Legislature(2011 - 2012)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/03/2012 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Uniform Rule 23 Waived
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 13 WAIVE PARK FEE FOR DISABLED VETERANS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 13(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 70 ALASKA HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 70(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 83 TEACHER BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVES TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 83(EDC) Out of Committee
+= SB 86 PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS/MINORS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 86(JUD) Out of Committee
+= SCR 2 UNIFORM RULES: PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEM TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSCR 2(STA) Out of Committee
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 3, 2012                                                                                           
                         9:01 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:01:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee                                                                            
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Lesil McGuire, Vice-Chair                                                                                               
Senator Johnny Ellis                                                                                                            
Senator Dennis Egan                                                                                                             
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Joe Thomas                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hollis French, Sponsor; Kimberly Poppe-Smart,                                                                           
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health and Social                                                                            
Services; Thomas Obermeyer, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 13     WAIVE PARK FEE FOR DISABLED VETERANS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 13(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a                                                                     
          "do pass" recommendation and with previously                                                                          
         published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR).                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SB 70     ALASKA HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 70(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendation   and  with  three  new                                                                    
          fiscal  impact notes:  DHSS, DOA,  and DCCED;  and                                                                    
          one new zero fiscal note from DCCED.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB 83     TEACHER BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVES                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 83(EDC) was REPORTED out  of committee with a                                                                    
          "do pass"  recommendation and with one  new fiscal                                                                    
          impact note and one new  zero fiscal note from the                                                                    
          Department of Education and Early Development.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 86     PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS/MINORS                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 86(JUD) was REPORTED out  of committee with a                                                                    
          "do  pass" recommendation  and with  six new  zero                                                                    
          fiscal  notes:  DHSS,  DOA,  DOL,  DPS,  DOC,  and                                                                    
          Courts;  and  one  fiscal  impact  note  from  the                                                                    
          Department of Public Safety.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SCR 2     UNIFORM RULES: PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEM                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          CSSCR 2(STA) was REPORTED out  of committee with a                                                                    
          "do  pass"  recommendation  and with  a  new  zero                                                                    
          fiscal note from the  Senate Finance Committee for                                                                    
          the Legislature.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:02:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 13                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act providing for the waiver of certain fees and                                                                       
     charges in state parks for disabled veterans."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Hoffman  MOVED   to   ADOPT  proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for  SB  13, Work  Draft  27-LS0097\B  (Bullock,                                                                    
1/31/12).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for  discussion. He explained that                                                                    
at the sponsor's request the  word "resident" had been added                                                                    
on  page 3,  line  4 to  clarify that  the  fee waivers  and                                                                    
reductions would  only apply to  disabled veterans  who were                                                                    
residents of Alaska.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, Work Draft 27-LS0097\B was ADOPTED.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH, SPONSOR,  explained that the bill was                                                                    
designed to  make Alaska  parks and  recreational facilities                                                                    
more  accessible  to  disabled  veterans.  Cabins  would  be                                                                    
available to veterans  at 50 percent of the normal  fee as a                                                                    
complete  elimination   of  the  fee   presented  logistical                                                                    
difficulties.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   pointed  to  Fiscal  Note   1  from  the                                                                    
Department  of Natural  Resources that  requested a  $10,000                                                                    
general  fund  appropriation  to cover  program  costs.  The                                                                    
governor's FY  13 budget request  also included  $206,000 in                                                                    
funds; the  two funding sources would  cover the anticipated                                                                    
revenue losses.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  13(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 13(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with previously published  fiscal impact                                                                    
note: FN1 (DNR).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 70                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the Alaska Health Benefit                                                                             
     Exchange; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:04:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman relayed  that  SB 70  had previously  been                                                                    
heard twice by the Senate Finance Committee.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Hoffman  MOVED   to   ADOPT  proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for  SB  70,  Work  Draft  27-LS0286\E  (Bailey,                                                                    
2/1/12).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for  discussion. He explained that                                                                    
the effective  dates had been  updated on page 19,  lines 21                                                                    
and 23  and on page  20, line  9. He removed  his OBJECTION.                                                                    
There  being NO  further OBJECTION,  Work Draft  27-LS0286\E                                                                    
was ADOPTED.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hollis  French,  Sponsor explained  that  the  bill                                                                    
established  an exchange  or website  that  would allow  the                                                                    
115,000   uninsured  Alaskans   to  select   a  viable   and                                                                    
worthwhile  insurance policy;  it did  not impact  residents                                                                    
who had existing insurance coverage.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  directed  attention to  the  four  fiscal                                                                    
notes:   one   fiscal   note    from   the   Department   of                                                                    
Administration in the amount of  $3 million in general funds                                                                    
for bandwidth, hardware, software,  and maintenance costs; a                                                                    
fiscal note  from the Department of  Commerce, Community and                                                                    
Economic Development (DCCED) in  the amount of $1,824,700 in                                                                    
general funds  for 12  new positions,  and board  and supply                                                                    
costs  (the  note had  been  increased  by $162,600  due  to                                                                    
increased personal  service costs);  a fiscal note  from the                                                                    
Department of  Health and Social  Services in the  amount of                                                                    
$182,700 in  general funds and $182,700  in matching federal                                                                    
funds  for three  part-time analyst  positions;  and a  zero                                                                    
fiscal note from DCCED.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  70(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 70(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and  with  three new  fiscal  impact  notes:                                                                    
DHSS,  DOA, and  DCCED; and  one new  zero fiscal  note from                                                                    
DCCED.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 83                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act providing for payment and loan incentives to                                                                       
     public    school    teachers   for    national    board                                                                    
     certification."                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:07:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  communicated that the bill  had previously                                                                    
been heard once by the committee.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Joe Thomas explained the  legislation as a member of                                                                    
the Senate  Education Committee.  The bill  provided payment                                                                    
and loan  incentives to public school  teachers for national                                                                    
board certification; teachers would  receive a $1000 stipend                                                                    
and an  additional $500 for  teaching in a low  income area.                                                                    
Additionally the  bill would provide loans  to help teachers                                                                    
to afford  program tuition  and a  modest annual  stipend to                                                                    
encourage teacher improvement.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman discussed  two new  fiscal notes  from the                                                                    
Department  of Education  and  Early  Development: one  zero                                                                    
fiscal  note and  one fiscal  impact note  in the  amount of                                                                    
$116,500  in   general  funds  for  teaching   and  learning                                                                    
support.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  83(EDC)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 83(EDC) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation and with  one new fiscal impact  note and one                                                                    
new zero  fiscal note from  the Department of  Education and                                                                    
Early Development.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 86                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating to  the  protection  of property  of                                                                    
     persons under  disability and  minors; relating  to the                                                                    
     crime  of  violating   a  protective  order  concerning                                                                    
     certain  vulnerable  persons; relating  to  aggravating                                                                    
     factors at sentencing for  offenses concerning a victim                                                                    
     65  years  or  older;  relating to  the  protection  of                                                                    
     vulnerable  adults; amending  Rule 12(h),  Alaska Rules                                                                    
     of  Criminal  Procedure;  amending Rule  45(a),  Alaska                                                                    
     Rules of  Criminal Procedure; amending Rule  65, Alaska                                                                    
     Rules  of Civil  Procedure;  amending  Rule 17,  Alaska                                                                    
     Rules  of Probate  Procedure; amending  Rule 9,  Alaska                                                                    
     Rules   of  Administration;   and   providing  for   an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:09:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman shared that  the legislation had previously                                                                    
been heard by the committee.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KIMBERLY  POPPE-SMART,  DEPUTY COMMISSIONER,  DEPARTMENT  OF                                                                    
HEALTH  AND   SOCIAL  SERVICES,  explained  that   the  bill                                                                    
provided  additional  protections   to  vulnerable  Alaskans                                                                    
including,   the   opportunity   to  appoint   a   temporary                                                                    
conservator  and  ex  parte   protection  of  financial  and                                                                    
property  interests.  Additionally,  the  legislation  added                                                                    
mandated reporters  in schools and health  care settings and                                                                    
incorporated  the  definition  of "undue  influence"  as  an                                                                    
offence that could be acted upon.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman  highlighted   seven  new   fiscal  notes                                                                    
including six zero notes from  the Departments of Health and                                                                    
Social  Services (DHSS),  Administration  (DOA), Law  (DOL),                                                                    
Public Safety (DPS), Corrections  (DOC), and Courts; and one                                                                    
fiscal  impact note  from DPS  in the  amount of  $48,000 in                                                                    
general  funds to  cover  costs of  the  development of  new                                                                    
protective order forms, updates  to the Alaska Public Safety                                                                    
Information Network, and training.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  86(JUD)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 86(JUD) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  six new  zero fiscal  notes: DHSS,                                                                    
DOA, DOL, DPS,  DOC, and Courts; and one  fiscal impact note                                                                    
from the Department of Public Safety.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Proposing amendments to the Uniform Rules of the                                                                           
     Alaska State Legislature relating to the presiding                                                                         
     officer pro tempore.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:11:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman relayed that  the resolution had been heard                                                                    
previously by the committee.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
THOMAS  OBERMEYER, STAFF,  SENATOR  BETTYE DAVIS,  explained                                                                    
that the resolution would amend  the Alaska Uniform Rules to                                                                    
increase the  duties of temporary presiding  officers and to                                                                    
allow more legislators to function in leadership positions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman referenced a new  zero fiscal note from the                                                                    
Senate Finance Committee.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  report  CSSCR  2(STA)  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSCR 2(STA) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  a new  zero fiscal  note from  the                                                                    
Senate Finance Committee for the Legislature.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:13:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 AM.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                

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