Legislature(2005 - 2006)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/16/2006 04:00 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB366 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 365 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 366 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 16, 2006
4:06 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 4:06:18 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Jim Holm
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Beth Kerttula
Representative Carl Moses
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Sharon Cissna; Meera Kuhler, Alaska Village
Electric Association; Alan Budahl, Board Chair, Boys and
Girls Club; Cheri Gillian, Volunteer Board Member, Boys and
Girls Club; Ira Perman, Ready to Read, Read and Learn Task
Force; Suzi Pearson, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Ellen Krasnak, Catholic Social Services; Dave Falsey,
Dentist, Key Campaign; Chris Hall; Vern McCorkle; Ronni
Sullivan, Director, Southern Region EMS; Jim Udelhoven, CEO,
Udelhoven Oil Services; Frank Apple, Pioneer Homes Advisory
Board; Steve Lesko, President, Key Coalition; Steve Rollins;
Diana Rey, Hope Community Resources; Abigail Nauman, Hope
Community Resources; Yvette Wilson, Hope Community
Resources; Terry Schoenthal, KSKA/KAKM; Sandy Camery, Mabel
T. Caverly Senior Center; Ed Earnhart; Patricia Cochran;
Brooke Antonich, VOA of Alaskan KIDS and Families; C.W.
Floyd, DHHS-MOA; Tami Eller; Gwen Lee, The Arc of Anchorage;
Ellen Paneok, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Peggy Owens,
Executive Director, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Alex
Johnston, Director of Statewide Initiatives, Big Brothers,
Big Sisters; Scott Jones, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Robin
Phillips, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Rosalie Nadeau,
Executive Director, AKEELA; Jayson Smart, Parent of
Developmental Disabilities, ED, Stone Soup Group; Diane
Ingle, Municipality of Anchorage Health Department; Dan
Saddler; Candace Winkler, Childcare Provider & Parent
Network; Kalen Saxton, Alaska Family Childcare Association
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
HB 365 "An Act making appropriations for the operating
and loan program expenses of state government, for
certain programs, and to capitalize funds; making
appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the
constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing
for an effective date."
HB 366 "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."
The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes
and handouts will be on file with the House Finance
Committee through the 24th Legislative Session, contact 465-
6814. After the 24th Legislative Session they will be
available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
Public Testimony: Anchorage
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
4:07:30 PM ELLEN KRASNAK, Spoke in support of reinstating funding
CATHOLIC for the Human Services Matching Grant.
SOCIAL She related services and the facilities
SERVICES served by this grant. She pointed out
that Catholic Social Services makes
good use of these funds.
4:11:25 PM DAVE FALSEY, Advocated for funding for the Dental
DENTIST, KEY Health Bill. He shared how important
CAMPAIGN dental health care is for everyone.
4:15:23 PM CHRIS HALL Spoke of a goal of a workforce trained
and employed in Alaska. He advocated
for funding the University Budget
Request.
4:17:46 PM VERN MCCORKLE Testified in support of funding for
Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN). He
mentioned how valuable public broadcast
is to rural Alaska and to the rest of
the state.
4:19:50 PM RONNI Testified in support of funding for
SULLIVAN, Emergency Medical Services programs,
DIRECTOR, which have been flat-funded for several
SOUTHERN years. She pointed to changes in EMS
REGION EMS relating to pandemic flu issues. She
mentioned a loss of staff and training.
4:23:02 PM JIM UDELHOVEN, Spoke in favor of full funding for the
CEO, UDELHOVEN Vocational Training Center. He termed
OIL SERVICES it a good investment by reducing future
unemployment, cost, and crime.
4:26:26 PM FRANK APPLE, Shared statistics about the high cost
PIONEER HOMES of residential care in Pioneer Homes.
ADVISORY BOARD Staffing levels have not increased and
more staffing is needed to deal with
increasingly complex problems. He
testified in support of increased
funding for staffing in Pioneer Homes.
4:28:20 PM STEVE LESKO, Advocated for families with
PRESIDENT, KEY disabilities. He shared a personal
COALITION experience. He discussed problems with
wait-listed clients and offered
solutions by family support resources.
He testified in support of reducing the
number of Alaskans who are waiting for
services.
4:32:25 PM STEVE ROLLINS Testified in support of full funding as
proposed in the governor's budget for
the University of Alaska Anchorage. He
shared the excellent return for dollars
invested in the university.
4:34:13 PM DIANA REY, Shared her background with
HOPE COMMUNITY individualized services with mental
RESOURCES health. She described the benefits
attained from receiving mental health
services. She shared several examples
of support received.
4:36:47 PM MEERA KUHLER, Urged the committee's support of Power
ALASKA VILLAGE Cost Equalization, without which, leads
ELECTRIC to hardship in rural areas.
ASSOCIATION
4:38:21 PM ALAN BUDAHL, Advocated for support for the Youth
BOARD CHAIR, Success Initiative. He shared the
BOYS AND GIRLS mission of the Boys and Girls Club and
CLUB listed the benefits of supporting the
Club's proposal.
4:41:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE Asked if the Boys and Girls Club is
JOULE working with other groups. Mr. Budahl
replied that four other groups were
chosen to work with the initiative.
4:42:28 PM CHERI GILLIAN, Testified in support of funding the
VOLUNTEER Youth Success Initiative. She
BOARD MEMBER, described the extent of the initiative.
BOYS AND GIRLS She related the costs of incarcerating
CLUB one youth. She shared the Club's
ability to address and measure the
outcomes of the initiative.
4:45:24 PM IRA PERMAN, Reported that too many preschool
READY TO READ, students are unprepared for school. He
READ AND LEARN shared that kids that don't read well
TASK FORCE often get into trouble. He noted that
the task force is in the process of
putting together a plan to remedy this
situation. He asked that a dollar
amount be returned to the governor's
budget in order to support the Ready to
Read initiative.
4:49:19 PM SUZI PEARSON, Spoke to the importance of the funding
ABUSED WOMEN'S $3 million for HSMG.
AID IN CRISIS
4:50:42 PM ABIGAIL Testified in favor of CCFC waivers.
NAUMAN, HOPE She shared a personal experience of a
COMMUNITY client in the program who did not have
RESOURCES to remain on the wait list. She
encouraged reinstatement of the funding
the governor proposed.
4:53:40 PM YVETTE WILSON, Shared her experience as a parent with
HOPE COMMUNITY support from these services. She
RESOURCES encouraged reinstatement of the wait-
list funding in the governor's
proposal.
4:55:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE Clarified the wait-list funding was not
HAWKER proposed in the governor's budget. He
pointed out that the funds were added
by the legislature.
4:56:51 PM TERRY Encouraged the committee to accept the
SCHOENTHAL, recommendation for funding for public
KSKA/KAKM radio.
4:58:18 PM SANDY CAMERY, Encouraged further funding for the
MABEL T. matching grants for seniors. She asked
CAVERLY SENIOR for all recipients for preventive
CENTER dental work that would save Medicaid
dollars.
5:00:30 PM ED EARNHART Testified in favor of greater funding
for education and the University of
Alaska.
5:02:09 PM PATRICIA Urged further funding for substance
COCHRAN abuse prevention. 25% of Alaska
children are victims of alcohol
disorders. Research has shown the
greatest factors in secondary activity
such as FASD are early diagnosis and
living in stable home environment.
5:05:33 PM BROOKE Testified on behalf of greater funding
ANTONICH, VOA for prevention services. She addressed
OF ALASKAN the services that are taxed without
KIDS AND prevention.
FAMILIES
5:08:00 PM C.W. FLOYD, Noted support for Health and Human
DHHS-MOA Service line item for the City of
Anchorage in the amount of $500,000.
He mentioned addressing collateral
services statewide for social
detoxification system.
5:11:54 PM TAMI ELLER Requested youth treatment funding at
the Governor's requested amount.
Children are at risk for meeting their
full potential.
5:14:18 PM GWEN LEE, THE Urged support for the HESS subcommittee
ARC OF for the wait list to support the work
ANCHORAGE of that group waiting for services.
5:16:30 PM ELLEN PANEOK, Requested full funding of the
BIG BROTHERS, Governor's Youth Initiative. Big
BIG SISTERS Brothers Big Sisters receives a portion
of that grant funding.
5:18:14 PM PEGGY OWENS, Expressed support for the Governor's
EXECUTIVE Youth Initiative. In Anchorage, there
DIRECTOR, BIG are more than 16,000 youths that could
BROTHERS, BIG benefit from a quality mentoring
SISTERS relationship. She spoke to the success
of the BBBS programs helping children
leading happier and more productive
lives.
5:20:15 PM ALEX JOHNSTON, Urged support for the Governor's Youth
DIRECTOR OF Initiative.
STATEWIDE
INITIATIVES,
BIG BROTHERS,
BIG SISTERS
5:22:38 PM SCOTT JONES, Spoke about his Little Match, Dante,
BIG BROTHERS, and urged full funding for the
BIG SISTERS Governor's Youth Initiative.
5:25:22 PM ROBIN Requested support for the Governor's
PHILLIPS, BIG Youth Initiative. The partners for the
BROTHERS, BIG program have proven their success
SISTERS across the State.
5:27:39 PM ROSALIE Urged reconsideration of the reduction
NADEAU, to prevention programs for substance
EXECUTIVE abuse. Those programs pay for
DIRECTOR, themselves. The state is not meeting
AKEELA the needs. She stressed the need to
look at priorities for progress for the
state. She mentioned how the state
pays for overcrowded prisons, etc.
5:32:19 PM JAYSON SMART, Spoke in favor of full funding for the
PARENT OF Department of Health and Social Service
DEVELOPMENTAL programs for FASD. He urged support
DISABILITIES, for the $506,000 general fund dollars
ED, STONE SOUP and the increment that the governor
GROUP proposed, an addition of $500,000. In
previous years, Alaska received money
from the federal government. He urged
those funding increments, a minimal
investment for this important work.
Testified for further funding for the
DD wait list.
5:37:10 PM DIANE INGLE, Requested for support to continue
MUNICIPALITY funding of the infrastructure for
OF ANCHORAGE public health nursing support in the
HEALTH amount of the governor's request.
DEPARTMENT Urged full funding for the immunization
registry.
5:41:09 PM DAN SADDLER Testified in support of Home and
Community based waiver services for
those with disabilities. He shared
that he had twins, one with autism.
There are special stresses on parents
who have children with disabilities.
He urged that the governor's proposal
be accepted.
5:44:05 PM CANDACE Asked to reinstate the funding of
WINKLER, $750,000 that was in the governor's
CHILDCARE proposed budget for early childhood
PROVIDER & development. She mentioned the Ready
PARENT NETWORK to Read Task Force. The investment
will help many children in the State of
Alaska to be all that they can be.
5:47:56 PM KALEN SAXTON, Urged that the $750,000 be replaced
ALASKA FAMILY into the legislative proposed budget.
CHILDCARE She added concerns for those children
ASSOCIATION with FAS and FAE. She urged diagnosis
for those conditions.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:49 PM
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