Legislature(2019 - 2020)ADAMS ROOM 519
02/19/2020 10:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB205 || HB206 | |
| Fy 21 Budget Closeouts: University of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 205 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 206 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 19, 2020
10:03 a.m.
10:03:45 AM
[Note: Meeting continued from February 18, 2020, 1:30 p.m.
See separate minutes dated 2/18/20 1:30 p.m. for detail.]
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 10:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Jennifer Johnston, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Gary Knopp
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Kelly Merrick
Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Cathy Tilton
ALSO PRESENT
Nathaniel Grabman, Staff, Representative Andy Josephson;
Michael Partlow, Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Finance
Division.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
SUMMARY
HB 205 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 205 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 206 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 206 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
FY 21 BUDGET CLOSEOUTS: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the meeting. The
committee would be hearing the subcommittee report for the
University of Alaska (UA).
HOUSE BILL NO. 205
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; making
appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution
of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget
reserve fund; and providing for an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 206
"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."
10:04:15 AM
^FY 21 BUDGET CLOSEOUTS: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
10:04:21 AM
Co-Chair Foster invited the testifiers to the table.
NATHANIEL GRABMAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON,
introduced himself and read the subcommittee report:
Recommendations:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
University of Alaska submits the following recommended
operating budget for FY2021 to the House Finance
Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $287,533.5
Designated General Funds (DGF) $331,824.1
Other Funds $82,584.5
Federal Funds $140,225.9
Total $842,168.0
The Unrestricted General Fund difference from FY 21
Adjusted Base to the House Subcommittee budget
recommendation is a reduction of $14,500.0 of
Unrestricted General Funds, which is 4.8% below FY 21
Adjusted Base.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 3,994
Permanent Part-time 189
Temporary 0
Total 4,183
Budget:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
University of Alaska reviewed the FY 21 budget
request, including amendments, and recommends the
following actions:
• Reject proposed UGF reduction, -$25,000.0 UGF;
• Consolidate the Fairbanks Organized Research
allocation into the Fairbanks Campus allocation;
• Reduce University funding, -$14,500.0 UGF. This
amendment incorporates a decrement of -$25,000.0 UGF
and an increment of $10,500.0 for employee
compensation increases approved by the Board of
Regents in FY 20 and FY 21.
OTHER COMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
University of Alaska recommends that the House Finance
Committee take the following action:
• Restore reference to the Fairbanks Firefighters
Union, IAFF Local 1324, to Sec 24. Salary and
Benefit Adjustments of HB 205, pending expected
action February 20-21, 2020 at the University of
Alaska Board of Regents meeting.
Co-Chair Foster indicated Representative Knopp had joined
the meeting.
10:06:50 AM
Representative Merrick asked if there was an agreement with
the University of Alaska and the administration on the
proposed budget.
Mr. Grabman answered affirmatively. He relayed that in
August of the prior year a compact agreement was signed
between the University of Alaska (UA) Board of Regents and
the governor. The detail of the compact was that the
University's budget would be reduced by $25 million in the
current year and, the University would have the ability to
decide where the cuts would be allocated.
Representative Wool referred to the pay increase for FY 20
and FY 21. He wondered how the increases would be paid. Mr.
Grabman responded that the money would be taken out of the
total appropriation the University would receive.
Co-Chair Johnston asked for further detail of the Fairbanks
Firefighters Union. Mr. Grabman responded that there were
currently three bargaining units referenced in Section 24
of HB 205 which had existing contracts with the University.
At the time HB 205 was introduced negotiations with the
Fairbanks Firefighters Union were ongoing. The contract was
expected to be ratified in the following two days. As a
result, the Board of Regents agreed to include it in the
budget.
Co-Chair Johnston asked if one distribution would occur.
She was confused with the allocation of funds. She asked if
one appropriation would be provided to the University. Mr.
Grabman responded that there would only be a single
appropriation.
10:10:20 AM
Representative Wool asked about payroll increases. Normally
the legislature did not single them out. Mr. Grabman
replied that other agencies received pay increases as part
of contractual obligations. The University was slightly
different in that increases were not necessarily included
as an adjusted base. There had been discussion in
subcommittee to include the amount in order to do something
similar with the University.
Representative LeBon asked if the UA Board of Regents
initiated the reference to the Fairbanks Firefighters
Union. He wondered what would happen if the Board decided
not to take action in the next couple of days. Mr. Grabman
responded that the inclusion of the language was requested
by the University in a memo addressed to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) dated January 3, 2020. He could
not speak directly to what the effect of not including the
language might be.
Representative LeBon was concerned that the UA Board of
Regents approved the language. He wondered if OMB had asked
that the language be included in the bill.
10:12:46 AM
MICHAEL PARTLOW, FISCAL ANALYST, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE
DIVISION, explained that the University made the request
based on its timing of the initial union contracts included
in the governor's budget. The University was only able to
include union contracts that had already been ratified. The
contract with the Fairbanks Firefighters Union was agreed
upon after the fact. They made a request to OMB that it be
included in the language section of the governor's amended
budget. The University made the same request to the
legislature.
Co-Chair Foster relayed that agenda for the following
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
10:14:01 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:14 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 205 SubC Reports UA 021920.pdf |
HFIN 2/19/2020 10:00:00 AM |
HB 205 |