Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/22/2013 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB65 || HB66 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 65 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | HB 66 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 22, 2013
1:33 p.m.
1:33:30 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Kelly called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Anna Fairclough, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Carl Rose, Executive Director, Association of Alaska School
Boards, Juneau; Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Colin Olner, Senior Accounting Student, University of
Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks; Nick Gasca, Supervising
Attorney, Alaska Legal Services Corporation, Fairbanks;
Chris Piech, Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
Fairbanks; Eddy Hix, Self, Fairbanks; Casey Peterson,
Student, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks; Taber
Rehbaum, Artic Alliance for People, Fairbanks; Sara
Malenfant, Parent, Fairbanks; Heather Lambert, Parent,
Fairbanks; Duncan Marriott, Self, Fairbanks; Margaret
Hernandez, UAF Accounting, Fairbanks; Roger C. Berggraff,
Self, Fairbanks; Melissa D. Kelsey, Self, Fairbanks; Aldean
Kilbourn, Self, Fairbanks; Kaitlyn Morse, North Star Youth
Court, Fairbanks; Luke Hopkins, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star
Borough; Brenda Luthi, Educator, Matsu; Michelle Tarin,
Speech Pathologist, Matsu School District, Matsu; Nathan
Dunn, Alaska Addiction Rehabilitation Services, Matsu;
Lydia Lester, Infant Learning Program, Matsu; Kelly
McBride, Early Childhood Partnership, Matsu; Polly Smith,
Early Childhood Partnership, Matsu; Kevin Munson, Chief
Executive Officer, Matsu Health Services, Matsu; Adam
Naranjo, Support Staff Supervisor, Matsu Services for
Children and Adults, Matsu; Lynda Gregory, Parent,
Fairbanks; Astrid Larson, Self, Fairbanks; Jim Wanamaker,
Retired District Court Judge, Anchorage; Terri Lynn
Draeger, Student, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage; Betty Walters, Self, Kodiak; Faith Myers, Self,
Anchorage; Dorrance Collins, Mental Health Advocates,
Anchorage; Stephen Trimble, Chairman, UAA Geological
Sciences Advisory Board, Anchorage; Donna White, Self,
Anchorage; Julie Rabeau, Self, Anchorage; Kristin Ramstad,
Advocate, Parents as Teachers, Anchorage; Jaad McElroy,
Education Coordinator, Head Start and Early Head Start,
Anchorage; Melissa Pickle, Self, Anchorage; Jonathan
Teeters, Partnership Manager, Best Beginnings, Anchorage;
Sam DuBois, Self, Anchorage; Jerry Jenkins, Chief Executive
Officer, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services,
Anchorage; Jennifer Smerud, Director of Community
Relations, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services,
Anchorage; Ronald Wilson, Anchorage Alumni Group,
Anchorage; Craig Johnnie, Anchorage Alumni Group,
Anchorage; Kima Hamilton, Self, Anchorage; Doreen
Schenkenberger, Anchorage Alumni Group, Anchorage; Rachael
Gaedeke, Lead Advocate, Victims for Justice, Anchorage;
Tammy Williamson, Youth Job Center, Anchorage; Rosalie
Nadeau, CEO, Akeela House, Anchorage; Andree McLeod, Self,
Anchorage; John Crews, Board Member, Alaska Vocational and
Technical Center (AVTEC), Anchorage; Louis A. Bencardino,
Self, Seward; Andree McLeod, Self, Anchorage; Christina
Pichotta, Self, Seward; Willard Dunham, Self, Seward; Scot
Wheat, Self, Homer; Ron Long, Self, Seward; Lolita Brache,
Self, Homer; Rick Malley, Self, Homer; Kim Burrows, Self,
Homer; Hal Smith, Self, Homer; Liz Downing, Self, Homer;
Joyanna Geisler, Director, Kenai Peninsula Independent
Living Center, Centers for Independent Living, Homer
SUMMARY
CS HB 65 (FIN)
APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
CS HB 65 (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
CS HB 66 (FIN)
APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
CS HB 66 (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee
for further consideration.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 65(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs, capitalizing funds, and making
reappropriations; and providing for an effective
date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 66(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program and making a
reappropriation; and providing for an effective date."
FAIRBANKS, MATSU
1:35:04 PM
COLIN OLNER, SENIOR ACCOUNTING STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF
ALASKA FAIRBANKS, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding the University of Alaska Fairbanks
(UAF) accounting initiative. He stated that the initiative
would introduce an e-learning controllership degree program
at UAF. He stressed that the program would allow students
to obtain their education without leaving their
communities. He stressed that Alaska faced a crucial
shortage of trained accountants. He pointed out that the
demand for accountants would continue to grow as Alaska's
current accountants retire and businesses expand. He shared
that a recent national study showed that 75 percent of
accountants would retire in the following decade. He felt
that local businesses had difficulty finding trained
accountants within Alaska, so they were forced to hire
accountants outside of Alaska.
1:37:05 PM
NICK GASCA, SUPERVISING ATTORNEY, ALASKA LEGAL SERVICES
CORPORATION, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in
support of a line item in the Health and Human Services
Community Services Block Grants be increased by $200,000
for eligible essential programs in Fairbanks could be
funded, specifically Alaska Legal Services Corporation
(ALSC). He explained that ALSC provided essential human
services to low income Alaskans; and also helped the local
and state economy. He remarked that for every one dollar
invested in ALSC, five dollars of economic benefit occurred
for the client, the community, and the state.
1:37:55 PM
CHRIS PIECH, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding
for the controllership track accounting program at
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He explained that UAF
was geared toward preparing accounting to become Certified
Public Accountants, but not every accounting student would
prefer that training. He stressed that the controllership
track would provide students other options while they
pursue their accounting degrees. He pointed to the current
lack of accountants in the country and state. Within the
following decade, more than half all accountants were
expected to retire. He explained that the controllership
track was designed to be inviting and flexible for
potential students.
1:39:11 PM
EDDY HIX, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), voiced
support of the accounting controllership program at UAF. He
shared that his mother had recently sent him a job posting
from an Alaskan company that was seeking accountants that
were not Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). He stressed
that the controllership program would allow students to
obtain their education without leaving their communities.
He stressed that Alaska faced a crucial shortage of trained
accountants. He pointed out that the demand for accountants
would continue to grow as Alaska's current accountants
retire and businesses expand.
1:40:02 PM
CASEY PETERSON, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS,
FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), testified in support of the
accounting controllership program at UAF. He felt that the
program would strengthen UAF and Alaska's future.
1:40:49 PM
TABER REHBAUM, ARTIC ALLIANCE FOR PEOPLE, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), urged support of Best Beginnings, Parents
as Teachers, and early childhood education at the
governor's recommended funding levels. She requested
funding for the Health and Human Services Community Block
Grants. She also spoke in support of behavioral health
services funding. She stressed the importance of needed
behavioral health programs, because of the high rates of
suicide, domestic violence, and substance abuse. She
stressed that a robust behavioral health system was
essential to keeping the citizens of Alaska healthy and
productive; and to reduce the need for costly incarceration
or institutionalization.
1:43:01 PM
SARA MALENFANT, PARENT, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
spoke in support of Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) funding. She remarked that former
Governor Tony Knowles had adopted the No Child Left Behind
Act; which affected both the mental health of the
community, and the education system. She stressed that the
children were the future of Alaska.
1:44:24 PM
HEATHER LAMBERT, PARENT, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
urged an increase in the base student allocation (BSA). She
explained that it would be easier for districts to create
plans for upcoming year, if the class sizes were
significantly smaller. She pointed out that cutting the
number of teachers would decrease the student to teacher
ratio. She explained that her son was in a classroom of 29
children, and pointed out that teachers of such large
classes were hurting and exhausted by the end of the day.
She felt that teachers of such large classes were more like
managers rather than teachers. She stressed that kids
needed direct attention from teachers. She felt that it was
necessary to use Alaska's funds to invest in Alaska's most
valuable asset: children.
1:46:06 PM
DUNCAN MARRIOTT, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
urged support for increased funding for DEED. He felt that
the funding needed to match the rate of inflation utilities
costs in education funding, such that the funding for
actual education by teachers did not get decreased every
year. He remarked that the flat funding for education had
decreased for teachers. He stressed that Alaska valued
education, because education itself had value. He felt that
each dollar spent on students saved money as they grow
older. He shared that he had observed both small and large
sized classes, and shared that as the class sizes grow,
teachers change how they teach.
1:48:17 PM
MARGARET HERNANDEZ, UAF ACCOUNTING, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), voiced support of funding for the
Accounting Controllership Program at UAF. She pointed out
that qualified and experience accountants were in high
demand in the state, but the state was experiencing serious
shortages of qualified accountants, forcing employers to
seek out of state accounting students. She felt that
encouraging funding for this program would encourage local
employers to recruit local graduates. She felt that the
controllership track would be beneficial for students that
were interested in the accounting field, but had no plans
of obtaining a CPA license.
1:50:21 PM
ROGER C. BERGGRAFF, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
urged support for funding for the new UAF programs. He
stressed the importance of education that results in
employment in the state. He felt that mining industry, maps
training, engineering, nursing, and accounting programs
were important educational programs. He felt that young
Alaskans had the right to an education that would put them
on a track towards becoming gainfully employed in Alaska,
in industries that would enhance Alaska's economy.
Vice-Chair Fairclough shared that the Senate had included
funding for the nursing program in Bristol Bay and other
University of Alaska funds.
1:53:09 PM
MELISSA D. KELSEY, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of therapeutic courts. She shared that
she was a graduate of the therapeutic courts program, and
felt that the program enabled her to choose to breakdown
and begin to restructure her life. She was able to develop
tools, gain effective coping skills, and become accountable
for her choices and collateral consequences. The program
allowed her to co-labor and facilitate a reality check
program that spoke to second time offenders and mental
health providers in the community.
1:55:19 PM
ALDEAN KILBOURN, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding the Digital Learning
Initiative, specifically the Online will Libraries (OWL)
and Homework Help programs. She stated that she had
provided a detailed letter to the committee, outlining her
feelings about why those programs were cost effective means
for providing help for all Alaskans.
1:56:26 PM
KAITLYN MORSE, NORTH STAR YOUTH COURT, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), urged a $200,000 increase to the Health
and Human Services Community Matching Block Grants. She
shared that North Star Youth Court was one of the many
programs in her community that had benefitted from the
grant program. She stated that for every case that North
Star Youth Court and other youth court takes saved the
State $10,000 in administrative fees.
1:57:41 PM
LUKE HOPKINS, MAYOR, FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH (via
teleconference), testified in support of University of
Alaska Fairbanks funding. He specifically spoke to the
Salmon Research program and the Unmanned Arial Vehicle
(UAV) Test Program application. He suggested a moderate
increase to the Fairbanks North Star school system
operating budget, in order to sustain existing jobs in the
community. He also urged an increase of funding for Centers
for Independent Living, with a specific focus on transit
improvements.
2:00:10 PM
AT EASE
2:00:17 PM
RECONVENED
2:00:56 PM
BRENDA LUTHI, EDUCATOR, MATSU (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the Alaska Teacher Placement program. She
stated that she and her husband moved to Fairbanks in 1978
to work at the Alaska Teacher Placement to begin their
teaching careers. She had worked as a teacher for 28 years
in both rural and urban communities in Alaska, and retired.
She currently works with the Alaska Statewide Mentor
project as a teacher mentor. She explained that she had
volunteered at a job fair that was hosted by Alaska Teacher
Placement. She stressed the importance of Alaska Teacher
Placement, because it focused on recruiting quality
teachers for Alaska schools.
2:02:58 PM
MICHELLE TARIN, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST, MATSU SCHOOL DISTRICT,
MATSU (via teleconference), urged support for early
childhood education funding. She shared that she and her
mother had experience working in high quality early
education centers. She felt like some private preschools
encourage children to be submissive when expressing
emotion. She felt that a public preschool with teachers
that followed outcome driven curriculum would better
provide children for success in school and life. She felt
that the social and emotional instruction that was provided
by early childhood educators was imperative to the success
of her daughter.
2:05:19 PM
NATHAN DUNN, ALASKA ADDICTION REHABILITATION SERVICES,
MATSU (via teleconference), voiced support of behavioral
health services funding. He specifically pointed to $8.3
million reduction in that funding, and urged the committee
to reinstate those funds. He felt that the communities
would suffer without behavioral health services.
2:06:58 PM
LYDIA LESTER, INFANT LEARNING PROGRAM, MATSU (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding the early
intervention learning program and early childhood education
funding. She felt that a focus on early learning in
children would prevent problems later in life. She shared
that she had recently conversed with a parent of a two-
year-old, who expressed confidence in her son's ability to
learn in part because of early intervention learning.
2:08:36 PM
KELLY MCBRIDE, EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIP, MATSU (via
teleconference), testified in support of Best Beginnings,
Parents as Teachers, and pre-K funding. She explained that
the State pre-K program was established because of the Best
Beginnings partnership. She stated that the Matsu School
District had worked Head Start to provide preschool for
eighty children in the Matsu, who were either on the
waiting list or above the income requirements to attend
Head Start. She shared that there were currently preschools
at Trapper Creek Elementary, Shaw Elementary, and Wasilla
High Schools taught by highly qualified teachers. The
students in the preschool programs were on track to be
prepared the following fall socially and academically in
kindergarten.
Co-Chair Kelly handed the gavel to Vice-Chair Fairclough.
2:10:32 PM
POLLY SMITH, EARLY CHILDHOOD PARTNERSHIP, MATSU (via
teleconference), urged support for funding all DEED
programs. She testified in support of an increase in
funding for Best Beginnings and Parents as Teachers. She
stated that she was a trainer for parents in the Best
Beginnings partnership. She shared that 80 percent of
children that enter kindergarten with less than 4000 words
never catch up to their peers, and only 6 percent of those
students go to college. She felt that Alaska needed early
childhood education programs to support parents and
caregivers in developing opportunities for all children.
She also spoke against using state money for private
schools.
2:12:03 PM
KEVIN MUNSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MATSU HEALTH
SERVICES, MATSU (via teleconference), thanked the committee
for maintaining the governor's recommended budget for
behavioral health services funding. He encouraged a focus
on the valuable services for individuals and families in
Alaska communities. He felt that the behavioral health
programs helped people educationally and vocationally.
2:13:12 PM
ADAM NARANJO, SUPPORT STAFF SUPERVISOR, MATSU SERVICES FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS, MATSU (via teleconference), read a
letter from the Matsu resident, Allison Verbose:
I'm the mother of a 25-year-old son who experiences
autism, and who has recently received support from the
Complex Behavior Collaborative. The supports provided
by the Complex Behavior Collaborative have helped my
son decrease aggressive behaviors, remain stable in
his placement, and function successfully in his
community. Most importantly, the Complex Behavior
Collaborative has enabled my son to remain in Alaska,
receiving services in his own community, rather than
being forced to seek services outside of the state.
The ongoing support has proven immensely helpful. We
have seen excellent progress, and believe that
continued support is necessary in order to ensure that
my son continue to live a full life within his
community.
2:15:35 PM
LYNDA GREGORY, PARENT, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
testified in support of DEED funding, specifically an
increase in the BSA. She stressed that children were
Alaska's most valuable resource. She stressed that a low
teacher to student ratio was imperative to the classroom
learning environment. She felt that large class sizes
resulted in teachers dealing with crowd control, rather
than actually teaching.
2:17:10 PM
ASTRID LARSON, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),
encouraged DEED funding, specifically education funding in
Fairbanks. She shared that she has foster children, and
remarked that the impact of good teachers is remarkable.
She urged an increase of $200,000 to the Health and Human
Services Community Services Block Grants. She also voiced
support for the Fairbanks Youth Court.
2:22:22 PM
AT EASE
2:22:37 PM
RECONVENED
ANCHORAGE
Co-Chair Meyer stated that he was in the Anchorage
Legislative Information Office (LIO).
2:24:01 PM
JIM WANAMAKER, RETIRED DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding the
therapeutic courts. He felt that the program provided a
pathway for saving the State money. He explained that it
cost approximately $10,000 to put a person through the
therapeutic court program; and it cost approximately
$70,000 to incarcerate an individual that was convicted of
a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) third time offence
conviction.
2:25:21 PM
TERRI LYNN DRAEGER, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding for the engineering buildings at the
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and UAF. She felt that
the engineering buildings were needed to stay credited and
increase needed space. She pointed out that there was an
anticipation of an influx of engineering major from the
Anchorage Engineering Academy, so the labs would be
overflowing with a result in a wait list. She explained
that the funds from the previous session allowed for
groundbreaking the following session, and she didn't want
the construction to be halted.
2:26:52 PM
BETTY WALTERS, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for the Alaska Teacher Placement
program in the University of Alaska budget. She shared that
the program functions without a director, and she
volunteers for the program. She echoed Ms. Luthi's
testimony. She felt that the director should have
leadership skills; budget and finance background; knowledge
of recruitment; program management interest; and commitment
to Alaska. She felt the director could build partnerships
with school districts, universities, and state agencies
that support children in schools. She stressed that the
Alaska Teacher Placement program was the information center
for teacher applicants that were new to the profession.
Vice-Chair Fairclough explained that the Alaska Teacher
Placement Director request was a $100,000 increment in
Statewide Services.
2:30:52 PM
FAITH MYERS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged
support for funding for diversionary mental health courts,
and funding to improve the psychiatric patient grievance
procedure law (AS 47.38.47). She announced that recognition
of disabled psychiatric patients should require the state
to give all disabled psychiatric patients a special
grievance procedure. She stated that Alaska was one of the
very few states that had not set up statewide uniform
grievance procedure rules outlining due process and appeal
processes for disabled mentally ill individuals. She
remarked that most hospitals in Alaska were treating
disabled psychiatric patients using the Joint Commission
for the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations grievance
rules as their foundation.
2:32:53 PM
DORRANCE COLLINS, MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for
diversionary mental health courts, and funding to improve
the psychiatric patient grievance procedure law (AS
47.38.47). He echoed Ms. Myers' comments. He remarked that
Alaska had never set up the ground rules for an impartial
body to respond to psychiatric patient grievances, nor
provided the funding. He pointed out that, if a psychiatric
patient or guardian filed a grievance, it was the employees
of the institutions that were conducting the investigation
and supplying the resolution.
2:34:36 PM
STEPHEN TRIMBLE, CHAIRMAN, UAA GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES ADVISORY
BOARD, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged strong support
for the inclusion of the Consolidated Alaska Mining
Initiative line items in the University of Alaska budget.
He stressed that mining was a critical resource development
industry in Alaska. In order for Alaska's economy to
advance and investment in the future must be made soon. He
felt that there was no better place to invest than in the
crucible of home grown higher education at University of
Alaska. He felt that there needed to be a focus on
empowering University of Alaska graduates to seek
employment in state.
2:37:17 PM
CARL ROSE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA SCHOOL
BOARDS, JUNEAU, spoke in support of operations, programs,
and instructions funding in the DEED. He pointed out that
the Court had determined the legislature was ultimately
responsible for children and learning. He remarked that the
funding over the four years prior had affected the
operations, program, and instructional responsibility as
school districts. He pointed that there were strict state
standards for curriculum development, but if the funding
was not available to appropriately meet those standards,
the students may not be eligible for proper higher
education opportunities. He specifically urged funding for
early childhood education funding in Best Beginnings and
Parents as Teachers.
Vice-Chair Fairclough shared that the Senate Finance
Committee and the current majority caucus was looking at
education funding to examine ways to meet some of the
concerns addressed in Mr. Rose's testimony.
2:40:44 PM
DONNA WHITE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of $100,000 for Victims for Justice.
She stressed that violent crimes have a terrible impact on
the victims. She stressed that Victims for Justice provided
a wide array of services. She felt that the Department of
Corrections (DOC) may empathize with victims, but was
seldom in a position to help the victims directly. She
values the work of Victims for Justice. She explained that
Victims for Justice was a 501 C3 nonprofit agency that had
been serving the victims of violent crime in Alaska for 27
years. Victims for Justice provided a wide variety of
services to assist primary and secondary victims of crimes
to stabilize their lives after victimization.
2:43:46 PM
AT EASE
2:52:41 PM
RECONVENED
2:52:59 PM
JULIE RABEAU, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged
support of the Trauma Care Fund. She shared that trauma
accounted for 42 million emergency departments and 2
million hospital admissions across the United States. She
shared various statistics related to trauma.
3:01:37 PM
KRISTIN RAMSTAD, ADVOCATE, PARENTS AS TEACHERS, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of funding for
Parents as Teachers. She explained that Parents as Teachers
was highly effective, evidence based early childhood
education and family support program that had produced
positive outcomes in Alaska in both rural and urban
communities. She stated that Parents as Teachers currently
provided 116 children and families services in Anchorage,
Ketchikan, Seward, Tanacross, and Tok. The Parents as
Teachers program had a rigorous evaluation process that
consisted of both an internal and external evaluation. The
external evaluation was conducted by a third party, and the
results of both evaluations annually drive ongoing
continuous improvement.
3:04:20 PM
JAAD MCELROY, EDUCATION COORDINATOR, HEAD START AND EARLY
HEAD START, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), encouraged
support for Best Beginnings, Parents as Teachers, and other
Head Start programs. She stressed the importance of early
childhood education. She stated that she had several
opportunities to observe the positive impact
3:06:42 PM
Co-Chair Meyer made a joke.
3:07:05 PM
MELISSA PICKLE, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged
support of Parents as Teachers and Best Beginnings funding.
She shared that in her experience working with families
through Parents as Teachers, she worked with children who
had experienced neglect and/or abuse and had to be removed
from their homes. She announced that research had shown
that families and children who were enrolled in the Parents
as Teachers program experienced many positive benefits. She
focused on some of the impacts that the program had on
parents: Parents in the Parents as Teacher program had
increased knowledge of child development and positive child
rearing practices, and had fewer documented cases of child
abuse and neglect.
3:10:18 PM
JONATHAN TEETERS, PARTNERSHIP MANAGER, BEST BEGINNINGS,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of
funding for Best Beginnings and Parents as Teachers. He
specifically spoke about the Imagination Library program
within the Parents as Teachers program. He pointed out that
he worked with the Early Childhood Partnership, which
occurred between different communities in the state.
3:12:44 PM
SAM DUBOIS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for the therapeutic courts. He
thanked the Senate for reinstating that funding. He felt
that adjusting the funding per participant. He echoed Mr.
Wanamaker's statements. He stressed that the therapeutic
courts were incredibly effective in Alaska, because the
state had significant control over the environment that the
individuals could be released into. He reiterated the
substantial cost of incarceration, and the problem related
to releasing individuals into the community without proper
therapy.
3:14:33 PM
JERRY JENKINS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of behavioral health services funding.
He urged continued support in the conference committee. He
reiterated the points of previous testifiers related to
strategically investing. He stressed that the mental health
care providers used community tenure as the gold standard.
He shared that the Bridge Home had a 92 percent reduction
in jail time. He remarked that there needed to be a
significant focus on encouraging adults to participate in
the workforce or engage in positive activities.
3:18:11 PM
JENNIFER SMERUD, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS, ANCHORAGE
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of behavioral health
services funding. She felt that restoring funding for
behavioral health services, the state would ensure that its
most vulnerable citizens received wrap around service that
would assist them in achieving recovery and remove them
from needing to rely on other first responders or service
organizations that had a higher per incident cost.
3:19:25 PM
RONALD WILSON, ANCHORAGE ALUMNI GROUP, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of therapeutic
courts. He stated that, in 2008, he was charged with
misconduct involving a controlled substance. His case was
transferred to the therapeutic court, and he was able to
receive treatment and identify an anxiety disorder. Because
he was able to identify this issue through the therapeutic
court, he was able to rejoin with his family because of his
treatment through the therapeutic court. He remarked that
his children felt the "ripple effect" benefit of his
treatment and therapy; and also allowed for him to be
gainfully employed, tax payer, and positive member of the
community. He shared that the Anchorage Alumni Group was
formed by graduates of the therapeutic courts, and was
recognized nationally as being one of the strongest and
most active alumni groups in the country. He stated that
the Anchorage Alumni Group was currently engaged in
outreach programs and efforts with the Community of the
Victims Impact Panel for Adults for first time DUI
offenders.
3:22:53 PM
CRAIG JOHNNIE, ANCHORAGE ALUMNI GROUP, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), urged support of funding for therapeutic
courts. He shared that he had his first DUI in 1999, and
graduated to the therapeutic court in May 2011. He felt
that it was a subconscious act for him to receive his
fourth DUI, to enter into the therapeutic court at that
time. He remarked that the therapeutic court caused him to
look at his life, engage in the program, and obtain proper
accountability.
3:25:55 PM
KIMA HAMILTON, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
support of Best Beginnings funding. He stressed that the
education of a very young person was imperative to their
success as an adult. He echoed Mr. Peters' testimony. He
felt that investing in Best Beginnings would save the State
costs further along in a child's life.
3:27:53 PM
DOREEN SCHENKENBERGER, ANCHORAGE ALUMNI GROUP, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of funding for
therapeutic courts. She shared that she graduated from the
therapeutic court program in 2005. She stated that she
entered the therapeutic court in 2003 after she had
received multiple DUIs, and she has been sober since she
graduated in 2005. She shared that she came from three
generations of alcohol induced and devastation to her
family. She shared that her family had experienced
innumerable suicides and early death caused by alcohol. She
stated that many of the children in her family were failing
in school; dropping out of school; going on welfare; and
eventually cycling into the life of addiction, jail, and
ultimately death. She announced that after she became sober
in the therapeutic court, two of her siblings became sober.
She and her two siblings were the first in her family to
break the cycle of alcoholism in their family after three
or more generations.
Co-Chair Meyer stated that it was snowing in Anchorage.
3:33:03 PM
RACHAEL GAEDEKE, LEAD ADVOCATE, VICTIMS FOR JUSTICE,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of
Victims for Justice. She stressed that violent crimes have
a terrible impact on the victims. She stressed that Victims
for Justice provided a wide array of services. She felt
that the Department of Corrections (DOC) may empathize with
victims, but was seldom in a position to help the victims
directly. She values the work of Victims for Justice. She
explained that Victims for Justice was a 501 C3 nonprofit
agency that had been serving the victims of violent crime
in Alaska for 27 years. Victims for Justice provided a wide
variety of services to assist primary and secondary victims
of crimes to stabilize their lives after victimization.
3:36:13 PM
TAMMY WILLIAMSON, YOUTH JOB CENTER, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding the UAA
Area Health Education Center. She felt that the recent
budget reductions had made a significant negative impact on
the health care. She stressed that young people had shown
increased interest in health care involvement. She stressed
that the Area Health Education Centers were important to
organize the clinical rotations that gave students the
needed experience to complete their programs. She also
testified in support of the Tech Prep High Payoff High
School College Bridging line item. She stressed that high
school graduates needed to obtain training and identify a
career pathway in order to receive a living wage.
3:39:29 PM
ROSALIE NADEAU, CEO, AKEELA HOUSE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of behavioral health
services funding. She expressed concern regarding the focus
on the extreme increase in the budget for behavioral health
services funding. She remarked that there were some
expensive allocations, which made it seem like there were
tremendous increases, but most of the behavioral health
programs were funded in a fairly flat trajectory. She
shared that the specific budget for Akeela House was
$682,000 in FY 91, and in FY 13 it was $683,000.
3:45:44 PM
ANDREE MCLEOD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
wondered if she could provide her testimony to the entire
Senate Finance Committee.
3:46:19 PM
Vice-Chair Fairclough encouraged Ms. McLeod to provide her
testimony. She announced that the testimony was recorded,
so all members would have access to her statement.
Ms. McLeod expressed frustration regarding the Senate
Finance Committee attendance.
Vice-Chair Fairclough asked Ms. McLeod if she would rather
testify the following day. Ms. McLeod agreed to provide her
statement the following day.
3:48:17 PM
JOHN CREWS, BOARD MEMBER, ALASKA VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL
CENTER (AVTEC), ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for AVTEC. He stressed that the
addition of $200,000 that had been cut from the AVTEC
budget was critical to the function of AVTEC. He explained
that, over time, AVTEC had worked hard to control and cut
its cost through improvements in building, heating, and
cooling systems. He stressed that there was a constant wall
of lack of adequate funding partnered with less than
adequate buildings. He stated that $200,000 would help fund
positions that were critical to preparations.
3:51:16 PM
Vice-Chair Fairclough stated that Senator Hoffman and Co-
Chair Meyer were away from the Capitol on State business.
Senator Dunleavy and Co-Chair Kelly had committee
responsibilities outside of the room; and Senator Bishop
was meeting with his constituents. She remarked that all
testimony was recorded, and all committee members were
respectful to the public testimony.
3:52:38 PM
AT EASE
3:56:53 PM
RECONVENED
Vice-Chair Fairclough relayed that the legislative session
was ongoing and that other committees were currently
underway. She reported that Senator Olson had been in the
Senate Judiciary Committee and was currently speaking with
constituents. She relayed that Senator Hoffman was away
from the committee on state business and that Co-Chair
Meyer was in the Anchorage Legislative Information Office
(LIO) taking testimony. She furthered that Senator Bishop
was attending the Senate Resources Committee meeting, of
which both she and Senator Bishop were members. She shared
that Senator Dunleavy had just returned from a Senate
Judiciary Committee meeting.
3:58:25 PM
LOUIS A. BENCARDINO, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference),
testified in support of restoring funding to the Alaska
Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC). He related that the
AVTEC facility had been growing over the years and was one
of the best facilities of its type that he knew of. He
stated that AVTEC was responsible for its students and that
the funding would help it meet that responsibility. He
relayed that the loss in funding would shorten AVTEC's
training season by five days, leave five positions vacant,
and would result in a five percent reduction in the
training program budget. He concluded that AVTEC served
people all over the state and that he had never heard
anyone say anything bad about the facility. He hoped that
the committee would listen to the testimony because it was
important.
Vice-Chair Fairclough inquired if there was anyone in the
Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO) that still
wanted to testify. Co-Chair Meyer responded that Andree
McLeod was present to testify and that he would prefer that
she testify today.
ANDREE MCLEOD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), stated
that all of her information was at home and that she would
rather testify the following day with all the exact
information in front of her.
Vice-Chair Fairclough stated that if Ms. McLeod called the
offnet number, the committee would welcome the testimony
the following day.
4:03:51 PM
CHRISTINA PICHOTTA, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for the Parents as Teachers
program. She related that the Seward Parents as Teachers
program represented 16 families, 23 children, and 1
expectant mother. She discussed her duties as an in-home
visitor for Parents as Teachers. She related that Parents
as Teachers helped families understand early childhood
development and how the parents could assist their child in
cultivating preschool readiness skills. She pointed out
that the Parents as Teachers program focused on language,
communication, intellectual abilities, as well as social,
emotional, and physical development. She pointed out that
Seward only had one licensed private preschool. She
discussed the types of family structures that she worked
with through her capacity with Parents as Teachers. She
concluded that without state funding, the families that
Parents as Teachers served would not get the encouragement
to help the next generation of Alaskans achieve their goals
through a successful future.
4:06:31 PM
WILLARD DUNHAM, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke in
support of restoring funding to the Alaska Vocational
Technical Center (AVTEC). He stated that he had been
involved with AVTEC since its inception in 1969. He
discussed the growth at AVTEC and related that had it
received a $200,000 cut that would result in a shortened
training year, the loss of 5 positions, and a 5 percent
decrease in the training programs' budgets. He stated that
the cuts would not be helpful to the growth that AVTEC was
experiencing. He offered that the committee should assist
AVTEC in growing to provide qualified workers for state
projects. He pointed out that 90 percent to 95 percent of
AVTEC's graduates were placed in jobs around the state. He
concluded that this was not the time to reduce a program
that was as useful and needed as AVTEC.
4:09:03 PM
SCOT WHEAT, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority's recommended programs, particularly the Centers
for Independent Living and other preventative social
supports. He related that significant financial and social
savings were achieved through preventative programs. He
relayed that Alaska's rate of suicide, violence, alcoholism
were too high and had serious financial consequences. He
urged for the continued support of positive, preventative
programs that resulted in savings in the long-term.
4:10:35 PM
RON LONG, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke in
support of restoring funding to the Alaska Vocational
Technical Center (AVTEC). He related that he had been a
tugboat captain and an AVTEC student and that AVTEC meant a
great deal to industry in Alaska. He discussed the drilling
rig "Noble Discovery" and its trip on a semi-submersible
vessel to Asia; he related that the rig had been welded
down by AVTEC graduates. He stated that the prior day,
there had been a meeting at AVTEC between students,
industry representatives, the Prince William Sound Regional
Citizens' Advisory Council, and others regarding potential
improvements to AVTEC's programs that would use the
existing infrastructures to incorporate ice training and
other modules within the marine programs to further AVTEC's
goals of pursuing infrastructure and development in the
coastal areas of the state. He urged that the $200,000 in
funding needed to be restored.
4:12:32 PM
LOLITA BRACHE, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of restoring funding to the Parents as Teachers
program, Best Beginnings, the Alaska Vocational Technical
Center (AVTEC), and adult education in general. She stated
that an "ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure."
She related that when parents had skills to take care of
their children, it went a long way towards preventing child
neglect and abuse. She offered that some adverse childhood
experiences caused long-term problems. She reiterated the
importance of prevention and offered that without
prevention support for Alaska's families, the state would
end up with children who had difficulties in school and
parents who did not know how to advocate for their
children. She stated that she helped people get their GEDs
and that the individuals in her GED program came from
dysfunctional families, had unnoticed learning
disabilities, and did not have anyone advocating for them
to stay in school. She urged the importance of building
strong families in Alaska.
4:15:52 PM
RICK MALLEY, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding for the Centers for Independent Living.
He related that the Centers for Independent Living were
consumer directed, which meant that elders and people with
disabilities chose what assistance they needed in order to
stay in their homes and communities. He shared that the
state saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in long-term
care services costs when someone was enabled to stay in
their own home. He related that the Kenai Peninsula
Independent Living Center had 11 staff that served over 657
consumers in a service area that covered the entire Kenai
Peninsula, including outreach in Kodiak, Cordova, Valdez,
and Glennallen. He concluded that the funding would enable
the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living Center to continue
serving the populations that it currently served. He hoped
the funding for the Centers for Independent Living would
remain intact through the Conference Committee Process.
4:17:16 PM
KIM BURROWS, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the increment for Centers for Independent Living
and advocated for the restoration of funding to the Alaska
Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC). She related that
keeping the disabled and elderly in their communities saved
the state hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. She
believed that resources should not be cut from AVTEC
because it served the needs of Alaskans from all walks of
life. She thanked the Senate Finance Committee members who
stayed to hear the public testimony.
4:18:16 PM
HAL SMITH, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), expressed
appreciation for the restoration of funding for the Trauma
Care Fund and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority's
recommended programs. He shared that he had been practicing
emergency medicine in Alaska for over 35 years and that he
had witnessed the improvements in trauma care over that
time. He discussed the rigorous process through which South
Peninsula Hospital had been designated as a Level 4 trauma
facility. He offered that as a result of the new the
designation, the hospital had been the recipients of
funding that allowed it to improve its trauma preparedness
and delivery of trauma care. He stated that the trauma fund
had been instrumental in standardizing trauma care around
the state and hoped that the restoration of the funding
would prevail through the Conference Committee process; he
felt that it would be shortsighted to eliminate the
funding.
4:20:00 PM
LIZ DOWNING, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), expressed
appreciation for the restoration of funding for education
related items and particularly testified in support of
funding for the University of Alaska, the Digital Learning
Initiative, the Alaska Learning Network, and the Tudor.com
program. She stated that she served a role with the Kenai
Peninsula College (KPC) in education technology and shared
that KPC had done a tremendous job in creating
opportunities through distance education and technology.
She offered that the Digital Learning Initiative, the
Alaska Learning Network, and the Tudor.com program were
critical for the success of the state's students. She
pointed out that Alaska had the ability, resources, and
talent to create the best education system in the country.
She stated that the Association of Alaska School Boards had
brought 21st Century technology to Alaska through the
Digital Learning Initiative. She relayed the advantage of
using technology in education and particularly discussed
how the use of IPads enhanced learning "far beyond" the use
of traditional text books. She concluded that investing
heavily in education would pay dividends to the economy and
the social wellness of the state in the short-term and the
long-term.
4:23:19 PM
JOYANNA GEISLER, DIRECTOR, KENAI PENINSULA INDEPENDENT
LIVING CENTER, CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING, HOMER (via
teleconference), expressed appreciation for the restoration
of funding for the Centers for Independent Living. She
related that there were four Centers for Independent Living
in Alaska that provided assistance to over 4,000 Alaskans
with disabilities. She stated that the centers provided
services to people of all ages and disabilities in order to
help people remain in their homes and stay independent. She
shared that the Centers for Independent Living had received
an increment for $200,000 the prior year, but pointed out
that the funding had been for a statewide provision. She
thanked the committee for the $100,000 increment in FY14.
She offered that the Kenai Peninsula Independent Living
Center had a large service area and provided adequate
services to 32 communities on the Kenai Peninsula; however,
the 18 communities in Valdez and Cordova areas would
benefit from the $100,000 increment if it was left in the
budget.
4:25:33 PM
AT EASE
4:31:02 PM
RECONVENED
4:31:27 PM
Co-Chair Kelly related that written testimony was archived
and was accessible to the committee's members. He discussed
the following meeting's agenda.
4:32:02 PM
CS HB 65 (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CS HB 66 (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
4:32:05 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:32 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 65-66 Public Testimony 032213.pdf |
SFIN 3/22/2013 1:30:00 PM |
HB 65 |