Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/19/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

Audio Topic
09:02:11 AM Start
09:02:35 AM Governor's Fy22 Budget Amendments
10:02:56 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Governor's FY22 Budget Amendments TELECONFERENCED
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 19, 2021                                                                                          
                         9:02 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:02:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee                                                                            
meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                           
Senator Bill Wielechowski                                                                                                       
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Caroline Schultz, Policy Analyst, Office of Management and                                                                      
Budget, Office of the Governor.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Neil Steininger, Director, Office of Management and Budget,                                                                     
Office of the Governor.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
^GOVERNOR'S FY22 BUDGET AMENDMENTS                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:02:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman relayed that the committee would consider                                                                      
amendments to the governor's proposed budget.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:03:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROLINE SCHULTZ, POLICY ANALYST, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND                                                                      
BUDGET, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, discussed the presentation                                                                      
entitled "Senate  Finance Budget Amendments  Overview" (copy                                                                    
on file). She reminded that  it was statutorily required for                                                                    
the governor to submit amendments  to the budget on the 30th                                                                    
day of the  legislative session. She wanted to  focus on the                                                                    
amendments that had been sent over earlier in the week.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz drew attention to  slide 2, "Amendment Summary,"                                                                    
which showed  a table with  totals for amendments to  the FY                                                                    
22  operating budget,  as well  as to  the FY  21 and  FY 22                                                                    
capital budgets. The slide functioned as a summary.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  turned to slide 3,  "Agency Operating Amendment                                                                    
Summary     By  Department,"   which  showed  a  table  with                                                                    
proposed  amendments  by  department.  She  highlighted  the                                                                    
first  column with  the FY  22 supplemental  items that  had                                                                    
already been  proposed. The second column  showed amendments                                                                    
to the  supplemental items. She  pointed out that  the slide                                                                    
showed Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) only.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz continued  to address slide 3.  The third column                                                                    
showed   total   supplemental   items   proposed   for   all                                                                    
departments. Additional  columns showed the FY  22 governors                                                                    
proposed  budget,  amendments  recently  proposed,  and  the                                                                    
total FY 22 budget inclusive of amendments.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:06:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz displayed  slide 4,  "Amended Fiscal  Summary,"                                                                    
which showed  an updated  version of  the fiscal  summary by                                                                    
the Office  of Management  and Budget (OMB),  which included                                                                    
amendments proposed earlier in the week.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  thought it  was  nice  to note  that  the                                                                    
administration and  legislature had done  a good job  in not                                                                    
having a large supplemental to consider.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz addressed  a packet  of  spreadsheets (copy  on                                                                    
file).  She spoke  to  Spreadsheet  1, "FY2021  Supplemental                                                                    
Governor Amended"  which showed supplemental  amendments for                                                                    
the  operating and  capital budgets.  She detailed  that the                                                                    
first four items were increases  for the Department of Labor                                                                    
and  Workforce Development  (DOL).  There  was originally  a                                                                    
decrement  proposed  in  the supplemental  budget,  and  the                                                                    
amendments   posed   a   smaller  decrement   to   Technical                                                                    
Vocational Education Program (TVEP) funding.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz   listed  that   item  7   replaced  commercial                                                                    
passenger vessel  environmental compliance fees for  UGF for                                                                    
shellfish  testing.  The   item  had  been  in   the  FY  22                                                                    
governor's proposal  and was also  proposed as  an amendment                                                                    
to the FY 21 supplemental budget.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked to  review each  page and  then take                                                                    
questions when the page was complete.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  noted that  the final items  on the  slide were                                                                    
supplemental   capital   items    that   were   repeal   and                                                                    
reappropriations  of   expired  capital  projects,   to  the                                                                    
General  Fund and  to the  Alaska Capital  Income Fund.  She                                                                    
pointed out  that line 10 erroneously  listed the Department                                                                    
of   Revenue   (DOR)   rather   than   the   Department   of                                                                    
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:09:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman asked why all  UGF was not reappropriated to                                                                    
the Alaska Capital Income Fund  rather than a portion to the                                                                    
General Fund.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  did not  know the  answer to  Senator Hoffman's                                                                    
question and offered  to provide the information  at a later                                                                    
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop looked  at line  10 and  asked about  which                                                                    
department should be indicated.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  reminded that the Capital  Income Fund was                                                                    
a fund  that accumulated money  that was later  expended for                                                                    
deferred maintenance in the capital budget.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  addressed  Spreadsheet  2,  "FY2022  Operating                                                                    
Governor Amended," which  listed operating budget amendments                                                                    
for  the  coming  fiscal  year budget.  Item  1  related  to                                                                    
Executive Order  119 and  proposed to  add a  new department                                                                    
technology  officer for  the new  Department  of Family  and                                                                    
Community  Services,  to  be  added  to  the  Department  of                                                                    
Administration (DOA)  Office of Information  Technology. The                                                                    
second item  was a  technical adjustment  to correct  a sort                                                                    
order  issue with  the way  the budget  was written.  Item 3                                                                    
proposed to  add $10,000 to Department  of Corrections (DOC)                                                                    
to increase the medication  assisted treatment program using                                                                    
newly  available federal  funds. She  explained that  Item 4                                                                    
was  a minor  adjustment of  a $3.4  thousand reduction  for                                                                    
Department  of   Education  and  Early   Development  (DEED)                                                                    
matching funds that were not needed.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman thought  Item  4  was inconsequential  and                                                                    
appreciated OMB bringing it before the committee.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz continued to address  the proposed amendments on                                                                    
Spreadsheet  2. She  detailed that  Item 5  was a  technical                                                                    
item  that paired  with  an  item in  the  governor's FY  22                                                                    
budget  release.  The  reduction  was coupled  with  a  fund                                                                    
source  change  in  the   Alaska  Student  Loan  Corporation                                                                    
(ASLC). Item  6 was a  technical adjustment that  changed an                                                                    
appropriation  from  the  language section  to  the  numbers                                                                    
section.  Item  7 was  a  more  significant correction.  She                                                                    
discussed  the Spill  Prevention and  Response (SPAR)  Fund,                                                                    
which  was being  unsustainably  spent.  The department  had                                                                    
proposed a $700,000 reduction to  achieve a more sustainable                                                                    
draw to  the fund,  and there was  a proposed  $200,000 add-                                                                    
back to leave a net reduction  of $500,000. Item 8 would add                                                                    
more  authority to  the Department  of Fish  and Game  (DFG)                                                                    
Commercial Fisheries  for Exxon Valdez Oil  Spill Settlement                                                                    
(EVOSS) funds.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:13:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  asked  about  Item   7  and  asked  if  the                                                                    
administration was  planning to  propose legislation  to fix                                                                    
the shortfall.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz stated that the  administration had not proposed                                                                    
any legislation to increase SPAR Fund collections.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asked for more  explanation on Item  5, to                                                                    
include discussion of the scholarship fund.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz   recalled  that  ASLC   used  to   manage  the                                                                    
Washington,  Wyoming,  Alaska,  Montana, and  Idaho  (WWAMI)                                                                    
program using  program receipts.  There had  been sufficient                                                                    
receipt collection  through the loan servicing.  As the loan                                                                    
program had been reduced the  cost was no longer de minimis.                                                                    
The FY 22 governor's  budget had proposed switching managing                                                                    
WWAMI  from student  loan receipts  to the  Higher Education                                                                    
Fund.   The  item   on  the   spreadsheet  represented   the                                                                    
associated  reduction  in  ASLC's funding  from  the  Alaska                                                                    
Commission on  Postsecondary Education.  She noted  that the                                                                    
item was a  technical fix and she would be  happy to provide                                                                    
a flow chart for clarity if needed.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  if the  change  would increase  the                                                                    
financial strain on the Higher Education Fund.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz answered in the affirmative.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz addressed  Item 9, which was a  technical fix to                                                                    
remove some  language in the  numbers section for  DFG. Item                                                                    
10 and Item 11, also in  DFG, were both increases in federal                                                                    
authority  associated  with   increased  federal  funds  for                                                                    
conservation,  wildlife grants,  and Dingell-Johnson  Funds.                                                                    
She continued  that item  12 was  also related  to Executive                                                                    
Order  119,   and  would  add  an   administrative  services                                                                    
director  to OMB  for the  new  department. Item  13 was  an                                                                    
increase  of   about  $700,000  UGF  for   the  Division  of                                                                    
Elections to replace Help America  Vote Act funds. The funds                                                                    
had  been  used  to  support   printing  ballots  and  other                                                                    
materials in  indigenous languages.  She explained  that the                                                                    
federal  government had  repurposed  the grants  to use  for                                                                    
election  security,  which  the   state  believed  to  be  a                                                                    
worthwhile endeavor.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.   Schultz  relayed   that  item   14  was   a  technical                                                                    
adjustment.  In the  FY  22 governor's  budget  there was  a                                                                    
proposed  decrement to  eliminate two  building plan  review                                                                    
positions, and the  amount had been off by  $15,000. Item 15                                                                    
was an increase to the  Alaska State Trooper Academy. In the                                                                    
FY  18 budget,  some Statutory  Designated Program  Receipts                                                                    
were added  to the academy  budget, hoping that  the academy                                                                    
would  be  able to  collect  from  municipalities and  other                                                                    
organizations  that  sent  recruits   to  the  academy.  The                                                                    
authority  had not  worked out.  Item 16  would add  federal                                                                    
receipt authority for the crime lab.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:17:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop considered  Item 15  and asked  if the  UGF                                                                    
increment was  because other  law enforcement  agencies used                                                                    
the Sitka Police  Academy as a training ground.  He asked if                                                                    
Ms.  Schultz had  asserted  that attendees  had  not paid  a                                                                    
sufficient portion and funds were needed to backfill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz thought  it would be best for  the Department of                                                                    
Public Safety  to fully  address the  question. She  knew it                                                                    
had been  a goal of  the legislature and  the administration                                                                    
to help  the academy  collect more  receipts, but  there had                                                                    
been challenges in doing so in the previous few years.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked Ms.  Schultz  to  get back  to  the                                                                    
committee  with more  information, including  help from  the                                                                    
department   regarding   municipalities.  He   thought   the                                                                    
legislature was  expecting municipalities  to carry  more of                                                                    
the  financial load  of training  municipal police,  and the                                                                    
funds had not materialized.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz agreed.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman pointed out that  COVID-19 funds were being                                                                    
used for  Item 10 and Item  11. He the legislature  would be                                                                    
addressing   the  areas   in  which   COVID-19  funds   were                                                                    
supplanting other funds.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  moved to  page 3 and  addressed Item  17, which                                                                    
would add $194,000  in UGF to DOR to help  in managing risks                                                                    
within financial  and information  systems. The item  was in                                                                    
the FY  22 governor's budget  as well.  Item 18 was  a small                                                                    
correction in  numbers. Item  19 was  in DOT.  She clarified                                                                    
that all  of the  DOT items relating  to reduction  in Motor                                                                    
Fuels  Tax and  Aviation  Fuel  Tax were  related  due to  a                                                                    
shortfall  in  collections.  The items  proposed  to  delete                                                                    
additional  unrealizable receipt  authority  for both  funds                                                                    
for all of  the regions. The reductions were  proposed to be                                                                    
offset with increases using COVID-19 funding.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz explained that Item  19 and Item 20 were related                                                                    
to  deleting uncollectable  authority. Item  20 proposed  to                                                                    
add  $620,000  in  federal  COVID-19  funds  to  reopen  the                                                                    
Silvertip  maintenance station.  Item 21  was for  increased                                                                    
rural airport paint  striping. Item 24 was  also an increase                                                                    
with federal  funds to give  the Dalton  Highway maintenance                                                                    
crew  a two  week on/two  week off  schedule. Item  25 would                                                                    
reopen  the Chitina  and  Birch  Lake maintenance  stations.                                                                    
Item 26  pertained to more  rural airport paint  striping in                                                                    
the Northern region.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:21:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop commented  that it was the fourth  year in a                                                                    
row  where  motor  fuels tax  receipts  kept  declining.  He                                                                    
estimated that over the previous  three years there was $3.4                                                                    
million in lost revenue.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  discussed  Item   20  and  the  Silvertip                                                                    
Maintenance Station, as  well as Item 25. He  was curious as                                                                    
to why  the items  were not combined  and asked  if COVID-19                                                                    
funds were  being used  to backfill the  items. He  asked if                                                                    
there was consideration  given to funding in  the long term,                                                                    
or if the projects were targeted for elimination.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz stated  that the items were not  combined due to                                                                    
different DOT regions. She affirmed  that DOT was working to                                                                    
identify ways  to keep the maintenance  stations open, which                                                                    
had been identified as priority areas for public safety.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman  asked   about  Item   24,  relating   to                                                                    
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act                                                                      
funds and the Dalton Highway.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  explained that the highway  maintenance crew on                                                                    
the  Dalton Highway  switched to  a two-week-on/two-week-off                                                                    
schedule  to  mitigate  the  risk   of  COVID-19.  The  item                                                                    
proposed a continuation of schedule into FY 22.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman reminded  that  it was  important to  take                                                                    
time to  look at the  physical structure and  maintenance of                                                                    
the Dalton  Highway, and ensure  that the road  corridor was                                                                    
functioning.  He noted  that there  had  been a  substantial                                                                    
increase in truck traffic over the past several years.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  moved to page 4  of Spreadsheet 2. Item  27 and                                                                    
Item 28  would delete  uncollectable authority  and increase                                                                    
airport  maintenance using  federal CARES  Act funds  in the                                                                    
Southcoast  Region.  Item  29 and  Item  30  were  technical                                                                    
corrections relating to  cost-of-living adjustments. Item 31                                                                    
was  a recommendation  from the  legislative task  force for                                                                    
therapeutic courts  and proposed a $480,000  UGF increase to                                                                    
the  judicial  system  for  the   program.  Item  34  was  a                                                                    
technical  update  that  revised language  in  the  language                                                                    
section for the natural gas  pipeline project. Item 35 would                                                                    
extend  the   COVID-19  grants  within  the   Department  of                                                                    
Commerce, Community  and Economic Development.  She reminded                                                                    
that  the COVID-19  relief funds  had been  extended through                                                                    
the  rest of  the  year, and  the  administration wanted  to                                                                    
ensure that the funds could  be expend. Item 36 would update                                                                    
the  correct amount  for the  Alaska Industrial  Development                                                                    
and Export Authority's (AIDEA) dividend.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  for  Ms.  Schultz  to  repeat  the                                                                    
information on Item 35.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz explained  that AIDEA  paid a  dividend to  the                                                                    
state each year as required  by statute. When the governor's                                                                    
budget was originally submitted,  the correct number had not                                                                    
been available.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:26:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman looked  at Item 27 and Item  28. He observed                                                                    
that Item  28 referenced  the "Southcoast Region,"  which he                                                                    
had not  heard before.  He asked why  the region  was listed                                                                    
and  noted that  it included  communities he  represented as                                                                    
well as others.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz was not deeply  familiar with how DOT subdivided                                                                    
areas of the  state for regional maintenance.  She agreed to                                                                    
get back to the committee with  a map of the regions and the                                                                    
reasoning for the division.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman  stated  he was  familiar  with  all  state                                                                    
regions.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman recalled  that  several years  previously,                                                                    
DOT had decided  to expand the Southcoast  Region and change                                                                    
the  Coastal Region  that included  the Aleutian  Chain, the                                                                    
Pribilof Islands,  and Kodiak. He thought  the current three                                                                    
regions  of Central,  Northern, and  Southcoast had  been in                                                                    
existence for  several years,  but the  geographical regions                                                                    
had  not been  considered  by the  committee.  He asked  Ms.                                                                    
Schultz to  get back  to the  committee with  a geographical                                                                    
printout of the regions.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz noted that Cordova  was included in the Northern                                                                    
Region.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed Item  34 and highlighted that the                                                                    
amendment proposed  to divert federal funds  from the Alaska                                                                    
Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC)  into a separate area                                                                    
called  the Alaska  Liquified Natural  Gas Project  Fund. He                                                                    
did  not think  the committee  had reviewed  the matter.  He                                                                    
thought  the   committee  should  consider  the   topic  and                                                                    
possible actions.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:30:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman referenced Item 29  and Item 30. He had been                                                                    
under  the  impression that  the  cost  of living  allowance                                                                    
(COLA)  was  3  percent  and  under.  He  thought  the  item                                                                    
proposed to raise  the cola from 3 percent to  7 percent. He                                                                    
suggested that  during a  time of  such low  interest rates,                                                                    
the change seemed  exorbitant. He wondered if  there was any                                                                    
backup to justify the proposed 7 percent COLA.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  agreed to provide  more information  and backup                                                                    
on   how   the   bargaining  agreements   and   terms   were                                                                    
established.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop wondered  if the  salaries and  benefits in                                                                    
question   were  paid   from  Airport   Improvement  Program                                                                    
receipts.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz agreed to provide the information.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  turned  to  page   5  of  Spreadsheet  2.  She                                                                    
addressed Item  37, which would  provide an increase  to the                                                                    
Division of  Elections for redistricting. She  reminded that                                                                    
that redistricting happened every  10 years and the division                                                                    
would be  printing new materials, and  the proposed increase                                                                    
would be for  FY 22 and FY  23. Item 38 was  an extension of                                                                    
the  Revised Program  Legislative (RPL)  which was  recently                                                                    
approved by the Legislative  Budget and Audit Committee. The                                                                    
amendment would  correct the  amount in  the RPL  for rental                                                                    
assistance, which had been part  of the Coronavirus Response                                                                    
and Relief  Supplemental Appropriations Act  (CRRSAA) funds.                                                                    
The funding  was made available  to assist renters,  and the                                                                    
appropriation  proposed to  correct and  extend the  funding                                                                    
amount. She noted  that Item 39 was included in  the list as                                                                    
a mistake.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  addressed Item 40, which  proposed new language                                                                    
in the  budget. She  reminded that  medical students  in the                                                                    
WWAMI program  were obligated to  repay student loans  at an                                                                    
accelerated if  they did  not practice  medical care  in the                                                                    
state. The  language would  allow the  loan repayment  to go                                                                    
back into  the Higher Education Investment  Fund rather than                                                                    
reverting  to the  General Fund.  Item 41  and Item  42 were                                                                    
related  and would  reverse a  one-time item  and adding  it                                                                    
back  in  for  the   Legislative  Redistricting  Board.  She                                                                    
recalled that the  item was added the previous  year and the                                                                    
item proposed to bring the  funding into the following year.                                                                    
She continued  that Item 45  was the beginning of  the human                                                                    
resources consolidation transfers  related to Administrative                                                                    
Order  305, and  would move  40  positions to  DOA. Item  46                                                                    
pertained  to technical  adjustments within  the departments                                                                    
to  move  the  fund  around  appropriately  to  finance  the                                                                    
interagency receipt authority.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:34:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  referenced Item 38 and  the Federal Housing                                                                    
and  Homeless  Stimulus.  He  appreciated  the  funds  going                                                                    
towards  the program.  He noted  that  the item  description                                                                    
indicated the programs  were extended to June  30, 2022, and                                                                    
June  30, 2023;  but there  was an  application deadline  of                                                                    
March 10.  He wondered why the  date was chosen and  why the                                                                    
application  deadline  was  not open-ended  for  those  that                                                                    
might  not  have  the  information.   He  commented  on  the                                                                    
difficulty of  communications in  the state during  the time                                                                    
of COVID-19. He  asked about the intent to  address the same                                                                    
needs if the vast majority of the funds were expended.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz agreed to provide the information.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson commented  on Item 40 and was  glad the funds                                                                    
would go back to the Higher  Education Fund. He asked if the                                                                    
estimate was  only for  the upcoming  year. He  wondered how                                                                    
many  students  had not  met  the  obligation of  the  WWAMI                                                                    
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz agreed to provide the information.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  dovetailed  on Senator  Hoffman's  remarks                                                                    
about  Item  38 and  asked  about  extending the  dates  for                                                                    
rental  assistance  funding. He  noted  that  there was  not                                                                    
currently  a disaster  declaration in  place, and  asked Ms.                                                                    
Schultz to look into whether  the authority could be carried                                                                    
forward without the declaration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz stated that the  extension of the state disaster                                                                    
declaration did  not impact  the federal  appropriation, nor                                                                    
the  state's ability  to receive  or expend  the funds.  She                                                                    
would double check  the dates of the  proposed extension and                                                                    
provide the committee with more information.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz   addressed  page  6  of   Spreadsheet  2.  She                                                                    
explained  that  the  last  items  related  to  the  central                                                                    
services  consolidation  efforts.   Item  47  transferred  a                                                                    
procurement position from  the Department of Law  to DOA for                                                                    
consolidation,  and  the  item  was a  cleanup  from  FY  22                                                                    
efforts.  Item  48  was the  financial  fund  source  change                                                                    
associated with Item 47. She  continued that Item 49 related                                                                    
to  facilities   and  leasing  consolidation  in   DOT.  She                                                                    
explained  that  the   administration  would  revert  budget                                                                    
authority  back  into  departments  with  a  tie-in  to  the                                                                    
leasing. She discussed reasoning for change.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:39:19 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:40:23 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  addressed  Spreadsheet  3,  "FY2022  Operating                                                                    
Governor  Amended  -   Department  of  Health/Department  of                                                                    
Family  and  Community  Services." She  explained  that  the                                                                    
packet  was  related to  amendments  for  the Department  of                                                                    
Health  and Social  Services (DHSS),  which under  Executive                                                                    
Order 119  was under consideration to  become the Department                                                                    
of  Health  and  the  Department  of  Family  and  Community                                                                    
Services. She  relayed that the committee  heard extensively                                                                    
from  the department  on the  proposed  executive order  the                                                                    
previous day. She  offered to highlight items  in the packet                                                                    
that were not related to the executive order.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  assumed the committee wanted  consider the                                                                    
items  described,  and asked  Ms.  Schultz  to identify  any                                                                    
items of significance that dealt with the executive order.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz drew attention to  Item 7, which was not related                                                                    
to the  executive order,  and would  increase the  match for                                                                    
adoption and  guardian maintenance  of effort.  The increase                                                                    
was due  to increased requirements  in adoption and  more GF                                                                    
match was needed.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:42:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman asked about the amount of the match.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  agreed to  provide the  information at  a later                                                                    
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  highlighted  Item 14,  which  signified  a  $2                                                                    
million increase  for the  Adult Public  Assistance Program,                                                                    
which  had to  do with  an  increase to  the maintenance  of                                                                    
effort. She  recalled that there  had been an  ongoing issue                                                                    
with   the   component   related  to   federal   authorities                                                                    
identifying  a   mistake  in  the  way   the  benefits  were                                                                    
calculated.  There had  been  previous  adjustments and  she                                                                    
thought  Item  14 would  be  the  final correction  for  the                                                                    
calculation error.  Item 15 related  to Item 16 and  Item 17                                                                    
on  the  following  page  and  was  carry  forward  for  the                                                                    
Department  of  Health.  The  carry-forward  language  would                                                                    
allow  the department  to continue  into  the coming  fiscal                                                                    
year with  $60 million  UGF in  spending authority  that had                                                                    
been appropriated by the  legislature for COVID-19 response.                                                                    
All  the  remaining  items  included   in  the  packet  were                                                                    
technical items that related to Executive Order 119.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz noted  that many  of  the technical  amendments                                                                    
related  to  shifting  existing components  within  DHSS  to                                                                    
transfer  out  to  the  new   departments  proposed  in  the                                                                    
executive order.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wielechowski  asked about the total  net increase or                                                                    
decrease from the executive order.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz pointed to page  5, which showed the totals from                                                                    
amendment changes,  which were  inclusive of items  that did                                                                    
not specific  to the executive  order. The  un-related items                                                                    
totaled  $5.5 million  UGF  and about  $8.5  million in  all                                                                    
funds. She stated  she would get back to  the committee with                                                                    
the exact number related to the executive order.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  asked about  the transfers  on page  3 from                                                                    
DHSS to the proposed Department  of Health and Department of                                                                    
Family  and Community  Services.  He mentioned  Item 49  and                                                                    
Item   50.  He   asked  if   it  was   the  intent   of  the                                                                    
administration that  the services  related to  the transfers                                                                    
mentioned by Ms.  Schultz would remain in  the various areas                                                                    
of the state.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  affirmed  that  it   was  the  intent  of  the                                                                    
administration that locations  and services delivered across                                                                    
the state  would remain in  the same areas. She  thought the                                                                    
goal  of  the   executive  order  and  creation   of  a  new                                                                    
department was improved service delivery.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman asked  for the  point in  writing from  the                                                                    
administration.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz agreed to ask for the information.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  to have the matter  addressed to the                                                                    
committee. He  understood that the matter  was an accounting                                                                    
issue, rather  than a transfer. Co-Chair  Stedman asked that                                                                    
members bring any questions to his office.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:47:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz   addressed  Spreadsheet  4,   "FY2022  Capital                                                                    
Governor Amended."  She spoke  to Item  1, which  proposed a                                                                    
$2.7  million   increase  to  the  Alaska   Housing  Finance                                                                    
Corporation's  (AHFC)   Homeless  Assistance   Program.  The                                                                    
increase was  partly in response  to the  COVID-19 pandemic,                                                                    
and there was  about $160 million in  funding made available                                                                    
by  the federal  government for  direct relief  to landlords                                                                    
and  utility companies.  Because  the  funding had  specific                                                                    
rules for appropriation, it did  not necessarily address all                                                                    
of the potential homelessness mitigation efforts.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  spoke  to  Item  4  and  Item  5,  which  were                                                                    
corrections  to  the UGF  match  for  the Village  Safewater                                                                    
Programs  between  the  funding  for the  new  projects  and                                                                    
ongoing project maintenance. The  items shifted the matching                                                                    
funds for  federal authority. She clarified  that instead of                                                                    
UGF, the  items were  using Other Funds  and funded  by AHFC                                                                    
bond receipts.  Item 6 was  a reduction in authority  in the                                                                    
Wildlife Management Research Hunting  Access grants that DFG                                                                    
used  in its  capital  budget. She  pointed  out that  while                                                                    
there appeared to  be a reduction in  capital authority, the                                                                    
amount was  offset by  an increase  in the  operating budget                                                                    
after  the  department  moved the  research  aspect  of  the                                                                    
program from capital to operating  expenditures in the FY 22                                                                    
governor's budget.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz explained that Item  7 was the implementation of                                                                    
Ballot Measure  2 (approved  by voters)  in the  Division of                                                                    
Elections. It signified an $800,000  increase to get the new                                                                    
information to voters to execute ranked choice voters.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   quipped  that  saying  "okay"   did  not                                                                    
indicate agreement with a proposal.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  addressed  Item 8,  a  Department  of  Natural                                                                    
Resources   (DNR)   capital   project   to   establish   and                                                                    
information database  and dashboard  to help  the department                                                                    
manage natural disasters with data  driven decisions. Item 9                                                                    
was  an increase  in statutory  designated program  receipts                                                                    
for the  Dam Safety Program in  DNR. Item 10 was  related to                                                                    
Item 11 on the next  page and concerned budget authority for                                                                    
the  Exxon  Valdez  Oil Spill  (EVOS)  Trustees  Council  to                                                                    
purchase  a parcel  on the  Kenai  River to  build a  larger                                                                    
parking lot.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  if the proposal was a  normal use of                                                                    
EVOS funds.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz explained that that  the trustees used the funds                                                                    
to  purchase  land to  preserve  and  protect wildlands  and                                                                    
wildlife areas  as well as  to increase access to  the land.                                                                    
The area in question was a  popular boat launch on the Kenai                                                                    
River and the expansion would protect the area.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman recalled  that in the past,  if the property                                                                    
was outside  a borough,  it became controversial  if private                                                                    
property was taken  off the tax rolls of  a municipality. He                                                                    
wondered if  the issue  had been raised  with regard  to the                                                                    
potential EVOS property acquisition.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz was  not  aware  of such  a  concern but  would                                                                    
follow  up  with the  appropriate  parties  and provide  any                                                                    
relevant information to the committee.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:53:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  reiterated that Item  11 on page 2  was related                                                                    
to  the  Kenai  River  parcel purchase  from  Item  10.  She                                                                    
continued  that  Item 12  was  an  increase for  maintenance                                                                    
capital  improvements on  tunnels on  the road  and railroad                                                                    
between Portage and Whittier using  tunnel receipts. Item 16                                                                    
through Item  19 were reappropriations of  capital projects.                                                                    
Item 16 was a reappropriation  from DOA to DOT. She reminded                                                                    
that  the  administration  was  endeavoring  to  consolidate                                                                    
facilities leasing  and facilities improvements  within DOT,                                                                    
and  the   item  just  moved   the  authority   between  the                                                                    
departments.  She  continued  that   Item  17  and  Item  18                                                                    
pertained  to existing  capital  projects  within DHSS  that                                                                    
needed  to  be  reappropriated  in  light  of  the  proposed                                                                    
departmental renaming and  reorganization. Item 19 pertained                                                                    
to reappropriation of capital  projects that had been housed                                                                    
in the governor's office to the Department of Health.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wielechowski asked  about a  detailed breakdown  of                                                                    
costs  for Executive  Order 119,  to  include expenses  from                                                                    
changing facilities and new furniture.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz agreed  to provide  the information.  She noted                                                                    
that  there  were items  listed  on  the spreadsheet  within                                                                    
packet  3   that  highlighted  increments  related   to  the                                                                    
executive  order.  She  agreed  to  provide  a  consolidated                                                                    
response to the committee.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  thought  a breakdown  would  be  helpful,                                                                    
including a breakdown of salaries and employees.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson looked  at Item 7 on page  1, which pertained                                                                    
to the  Ballot Measure 2. He  asked if there were  funds for                                                                    
the  Alaska Public  Offices Commission  (APOC) to  implement                                                                    
the changes as well.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz stated  that the  administration  had not  been                                                                    
able  to incorporate  APOC funds  for the  amendment release                                                                    
being considered.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  for Senator  Wilson to  restate the                                                                    
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson noted that Item  7 had money for the Division                                                                    
of Elections  to implement Ballot  Measure 2, but  there was                                                                    
no money for APOC to implement the changes.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz stated that the  summary of Ballot Measure 2 had                                                                    
a cost  associated with APOC.  The increment was not  in the                                                                    
amendment packet, due to a  timing issue. She continued that                                                                    
while amendments  were due  by the 30th  day of  session, it                                                                    
was customary to  send amendments after the fact.  If it was                                                                    
the will of the co-chairs, further amendments would follow.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman appreciated  Senator  Wilson pointing  out                                                                    
the  issue.  He  explained   that  typically  the  committee                                                                    
considered  amendments  beyond  the deadline  as  there  was                                                                    
often oversights or new information to consider.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:58:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop  asked  if  Ms.  Schultz  could  provide  a                                                                    
ballpark estimate of funding needs from APOC.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  Ms. Schultz to give  the committee a                                                                    
heads up on potential changes forthcoming.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz stated it would be  unusual for OMB to provide a                                                                    
ball-park figure  for a  forthcoming amendment.  She thought                                                                    
the cost estimate  from APOC was publicly  available data in                                                                    
the ballot pamphlet.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman stated  he  would work  on  the issue.  He                                                                    
noted  that all  amendments did  not have  to come  from the                                                                    
administration.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson  asked what would  happen if  the legislature                                                                    
failed to accept the amendment for APOC.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Schultz  deferred  the  question  to  the  Division  of                                                                    
Elections.  She thought  the director  would be  able to  go                                                                    
into detail. She offered to  provide the division's response                                                                    
to the committee.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Schultz  commented that her presentation  was concluded.                                                                    
She noted  that the OMB  director was available by  phone to                                                                    
make a final comment.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
NEIL STEININGER, DIRECTOR, OFFICE  OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,                                                                    
OFFICE OF  THE GOVERNOR  (via teleconference), did  not have                                                                    
any final  comments. He thanked  Ms. Schultz for  filling in                                                                    
for him at the meeting.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the agenda  for the next week. He                                                                    
noted that the committee would  still meet five days a week.                                                                    
Co-Chair  Bishop  would  chair meetings  concerning  capital                                                                    
budget  needs and  deferred  maintenance  issues around  the                                                                    
state. He mentioned being prepared  for the possibility of a                                                                    
massive federal capital improvement program.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:02:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:02 a.m.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
021821 1 - FY2021_Supplemental_Governor_Amend_Bill_Summary_Spreadsheet_-_2.16.21.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 2 - FY2022_Governor_Amend_Operating_Bill_Summary_Spreadsheet_2.16.21.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 3 - FY2022_Governor_Amend_Operating_DFCS__DOH_Bill_Summary_Spreadsheet_2.18.21.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 4 - FY2022_Governor_Amend_Capital_Bill_Summary_Spreadsheet_2.16.21.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 SFIN Budget Amendments 2.18.21 PPT.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 Attachment 2 - Status of Current WWAMI Borrowers.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 Attachment 1 - DOTPF-Regions-July2015 - Regional Boundaries.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments
021921 OMB Response to 2.19.21 SFIN Gov Amend Hearing.pdf SFIN 2/19/2021 9:00:00 AM
FY22 Budget Amendments