD (via teleconference), testified in support of the
OWL program. She shared that she successfully completed a
master's degree program that enabled her to become a
library museum director through broadband services. She
stated that the OWL program provided broadband support,
equipment training, and internet technology assistance to
over 96 libraries in Alaska. The program included public
access to 351 work stations; 183 early literacy stations;
385 laptops; 125 tablets; and internet and Wi-Fi access for
the Alaska community members. She announced that over 1,800
video conferences had been scheduled, which included
training sessions, classes, meetings, virtual tours, and
unique cultural events. The loss of the program would also
result in a loss of federal money that supported broadband
access in the rural and remote village. The reduction to
dial-up internet access would drastically limit the ability
for the citizens to access health, employment, safety,
financial, educational, language, and historical
information.
5:40:04 PM
KAREN SHEMET, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for early childhood education
programs. She shared that evidence-based programs, like
Parents as Teachers, made a substantial difference for some
of the most vulnerable families in the state. It improved
school readiness, academic achievement, and parenting
skills. It was a proactive program that must be financially
prioritized to gain high returns. She had been a program
family visitor for fourteen years, and she worked with
struggling and at-risk families as they focus on goals for
themselves and their children achieving optimal outcomes.
She shared that she also received program home visits when
her children were young, so she knew the value that the
program provided as her children grew.
HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Thompson announced the following day's agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
5:43:18 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 72 Public Testimony PKT 1.pdf |
HFIN 3/3/2015 1:00:00 PM |
HB 72 |