04/18/2002 03:25 PM House MLV
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND
VETERANS' AFFAIRS
April 18, 2002
3:25 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Chair
Representative Lisa Murkowski
Representative Joe Green
Representative Pete Kott
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Beverly Masek
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Joe Hayes
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 325
"An Act relating to civil defense and disasters; and providing
for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 325(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 324
"An Act making supplemental and other appropriations for
homeland security; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSHB 324(MLV) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 325
SHORT TITLE:TERRORISM, CIVIL DEFENSE, AND DISASTERS
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/16/02 1974 (H) FN1: ZERO(HSS)
01/16/02 1974 (H) FN2: ZERO(MVA)
01/16/02 1974 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/16/02 1974 (H) MLV, STA, HES
01/16/02 1974 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
04/16/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
04/16/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
04/18/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
BILL: HB 324
SHORT TITLE:HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
SPONSOR(S): RLS BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
01/16/02 1972 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
01/16/02 1972 (H) MLV, STA, FIN
01/16/02 1972 (H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
01/16/02 1972 (H) SPREADSHEET BY DEPT. COST
02/12/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/12/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
02/19/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/19/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
02/21/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/21/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
02/26/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/26/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
02/28/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
02/28/02 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
03/05/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/05/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
03/14/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/14/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
03/21/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/21/02 (H) -- Meeting Canceled --
03/26/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
03/26/02 (H) Heard & Held
MINUTE(MLV)
04/18/02 (H) MLV AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 124
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 02-21, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR MIKE CHENAULT called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 3:25 p.m.
Representatives Chenault, Murkowski, Green, and Kott were
present at the call to order.
HB 325-TERRORISM, CIVIL DEFENSE, AND DISASTERS
CHAIR CHENAULT announced the first order of business, HOUSE BILL
NO. 325, "An Act relating to civil defense and disasters; and
providing for an effective date." [HB 325 was sponsored by the
House Rules Standing Committee by request of the governor.]
Number 0065
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS), version 22-GH2090\C, Bannister, 4/18/02, as a
work draft. There being no objection, Version C was before the
committee.
Number 0108
CHAIR CHENAULT noted changes made [in the previous hearing] in
Section 1 and on page 2, lines 6 and 9, with regard to
pharmaceuticals and other medicines; this was to provide
consistency with regulations or at least other portions of the
bill. Also changed was page 3, line 27, which adds "with
authorized representatives of the Department of Health and
Social Services" to paragraph (12). He said he wasn't sure
whether this narrowed it quite enough, but expressed willingness
to accept Version C.
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI remarked that it certainly addressed
her concerns raised at the previous hearing.
Number 0242
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI made a motion to move CSHB 325, version
22-GH2090\C, Bannister, 4/18/02, out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
note. There being no objection, CSHB 325(MLV) was moved out of
the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
HB 324-HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Number 0317
CHAIR CHENAULT announced the final order of business, HOUSE BILL
NO. 324, "An Act making supplemental and other appropriations
for homeland security; and providing for an effective date."
[The committee had heard from numerous department personnel and
asked questions, but there had been little committee discussion
and no action to date.]
Number 0320
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS), version 22-GH2078\F, Utermohle, 4/16/02, as a
work draft.
CHAIR CHENAULT announced that [Version F] was before the
committee.
Number 0520
CHAIR CHENAULT reminded members that HB 324 had been in the
committee's possession for some time. He said a lot of good
intentions had gone into the bill; he indicated the departments
had tried to think of every [possible need]. He explained the
reasoning behind Version F, saying that no amount of money that
could be provided, either through state or federal government,
will be enough. He offered his belief that what is felt to be
reasonable can be provided, however. He added:
I had asked [unspecified] committee members to go over
the appropriations to help make a determination, what
they felt or what we felt was reasonable to this
particular appropriation. Some things were left in;
some things were taken out, ... realizing that we have
responsibilities not only to ... protect citizens in
the state of Alaska, but also any U.S. citizen that
[is] here. But we also have a responsibility to our
constituents and to Alaskans, that we try to make sure
we get the most bang for the buck.
Number 0680
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT commended Chair Chenault for a good job of
paring things down.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN said it was an excellent job.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT agreed the state doesn't have the resources
to do everything. He noted that Version F has prioritized and
leveraged federal funding to the extent possible. He said he
believes it goes a long way toward implementing many of the
recommendations outlined by the Terrorism Disaster Policy
Cabinet and forwarded with the original bill. He pointed out
that the House Finance Committee eventually would review this
and either concur or make changes.
Number 0767
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI mentioned the numerous spreadsheets
provided at the various hearings. She said it wasn't clear,
looking at Version F, what hadn't been included. She requested
that Chair Chenault provide a better sense regarding that.
CHAIR CHENAULT referred to the handout titled "Terrorism
Disaster Policy Cabinet: Cost Estimates for Highest Priority
Recommendations," dated 1-14-02; a new, highlighted copy had
been provided to members that day. He explained:
Basically, ... we went down and looked at federal
funds, and naturally the federal funds are ... the
biggest. We pretty much agreed that ... we would like
to monopolize all the federal funds we can get for
this, ... realizing that some may be matching. And,
as you know, ... there were continual changes where
[general] funds were moved to federal funds. Some
things were dropped completely out, either ... because
we didn't act in a timely enough manner ... for the
departments to be able to institute them, or they
found that ... they weren't required. You know, there
are some things in here that ... we may have to
address at a different time if they do not get the
waivers that they're asking for.
Number 0951
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI asked whether those are included.
CHAIR CHENAULT said no. He explained, "I could not justify
allocating money to a department beforehand, figuring that we
may have to try to get it back at a later time." He suggested
that can perhaps be done in a supplemental [budget] later.
CHAIR CHENAULT noted that many general fund items weren't
included or were included in the "fast-track supplemental" just
approved. He added, "There's some ... other issues in here that
in my opinion, and some of the other committee members'
opinions, did not really fit in to ... what this appropriation
is." He cited as an example [a request for] 20 new Village
Public Safety Officers (VPSOs); he questioned whether that
really was added to this [appropriation] package because of the
[terrorism attacks on September 11, 2001], considering that it
has been before the legislature previously.
CHAIR CHENAULT pointed out that there is money in there for
additional troopers, for field surveillance and analysis, and
for continuing their drills with the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) on pipeline safety issues. There also is
money for HAZMAT [hazardous materials] suits. He remarked:
Some departments were more forthcoming than other
departments were, as far as what their actual needs
were. I did kind of find that refreshing, and not to
show any favoritism, but I did let them bend my ear
considerably more than maybe others. ... There's some
parts and pieces out of this 1-14-02 recommendations
that ... kind of fell by the wayside, either on their
own or because the funding is not needed at this
particular time.
CHAIR CHENAULT again offered to discuss each dollar amount
proposed to be given to each department in Version F.
Number 1173
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said she didn't think it was necessary.
She said, however, it was helpful to look at the highlighted
copy [of the handout] regarding the federal dollars, which she
hadn't seen before or talked to the chairman about. She
referred to proposed funding for the Alaska Land Mobile Radio
(ALMR) system and remarked about the federal component.
CHAIR CHENAULT acknowledged it was confusing, saying that as the
numbers changed, projects were either deleted "or they elected
not to ask for the funding at this particular time, in this
particular appropriation." He added that [Version F] was the
best recommendation he could make at this time.
Number 1288
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT asked whether the committee would be
generating a fiscal note to reflect what the front page of
Version F indicates, a total of [$58,781,800].
CHAIR CHENAULT said yes. He also indicated he'd agreed with
other committee chairs to bring them up to speed on what the
current committee has done, and why it was decided to fund
certain items, in order to speed the process along.
Number 1520
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move CSHB 324 [version 22-
GH2078\F, Utermohle, 4/16/02] out of committee with individual
recommendations and an accompanying fiscal note that reflects
the funding levels on page 1 of the bill.
CHAIR CHENAULT, hearing no objection, announced that the bill
was moved.
Number 1560
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT brought attention to the letter of intent in
committee packets. It read [punctuation added]:
Legislative Intent
CS for HB 324(MLV)
The intent of Committee Substitute for House Bill 324,
"An Act making supplemental and other appropriations
for homeland security; and providing for an effective
date," is as follows:
It should be clear that appropriations as outlined in
the above-referenced bill be spent only in the manner
as the Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet recommended
in their report dated 1-14-02 delivered with the bill
at the time of filing.
Should it become necessary for a court of law to
determine allocations, this is the standard to which
each department should be held.
Number 1606
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI pointed out that since the initial
spreadsheet was provided, there have been instances of
discovering that there are available funds or that there is a
"waiver." She noted that the language of the letter says "spent
only in the manner" that is recommended in the report of January
14. However, there have been changes to that report regarding
where those funding sources are or whether they are even needed.
She questioned tying it to the report of that particular date.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT said he thinks that is a good point, then
added:
I think all we're saying here is that at this
particular point in time, based on this snapshot, this
is hopefully an up-to-date version. If there are
later changes in the committee process, then it'd be
up to that committee to make those changes and accept
the recommendations from the various departments. And
at that point they would, then, not adopt our letter
of intent, but may, then, move their own letter of
intent forward, if they should choose to do so.
Number 1694
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI clarified that her concern is with the
word "only". It is a specific tie-in to that list. She then
commented that letters of intent are about as good as the paper
they're written on.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN agreed they carry no legal weight.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT said he didn't think eliminating the word
"only" would do anything drastic to the letter; he also agreed
it doesn't carry any weight. He suggested the next committee
could accept it, amend it, or reject it outright. "This gives
an indication to the next committee of referral that we've done
the best we could with what we had available, and we believe
that everything's up to date," he said.
Number 1784
CHAIR CHENAULT remarked, "I believe that our intent is that they
spend the funds on the priorities and the recommendations that
they have."
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT surmised that federal funds would come with
strings attached to those various programs. He indicated it
would be general funds that could be in question, unless there
were substantial matching funds.
Number 1836
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI told members she wasn't entirely
satisfied with the legislative intent as outlined [in the
letter]. She therefore stated for the record, "We want the
expenditures and the appropriations to reflect what the
Terrorism Disaster Policy Cabinet ... had initially proposed,
recognizing that there may be changes within the funding
sources, ... whether or not that has been a priority."
Number 1872
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT made a motion to move the letter of intent
along with the bill. There being no objection, the letter of
intent was moved along with CSHB 324(MLV) out of the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
Number 1905
CHAIR CHENAULT brought attention to a citation he was
sponsoring, by request, in honor of the Alaska Air National
Guard on its 50th anniversary. [A written copy was provided to
members; all were listed as cosponsors of the citation.] He
requested members' concurrence.
REPRESENTATIVE GREEN remarked that it looks good. [No
objections or further comments were offered.]
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 3:49 p.m.
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