Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/17/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB49 || SB50 || SB51 | |
| Public Testimony: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, and All Other Locations | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 51 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 17, 2021
9:01 a.m.
9:01:13 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski (via teleconference)
Senator David Wilson (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Terri Walker, Superintendent, Northwest Arctic Borough
School District, Kotzebue; Chuck Degnan, Self, Unalakleet;
Michael Jaffery, Self, Utqiagvik; Erin Hollingsworth, Self,
Utqiagvik; Brenda Moore, Alaska Mental Health Board,
Anchorage; Alyssa Sappenfield, Energy Analyst, Alaska
Public Interest Group, Anchorage; Herman Morgan, Self,
Aniak.
SUMMARY
SB 49 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
SB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 50 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP; SUPP; AMEND
SB 50 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 51 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 51 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 49
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making reappropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making appropriations
under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State
of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve
fund; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 50
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, reappropriations, and other
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
making appropriations to capitalize funds; and
providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 51
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
9:03:55 AM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, AND ALL OTHER LOCATIONS
9:03:55 AM
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Olson.
9:04:32 AM
TERRI WALKER, SUPERINTENDENT, NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH
SCHOOL DISTRICT, KOTZEBUE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of stable education school funding. She spoke in
support of the current Base Student Allocation (BSA). She
urged support of funding for early education. She requested
a true-up for full funding the dormitory need. She noted an
increase in adult students with children who needed housing
for to attend the technical school, and requested $3
million for the project. She spoke in full support of the
Power Cost Equalization (PCE). She stated that her school
district served an area the size of West Virginia, and 95
percent of the students were Alaska Native. She remarked
that vaccination rates were increasing, and many schools
were operating with full in person learning.
9:08:34 AM
CHUCK DEGNAN, SELF, UNALAKLEET (via teleconference), spoke
to the issues of the necessary upgrades for the water
system in Unalakleet. He stressed that the current system
was out of date. He stressed that the water and sewer
system was in great need of a full replacement.
9:10:01 AM
Senator Olson stressed the importance of clean water,
especially during the current pandemic.
9:10:23 AM
AT EASE
9:32:37 AM
RECONVENED
9:33:18 AM
MICHAEL JAFFERY, SELF, UTQIAGVIK (via teleconference),
remarked that he would be testifying based on the proposed
budget, with the understanding that it could change over
time. He spoke in support of funding for therapeutic
courts. He felt that therapeutic courts met the needs of
individuals, reduced jail time, and saved the state money.
He spoke against the reductions of the funding for legal
services. He spoke against transferring money from the
general fund to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
(AMHTA). He spoke in support of maintaining the state's
savings accounts. He testified in support of funding for
public broadcasting because many of the rural communities
depended on public radio.
9:38:16 AM
ERIN HOLLINGSWORTH, SELF, UTQIAGVIK (via teleconference),
testified in support of adding the $635,000 for the Alaska
Library Network back into the budget. She shared that she
had worked in the library, and that students and teachers
needed funding to maintain credential licensure. She
stressed that the Alaska Library Network connected over 90
libraries to help link to other resources, which was
especially necessary during the pandemic. She spoke in
support of Alaska Public Media. She remarked that the rural
areas relied on public radio. She felt that investments
would work to make Alaska stronger.
9:41:55 AM
BRENDA MOORE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH BOARD, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke against the $35 million reduction to
Medicaid. She understood that it might be backfilled with
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
funding, but noted that there had been no plan for
implementation. She expressed concern about the reduction
to the public field services, which could result in delays
in access to benefits. She spoke against the reduction to
the Civil Legal Services Fund. She stated that the sobering
centers had a reduction, and she spoke against that
reduction. She stressed that the providers were not
prepared to bill for reimbursement, and some of the
services were not reimbursable. She spoke in support of
funding for the therapeutic courts. She spoke in concern of
the appropriation of AMHTA reserves, but believed that work
was focused on that issue, and she was paying attention to
that issue.
9:46:00 AM
Senator Olson agreed that there was a concern about the
AMHTA appropriation. He stated that there would be an AT
EASE until 10am.
9:46:13 AM
AT EASE
10:18:06 AM
RECONVENED
10:18:18 AM
ALYSSA SAPPENFIELD, ENERGY ANALYST, ALASKA PUBLIC INTEREST
GROUP, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke against
$375,000 for the Hillcorp storage. She wanted to know the
benefit of the agreement with Hillcorp, and wanted to know
why Hillcorp could not cover the cost of storage.
10:22:02 AM
AT EASE
10:22:26 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Olson.
10:22:45 AM
HERMAN MORGAN, SELF, ANIAK (via teleconference), felt that
accepting the governor's money, would result in "end
times." He felt that "Babylon had fallen", and used
analogies by quoting scripture. He expressed concern about
vaccinations and culture. He encouraged the committee to
look beyond money.
10:26:27 AM
AT EASE
10:39:51 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the afternoon's agenda.
SB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 50 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 51 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
10:40:46 AM
RECESSED
10:40:46 AM
ADJOURNED
This meeting automatically ADJOURNED when the 1:00 PM
scheduled meeting automatically convened.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 49.51.50 Public Testimony Packet 1.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 49 |