Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/07/2022 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB162 || SB163 || SB164 | |
| Public Testimony: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, and Offnets | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 162 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 163 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 164 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 7, 2022
1:02 p.m.
1:02:01 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Senator Hoffman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donny Olson
Senator David Wilson
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
John Handeland, Mayor of Nome, Lake Tahoe; Denice Gilroy,
Arctic Access and Independent Living Network, Nome; Eileen
Arnold, Self, Bethel; Rhonda Schneider, Nome Community
Center, Nome; Joy Baker, Self, Nome; Tessa Baldwin, Self,
Kotzebue; Jaela Milford, Bethel Winter House, Bethel;
Robert Baty, Chief of Police, Sitka Police Department,
Sitka; Michael Jefferies, Self, Utqiagvik; Bessie Weston,
Board Member, Mekoryuk; Sarah Sledge, Executive Director,
Coalition for Education Equity, Anchorage.
SUMMARY
SB 162 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
SB 162 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 163 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 163 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
SB 164 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP; SUPP
SB 164 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, AND OFFNETS
SENATE BILL NO. 162
"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. 163
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making capital
appropriations and supplemental appropriations; and
providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 164
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, reappropriations, and other
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
and providing for an effective date."
1:02:12 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, AND OFFNETS
1:03:21 PM
JOHN HANDELAND, MAYOR OF NOME, LAKE TAHOE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the Arctic Deep Draft
Port Project in Nome. He stated that the project had been
in development for a long time, and was now ready for
construction thanks to a recent appropriation.
1:05:26 PM
DENICE GILROY, ARCTIC ACCESS AND INDEPENDENT LIVING
NETWORK, NOME (via teleconference), spoke in support of
senior and disability community service grants. She shared
that the grant would help those who require additional
needs. She remarked that the funding would help ensure the
care for seniors. She spoke in support of a housing trust.
1:08:14 PM
EILEEN ARNOLD, SELF, BETHEL (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for spoke in support of funding for
Tundra Women's Coalition Crisis Center for Victims and
Survivors of Interpersonal Violence. She remarked that
there was a major staffing issue for advocates as the
trauma victims' experiences in exams after an assault.
1:10:30 PM
RHONDA SCHNEIDER, NOME COMMUNITY CENTER, NOME (via
teleconference), testified in support of housing and
homeless prevention; and food security. She shared that
Nome had launched a project to house homeless people.
1:13:04 PM
JOY BAKER, SELF, NOME (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding for the Port of Nome. She spoke in
concern of marine traffic. She stated that the Port of Nome
currently was not capable to resupply vehicles, and
increased risk of oil spills. She remarked that search and
rescue was a primary concern in Nome.
1:15:04 PM
TESSA BALDWIN, SELF, KOTZEBUE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding for public safety warm storage units
for fire equipment and Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO)
housing. She shared that her community was recently
affected by a fire, but four people lost their lives
because of the lack of access to fire fighting equipment.
She remarked that volunteer firefighters were attempting to
put out a fire using a shove, snow, and snowblowers.
Senator Hoffman wondered whether there was necessary
personal for voluntary fire fighters if there was provided
equipment.
Ms. Baldwin replied in the affirmative.
1:18:18 PM
JAELA MILFORD, BETHEL WINTER HOUSE, BETHEL (via
teleconference), spoke in support of creating a housing
trust. She stressed that there was not enough housing for
the state.
1:20:41 PM
ROBERT BATY, CHIEF OF POLICE, SITKA POLICE DEPARTMENT,
SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
community jails.
1:21:57 PM
MICHAEL JEFFERIES, SELF, UTQIAGVIK (via teleconference),
spoke in support for the Step Up Program at the McLaughlin
Youth Center. He also testified in support of behavioral
health treatment and recovery. He also spoke in support of
public radio. He also testified in support of intellectual
disability waiver waitlist reduction.
1:24:00 PM
BESSIE WESTON, SELF, MEKORYUK (via teleconference), spoke
in support of and increase of funding for the Base Student
Allocation (BSA). She also testified in support of school
major maintenance construction projects. She spoke in
support of Power Cost Equalization (PCE) funding.
1:25:40 PM
RECESSED
1:42:36 PM
RECONVENED
1:42:44 PM
Senator Hoffman stated that there were no new individuals
signed up to testify.
1:42:58 PM
RECESSED
2:05:12 PM
RECONVENED
2:05:46 PM
SARAH SLEDGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COALITION FOR EDUCATION
EQUITY, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in
support of significant investment to the major maintenance
CIP list. She stressed that there had been significant
deterioration of Alaska's school buildings. She spoke in
support of funding for school bond debt reimbursement and
Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA) funding.
2:07:49 PM
AT EASE
2:31:14 PM
RECONVENED
SB 162 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 163 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 164 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:32:02 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:32 p.m.
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