Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
03/13/2024 05:00 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB268 || HB270 | |
| Public Testimony: Anchorage, Mat-su | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 268 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 270 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 13, 2024
5:03 p.m.
5:03:02 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Johnson called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 5:03 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Co-Chair
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative DeLena Johnson, Co-Chair
Representative Julie Coulombe
Representative Mike Cronk
Representative Alyse Galvin
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Will Stapp
Representative Frank Tomaszewski
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Elizabeth Ripley, President and CEO, Mat-Su Health
Foundation, Wasilla; Zallman Liston, Self, Wasilla; Trevor
Storrs, President and CEO, Alaska Children's Trust,
Anchorage; Suzi Pearson, Executive Director, Abused Women's
Aid In Crisis, Anchorage; Beki Toussaint, Program Director,
Alaska Resource Education, Anchorage; Tonda Lundin, Self,
Big Lake; Lisbeth Jackson, Self, Palmer; Kelly Lessens,
Member, Anchorage School Board, Anchorage; Linda Combs,
Board of Directors Member, Palmer Senior Center, Palmer;
Rebecca Logan, CEO, The Alliance, Anchorage; Evi McNamee,
Service Employees International Union 775, Wasilla; Aleshia
Lockhart, Self, Anchorage; Sasha Johnson, Self, Anchorage;
Karen Matthias, Self, Anchorage; Cheryl Kerkove, Self,
Wasilla; Randall Wilson, Self, Anchorage; Marianela
Ramirez, Self, Anchorage; Sarah Krug, Member, Service
Employees International Union 775, Anchorage; Dr. Gene
Quinn, Self, Anchorage; Kendra Sticka, Self, Anchorage;
Tommy Hiratsuka, Hope Community Resources, Anchorage;
Rebecca Reiss, Self, Wasilla; Queen Mary Tialavea, Self,
Anchorage; Ethel Tuck, Self, Palmer; Brenda Shelben,
Executive Director, Mat-Su Council on Aging, Mat-Su; Betty
Redd-Mendez, Self, Wasilla; Pam Ventgen, Executive
Director, Alaska State Medical Association, Anchorage;
Jeanne Gerhard-Cyrus, Self, Kiana; Vanessa Liston-
Cunningham, Self, Wasilla; Deantha Skibinski, Executive
Director, Alaska Miner's Association (AMA), Anchorage;
Veronica Holloway, Self, Anchorage; Laura Bonner, Self,
Anchorage; Marlene Munsell, CEO, Wasilla Area Seniors Inc.,
Wasilla; Laura Norton-Cruz, Self, Anchorage; Jeremiah
Lewis, Member, Caregiver's Union, Anchorage; Thomas
Azzarella, Executive Director, Alaska After School Network,
Anchorage; Stephanie Berglund, CEO, Thread, Anchorage;
Ricarda Ledman, Self, Anchorage; Brenda Moore, Self,
Anchorage; William Ingram, President, Board of Directors,
Palmer Senior Center and Mat-Su Senior Services, Palmer;
Jessica Simonsen, Self, Anchorage; Yolanda Thomas, Self,
Anchorage; Melanie Hooper, President and CEO, Campfire
Alaska, Anchorage; Sam Garcia, Self, Anchorage; Lisa
Paesani, Board Member, Head Start, Anchorage; Jennifer
Brown, Staff Member, Standing Together Against Rape,
Anchorage.
SUMMARY
HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM
HB 268 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 270 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: ANCHORAGE, MAT-SU
Co-Chair Johnson reviewed the meeting agenda. The committee
would be hearing public testimony on the operating and
mental health budgets.
HOUSE BILL NO. 268
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making capital appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making reappropriations;
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. 270
"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."
5:05:00 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: ANCHORAGE, MAT-SU
Co-Chair Johnson reminded callers that SB 140 was not part
of the operating budget. She did not intend to hear
testimony related to vetoes on any bill. She reviewed the
testimony protocol.
5:06:19 PM
ELIZABETH RIPLEY, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MAT-SU HEALTH
FOUNDATION, WASILLA (via teleconference), relayed that the
Mat-Su Health Foundation shared ownership in the Mat-Su
Regional Medical Center and invested its share of the
profits back into the community through grants,
scholarships, and systems change work with the goal to
improve the health and wellness of Alaskans living in Mat-
Su. The foundation had conducted community health needs
assessments every three years since 2013 and residents had
communicated the top health concerns were related to mental
health and substance use and things related to behavioral
health. She requested the restoration of $1 million for
Crisis Now services, $2.8 million for the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation (AHFC) homeless assistance program and
$1.75 million for special needs housing grants. She relayed
that Mat-Su had been experiencing growing acute behavioral
health crises. She discussed work with law enforcement
partners on the Crisis Now system and its benefits. She
relayed that Medicaid and the 1115 waiver did not cover the
cost of around the clock services. She stressed it was
essential to have the funding restored.
5:10:46 PM
ZALLMAN LISTON, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),
requested increased funding for homecare workers. He shared
that he had been a caregiver for his uncle for the past 14
years and was 28 years old. He relayed that he had to find
other sources of income because working as a caregiver was
not sustainable financially.
5:11:48 PM
TREVOR STORRS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ALASKA CHILDREN'S TRUST,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), shared that the Alaska
Children's Trust advocated for policies that increase
economic security for families and provide early education
supports for children. The organization supported $1.5
million for bulk food purchase grants under the Department
of Health (DOH), $300,000 for DOH human services grants,
$400,000 for DOH community initiative grants, and $5
million for Head Start via the Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED). He thanked the committee for the
$6.1 million fiscal note for HB 89. He requested funding
for AHFC homeless assistance funding and childcare. The
organization recognized that childcare is a key aspect for
families and the economy as a whole.
5:13:50 PM
SUZI PEARSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN
CRISIS (AWAIC), ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), relayed
that AWAIC was the only emergency domestic violence shelter
in Anchorage. She spoke about services provided by the
agency. She relayed that the loss of $4 million in Council
on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) funding
would cause a 20 percent cut to AWAIC's emergency shelter
budget. The cut would make vacant positions redundant,
possibly eliminate the legal advocacy program, potentially
reduce the shelter beds, and would create a waitlist for
individuals seeking nonresidential services. She listed the
number of individuals the agency had served in 2023. The
number of individuals being served would be reduced if the
cut went through. She shared that the services had been
essentially flat funded for almost eight years. She
explained that federal funds from American Rescue Plan Act
(ARPA) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
(CARES) Act funding had helped pay for utilities and foods.
The increments would stop with the loss of the federal
funding. She requested a reinstatement of the $4 million to
maintain flat funding. Additionally, she requested an
increase to overall CDVSA funding.
5:16:12 PM
BEKI TOUSSAINT, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ALASKA RESOURCE
EDUCATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), encouraged the
committee to support Alaska Resource Education's (ARE) work
by reinstating the original appropriation in the budget.
She provided information about the organization that
prepared Alaska's students for gainful employment in the
state's natural resource industries. She shared the
benefits of the program teaching facts and science. The
organization helped students who wanted to live and work in
Alaska in a wide range of career opportunities. She
provided additional work done by the organization. The
organization taught over 12,000 students across the state
associated with issues related to Alaska's natural
resources.
5:18:44 PM
Representative Coulombe asked about the $1 million in the
original appropriation. She stated her understanding the
funds were granted to school districts for programs.
Ms. Toussaint replied that the funding would go to the ARE
to help sustain programs for various school districts.
Representative Coulombe wondered if the funding was going
to ARE and ARE was teaching in school districts or the
grants were going to school districts to pay ARE to do the
classes.
Ms. Toussaint responded that it was her understanding the
funding would go directly to ARE for its programs done in
partnership with school districts.
5:20:03 PM
TONDA LUNDIN, SELF, BIG LAKE (via teleconference), had
worked in the healthcare field for 22 years. She requested
additional funds for homecare and home healthcare workers.
She shared that she had recently been out sick for a full
week and because she was living paycheck-to-paycheck she
had been unable to go to the doctor because she could not
afford the cost. She relayed that three out of her four
clients had not received care in the week she was out. The
crisis was urgent.
5:21:23 PM
LISBETH JACKSON, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), shared
that she is a senior citizen. She requested the restoration
of $2.7 million to senior community grants in order for
senior centers to maintain their current level of services.
She stated that services had been cut in the past and
Palmer was still not able to offer its members congregate
meals and any further cuts would impact all of the other
services including delivered meals, transportation, and
other things that helped seniors live at home as long as
possible. Living at home was the most cost effective way to
age. She believed in the importance of taking care of the
state's senior citizens.
5:23:24 PM
KELLY LESSENS, MEMBER, ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of an operating
budget that would help accomplish an increase in the BSA by
no less than $680, allocate $500 per K-3 student identified
to have a reading deficiency, and increase student
transportation funding by $50 per Anchorage School District
(ASD) student. She stated that an operating budget that
provided funds for the aforementioned investments would
benefit ASD students, families, educators, the
municipality, and the state. The funds would allow ASD to
provide critical resources directly to the classrooms. She
estimated that the ASD had approximately 6,800 K-3 students
who may be in need of reading support. The funds would also
enable class sizes to remain the same, would have a
positive impact on educators' working conditions, and would
enable the ASD to maintain valuable school-based programs
and charter school options.
5:25:12 PM
LINDA COMBS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER, PALMER SENIOR
CENTER, PALMER (via teleconference), echoed comments by Ms.
Jackson. She had been on the senior center board for seven
years. She had served on the Governor's Commission on
Aging. She believed the state's seniors were owed some
security when they were responsible for building Alaska.
She stated that the $2.7 million cut to the senior and
disability community grants program would be detrimental to
seniors. She stressed that the cut would result in reduced
services including cuts to meals and transportation,
increased waitlists, and a loss of services. She asked the
committee to consider the issue. She thanked the committee.
5:28:01 PM
REBECCA LOGAN, CEO, THE ALLIANCE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), asked for a restoration of $1 million for
ARE. She stated that all of The Alliance's members were
facing a serious workforce shortage. She highlighted the
importance of the state's young people in growing the
state's workforce. The school districts and schools were
the starting place of educating students about careers and
career paths in Alaska. She had worked with the Anchorage
School District on the Anchorage Academy's project and had
learned there were gaps in what school districts could
provide. She stated that ARE was an excellent program that
was filling the gaps in school districts statewide. She
stressed it was significant impact on education across the
state. She emphasized it was not the time to reduce
programs that were complimentary to what was happening in
school districts.
5:29:53 PM
EVI MCNAMEE, SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION 775,
WASILLA (via teleconference), shared that she had been a
caregiver since she was 11 years old when she started as a
candy striper at a hospital. She had become a nurse and was
now a caregiver for her husband and one client. She
emphasized the crisis currently taking place. She
highlighted the aging population and stated that without
caregiver services no one would be able to stay in their
homes or in the [Mat-Su] valley. She emphasized the money
needed to be put in caregivers' hands. She shared that she
was working 58 hours per week because no one wanted to do
the job that lacked benefits, backup, and healthcare. She
appreciated the committee's time.
5:31:43 PM
ALESHIA LOCKHART, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
shared that she is a direct service provider. She relayed
there was a problem keeping caregivers because they were
underpaid, and people were quitting to find other better
paid jobs. She loved the field and stressed people needed
to be paid enough to continue in the profession to help
those in need. She asked the committee to help caregivers
make more money in order to provide more care.
5:33:21 PM
SASHA JOHNSON, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for caregivers and home healthcare
providers. She had been a caregiver for 20 years. She
wanted to see better funding for home healthcare providers
and transparency as to where the funding was going. She
stated caregivers needed better hours for clients and
access to health insurance. She wanted to be able to
continue to care for her aunt and mom who lived with her.
She shared it was a struggle to pay her bills and groceries
with most of her paycheck going to her mortgage. She
relayed that she had to save her next paycheck for bills
that were past due. She stated it was no way to live.
5:35:06 PM
KAREN MATTHIAS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for Alaska Resource
Education (ARE). She volunteered with the Powerful
Opportunities for Women in Resources Program for several
years and was impressed with the curriculum, enthusiasm and
knowledge of the ARE staff, and the positive impact on
young women who wanted to explore careers in industries
that were traditionally male dominated. She shared that ARE
staff had helped in her son's elementary school class and
had used fun hands on approaches to introduce kids to
robotics and electronic circuitries. She noted her son was
just one of 40,000 students across the state who had
received additional STEM education from ARE. She stressed
it was crucial for new teachers to be introduced to Alaska
specific curricula. She provided further benefits of the
program.
5:37:08 PM
CHERYL KERKOVE, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), called
in support of direct funding for caregivers and homecare.
She stressed that inflation had gone up and everything cost
more. She stated that many young caregivers were struggling
to afford their basic needs. She wanted it to be a
profession that retained young workers. She emphasized the
importance for increased pay and treating caregiving as a
career. She cared for her son around the clock and
struggled to find dependable caregivers. She shared it was
important for her son to know and trust his caregivers. She
stressed that better pay would attract better caregivers
and would benefit the clients.
5:38:34 PM
RANDALL WILSON, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for caregivers and homecare
providers. He shared that he had been a caregiver for 18
years. He stressed it was the most underappreciated
profession in the healthcare industry. He referenced the
high turnover rate and non-livable wages. He mentioned the
consumer assessment tool that graded what a person could or
could not do for themselves and stated there was no way to
accurately judge someone's level of care by a visit or
electronic visit. He emphasized that a wage of less than
$20 an hour was not sufficient for caregivers taking care
of the mental, physical, and emotional needs of others.
5:41:11 PM
MARIANELA RAMIREZ, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
requested more money in the budget for homecare. She had
worked as a caregiver for more than five years. She
stressed the need for increased funding going directly to
caregivers. The work of a caregiver required significant
responsibility and was very important to clients. She
stated it was not fair that caregivers had to work multiple
jobs or work extra hours and barely survive. She stressed
that the work was essential and she requested funding for
increased pay. She thanked the committee.
5:43:07 PM
SARAH KRUG, MEMBER, SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION
775, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), requested increased
funding for care providers. She shared information about
her work as a caregiver. She stressed that care provider
jobs required a lot of hard physical, mental, and emotional
work and had low wages and high turnover rates. She shared
information about her son's disability that required full-
time care. She stated it was important that her son have
the ability to have a sense of independence and autonomy in
addition to help when needed. She listed things that her
son was doing for himself. He only received 20 hours of
home care and she had been out of work for two months
because there was no one else to provide care. She stressed
that being a caregiver should provide a livable wage.
5:47:10 PM
DR. GENE QUINN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
shared that he is a practicing cardiologist and worked with
the Health Information Exchange (HIE). He supported an
increase of $935,000 for HIE. He thanked Representative
Stapp and the department for their work on the
subcommittee. He stressed that HIE was one of the building
blocks of the healthcare system in Alaska. He remarked that
the state was statutorily required to have a health
information exchange. The exchange was a nonprofit but was
the state's designated health information exchange. There
were federal matching funds. He spoke about his work taking
care of Alaskans across the state. He underscored that it
was essential to see individuals' records in order to treat
them. He stated that without sufficient information
patients had to fly to Anchorage at the expense of the
healthcare system, Medicaid, etcetera. He was grateful for
the increase of $935,000 in the budget.
5:50:05 PM
KENDRA STICKA, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the $935,000 in funding for the Alaska Health
Information Exchange. She thanked the subcommittee for
recognizing the importance of the HIE and providing funding
for continued operations. She noted the federal fund source
had ended. The HIE served as critical healthcare
infrastructure across the state. Healthcare ended up being
more expensive and less efficient without the service.
Ultimately Alaskans paid for inefficiency through higher
healthcare costs. The core function of the HIE was to
facilitate data sharing to improve the cost, efficiency,
and effectiveness of healthcare for Alaskans. She thought
most individuals had experienced frustration in getting
healthcare records from one place to another, which should
not happen. She appreciated the legislature's support.
5:52:20 PM
TOMMY HIRATSUKA, HOPE COMMUNITY RESOURCES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), supported continuing to eradicate the
waitlist for adults and children with disabilities waiting
for services. He stated that in 2023 Senior and Disability
Services recommended the implementation of a resource
allocation tool. The legislature added funding for the tool
in FY 24. He asked the state to continue to monitor
progress to implement the plan and eliminate the waitlist.
He asked the legislature to support services including
human services transportation in order for individuals to
get to work or other locations (in the governor's original
budget). He requested an additional $1 million for transit
match funding. He supported $13 million for community
behavioral health services to close the gap from a delayed
rate increase and enact a 1 percent increase in Medicaid
spending to bolster current community behavioral health
until a new long-term rate methodology was created.
5:54:43 PM
REBECCA REISS, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for caregivers. She shared
that despite working full-time she and her daughter had
found themselves homeless twice in the past year. She asked
the legislature to put more money in the budget for
homecare so that money went directly to caregivers.
5:56:00 PM
QUEEN MARY TIALAVEA, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for caregivers and homecare
funding. She had been working for 30 years in the field,
she had to work two jobs and did not have time to be home
with her kids because she was working to make ends meet.
She requested funding in the budget to go directly to
caregivers.
5:57:10 PM
ETHEL TUCK, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), requested
the restoration of $2.7 million for the senior and
disability grant program. Maintaining the funding would
mean services could be continued at their current level.
She had worked with senior centers in Palmer and Wasilla.
She shared details about the benefits at the centers. She
thanked the committee.
5:58:47 PM
BRENDA SHELBEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MAT-SU COUNCIL ON
AGING, MAT-SU (via teleconference), requested the
restoration of $2.7 million in the seniors and disability
community grants. She stated that the funds sustain the
home and community based services for seniors. She stated
that when a senior lived at home, grants helped pay for
services at an average of $691 per client per year. She
stressed that care in a skilled nursing facility was over
$148,000 per year per client. She stated that the funds
would enable nonprofits to continue services. She shared
information about various services provided in the past
year that would not be possible without the grant.
6:01:04 PM
BETTY REDD-MENDEZ, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),
spoke in support of increased funding for caregivers. She
had been doing the work for 25 years. She stressed the
expense of living in Alaska. She took care of her father
and son, which she loved but she needed to work a second
job. She shared that it was hard to balance the two. She
highlighted that one day everyone on the committee would
need a caregiver. She stated that a happy caregiver was the
best. She thanked the committee.
6:02:22 PM
PAM VENTGEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA STATE MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), thanked the
committee and subcommittee for funding $935,000 for the
Health Information Exchange. The exchange was mandated and
improving daily. She stated it helped maintain the
continuity of patient care, reduce duplicative testing, and
prevent delayed treatment. She thanked the committee.
6:03:35 PM
JEANNE GERHARD-CYRUS, SELF, KIANA (via teleconference),
urged maintaining funding for human and community services.
She requested a restoration of $2.85 million for
homelessness and $1.75 million for special needs housing
grants. She stated the funds were needed to enable people
to stay in their homes. She requested $50,000 for the
autism resource center recommended by the Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) but not included in the
governor's budget. She supported funding for the
comprehensive planning coordinator and funds to support
individuals with disabilities. She spoke in support of
funding for the Crisis Now initiative grants. She stressed
there were huge human costs when someone was in crisis,
particularly in rural communities. She underscored that
arresting individuals did not represent treatment. She
asked for $250,000 for the DOH crisis services grants.
6:06:56 PM
VANESSA LISTON-CUNNINGHAM, SELF, WASILLA (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
caregivers. She shared that her youngest son was in a
catastrophic accident 25 years ago. She had been caring for
her son since that time and he required care around the
clock. She relayed that caregivers did not receive health
insurance, retirement, or vacation time. She was 71 years
old and had no retirement. She would like to hire a
caregiver but had nothing to offer. She spoke about all of
the numerous things that caregivers needed to know how to
do. She thanked the committee for listening to the public
testimony.
6:10:56 PM
DEANTHA SKIBINSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MINER'S
ASSOCIATION (AMA), ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of Alaska Resource Education (ARE) funding. She
highlighted worker shortages and workforce challenges. She
stated the issue was prominent in the mining and other
resource industries. She stated that young people were not
being informed of the employment opportunities in the
state's resource sectors and did not necessarily receive
resource education and understanding. She supported ARE
funding and highlighted details about the curriculum. The
program educated students on what made the state's economy
work and what people could expect when working in the
resource industry. She thanked the committee.
6:12:34 PM
VERONICA HOLLOWAY, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for caregivers and home
healthcare. She requested more money in the budget for
homecare workers. She asked members to consider what it
would be like to be a person who needed care. She stressed
that unexpected things happened to everyone. She
underscored that caregivers should be paid a living wage
and wanted clients to feel loved and taken care of. She
echoed statements made by others earlier in support of the
funding. She underscored the difficulty of the job. She
wanted to be able to make a difference in people's lives.
Co-Chair Edgmon thanked her for the testimony.
6:14:53 PM
LAURA BONNER, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
supported a reasonable PFD of around $1,000 or so. She
supported appropriations to receive federal matching funds
in workforce development, Department of Health, and the
Department of Family and Community Services. She stated
that Anchorage and other communities needed help with
homelessness, food security, and mental health. She
supported funding for vocational career training services
such as Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC), more
healthcare employees, more engineers, more teachers. She
stated the Office of Public Advocacy had a problem
regarding guardianship, possibly due to a shortage of
public employees. She wanted a fix to the problem of
recruiting and retaining public employees. She stated that
one-time bonuses were not the answer. She thanked the
committee.
6:17:14 PM
MARLENE MUNSELL, CEO, WASILLA AREA SENIORS INC., WASILLA
(via teleconference), requested the restoration of $2.7
million for the senior community grants program. She shared
that Wasilla Area Seniors currently served over 1,400
seniors in the Mat-Su. The organization had delivered over
140,000 meals to seniors in their homes the past year. The
organization also provided congregate meals and
transportation to seniors. Without the funds there would be
reduced services for individuals who needed the services
the most.
6:19:20 PM
LAURA NORTON-CRUZ, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for early childhood funding
including $5 million for Head Start and $6.1 million in HB
89 to expand access to childcare assistance. She
highlighted that workers needed childcare for their
children in order to go to work. She highlighted that the
first five years of life were the most sensitive for brain
development and had an intergenerational impact. She
requested direct support for childcare providers in order
for childcare businesses to keep their doors open. She
requested $30.5 million in the childcare benefits line item
including $15 million in one-time funding for direct
operating grants to childcare businesses. She encouraged
committee members to watch the documentary At Home/In Home:
Rural Alaska Childcare in Crisis. She thanked the committee
members for their support.
6:22:20 PM
JEREMIAH LEWIS, MEMBER, CAREGIVER'S UNION, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), shared that he had been a caregiver for 18
years. He supported more direct funding for caregivers. He
shared that he had been living off of his credit card since
2018 when the woman he cared for went to the hospital. He
shared information about his personal work situation. He
stated that increased funding from the previous year helped
but he was still going from paycheck to paycheck.
Caregivers needed more money in order to focus on their
clients. He thanked the committee.
6:24:20 PM
THOMAS AZZARELLA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA AFTER SCHOOL
NETWORK, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), asked for funding
for the early childhood sector and childcare assistance. He
supported the $5 million increment for Head Start funding
and $6.1 million to expand access to childcare assistance
through HB 89. The organization was concerned about the
ongoing childcare crisis in Alaska. He encouraged the
committee to consider one-time funding to provide direct
grants to childcare providers to support and maintain
operations in childcare programs at high risk of closure.
The end of federal funding meant programs were at an
increased risk of closure. He thanked the committee.
6:26:19 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon noted there was a 6:30 p.m. cutoff for
calling in.
STEPHANIE BERGLUND, CEO, THREAD, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), thanked the committee for its vote for
childcare through HB 89. She asked the committee to add
$30.5 million in the operating budget in the childcare
benefits line item to ensure families had access to
affordable and quality childcare. She stated that one-time
investments in childcare had provided necessary relief and
stability to the sector. The federal funding ended in June
and the childcare sector had not recovered from the
pandemic. The absence of funding would mean the closure of
childcare businesses. Additionally, businesses would see
increased problems recruiting and retaining employees. The
organization supported the $5 million increase to Head
Start.
6:28:40 PM
RICARDA LEDMAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
called in support of senior community grants. She noted the
importance of healthcare workers. She supported adequate
services and stabilizing nonprofits and workers in order
for them to accomplish their goals.
6:30:02 PM
BRENDA MOORE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of maintaining funding for human
service matching grants and community initiative matching
grants. The grants provided essential services for the
state's vulnerable population. The services were meant to
be focused on the needs of the municipality and
communities. She stated that an absence of the services
would pose significant mental and physical health issues
for those in need. She thanked the committee for its work.
Co-Chair Edgmon noted there were approximately eight more
testifiers.
6:32:09 PM
WILLIAM INGRAM, PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PALMER
SENIOR CENTER AND MAT-SU SENIOR SERVICES, PALMER (via
teleconference), requested the $2.7 million in the budget
for senior services. He shared that the organization
provided Meals on Wheels and due to a funding shortfall the
previous year it had cut congregate meals. He stated that
funding above $2.7 million was needed and the organization
needed as much help as possible. Without the funding
seniors at a critical level of care would not receive the
services or would be faced with looking for more expensive
care. He underscored the importance of the funding.
Co-Chair Johnson thanked Mr. Ingram for calling in.
6:35:11 PM
JESSICA SIMONSEN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for early childhood funding
including $5 million for Head Start and $6.1 million to
expand childcare assistance via HB 89. She emphasized the
critical nature of the funding. She shared that she is a
foster mother of two children from Utqiagvik. She detailed
that many of the children were moved from their homes due
to a lack of childcare. She requested $30 million in
childcare funding including $15 million in one-time funding
for direct care to childcare businesses. She stated that
her kids' childcare facility faced a 25 percent tuition
increase the previous year. The increase had occurred, but
there had still been a budget shortfall. She stated that
without continued COVID-19 relief funds, businesses were
facing more shortages and childcare business closures.
Families were leaving Alaska because they could not find
childcare. She urged the committee to make the one-time
investment.
6:37:29 PM
YOLANDA THOMAS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for caregivers. She had 35
years of experience working with caregivers and several
families. She also had to work elsewhere to be able to make
it with four children of her own. She stressed there were
no funds to pay caregivers as if they were human beings.
She highlighted a cut in funding. She stressed that parents
needed help with disabled children. She requested direct
funding to caregivers to enable them to earn a living wage.
She treated the children she cared for like her children.
She stressed there were not enough caregivers because they
could not afford it.
6:40:37 PM
MELANIE HOOPER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, CAMPFIRE ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), thanked the committee for
its work to support childcare and expanded family access to
childcare in HB 89. She supported direct support to
childcare providers and $30.5 million in childcare benefits
including $15 million in one-time funding for direct
operating grants to childcare providers in the childcare
grant program. She highlighted that federal funding to
stabilize childcare would be ending in 2024. The funds had
been critical for providers to continue operations. She
shared that that Campfire had served over 1,100 children
daily, but the number had collapsed to 90 children at the
start of the pandemic in 2020. The organization had been
steadily rebuilding its workforce and it currently operated
18 programs and served almost 600 youth daily, but it was
only about 55 percent recovered. She stressed the critical
nature of federal funding in covering operating costs.
Families could not bear the true cost of care. She thanked
the committee for its time.
Representative Galvin thanked Ms. Hooper for her work. She
asked about the number of children the organization was
serving.
Ms. Hooper replied that in March of 2020 Campfire had been
serving 1,100 children daily. The number dropped to 90 for
the next 10 months once the pandemic began in April 2020.
Representative Galvin asked if Campfire had been able to
retain or bring back its workforce.
Ms. Hooper responded that workforce was the organization's
number one issue. She detailed that Campfire had increased
its staff wages by 35 percent with federal stimulus
funding, but it was still not a livable wage in Alaska. The
organization was slowly growing, but many providers were
not. The organization had a six figure operational gap at
each of its sites.
6:45:15 PM
SAM GARCIA, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), advocated
for programs for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization. He
shared that he was in long-term recovery from a substance
use disorder. He now worked to help others who were
struggling. Alaska was number one in the nation for
substance use and number two for alcohol use. He saw the
issue on a daily basis working in shelters. He stressed
that people needed help. He stated that things were slowly
moving in the right direction with crisis mobile teams
starting to form, but more help was needed. He discussed
the benefits of crisis mobile teams. He stressed that
individuals did not need to be thrown in jail. More help
was needed to get people out of the system and receiving
necessary support.
6:47:27 PM
LISA PAESANI, BOARD MEMBER, HEAD START, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funds for Head
Start. She thanked the committee for its time. She asked
for increased funding recommended by the education
subcommittee. Full funding would enable the program to
receive the full federal matching funds. Head Start helped
families get on the right track. The program responded to
community needs. There was currently a crisis in childcare.
She relayed it was competitive to keep staff and Head Start
gave as many benefits as it could. She stated that staff
would be leaving the state if they did not have enough
money to raise their families. She requested the $5 million
increase in the budget.
6:50:24 PM
JENNIFER BROWN, STAFF MEMBER, STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST
RAPE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), requested increased
funding for CDVSA in the Department of Public Safety
budget. She asked for the funding on behalf of all programs
facing the large cut across the state. She stressed that
nonprofits were already doing more with less. She stressed
it was time for Alaska to listen to survivors. Alaska had
the worst record of domestic violence and sexual assault in
the nation. She asked how much longer the state would be
okay with that distinction. She stated that $4 million
would flat fund the current level of services. She stated
that the STAR's education team was trying to end sexual
assault through primary prevention. She advocated for all
CDVSA programs statewide.
6:53:19 PM
AT EASE
6:53:27 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson CLOSED public testimony for the evening.
She thanked callers for their testimony.
HB 268 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 270 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Johnson reviewed the schedule for the following
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
6:54:12 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 268 & HB 270 Public Testimony Rec'd by 031324-B.pdf |
HFIN 3/13/2024 5:00:00 PM |
HB 268 HB 270 |