Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/16/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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Audio Topic
09:01:28 AM Start
09:03:50 AM Sweep/reverse Sweep
09:41:27 AM Department of Education and Early Development Cares Act Funding
10:02:46 AM Follow Up: University of Alaska Subcommittee of the Whole
10:46:33 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
- Sweep / Reverse Sweep
- Follow Up: Department of Education & Early
Development, and University of Alaska
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 16, 2021                                                                                          
                         9:01 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:01:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   called  the  Senate   Finance  Committee                                                                    
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
Senator Bill Wielechowski                                                                                                       
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Neil Steininger, Director, Office  of Management and Budget,                                                                    
Office of  the Governor;  Kris Curtis,  Legislative Auditor,                                                                    
Alaska Division of Legislative Audit.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Lacey Sanders, Administrative  Services Director, Department                                                                    
of  Education and  Early Development,  Office of  Management                                                                    
and  Budget, Office  of the  Governor;  Pat Pitney,  Interim                                                                    
President, University of Alaska.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SWEEP/REVERSE SWEEP                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND  EARLY  DEVELOPMENT CARES  ACT                                                                    
FUNDING                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
FOLLOW UP: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
^SWEEP/REVERSE SWEEP                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:03:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
NEIL STEININGER, DIRECTOR, OFFICE  OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,                                                                    
OFFICE   OF   THE   GOVERNOR,   discussed   the   PowerPoint                                                                    
presentation,  "State of  Alaska; Office  of Management  and                                                                    
Budget;  Constitutional  Budget  Reserve Sweep  and  Reverse                                                                    
Sweep;  February  16, 2021"  (copy  on  file). He  addressed                                                                    
slide 2, "Funds in the Constitution":                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     The Alaska Constitution refers to three distinct                                                                           
     funds:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     ? Permanent Fund (PF)  Article IX, Section 15                                                                              
          ?Includes   mineral   lease  rentals,   royalties,                                                                    
          royalty  sale  proceeds, federal  mineral  revenue                                                                    
          sharing payments and bonuses.                                                                                         
          ?Only the income may be appropriated                                                                                  
          ?Includes the  Earnings Reserve Account  (ERA) per                                                                    
          Hickel v. Cowper                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     ? Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund (CBR)  Article                                                                        
     IX, Section 17                                                                                                             
          ?Includes money  received from the  termination of                                                                    
          administrative and  judicial proceedings involving                                                                    
          mineral revenues                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     ? General Fund                                                                                                             
          ?Includes  money received  from  taxes, fees,  and                                                                    
          other  sources  not constitutionally  directed  to                                                                    
          the CBR or PF                                                                                                         
          ?Includes  all   designated  general   fund  (DGF)                                                                    
          accounts                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:05:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  explained that the  constitution specified                                                                    
that all monies be swept to the  CBR, if there was a debt on                                                                    
the CBR.  He noted  that currently $12  million was  owed to                                                                    
the CBR. He stressed that at  the end of June of the current                                                                    
year, all  of the  account balances would  go into  the CBR,                                                                    
leaving zero account  balances on the first day  of the next                                                                    
fiscal year. He  remarked that in order to  prevent the zero                                                                    
accounts, there was  a measure in the  budget to appropriate                                                                    
money  back out  of the  CBR  to return  the balances.  This                                                                    
action requires a three-quarter vote.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger pointed to slide 3, "Constitutional Budget                                                                       
Reserve Fund":                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The  Constitutional  Budget   Reserve  Fund  (CBR)  was                                                                    
     established  by  constitutional  amendment in  1990  in                                                                    
     article  IX, section  17  of  the Alaska  Constitution.                                                                    
     There are four subsections:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     ? (a)  Revenue into the  CBR   money received  from the                                                                    
     termination of administrative  and judicial proceedings                                                                    
     involving mineral revenues is deposited into the CBR;                                                                      
     ? (b) Expenditures  from the CBR by  majority vote only                                                                    
     if    "the  amount  available for  appropriation for  a                                                                    
     fiscal year  is less  than the amount  appropriated for                                                                    
     the previous fiscal year"  and total appropriations are                                                                    
     limited  to the  amount  appropriated  in the  previous                                                                    
     year;                                                                                                                      
     ?  (c) Expenditures  from the  CBR  by a  three-fourths                                                                    
     vote of  the members  of each  house    the Legislature                                                                    
     can appropriate  from the fund  for any  public purpose                                                                    
     if such a supermajority vote is obtained;                                                                                  
     ? (d)  Repayment requirement   "If  an appropriation is                                                                    
     made  from the  budget reserve  fund, until  the amount                                                                    
     appropriated  is repaid,  the  amount of  money in  the                                                                    
     general fund available for appropriation  at the end of                                                                    
     each succeeding  fiscal year shall be  deposited in the                                                                    
     budget  reserve fund.  The legislature  shall implement                                                                    
     this subsection by law."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:09:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger looked at slide 4, "Repayment Requirement                                                                        
Commonly Called the 'Sweep'":                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     ? FY1995 to FY2010 CBR debt required repayment                                                                             
          ?Peak $5.2B in FY2005                                                                                                 
          ?Fully repaid in FY2010                                                                                               
     ? Current debt began FY2015                                                                                                
          ?Greater than $11B currently owed                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sweep Effective Dates:                                                                                                     
         ? Effective midnight on June 30 each year                                                                              
          ? Reversed, pending three-quarter vote, 12:01 am                                                                      
          July 1                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Sweep Mechanics:                                                                                                           
          ? Prior year account transactions closed August                                                                       
          31                                                                                                                    
          ? Balances subject to audit                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator von Imhof  wondered whether there had  always been a                                                                    
three-quarter vote for a reverse sweep annually.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger  replied that the  sweep for the CBR  was not                                                                    
added  to the  constitution  until the  1990s. He  explained                                                                    
that,  since then,  there was  always eventually  a vote  to                                                                    
reverse the  sweep. He recalled  that there were  some times                                                                    
between the  end of the  fiscal year,  and the event  of the                                                                    
three-quarter vote.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  von Imhof  noted that  the sweep  was added  to the                                                                    
constitution  in 1995,  and since  then there  had a  been a                                                                    
three-quarter vote, except the two years prior.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Steininger  replied   that   the  three-quarter   vote                                                                    
eventually  occurred three  years prior,  so every  year the                                                                    
vote occurred.  He remarked  that there may  be a  few other                                                                    
years when the  vote was delayed past the end  of the fiscal                                                                    
year.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  recalled that  there was  a year  when the                                                                    
reverse sweep  was enacted the  following January  after the                                                                    
end of the fiscal year.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:15:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger highlighted slide 5, "Sweep Application":                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Subject to Sweep:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     ?  Funds for  which  the legislature  has retained  the                                                                    
     power to  appropriate from and  that are  not available                                                                    
     to   pay  expenditures   without  further   legislative                                                                    
     appropriation                                                                                                              
     ? Funds that list purposes for which money in the fund                                                                     
     can be used but still require appropriation to spend                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Not Subject to Sweep:                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     ? Money in funds that is already validly appropriated                                                                      
     to a particular purpose                                                                                                    
     ? Federal funds                                                                                                            
     ?  Other  trust  funds  such as  the  Public  Employees                                                                    
     Retirement Fund  that can only  be used for  a specific                                                                    
     stated purpose under law or held in trust                                                                                  
     ? Donations for a particular purpose                                                                                       
     ?  Accounts or  funds  subject  to expenditure  without                                                                    
     further appropriation                                                                                                      
     ?  Receipts  subject to  refund     e.g. Alaska  Marine                                                                    
     Highway, University tuition or student housing                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson wondered whether there was a court ruling on                                                                     
what accounts were not sweepable.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger  responded  that   there  had  been  minimal                                                                    
discussion of  that in  the court.  He explained  that there                                                                    
had  been  little testing  of  the  measure because  it  had                                                                    
ultimately always  been a reversal of  the sweep. Therefore,                                                                    
there was minimal legal testing of the measure.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger pointed to slide 6, "Sweep Reversal":                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     The sweep is a  constitutional requirement, the reverse                                                                    
     sweep is a policy decision with significant impacts.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section   28(a)  of   the   Governor's  proposed   FY22                                                                    
     operating budget:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     ?  Sec. 28.  CONSTITUTIONAL  BUDGET  RESERVE FUND.  (a)                                                                    
     Deposits in the budget reserve  fund (art. IX, sec. 17,                                                                    
     Constitution of  the State of  Alaska) for  fiscal year                                                                    
     2021 that  are made from  subfunds and accounts  of the                                                                    
     operating general  fund by operation  of art.  IX, sec.                                                                    
     17(d), Constitution  of the State  of Alaska,  to repay                                                                    
     appropriations  from   the  budget  reserve   fund  are                                                                    
     appropriated  from  the  budget  reserve  fund  to  the                                                                    
     subfunds  and  accounts  from which  those  funds  were                                                                    
     transferred.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     This appropriation is?                                                                                                     
     ?  directing all  "swept"  subfunds  to be  transferred                                                                    
     back to the fund they resided in prior to June                                                                             
     30.                                                                                                                        
     ?  from  the CBR  requiring  a  supermajority vote  per                                                                    
     Alaska Constitution article IX, section 17(c).                                                                             
     ? commonly called the 'reverse sweep.'                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:20:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger discussed slide 7, "Sweep Impacts":                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Without enacting reversal:                                                                                                 
     ? 3 Categories of Impact                                                                                                   
          ?High impact  Funds with  no projected revenues in                                                                    
          FY22                                                                                                                  
               ?Impacted programs include scholarships from                                                                     
               the higher education fund, the power cost                                                                        
               equalization program.                                                                                            
     ?Medium impact Funds with FY22 revenues less than the                                                                      
     amount appropriated for FY22                                                                                               
          ?Impacted   programs    include   alcohol   safety                                                                    
          program,  chronic  disease  prevention,  substance                                                                    
          abuse   grants,  domestic   violence  and   sexual                                                                    
          assault   prevention,    Marine   Highway   System                                                                    
          operations, and spill prevention and response.                                                                        
     ?No    immediate    impact     Funds    without    FY22                                                                    
     appropriations reliant on existing balances.                                                                               
          ?These funds are used for  tracking purposes or as                                                                    
          general savings accounts.  Examples include cruise                                                                    
          ship  gambling  tax  and  Alaska  Housing  Capital                                                                    
          Corporation.                                                                                                          
          ?Also  includes  funds   with  balances  that  are                                                                    
          already obligated  through existing appropriations                                                                    
          such as the  Alaska comprehensive health insurance                                                                    
          fund.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:25:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger highlighted slide 8, "Sweep Impacts":                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Impacts mitigated by enacting section 28(a) of the                                                                         
     Governor's proposed FY22 operating budget                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson surmised  that  the  Power Cost  Equalization                                                                    
Fund (PCE) was a sweepable fund.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger  replied  that the  PCE  was  available  for                                                                    
appropriation  by the  legislature, so  it was  considered a                                                                    
sweepable fund.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  replied that the legislature's  position over                                                                    
recent years was  that the PCE was not  sweepable, which was                                                                    
based  on  court  proceedings  from   the  early  1990s.  He                                                                    
stressed  that  the  legislature   had  never  received  any                                                                    
correspondence   outlining  the   position  of   the  recent                                                                    
attorney  general  claiming that  the  PCE  was a  sweepable                                                                    
fund. He wondered whether there  was a written legal opinion                                                                    
that went  against the legislature's assertion  that the PCE                                                                    
was not a sweepable fund.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Steininger replied that he  would contact the Department                                                                    
of Law.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  assumed  that there  was  no  written  legal                                                                    
opinion that the PCE was  a sweepable fund. He remarked that                                                                    
under  that  opinion,  the Earnings  Reserve  Account  (ERA)                                                                    
would also be a sweepable fund.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Steininger responded  that the  ERA had  specific legal                                                                    
guidance from a  court case that dictated that  the ERA, per                                                                    
Hickel v. Cooper, stay within  the Permanent Fund. Therefore                                                                    
the ERA  was not  a part  of the  general fund.  He stressed                                                                    
that there was not similar guidance to the PCE.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:30:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson   requested  a   written  opinion   from  the                                                                    
Department of Law that the PCE was a sweepable fund.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator  von  Imhof  remarked   that  there  were  competing                                                                    
opinions and analyses in regards  to the qualifications. She                                                                    
recalled an  opinion from  2019, which  stated that  the PCE                                                                    
was a  sweepable fund. She  explained that it  was described                                                                    
as a separate fund in  statute. She remarked that the Hickel                                                                    
v. Cooper case outlined that  the sweepable funds must be in                                                                    
the   general   fund.   She   stressed   that   there   were                                                                    
contradictory  statements around  the qualifications  of the                                                                    
sweepable funds,  particularly the  PCE. She  explained that                                                                    
not  doing  the  sweep  on the  PCE  affected  $52  million,                                                                    
including fuel subsidies for rural Alaska.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  felt that legal opinions  within the court                                                                    
could result in some chaos.  He stressed that there would be                                                                    
a conversation with the auditor around the issue.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  felt that  the conversation  should include                                                                    
the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) fund.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:34:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KRIS  CURTIS,   LEGISLATIVE  AUDITOR,  ALASKA   DIVISION  OF                                                                    
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT,  addressed the accounting process  of the                                                                    
sweep.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman remarked that  Ms. Curtis would address the                                                                    
committee again  at a  later date at  the completion  of the                                                                    
audit. He  wondered whether the balances  would be completed                                                                    
in  the  upcoming week,  and  Ms.  Curtis would  return  the                                                                    
committee with the findings.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Curtis agreed.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:39:54 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:41:12 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION  AND EARLY  DEVELOPMENT CARES  ACT                                                                  
FUNDING                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:41:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LACEY SANDERS, ADMINISTRATIVE  SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT                                                                    
OF  EDUCATION AND  EARLY DEVELOPMENT,  OFFICE OF  MANAGEMENT                                                                    
AND  BUDGET, OFFICE  OF THE  GOVERNOR (via  teleconference),                                                                    
discussed  the presentation,  "COVID-19 K-12  Federal Relief                                                                    
Funding Overview" (copy on file):                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     ?Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES)                                                                     
     Act                                                                                                                        
     ?Coronavirus    Response   and    Relief   Supplemental                                                                    
     Appropriations (CRRSA) Act                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders displayed slide 2,  "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and                                                                    
Economic Security; (CARES) Act Update":                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     ? CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020                                                                          
     ? Education Stabilization Fund - $30.75 billion in                                                                         
     emergency relief funds                                                                                                     
          1. Approximately $3 billion for the Governor's                                                                        
          Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER I Fund)                                                                         
          2. Approximately $13.5 billion for the Elementary                                                                     
          and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER                                                                     
          I Fund)                                                                                                               
          3. Approximately $14.25 billion for the Higher                                                                        
          Education Emergency Relief Fund                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders addressed slide 3,  "Coronavirus Aid, Relief and                                                                    
Economic Security (CARES) Act Update (con't)":                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     ? Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief                                                                         
     (ESSER) I Fund                                                                                                             
            State of Alaska's Allocation $38,407,914                                                                            
               ?    Local    Education   Agencies    (school                                                                    
               districts) minimum allocation $34,567,123                                                                        
                      School districts  have until September                                                                    
                    30, 2022, to obligate funding                                                                               
                       As   of  January  29,   2021,  school                                                                    
                    districts  requested  reimbursement  for                                                                    
                    $11.3  million  and  $22.8  million  has                                                                    
                    been  encumbered   for  approved  school                                                                    
                    districts budgets  based on  an approved                                                                    
                    application                                                                                                 
               ? State Education Agency (DEED) reservation                                                                      
               maximum allocation $3,840,791                                                                                    
                       Of this,  $192,040  may  be used  for                                                                    
                    Administration                                                                                              
     ? Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) I Fund                                                                      
          State of Alaska's Allocation $6,503,527                                                                               
               ? Governor Dunleavy allocated funding as                                                                         
               follows:                                                                                                         
                       $3,728,856 for  grants  to 35  school                                                                    
                    districts                                                                                                   
                       $1,500,000   to  the   University  of                                                                    
                    Alaska                                                                                                      
                        $1,031,920  for   competitive  grant                                                                    
                    awards   to   education  and   education                                                                    
                    related entities                                                                                            
                      $200,000 to  the Alaska Native Science                                                                    
                    and Engineering Program                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:45:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders pointed to slide 4, "Coronavirus Response and                                                                       
Relief Supplemental":                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Appropriations (CRRSA) Act Update                                                                                          
     ? CRRSA Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        Education Stabilization Fund - $82 billion in                                                                           
     additional relief funds                                                                                                    
          1. Approximately $4.1 billion for the Governor's                                                                      
          Emergency Education                                                                                                   
          Relief Fund (GEER II Fund)                                                                                            
          2. Approximately $54.3 billion for the Elementary                                                                     
          and Secondary School                                                                                                  
          Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II Fund)                                                                                 
          3. Approximately $21.7 billion for the Higher                                                                         
          Education Emergency Relief Fund                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Sanders addressed  slide 5,  "Coronavirus Response  and                                                                    
Relief  Supplemental   Appropriations  (CRRSA)   Act  Update                                                                    
(con't)":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     ? ESSER II Fund                                                                                                            
            State of Alaska's allocation $159,719,422                                                                           
               ?    Local    Education   Agencies    (school                                                                    
               districts) minimum allocation $143,747,480                                                                       
                      School districts have until September                                                                     
                    30, 2023, to obligate funding                                                                               
                      Application for school districts will                                                                     
                    be available on February 15, 2021                                                                           
               ? State Education Agency (DEED) reservation                                                                      
              maximum allocation $15,173,345                                                                                    
                      Of this, $789,597 may be used for                                                                         
                    Administration                                                                                              
       Expanded list of allowable activities                                                                                    
         ? Addressing learning loss among students                                                                              
          ? Summer programming                                                                                                  
          ? School facility repairs and improvements to                                                                         
          reduce the risk of virus transmission                                                                                 
          ? Improving air quality in school facilities                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator von Imhof appreciated the  slide. She noted that her                                                                    
district  had  received  $62 million.  She  noted  that  the                                                                    
federal  funds could  be carried  forward. She  worried that                                                                    
federal funds could supplant general funds.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  spoke to the  supplanting of fund  and the                                                                    
cash burden.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski  wondered about  the  administration's                                                                    
response  about  the  use  of  federal  dollars  supplanting                                                                    
general funds.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked whether  the funds had a non-supplant                                                                    
provision.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders said  that the federal funds  had a non-supplant                                                                    
provision.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:51:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  von   Imhof  requested   a  copy  of   the  federal                                                                    
guidelines. She  wondered what the consequences  could be of                                                                    
an inflated  budget. She  wondered where  the administration                                                                    
planned to  use the funds.  She hoped to avoid  a ballooning                                                                    
of the education  budget and then the  subsequent cutting of                                                                    
that budget.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders agreed to provide the guidelines.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman   remarked   that  there   could   be   a                                                                    
conversation  about  fund  balance carry-forwards,  and  any                                                                    
mechanisms to work  with the department on  the concern from                                                                    
Senator von Imhof.  He pointed to a  concern about potential                                                                    
budget balance fluctuations.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:54:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Sanders looked  at slide  6, "Coronavirus  Response and                                                                    
Relief  Supplemental   Appropriations  (CRRSA)   Act  Update                                                                    
(con't)":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     ? Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) II Fund                                                                     
          State of Alaska's allocation $8,191,720                                                                               
               ?    Governor's    Supplemental    allocation                                                                    
               $2,824,017                                                                                                       
                      Governor has not determined how                                                                           
                    funding will be allocated                                                                                   
                      Allowable uses include preventing,                                                                        
                    preparing for, and responding to COVID-                                                                     
                    19                                                                                                          
               ?   Emergency   Assistance   for   Non-Public                                                                    
               Schools allocation $5,367,703                                                                                    
                      Application for Non-Public Schools                                                                        
                    will be available by February 12, 2021                                                                      
                      Of this, $200,000 may be used for                                                                         
                    Administration                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski queried any  legal analysis in light of                                                                    
the  constitutional prohibition  against  using state  funds                                                                    
for private educational institutions.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders replied that there  was work with the Department                                                                    
of Law  to identify that  they were federal funds  that were                                                                    
provided  to  schools in  an  emergency  capacity for  life,                                                                    
health, safety resources to address the Covid-19 pandemic.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Sanders   discussed    slide   7,   "Total   Education                                                                    
Stabilization  Funds." She  noted  that  there were  several                                                                    
additional documents included in the packets for reference.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Sanders  addressed  slide   8,  "Additional  CARES  Act                                                                    
Allocations":                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     ? Child Nutrition Programs                                                                                                 
            Awarded $42.2 million for food service programs                                                                     
            As of  January 29, 2021, $28.3  million has been                                                                    
          expended                                                                                                              
             Limited period  of  availability    March  2020                                                                    
          through September 2020                                                                                                
            These  funds supplanted the DEED  federal funds;                                                                    
          they  were not  in addition  to the  federal funds                                                                    
          DEED receives                                                                                                         
     ? Libraries, Archives, and Museums                                                                                         
             Awarded $66.1  thousand for  grants to  museums                                                                    
          and libraries in Alaska                                                                                               
            As of January 29,  2021, $63.5 thousand has been                                                                    
          awarded                                                                                                               
     ? Alaska State Council on the Arts                                                                                         
            Awarded  $421.5 thousand  for grants  to Alaskan                                                                    
          artists                                                                                                               
             As of  January  29, 2021,  $385.8 thousand  has                                                                    
          been awarded                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:02:23 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:02:40 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
^FOLLOW UP: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:02:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PAT  PITNEY, INTERIM  PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY  OF ALASKA  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  discussed the  remaining  slides from  the                                                                    
PowerPoint   presentation    dated   February    11,   2021,                                                                    
"University  of Alaska  - Serving  Alaska  - Senate  Finance                                                                    
Committee -  February 11, 2021"  (copy on file).  Ms. Pitney                                                                    
discussed  slide 18,  "Students  and  Employees." She  noted                                                                    
that counts were  reduced over the previous  two years, over                                                                    
ten percent after recent budget uncertainty.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
10:06:21 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  stated that the  meeting was working  as a                                                                    
University  subcommittee   of  the  whole  in   the  current                                                                    
meeting.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  wondered  whether the  number  of  graduates                                                                    
included  the  Washington,  Wyoming,  Alaska,  Montana,  and                                                                    
Idaho (WWAMI) student graduates.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney replied  in the affirmative. She  stated that the                                                                    
number included everything from  the certificate programs to                                                                    
the medical doctor and PHD students.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney showed slide 19, "Enrollment Highlights":                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     ?Enrollment fall 2020 semester:                                                                                            
          ?Decline less than 10 percent,                                                                                        
          ?We had projected a 15-30 percent decline due to                                                                      
          COVID-19 on top of year over year declines since                                                                      
          2011                                                                                                                  
     ?Enrollment increased in UAF College of Fisheries and                                                                      
     Ocean Science, UAF School of Management, UAA College                                                                       
     of Health, UAS Sitka and Ketchikan campuses                                                                                
     ?Improved freshman retention rates compared to 2018-19                                                                     
     levels                                                                                                                     
     ?Enrollment spring 2021 semester (preliminary):                                                                            
          ?Applications up 10 percent                                                                                           
           Admissions up 5 percent                                                                                              
          ?Enrollment   increases    in   UAF    School   of                                                                    
          Management, UAF  Rural College, Alaska  College of                                                                    
          Education,  UAS School  of  Career Education,  and                                                                    
          UAA College of Health                                                                                                 
          ?Overall headcount down 9 percent                                                                                     
     ?Long-term growth in engineering and health care                                                                           
     programs to meet state demand                                                                                              
     ?edX courses focus UAF research strengths                                                                                  
          ?5,000 learners and scholars from over 120                                                                            
          countries in first four months                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:10:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  wondered whether  there could be  a detailed                                                                    
outline of the overall enrollment numbers for each program.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney agreed to provide that information.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney reviewed slide 20, "Asset Monetization":                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     ?Reduced owned space (2019-2020)                                                                                           
          ?Sold 10 facilities (38,000 gross-square feet)                                                                        
          ?Demolished  13  aged  facilities  (28,000  gross-                                                                    
          square feet)                                                                                                          
     ?Leasing space to third parties                                                                                            
          ?95,000  gsf in  University Center  50 percent  of                                                                    
          the available space is leased                                                                                         
          ?30,000 gsf  in the Alaska Airlines  Center to aid                                                                    
          in community covid-19 response                                                                                        
    ?Exploring public-private partnership opportunities                                                                         
          ?UAA COH Innovation Hub                                                                                               
          ?UAF to  sell excess  power and  considering other                                                                    
          monetization of the plant                                                                                             
          ?UAF  to consider  P3  for  expanded childcare  in                                                                    
          Fairbanks for employees and students                                                                                  
          ?UAF  to explore  combined  heat  and power  plant                                                                    
          asset monetization                                                                                                    
     ?Benefits                                                                                                                  
          ?Source of new revenue                                                                                                
          ?Reduce maintenance costs                                                                                             
          ?Reduce risk of ownership                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney spoke to slide 21, "Administration Review":                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     ?Administrative reviews across the university system                                                                       
          ?Analyze  roles   and  responsibilities   of  each                                                                    
          executive/leadership position                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
    ?Frame a sustainable, stable, core organization by:                                                                         
          ?Identifying  opportunities  to leverage  existing                                                                    
          resources                                                                                                             
          ?Identifying potential areas of savings                                                                               
          ?Creating administrative cost transparency                                                                            
          ?Streamlining and improving back-office processes                                                                     
          ?Investing  in   IT  necessary  to   automate  and                                                                    
          improve efficiencies                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     ?System Office                                                                                                             
          ?University of  Alaska (UA) is a  single legal and                                                                    
          financial     entity    created     in    Alaska's                                                                    
          constitution.                                                                                                         
          ?Governed by  a Board of  Regents, UA is  a single                                                                    
          employer,  and  the   provider  of  public  higher                                                                    
          education in the state.                                                                                               
          ?The has the fiduciary responsibility for UA as a                                                                     
          corporate entity, and to fulfill the Board of                                                                         
          Regents' policy and direction.                                                                                        
          ?The System Office provides central services for                                                                      
          efficiency and economies of scale. Programs are                                                                       
          operated on a case by case basis.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:15:03 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pitney discussed  slide  22,  "System Office  Positions                                                                    
(FY14 vs. FY22),"  which showed a table  in four categories.                                                                    
She explained the  details of the functions  outlined in the                                                                    
slide.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  asked whether the  UA system still  had paid                                                                    
lobbyists.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pitney  replied  that  Chad  Hutchison  was  the  State                                                                    
Relations  Director,  which  was  a position  similar  to  a                                                                    
legislative liaison.  She stated that Dustin  Bryant was the                                                                    
Federal Relations Director. That  position was co-located in                                                                    
the office where the  governor's federal relations positions                                                                    
reside.  She stated  that there  were companies  that worked                                                                    
with UA at  the federal level, particularly  related to land                                                                    
grants.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Pitney  referenced  slide 23,  "System  Office  Funding                                                                    
Comparison," which showed a  table outlining the comparisons                                                                    
of the different years' budgets.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:21:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski queried the interest income.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney replied the fees  were associated with the system                                                                    
office. She  remarked that there  was a fee  associated with                                                                    
the network. She stated that  the interest income on working                                                                    
reserves  were accounted  within the  system office  budget.                                                                    
She  furthered that  total tuition  fees  across the  entire                                                                    
system was approximately $122 million.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney turned to slide 24, "Research":                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Nationally Competitive                                                                                                     
     High Economic Impact: $160M external funds -                                                                               
     ?Arctic                                                                                                                    
          ?Infrastructure                                                                                                       
          ?Security and Defense                                                                                                 
          ?Culture and Health                                                                                                   
     ?Energy                                                                                                                    
     ?Climate Modeling, Adaption and Mitigation                                                                                 
     ?Health Research                                                                                                           
     ?Unmanned   Vehicles    (applications,   systems,   and                                                                    
     policies)                                                                                                                  
     ?Fisheries, Ocean Sciences, and the R/V Sikuliaq                                                                           
     ?Pilot Safety/FAA                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney spoke to slide 25, "University Land Holdings                                                                         
150k Acres," which showed a pie chart addressing the                                                                            
university lands.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney reviewed slide 26, "UA Land Grant Acreage                                                                            
Comparison," which showed a table pointing to the land                                                                          
grants. She pointed to each portion of the slide.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman wondered whether the lang grant had                                                                            
subsurface rights.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney replied in the affirmative.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:30:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney showed slide 27, "UA Land Legislation":                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     ?360,000 acres missing from UA's land grant                                                                                
     ?Alaska's   Congressional  Delegation   introduced  the                                                                    
     "University  of  Alaska  Fiscal Foundation  Act,"  that                                                                    
     would establish  a formal  federal program  under which                                                                    
     the land conveyances would be executed                                                                                     
     ?UA is  working with  the Alaska Department  of Natural                                                                    
     Resources to identify lands  suitable for conveyance to                                                                    
     the University                                                                                                             
     ?UA is also considering  diversifying its real property                                                                    
     portfolio  including  lands  that  have  potential  for                                                                    
     mineral,  oil  and  gas,   timber,  and  other  natural                                                                    
     resource values, lands  with residential, recreational,                                                                    
     or commercial value, and  wherever possible, lands that                                                                    
     are  near  communities with  a  need  for expansion  or                                                                    
     economic development                                                                                                       
     ?UA endowment is $409.5 million                                                                                            
     ?UA Land Grant Trust Fund $165 million                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney looked at slide 34, "Dual Enrollment/Middle                                                                          
College":                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Partnerships with K-12  districts across Alaska provide                                                                    
     a variety  of dual  enrollment options to  meet student                                                                    
     and district needs                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     On Campus programs                                                                                                         
     ?UAA  Alaska Middle  College enrollments  are currently                                                                    
     273,  an 84.5  percent increase  over the  life of  the                                                                    
     program                                                                                                                    
     ?UAA Mat  Su Middle College has  133 students currently                                                                    
     enrolled                                                                                                                   
     ?UAF North  Star College, a middle  college with FNSBSD                                                                    
     started in person  in fall 2020 with full  cohort of 40                                                                    
     senior students.  UAF and FNSBSD are  working to expand                                                                    
     the offering to juniors and seniors.                                                                                       
     ?UAA ANSEP offers a Middle  School Academy, High School                                                                    
     Acceleration Academy, and Summer Bridge program                                                                            
     ?UAA Kenai  Peninsula College JumpStart  Program offers                                                                    
     juniors and  seniors the opportunity to  complete up to                                                                    
     30 credits or an associate  degree at a discounted rate                                                                    
     (program   is  subsidized   by   the  Kenai   Peninsula                                                                    
     Borough); KPC has also launched a middle college                                                                           
     ?UAS  Supporting  Transitions and  Educational  Promise                                                                    
     Southeast   Alaska  (STEPS)   grant  with   the  Alaska                                                                    
     Association of School Boards                                                                                               
     ?56  percent  of  Middle College  graduates  go  on  to                                                                    
     enroll in a UA degree program                                                                                              
     "Virtual" Middle College                                                                                                   
     ?The UAF  Alaska Advantage program, a  "virtual" middle                                                                    
     college,  is   partnered  with  more  than   30  school                                                                    
     districts   and    homeschool   programs,    UAS   also                                                                    
     participates                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney addressed slide 33, "Workforce Reports." She                                                                         
stated that the reports showed how each industry had degree                                                                     
programs that prepared for the existing jobs.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:35:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman made a joke about aviation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney explained that the aviation programs were                                                                            
intensive. Those graduates go straight to work.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop noted that the Mining and Petroleum                                                                             
Institute had provided great refresher courses for miners                                                                       
during the Covid-19 pandemic.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney added that the Mining and Petroleum Institute                                                                        
was in partnership with Greenland to assist the communities                                                                     
advance the mine training.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney addressed slide 30, "Bartlett and Moore Hall                                                                         
Modernization and Renewal":                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     --$18.65M                                                                                                                  
     Bartlett  and Moore  are  UAF's  two largest  residence                                                                    
     halls.  The halls  are highly  utilized  and showing  a                                                                    
     half  century  of wear.  This  project  will renew  the                                                                    
     sanitation  infrastructure  of  each  building,  update                                                                    
     finishes in  resident rooms, and modernize  the student                                                                    
     experience.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The sanitary  sewer lines within  each building  are at                                                                    
     risk  of  imminent  total  system  failure  that  would                                                                    
     require UAF to  close one or both halls  with no notice                                                                    
     to occupants should a failure occur.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Over the  last four  years, plumbing that  supports the                                                                    
     restrooms  has  failed  a   number  of  times,  leaving                                                                    
     portions   of   each    building   without   sanitation                                                                    
     facilities while repairs are completed.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Work will completely demolish  stacked restrooms on all                                                                    
     floors,   rebuild   the   plumbing,   electrical,   and                                                                    
     ventilation  systems,  and reconstruct  code  compliant                                                                    
     restroom facilities on each floor.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     The  project  will  also   replace  outdated  and  worn                                                                    
     flooring and provide fresh paint in each hall.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     These  facilities  require  these critical  updates  in                                                                    
     order to  serve as  an attractive option  for enrolling                                                                    
     new students with  a promise of safe  and modern living                                                                    
     conditions.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
10:40:18 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Pitney looked at slide 31, "UAA Building Energy                                                                             
Performance Upgrades":                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     --$10.9M                                                                                                                   
     This   energy   savings    performance   project   will                                                                    
     incorporate    mechanical    and   electrical    system                                                                    
     improvements   to   three  critical   facilities,   the                                                                    
     Professional   Studies   Building  (PSB),   the   Wendy                                                                    
     Williamson  Auditorium (WWA),  and the  Social Sciences                                                                    
     Building (SSB).                                                                                                            
          ?PSB  scope will  include  LED lighting  upgrades,                                                                    
          electrical  safety  upgrades, boiler  replacement,                                                                    
          replacement of the existing  Air Handling Unit Fan                                                                    
          with  a  Fan  Wall system,  and  convert  outdated                                                                    
          pneumatic controls to DDC.                                                                                            
          ?WWA  scope will  include  LED Lighting  upgrades,                                                                    
          electrical   safety    upgrades,   conversion   of                                                                    
          pneumatic  controls to  DDC,  and  hot water  pump                                                                    
          replacements.                                                                                                         
          ?SSB scope  will include LED  lighting conversion,                                                                    
          electrical  safety   upgrades,  the   addition  of                                                                    
          hydronic heating to the 2nd  and 3rd floors of the                                                                    
          building,  conversion  of  pneumatic  controls  to                                                                    
          DDC, and fin tube repairs.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:46:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:46 a.m.                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
021121 DEED Handout - Education Stabilization Fund - District Allocations.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - FY2021 State Funded Program Changes by District.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - FY2021 District CARES Act (ESSERF GEERF) Expenditures Details.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - FY2020 District CARES Act (ESSERF GEERF) Expenditures Details.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - District CARES Act Expenditures as of 1.28.2021.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - Active Non Profit Private Schools as of 1.28.2021.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
021121 DEED Handout - Intent to Award List for GEER I Funds.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
2.11.2021 (S)FIN COVID-19 K-12 Federal Relief Funding Overview.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
CARES
CARES-CRRSA
UA Subcom Senate Finance 2-11-21 .pdf SFIN 2/11/2021 9:00:00 AM
SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
SB 49
021621 OMB Funds Subject to Sweep.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
Sweep/Reverse Sweep
021621 SFIN CBR Sweep Provisions.pdf SFIN 2/16/2021 9:00:00 AM
Sweep/Reverse Sweep