Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

05/10/2024 05:00 PM House CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB268 AND HB270

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Audio Topic
05:01:43 PM Start
05:17:55 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
               33RD ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                    
                      SECOND SESSION                                                                                            
          CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB268 and  HB270                                                                              
                       May 10, 2024                                                                                             
                         5:01 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:01:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Chair Stedman called the Conference Committee meeting on                                                                        
HB268 and  HB270 to order at 5:01 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;                                                                    
fiscal  analysts with  the Office  of Management  and Budget                                                                    
and  Legislative Finance  Division; and  aides to  committee                                                                    
members and other members of the Legislature.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
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:                                                                                                                    
     CORRECTIONS                                                                                                                
     HEALTH                                                                                                                     
     LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT                                                                                            
     LAW                                                                                                                        
     PUBLIC SAFETY                                                                                                              
     TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                                       
     UNIVERSITY                                                                                                                 
     JUDICIARY                                                                                                                  
     FUND CAPITALIZATION                                                                                                        
     FUND TRANSFERS                                                                                                             
     FY24 SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
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 CORRECTIONS                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:02:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Corrections (DOC):                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Items 12 - 21  House                                                                                                       
     Item 24        House                                                                                                       
     Item 25        House                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to REOPEN  Item 4 in the Department                                                                    
of Corrections (DOC).                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson MOVED  that  the  Committee replace  the                                                                    
previously  adopted  intent  language  in Item  4  with  the                                                                    
following:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     It  is   the  intent   of  the  legislature   that  the                                                                    
     Department  report  to  the Co-chairs  of  the  finance                                                                    
     committees and  the Legislative  Finance Division  on a                                                                    
     monthly  basis  by  institution  the  amount  spent  on                                                                    
     overtime and other premium pay,  the number of overtime                                                                    
     hours,  and  the  vacancy   rate.  This  report  should                                                                    
     include the  Department's plan  to complete  the fiscal                                                                    
     year  without  the  need   for  a  supplemental  budget                                                                    
     request.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  the  conference-able  items  in  the  Department  of                                                                    
Corrections' budget.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:04:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Health (DOH):                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 3         Senate, both items                                                                                          
     Item 5         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 7         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 10        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 11        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 13        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 20        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 21        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 22        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 25        Open                                                                                                        
     Items 27-32    Open                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed conference-able item 3  in the Department of Health's                                                                    
budget  and left  open  items 5,  7, 10,  11,  13, items  20                                                                    
through 22, item 25, and items 27 through 32.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF LABOR and WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:05:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department  of  Labor  and  Workforce  Development's  (DLWD)                                                                    
budget:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed the  conference-able in the  Department of  Labor and                                                                    
Workforce Development's budget.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF LAW                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:05:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Law's budget:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 4         Open                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  conference-able item  2 in  the Department  of Law's                                                                    
budget and left open item 4.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:06:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED  to ADOPT the following  in the the                                                                    
Department of Public Safety's (DPS) budget:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 3         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 4         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 6         Senate, both items                                                                                          
     Item 7         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 8         House                                                                                                       
     Item 9         House                                                                                                       
     Item 10        House, plus $209.1 thousand UGF                                                                             
     Item 11        House                                                                                                       
     Item 12        House                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:07:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED to Item 8.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:07:29 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:08:26 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:08:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED to Items 6, 7, and 8.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:08:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter explained  that Item 8 was  a new administrative                                                                    
assistant  position,  which  was  in  the  Victims  Services                                                                    
position. He  stated that Items  6 and  7 were linked  to an                                                                    
item in  DOH, and a  Fund Civilization item. He  stated that                                                                    
there  were  Restorative  Justice   funds,  which  had  been                                                                    
changed to 12  percent. He stated that the  difference was 2                                                                    
percent going  to Restorative Justice,  and the  fund change                                                                    
in Item 6  was related to Item 7. He  stated that the Senate                                                                    
Item provided more funds for victim's services.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz REMOVED his OBJECTION.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO further OBJECTION,  it was so  ordered. This                                                                    
action closed  the conference-able  items in  the Department                                                                    
of Public Safety's budget.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION and PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:11:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department   of   Transportation  and   Public   Facilities'                                                                    
(DOT/PF) budget:                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 2         House                                                                                                       
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 7         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 8         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 9         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 10        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 13        Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  the  conference-able  items  in  the  Department  of                                                                    
Transportation and Public Facilities' budget.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:11:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
University of Alaska's budget:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Item 2         House, both items                                                                                           
     Item 3         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 4         House, both items                                                                                           
          Modify to reduce UGF by $400 thousand and reduce                                                                      
          positions by 3                                                                                                        
     Item 5         House, with modified fund sources as                                                                        
     follows:                                                                                                                   
          $5.4 million UGF                                                                                                      
          $12.5 million Higher Education Fund                                                                                   
          $2.1 million University Receipts                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:12:33 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:13:02 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being NO  OBJECTION, it was so  ordered. University of                                                                    
Alaska's budget.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
^JUDICIARY                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:13:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Judiciary's budget:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         House                                                                                                       
     Item 2         Senate minus $15.4 thousand UGF                                                                             
     Item 3         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 5         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed the conference-able items in the Judiciary's budget.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
^FUND CAPITALIZATION                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:13:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT  the following in the Fund                                                                    
Capitalization:                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Items 1-4      Open                                                                                                        
     Item 7         Senate, both items                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed conference-able  items 7  in Fund  Capitalization and                                                                    
left open items 1 through 4.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
^FUND TRANSFERS                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:14:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT  the following in the Fund                                                                    
Transfers:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:14:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz OBJECTED  to Item  2, and  queried the                                                                    
impact of the Item.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:15:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter replied that that  it put general funds into the                                                                    
fund  that required  further appropriation.  He stated  that                                                                    
the Senate item did not have an impact on the budget.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz REMOVED his OBJECTION.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO further OBJECTION,  it was so  ordered. This                                                                    
action closed  conference-able item 2 in  Fund Transfers and                                                                    
left open item 1.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
^FY 24 SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING ITEMS                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:16:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson MOVED  to ADOPT  the  following in  FY24                                                                    
Supplemental Operating Items:                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 8         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 12        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 15        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 16        Open                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  conference-able item  12  in  the FY24  Supplemental                                                                    
Operating Items and left open items 1, 8, 15 and 16.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Chair  Stedman stated  that there  would me  another meeting                                                                    
scheduled in the upcoming weekend.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson   MOVED  to  ADJOURN.  There   being  NO                                                                    
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
5:17:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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