Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
05/09/2024 04:15 PM House CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB268 AND HB270
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 268 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 270 | TELECONFERENCED |
33RD ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 268 and HB 270
May 9, 2024
4:19 p.m.
4:19:36 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Stedman called the Conference Committee meeting on HB
268 and HB 270 to order at 4:19 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senate:
Senator Bert Stedman, Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
House:
Representative DeLena Johnson, Vice-Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Dan Ortiz
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT:
Alexei Painter, Director, Legislative Finance Division.
SUMMARY
HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM
HB 268 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 270 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
DEPARTMENTS:
ADMINISTRATION
COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORRECTIONS
EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
HEALTH
LAW
MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
Chair Stedman noted that the committee would address open
items in HB 268 and HB 270 based on the motion sheets
distributed to members and dated May 9th (copy on file).
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; repealing
appropriations; amending appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations and reappropriations; and
providing for an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)
"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 and
reappropriations; and providing for an effective
date."
and
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270(FIN)
"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."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270(FIN)
"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."
^DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
4:21:08 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following within the
Department of Administration (DOA):
Item 2 House minus $50 thousand UGF
Item 3 House
Item 4 Senate, Change to a Temporary Increment
for the fiscal years 25 through 27
Item 5 Senate minus $250 thousand UGF, Change
to a Temporary Increment for the fiscal
years 25 through 27
Item 6 Senate
Item 7 Senate, Change to a Temporary Increment
for the fiscal years 25 through 27
Item 8 House, both items
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed the conference-able items in the Department of
Administration's budget.
^DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY, AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
4:22:35 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED):
Item 1 House
Item 2 House minus $150 thousand UGF
Item 3 House
Item 4 Open
Item 5 Senate minus $200 thousand UGF
Item 6 House
Item 7 Senate
Item 9 House, modify to add intent
Vice-Chair Johnson read the intent language into the
record:
It is the intent of the legislature that the Alaska
Gasline Development Corporation continue to work
towards meeting the critical energy needs of Alaskans
by advancing a pipeline project proposal which would
deliver North Slope natural gas to Alaska's utilities,
businesses, and homeowners. Further, it is the intent
of the legislature that the Alaska Gasline Development
Corporation complete an independent third-party review
of a project proposal that would commercialize North
Slope gas and present that analysis to the legislature
by December 20, 2024. It is the further intent of the
legislature that if analysis shows a positive economic
value to the state, all parties would work toward
Front End Engineering and Design for Phase 1 of a
pipeline project.
Item 10 House
Item 11 Open
Item 14 Open
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed conference-able items 1 through 7, item 9 as
modified, items 10 and 11, and item 14 in the Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development budget and
left open items 4, 11, and 14.b.
^DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
4:24:43 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Corrections (DOC):
Item 6 Senate
Item 7 Senate
Item 8 Senate
Item 9 Senate
Item 10 Senate minus $1.98 million UGF on the
first line,
Senate plus $1.98 million Federal
Receipts on the second line
Item 11 Senate
Items 12-25 Open
Item 26 Senate plus $450 thousand UGF
Item 27 Senate
Item 28 Senate
Item 30 Senate
Item 31 Senate
Item 32 Senate
Co-Chair Johnson restated Item 10.
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.
4:26:11 PM
AT EASE
4:26:42 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Ortiz WITHDREW his OBJECTION.
Co-Chair Johnson re-read Item 10.
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Ortiz asked if the net effect of Item 10 was
based on the understanding that there were enough federal
receipts to cover the item, or if the funding would have to
be made up in the supplemental budget.
4:27:46 PM
ALEXEI PAINTER, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION,
explained that historically the amount of federal receipts
the state had received was just shy of $8 million, however,
the United States Marshals Service had stopped reimbursing
the state for prisoners that had a joint state and federal
hold. The Department of Corrections was working with the
federal government to try and come to a new agreement. The
Senate position had been to replace half of the federal
receipts affected by the policy change with General Funds.
The Conference Committee action ended up replacing a
quarter of the funds, so depending upon the outcome of the
negotiations, the amount could be sufficient or not. He
understood that the negotiations were ongoing.
Representative Ortiz WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action closed
conference-able items 6 through 11, items 26 through 28,
and items 30 through 32 in the Department of Corrections'
budget and left open items 12 through 25.
^DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
4:29:06 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED):
Item 1 Senate
Item 2 Senate
Item 5 Senate
Item 6 Senate
Item 7 House minus $500 thousand UGF
Item 8 House minus $500 thousand, change fund
source to UGF
Item 9 Senate minus $600 thousand UGF
Item 10 House minus $750 thousand UGF
Item 13 Senate
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Ortiz spoke to Item 6. He asked if Mr.
Painter could explain the impact of Item 6. He thought
there would be impact to the Alaska Food Bank or the Alaska
Childrens Trust.
Mr. Painter explained that Item 5 was funding, and Item 6
was associated intent language for students that currently
received reduced-price school lunches. The item would
provide additional funding to make the lunches free to the
students. The funding had been added through an amendment
in the House. He explained that by taking the Senate number
for the item the lunches would be at a reduced cost.
Representative Ortiz asked if the item made it more likely
or less likely that there would be resources available for
students to receive lunch through the program.
Mr. Painter explained that the item would affect how much
students would pay for lunches. The item did not address
the amount of federal funds going to schools but would
signify that the students would have to pay a portion of
the cost.
4:31:40 PM
AT EASE
4:31:51 PM
RECONVENED
Rep Ortiz clarified that Item 6 was an item of interest to
a member in the House. He asked if the intent of the member
was to make sure that the program was funded so that
students could receive lunch. He asked if the item impacted
the intent he described in any way.
Mr. Painter explained that if there were students that
could not afford the reduced cost, the lack of funding
would mean the student could not afford the lunch.
Representative Ortiz MAINTAINED his OBJECTION.
4:33:05 PM
AT EASE
4:34:35 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman favored a yea vote on the motion to
adopt Item 6.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Item 6.
IN FAVOR: Hoffman, Edgemon, Stedman, Johnson
OPPOSED: Olson, Ortiz
The MOTION PASSED (4/2).
Rep. Ortiz expressed concern about Item 5, which he thought
was connected to Item 6. He asked Mr. Painter to address
how the two items were connected.
Mr. Painter explained that Item 5 concerned funding to make
the lunches free for the students, and Item 6 was
associated intent language asking for reporting on how many
students were affected.
Representative Ortiz asked if even though he objected to
Item 6, the vote concerned Item 5.
Mr. Painter noted that Item 5 related to the funding.
4:36:29 PM
AT EASE
4:37:58 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED to the ADOPTION of Item 5.
Co-Chair Stedman favored a yea vote on the motion.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Item 5.
IN FAVOR: Edgemon, Hoffman, Johnson, Stedman
OPPOSED: Ortiz, Olson
The MOTION PASSED (4/2).
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This
action closed the conference-able items in the Department
of Education and Early Development's budget.
^DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
4:39:54 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Family and Community Services:
Item 5 House
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed the conference-able items in the Department of
Family and Community Services' budget.
^DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
4:40:18 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Health (DOH):
Item 3 Open
Item 5 Open
Item 7 Open
Item 10 Open
Item 11 Open
Item 12 Senate
Item 13 Open
Item 15 Senate
Item 16 Senate
Item 17 Senate
Item 18 Senate
Item 19 Senate
Item 20 Open
Item 21 Open
Item 22 Open
Item 25 Open
Item 27-32 Open
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed conference-able item 12, and items 15 19 in the
Department of Health's budget and leaves open items 3, 5,
7, 10, 11, 13, items 20 22, item 25, and items 27 through
32.
4:41:55 PM
AT EASE
4:42:05 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman clarified that under the Department of
health, open items included Items 20 through 22 rather than
Items 12 through 22.
^DEPARTMENT OF LAW
4:42:32 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Law:
Item 2 Open
Item 4 Open
Item 18 House
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed conference-able item 18 in the Department of Law's
budget and leaves open items 2 and 4.
^DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
4:43:07 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs:
Item 1 Senate
Item 2 Senate
Item 3 House, all items
Item 4 Senate
Item 5 House
Item 6 House
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closes the conference-able items in the Department of
Military and Veterans' Affairs' budget.
^DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
4:43:46 PM
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT):
Items 1 and 2 Open
Item 5 House
Items 6-10 Open
Item 13 Open
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action
closed conference-able item 5 in the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities' budget and left open
items 1, 2, items 6 through 10, and item 13.
4:44:39 PM
AT EASE
4:46:44 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson revisited the items from the Department of
Corrections. She explained that Item 12 through Item 21 and
items 24 through Item 25 remained open.
Co-Chair Stedman made note of the clarification and relayed
that the action closed conference-able items 6 through 11,
items 26 through 28, and items 30 through 32. It left open
items 12 through 21, and items 24 and 25.
4:47:35 PM
AT EASE
4:47:55 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman discussed future conference committee
action and noted that future meetings would be posted as
scheduled and noticed under the 24-hour rule.
Co-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADJOURN. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
ADJOURNMENT
4:48:38 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:48 p.m.
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