Legislature(2009 - 2010)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/06/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB161 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 161 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 6, 2009
9:03 a.m.
9:03:08 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice-Chair
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Joe Thomas
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Denise Doniello, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on
Aging; Nancy DeCherney, Executive Director, Juneau Arts &
Humanities Council; Peggy Brown, Executive Director, Alaska
Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual; Joy Lyon, Chair,
Alaska Association for Education of Young Children.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Mike Huelsman, VSA Arts of Alaska, Anchorage; Kevin Gadsey,
SILK, Ketchikan; Jamie Stacks, Superintendant, Pribilof
School District; Charlotte Fox, Executive Director, Alaska
State Council for the Arts; Nancy Nolan, Senior Policy
Director for Acting Mayor Matt Claman, Anchorage; Karla
Jutzi, Executive Director, Alaska Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired; Andi Nations, Executive Director,
Statewide Independent Living Council, Anchorage; Susan
Sullivan, Executive Director, Victims for Justice,
Anchorage; Jim Beck, Access Alaska & Independent Living,
Palmer; Sarah Scanlan, Rural Alaska Community Action Program
(RurAL CAP), Anchorage; Mitzi Barker, RurAL CAP, Chugiak);
Roger Purcell, Mayor, Houston; Dane Crowley, Superior Pellet
Fuels, Wasilla; Melinda Myers, Senior Manager, Best
Beginnings Alaska, Anchorage; Judy Cordell, Abused Women's
Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Anchorage; Luke Hopkins, Assembly
Member, Fairbanks North Star Borough; Cheryl Keepers, Early
Childhood Commission, Fairbanks; Candice Winkler, Alaska
Child Care Resource and Referral Network; Johanna Darrough,
Director, Alaska Primary Care; Carol Comeau, Superintendant,
Anchorage School District; Karen Parr, Chairman, Senior
Project, Fairbanks; Sarah Finnell, Homeless Youth Advocate,
Fairbanks Counseling and Adoption, Fairbanks; Paul Sherry,
President, Alaska E-Health Network, Fairbanks; Tom Morgan,
Director, Community Schools of Alaska.
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
The following overview was taken in log note format.
Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee
through the 26th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814.
After the 26th Legislative Session they will be available
through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
SENATE BILL NO. 161
"An Act making supplemental appropriations and capital
appropriations; amending appropriations; and providing
for an effective date."
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
9:03:13 AM Co-Chair Opened statewide public testimony.
Stedman
9:04:27 AM MIKE HUELSMAN, Encouraged acceptance of all federal
VSA ARTS OF stimulus funds for the arts. He
ALASKA, stressed that that there are over 1,168
ANCHORAGE jobs and $45 million worth of economic
activity created by arts in Anchorage.
He described the extent of the loss of
funding for arts. He referenced a
petition with over 100 signatures
supporting acceptance of stimulus funds
for the arts.
9:08:30 AM KEVIN GADSEY, Spoke in support for stimulus funds for
STATE one-time projects benefiting citizens
INDEPENDENT with disabilities.
LIVING
COUNCIL,
KETCHIKAN
9:10:54 AM JAMIE STACKS, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus
SUPERINTENDENTfunding for education. She stressed the
, PRIBILOF importance of using the funds for
SCHOOL students and to keep people employed.
DISTRICT
9:12:23 AM CHARLOTTE FOX, Encouraged acceptance of all federal
EXECUTIVE stimulus funds for the arts. She
DIRECTOR, detailed how funding would be used.
ALASKA STATE Many arts organizations have already
COUNCIL FOR experienced extensive funding cuts. She
THE ARTS emphasized the importance of the bridge
funds.
9:14:27 AM NANCY NOLAN, Urged acceptance of all stimulus funds,
SENIOR POLICY especially for education. She pointed
DIRECTOR FOR out that Anchorage has one of the
ACTING MAYOR largest school systems in the state.
MATT CLAMAN, She asked for support for energy
ANCHORAGE development. She did not think the
building code issues applied. She also
asked for support for COBRA,
unemployment, the arts, and public
safety.
9:17:41 AM KARLA JUTZI, Described the functions of the center.
EXECUTIVE She urged acceptance of funds for
DIRECTOR, people with disabilities, especially
ALASKA CENTER for the Division of Vocational
FOR THE BLIND Rehabilitation and for the council on
AND VISUALLY independent living. The majority of
IMPAIRED people with visual disabilities are
unemployed.
9:20:02 AM ANDI NATIONS, Asked the committee to accept all
EXECUTIVE stimulus funds, especially funds for
DIRECTOR, independent living and citizens with
STATEWIDE disabilities. She described the
INDEPENDENT services offered by the council of
LIVING independent living, which often helps
COUNCIL, people live at home and keep their
ANCHORAGE jobs.
9:22:16 AM AT EASE
9:23:15 AM RECONVENED
SUSAN Testified in support of accepting all
SULLIVAN, ARRA funds for public safety programs,
EXECUTIVE especially those connected with violent
DIRECTOR, crimes. She explained the increase in
VICTIMS FOR crime in times of economic difficulty.
JUSTICE, Severe decline in corporate support has
ANCHORAGE impaired the ability of the
organization to do its job.
9:25:44 AM JIM BECK, Urged acceptance of all stimulus
ACCESS ALASKA funding, especially funds for
& INDEPENDENT vocational education and for
LIVING, PALMER independent living programs. The
community has worked nationally to get
the funding in the ARRA legislation,
and they are ready to use it well. He
described plans for the funds.
9:29:52 AM SARAH SCANLAN, Described the services of RurAL CAP.
RURAL CAP, She requested acceptance of the $3.9
ANCHORAGE million community services block funds.
She stressed that the use of the funds
will enhance energy efficiency.
9:31:59 AM MITZI BARKER, Discussed the phenomenon and effects of
RURAL ALASKA foreclosure in the state. She stressed
COMMUNITY that RurAL CAP proposes to inform and
ACTION PROGRAM educate the public regarding the
(RURAL CAP), process leading towards losing a home.
CHUGIAK She encouraged acceptance of funds for
community service block grant program.
9:35:47 AM ROGER PURCELL, Supported acceptance of stimulus funds
MAYOR, HOUSTON for shovel-ready projects for the Mat-
Su, especially the public safety
building. He pointed out how dangerous
the highway near Houston is. He
described needs for road work near a
new housing project and need for a
public works building.
9:39:12 AM DANE CROWLEY, Asked for acceptance of funds related
SUPERIOR to renewable energy upgrades. He
PELLET FUELS, pointed out that Power Cost
WASILLA Equalization applies only to oil-fired
systems and does not apply to other
technologies. He stressed that the
costs for energy in rural Alaska is a
critical issue.
9:41:12 AM MELINDA MYERS, Testified in support of funding for
SENIOR early childhood programs, especially
MANAGER, BEST for professional development for early
BEGINNINGS care programs. She supported $113
ALASKA, million for public schools and the
ANCHORAGE university, funding for special needs
children, the Title 1 grant funds, and
funds for workforce training.
9:43:33 AM JUDY CORDELL, Requested that federal stimulus funds
ABUSED WOMEN'S be accepted for the Council on Domestic
AID IN CRISIS Violence and Sexual Assault and Public
(AWAIC), Safety. She described difficulties in
ANCHORAGE shelters resulting from funding cuts.
9:45:32 AM LUKE HOPKINS, Requested acceptance of all stimulus
ASSEMBLY funds, especially Department of Revenue
MEMBER, funds for weatherization and energy
FAIRBANKS conservation, and block grants. He
NORTH STAR described the importance of energy
BOROUGH projects. He supported accepting
education and social services funds.
9:48:17 AM CHERYL Supported acceptance of funds for early
KEEPERS, EARLY care and education. She stated that
CHILDHOOD access to child care makes it possible
COMMISSION, for lower income families to work while
FAIRBANKS their children are supported. Children
with good early care have a better
chance of succeeding in school.
9:51:00 AM DENISE Supported acceptance of funds for older
DONIELLO, Alaskans for services, including meals
EXECUTIVE delivered at home or served at senior
DIRECTOR, centers. She described experience with
ALASKA food services for elder Alaskans.
COMMISSION ON
AGING
9:53:50 AM NANCY Encouraged acceptance of all federal
DECHERNEY, stimulus funds for the arts. She
EXECUTIVE reported that funding will replace
DIRECTOR, funding lost for projects that are
JUNEAU ARTS & already planned. She drew attention to
HUMANITIES the fact that individual donations are
COUNCIL up significantly, indicating the
importance the public places on the
arts. She listed projects that need the
funds.
9:55:35 AM Senator Ellis Asked if the council understood the
nature of one-time stimulus funding.
Ms. DeCherney Replied that all funding for the arts
is one-time funding and that they
understood fully how to use the funds.
9:56:36 AM Senator Ellis Stressed for the record that the one-
time nature of the funding was
understood and urged other testifiers
to clarify their understanding of the
same.
9:56:52 AM PEGGY BROWN, Requested that federal stimulus funds
EXECUTIVE be accepted for the Council on Domestic
DIRECTOR, Violence and Sexual Assault and Public
ALASKA NETWORK Safety. She pointed out the connection
ON DOMESTIC between economic downturns and an
VIOLENCE & increase in domestic violence. She
SEXUAL ASSAULT stated that the network understood the
nature of the one-time funding.
9:58:58 AM JOY LYON, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus
CHAIR, ALASKA funding for education, particularly for
ASSOCIATION early childhood care and education. She
FOR EDUCATION described grants that have increased
OF YOUNG quality of early childhood programs.
CHILDREN
10:02:01 AM CANDICE Supported accepting stimulus funding of
WINKLER, early childhood education programs,
ALASKA CHILD especially the early childhood
CARE RESOURCE development block grant funds. She
AND REFERRAL stated that the network understood the
NETWORK one-time nature of the funding. She
hoped to enhance technical assistance
and training of teachers of young
people with behavioral problems.
10:04:58 AM AT EASE
10:05:14 AM RECONVENED
10:05:17 AM JOHANNA Testified in support of accepting
DARROUGH, stimulus funds for electronic health
DIRECTOR, records program. She described the
ALASKA PRIMARY increase in healthcare quality that
CARE would result from the program.
10:07:10 AM CAROL COMEAU, Urged acceptance of all stimulus money,
SUPERINTENDENTespecially for K-12 education. She
, ANCHORAGE emphasized her clear understanding of
SCHOOL the one-time nature of the stimulus
DISTRICT funding. She explained the funds would
be used for training and to redirect
Title I funds. The school district is
completely willing to be accountable
for the use of the funds.
10:08:54 AM KAREN PARR, Urged acceptance of stimulus funds for
CHAIRMAN, housing and services for seniors. She
SENIOR understood the one-time nature of the
PROJECT, funds. She suggested appointing a
FAIRBANKS watchdog to makes sure stimulus funds
are expended as intended by the
legislature.
10:11:08 AM SARAH FINNELL, Asked for stimulus funding of any sort
HOMELESS YOUTH that would help homeless youth. She
ADVOCATE, described the struggles and needs of
FAIRBANKS youth.
COUNSELING AND
ADOPTION,
FAIRBANKS
10:12:24 AM PAUL SHERRY, Urged acceptance of funds for
PRESIDENT, competitive grant funding for high-tech
ALASKA E-health information exchange and
HEALTH electronic health records. He asked for
NETWORK, clarification of the intent of Title 13
FAIRBANKS high-tech funds. He referred to SB 133.
10:16:21 AM TOM MORGAN, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus
DIRECTOR, funding for education. He discussed
COMMUNITY results from other funding for
SCHOOLS OF libraries and reading. He stated that
ALASKA non-profit agencies understand the
nature of one-time funding as a bridge
during a difficult economic time.
10:19:14 AM Co-Chair Closed public testimony.
Stedman
SB 161 was HEARD and HELD in Committee
for further consideration.
10:19:35 AM # The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 AM.
ADJOURNMENT
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