Legislature(2005 - 2006)

05/09/2005 04:13 PM Senate 066

Audio Topic
04:13:26 PM Start
04:33:18 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
               24th ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                    
                        1st SESSION                                                                                             
           CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 66 & HB 67                                                                                
                        May 9, 2005                                                                                             
                         4:13 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Chair Chenault called the House  Finance Committee meeting to                                                                   
order at 4:13:26 PM.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senate:                                                                                                                         
     Senator Gary Wilken Vice-Chair                                                                                             
     Senator Lyda Green, Member                                                                                                 
     Senator Lyman Hoffman, Member                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
House:                                                                                                                          
     Representative Mike Chenault, Chair                                                                                        
     Representative Kevin Meyer, Member                                                                                         
     Representative Eric Croft, Member                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
David  Teal, Director,  Legislative  Finance Division;  Nancy                                                                   
Slagle,  Director,   Division  of  Administrative   Services,                                                                   
Department  of Transportation  and Public Facilities;  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                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 67(FIN)(brf sup maj fld)                                                                                                   
     An Act making appropriations  for the operating and loan                                                                   
     program  expenses  of  state   government,  for  certain                                                                   
     programs, and to capitalize  funds; and providing for an                                                                   
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     CSHB 66(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."                                                                                                        
and                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     SCS CSHB 67(FIN)                                                                                                           
     An Act making appropriations  for the operating and loan                                                                   
     program  expenses  of  state   government,  for  certain                                                                   
     programs,    and    to    capitalize    funds;    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."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     SCS CSHB 66(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."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     HB 66 and HB 67 were heard and HELD in Committee for                                                                       
     further consideration. Motions were taken on the                                                                           
     following departments:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Administration                                                                                                             
     Commerce and Economic Development                                                                                          
     Corrections                                                                                                                
     Education                                                                                                                  
     Labor                                                                                                                      
     Law                                                                                                                        
     Natural Resources                                                                                                          
     Revenue                                                                                                                    
     DOT&PF                                                                                                                     
     Court System                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Administration's budget:                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Item 3  House                                                                                                              
     Item 8  House minus 287.2                                                                                                  
     Item 10 House                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft  OBJECTED to Item  3. He noted  that the                                                                   
low number would be taken on Item  3 for public broadcasting.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Hoffman   also   asked   the   impact   on   public                                                                   
broadcasting.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:16:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID   TEAL,   DIRECTOR,   LEGISLATIVE   FINANCE   DIVISION,                                                                   
discussed  the Item  3. He  noted  that Representative  Holms                                                                   
argued that  public television does  not need the  support it                                                                   
once did with the addition of  other educational programs. He                                                                   
did not know the impact.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Croft spoke in  support of the higher (Senate)                                                                   
funding   level.  He   emphasized  the   quality  of   public                                                                   
broadcasting.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken WITHDREW his motion on Item 3.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:19:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman clarified the numbers on Item 8.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There  being NO OBJECTION,  Items  8 and 10  were closed  and                                                                   
Items 3 and 9 remained open.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:20:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department  of  Commerce and  Economic  Development's  budget                                                                   
Items as follows:                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Item 6    Senate                                                                                                           
     Item 10   House                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to  Rescind the  Committee's  previous                                                                   
action and reopen Item 3.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT the House plus  $15.0 for Item                                                                   
3.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken explained that  the new action would split the                                                                   
difference  between the  House  and Senate  numbers. The  net                                                                   
affect would be -$15.0 thousand.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to  Rescind the  Committee's  previous                                                                   
action and reopen  Item 7. The prior motion was  to adopt the                                                                   
Senate  numbers:  $250  Business Licenses  and  $250  general                                                                   
fund.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken  MOVED to ADOPT  new numbers for Item  7: $250                                                                   
Commercial Passenger Vessel Fund,  $250 Business Licenses and                                                                   
$250 general fund.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken  explained  that   the  Commercial  Passenger                                                                   
Vessel Environmental  Compliance Fund was set up  in 2001 and                                                                   
is paid for  by the cruise ships.  The money is set  aside in                                                                   
case of environmental  problems within Alaskan  waters. There                                                                   
is a  little over  $700 thousand in  the Fund. He  maintained                                                                   
that the Fund would not be negatively  affected by the use to                                                                   
promote cruise ship tourism in Alaska.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green emphasized that  the fund source would stay the                                                                   
same in future years.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilken MOVED to ADOPT House numbers for Item 13.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chair  Chenault observed  that  the Department  of  Commerce,                                                                   
Community and Economic Development's  budget would be closed.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:23:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Education and Early  Development's budget Items                                                                   
as follows:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 9 House minus $25.0 GF and Senate $25.0 DEED CIP                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Chair Chenault observed that the  Department of Education and                                                                   
Early Development's budget would be closed.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:25:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Labor and Workforce  Development's budget Items                                                                   
as follows:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 6    Senate                                                                                                           
     Item 7    Senate                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chair Chenault observed that Item 2 would remain open.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:25:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Law's budget Items as follows:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Item 4    Senate                                                                                                           
     Item 6    House                                                                                                            
     Item 14   House Intent                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Chair Chenault observed that Item 2 would remain open.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:26:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Natural Resources's budget Items as follows:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1    House                                                                                                            
     Item 4    House                                                                                                            
     Item 7    House                                                                                                            
     Item 8    House                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Chair Chenault observed that Item 5 would remain open.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:26:49 PM                                                                                                                    
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department of Revenue's budget Items as follows:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          Item 1    House                                                                                                       
          Item 2    House                                                                                                       
          Item 3    Senate                                                                                                      
          Item 4    Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Chair  Chenault observed  that  the Department  of  Revenue's                                                                   
budget would be closed.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:27:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department  of Transportation  and Public Facilities'  budget                                                                   
Items as follows on page 1:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 3         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 4         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 5         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 7         House -66.8                                                                                                 
     Item 8         House                                                                                                       
     Item 9         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 10        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 11        Take House minus $57.5                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:28:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman questioned  the impact  of the reduction  to                                                                   
Item 11 on Dillingham and Bethel.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
NANCY SLAGLE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION  OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT   OF   TRANSPORTATION   AND   PUBLIC   FACILITIES,                                                                   
responded  to the question.  She explained  that the  request                                                                   
would fund a full-time in Bethel  and part time in Dillingham                                                                   
for seven day extended service.  The reduction would probably                                                                   
result  in  their  not  hiring  the  part  time  position  in                                                                   
Dillingham. The intent  would be to provide as  many hours as                                                                   
possible in Bethel.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative Chenault questioned  the amount to hire a full                                                                   
time position. Ms. Slagle was  uncertain. She stated that the                                                                   
reduction would be taken in the least active airport.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was  so ordered and Items 1 - 11                                                                   
were adopted.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:31:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department  of Transportation  and Public Facilities'  budget                                                                   
Items as follows on page 2:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 12        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 13        Take House minus $95.0                                                                                      
     Item 14        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 15        Take House minus $91.25                                                                                     
     Item 16        House                                                                                                       
     Item 17        House                                                                                                       
     Item 18        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 19        Senate (both lines)                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Department  of Transportation  and Public Facilities'  budget                                                                   
Items as follows on page 3:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 21        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 22        Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  all Senate  wordage for  the                                                                   
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' budget.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Chenault  noted  that Item  20  would  remain                                                                   
open.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:33:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilken MOVED  to ADOPT  the following  Items in  the                                                                   
Alaska Court System's budget Items as follows:                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Item 4    House                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Chenault noted  that the  action taken  would                                                                   
close the Court System Budget.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 4:35 PM                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                

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