Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/23/2013 10:00 AM 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 | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 23, 2013
10:05 a.m.
10:05:08 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Kelly called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 10:05 a.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
Senator Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
ALSO PRESENT
Sandy Parnell, First Lady, Juneau; Rhoda Walker, Self,
Juneau; Sharron Lobaugh, Self, Juneau; Marsha Bennett,
Member, National Alliance of Mental Illness, Juneau; Sam
Trivette, Self, Juneau; Barbara Thurston, Member, Juneau
School Board, Juneau; Sue Hull, Member, Association of
Alaska School Boards, Fairbanks; Andi Story, Member, Juneau
School Board, Juneau; Joy Lyon, Executive Director, Juneau
Best Beginnings and Juneau Parents as Teachers, Juneau;
Peggy Brown, Executive Director, Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault, Juneau; Patrick Sidmore, Board
Member, Association for the Education of Young Children,
Juneau; Kate Burkhart, Executive Director, Alaska Mental
Health Board; Lisa Gardner, Home Visitor, Parents as
Teachers, Juneau; Marie Marx, Self, Juneau; Pamela Watts,
Executive Director, Juneau Alliance for Mental Health,
Juneau; David D'Amore, Self, Juneau; Mary Hakala,
Coordinate, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,
Juneau; Kathy Hansen, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska
Fisherman's Alliance, Juneau; Arnold Brower, Member, Barrow
School Board, Barrow; Aurah Landau, Parent Participant,
Parents as Teachers, Juneau; Eva Kneevat, Representative,
North Slope Borough School District, Juneau; Glenn
Gelbrich, Superintendent, Juneau School District, Juneau;
Stan Lujan, Chairman of the Board, Association for the
Education of Young Children, Juneau; Trina Landlord,
Executive Director, Alaska Native Arts Foundation,
Anchorage; Brenda Taylor, Board Member, Association for the
Education of Young Children, Juneau; Denise Doniello,
Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging, Juneau; Tom
Chard, Executive Director, Alaska Behavioral Health
Association, Juneau; Carole Bookless, Self, Juneau; Joel
Mundy, Self, Juneau; Elaine Price, Southeast Conference,
Juneau; Mike Bell, Director, UAS Mine Training Program,
Juneau; Penny Vadla, Teacher, Kenai Peninsula Borough
School District, Kenai; Danny Frazier, Assistant
Superintendent, Dillingham City School District,
Dillingham; Kimberly Williams, Dillingham School Board,
Dillingham; Jack Walsh, Superintendent, Bristol Bay School
District, Bristol Bay; Stewart McDonald, Superintendent,
Kodiak Island Borough School District, Kodiak; Alice
Rogoff, Alaska Native Arts Foundation, Juneau; Ken Guiner,
Retired Music Teacher, Juneau; Brian Holst, Juneau; Cory
Crossett, Juneau School District Classroom Teacher, Juneau;
Sheryl Weinberg, Executive Director, Alaska's Educational
Resource Center (SERRC); Bonne Woldstad, Self
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Dennis Steffy, University of Alaska, Mining and Petroleum
Training Service, Kenai; Bill Bieber, Self, Kenai; Jody
Seitz, City Planner, City of Dillingham; Debra Kirk, Kodiak
Island Borough School Board, Kodiak; Tina Draper, Birchwood
Center, Soldotna; Joe Cannava, Director, Peninsula
Community Health Services (PCHS), Soldotna; Twyla Bentley,
PCHS Birchwood Center, Soldotna; Katie Wales, PCHS
Birchwood Center, Soldotna; Fred Sturman, Soldotna; Vikki
Jo Kennedy, Self and Fish Watch, Kodiak; Eric Linscheid,
Kodiak; Aaron Griffin, Assembly Member, Kodiak; Andrea
McLeod, Anchorage; Randi Shrider, Yukon Koyukuk School
District, Fairbanks; Alec McMurren, Petersburg; Carrie
Longpre, Kuspuk School Board, Aniak; Dr. Koehler, Self, Dry
Creek; Robert Conway, Victims for Justice, Anchorage; Ron
Johnson, Self, Fairbanks; Glenda Hutton, Self, Hoonah; Jan
Wrentmore, Municipality of Skagway, Skagway; Elaine
Furbish, Skagway Marine Access Commission,
Skagway; Bill Thomas, Self, Haines
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."
JUNEAU
10:06:48 AM
Vice-Chair Fairclough remarked that budget conversations
for the following years would be focused on expectations
for Alaska. She stated that the previous year's legislature
had expected a substantial surplus, but the reality
reflected a budget deficit. She pointed out that there were
reserves, but there were some budget challenge's in the
current year.
10:08:29 AM
AT EASE
10:09:11 AM
RECONVENED
10:09:43 AM
SANDY PARNELL, FIRST LADY, JUNEAU, testified in support of
$827,200 for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for sex
trafficking troopers. She stressed that sex trafficking was
a hidden crime. She pointed out that the victims were under
the extreme control of the sex traffickers, the victims
bond with the traffickers, so the victims did not self-
confess. She stressed that sex trafficking mostly occurred
underground, but pointed out that sex trafficking officers
could identify the signs of sex trafficking, that other
regular DPS officers may not notice. She felt that the
State should not leave the responsibility to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. She shared that the book, "Girls
Like Us" by Sheila Weller helped her better understood the
subject of sex trafficking.
10:13:30 AM
RHODA WALKER, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of behavioral
health services funding. She explained that her grandson
had extreme behavioral health issues. She showed her
bruises that were caused by her grandson's violence. She
felt that her grandson may need to be institutionalized
without behavioral health funding to support the necessary
programs that he needed to obtain treatment.
10:15:26 AM
SHARRON LOBAUGH, SELF, JUNEAU, poke in support of
behavioral health services funding. She shared that her son
had schizophrenia. She stated that for the first five years
of his life, there was no psychiatrist in Juneau. She felt
that, in that time, consumers were able to show the need
for a psychiatrist in Juneau. She remarked that because of
treatment and education, her son was not able to stay in
Juneau. She shared that she had worked for many years with
the National Alliance on Mental illness. She remarked that
Juneau had approximately 300 people with schizophrenia. She
announced that her favorite movie of the year was "Silver
Linings Playbook", and felt that the movie adequately
reflected the personalities of those people that deal with
mental illness.
10:18:17 AM
MARSHA BENNETT, MEMBER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL
ILLNESS, JUNEAU, voiced support for behavioral health
services funding. She explained that the National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI) had created the Juneau Alliance on
Mental Illness (JAMI) and the Polaris House. She remarked
that JAMI only had one paid employee, and was run by mostly
volunteers.
10:19:53 AM
SAM TRIVETTE, SELF, JUNEAU, urged support of the Alaska
Medicare Clinic funding, behavioral health services
funding, and funding for the Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED). He pointed out that behavioral
health had made great strides in Alaska, and felt that
behavioral health services funding was critical. He felt
that behavioral health was directly connected to education.
He pointed out that there were some students that were at
risk, so cutting education funding would result in the
mental health issue in the communities. He wanted his
grandchildren to have the same opportunities that he and
his son had in school.
10:23:03 AM
BARBARA THURSTON, MEMBER, JUNEAU SCHOOL BOARD, JUNEAU,
testified in support of DEED funding. She remarked that the
Juneau School Board faced recent cuts that resulted in the
loss of 100 jobs. She commended the governor for his
efforts and focus on the educational priorities including
the Alaska Performance Scholarship and the focus on
increasing the graduation rate. She pointed out that
students had additional pressure, so proper funding to
provide students with the focus of teachers in order to
succeed was imperative. She remarked that there was a
recent increase in test scores, so reducing the budget was
not necessary. She remarked that the budget cuts and
employee cuts were mostly focused on non-educators, and she
feared that there would be a reduction in teachers if the
funding was not available.
10:26:57 AM
SUE HULL, MEMBER, ASSOCIATION OF ALASKA SCHOOL BOARDS,
FAIRBANKS, voiced support for DEED funding. She thanked the
committee and the State for the education funding. She was
grateful that the reserves were available for the State of
Alaska. She remarked that there were challenges in
preparing children for the future. She remarked that the
state standards for the new common core gave the
educational system new challenges that required proper
funding.
10:31:34 AM
ANDI STORY, MEMBER, JUNEAU SCHOOL BOARD, JUNEAU, testified
in support of DEED funding. She remarked that the bill
reflected fourteen lost educational positions in Juneau.
She pointed out that parents and community members were
upset about these services being cut. She announced that
student achievement was high across the state. She
encouraged the committee to support and increase of funding
for public schools.
10:34:10 AM
JOY LYON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUNEAU BEST BEGINNINGS AND
JUNEAU PARENTS AS TEACHERS, JUNEAU, stressed the importance
of funding for Best Beginnings and Parents as Teachers. She
felt that the two programs were the wisest investments in
the state. She remarked that Best Beginnings and Parents as
Teachers engaged parents in their child's education for the
first 1000 days of life. She shared that the programs would
set the foundation for their social, physical, mental, and
educational health. She felt that 90 percent kindergarten
readiness was essential to the success of the young
children. She pointed out that Best Beginnings and Parents
as Teachers showed 90 percent literacy rate at the
kindergarten level.
10:37:29 AM
PEGGY BROWN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
behavioral health services funding. She remarked that the
$250,000 covered basic costs related to domestic violence
victim services. She encouraged the committee to include
that amount in the final bill.
10:38:51 AM
PATRICK SIDMORE, BOARD MEMBER, ASSOCIATION FOR THE
EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUNEAU, testified in support
of early childhood education and increased DEED funding. He
stressed that investing in the education of young children
was a proper and necessary investment. He also encouraged
funding for Parents as Teachers.
10:40:36 AM
KATE BURKHART, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH
BOARD, testified in support of behavioral health services
funding, the Complex Behavior Collaborative, and Centers
for Independent Living. She thanked the committee for the
work related to those programs. She urged support for
funding for the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board. She
remarked that the proposed amount in the governor's budget
for the ABC Board was necessary to perform its licensing
functions.
10:43:13 AM
LISA GARDNER, HOME VISITOR, PARENTS AS TEACHERS, JUNEAU,
testified in support of Parents as Teachers. She explained
that her job was spent teaching and discussing with the
parents about their child's education. She remarked that
she was often the only person that the parent had to talk
to about the stress that parents face. She pointed out that
she was committed to the families for three years and asked
the committee to support the three year commitment to the
parents and children.
10:45:25 AM
MARIE MARX, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of DEED
budget. She pointed out that she believed in fiscal
responsibility, but encouraged an increase in the BSA. She
pointed out that there were any great successes in the
Juneau School District. Se remarked that Juneau was likely
to face major educational problems because of budget cuts.
She reiterated that the current funding level undercuts
programs that were necessary to students' successes. She
shared that she would hold the school board accountable for
spending.
10:48:53 AM
PAMELA WATTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JUNEAU ALLIANCE FOR
MENTAL HEALTH, JUNEAU, testified in support of behavioral
health services funding. She remarked that the funding was
necessary for various types of behavioral health
conditions. She shared that JAMI provided many different
important services, including living accommodations for 60
people with severe mental health conditions. She shared
that JAMI was able to encourage patients to become
contributing members of the communities, in order to
prevent individuals from becoming incarcerated or
institutionalized.
10:51:00 AM
DAVID D'AMORE, SELF, JUNEAU, urged support for an increase
in funding for education. He shared that there was a new
elementary math program that enhanced problem solving He
felt that problem solving was essential to the success of
children and Alaskans. He shared a story about how his son
was able to use fundamental elements of calculus to
determine and estimate of jelly beans in a jar.
10:53:12 AM
MARY HAKALA, COORDINATE, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH, JUNEAU, testified in support of DEED funding,
specifically related to science, technology, engineering,
and math education opportunities in Alaska. She shared that
the First Robotics program was extremely helpful for young
children in order to engage students in team based problem
solving. She explained that Alaska had the highest per
capita participation in the program in the country. She
explained that 45 percent of the membership in the program
were female, compared to the 35 percent female
participation rate nationwide.
10:57:40 AM
KATHY HANSEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SOUTHEAST ALASKA
FISHERMAN'S ALLIANCE, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the
funding for Department of Fish and Game (DFG) budget,
specifically related to the management of fisheries. She
remarked that Southeast Alaska was facing issues related to
territorial jurisdiction relationships with the federal
government. She felt that funding for subsistence fisheries
was essential to the economy of Alaska.
10:59:06 AM
ARNOLD BROWER, MEMBER, BARROW SCHOOL BOARD, BARROW, urged
support of sex trafficking officer funding in the DPS
budget. He also voiced support of increased funding for
DEED. He specifically supported funding for early childhood
education and pre-K programs. He encouraged the committee
to fight for the current committee substitute funding
level. He also urged support for the Digital Learning
Initiative. The initiative provided his constituents to
obtain an equal education with all students across the
state. He stressed that only 8.3 percent of Native students
qualified for the Alaska Performance Scholarships.
11:02:59 AM
Senator Olson requested that Mr. Brower provide his written
testimony to the committee.
11:03:40 AM
AURAH LANDAU, PARENT PARTICIPANT, PARENTS AS TEACHERS,
JUNEAU, encouraged support for Parents as Teachers. She
shared that her son did not sleep as a young child, and she
and her husband were constantly exhausted. She remarked
that Parents as Teachers provided healthy strategies to
deal with her son. She pointed out that the Parents as
Teachers had provided information about and tools to help
her child sleep.
11:08:42 AM
EVA KNEEVAT, REPRESENTATIVE, NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT, JUNEAU, encouraged funding for early childhood
education and pre-K education funding. She shared that she
had a six year old grandson who could spell his last name,
and felt that the education funding was directly related to
his educational success. She also testified in support of
the Digital Learning Initiative.
11:09:13 AM
GLENN GELBRICH, SUPERINTENDENT, JUNEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of DEED funding. He explained that
three years prior, there was a local effort to increase the
graduation requirement. He felt that college preparation
and education was necessary to the success of high school
graduates. He stressed that the Juneau School District was
not waiting for requirements, but rather anticipating the
needs of the students. He understood the time and energy
that was required when drafting a budget, but felt that
education funding should be a necessary focus. He explained
that the prior year had an elimination of 6 percent of the
teaching positions in Juneau, and administrative cuts were
over 17 percent. He stated that the Juneau School District
was trying to prioritize the investment at the classroom
level. He stressed that education and graduation rates were
high. He felt that these were indicators of student and
budgetary success.
11:15:19 AM
STAN LUJAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, ASSOCIATION FOR THE
EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUNEAU, testified in support
of funding for DEED, specifically Best Beginnings and
Parents as Teachers. He felt that Best Beginnings was a
good investment for young children in order to decrease the
incarceration rate later in life. He remarked that the
literacy rate in prison was 70 percent at a third grade
reading level. He pointed out that in order to turn the
tide on dropout prevention, it was important to encourage
early childhood education. He stressed that healthy reading
skills and healthy parenting skills was essential to the
success of individuals later in life. He felt that Best
Beginnings was essential to the early intervention of young
children.
11:19:02 AM
TRINA LANDLORD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NATIVE ARTS
FOUNDATION, ANCHORAGE, testified in support of the arts
foundation. She explained that the Alaska Native Arts
Foundation served as a platform for artists to obtain
entrepreneurship training and other forms of support of art
and artists.
11:21:23 AM
BRENDA TAYLOR, BOARD MEMBER, ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION
OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUNEAU, testified in support of DEED
funding. She stressed that it was impossible to determine
the results of recent DEED cuts. She specifically urged
support of Parents as Teachers funding. She felt that the
budget reductions were disheartening. She shared that the
recent personnel cuts were counselors and nursing. She
remarked that there were only two counselors remaining in
the Juneau Douglas High School. She remarked that the
Alaska Performance Scholarship required four years of
Social Studies, but Juneau Douglas High School only offered
social studies courses for three years. She relayed that
foreign language and math courses had similar course
offering issues.
11:27:19 AM
DENISE DONIELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
AGING, JUNEAU, testified in support of behavioral health
services funding, specifically related to programs that
directly affect aging Alaskans. She thanked the committee
for their support of the Health and Human Services
Community Services Block Grants.
11:30:09 AM
TOM CHARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU, urged support and thanked the
committee for behavioral health services funding. He
remarked that the Alaska Behavioral Health Association
tried to determine the proper ways to utilize funding. He
shared that the governor's proposed operating budget did
not include many services for Department of Health and
Social Services (DHSS), and then the House Finance
Committee proposed an $8.4 million budget reduction for
behavioral health services funding. He remarked that many
people were shocked at that proposed cut. He pointed out
that many people expressed outrage regarding that proposed
cut.
11:33:44 AM
CAROLE BOOKLESS, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of DEED
increased funding. She remarked that the Department of
Corrections (DOC) budget and DEED budget had the same level
of funding. She shared that she was a special education
teacher, and those students could succeed given the proper
resources. She did not understand why legislators felt that
schools were not succeeding. She understood that
legislators were trying to make the lives of students
better. She remarked that students were given greater
pressure in the present day, than what they were 40 years
prior. She stressed that educators and school
administrators were doing their best with the funding they
were given.
11:38:01 AM
Co-Chair Kelly explained that the budget may have reflected
the agency funding, and not direct school grants.
11:38:32 AM
AT EASE
11:51:02 AM
RECONVENED
11:51:29 AM
JOEL MUNDY, SELF, JUNEAU, expressed support for continued
and expanded funding for therapeutic court programs. He
relayed his personal experience participating in the Juneau
therapeutic court program and shared that he would still in
in jail if were not for the program; the program had
enabled him to keep his job, stay in school, and work
towards two degrees. Additionally, the program had allowed
him to be there for his family and son. He stressed that
the program had saved his life; he shared details related
to the death of his ex-fiancé. He emphasized the importance
of addiction treatment programs. He accentuated that jail
was not the answer for non-violent drug offenses. He urged
the support and expansion of therapeutic programs.
ELAINE PRICE, SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE, JUNEAU, testified in
support of funding for the University of Alaska Southeast
(UAS) mine training program that was currently offered to
20 schools throughout the state. She provided details
related to the program that had put Alaskan students to
work in mining careers. She stated that the students and
the mining industry were both engaged. She discussed
various donations from the Greens Creek, Kensington,
Niblack, Bokan Mountain, and other mines. She pointed to
the program's success and thanked the committee for
maintaining the increment in the budget. She appreciated
the committee's attention throughout the current public
testimony process.
11:55:47 AM
MIKE BELL, DIRECTOR, UAS MINE TRAINING PROGRAM, JUNEAU,
spoke in favor of funding for the UAS mine training
program. He encouraged the committee's continued support
for the program. He expected that the mining community
would provide 3,000 to 4,000 jobs over the next five years.
He discussed the importance of hiring Alaskans to fill the
positions. He stressed that the training program was a
great investment that would provide a significant financial
return. He urged support for the Alaska Learning Network
that was critical to the distance learning programs.
11:58:56 AM
DENNIS STEFFY, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, MINING AND PETROLEUM
TRAINING SERVICE, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding the University of Alaska's budget and
its Strategic Direction process that returned the emphasis
of the university to the student. He spoke to the
importance of the delivery of quality education services.
He supported a Department of Labor and Workforce
Development increment for the purchase of mobile mine
machine simulators. He referenced a significant number of
jobs that opened in the mining industry on an annual basis.
He observed that there was a lack in training for Alaskans
who could be well suited for the mining jobs. The
implementation of the machine simulators would enable the
state to provide training. and funding for the University
of Alaska's certification programs for the oil and gas
mining industry. He stated that the university provided
certification training to approximately 3,000 oil, gas, and
mining employees. He communicated that budget cuts would
reduce the training opportunity by approximately 900 people
per year; he asked for support of a university funding
request that would allow the program to continue reaching
the current number of trainees.
12:02:53 PM
BILL BIEBER, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for the University of Alaska and adult
education programs. He pointed out that many students in
Southwest Alaska did not have access to vocational programs
in high school. He believed the lack of access would place
a burden on secondary education programs. He asked the
committee to fund adult education. He noted that students
were Alaska's future workforce.
12:04:55 PM
PENNY VADLA, TEACHER, KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT, KENAI, spoke in favor of a Base Student
Allocation increase and forward funding for education. She
believed children were the state's first priority. She
pointed to the importance of providing funding to sustain
and enhance existing education programs. She stressed that
a three-year funding plan was essential for the state's
school districts and the retention of quality teachers. She
mentioned career programs related to construction, medical,
and other. She discussed different educational avenues
based on students' learning styles. She was in favor of
early education. She pointed to rising costs related to
energy. She asked the committee to consider funding bond
reimbursement. She emphasized that children were "our
hope." She stated that funding would help increase
graduation rates and other.
12:10:18 PM
JODY SEITZ, CITY PLANNER, CITY OF DILLINGHAM (via
teleconference), expressed support of funding for families,
education, public safety, and transportation. She stressed
that the items were essential to the state's residents and
municipalities. She asked the committee to fund the
behavioral health grants and the tobacco prevention program
at the governor's requested level. She expressed
appreciation for an Emergency Medical Services grant
increment.
12:12:37 PM
DANNY FRAZIER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, DILLINGHAM CITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT, DILLINGHAM, testified in support education
funding. He was proud of work done by teachers and staff in
the district. He asked for continued funding of Pre-K
programs; the programs prepared children for Kindergarten.
He emphasized the importance of keeping students engaged in
education projects; students who were not engaged had less
motivation to attend school. He encouraged funding that
would provide students with access to courses that would
make them eligible for the Alaska Performance Scholarship.
Co-Chair Kelly expressed appreciation for the testifiers.
12:14:52 PM
KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, DILLINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD, DILLINGHAM,
testified in support of funding for education and the
Dillingham School District's Orca Project. She noted that
the school district served Alaskan salmon to students. The
Orca project was a collaboration between the school
district, the university, and Nunamta Aulukestai. She
shared that several killer whales had been stuck and died
on a local river; the goal of the project was to articulate
the whales. She provided additional detail related to the
project and stated that the project was a way of engaging
students early on. She stressed the importance of funding.
She discussed the high cost of fuel in Dillingham and
shared that it had a huge effect on the district's budget.
12:19:40 PM
Co-Chair Kelly noted that Senator Olson had to leave for an
Arctic Policy Commission meeting. He noted Senator Olson's
intent to return to the meeting.
12:20:03 PM
JACK WALSH, SUPERINTENDENT, BRISTOL BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT,
BRISTOL BAY, expressed support for education funding and
the University of Alaska. He stated that funding for
education provided vital training for teachers and
students. He mentioned the importance of teacher mentoring
and coaching projects. He spoke in favor of funding for
mental health services and school safety. He was concerned
that there was a disparity in the way the school districts
were funded and discussed an unfunded school maintenance
project in his school district. He pointed out that the
rural schools needed help. He appreciated the committee's
time.
12:23:51 PM
DEBRA KIRK, KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD, KODIAK (via
teleconference), expressed support for adequate funding for
preschools and education. She detailed that new standards
would require more from students; she stressed that it was
not a time to be decreasing funding. She stated that
adequate funding for the state's students would greatly
increase students' ability to be competitive in college.
She asked for support for district's outstanding music and
distance learning program for its rural villages. She
shared the benefit of extracurricular activities and that a
good education would reduce domestic violence and would
keep children out of jail. She stated that children were
taught morals in school and that they learned from an early
age how to treat each other.
12:27:43 PM
STEWART MCDONALD, SUPERINTENDENT, KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT, KODIAK, testified in support of funding
for education. He appreciated the public service provided
by the committee members. He stated that the school
district and the state shared the common goal of raising
and preparing globally competitive graduates while
developing a sustainable instructional model. He spoke
about the establishment of non-negotiable goals in student
performance and instruction. He mentioned the district's
new staff-evaluation system. He pointed out the career and
technology focus since 1963, when the vocational high
school was first designed. He noted that certificates for
underwater robotics and computer design were available at
the vocational high school.
12:35:03 PM
ALICE ROGOFF, ALASKA NATIVE ARTS FOUNDATION, JUNEAU,
appreciated the time of the committee. She stated that the
foundation served as an incubator for the state's smallest
business people. Her foundation represented and supported
ivory cutters and basket weavers and oil painters in
becoming their own micro economies. She stated that the
foundation provided tools for artists to be their own
business people. She noted that quantification of returns
on investment was important to members of the legislature.
She stated the impact of higher priced utilities on small
businesses.
12:39:42 PM
TINA DRAPER, BIRCHWOOD CENTER, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), thanked the committee for reinstating
funds for behavioral health services. She stated that
behavioral health organizations such as Birchwood Center
helped support her decision to go back to school.
12:40:38 PM
JOE CANNAVA, DIRECTOR, PENINSULA COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES
(PCHS), SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), testified that his
organization employed approximately 220 different employees
in the central peninsula and worked with over 700 clients
in the behavioral health department. He appreciated the
reinstatement of the $8.3 million for behavioral health
services. He noted that 220 different employees would keep
their jobs on the Kenai Peninsula because of the decision.
12:42:26 PM
TWYLA BENTLEY, PCHS BIRCHWOOD CENTER, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), testified that she once suffered from
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety and panic attacks.
She received help from the Birchwood Center that enabled
her to attend the Kenai Peninsula College. She benefitted
greatly from the services offered at PCHS Birchwood Center
and appreciated the subcommittee's decision to fund
behavioral health services in Alaska.
12:43:36 PM
KATIE WALES, PCHS BIRCHWOOD CENTER, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), echoed the testimonies of her colleagues.
She explained that the center provided medical, dental and
behavioral health services to families regardless of a
person's ability to pay for services. Her center served
many different communities on the Kenai Peninsula. She
appreciated the Senate Finance Subcommittee for reinstating
the funding for behavioral health services. She added that
the funding of services was vital to the health and
wellbeing of the community.
12:45:53 PM
FRED STURMAN, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), testified in
favor of cutting the budget. He opined that a delay in oil
production was inevitable and without decreased budget
spending, the state might face large deficits. He
recommended reducing the Division of Motor Vehicle (DMV)
budget by 100 percent. He spoke in favor of the changes in
oil taxation proposed by the committee, but stressed that a
delay in revenue was expected.
12:48:22 PM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF AND FISH WATCH, KODIAK (via
teleconference), expressed disappointment with the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
subcommittee recommendation for the reinstatement of $3
million for the Alaska Aerospace Corporation. She mentioned
that the reason that "field one" was closed at Ft. Greeley
was because 8 silos flooded and froze in 2009. She added
that the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was 30 years
old. She believed that the spending was excessive.
12:52:08 PM
ERIC LINSCHEID, KODIAK (via teleconference), recommended
increases in the operating budget. He stated three
recommendations related to the control of the budget. He
advocated for Best Beginnings funding. He spoke in favor of
funding for extracurricular sports and cited the benefits
to students. He pointed out the benefits of a rich
selection of courses. He discussed the need for
professional training such as health occupations, medical
terminology and advanced anatomy and physiology for
university students.
12:55:38 PM
AARON GRIFFIN, ASSEMBLY MEMBER, KODIAK (via
teleconference), testified in favor of funding for K-12
education. He mentioned his district's $1.6 million
deficit. He pointed out various programs that led to
increased graduation rates for Alaskan students. He
mentioned inflation and the BSA. He stated that the BSA
formula was skewed by the lack of inflation related
increases. He added that various supplemental budgets
further skewed the cost estimate for Alaskan education. He
compared education funding in Maryland and Alaska.
1:00:15 PM
ANDREA MCLEOD, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), discussed
the $11 billion unfunded liability. She spoke about
negotiations with the union. She recalled Governor
Parnell's salary and those of his Chief-of-Staff. She
mentioned various staff salary increases and stated that
the total cost of the positions was greater than $500
thousand per year. She added that the supporting documents
for the salary increase decisions were unavailable when
requested. She asked the legislature to review the salaries
and their lack of contractual agreement.
1:04:57 PM
RANDI SHRIDER, YUKON KOYUKUK SCHOOL DISTRICT, FAIRBANKS
(via teleconference), testified in favor of increases in
education funding particularly for early childhood
education.
1:06:08 PM
ALEC MCMURREN, PETERSBURG (via teleconference), testified
in favor of restoration of $400 thousand for the Southeast
Salmon Stock Identification Program. He appreciated the
reinstatement of the $165 thousand for the Southeast Salmon
Stream Aerial Surveys.
1:06:51 PM
KEN GUINER, RETIRED MUSIC TEACHER, JUNEAU, testified in
support of education and funding for music programs. He
advocated for increases in funding for Alaskan school
districts. He spoke about the increases in prices for
materials required for education, including musical
instruments. He spoke about the benefits of activities in
the school setting. He shared a newspaper picture depicting
the power of education.
Co-Chair Kelly asked about his preferred musical
instrument.
Mr. Guiner replied that he played the trumpet. He mentioned
a spring-time music festival that occurred in Juneau and
represented much of Alaska's talented musicians.
1:10:29 PM
BRIAN HOLST, JUNEAU, quoted "talent will be the new oil of
the 21st century." He directed the Juneau Economic
Development Council. He worked as co-chair of the Juneau
School District budget committee. He stated that he had
four children attending school in the Juneau School
District and was a Juneau Douglas High School graduate. He
stated that the committee recommended budget reductions of
$1.7 million for 2014. He advocated for solving the
education problem. He stated that business peopled polled
in the region pointed out the quality of local high schools
as a net barrier to doing business in Alaska. He noted that
the Alaska Legislative Task Force on Higher Education and
Career Readiness stated that it "firmly believes that the
education level of out citizenry is inextricably tied to
Alaska's economic development."
1:13:57 PM
Co-Chair Kelly stated that he received information from
DMVA that the claim about missile flooding in Ft. Greely
was false.
1:14:56 PM
CARRIE LONGPRE, KUSPUK SCHOOL BOARD, ANIAK (via
teleconference), testified as a school board member and as
a grandmother. She discussed the standardized test score
improvements. She spoke about development of the school
programs. She discussed the strategic plan to help direct
efforts in the community. She pointed out the learning
opportunities that were afforded with the funding. She
highlighted details about her community that did not have
the funding to hire a lobbyist. She was informed that in
order to obtain program funding and get on the CIP list, a
district required a lobbyist. She stated that her district
required additional support and she added that deficits
were debilitating to the very small school district. She
spoke in favor of funding for Best Beginnings. She was
informed that resources were available for the needs of
educational funding.
1:21:15 PM
CORY CROSSETT, JUNEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSROOM TEACHER,
JUNEAU, informed the committee that he taught fourth, fifth
and sixth grades. He stated that the intangible quality of
the education investment might make increased operating
budget expenditures. Every dollar spent on education led to
future savings in social services. Teaching allowed him to
provide options that could break the cycles of poverty. He
stated that funding for the Digital Learning Initiative
might lead to the expectation that the state would provide
updated computers for students at regular intervals. He
spoke to the benefit of tying the BSA to inflation. He
opined that the school district administrators would
utilize state funding appropriately.
SHERYL WEINBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA'S EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCE CENTER (SERRC), testified in support of funding
for the Alaska Transition Outcome Project or Rural
Transitions. She pointed out that 13 percent of Alaskan
students experienced disabilities. She spoke about the
challenges experienced by the students with disabilities
and the benefits of the programs for meaningful transition
planning. The programs served students ages 16 and older
who were involved in special education. She noted that the
Alaska Transition Outcome Project provided professional
development for teachers since 2002.
1:30:26 PM
DR. KOEHLER, SELF, DRY CREEK (via teleconference),
testified in support of $3.4 million for emergency medical
services grants to regions. She highlighted the state's
needs for public safety. She noted that 80 percent of 911
calls that were not police related were for emergency
medical services. She pointed out that the emergency
medical services were subsidized by volunteers. She stated
that both Medicaid and Medicare reimbursed far below the
actual cost and did not pay for rescue, extraction from a
vehicle or 24/7 readiness. She noted that the direct cost
of emergency medical services did not equal the full cost.
She added that the emergency medical services work force
was free including the field Emergency Medical Technicians,
the paramedics and the physicians. Funding for the grants
would support the Interior Region, North Slope, Norton
Sound, Anchorage and southeast Alaska.
1:35:25 PM
ROBERT CONWAY, VICTIMS FOR JUSTICE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the increment for
Victims for Justice. He shared a personal story about how
Victims for Justice had helped him deal with his
girlfriend's disappearance. He related that the Victims for
Justice had assisted him for over three years and that they
had never missed a court date or failed to inform him of
any changes in the schedule of events during that time. He
stated that Victims for Justice was the only organization
set up for the survivors of a homicide of a loved one; they
also assisted people who were victims of aggravated
assault, robbery, arson, human trafficking, drunk driving,
and kidnapping. He stated that Victims for Justice worked
with about 200 to 300 people per year. He concluded that
about $12 million went into victim assistance programs in
the state each year, 99 percent of which went to
organizations that served victims of domestic violence,
sexual assault, and child abuse; he stated that these were
all worthy programs, but that the victims of other crimes
needed assistance too.
1:37:31 PM
BONNE WOLDSTAD, SELF, spoke in support of funding for
scholarship opportunities for GED recipients. She shared
that she was not asking for "10 percent," but was simply
asking for "10 opportunities." She explained that the
recipients of the scholarships could be selected from the
annual top scores that were accumulated through the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development. She offered
that completing a high school diploma or GED and pursuing a
postsecondary degree were keys to economic prosperity and
expanded socioeconomic opportunities. She concluded that
rather than encouraging students to drop out, the
educational opportunities would give hope and encouragement
for reentry into postsecondary education.
1:39:12 PM
RON JOHNSON, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), spoke in
support of adopting a "level dollar" pay down plan for the
unfunded liability in the state's retirement systems, or
for adopting the Alaska Management Retirement (ARM) Board's
resolution for a three-year cash infusion in order to deal
with the unfunded liability. He related that the current
plan to pay down the unfunded liability was a "level
percent" pay down method, which caused the amount to grow
each year; furthermore, this method would result in the
amount being paid by the state to approximately double in
ten years. He pointed out that the "level percent" payment
method was counterintuitive to the plan to reduce the state
operating budget because of falling oil revenues. He liked
the prior year's recommendation of the Alaska Management
Retirement (ARM) Board for adopting a "level dollar" pay
down method; this method would be like a "regular house
mortgage" and would allow the state to free up more funding
in subsequent years. He discussed Scott Goldsmith's
presentation in a prior joint Senate and House Finance
Committee meeting and reiterated that he wanted a more
level pay down plan instead of the "ballooning" mortgage
the state was currently under. He offered that the assumed
return on investment was critical in determining the actual
unfunded liability and stated that an 8 percent return,
which was the current assumption, was not realistic.
1:41:50 PM
GLENDA HUTTON, SELF, HOONAH (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for the Imagination Library and the
Parents as Teachers program. She discussed the high cost of
heating oil and food in Rural Alaska and relayed that the
high cost of living in these regions did not leave much
money for buying books. She shared that reading to children
made it possible for a child to learn how to read for
themselves and encouraged funding the Imagination Library
in order to allow Rural Alaska's children to have access to
books. She supported the Parents as Teachers program and
shared that Hoonah Elementary School had made adequate
progress on the annual statewide assessment test for over
ten years as a result of its Parents as Teachers program.
1:43:42 PM
JAN WRENTMORE, MUNICIPALITY OF SKAGWAY, SKAGWAY (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the restoration of
funding for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). She
related that AMHS had proposed cuts that were targeted for
a service level reduction; furthermore, the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) had indicated
that the service level reductions could take effect as soon
as "this" summer's schedule, which had already been
published. She pointed out that Skagway was an
"entrepreneurial" community that relied on predictability
and scheduling. She offered that AMHS was the
infrastructure that supported economic development in
Coastal Alaska. She opined that the marine highway was how
Coastal Alaska moved goods, services, and people and that
Lynn Canal provided some of the highest volumes of users in
AMHS. She opined that the revenues earned in Lynn Canal
helped offset the losses on less profitable routes. She
shared that the proposed budget cuts and reduced service
could "bottleneck" traffic in Lynn Canal and would result
in significant financial losses. She pointed out that there
was strong public support for marine operations in the
Interior and South-Central Alaska. She discussed a period
of flooding the prior spring when parts of the Alaska
Highway and the Klondike Highway had closed; during this
time, AMHS was the only way in and out of areas of the
state. She concluded that the marine highway had been
increasing its ridership as a result of improved scheduling
practices, but that the proposed cuts would affect the
progress that had been made. She urged the committee to
support the economic development of coastal communities and
restore funding for AMHS operations.
1:46:48 PM
ELAINE FURBISH, SKAGWAY MARINE ACCESS COMMISSION,
SKAGWAY (via teleconference), spoke in support of restoring
funding to the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). She
related that AMHS was a vital part of Skagway's economy and
shared that the marine highway often provided the only
access into some communities when the conditions prevented
air or road access. She discussed the services that the
ferries provided for coastal areas in Alaska. She noted
that the aviation highway system was receiving an increase
to its budget, but that AMHS was receiving budget cuts. She
wondered why the fiscal reductions were concentrated only
on AMHS and stated that reductions in the state
transportation system should not be focused solely on AMHS.
She urged for the restoration of funding for AMHS.
1:49:13 PM
BILL THOMAS, SELF, HAINES (via teleconference), testified
in support of increased funding for the Southeast Regional
Fish and Game Budget, in particular for the "sockeye
management" funding. He also spoke in support of the
Parents as Teachers program. He expressed appreciation for
the restoration of "sockeye management" funding to replace
federal money, but opined that the funding should be
increased. He related that the money was critical for
sockeye management throughout Southeast Alaska and was very
important for all the user groups. He did not support the
removal of the extraterritorial jurisdiction funding. He
discussed a challenge by the Federal Subsistence Board and
related that the state needed to protect its management
rights in Southeast Alaska. He observed that the sockeye
management funding was for DNA testing. He noted the
inclusion of aerial survey funding and opined that it
should not be included to the detriment of sockeye funding;
he suggested prioritizing the sockeye funding in Department
of Fish and Game's budget over conducting aerial surveys.
He offered that the Chilkat and Chilkoot River systems were
Southeast Alaska's only two major salmon streams that the
state had full ownership of. He pointed out that salmon was
a renewable resource that should be managed on science and
not politics. He opined that intent language should be
added to prevent the Department of Fish and Game from
moving or removing research or management money to backfill
needs elsewhere in the budget. He pointed out that airbases
and army bases in Anchorage and Fairbanks, as well rural
villages like Hoonah, were dependent on Parents as Teachers
programs. He urged support for the Parents as Teachers
program.
1:54:17 PM
Co-Chair Kelly CLOSED public testimony. He commented on the
impressive turnout for the public testimony, as well as the
courtesy and decorum that was demonstrated throughout the
meeting.
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
1:54:57 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 65-66 Public Testimony 032313 AM.pdf |
SFIN 3/23/2013 10:00:00 AM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65-66 Testimony - Woldstad.pdf |
SFIN 3/23/2013 10:00:00 AM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65-66 SFC Testimony 032313 -Lujan.docx |
SFIN 3/23/2013 10:00:00 AM |
HB 65 |
| HB 65-66 Testimony Niemi.msg |
SFIN 3/23/2013 10:00:00 AM |
HB 65 |