Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/07/2021 01:30 PM House FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Consideration of Governor's Appointees: Department of Law, Attorney General Treg Taylor | |
| HB69 || HB71 | |
| Subcommittee Close-out Reports | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 7, 2021
1:32 p.m.
1:32:42 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Merrick called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:32 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Kelly Merrick, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Sara Rasmussen
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Jamie Jones, Staff, Representative Kelly Merrick; Patrick
Fitzgerald, Staff, Representative Neal Foster.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Treg Taylor, Attorney General, Department of Law.
SUMMARY
HB 69 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 69 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 71 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 71 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES: DEPARTMENT OF LAW,
ATTORNEY GENERAL TREG TAYLOR
Co-Chair Merrick reviewed the agenda for the day.
^CONSIDERATION OF GOVERNOR'S APPOINTEES: DEPARTMENT OF LAW,
ATTORNEY GENERAL TREG TAYLOR
1:33:24 PM
Vice-Chair Ortiz noted that at the close of the previous
hearing he asked about the Department of Law's duty to
perform consumer protection responsibilities. He
specifically wondered about consumer protection relating to
monopolistic practices. The attorney general (AG) had
concurred that it was part of the department's duties. The
duties encompassed the consideration of a merger,
monitoring the activities of the merging companies, and
reviewing the impacts of the merger. He asked if he
recalled correctly.
Co-Chair Merrick indicated the committee had been joined by
Representative Rasmussen and Representative Carpenter.
TREG TAYLOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF LAW (via
teleconference), confirmed that the department continued to
provide consumer protection by monitoring monopolistic
practices once a merger took place.
Vice-Chair Ortiz asked how the process worked once a merger
was approved. He wondered if regular or continued
communication about a merger occurred, or whether a
consumer inquiry was the trigger for the Department of Law
to consider any further action. Attorney General Taylor
responded that the department's response was determined on
a case-by-case basis. He thought the things Representative
Ortiz mentioned would apply.
Vice-Chair Ortiz noted that another duty of the AG was to
advise the governor regarding potential litigation. He
wondered if financial impacts were a priority
consideration. He asked whether the AG considered available
resources when contemplating which cases to pursue.
Attorney General Taylor responded in the affirmative. He
had to continually evaluate how the department was
allocating its resources and assess priorities. The
department could not take on everything with a potential
cause of action. He discussed the cases with the
department's clients and the governor.
1:38:21 PM
Representative Josephson brought up one of the positions
that was eliminated that could have helped in the battle
against sex offenses. He wondered if the AG was aware of
the additional 19 positions provided to the department to
fight sex crimes in Alaska.
Attorney General Tylor only heard a portion of the
representative's question. He appreciated that the
legislature had taken the 19 additional positions into
consideration. He thought it was critical to the
department's mission and important to encourage public
confidence in the Criminal Division's ability to prosecute
sex crimes. Given the epidemic of sex crimes in the state,
it was much appreciated. He indicated that if he had not
answered the question fully, Representative Josephson could
repeat it. There was significant static on the line.
Representative Josephson wondered, if the cut was
maintained and because the funding was interagency
receipts, whether the net result would be that the civil
and criminal Divisions would have more money. In other
words, they would not be taxed for the cost of the chief of
staff position that the legislature voided.
Attorney General Taylor responded that the chief of staff
position was funded through interagency receipts with the
various divisions within the Department of Law. The net
result of cutting general funds was that it affected the
department elsewhere. The Attorney General Division
directly related to the executive assistant and the Civil
Division legislative liaison. He could not characterize the
cut as a zero net loss to the Department of Law.
Representative Josephson asked if the AG could take the
reduction anywhere within the agency budget. He suggested
the AG could also bill more for the two positions which had
been done in the past. Attorney General Taylor responded
that the agreements with other departments were negotiated
and could be adjusted. However, none of the agreements
applied to positions such as the chief of staff, the
executive assistant, or the legislative liaison.
Representative Josephson disagreed with Attorney General
Taylor's response. He referred to a document that showed
the personal services position funding. The special
assistant was funded by interagency receipts.
1:42:28 PM
Representative Josephson returned to the Janus litigation.
He wondered about the AG's comment about rethinking the
cases. He wondered whether he was rethinking all of the
cases. He referenced some of the case names. Many of the
Janus-related litigations were with outside counsel. He
asked if Attorney General Taylor was talking about all of
the cases he mentioned.
Attorney General Taylor responded that he was to a certain
extent. He elaborated that two of the cases Representative
Josephson cited were cases in which employees had sued the
State of Alaska and their respective unions over decisions
made regarding the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Janus.
The department had an obligation to defend the state in
those lawsuits. The state had been able to stay the
proceedings based on the hope the U.S. Supreme Court would
pick up the Belgau cert which would be the most efficient
and cost-effective way to have answers on the issues the
state was facing. Alaska was not alone in facing these
issues. He recalled in the Belgau amicus brief there were
multiple other states that joined Alaska having similar
questions. He mentioned a number of states that were
wondering how to apply the Janus litigation to their own.
His rethinking had to do with how to go about most
efficiently coming to a resolution in the most
cost-effective manner for the state and its residents.
Representative Josephson noted that the states the AG
mentioned were right-to-work states. He brought up that in
the AG's brief there was a long memorandum in which he made
a comparison to Mirand warnings, which must be given or a
person could go to jail for their incriminating statements
or lack of counsel, and how they became stale. A person in
custody had to occasionally be reissued a Miranda warning.
The attorney general had made the comparison of Miranda,
criminality, and the threat of prison with a person
entering and joining a union. He asked the AG if he still
subscribed to that analogy.
Attorney General Taylor had to be careful of his response
because the state was currently in litigation. He indicated
that it was a mischaracterization of what was being argued.
The intent was not to compare people who wanted to join a
union with people charged with crimes. Rather, the intent
was to show that there were instances where a waiver of
constitutional rights went stale. He was attempting to show
it was an unprecedented move by the state. The type of
waiver of first amendment rights might need to be reignited
from time-to-time because of potentially going stale.
1:46:59 PM
Representative Wool had a question about the second
amendment right. He provided a hypothetical scenario of him
going into the produce section at Fred Meyer and an
individual or a group of individuals entered with AR15s
with high-capacity magazines. He asked the AG if such
behavior would be protected by the second amendment.
Attorney General Taylor replied that individuals had a
right to bear arms on their individual person based on the
way that it was described in Alaska law. His job as the AG
was to uphold and defend the law.
Representative Wool asked if Fred Meyer would have the
ability to turn someone away if the company did not allow
guns in their stores. Attorney General Taylor believed that
Fred Meyer was a private establishment and had the ability
to determine their clientele. He had seen signs at stores
throughout Alaska indicating fire arms were not allowed. He
believed it was supported by the law.
Representative Wool had seen similar signs and believed
they listed the statute. He asked if there was a duty of
law around the election process. Attorney General Taylor
believed there was a duty of law. However, the line was
fuzzy which was the reason there was legislation proposed
in the House. The bill stated that critical allegations of
voter fraud would be investigated and, if warranted,
prosecuted. Currently the department did not have the
capability needed to do an investigation, nor did the
Office of the Lieutenant Governor. After the prior
election, it was apparent changes to the law were
necessary. He was asking for one attorney and two
investigators in order to conduct a civil investigation. If
the bill passed, there would be civil penalties associated
with such conduct and a criminal referral if warranted.
1:50:16 PM
Representative Wool mentioned that recently Alaska signed
onto a case with Texas involving an election in another
state. He asked if the AG supported that action.
Attorney General Taylor responded that he did not make the
decision to join the amicus brief. Therefore, he could not
speak to why the Department of Law did so. He could provide
information regarding the considerations that took place.
The argument went that fraud in one state disenfranchised
Alaska's voters because all states participated in the same
elections on a national basis. For example, if one state
fraudulently skewed the election, it disenfranchised all
other voters. The department had to weigh the decision with
state sovereignty. He advocated that Alaska be a sovereign
of the state with its laws being dictated by the
legislature rather than any other state.
Attorney General Taylor also mentioned the separation of
powers. Like other states, the legislature determined the
guardrails for ensuring fair elections. In Alaska's case,
there was a non-legislative actor influencing the rules.
The question became whether the legislature had complete
control over the guardrails. In the current case, it was
various courts throughout the states that were involved in
the litigation that decided that given the pandemic they
changed the elections. It was a matter that needed
resolution. He believed that Alaska's legislators had the
ability to determine how to create the fairest elections
and to enfranchise every Alaskan voter.
Representative Wool commented that although Alaskans voted
in the same election, a person could argue that there were
50 elections. Each state ran its own elections.
Co-Chair Merrick thanked the Attorney General.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to forward the name of the governor's
appointee, Treg Taylor, Attorney General, Department of
Law, to the joint session for consideration. The motion did
not reflect the intention of any member to vote for or
against the individual during any further session for the
purpose of confirmation.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
1:53:58 PM
AT EASE
1:57:03 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster noted that the committee had been joined by
Representative Bryce Edgmon. The committee would pick up
where it left off the other day with subcommittee
closeouts.
HOUSE BILL NO. 69
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making reappropriations; 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."
HOUSE BILL NO. 71
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
1:57:43 PM
^SUBCOMMITTEE CLOSE-OUT REPORTS
1:57:56 PM
JAMIE JONES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MERRICK, would be
presenting three agency FY 22 House Finance budget
subcommittee narrative reports. She would begin with
reviewing the subcommittee close-out report for the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) (copy on
file). She read directly from the report:
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs submits
the following recommended operating budget for FY 22
to the House Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $22,066.3
Designated General Funds (DGF) $178.4
Other Funds $12,061.2
Federal Funds $31,377.3
Total $65,683.2
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 281
Permanent Part-time 0
Temporary 0
Total 281
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs held four
meetings, reviewing, and accepting the FY 22
Governor's budget request, no member amendments were
offered.
Ms. Jones moved to the subcommittee close-out report for
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (copy on file).
She read directly from the report:
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Natural Resources submits the following
recommended operating budget for FY 22 to the House
Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $63,376.6
Designated General Funds (DGF) $39,198.2
Other Funds $36,089.5
Federal Funds $17,483.4
Total $156,147.7
The only difference between the FY 22 Governor's
Request and the FY 22 House Subcommittee recommended
budget is $200.0 in General Fund Program Receipts,
adding six temporary positions.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 623
Permanent Part-time 247
Temporary 58
Total 928
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Natural Resources held six meetings with
the Department analyzing the Governor's Budget. The
Subcommittee accepted 12 of the 12 Budget Action Items
proposed.
The following member amendments were also adopted:
No. 2 Parks Management and Access
DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources
APPROPRIATION: Parks and Outdoor Recreation
ALLOCATION: Parks Management and Access
ADD: $200.0 GF/Prgm (fund code 1005)
ADD POSITIONS: 6 Temporary Positions
ADD Intent Language: It is the intent of the
legislature that the department only fill the
additional Alaska Conservation Corps positions
authorized by the legislature if fee collections
enable this expenditure to occur without using
carryforward revenue.
No. 4 Geological and Geophysical Surveys
DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources
APPROPRIATION: Fire Suppression, Land and Water
Resources
ALLOCATION: Geological and Geophysical Surveys
ADD Intent Language: It is the intent of the
legislature that the Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys submit
to the Finance Co-Chairs and Legislative Finance
Division by December 1, 2021, a proposal to conduct
large geophysical, geochemical, and geological data
collections over mineral-rich portions of the state,
and to develop fee schedules to charge for the raw
data, once collected, while publishing low-cost
hardcopy maps, and providing free access to visual
representations of the data through the division's
website.
Co-Chair Foster asked about item 2 regarding parks
management and access and 6 temporary positions. He
suspected that the positions would exist as long as they
were paid for through fees without using carry-forward
revenue. He asked if he was correct. Ms. Jones responded in
the affirmative.
Representative Rasmussen commented on budget action
item 10, a request for $250,000 for additional law
enforcement in the parks. She opined that it was an
appropriate request and hoped the full finance committee
would have a discussion about program receipts. Alaskans
paid relatively low fees for parking lots and park access.
She thought it was a way to collect additional funds
without having to use additional UGF.
2:04:04 PM
Ms. Jones relayed the subcommittee close-out report for the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) (copy on file). She read
the report:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Public Safety submits the following
recommended operating budget for FY2022 to the House
Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $180,264.6
Designated General Funds (DGF) $8,663.6
Other Funds $12,223.2
Federal Funds $28,033.9
Total $229,185.3
There is a decrease of $238.6 in Unrestricted General
Funds from the FY22 Adjusted Base to the House
Subcommittee budget recommendation, which is a -0.1
percent change.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 873
Permanent Part-time 18
Temporary 20
Total 911
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Public Safety held six meetings with the
Department to analyze the Governor's Budget. The
Subcommittee accepted 20 of the 23 proposed Budget
Action Items.
The following three items were not accepted:
? Budget Action Item No. 4: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska Bureau of Judicial Services, fully fund Office
Assistant II position added at 75 percent funding in
FY21.
? Budget Action Item No. 6: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska State Trooper Detachments, continue one-time
capital outlay funding for positions added in FY21.
? Budget Action Item No. 8: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska State Trooper Detachments, fully fund 28 new
positions added at 75 percent funding in FY21.
The subcommittee also adopted the four intent language
amendments listed below:
Amendment No. 1
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Fire and Life Safety
ALLOCATION: Fire and Life Safety
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety's Plan Review Bureau
allocate appropriate resources to ensure that the
review time of building plans be kept under 30 days.
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety add to its measures of
core services the average review time of building
plans on a monthly basis.
Amendment No. 2
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety prioritize the deployment
of law enforcement resources to non-urbanized areas
that lack organized government.
Amendment No. 3
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Alaska State Troopers
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that no funds
shall be moved outside of the personal services line
of any allocation within the Alaska State Troopers
appropriation.
Amendment No. 4
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Alaska State Troopers
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety increase efforts to fill
vacant positions within the Alaska State Troopers
appropriation and reduce overtime in order to better
manage within the authorized budget. The Department
should provide two reports to the Co-Chairs of Finance
and the Legislative Finance Division, the first no
later than December 1, 2021, and the second no later
than July 1, 2022, that details monthly hiring and
attrition, as well as premium and overtime costs by
category, and describes any contributing factors from
the start of the fiscal year to the month preceding
the due date of the report.
Ms. Jones concluded her presentation of the subcommittee
reports for DMVA, DNR, and DPS.
2:07:08 PM
AT EASE
2:09:13 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson turned to page 2 of the narrative
pointing to item 3 that was not adopted. The item was for
full funding of 28 new positions added at 75 percent. He
asked for further explanation. Ms. Jones replied that in FY
21 the department received 75 percent funding for 36 new
positions, the majority of which had not been filled to-
date. The subcommittee did not approve the remaining 25
percent funding for 2021 for those positions. She continued
that the positions she knew were filled were reflected in
items 11 and 12. The subcommittee funded the positions that
were filled.
Co-Chair Foster asked if cuts were made to the Village
Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Program. Ms. Jones confirmed
that there were no cuts made to the VPSO Program.
Representative Carpenter thought he heard that there were
no cuts but there was a decrease in UGF. He asked if the
money was made up somewhere else. Co-Chair Foster clarified
that his question was whether there were cuts made to the
VPSO Program.
Co-Chair Foster indicated his staff would present the
reports for the Office of the Governor and the Legislature.
PATRICK FITZGERALD, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER,
presented the subcommittee close-out report for the Office
of the Governor (copy on file). He read from the report:
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor submits the following recommended
operating budget for FY 22 to the House Finance
Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $23,215.9
Designated General Funds (DGF) $ 000.0
Other Funds $3,087.9
Federal Funds $229.0
Total $26,532.8
The Unrestricted General Fund difference from FY 22
Adjusted Base to the House Subcommittee budget
recommendation is an increase of $950.3 thousand of
Unrestricted General Funds, which is 4.3 percent above
FY 22 Adjusted Base.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 151
Permanent Part-time 0
Temporary 23
Total 174
? Approves 2 PCNs transferred from DCCED to the Office
of the Governor and increased receipt authority for
Statewide Economic Development.
? Created the Administrative Services Director's
Allocation within OMB.
? Replace Inter-Agency receipts (I/A Rcpts) for Budget
Analysts (200.0 UGF) and reduced receipt authority
within OMB.
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor reviewed the FY 22 budget request,
including amendments, and recommends the following
actions:
Accept the Office of the Governor's budget proposal,
which includes these highlights:
? Approves 2 PCNs transferred from DCCED to the Office
of the Governor and increased receipt authority for
Statewide Economic Development.
? Created the Administrative Services Director's
Allocation within OMB.
? Replace Inter-Agency receipts (I/A Rcpts) for Budget
Analysts (200.0 UGF) and reduced receipt authority
within OMB.
OTHER SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor also took the following actions:
? Deleted hollow receipt authority and authorized UGF
for expected costs within the Division of Elections
(706.7 UGF).
? Provided intent language stating the following: o It
is the intent of the legislature that the director of
OMB conducts a review of FY 21 Single Audit Costs, as
identified in the Division of Legislative Audit memo
billings, to determine the extent the single audit
costs were billed to the federal government as well as
the extent the costs were reimbursed. A report showing
the results of the review shall be provided to Co-
Chairs of Finance and the Legislative Finance Division
by December 1st, 2021.
Co-Chair Foster asked Mr. Fitzgerald to summarize the bulk
of the changes. There were two items primarily affected.
Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the bulk of the increase came
from the Division of Elections for voting cards and maps
and costs related to the new rank-choice voting system
currently being implemented.
Representative Wool asked about the two positions
transferred from Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED) to the Department of Education
and Early Development (DEED). Mr. Fitzgerald deferred to
Kelly Cunningham. Representative Edgmon answered that the
two positions with the Alaska Development team housed in
DCCED were transferred from DCCED to the Office of the
Governor. The item completed the transaction.
Representative Wool thanked Representative Edgmon. He noted
the question had arisen recently as to whether the transfer
had been completed.
2:16:15 PM
Mr. Fitzgerald reviewed the subcommittee report for the
Legislature (copy on file). He read from the report:
LEGISLATURE:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature submits the following recommended
operating budget for FY 22 to the House Finance
Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $64,921.1
Designated General Funds (DGF) $341.5
Other Funds $1,462.4
Federal Funds $00.0
Total $66,725.0
The Unrestricted General Fund difference from FY 22
Adjusted Base and to the House Subcommittee budget
recommendation is an increase of $393.7 of
Unrestricted General Funds, which is 0.6 percent above
FY 22 Adjusted Base.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 258
Permanent Part-time 288
Temporary 28
Total 574
? Approved the Legislature Budget and Audit
Committee's requested budget.
? Approved the Legislative Council's requested budget.
? Approved the Replacement of Restorative Justice Fund
with UGF (232.5 Rest Just/UGF).
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature reviewed the FY 22 budget request,
including amendments, and recommends the following
actions:
Accept the Legislature budget proposal, which includes
these highlights:
? Approved the Legislature Budget and Audit
Committee's requested budget.
? Approved the Legislative Council's requested budget.
? Approved the Replacement of Restorative Justice Fund
with UGF (232.5 Rest Just/UGF).
OTHER SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature also took the following actions:
? Denied Performance Reviews for Legislative Audit
(1,395.2 UGF).
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
? The House Finance Budget Subcommittee recommends
that House Finance Committee consider amending the
Redistricting Boards multi-year appropriation for
FY 21 through FY 22 of $2.5 million, by increasing the
appropriation by $1 million (totaling $3.5 million)
and extend until the end of FY 2023. The Subcommittee
further recommends that the action be taken in the
Language Section of House Bill 69.
? Fund Source change in Legislative Audit for
statewide single audit to replace an RSA with the
Division of Finance in the Department of
Administration ($1,000.0 Fund Source Change I/A
Receipts to UGF). This item is related to a decrement
in the Department of Administration's budget and would
ensure that Legislative Audit is fully funded without
the RSA.
Mr. Fitzgerald concluded his presentation of the
subcommittee report.
Representative Wool asked where he could find the terms of
the Beacon contract. He assumed the budget increased due to
COVID-19. Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the contract fell
under the Legislative Council's budget.
Representative Wool asked if the increase in the
Legislative Council's budget was due to Covid. Mr.
Fitzgerald responded affirmatively. He expounded that the
Legislature budget subcommittee approved Legislative
Council's request in full. Representative Edgmon added that
it was FY 21 and was related to Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act money and would not be
seen in FY 22. Co-Chair Foster noted an affirmation from
the back of the room [Ms. Kelly Cunningham, Analyst,
Legislative Finance Division]
Vice-Chair Ortiz asked where the bulk of the $393,000
increase in UGF could be found. Mr. Fitzgerald responded
that the increase was related to the approval of the
Legislative Budget and Audit's and the Legislative
Council's requested budgets.
2:20:47 PM
Representative LeBon asked for further detail on the
additional $1 million appropriation related to the Alaska
Redistricting Board budget.
Co-Chair Foster provided further detail. He indicated in
the budget subcommittee the Alaska Redistricting Board had
submitted a request for an additional $1 million because of
the National Census being slowed down. The costs covered
additional rents and other operational costs. He continued
to provide additional detail. He indicated that in the
previous census, the Alaska Redistricting Board spent $7.5
million which included money for a lawsuit. The board was
concerned with having to make an additional request. The
board was also asking that the request extend into FY 23.
The request had not been accepted by the subcommittee and
would be taken up by the full committee.
Representative LeBon thought Co-Chair Foster's response
made sense. He asked if the Alaska Redistricting Board
would need more time, as the date was extended a year on
the use of the money. Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the
because of the Covid-19 pandemic, census data had been
delayed. The Alaska Redistricting Board wanted to make sure
to have a viable map. The extension would weigh heavily on
the deadlines the board needed to meet in order to complete
its duties before the 2022 election.
Representative Edgmon indicated that the Alaska
Redistricting Board had 30 days after receipt of census
data to put together a draft plan. The board would have 90
days to put together a plan that would have an even higher
likelihood of being challenged. He reported that a
challenge was expected in state and federally because of
the U.S. Census Bureau's collection of census data. The
additional $1 million was much smaller than the $7 million
10 years prior and would be used to provide counsel to fend
off any potential litigation. It was a significantly
different litigation atmosphere than ten years prior.
Co-Chair Foster indicated the committee had concluded all
of its subcommittee reports.
HB 69 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 71 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:25:20 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| House Finance Subcommittee Closeout Reports Link.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2021 1:30:00 PM |