Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/16/2016 04:00 PM Joint CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB256 AND HB257
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| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| HB 256 | |||
| HB 257 | |||
| += | HB 256 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 257 | TELECONFERENCED | |
29TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 256 and HB 257
April 16, 2016
4:20 p.m.
4:20:47 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Kelly called the Conference Committee meeting on HB
256 and HB 257 to order at 4:20 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senate:
Senator Pete Kelly, Chair
Senator Anna MacKinnon
Senator Lyman Hoffman
House:
Representative Mark Neuman, Vice-Chair
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Les Gara
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT:
David Teal, 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 256 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 256 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 257 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 257 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
DEPARTMENTS
Health and Social Services
Natural Resources
Revenue
Statewide Retirement Payments
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 256(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; repealing appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 256(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; repealing appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
and
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 257(FIN)
"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."
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 257(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."
4:20:47 PM
Chair Kelly communicated that the conference committee
would be meeting on HB 256 and HB 257 open items. He noted
that Limited Powers of Free Conference had been granted by
both the Senate and the House. Departments with open items
would be taken up based on the motion sheets distributed to
members earlier in the day and dated April 16, 2016.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation
on the following items for the Department of Health and
Social Services budget:
Item 1 Senate
Item 2 Senate for both motions
Item 3 House for both motions
Item 4 House
Item 5 House
Item 6 House
Item 7 Senate for both motions
Item 8 Senate
Item 9 Senate plus $1 million 39 thousand
Item 10 House
Item 11 Senate
Item 12 House
Chair Kelly requested a slower reading of the motions.
Item 13 Senate for both motions
Item 14 Senate
Item 15 Senate
Item 16 Senate
Item 17 Senate for both motions
Item 18 Senate
Item 19 Senate plus $112.5 thousand
Item 20 Senate
Item 21 Senate
Item 22 House for both motions
Item 23 Senate
Item 24 Senate for both motions
Item 25 House for both motions
Item 26 Senate for both motions
Item 27 Senate
Item 28 House
Item 29 House
4:24:38 PM
Representative Gara OBJECTED to Item 2. He noted that the
Item was a $2.3 million cut to the Office of Children's
Services (OCS) in the foster care base rate allocation. He
understood that there was an intention that OCS would
attempt to leverage that money in federal money, but he
supported the House's request. He stressed that there was
450 more youth in the foster care system than the previous
year, which was almost a 20 percent increase. He remarked
that the youth were already experiencing "institutional
neglect", by moving between different homes with an
unfamiliar social worker at each move. He stressed that the
goal of the foster care system should be to get the youth
into a permanent home. He felt that maintaining the $2
million could help the department to get children out of
the system, without hiring new workers. He felt that
holding the item, would help further discussion on the
issue.
Vice-Chair Neuman recalled that there had been a recent
increase in the foster care base rate, and other funding on
foster care. He disagreed with holding the item.
Chair Kelly agreed that there should be a vote on the item.
Representative Gara complimented the committee in the
previous legislative session.
4:28:44 PM
Representative Gara OBJECTED to Item 9, which was a $2.1
million cut to child care help for low income people to
seek employment. He worried that additional cuts would keep
families from getting work.
Representative Gara OBJECTED to Items 18, Item 19, and Item
20. He expressed concern over cuts that help those people
with disabilities that may need homes or assistance. He
hoped that the committee would work to find a better
solution.
Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTIONS to Item 9, Item
18, Item 19, and Item 20.
Representative Gara MAINTAINED his OBJECTION to Item 2.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: MacKinnon, Thompson, Hoffman, Kelly, Neuman
OPPOSED: Gara
The MOTION PASSED (5/1). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Item 2 was ADOPTED.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action
closed all conferencable items in the budget for the
Department of Health and Social Services.
4:31:47 PM
AT EASE
4:32:51 PM
RECONVENED
4:33:07 PM
AT EASE
4:33:29 PM
RECONVENED
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation
on the following items for the Department of Natural
Resources budget:
Item 1 House
Item 2 House
Item 3 Senate
Item 4 Senate
Item 5 Hold
Item 6 Senate
Item 7 Senate
Item 8 Senate
Item 9 Senate
Item 10 Senate
Item 11 Senate
Item 12 Senate for both motions
Item 13 Senate
4:34:26 PM
Representative Gara OBJECTED to Item 3. He remarked that
the House had cut $273,000 from the Citizens Advisory
Commission on Federal Areas, and he supported that
reduction. He felt that the commission was a "luxury
committee." He remarked that the commission was intended to
counter federal regulations, but felt that legislature
already challenged the federal regulations and actions.
Representative Gara MAINTAINED his OBJECTION to Item 3.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Thompson, Hoffman, Kelly, Neuman, MacKinnon
OPPOSED: Gara
The MOTION PASSED (5/1). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Item 3 was ADOPTED.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Item 5
remained open in the Department of Natural Resources
budget.
4:36:04 PM
AT EASE
4:36:56 PM
RECONVENED
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation
on the following items for the Department of Revenue
budget:
Item 1 Senate
Item 2 Hold
Item 3 Hold
Item 4 Hold
Item 5 Hold
Item 6 Senate
Item 7 Senate plus $600 thousand
Item 8 Senate
Item 9 Senate plus $136 thousand
Item 10 Senate plus $100 thousand
Item 11 Senate
Item 12 Senate
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Items 2, 3, 4
and 5 remained open for the Department of Revenue's budget.
4:38:34 PM
STATE RETIREMENT PAYMENTS
Vice-Chair Neuman MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation
on the following items for the State Retirement Payments:
Item 1 Senate - replace $64,448,500 of Unrestricted
General Funds with Alaska Higher Education Funds
Item 2 Senate for both items- replace $25,377,000
of Unrestricted General Funds with Alaska Higher
Education Funds
Item 3 Senate for both items
4:39:10 PM
Representative Gara OBJECTED to the motions. He felt that
funding the payments would be easier with general funds,
rather than Higher Education Funds. He surmised that Item 1
was with $64 million of Higher Education Funds, and Item 2
was with $25 million of Higher Education Funds. Chair Kelly
replied in the affirmative.
Chair Kelly explained that there was savings in the new
numbers of Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and
the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). He stressed that the
savings could not be incorporated into the budget, because
it must be paid according to the rules that related to what
year the savings show up in the unfunded liability. The
legislature could not incorporate the actual savings into
the budget. He stressed that the Higher Education Fund
would be used, but did not need to be paid from general
fund.
Mr. Teal agreed.
Chair Kelly stressed that there was savings in PERS and
TRS. The savings were actual year to year reductions, but
the legislature must pay the higher amount, under the
statutory rules.
Representative Gara wondered if the Higher Education Funds
would be considered designated general funds (DGF) Mr. Teal
replied in the affirmative.
Representative Gara felt that funding should be through
UGF, so there could be a more transparent comparison of
spending. He did not feel that there was any "short
funding" to the retirement system.
Chair Kelly stressed that using UGF could not claim
savings.
Representative Gara expressed concern about using a large
amount of a fund that was dedicated to scholarships for
higher education.
Representative Gara WITHDREW the OBJECTIONS.
Chair Kelly explained that the grants would not be
interrupted by use of the funds.
Representative Gara stated he had no more objections.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action
closed all conferencable items in the budget for the State
Retirement Payments.
Chair Kelly relayed that the next meeting would be held on
Sunday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m.
HB 256 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 257 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
4:44:57 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:44 p.m.
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