Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/08/2021 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB69 || HB71 | |
| Public Testimony: Offnet Sites - Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glenallen, Valdez, Wrangell, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward | |
| 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 |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 8, 2021
2:03 p.m.
2:03:32 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 2:03 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
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Janye Andreen, Alaska Public Health Association, Juneau;
Natalie Wojchik, Executive Director, Sitkans Against Family
Violence, Sitka; Sabrina Sutton, President, Kodiak Borough
Education Association, Kodiak; Jonas Lamb, President,
Alaska Library Association, Juneau; Andy Anderson, City
Council of Dillingham, Dillingham; Max Angellan, Self,
Kwethluk; Sarah Hanson-Hofstetter, Working Against Violence
for Everyone (WAVE), Petersburg; Tom Brice, University of
Alaska Fairbanks Alumni Association, Juneau; Melissa
Henshaw, Public Relations Director, City and Borough of
Sitka, Sitka; Cris Eichenlaub, Self, Wasilla; Rowena
Palomar, Executive Director, Advocates for Victims of
Violence Valdez, Valdez; Rodney Dial, Mayor, Ketchikan
Gateway Borough, Ketchikan; Bob Sivertsen, Self, Ketchikan;
Robert Purcell, KBBI Public Broadcasting, Homer; Roxanne
Murphy, Assistant City Manager, City of Valdez, Valdez;
Jennifer Canfield, Chair, KTOO Board of Directors, Juneau;
Dawson Moore, Board President, Advocates for Victims of
Domestic Violence, Valdez; Helen Clough, Self, Juneau;
Tanya Kvasnikoff, Self, Dillingham; Eryn Ruppert, Resource
Advocate, Women in Safe Homes (WISH), Ketchikan; Beverly
Richardson, Self, Petersburg; Deborah Hayden, Self,
Ketchikan; Carmen Lowry, Executive Director, Alaska Network
on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), Juneau;
Jaclyn Sallee, Self, Anchorage; Tom Abbott, Self,
Petersburg; Ghert Abbott, Self, Ketchikan; Blue Shibler,
Self, Juneau; Vikki Jo Kennedy, Self, Juneau; Joy Lyon,
Executive Director, Association for the Education of Young
Children, Juneau.
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.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: OFFNET SITES - JUNEAU, SITKA, PETERSBURG,
DELTA JUNCTION, DILLINGHAM, GLENALLEN, VALDEZ, WRANGELL,
HOMER, KETCHIKAN, KODIAK, SEWARD
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the day.
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."
2:04:15 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: OFFNET SITES - JUNEAU, SITKA,
PETERSBURG, DELTA JUNCTION, DILLINGHAM, GLENALLEN, VALDEZ,
WRANGELL, HOMER, KETCHIKAN, KODIAK, SEWARD
Co-Chair Foster indicated the committee would be hearing
public testimony from the communities of Juneau, Sitka,
Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glenallen, Valdez,
Wrangell, Home, Ketchikan, Kodiak, and Seward. He provided
general instructions for testifiers and provided the email
and call-in numbers for submitting public comments.
2:07:11 PM
JANYE ANDREEN, ALASKA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the $1.5 million
increase for public health nursing personnel. She stressed
that public health nursing in conjunction with the tribal
health system was the cornerstone of community public
health services. She advocated the importance of public
health nurse staffing on the ground. She reported that
Alaska had cut approximately $6 million from public health
nursing since 2014, which resulted in a reduction in
services and staffing. She provided statistics on the
number of programs and services that had been eliminated
due to cuts. She stressed that the number of teen
pregnancies had increased, the number of immunizations had
decreased, syphilis had dramatically increased and Alaska
current lead the country in the cases of Gonorrhea. She
spoke of temporary federal funding that had helped augment
the public health response. She reiterated her support for
additional funding for public health.
2:11:06 PM
NATALIE WOJCHIK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SITKANS AGAINST FAMILY
VIOLENCE, SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in support of
funding for domestic violence. She thanked the Department
of Public Safety (DPS) subcommittee for its work to fully
fund victims' services through the Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA). She indicated agencies
receiving funding from CDVSA had recently been notified
that Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funds had been reduced by
30 percent for FY 22. She stressed it meant there would be
a $230,000 cut, which would have a devastating impact on
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault throughout
Alaska. She reported that the organization would have to
cut its legal advocacy services in half, reduce on call
advocacy, and cut its children's programming. She had
witnessed the importance of providing refuge for victims.
She spoke about the state's high rate of domestic violence
including violence against children. She asked the
committee to consider allocating general funds to cover the
gap.
Co-Chair Foster asked Ms. Wojchik to restate the reduction
amount.
Ms. Wojchik answered that every program receiving CDVSA
funding throughout the state would receive a 30 percent cut
to victims' services. The Sitka program would be cut by
approximately $230,000.
2:14:04 PM
SABRINA SUTTON, PRESIDENT, KODIAK BOROUGH EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, KODIAK (via teleconference), urged members to
use the 2019 enrollment count for education funding for the
FY 22 budget. She provided information about the Kodiak
Borough Education Association. She was concerned that
passing a budget based on the 2020 enrollment count would
mean the schools would not have the resources needed for
all of the students going back to classrooms in 2021.
2:15:02 PM
JONAS LAMB, PRESIDENT, ALASKA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU
(via teleconference), testified in support of the Alaska
library catalogue and the Statewide Library Electronic
Doorway (SLED), two core library services benefitting all
Alaskans. He shared that during the 2020 legislative
session $635,900 had been approved by the legislature for
the items; however, the funding had been vetoed by Governor
Dunleavy. He stressed that the need for the funding
remained, driven by the past seven years of budget
reductions to library operational funding. The programs
acted as bridges across the states digital rural/urban
divide and provided equitable access to important
resources. He provided statistics about the increased usage
of library programs during the pandemic. He requested the
appropriation of $635,900 for the Alaska State Library.
Co-Chair Foster reported that the subcommittee had funded
both programs in the subcommittee process.
Vice-Chair Ortiz confirmed Co-Chair Foster was correct.
2:17:51 PM
ANDY ANDERSON, CITY COUNCIL OF DILLINGHAM, DILLINGHAM (via
teleconference), requested full funding for community
assistance, school bond debt reimbursement, the Dillingham
regional jail, the Dillingham Division of Motor Vehicles
office, and Power Cost Equalization (PCE). He reported that
Dillingham was operating in a perfect storm of a critical
loss of state, federal, and local financial support. He
detailed that the pandemic had resulted in lost revenue
from bed and sales taxes. He provided statistics about the
loss of funding and increased expenses. He asked the
committee to hold harmless the community's shared fish
taxes based on the FY 19 distribution.
Co-Chair Foster asked for verification that Mr. Anderson's
list included a request to fully fund community assistance,
school bond debt reimbursement, the Dillingham regional
jail, the Dillingham Division of Motor Vehicles office,
Power Cost Equalization (PCE), and to hold harmless the
community's shared fish taxes.
Mr. Anderson agreed. He noted he was having difficulty
hearing due to static on the phone line.
Co-Chair Foster apologized for the poor connection and
explained that the static was impacting multiple lines.
2:22:12 PM
MAX ANGELLAN, SELF, KWETHLUK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of public broadcasting. She shared that he had
volunteered his time for over 20 years to the radio station
KYUK.
[Mr. Angellan was interrupted due to the poor sound
quality].
2:23:16 PM
AT EASE
2:33:47 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster indicated there was a problem with the
phone lines. However, the committee would continue with
public testimony.
2:34:40 PM
Mr. Angellan continued with his testimony. He communicated
that he served as the chairman for Bethel Broadcasting Inc.
He reiterated his support for public broadcasting. He
stressed the importance of public broadcasting for the
region's villages. He highlighted the importance of public
broadcasting for communication during the pandemic.
2:37:36 PM
SARAH HANSON-HOFSTETTER, WORKING AGAINST VIOLENCE FOR
EVERYONE (WAVE), PETERSBURG (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for domestic violence and sexual assault
services. She indicated agencies receiving funding from
CDVSA had recently been notified that VOCA funds had been
reduced by $4.1 million and that all victims' services
should expect a cut of 30 percent to their grants for FY
22. She stressed that the cut would have a devastating
impact on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
throughout Alaska. She asked the committee to help by
finding a way to cover the gap created by the VOCA
shortfall. She underscored Alaska's high rates of sexual
assault and domestic violence.
Co-Chair Foster thanked Ms. Hanson-Hofstetter for her
testimony and added that her music was known statewide.
Ms. Hanson-Hofstetter appreciated the compliment and
thanked the committee.
2:40:10 PM
TOM BRICE, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in support
of university funding. He detailed that he had been
tracking the university funding since the late 1980s. He
thought it was important to develop a plan to stop the
bleeding in terms of cuts to the University of Alaska. He
stated that the university would generate engineers,
teachers, and healthcare professionals for the state's
future. He believed coordinated efforts to for COVID-19
relief and infrastructure dollars would help divert limited
General Fund dollars back into the classroom. He
underscored that bad weather days, like the current one,
were a good reminder of the need to maintain plow trucks
and public buildings.
2:42:07 PM
MELISSA HENSHAW, PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR, CITY AND
BOROUGH OF SITKA, SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of continued support for school bond debt
reimbursement at 70 percent, as originally agreed upon. She
detailed that the proposed budget was half the original
commitment, representing a loss to Sitka of $1.6 million.
She requested support for community assistance program that
had decreased by more than half from 2015. She relayed that
the proposed budget for Sitka's portion was $415,000. She
urged stable and predictable funding for school districts.
She reported that school spending had averaged an annual
increase of 2.57 percent over the last 10 years. She asked
for continued support for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
She thanked the committee.
2:43:40 PM
CRIS EICHENLAUB, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference),
believed the state was mismanaging its resources. He
advocated for a full statutory Permanent Fund Dividend
(PFD). He stated that the PFD went to his grandchildren's
education funds. He believed Alaska had the worst school
systems in the nation. He thought the state's fiscal
problem was a result of bloated budgets. He advocated for
the repeal of SB 26. He thought the legislature needed to
figure out which formula to use for the PFD. He did not
support the POMV formula. He remarked that the statutory
formula was based on fund earnings.
2:46:42 PM
ROWENA PALOMAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS
OF VIOLENCE VALDEZ, VALDEZ (via teleconference),
appreciated Governor Dunleavy's recognition of April as
sexual assault awareness month and for recognizing the need
for more prosecuting attorneys in the Department of Law
budget to respond to the backlog of sexual assault cases.
She thanked the DPS subcommittee for fully funding victims'
services. She indicated agencies receiving funding from
CDVSA had recently been notified that VOCA funds had been
reduced by $4.1 million and that all victims' services
should expect a cut of 30 percent to their grants for FY
22. She reported that the Valdez program would be cut by
$130,000. She provided information about the organization
in Valdez. The organization would be forced to cut services
if the cut took place. She asked the committee to help by
finding a way to cover the gap created by the VOCA
shortfall. She underscored Alaska's high rates of sexual
assault and domestic violence.
2:49:51 PM
RODNEY DIAL, MAYOR, KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH, KETCHIKAN
(via teleconference), spoke of the difficult financial
times the borough was currently experiencing. Additionally,
citizens were experiencing price increases for general
merchandise such as building supplies and shipping costs.
He remarked that cruise ships would likely not return until
2022 at the earliest, which had translated to a high
unemployment rate in the region. He stressed that the
city's tax revenues had dramatically decreased. He asked
the legislature to honor its commitment to school bond debt
reimbursement. He stated that canceling debt reimbursement
was a discriminatory action that only impacted organized
boroughs. He also asked that the legislature support
funding for the AMHS and community assistance. He asked the
legislature to avoid passing on new expenses to organized
boroughs. He recommended looking for ways to encourage
borough formation as a means to bring the state's fiscal
house in order. He requested an increased distribution of
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds given to the
state sent to areas of the state that had experienced the
greatest fiscal hit from the pandemic.
2:52:18 PM
BOB SIVERTSEN, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference),
commented that the state had been in deficit spending mode
for too long. He remarked that the state had depleted its
reserves at an alarming rate. He stressed that revenues and
expenses did not align, and he did not believe the deficit
could be fixed with cuts alone. He believed it would be
necessary to implement all broad-based taxes if a dent were
to be made in the deficit. He did not support a draw on the
earnings reserve account. He recommended addressing the
appropriate use of the Permanent Fund through the POMV. He
also suggested a POMV of 4.75 percent. He supported
significantly smaller dividends and a larger portion of the
funds directed to state spending needs. He noted the
economic impact of cruise ships being canceled in FY 21. He
reported the community had suffered a $200 million loss in
cruise passenger spending, a 60 percent increase in
unemployment and a $33 million loss to city revenues. He
stated that revenue replacement for local governments
needed to be considered. He asserted there had been a
disparity in the ARPA funds distribution. The community
needed help rather than more expenses. He thanked the
committee for its time.
2:55:02 PM
ROBERT PURCELL, KBBI PUBLIC BROADCASTING, HOMER (via
teleconference), spoke in support of public radio. He
provided information about his work background in Alaska.
He shared that in his work in emergency management he had
learned about the critical role that public radio played in
preparing for, responding to, and recovering from
disasters. He detailed that public radio covered news,
public meetings, and could provide ongoing critical
information. He reviewed several of the benefits of public
radio. He explained that public radio supported federal
agencies, and faith-based and other voluntary agencies
assisting individuals and families. He elaborated that KBBI
had a cooperative agreement for emergency communications
with the City of Homer. He underscored that public radio
was a critical resource. He thanked the committee.
2:57:08 PM
ROXANNE MURPHY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CITY OF VALDEZ,
VALDEZ (via teleconference), advocated for maintaining the
Valdez DMV office, full funding for school bond debt
reimbursement, and support for year-round AMHS operations.
Additionally, she asked the committee to deny a proposal
for the city to pay for misdemeanor prosecutions. She
thanked the committee for its work.
2:57:59 PM
JENNIFER CANFIELD, CHAIR, KTOO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, JUNEAU
(via teleconference), spoke in strong support of
approximately $1.6 million for rural public broadcasting.
She elaborated that rural radio stations provided vital
public safety alerts, potentially life-saving information.
She reported that KTOO supported the inclusion of intent
language that would direct the Public Broadcasting
Commission to allocate the funding only to the rural
stations, many of which had struggled during the pandemic
to maintain local fundraising. She explained that without
the funding request, stations may suffer further reductions
to staff and services. She stressed that the stations
should always be considered vital state infrastructure. She
added that radio worked when other communication
technologies were unavailable.
2:59:45 PM
DAWSON MOORE, BOARD PRESIDENT, ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, VALDEZ (via teleconference), thanked the
DPS subcommittee for fully funding victims' services under
CDVSA. He indicated agencies receiving funding from CDVSA
had recently been notified that VOCA funds had been reduced
by $4.1 million and that all victims' services should
expect a cut of 30 percent to their grants for FY 22. He
underscored that crime victims should not expect to bear
the brunt of the cuts. He provided information about the
organization and its services in Valdez. He asked the
committee to consider allocating state funds to cover the
gap created by the VOCA shortfall. He underscored Alaska's
high rates of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Co-Chair Foster asked about the shortfall in federal
funding. He wondered if the program had not been
reauthorized.
Mr. Moore replied that the situation had only just occurred
in recent days and he did not have any additional details.
3:02:23 PM
HELEN CLOUGH, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the AMHS. She was appalled with the lack of
funding resulting in unreliable service. She stressed that
inconsistent and unreliable service was a death nail to the
system. She shared that she was no longer able to plan
trips involving the ferry. She mentioned frequent
breakdowns and maintenance issues. She urged increased
funding, improved consistent maintenance, long-term funding
for replacement vessels, use of marine highway staff to
make repairs, and finding someway to have at least two
vessels always operating in Southeast. She was concerned
with the interruption of tourism because of the service
breakdown. She stressed that the ferry system was an
essential service.
3:04:51 PM
TANYA KVASNIKOFF, SELF, DILLINGHAM (via teleconference),
shared that she currently lived in a shelter and was a
domestic violence survivor. She did not know where she
would be without a shelter in the region. She was
gratefully receiving life-saving support. She advocated the
appropriation of state general funds to fill the gap
created by federal funding cut to VOCA.
3:05:43 PM
ERYN RUPPERT, RESOURCE ADVOCATE, WOMEN IN SAFE HOMES
(WISH), KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), thanked the DPS
subcommittee for fully funding victims' services under
CDVSA. She indicated agencies receiving funding from CDVSA
had recently been notified that VOCA funds had been reduced
by $4.1 million and that all victims' services should
expect a cut of 30 percent to their grants for FY 22. She
detailed that the cut would be approximately $320,000 for
WISH. She provided details about the organization. She
highlighted that the organization would lose its counselor,
child advocate, and legal advocate if the cuts came to
fruition. The program would not have adequate staff to
cover on call services. She asked the committee to consider
allocating state funds to cover the gap created by the VOCA
shortfall. She underscored Alaska's high rates of sexual
assault and domestic violence.
3:08:11 PM
BEVERLY RICHARDSON, SELF, PETERSBURG (via teleconference),
spoke in support of public broadcasting funding under the
Department of Administration budget for rural Alaska. She
mentioned several benefits of public radio in smaller
communities off the road system. She shared that public
radio provided up to date access to national, state, and
local news. She read a list of the programming that was
beneficial to communities and residents. She explained that
COVID-19 had been an opportunity to appreciate the
importance of public radio. There had been a one-hour show
providing updates about the pandemic.
Co-Chair Foster indicated the static on the line was likely
due to weather.
3:11:19 PM
DEBORAH HAYDEN, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), did
not support additional PFDs. She shared that her economic
development career spanned 30 years. She stressed that the
legislature should not spend any excess revenues from the
oil price increase on PFDs. She stressed that oil would not
be around forever and that world policies were gearing
towards alternative energies. She would rather have any
excess funds deposited into the principle of the fund. She
advocated putting as much money into the fund as possible
to ensure that the fund would be available in the future.
She encouraged the legislature to implement any needed
taxes to close budget gaps. She did not want to see money
taken from the ERA. She thanked the committee.
3:13:37 PM
CARMEN LOWRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT (ANDVSA), JUNEAU (via
teleconference), stressed that victims' services were
facing an abrupt cut of up to $6 million. She indicated
agencies receiving funding from CDVSA had recently been
notified that VOCA funds had been reduced and that all
victims' services should expect a cut of 30 percent to
their grants for FY 22. She shared that she had sent the
committee written testimony. She referenced all of the
victims' services programs in Anchorage. She listed how the
reductions would impact communities.
Co-Chair Foster noted that the audio connection was poor,
and he asked Ms. Lowry to call back in.
3:15:59 PM
JACLYN SALLEE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), shared
that she was the president and CEO of KNBA public radio
that served Anchorage and Mat-Su with news, culture, and a
special emphasis in serving the Alaska Native population.
She provided information about her personal background. She
spoke in support of restoring funding for public radio
stations in the amount of $1.6 million with specific
language that distributes the funding to the smaller
stations throughout the state. She provided a list of
stations that she thought deserved the funding. She spoke
of the benefits of funding public radio. Most of the rural
stations could not sustain the economic losses due to
COVID-19.
3:19:59 PM
Ms. Lowry restated her testimony. She provided information
about ANDVSA. She stressed that victims' services were
facing an abrupt and unexpected reduction in grant funds of
up to $6 million. She indicated agencies receiving funding
from CDVSA had recently been notified that VOCA funds had
been reduced and that all victims' services should expect a
cut of 30 percent to their grants for FY 22. She shared
that she had sent the committee written testimony showing
what the cuts would look like for specific agencies. She
referenced all of the victims' services programs in
Anchorage. She listed how the reductions would impact
communities. She shared that rural communities were
especially vulnerable. She supported the governor's efforts
to address domestic violence and sexual assault. She asked
members to consider allocating state general funds to fill
the gap of federal funding.
Co-Chair Foster asked what caused the abrupt federal
funding.
Ms. Lowry replied that the federal VOCA funds allocated to
each state came from crime victim funds. She explained that
crime victim funds were not taxpayer funds; the funds were
the result of fines and penalties, mostly from corporate
criminal cases. She elaborated that several years back
there was a change in the way some of the cases were
prosecuted and there became a greater leverage for
prosecutors at the federal level to decide whether they
were going to prosecute criminally or civilly. She detailed
that many of the cases had been prosecuted civilly and any
associated fines went into the general Treasury. Over the
course of several years there had been fewer criminal
convictions and fines being allocated to the VOCA fund.
3:24:30 PM
TOM ABBOTT, SELF, PETERSBURG (via teleconference), asked
for the restoration of partial to full funding for public
broadcasting. He indicated that in the past two years
public broadcasting funding had been vetoed by the
governor. He underscored that public radio in rural areas
of Alaska was vital and provided life-saving information.
He highlighted of several incidents in which the radio
stations provided critical safety information. He urged
members to provide funding for public radio.
3:28:33 PM
GHERT ABBOTT, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke
in support of full Medicaid funding. He referenced the
economic damage the town had suffered due to the pandemic.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the social safety
net for the community. He stated that any cuts to the
public healthcare budget would compound the economic and
human devastation the community had suffered. He did not
want to see any health programs cut. Additionally, he spoke
in support increased revenue via a state income tax in
order for the public healthcare system to remain secure.
3:30:29 PM
BLUE SHIBLER, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), shared
that she was an early educator. She appreciated the funding
for early education and Pre-K programs. She shared that it
had been exciting to follow multiple bills introduced in
the current year that would move towards the expansion of
Pre-K education. She reported that studies showed that
investing in Pre-K reduced the need for public spending on
remedial education, criminal justice systems, and other
social support programs. She hoped the money currently
included in the budget for early education was maintained.
Representative Rasmussen thanked Blue for calling in to
testify.
3:31:55 PM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke
in strong support of funding essential services. She noted
that the state had a Permanent Fund that was established to
cover the needs of Alaska. She advocated using the ERA
funds to provide services. She supported a reasonable state
sales tax.
3:34:21 PM
JOY LYON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION
OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUNEAU (via teleconference), spoke in
support of stable funding for Pre-K education. She listed
programs that benefited young children. She urged the
legislature to make the investment in Alaska's children.
She explained that the increase would work towards the goal
of all children reading by the third grade. She emphasized
that early education was the foundation for the future of
Alaska. She thanked the committee for its work.
Co-Chair Foster indicated the committee would continue
hearing public testimony in the following day, April 9,
2021 at 1:30 p.m.
HB 69 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 71 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
3:38:20 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 3:38 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB69 HF Public Testimony 4.8.21.pdf |
HFIN 4/8/2021 1:30:00 PM |
HB 69 |