Legislature(2007 - 2008)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/31/2008 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB260 | |
| HB330 | |
| SB221 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 260 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 330 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | SB 221 | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 31, 2008
9:09 a.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:09:07 AM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice-Chair
Senator Kim Elton
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Joe Thomas
Senator Fred Dyson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Miles Baker, Staff, Senate Finance Committee; Representative
Mike Doogan; Representative Craig Johnson
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Bryce Wrigley, Alaska Farm Bureau, Delta Junction; Janice
Chumley, Kenai Soil and Conservation District and the
University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service
SUMMARY
CSHB 260(STA)
"An Act relating to a State Officers Compensation
Commission and establishing how legislators, the
governor, the lieutenant governor, and executive
department heads shall be compensated; providing
for an effective date by repealing the effective
dates of certain sections of ch. 124, SLA 1986;
and providing for an effective date."
CSHB 260(STA) was REPORTED out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and an accompanying
previously published fiscal note from the
Department of Administration.
CSHB 330(RES)
"An Act relating to noxious weed, invasive plant
and agricultural pest management and education;
and providing for an effective date."
CSHB 330 (RES) was HEARD and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
SB 221 "An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing
for an effective date."
SB 221 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
9:09:12 AM
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 260(STA)
"An Act relating to a State Officers Compensation
Commission and establishing how legislators, the
governor, the lieutenant governor, and executive
department heads shall be compensated; providing for an
effective date by repealing the effective dates of
certain sections of ch. 124, SLA 1986; and providing
for an effective date
Co-Chair Stedman presented an overview of the three bills.
He mentioned there would be a presentation from the
subcommittee for CSHB 260, chaired by Senator Elton.
9:10:53 AM
Senator Elton presented the recommendations from the
subcommittee. He mentioned that the subcommittee consisted
of the bill's sponsor, Representative Doogan, with Senator
Olsen and Senator Dyson. Senator Elton announced that the
subcommittee made no changes.
9:11:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE DOOGAN, the bill's sponsor, presented an
overview of the bill establishing a State Offices
Commission. This bill would cover legislators, the Governor,
the Lt. Governor, and the principle department heads.
Representative Doogan noted that the commission would
consist of five members appointed by the Governor; one from
a list presented by the President of the Senate, one from a
list of the Speaker of the House, and three at-large
members. He stressed that the commission appointees can have
served in the offices that they are recommending
compensation but not within the last four years. He noted
that the commission members are charged with presenting a
report every two years to the Legislature on compensation.
Representative Doogan stressed that the Legislature can
disapprove the report within sixty days if they do not like
the recommendations and the Legislature retains the power of
appropriation.
9:13:49 AM
Co-Chair Stedman mentioned one fiscal note for $7500 for
travel and supplies for the committee. He noted that public
testimony was taken at the last meeting on this bill.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to REPORT CSHB 260(STA) out off
Committee with individual recommendations and an
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSHB 260(STA) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and an accompanying previously published
fiscal note from the Department of Administration.
AT EASE: 9:15:45 AM
RECONVENED: 9:17:07 AM
9:17:11 AM
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 330(RES)
"An Act relating to noxious weed, invasive plant and
agricultural pest management and education; and
providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE CRAIG JOHNSON, presented an overview for HB
330. He reported that the bill would create a Weed
Coordinator for the state, develop a weed plan, and create a
Weed Board. He maintained that these three requirements are
necessary to tap into federal funds which would allow Alaska
to coordinate with other states for weed eradication of
invasive species. Representative Johnson mentioned that
there have been invasive species entering into the state
with no plan to deal with this problem.
9:19:26 AM
Representative Johnson reiterated that there is no plan in
place to deal with invasive plant problems. He recounted
that as the warming trend continues in the state, invasive
species are becoming more prevalent. Representative Johnson
declared that invasive species are often deadly to the local
habitat and can cause severe economic havoc to state farms
and the economy. He revealed that Alaska is in the
preventative stage, not eradication phase. This bill would
set up the mechanism process to keep these species out of
Alaska.
9:21:47 AM
Senator Elton mentioned that under some federal programs,
fisheries are considered agriculture. He wondered if dealing
with invasive plants and animals brought in by ships would
be part of the responsibility of the new position.
9:22:32 AM
Representative Johnson reported that it is not clearly
outlined in this bill as HB 330 would act as a first step in
the process. The bill does not specifically address animal
or insect invasion species. He maintained that the new Weed
Coordinator could expand into these other areas. Senator
Elton remarked that his reading of the bill does not
prohibit it. He encouraged the Committee to look at and
focus on the maritime issues in the future.
9:24:16 AM
Co-Chair Stedman recounted that several communities in
Alaska are actively seeking both water exports.
Representative Johnson supported the movement to include the
water borne and non-indigenous plants and animals invading
Alaska but he reminded the Committee that this bill was
designed to narrow in on what is possible at this time.
9:25:11 AM
Senator Olson requested the number of states that have a
Weed Coordinator and Weed Board. He also questioned Canada's
process for dealing with this issue.
Representative Johnson reported he was not familiar with
Canada's program but that most of the western states have
this program. He explained that the agriculture in western
states has been hard hit by invasive plants and the land
where invasive species have been found has been devalued.
9:26:32 AM
Senator Dyson advised that the maritime invasive conditions
are killing off many of the natural species. He mentioned an
agreement among western states is starting to allow the
inspection in one jurisdiction to be recognized in another
jurisdiction. Senator Dyson specified his concern over the
farm fish invasion into Alaska waters, as farmed fish have
been discovered in eighty six Alaskan rivers.
9:27:46 AM
Senator Dyson reported hearing that some gardening stores in
Alaska are selling ornamental plants that are listed as
invasive species. He hoped that this commission would
produce a list of what can not be sold in Alaska. He also
questioned if federal funding would preclude being used on
noxious animals and seaborne creatures. Representative
Johnson replied he is not certain on the federal
requirements as there has not been a mechanism in place up
to this time. He recounted that some ornamental invasive
plants sold in stores were added to the list and one of the
charges of this board would be to update the list.
9:29:48 AM
Co-Chair Stedman requested Representative Johnson expand on
the potential for federal grants and the state matching
requirements. Representative Johnson responded that securing
federal grants would be part of the new weed coordinator's
position. He believed this could lead to hundreds of
thousands of dollars in federal money without state matching
funds.
Co-Chair Stedman referred to the four fiscal notes.
9:31:17 AM
Senator Elton questioned on Page 2, Section 1, line 24,
where it states that the new coordinator shall coordinate
with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service
and the Alaska Association of Conservation Board of
Directors. Senator Elton suggested the addition of
coordinating with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game who
already have an invasive species person on staff. Senator
Olson questioned if the federal grants were ongoing or only
there for a few years, ultimately requiring state funds.
9:33:00 AM
Representative Johnson revealed he was not aware how long
the federal programs would last. The weed problem is a
widely recognized problem which causes huge economic losses
in western states. He did not envision this as a problem
going away but the state legislature needs to determine if
it is worth pursuing.
9:33:47 AM
BRYCE WRIGLEY, ALASKA FARM BUREAU, DELTA JUNCTION testified
via teleconference in support of this bill. He revealed that
Alaska is in a unique position to eliminate many of the
invasive species before they become a major problem. He
stressed that Alaska has the knowledge and tools to deal
with this before it becomes a greater problem. This
legislation could bring all the agencies together to develop
a management strategy. He believed this bill would start
putting an eradication plan into place.
9:35:34 AM
JANICE CHUMLEY, KENAI SOIL AND CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
testified via teleconference, supported this bill. She
indicated noticing more invasive plants appearing throughout
the Kenai Peninsula in recent years. She reminded the
Committee that Alaska is the only state without an
overwhelming amount of invasive species and now is the time
to remain in this position.
9:37:05 AM
Representative Johnson signified that this bill is the first
step to deal with the invasive species problems and, as more
is learned, to continue to tackle more invasive plant and
animals species problems.
9:37:50 AM
CSHB 330 (RES) was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
AT EASE: 9:38:00 AM
RECONVENED: 9:59:52 AM
9:59:58 AM
SENATE BILL NO. 221
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for
an effective date."
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT Committee Substitute 25-
GS2007\K as a working document before this Committee.
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion purposes.
10:00:56 AM
MILES BAKER, STAFF, SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, remarked that
the primary difference structurally from the last committee
substitute is the addition of the remaining slow track
supplemental FY 08 items. He mentioned the addition of items
from the Governor's FY 09 capital submission and Legislative
re-appropriation requests.
Section 1, Page 2, slow track supplemental operating
items for FY 08.
Section 4, Page 6, supplemental capital items.
Section 7, Page 10-17, prior committee substitute
capital projects to enhance public safety, separating
them from the capital budget.
Section 10, Page 18-59, regular section of the FY 09
capital budget requests.
10:04:05 AM
Mr. Baker continued with:
Section 10, Page 59, Line 24, for school construction.
Department of Education section which includes a major
maintenance grant in prior bill.
Section 10, Page 61, begins the capital projects for
agencies.
Section 10, Page 84, an addition to this committee
substitute for court system appropriations. All of the
Alaska Court System FY 09 capital requests submitted by
Governor. Increased the Anchorage Campus project from
the Governor's request to $8 million, an additional $4
million.
10:06:18 AM
Mr. Baker continued with:
Section 11 and 12, Page 86-89, totals of the previous
sections.
Section 13, Page 90, no changes in this section.
Section 13, Page 94 starts the language section of the
bill. He highlighted that some of the language is part
of the governor's slow track supplemental.
Section 43, Page 103 added a transferred $55,000 from
to the Life Alaska Donor Services.
Section 44, Page 103, line 19 added the handout from
the Department of Education and Early development for
energy relief.
10:09:08 AM
Mr. Baker continued with:
Section 47, Page 104 added FY 09 operating language for
the Marine Highway for Kodiak service.
Section 48, Page 104, added two deposits to retirement
systems to pay off unfunded liabilities for the
judicial retirement and the National Guard.
Section 49, additional deposit of $400 million to the
Capital Budget Reserve.
Section 24, Page 97, subsection C-D, Line 22, deposit
of $25 million to Marine Highway stabilization system
fund.
Section 24, Line 24, subsection D, FY 08 surplus being
deposited into the Marine Highway vessel replacement
fund.
Mr. Baker stated these were the principle sectional changes.
10:12:13 AM
Mr. Baker mentioned that additions since the previous
Committee Substitute were:
The Department of Health and Social Services, for the
Pioneer Home, the Youth Center and Health center
deferred maintenance across the state.
Department of Education addition for the deferred
maintenance at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
Department of Commerce addition of the Kodiak launch
facility.
National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPRA) grant
program, Section 26, Page 98 added in the language
section how that money will be appropriated.
Department of Administration included the Palmer Office
Building.
Department of Transportation addition of the Marine
Highway vessel overhaul and deferred maintenance items.
The harbor transfer program, the Chignik Lagoon airport
repairs, the Trunk road in the Mat-Su valley and the
South Denali access road.
Department of Public Safety addition of the full amount
for deferred maintenance.
10:15:20 AM
Mr. Baker continued listing:
Department of Natural Resources addition of the state
parks sanitation and safety project, emergency repair
items, fire fighting equipment, and the last phase of
the energy inventory project.
Department of Revenue addition for the child support
services division computer upgrade project.
University addition of $15.4 million deferred statewide
for certain campuses.
10:16:59 AM
Mr. Baker revealed a total dollar amount in the new
committee substitute totals $1.782 billion for a $214
million increase over the last Committee Substitute.
Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
OBJECTION, Committee Substitute 25,GS2007\K, Kane, 3/31/08
was adopted as the working document before this Committee.
SB 221 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 AM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|