Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/03/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
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| HB83 |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 3, 2009
1:36 p.m.
1:36:10 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Hawker called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:36 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Harry Crawford
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Bob Herron; Representative Cathy Munoz;
Representative Beth Kerttula; Representative David
Guttenberg
JUNEAU:
Dorothy Green, Director, Polaris House; Scott Ciambor,
United Way of Southeast; Matt Felix, National Council on
Alcoholism; Carl Rose, Executive Director, Association of
Alaska School Boards; Cathy Johnson, Board of Directors
Aware Shelter; Brad Cure, Resident; Joy Lyon, Alaska
Association for Young Children; Pamela Watts, Administrator,
Juneau Alliance for Mental Health; Walter Majores, Executive
Director, Juneau Youth Services; Tina Young; Mandy O'Neil
Cole, Direct Services Manager, Aware, Inc.; Andi Story,
Member, Juneau School Board; Jayne Andreen, President, AK
Public Health Association; Louise Galvan, Polaris House;
Mary Hakala, Parent; Carol Comeau, Superintendent, Anchorage
School District
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, BARROW, NOME, DELTA JUNCTION, OFFNETS:
Nancy Mendenhall, Chair, Cooperative Extension Advisory
Council, Nome; Maureen Nolan, Early Learning and Family
Program, Kotzebue; Thor Williams, Bethel; Monica Charles
Leinberger, Bethel; Michelle Dewitt, Women's Shelter
Coalition, Bethel; Dan Leinberger, Vice Mayor of Bethel;
Alvin B. Jimmie, Sr. VPSO Coordinator, Bethel; Ann Applebee,
Bethel; Elizabeth Roll, President of Tundra Woman's
Coalition, Bethel; Carol Piscoya, Norton Sound Health
Corporation, Nome; Louisa Riley, Chair for North Slope
Shelter, Barrow; Ginny Walch, Barrow; Carolyn Sholley,
Counselor for Arctic Women in Crisis, Barrow; Rosie Saganna,
Counselor, Barrow; Cheryl Humme, Barrow; Jan Wrentmore,
Skagway
FAIRBANKS:
Kara Carlson Interior AK Canter for Non-Violent Living,
Fairbanks; Don Billings, National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill, Fairbanks; Dick Farris, National Alliance for the
Mentally Ill, Fairbanks; Val Dewey, For-Get-Me-Not Inc.,
Fairbanks; Shayle Hutchison, Weed & Seed, Fairbanks; Brenda
Stanfill, Interior AK Center for Non-Violent Living,
Fairbanks; Pete Pinney; FNSB HSS Commission/UAF, Fairbanks
Jeanette Grasto, NAMI, Fairbanks; David Weaver, Chairman,
Northstar Imagination Library, Fairbanks; Angie Ellis,
Forensic Nursing Service, Fairbanks; Jay Quankenbush,
Fairbanks; Guy Patterson, Director of Behavioral Health
Services, Fairbanks; Lenetta Colbert, Open Arms Commission,
Fairbanks; Jeff Werner, Future Farmers of America, Fairbanks
Sue Hull, Fairbanks Northstar School District, Fairbanks;
Mike Kolasa, Literacy Council of Alaska, Fairbanks; Emily
Vockeroth, North Star Imagination Library, Fairbanks; Bryon
Rogers, Chancellor of University of Fairbanks; Dana Thomas,
University of Alaska Fairbanks; Ann Hooper; Joe Hayes,
Alumni Director, University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
HB 81-APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 83-APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
Statewide Public Testimony
The following overview was taken in log note format.
Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee
through the 26th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814.
After the 26th Legislative Session they will be available
through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
1:36:15 PM JUNEAU
1:40:46 PM Dorothy Green, Urged support for behavioral health
Director, services grants, which were reduced
Polaris House by 43 percent from the governor's
proposed increment. She urged full
funding for mental health services
and substance abuse grants as
submitted by the Governor.
1:45:56 PM Scott Ciambor, Testified in support of affordable
United Way of housing in Southeast Alaska.
Southeast
1:48:43 PM Matt Felix, Testified in support of funding for
National alcohol treatment programs. He
Council on emphasized that the needs are so
Alcoholism great for this program that there is
no wasted money. He spoke in
appreciation of Representative
Joule's support.
1:51:29 PM Carl Rose, Spoke in support of funding for K-12
Executive education programs. The school's
Director, promise is to improve quality
Association of statewide, but this takes money.
Alaska School There is a need for early childhood
Boards financial help and training
innovation for the future.
1:56:18 PM Representative Asked about reductions to school
Gara services. He noted that school
districts have indicated that the
$100 increase to the student base
allocation will not be sufficient to
prevent reductions for districts
that are not getting extra funds for
cost differentials. He questioned
what would be needed to hold those
districts (such as Anchorage)
harmless.
1:58:10 PM Carl Rose Noted that the only way the
Anchorage School District could
benefit would be through an increase
in the base student allocation. The
foundation formula is designed to
distribute funds across the state.
The Anchorage school district is
also the largest provider of
intensive needs. In response to a
question by, Representative Gara,
Mr. Rose noted that Anchorage is the
base at 1.0.
1:58:40 PM Cathy Johnson, Urged support for behavioral health
Board of services grants. She spoke in
Directors support of full funding for the
Aware Shelter Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault.
2:00:27 PM Co-Chair He did not believe the base for
Hawker behavior health grants were being
reduced.
2:00:44 PM Vice-Chair Questioned if there was a spike in
Thomas domestic violence when the
Kensington mine was shut.
2:01:16 PM Cathy Johnson Felt that lost jobs and homelessness
leads to domestic violence
throughout the state.
2:01:48 PM Vice-Chair Wanted to emphasize that
Thomas unemployment is one of the greatest
problems leading to domestic
violence.
2:02:25 PM Representative Asked for clarification of the $1.7
Austerman million cut in behavioral grant
programs and if this included in the
base.
2:02:55 PM Co-Chair Clarified that the base was left
Hawker intact. There was a request to
increase the base by $1.75 million;
$1 million of the increase was
accepted. There was a 43 percent
reduction of the requested increase,
not a reduction from the base.
2:03:45 PM Brad Cure, Urged support for behavioral health
resident services grants. He urged full
funding for mental health services
and spoke in personal terms of loss
of friend who did not get the help
needed.
2:06:11 PM Joy Lyon, Spoke in support of funding for K-12
Alaska education programs. She observed
Association that 1 in 88 Alaskans are in prison,
for Young which reflects the need to help
Children children succeed early.
2:08:48 PM Pamela Watts, Urged support for behavioral health
Administrator, services grants. Community mental
Juneau health statewide is struggling with
Alliance for long waiting periods for help.
Mental Health
2:10:50 PM Representative Asked if grants are different from
Gara the earlier $1.75 million increment.
2:11:12 PM Pamela Watts Understood that there are two
increments: substance abuse and
mental health; each was reduced to
$1 million.
2:11:39 PM Walter Urged support for behavioral health
Majores, services grants. He stressed the
Executive need for full funding for mental
Director, health services and substance abuse
Juneau Youth grants as submitted by the Governor.
Services He indicated programs were losing
staff and running a deficit.
2:14:44 PM Vice-Chair Pointed out there is a difference
Thomas between cuts to the base and
increments that were not accepted in
full.
2:15:49 PM Tina Young Urged support for behavioral health
services grants. She has young child
in need of professional help and
fears a loss of funding will hurt.
She stressed that there are children
in community that are in need.
2:17:41 PM Mandy O'Neil Spoke in support of full funding for
Cole, Direct the Council on Domestic Violence and
Services Sexual Assault. She pointed to
Manager, overwhelming needs in the community
Aware, Inc. as money continues to be decreased.
The $1.2 million hardly keeps pace,
and does not help to move these
programs forward.
2:20:28 PM Andi Story, Stressed the importance of high
Member, Juneau quality education to employers.
School Board Spoke in support of funding for K-12
education programs. She maintained
that increase funding is not keeping
pace with the costs of education.
Schools need highly skilled teachers
with good pay. She pointed out that
arts are being cut and size of
classes increased with less money.
2:25:25 PM Jayne Andreen, Expressed support for the Obesity
President, AK Prevention and Control program. She
Public Health noted that Alaska is experiencing an
Association epidemic of obesity among the young
and adults. She added that 27% of
high school students are overweight.
Alaska is spending over $200 million
in obesity issues.
2:29:34 PM Louise Galvan, Urged support for behavioral health
Polaris House services grants and mental health
services. She revealed it was hard
to get services in the area and
noted long waits for appointments.
2:32:27 PM Mary Hakala, Spoke in support of funding for K-12
parent education programs. She spoke in
support of funding for vocational
education training programs. These
programs have been forced out of the
school system. She noted the need to
promote stimulation in the minds of
the young.
2:35:54 PM Carol Comeau, Thanked members for increases in
Superintendentsome programs recommended by the
, Anchorage Education Funding Task Force. She
School spoke in support of the initiative
District to reverse childhood obesity trends
and Dr. Butler's work. She noted
good health influences student
achievement.
2:37:49 PM Co-Chair Thanked Ms. Comeau on her help with
Hawker the obesity program in the schools.
Appreciated the well thought out
plan for helping children.
2:38:55 PM Carol Comeau Noted that she wanted to continue
working with the state. She noted
that school districts do not see the
benefit in daylight savings time and
would like to return to 1980s time,
prior to the present daylight
savings time.
2:40:10 PM Vice-Chair Questioned what school districts are
Thomas doing to reduce the drop out rate.
2:40:24 PM Carol Comeau In Anchorage, with increase funding,
the goal is to hire new graduation
coaches. She stressed that the need
for more help with vocational
education programs and pointed out
that school needs to be more
stimulating for children.
2:41:50 PM Vice-Chair Would like to see the program moving
Thomas toward changing the drop-out rate.
2:43:13 PM AT EASE
3:08:24 PM RECONVENED
BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, BARROW, NOME,
DELTA JUNCTION, OFFNETS
3:08:56 PM Nancy Urged support for the Board of
Mendenhall, Regent's increment request for
Chair, Energy Engineering and Climate
Cooperative Change program, which was removed by
Extension the subcommittee. There is a need to
Advisory assist households with energy costs.
Council, Nome This is part of the outreach program
in the University. She emphasized
that they are looking for better
outreach and communication with the
rural villages.
3:13:23 PM Maureen Nolan, Spoke in support of funding for the
Early Learning Infant Learning Program and K-12
and Family education programs. She believed all
Program, programs for the young will be
Kotzebue beneficial.
3:14:51 PM Representative He asked what was in the infant
Gara learning program. He wanted to know
what the program did.
3:15:27 PM Maureen Nolan She explained that the Infant
Learning Program is an early
learning and intervention program
such as physical therapy.
3:16:11 PM Representative He asked if this was for more than
Gara children with disabilities.
3:16:32 PM Maureen Nolan Explained that the children that are
targeted will need extra help, but
all children receive screening, such
as vision screening, reading
programs, as well as early
intervention.
BETHEL
3:17:52 PM Thor Williams, Spoke in support of funding for K-12
Bethel education programs. He urged funding
for public safety and juvenile
justice programs. He emphasized the
need for full the VPSO program and
funding for mental health services
and substance abuse grants.
3:19:24 PM Monica Charles Spoke in support of full funding for
Leinberger, the Council on Domestic Violence and
Bethel Sexual Assault. Supported more
funding for housing for women and
children in need. She noted that the
need for night shelters is growing.
3:21:11 PM Co-Chair Indicated they were looking for
Hawker alternative funding.
3:21:29 PM Michelle She believed the governor's increase
Dewitt, was well justified.
Women's
Shelter
Coalition,
Bethel
3:22:40 PM Dan Urged support of revenue sharing for
Leinberger, rural communities.
Vice Mayor of
Bethel
3:23:25 PM Co-Chair Noted that revenue sharing was fully
Hawker funded.
3:23:40 PM Dan Leinberger Wanted expansion for all users of
energy in Alaska. He testified in
support of full funding for the
Power Cost Equalization Program.
3:24:30 PM Co-Chair Observed that PCE was fully funded
Hawker at $32 million.
3:24:50 PM Dan Leinberger Spoke of HB 310 that included money
for service patrol, which was not
included in this year's budget. This
project may have to be terminated.
He urged the committee to find other
funding sources. He understood there
was a funding cut for ADA and a
director position and urged this to
be changed. He also spoke of
business license fees being cut in
half and urged reinstating higher
fees for funding source.
3:28:39 PM Alvin B. Observed that the work in the
Jimmie, Sr. villages by village public safety
VPSO officers is difficult and there has
Coordinator, been a lot of burn-out. He
Bethel encouraged more money to increase
the number of village public safety
officers in the villages.
3:31:58 PM Co-Chair Appreciated this information because
Hawker of his concern for lack of public
safety in the villages.
3:32:48 PM Co-Chair Agreed that this is a challenging
Stoltze problem in Alaska. There is a
commitment for more hearings during
the summer to try to improve the
VPSO program. The goal is to hire
good people with great training.
3:35:33 PM Ann Applebee, Thanked the governor's increment for
Board, Infant a $2 million increase in the Infant
Learning Learning Program and encouraged that
Program, this be kept in by the legislature.
Bethel She observed the difficulty in
recruiting good people to Bethel.
3:37:32 PM Co-Chair Observed that the money has been
Hawker kept in the budget.
3:37:49 PM Elizabeth Spoke in support of full funding for
Roll, Dr., the Council on Domestic Violence and
President of Sexual Assault. She noted an
Tundra Woman's increase in domestic violence due to
Coalition, the hard economic times. She spoke
Bethel in support of the governor's
increment. She agreed the VPSOs
offer a great deal of help in the
communities.
3:40:16 PM Representative Questioned what would happen if more
Gara money was given or what would not
happen if there was less money
received.
3:40:58 PM Dr. Roll Observed that the greatest problem
is the lack of staff and the need
for help with paying general bills,
such as energy and housing. She
noted that Bethel has the largest
domestic abuse in the country.
3:42:41 PM Representative Noted that the integration back into
Herron the community of those who have
served overseas is increasingly
difficult.
3:43:51 PM Carol Piscoya, Thanked the legislature for
Norton Sound services. She agreed that the
Health integration of National guardsmen
Corporation, going overseas returning home has
Nome been a problem. She urged support
for behavioral health services
grants and encouraged more support
for VPSO funding. She requested
upgrade and educational training for
technical systems in the area.
BARROW
3:50:15 PM Louisa Riley, Spoke in support of full funding for
Chair for the Council on Domestic Violence and
North Slope Sexual Assault. She acknowledged
Shelter, that funding covers the minimum, but
Barrow stressed that the need is great.
There are an increasing number of
victims that need shelter and care,
and without funding they will
suffer.
3:52:41 PM Ginny Walch, Spoke of the great need for help for
Barrow those needing help. Spoke in support
of full funding for the Council on
Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault.
3:54:13 PM Carolyn Spoke in support of full funding for
Sholley, the Council on Domestic Violence and
Counselor for Sexual Assault. She urged more
Arctic Women support for staffing and help for
in Crisis, women and children.
Barrow
3:55:43 PM Rosie Saganna, Spoke in support of full funding for
Counselor, the Council on Domestic Violence and
Barrow Sexual Assault.
3:56:35 PM Cheryl Humme, Spoke in support of full funding for
Barrow the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault. She spoke in support
of healthy families for Alaska and
urged support for behavioral health
services grants. She stressed that
without funding many services will
have to shut down.
3:58:42 PM Jan Wrentmore, Spoke in support for tourism
Skagway funding. She indicated tourism is
down this summer and the great
impact it will have on many
communities.
4:00:10 PM Co-Chair Agreed that tourism revenue will be
Hawker down this summer and agreed of its
importance.
4:01:18 PM AT EASE
4:09:30 PM RECONVENED
FAIRBANKS
4:11:02 PM Kara Carlson Spoke in support of full funding for
Interior AK the Council on Domestic Violence and
Canter for Sexual Assault. She in support of a
Non-Violent raised minimum wage.
Living,
Fairbanks
4:13:37 PM Don Billings Urged full funding for mental health
National services and substance abuse grants
Alliance for as submitted by the Governor. He
the Mentally requested support for families
Ill, Fairbanks facing mental health issues and
urged support for behavioral health
services grants.
4:20:51 PM Dick Farris Urged support for behavioral health
National services grants.
Alliance for
the Mentally
Ill, Fairbanks
4:21:55 PM Co-Chair Pointed out that there have been no
Hawker cuts to the base level in the mental
health budget.
4:22:33 PM Val Dewey Urged support for behavioral health
For-Get-Me-Not services grants and requested
Inc., support for mentally ill adults in
Fairbanks particular. She stressed the need to
pass SB 21, funding tuition relief
for mental health providers in
Northern AK, and to renegotiate gold
royalty rates to fund an endowment.
4:26:12 PM Co-Chair Wondered about the mentioned
Hawker document.
4:26:34 PM Shayle Spoke in support of full funding for
Hutchison the Council on Domestic Violence and
Weed & Seed, Sexual Assault. She requested
Fairbanks competitive wages for domestic
violence, sexual assault, and mental
health employees.
4:28:34 PM Brenda Spoke in support of full funding for
Stanfill the Council on Domestic Violence and
Interior AK Sexual Assault. She spoke of the
Center for need for health insurance for
Non-Violent victims in order to receive quality
Living, services and urged full funding for
Fairbanks mental health services and substance
abuse grants as submitted by the
Governor. She expressed support for
continued funding for child advocacy
centers and asked to restore the
funding increase.
4:33:17 PM Pete Pinney Spoke in support of funding for K-12
FNSB HSS education programs. He expressed
Commission/UAFappreciation for the Community
, Fairbanks Matching Grant Program.
4:35:06 PM Jeanette Urged support for behavioral health
Grasto, NAMI, services grants. She believed that
Fairbanks proper treatment leads to recovery
and not providing the correct care
lead to more costs for Alaska. There
is a need to take care of more
vulnerable people.
4:38:50 PM David Weaver, Spoke in support of funding for
Chairman, books for children. He noted that
Northstar most of the funding for their
Imagination program has been raised locally, but
Library, state funding.
Fairbanks
4:42:17 PM Co-Chair Spoke that this was high on the list
Hawker when more funding available.
4:42:59 PM Angie Ellis, Spoke in support of full funding for
Forensic the Council on Domestic Violence and
Nursing Sexual Assault. She spoke in support
Service, of the public safety budget.
Fairbanks
4:45:05 PM Co-Chair Spoke in support of forensic nurses
Hawker in communities.
4:45:26 PM Jay Spoke in support of the Regent's
Quankenbush, request for full funding for the
Fairbanks University of Alaska. He spoke in
support of energy relief for Alaska
communities and stressed the need to
support an investment in the
University engineering programs. He
urged funding for deferred
maintenance for the university.
4:49:04 PM Co-Chair Expressed that Representative Foster
Stoltze helped in that area over the years.
4:50:05 PM Co-Chair Expressed that the university has
Hawker received funding over the years to
improve conditions.
4:50:35 PM Guy Patterson, Urged support for behavioral health
Director of services grants and the need to
Behavioral attract health professionals to the
Health area. He stressed that increased
Services, costs have offset funding.
Fairbanks
4:53:56 PM Lenetta Thanked the legislature for an
Colbert, Open increase in the child care
Arms reimbursement rates to 50 percent.
Commission, She spoke for young children and
Fairbanks their parents who can not speak for
themselves and in support of funding
for K-12 education programs. She
urged support for behavioral health
services grants and noted that
higher funding provides more quality
care.
4:58:07 PM Jeff Werner, Spoke in support of funding for K-12
Future Farmers education programs. He spoke of help
of America, he received with support of the
Fairbanks Palmer school system to achieve his
career path to stay and work in
Alaska.
5:00:54 PM Sue Hull, Stressed that salary increases in
Fairbanks the teacher contracts have put a
Northstar strain on the budget. She spoke in
School support of funding for K-12
District, education programs and noted
Fairbanks reductions in staff and vocational
improvements due to lack of money.
5:03:44 PM Co-Chair Observed that education was of the
Stoltze forward fund and wondered how
important this was to the school
system.
5:04:21 PM Ms. Hull Expressed the extreme importance of
getting this funding.
5:05:03 PM Mike Kolasa, Spoke of the community initiative
Literacy grant.
Council of
Alaska,
Fairbanks
5:05:35 PM Co-Chair Said that both are fully funding,
Hawker but not with inflation dollars.
5:06:28 PM Emily Spoke in support of the Imagination
Vockeroth, Library and the importance of early
North Star reading for children.
Imagination
Library,
Fairbanks
5:07:03 PM Co-Chair Said this program was on the radar
Hawker screen of the committee, but with
lower funds this year, it may have
to wait.
5:07:54 PM Bryon Rogers, Thanked the legislature for their
Chancellor of support and noted some of the
University of funding issues for the University.
Fairbanks He highlighted the energy program
for communities in Alaska.
5:11:47 PM Co-Chair Urged that the University not take
Hawker anything personally in the budget
decisions. He noted this was a time
when funding would be lower.
5:12:44 PM Dana Thomas, Supported the words of Chancellor
University of Rogers and student drafted bills for
Alaska financial aid programs. She noted
st
for low income participation in
college studies.
5:14:57 PM AT EASE
5:17:08 PM RECONVENED
5:18:16 PM Ann Hooper Urged support for behavioral health
services grants. She expressed
support for an increase in the human
resources matching grant and
community resource grants.
5:20:18 PM Joe Hayes, Urged support for behavioral health
Alumni services grants. He spoke in support
Director, of full funding for the Council on
University of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Alaska and the Regent's request for full
funding for the University of
Alaska.
5:22:32 PM Representative Thanked Mr. Hayes for his university
Foster advocacy.
5:23:05 PM ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 PM
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