Legislature(2017 - 2018)ADAMS ROOM 519
03/03/2018 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB285 || HB286 | |
| Public Testimony - off Net Sites | |
| Public Testimony - Anchorage Lio | |
| Public Testimony: off Net Sites | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 286 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 285 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 3, 2018
9:01 a.m.
9:01:37 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Seaton called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Les Gara, Vice-Chair (via teleconference)
Representative Jason Grenn (via teleconference)
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Lance Pruitt (via teleconference)
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Cathy Tilton
Representative Tammie Wilson (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Scott Kawasaki
ALSO PRESENT
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Rebecca Bernard, Great Alaska Schools Anchorage, Anchorage;
Phil Shanahan, Self, Anchorage; Brenda Moore, Chair, Alaska
Mental Health Board, Anchorage; Merri Otto, Self,
Minnesota; Jeffrey Robinson, President, Alaska Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Anchorage; Bryan Emerson,
Civil Air Patrol, Matsu; Carl Brown, Wing Commander, Alaska
Civil Air Patrol, Washington DC; Kyle Anderson, Alaska
Civil Air Patrol, Washington DC; Jeff Defreest, AK Civil
Air Patrol, Ketchikan; Francesca Allegrezza, Family in
Anchorage, Anchorage; Claire Porter, AK Civil Air Patrol,
Ketchikan; Garrett Anderson, AK Civil Air Patrol,
Washington DC; Abby Hensley, Best Beginnings, Anchorage;
Michael Jeffery, Self, Barrow; Tara Rich, ACLU of Alaska,
Anchorage; Robert Bundy, Self, Anchorage; Marjorie Mock,
Self, Anchorage; Skylar Quin, Self, Anchorage; Doug White,
Access Alaska, Anchorage; Larry Ostrovsky, Self, Anchorage;
Cheryl Gorman, Self, Anchorage; Charles Gorman, Self,
Anchorage; Cathy Taylor, Self, Anchorage; Meg Samoran,
Self, Anchorage; Panu Lucier, Thread and the Alaska Early
Childhood Advocacy Group, Anchorage; Eric Sanders, Self,
Anchorage; Stephanie Berglund, CEO, Thread, Anchorage; Joe
Schlanger, Self, Wasilla; Cynthia Strout, Self, Anchorage;
SUMMARY
HB 285 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 285 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 286 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 286 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 285
"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."
HOUSE BILL NO. 286
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
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."
9:02:45 AM
Co-Chair Seaton reviewed the agenda for the meeting and
provided directions on how to call in to testify.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY - OFF NET SITES
9:03:57 AM
REBECCA BERNARD, GREAT ALASKA SCHOOLS ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), encouraged the committee to include
additional funds for education in the budget. She explained
that at her children's school the leading teacher would be
cut from full-time to half -time in the following year. It
would be difficult for her to serve all of the students in
grades K-8 on a half-time basis. She advocated keeping
Alaska's schools strong. She thanked the committee.
Co-Chair Seaton indicated there were no callers online. The
committee would break until 9:20 a.m.
9:07:24 AM
AT EASE
9:20:57 AM
RECONVENED
PHIL SHANAHAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), was
concerned with the funding for the Public Defender Agency.
As an attorney he saw how agency workers were overworked
and how the number of cases exceeded the capabilities of
the office. He argued that the Public Defender's Office
needed an increase. There were increases to the police
force and the Prosecutor's Office. He provided examples of
how the system was being affected. He thought that Alaska
did a great job in its justice system, which had a great
reputation. As the volume of cases increased, the Public
Defender staff needed to increase as well. He did not want
to see the state fall back.
9:26:11 AM
BRENDA MOORE, CHAIR, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH BOARD, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), spoke about funds for the hospital-
based treatment. The funds would alleviate the burden of
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) which often operated
at full capacity. She talked about the challenges of
patients having to wait for days in hospital emergency
rooms. She mentioned attending the certificate of needs
hearings for Anchorage. The Alaska Regional Hospital
requested to be able to have a psychiatric unit. She had
heard testimony from emergency room staff about the
frustrations that accompanied with caring for people in an
emergency psychiatric crisis without any mental health
professionals available. As a result, patients were
chemically restrained. The board was also concerned about
substance use disorder treatments and community support.
The board recommended that the committee support the
governor's request for $18 million in state funds for the
expansion of substance abuse treatment across the state.
She noted the need for an expansion of services was due to
the opioid crisis. Another board priority was to see that
$1 million for public guardians within the Office of Public
Advocacy, stayed in the budget. She spoke about the
responsibilities of a public guardian. She relayed that the
caseloads had reached over 100 per guardian, over double
the recommended national caseload.
9:33:04 AM
Co-Chair Seaton asked her to clarify her statement
regarding a hospital base and certificate of need. He also
noted that Representative Pruitt was at the Anchorage
Legislative Information Office (LIO).
Ms. Moore responded that the decision made by the governor
to take general funds to leverage more federal funds which
would increase to amount of hospital based psychiatric and
substance abuse care. She made the comment that she had
attended the certificate of need hearing. At that meeting
she heard testimony from nursing staff that were challenged
because of the lack of psychiatric staff.
9:35:32 AM
MERRI OTTO, SELF, MINNESOTA (via teleconference), was
representing her daughter, Stephanie Otto, who lived in
Alaska. She told a bit of her daughter's story regarding
her struggle with mental illness. She had not been able to
get mental health services until she qualified for
Medicaid. She had some problems with getting a name brand
medication. She could only get the generic version of the
prescription, which she had a reaction to. Ms. Otto
indicated that there was no one to take care of her
daughter. She continued to tell of her daughter's
experience around getting proper medication. She was
concerned with her daughter's well-being.
Co-Chair Seaton indicated that the committee was hearing
testimony on the operating budget. He requested that she
provide some information for the representative from her
district to follow-up.
9:42:22 AM
JEFFREY ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, ALASKA ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL
DEFENSE LAWYERS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of additional funding for the Public Defender Agency
that would pay for 4 new attorneys and an additional staff
person. He had been a public defender in the Bethel office
and the Anchorage office previously. He provided additional
information about his professional background. He continued
to practice criminal law in the private sector currently.
He reported some of his observations in court. The
caseloads appeared to be increasing, falling short of the
standard. He thought it was problematic and would be more
expensive to the state in the long-run. In his experience
working in the Public Defender Agency, the office was
pushed to the max caseload-wise. He spoke to the great
resources within the agency. However, a number of talented
attorneys have left because they were not able to
successfully represent their clients and their stress. He
urged members to support additional funding for the agency.
9:45:48 AM
BRYAN EMERSON, CIVIL AIR PATROL, MATSU (via
teleconference), was the finance manager of the Civil Air
Patrol. He noted the responsibilities and successes of the
organization. He indicated that the Civil Air Patrol was
operating with less funding. He urged members to properly
fund the Civil Air Patrol. He thanked the committee.
9:47:49 AM
AT EASE
9:56:26 AM
RECONVENED
CARL BROWN, WING COMMANDER, ALASKA CIVIL AIR PATROL,
WASHINGTON DC (via teleconference), spoke to the budget
reduction for the Civil Air Patrol. Historically, the
Alaska Wing had brought benefits to the state. He reported
that 3 or 4 years ago the civil air patrol budget was
reduced by 30 percent. He addressed the result of those
cuts. The Alaska Wing worked closely with the Department of
Public Safety and the other entities. Other units would
have to be closed with the 30 percent proposed cut in the
operating budget. The Civil Air Patrol had 3 main missions
included: emergency services, aerospace education, and
cadet programs. He mentioned some of the successes of the
patrol and its contribution to the STEM program at the
University of Alaska Anchorage. He asked that funding
remain at $450,000. The state benefited financially from
the patrol as well. He thanked the committee.
10:02:28 AM
KYLE ANDERSON, ALASKA CIVIL AIR PATROL, WASHINGTON DC (via
teleconference), He shared a story about a youth's
experience with joining the youth cadet program. He
indicated the youth joined the program and experienced a
turn-around in his life. He spoke to many of the benefits
of the Civil Air Patrol. He urged funding support for the
Civil Air Patrol and thanked committee members for their
time.
10:05:48 AM
JEFF DEFREEST, AK CIVIL AIR PATROL, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke to the benefits of the Civil Air
Patrol. He relayed that there were also ground troops that
existed as part of the patrol. He encouraged members to
support the program.
10:07:11 AM
FRANCESCA ALLEGREZZA, FAMILY IN ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke to the reduction of the PFD. She
thought the budget was out of control and reflected
reckless spending. She felt she was being taken advantage
of.
10:08:39 AM
CLAIRE PORTER, AK CIVIL AIR PATROL, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke to the reduction of Civil Air Patrol
funding. She relayed her amazement of the benefits of the
youth cadet program within the organization. She provided
some background about her involvement in the critical
emergency response portion of the program.
10:11:40 AM
GARRETT ANDERSON, AK CIVIL AIR PATROL, WASHINGTON DC (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the Civil
Air Patrol. He mentioned his role within the patrol and
noted several of the benefits of the cadet program. He
urged members to consider increasing funding for the Civil
Air Patrol.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY - ANCHORAGE LIO
10:15:00 AM
Co-Chair Seaton recognized that Representative Pruitt,
Vice-Chair Gara, Representative Grenn were at the Anchorage
LIO. Representative Kawasaki was online. [Representative
Kawasaki was not online]. Representative Wilson was also
online in Fairbanks.
ABBY HENSLEY, BEST BEGINNINGS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for Best
Beginnings. She indicated that Best Beginnings had adopted
a 3-year plan with an increased focus on improving early
literacy and language development. The entity supported the
Imagination Library Program and resources for parents and
other family members. Currently, there were over 18,000
children receiving high quality, age-appropriate books
every month in the mail at no cost to their families. She
spoke of the donation made by Dolly Parton. She spoke to
the costs related to the mailing of books for the
Imagination Library program which was $30 per year per
child. Best Beginnings and partners around the state raised
the money to ensure the fabulous resource. She read
comments from a number of parents and the Imagination
Library. She asked for continued support for early
childhood education, Pre-K grants, Parents as Teachers, and
Best Beginnings.
10:18:53 AM
MICHAEL JEFFERY, SELF, BARROW (via teleconference), was a
Superior Court Judge for years. He urged support for
substance abuse treatment. There were several people
needing support. He agreed with the support for recidivism
reduction efforts. He also supported the effort for funding
the Alaska Psychiatric Institute. He also supported funding
for hospitals with patients having mental health issues. He
also advocated keeping the justice system balanced and
encouraged additional funding for the Public Defender
Agency. He thanked members for their time.
10:22:31 AM
TARA RICH, ACLU OF ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
wanted adequate funding for the Criminal Justice System.
She had learned from the Public Defender that with
additional cases anticipated the office would have to start
turning away cases. She argued that it was a fundamental
and essential need for an individual to have a fair trial.
She thought Alaska was perilously close to having a broken
system. She urged members to adequately fund the Public
Defender Agency. She stressed the importance of this
funding and thanked the committee for their time.
10:26:43 AM
ROBERT BUNDY, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of additional funding for the Public Defender
Agency. He provided an example of a case he was working on.
He spoke of the importance of having a well-funded office
and proper council. He spoke of the possible repercussions
of not funding the criminal justice system properly.
10:30:14 AM
MARJORIE MOCK, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
supported additional funding for the Public Defender
Agency. She had worked in the office for several years. She
provided examples of her work experience. She spoke to the
time challenges of resolving cases, particularly without
properly funding the Public Defender Agency. She urged
members to adequately fund the office.
Co-Chair Seaton acknowledged that Representative Gara was
listening in from the Anchorage LIO.
10:33:16 AM
SKYLAR QUIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), thought
the legislature should be focusing on the restructuring of
the Permanent Fund. He supported a larger draw of 5.75
percent. He thought an additional revenue stream was
necessary. He urged the restructuring of the PFD in the
coming summer.
10:35:29 AM
DOUG WHITE, ACCESS ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
favored funding Senior Disability Services. He spoke to the
costs associated with senior care. He noted a large
increase in people receiving senior and personal care
services and pointed out that there were several reductions
that had been proposed to these related programs. He urged
members of the legislature to be careful with reductions.
10:38:06 AM
LARRY OSTROVSKY, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
indicated it was critical to properly fund the criminal
justice system. He believed the reduction in the budget was
a serious issue. He provided information regarding the
number of cases that could be handled in a week. He urged
members to properly fund the Public Defender Agency.
10:41:59 AM
CHERYL GORMAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for recidivism reduction services.
She also urged member support for funding the Public
Defender Agency. She supported the substance abuse
treatment and community support programs. She spoke to the
mental health issues in the state. She thanked the
committee.
10:44:02 AM
CHARLES GORMAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), was a
former homeless person. He provided some of his experience
concerning getting residential services that had helped him
significantly. He urged support for the governor's proposed
funding for mental health services and substance abuse
services. He also supported the reentry funding to help
with recidivism. He also supported funding for mental
health disorders and safe rooms at hospitals.
10:47:05 AM
CATHY TAYLOR, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
provided some of her background. She supported 4
recommendations from the finance subcommittee. First, she
supported funding for hospital-based health care. Second,
she supported funding for API. She also supported funding
for the public guardian program, which she thought needed
expanding. Lastly, she supported the public assistance
program.
10:50:49 AM
MEG SAMORAN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
practiced law for 20 years. She advocated for additional
funding for the Public Defender Agency. She agreed that the
criminal justice system needed balanced funding. She used
the Fairbanks Four conviction as an example of an imbalance
in the justice system. The case cost the state a tremendous
amount of money. She provided additional information about
the effects of not properly funding the Public Defender
Agency. She reemphasized the long-term fiscal impact of
depriving someone of their rights at trial.
10:54:53 AM
PANU LUCIER, THREAD AND THE ALASKA EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVOCACY
GROUP, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
funding early childhood education. She spoke to the
benefits of early education and urged an investment in the
programs in the FY 19 budget.
10:56:45 AM
ERIC SANDERS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged
members to properly fund the Public Defender Agency and
spoke to the importance of its funding. He was a previous
Superior Court Judge. He discussed the repercussions of an
unbalanced system. He surmised that not funding the agency
properly would result in additional financial burdens to
the state.
Co-Chair Seaton asked Representative Pruitt if he wanted to
make any comments.
Representative Pruitt indicated he would speak directly
with the audience.
Representative Grenn responded that he would talk to the
audience directly as well.
Vice-Chair Gara explained that people's testimony mattered.
Co-Chair Seaton indicated that there were no testifiers
online presently. The committee would break until 11:15
a.m.
11:02:58 AM
AT EASE
11:31:27 AM
RECONVENED
STEPHANIE BERGLUND, CEO, THREAD, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of early education. The
organization worked statewide to increase access to
affordable and quality early care and learning. She thanked
the committee for its support of early education. She
shared that the programs provided critical support for
families and supported quality early learning. Investments
in early childhood supported research that Alaska would
have long lasting benefits for young children, families,
communities, and the state's economy. She urged the
committee to continue funding support.
Co-Chair Seaton relayed the committee would break until
12:00 p.m.
11:34:01 AM
AT EASE
12:01:16 PM
RECONVENED
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: OFF NET SITES
12:01:21 PM
JOE SCHLANGER, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke
about public safety. He noted that spending only $570
million on public safety was a travesty. He spoke about the
low number of state troopers in Mat-Su. He detailed there
was one murder every seven days, one rape every eight
hours, one robbery every ten hours, one assault every two
hours, one arson every two days, one vehicle theft every
three hours, and others. He believed the legislature did
not have the priorities straight. He referenced money spent
on education, which he supported, but he thought too much
funding was given. He could not afford to attend the
university. He supported cutting the budget and giving more
money to small businesses. He believed the state did not
have a revenue problem, but a spending problem. He
supported reduced regulations.
Co-Chair Seaton relayed there were no additional testifiers
online. He shared that Representative Wilson was listening
from Fairbanks.
12:05:08 PM
CYNTHIA STROUT, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
shared that she is an attorney and had worked for the
Public Defender Agency in the past. She urged the committee
to fully fund the Public Defender Agency. She detailed that
an imbalance in the number of public attorneys and public
defenders meant that things stacked up; a public defender
could only be in one court room at one time. The public
defenders carried the large majority of cases that went
through the criminal justice system. The workers were
hardworking and dedicated, but high caseloads meant that
individuals were not adequately represented. She stressed
that overloading public defenders would not work and would
hurt the criminal justice system.
Representative Wilson asked how many criminal and civil
cases went to public defenders versus private attorneys.
Ms. Strout estimated that 85 percent of the cases went to
public defenders.
Co-Chair Seaton noted that the other part of the question
pertained to how many cases went to public defenders versus
private prosecutors. He relayed that they could get the
information.
Representative Guttenberg believed there was a legislative
audit report pertaining to the issue.
Co-Chair Seaton thought it was from 1998. He relayed the
committee would break until 12:25 p.m.
12:11:04 PM
AT EASE
12:29:33 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Seaton encouraged members of the public to submit
written testimony if desired. He thanked the public for
testifying.
HB 285 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 286 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
12:31:01 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 286 OpBudget Public Test 3.3.18 emails letters 3.3.18.pdf |
HFIN 3/3/2018 9:00:00 AM |
HB 286 |