Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/19/2022 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE

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01:50:54 PM Start
01:51:28 PM HB281 || HB282
02:52:36 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 162 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+= SB 163 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
*+ HB 281 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
*+ HB 282 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      April 19, 2022                                                                                            
                         1:50 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:50:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee                                                                            
meeting to order at 1:50 p.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Lyman Hoffman                                                                                                           
Senator Donny Olson                                                                                                             
Senator Natasha von Imhof                                                                                                       
Senator Bill Wielechowski                                                                                                       
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Pete Ecklund, Staff, Senator Bert Stedman; Amanda Ryder,                                                                        
Staff, Senator Bert Stedman; Alexei Painter, Director,                                                                          
Legislative Finance Division;                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 162    APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SB 162 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 163    APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
          SB 163 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 281(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld)                                                                                      
     APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          CSHB 281(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) was                                                                        
          HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CSHB 282(FIN) APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
          CSHB 282(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for                                                                     
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 281(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld)                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations  for  the operating  and                                                                   
     loan  program  expenses  of  state  government  and  for                                                                   
     certain    programs;   capitalizing   funds;    amending                                                                   
     appropriations;   and  making  capital   appropriations,                                                                   
    supplemental appropriations, and reappropriations."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 282(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations  for  the operating  and                                                                   
     capital    expenses    of   the    state's    integrated                                                                   
     comprehensive mental  health program; and  providing for                                                                   
     an effective date."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:51:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for                                                                     
CSHB 281(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld), Work Draft 32-                                                                      
GH2686\L (Marx, 4/19/22).                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:52:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, SENATOR BERT STEDMAN, read from a                                                                          
prepared statement:                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Mr. Chairman,  the desire of the two Senate  Finance co-                                                                   
     chairs  is to  put away at  least $4  billion in  liquid                                                                   
     savings from  our projected windfall revenue,  after all                                                                   
     operating  and capital appropriations  are made  in both                                                                   
     FY22 and FY23.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     The  Director of  Legislative  Finance, Alexei  Painter,                                                                   
     will  have a short  presentation  after the adoption  of                                                                   
     this  CS  that  explains  our fiscal  picture  with  our                                                                   
     projected  revenue, with  CS2 operating budget  spending                                                                   
     and   what  our   savings  could   be  under   different                                                                   
     assumptions  for   both  capital  budget   and  dividend                                                                   
     spending.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     A  couple  of  significant   changes  in  this  proposed                                                                   
     Committee Substitute that affect liquid savings are:                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     FY23 Forward  funding of K-12 with revenue  below $100 a                                                                   
     barrel                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Using $486  million of American  Rescue Plan  Act (ARPA)                                                                   
     funding  as revenue replacement  (rather than  increased                                                                   
     spending)                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Mr.  Chairman,  having at  least  $4 billion  in  liquid                                                                   
     savings  is  very  important for  fiscal  stability,  in                                                                   
     light  of   the  volatility  of  oil  revenue   and  the                                                                   
     volatility of our recent revenue forecasts.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     A new  concept that is proposed  in this CS  is intended                                                                   
     to strengthen  fiscal discipline.   Included in  this CS                                                                   
     is language  that would take any windfall  revenue above                                                                   
     $100 a  barrel and appropriate  it to the corpus  of the                                                                   
     Permanent Fund.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     If  the latest revenue  forecast  proves to be  accurate                                                                   
     and oil  averages $101  a barrel  in FY23, $101  million                                                                   
     would  be deposited  into  the corpus  of the  Permanent                                                                   
     Fund                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Mr.  Chairman,   you've  proposed  using   some  of  our                                                                   
     windfall revenue  to rebuild the state's  liquid savings                                                                   
     to at least  $4 billion, this Committee  Substitute also                                                                   
     proposes  to share  some  of the  state's windfall  with                                                                   
     communities so they can replenish savings also.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     $220.9  million  to  communities  for school  bond  debt                                                                   
     reimbursement  that was  either  vetoed or  short-funded                                                                   
     the past few years.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     As you've  stated before  Mr. Chairman, communities  can                                                                   
     choose   to  use  this   revenue  to  either   replenish                                                                   
     savings,  keep local taxes  from increasing  or possibly                                                                   
     even giving  local taxpayers a  break.  How  they choose                                                                   
     to use  the money intended to  fill in the back  pay for                                                                   
     school bond debt reimbursement is up to them.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     As the Rural  Education Attendance Areas  (REAA) schools                                                                   
     are  linked   to  school  bond  debt   reimbursement  in                                                                   
     statute, this  CS has $83.4  million in back pay  due to                                                                   
     the REAA fund  because of past vetoes  and short-funding                                                                   
     from FY17 to FY22                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Mr.  Chairman  that  takes  care  of  some  of  the  big                                                                   
     picture  items addressed  in  the Committee  Substitute,                                                                   
     Mrs.  Ryder and  Mr. Painter  will go  into more  detail                                                                   
     next.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:57:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson queried  in which fund the $4  billion would be                                                                   
placed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:57:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund  replied that  the liquid  savings could  go into                                                                   
the SBR,  K-12 Forward Funding,  replenishment of  the Higher                                                                   
Education Fund, and deposits into the CBR.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:58:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  understood that  the specific destination  for                                                                   
the $ billion was unspecified.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:58:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  replied that it  was in flux to  be decided                                                                   
at the table.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
1:58:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMANDA  RYDER, STAFF,  SENATOR BERT  STEDMAN, explained  that                                                                   
she  would walk  through the  document,  DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN                                                                   
SB162(FIN) VERSION  W (AKA CS1) and SEN CS  FOR HB281 VERSION                                                                   
L (AKA CS 2   (copy on file). She noted that  the bills under                                                                   
discussion included  the Mental  Health Budget. She  spoke to                                                                   
the  bill funding  summary,  which showed  a  total of  $11.9                                                                   
billion  spent for  FY23,  Operating  and Capital.  She  said                                                                   
that  the FY23  Capital Items  in the  bill totaled  $7,550.0                                                                   
UGF. She added that Supplemental Operating and Capital                                                                          
totaled $737,648.1.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:00:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman stressed that the budget under discussion                                                                      
was not the Capital Budget.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:01:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder spoke to the document titled, "Differences                                                                            
Between SB 162(FIN) Version W (AKA CS 1) and Sen CS for HB
281 Version L (AKA CS 2)" (copy on file):                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     1.   Incorporated   Governor's  4/14   bargaining   unit                                                                   
     agreement  amendments  for Alaska  Vocational  Technical                                                                   
     Center Teachers'  Association (AVTECTA) and  the General                                                                   
     Government Unit (GGU).                                                                                                     
          o Total $24.8 million ($10.2 million UGF).                                                                            
          o These amounts include some minor technical fund                                                                     
          changes identified by the Legislative Finance                                                                         
          Division.                                                                                                             
          Notes: GGU members make up about half of all                                                                          
          state employees.                                                                                                      
          o FY23 increase: 3 percent increase + $12.50                                                                          
          increase for health insurance                                                                                         
          o FY24: 2.5 percent increase + $6 increase for                                                                        
          health insurance                                                                                                      
          o FY25: Max of 5 percent based on Anc CPI in CY                                                                       
          2022 + $6 increase for health insurance                                                                               
          Notes: AVTCTA BU Agreement                                                                                            
          o FY23 increase: 4 percent increase                                                                                   
          o FY24 and FY25: 2.5 percent increase each year                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     2.   Administration/Retirement   and   Benefits:   Added                                                                   
     Governor's  request for  $75.0 FICA  funding to  provide                                                                   
     guidance,  outreach  and   education  regarding  the  SS                                                                   
     program.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     3. Commerce                                                                                                                
          o Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.                                                                                 
          Funding                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     BILL FUNDING SUMMARY                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     ?  Added  $5  million  UGF  to  assist  with  weathering                                                                 
    volatile revenues given uncertain federal receipts.                                                                         
          o Community and Regional Affairs. Added $4.3                                                                          
          million UGF to support a grant to the Food Bank                                                                       
        of Alaska for a pilot produce box program.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     4. Corrections/Anchorage Correctional Complex                                                                              
          o  Added  wordage allowing  FY22  federal  receipts                                                                   
          from  manday billings  to be  carried forward  into                                                                   
          FY23.  This  wordage  replaces a  language  section                                                                   
          that   was  removed   in  the   last  CS  and   was                                                                   
          inadvertently left out of the numbers section.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:03:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman queried the definition of ARPA.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:03:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder replied that ARPA stood for the American Rescue                                                                       
Plan Act.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:03:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman stated that it was a federal fund source                                                                       
that provided Covid-19 relief funds.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:04:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop noted that the committee had chosen not to                                                                      
spend the $1 billion in ARPA funds all at once but had                                                                          
planned to spend it over a two-year time span.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:04:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman noted the significant savings component                                                                        
written into the legislation and considered that some of                                                                        
the ARPA funds could end up in savings.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:04:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder continued to discuss the changes:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     5.  Education  and  Early   Development/  WWAMI  Medical                                                                   
     Education  (Washington,  Wyoming,  Alaska,  Montana  and                                                                   
     Idaho).  Deleted $1,647.5  UGF to  expand WWAMI  program                                                                   
     by 10 students  (from 20 to 30) because  the funding has                                                                   
     been added to the language.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:05:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator von Imhof wondered whether the funding was for                                                                          
students starting in 2023 or 2024.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:05:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Ecklund  replied  that  the request  was  moved  to  the                                                                   
language section  so that the  appropriation could  be multi-                                                                   
year. He  said that  the 10 students  would be  added 5  at a                                                                   
time.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:06:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder continued with the differences:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     6. Office of the Governor/Office of Management and                                                                         
     Budget. Added the following intent:                                                                                        
          o Intent that OMB submit a report of                                                                                  
               ? all revised programs that have been                                                                          
               executed.                                                                                                        
               ? All transfers to and from the personal                                                                       
               services line.                                                                                                   
          o  Intent   that  OMB   submit  a  report   of  all                                                                   
          transfers to  and from the personal  services line.                                                                   
          This  intent  was  removed from  the  language  and                                                                   
          added to the numbers section.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     7. Health and Social Services                                                                                              
          o  Minor fund  changes to  more accurately  reflect                                                                   
          the fund sources.                                                                                                     
          o  Replaced  an ongoing  request  for 10  permanent                                                                   
          full-time   positions    to   support   application                                                                   
          processing  in  Public  Assistance  Field  Services                                                                   
          with   a  one-time   increment  and  10   temporary                                                                   
          positions.                                                                                                            
          o  Medicaid,   Personal  Care  Attendant   funding.                                                                   
          Added  $32.9  million (half  of  which  is UGF)  to                                                                   
          Medicaid  to   fund  a  10  percent   increase  for                                                                   
          Personal Care Attendants.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:07:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator von Imhof wondered whether the funds were for                                                                           
increasing salaries or care.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:07:50 PM                                                                                                                    
Ms. Ryder replied that the funds were intend for salary                                                                         
increases for care providers.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:07:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator von Imhof asked whether there was intent language                                                                       
in the bill to specify that the funds were for salary                                                                           
increases.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:08:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder replied in the affirmative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:08:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman   interjected    that   there   had   been                                                                   
significant public testimony in support of the salary                                                                           
increases.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:08:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder continued to discuss the differences:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     8. Natural Resources                                                                                                       
          o   Oil  and   Gas.   Replaced   $755.6  UGF   with                                                                   
          GF/Program  Receipts. The  Division has  sufficient                                                                   
          revenue  so  replacing  the  UGF  will  not  impact                                                                   
          operations.                                                                                                           
          o  Agriculture.   Added  carryforward   wordage  in                                                                   
          Agriculture   allowing  FY22  GF/Program   receipts                                                                   
          from  Industrial  Hemp  activities  to  be  carried                                                                   
          forward into FY23.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     9.   Transportation   and   Public   Facilities/Northern                                                                   
     Region  Highways  and  Aviation.   Added  $50.0  UGF  to                                                                   
     support  ice  road transportation  access  to  northwest                                                                   
     communities.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     10. Environmental Conservation/Primacy Requests                                                                            
          o  Removed  the  Governor's  $4.9  million  request                                                                   
          associated with the assumption of 404 Primacy.                                                                        
          o   Removed  the  Governor's   $830.0  and   6  PFT                                                                   
          positions   associated  with   the  assumption   of                                                                   
          Hazardous    Waste   Management   Under    Resource                                                                   
          Conservation and Recovery Act, Subtitle C (RCRA).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     11. Legislature:  Added clarifying  transactions  to the                                                                   
     Legislature's  budget to  indicate that the  legislature                                                                   
     used  $1,716.8  of UGF  of  savings  from SB55  to  fund                                                                   
     various increases in the legislature's budget.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBERS DIFFERENCES (Sections 7-9)                                                                            
     12. ARPA  revenue replacement:  A total of  $300 million                                                                   
     UGF was  replaced with ARPA  revenue in  the departments                                                                   
     of Corrections,  Family and Community  Services, Health,                                                                   
     Natural  Resources,  Public Safety,  Transportation  and                                                                   
     Public Facilities and the Judiciary.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     13.  DEC/Water   Quality,  Infrastructure   Support  and                                                                   
     Financing.  Removed  $750.0 UGF  for  the assumption  of                                                                   
     404 Primacy.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES                                                                                                       
     14.  Sec 15  b-d,  page  72. SCHOOL  DEBT  REIMBURSEMENT                                                                   
     (FY22 SUPP)                                                                                                                
          o   Added   $172.2   million   UGF   to   reimburse                                                                   
          communities  for statutory funding  obligations for                                                                   
          School  Debt  Reimbursement that  was  not paid  in                                                                   
          FY17-FY21.  This  brings   the  total  school  debt                                                                   
          reimbursement amount to $220.9 million.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     15.  Sec.  19,  page  73.  JUDGMENTS  AND  CLAIMS  (FY22                                                                   
     SUPP).  Fully   funded  the  Governor's   Judgments  and                                                                   
     Claims requests totaling $1,196,165.                                                                                       
     16.  Sec 21b,  page  75.  ELECTIONS (FY22  SUPP).  Added                                                                   
     $2.5  million  UGF  to conduct  a  special  election  to                                                                   
     replace Rep. Don Young.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     17.   Sec  22c-e.  Rural   Education  Attendance   Areas                                                                   
     (REAA). Added  $66.8 million to  the REAA Fund  to repay                                                                   
     unfunded  statutory  obligations   for  FY17,  FY21  and                                                                   
     FY20. With  the $17.1 million that had  been included in                                                                   
     the last  CS, total funding  to the REAA Fund  is $83.96                                                                   
     million.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:13:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder continued to discuss the differences:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     18. Sec 22  h. ELECTION FUND CAPTILIZATION  (FY22 SUPP).                                                                   
     As  required  under  the  Help America  Vote  Act,  $1.2                                                                   
     million  ($200.0 UGF  and $1  million federal  receipts)                                                                   
     was appropriated  to capitalize the Election  Fund. This                                                                   
     funding  will  be used  to  fund  a capital  project  to                                                                   
     improve   election  administration,   enhance   election                                                                   
    technology and make election security improvements.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     19.  Sec. 23,  page 75.  SUPPLEMENTAL  FUND TRANSFERS                                                                      
     FY22   ARPA  REVENUE   REPLACEMENT.  Appropriated   $300                                                                   
     million federal  receipts to  the general fund  for FY22                                                                   
     general fund revenue replacement.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
   Another $186.6 was appropriated in FY23 in Sec. 48n.                                                                         
     20.  Sec 24b,  page 76.  FY22  STATUTORY BUDGET  RESERVE                                                                   
     SWEEP.  This  subsection  appropriates  all  unobligated                                                                   
     and  unrestricted  of the  general fund  at  the end  of                                                                   
     FY22 to the SBR Fund.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     21.   Deleted   a   language   section   regarding   OMB                                                                   
     submitting a  Personal Services Transfers report  to the                                                                   
     legislature.  This  was  moved to  the  numbers  section                                                                   
     under   the   Office   and   Management   and   Budget's                                                                   
     allocation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     22.  Sec 31f,  page 81.  ALASKA PERMANENT  FUND. Adds  a                                                                   
     new subsection  that if  the 2023  average price  of oil                                                                   
     exceeds  $100/bbl, all "excess"  UGF revenue,  estimated                                                                   
     to  be $101 million,  is appropriated  to the  Permanent                                                                   
     Fund's Corpus.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     23.  Sec 34e.  RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS.  Added $4.3  million                                                                   
     UGF  to Residential  Schools  to  provide  a 50  percent                                                                   
     increase  in this  program  for FY23.  Funding for  this                                                                   
     program has not been increased since FY15.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     24.  Sec   37e,  page  90.  WORKFORCE   DEVELOPMENT  AND                                                                   
     TRAINING PROGRAMS:  A total of $10 million  was added to                                                                   
     the Department  of Labor  and Workforce Development  for                                                                   
     a  variety   of  workforce   development  and   training                                                                   
     programs.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     25. Sec 38a  and b. page 91. STATE'S  RIGHTS LITIGATION.                                                                   
     Added  $2 million  UGF of  the  Governor's requested  $4                                                                   
     million, for  litigation relating to State's  Rights. Of                                                                   
     this  amount,  $500.0  is  to  be  used  for  litigation                                                                   
     related to the Tongass National Forest.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     26.  Sec  47l   -o,  pages  103-104.  CLEAN   WATER  AND                                                                   
     DRINKING    WATER    FUND   CAPITALIZATION.    The    CS                                                                   
     incorporates  the Governor's requested  funding included                                                                   
     in  the Infrastructure  Investment and  Jobs Act  (IIJA)                                                                   
     for  the  Clean  Water and  Drinking  Water  Funds.  The                                                                   
     funding added to the bill is as follows                                                                                    
          ? Clean Water Fund ($19.85m Fed, $2 m UGF)                                                                          
          ? Drinking Water Fund ($38.2m Fed, $1.8m UGF)                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     27.  Sec  47v,  page  105 FUND  TRANSFERS     FY23  K-12                                                                   
     FOUNDATION  FORMULA FORWARD FUNDINGFY23  K-12-Foundation                                                                   
     Formula  Forward Funding was  added using "excess"  FY23                                                                   
     general fund revenue.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     28. Sec. 48n.  page 107. ARPA REVENUE  REPLACEMENT. This                                                                   
     section uses  $186.6 million of federal  ARPA funding to                                                                   
     replace UGF  in FY23. Another  $300 million was  used to                                                                   
     replace UGF in FY22.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     29. Sec 47w,  page 105. OIL AND GAS TAX  CREDITS. Adds a                                                                   
     subsection that  appropriates the statutory  formula for                                                                   
     oil  and gas  tax credits  but caps the  amount at  $349                                                                   
     million.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:17:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Ryder continued to discuss the differences:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     30.  Sec  49a, page  108.  PUBLIC  EMPLOYEES  RETIREMENT                                                                   
     DEPOSIT. This  section adds $89.3 million  of the Health                                                                   
     Care  portion  of  the  retirement  rate  that  was  not                                                                   
     funded  in FY23 to  the pension  side of PERS,  bringing                                                                   
     the   total  UGF   additional   state  contribution   to                                                                   
     $123,233,000.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     31. Sec  50, page 108.  SALARY AND BENEFIT  ADJUSTMENTS.                                                                   
     Revised  Salary  Adjustment   language  to  reflect  the                                                                   
     addition of  the Alaska State Employees for  the GGU and                                                                   
     the   Alaska  Vocational   Technical  Center   Teachers'                                                                   
     Association  (AVTCTA)  bargaining units  and  to make  a                                                                   
     technical tweak of previous language.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:18:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman queried the amount included in the house                                                                        
version of the bill for oil and gas tax credits.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:18:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund believed  that it had landed at  $349 million. He                                                                   
deferred  to Alexei  Painter,  Director, Legislative  Finance                                                                   
Division.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:18:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman explained  that  the house  had funded  the                                                                   
credits at $101/bbl.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:19:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson asked  about Item 25 on the  document,  STATE'S                                                                   
RIGHTS  LITIGATION.   He  understood that  the  governor  had                                                                   
requested  $4 million;  the current bill  version added  only                                                                   
$2 million.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:19:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:19:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson surmised  that, under the bill,  100 percent of                                                                   
any  revenue above  $100/bbl.  went into  the  corpus of  the                                                                   
Permanent Fund.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:19:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Ecklund replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:20:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  WITHDREW  the OBJECTION.  There  being  NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, the proposed committee substitute was adopted.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:21:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  MOVED to ADOPT the committee  substitute for                                                                   
CS 282(FIN), Work Draft 32-GH2687\G (Marx 4/18/22).                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:22:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Ryder   continued  to   discuss  the  document   titled,                                                                   
"Differences  Between SB  162(FIN)  Version W  (AKA C31)  and                                                                   
Sen CS for HB 281 Version L (AKA CS 2)" (copy on file):                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET CHANGES                                                                                               
     SCS 163 Version G to SCS for HB 282 Version G                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     FY23 OPERATING NUMBERS SECTION DIFFERENCES                                                                                 
     32.  Sec.  1. Incorporated  Governor's  4/14  bargaining                                                                   
     unit   agreement   amendments  for   Alaska   Vocational                                                                   
     Technical  Center  Teachers' Association  (AVTECTA)  and                                                                   
     the General Government Unit (GGU).                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     MENTAL HEALTH CAPITAL DIFFERENCE (Sec 4, page 12)                                                                          
     33. Based on  a Governor's amendment, this  bill reduces                                                                   
     the     Alaska    Psychiatric     Institute     Wireless                                                                   
     Infrastructure  Upgrade project  amount  from $500.0  to                                                                   
     $100.0.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     MENTAL HEALTH LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES                                                                                         
     34.  Sec 9,  page 15.  SALARY  AND BENEFIT  ADJUSTMENTS.                                                                   
     Revised  Salary  Adjustment   language  to  reflect  the                                                                   
     addition of  the Alaska State Employees for  the GGU and                                                                   
     the   Alaska  Vocational   Technical  Center   Teachers'                                                                   
     Association  (AVTCTA)  bargaining units  and  to make  a                                                                   
     technical tweak of previous language.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  WITHDREW  the OBJECTION.  There  being  NO                                                                   
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:23:39 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:25:02 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:25:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEXEI  PAINTER,  DIRECTOR,  LEGISLATIVE   FINANCE  DIVISION,                                                                   
stated  that he  would  present three  versions  of a  fiscal                                                                   
summary:  A, B,  and  C. He  discussed  the document  titled,                                                                   
"Short Fiscal Summary  - A" (copy on file).  This version was                                                                   
a combination  of the Operating  and Capital  budgets adopted                                                                   
by the committee.  The revenue line at the  top reflected the                                                                   
spring   revenue  forecast   from  DOR,   which  called   for                                                                   
$101/bbl.  oil  in  FY23.  He  said  that  the  forecast  was                                                                   
currently accurate and would be used going forward.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:26:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Painter  looked  at  line 8,  which  was  the  Operating                                                                   
Budget  Agency Operations  as  reflected in  SCS2, which  was                                                                   
5.3  percent   UGF  increase   over  the  FY22   budget.  The                                                                   
Statewide Items  on line 9 showed  an increase, with  oil and                                                                   
gas tax credits  increasing from $54 million in  FY21 to $349                                                                   
million  in FY22.  He  shared  that the  house  had passed  a                                                                   
fixed  number  of  $349  million while  the  senate  had  the                                                                   
statutory formula  capped at $349  million, which  meant that                                                                   
if oil  met the forecast,  or higher,  the two would  pay out                                                                   
the  same  amount;   if  the  oil  revenue   was  lower  than                                                                   
forecasted  the house amount  would be  $349 million  but the                                                                   
senate amount would lower with the price of oil.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:27:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter addressed  line 10, which was forward  funding K-                                                                   
12 and  the Public Education Fund  for $1.2 billion.  Line 11                                                                   
showed  the Operating  Supplementals  in the  CS, which  were                                                                   
$508  million  and  $6.8  million,  and  included  additional                                                                   
School Debt Reimbursement  and REAA Fund  Capitalization just                                                                   
added  by  the  committee.  He  said that  lines  12  and  13                                                                   
reflected  the  first  Capital   Budget  CS  adopted  by  the                                                                   
committee, with  one change; the bill incorporated  the house                                                                   
version of  the Mental Health  Capital Budget. He  noted that                                                                   
line  14  showed   the  Capital  Supplementals,   which  were                                                                   
currently  split between  the  Operation  and Capital  Budget                                                                   
bills.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:29:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman interjected  that Co-Chair  Bishop had  not                                                                   
presented the final version of the Capital Budget.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:29:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter  looked at line  16,  Permanent Fund  Dividends.                                                                    
He noted  that the bill  did not include  a dividend  at this                                                                   
point. He  stated that line  17 showed inflation  proofing at                                                                   
the statutory  level and  was estimated  to be  approximately                                                                   
$1  billion.  He  noted  line  18,  which  showed  additional                                                                   
deposits to  the corpus -  $199.0 in  FY22. He said  that the                                                                   
amount  in FY23  was the  appropriation of  oil revenue  over                                                                   
the forecasted  $101/bbl.  number. He  said the amount  would                                                                   
be zero if the  number fell below $101/bbl.  The number would                                                                   
move up  and down  in accordance  with the  oil price  during                                                                   
the year.  He spoke to the  pre-transfer surplus  and revenue                                                                   
replacement  related  to  the   SBR,  ARPA,  and  other  fund                                                                   
transfers.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
2:32:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  recalled that  the year prior  roughly $660                                                                   
million was  taken from savings  to pay the  $1,100 dividend.                                                                   
This bill would replace that money in savings.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:33:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Hoffman asked  about  line 23  and wondered  whether                                                                   
the presenter meant to reference the CBR or SBR.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:33:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter clarified it was the SBR and not the CBR.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:33:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Bishop  asked Mr. Painter  to restate the  number on                                                                   
line 17.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:33:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Painter restated  that the  estimated inflation  number,                                                                   
based  on Callan  inflation  number of  2  percent, would  be                                                                   
approximately  $1  billion. He  said  that the  number  could                                                                   
change if the inflation number increased. He                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:33:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  about the  box on  the lower  right-                                                                   
hand side of the slide.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:34:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter stated that in FY22, the CS deposited the post-                                                                     
transfer surplus  into the SBR,  which mad ethe fund  grow to                                                                   
approximately $2  billion and was  a combination of  lines 23                                                                   
and  24 in  FY22.  He said  that  in FY23  the  post-transfer                                                                   
surplus  would lapse  into  the CBR,  which  would grow  that                                                                   
account  from $1.3  billion to  $3.4 billion.  He noted  that                                                                   
the $2.1  billion was a  projection not including  a dividend                                                                   
and with the current Capital Budget.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman understood  the next  slide would  show the                                                                   
numbers with a dividend payout included.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:35:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Painter  explained  that  the  document,   Short  Fiscal                                                                   
Summary    B   (copy on  file)  was identical  to version  A,                                                                   
except line 16,  which added a 50/50 dividend  as proposed by                                                                   
the governor.  He said  that the payout  would be  $2,500 per                                                                   
qualified  applicant   and  would  reduce   the  pre-transfer                                                                   
surplus  to  $228.6  million   (line  19)  and  post-transfer                                                                   
surplus  to $414.9  million. He  pointed  to the  box on  the                                                                   
right  and noted  that less  would be  going to  the CBR.  He                                                                   
stated  that there  would be  $3.7  billion, liquid,  between                                                                   
the  SBR and  CBR that  when  added to  the  $1.2 billion  in                                                                   
forward  funding for  K-12    the total  exceeded the  liquid                                                                   
savings target.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:36:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked  for a total once the  $1.2 billion K-                                                                   
12 forward funding was added.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:36:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter  replied that  the total  would be  approximately                                                                   
$4.9 billion.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  understood  that  the  slide  reflected  a                                                                   
50/50 dividend payout and did not include a Capital Budget.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter replied in the affirmative.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:36:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  shared that there had been  conversation at                                                                   
the  table  surrounding  setting  up  the  liquidity  of  the                                                                   
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:37:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson wondered  what  the dividend  amount would  be                                                                   
under the 50/50 plan.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:37:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter that the dividend would be $2,500 per person.                                                                       
2:37:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  explained that  the dividend bill  would be                                                                   
before the committee at a later date.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:37:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter  looked at Handout C.  Which was the same  as the                                                                   
others  except  for  line 13,  which  increased  the  Capital                                                                   
Budget assumption  to $400 million.  He said that  the change                                                                   
would  leave a  pre-transfer surplus  of  $3.2 million  (line                                                                   
19)  and a  post-transfer  surplus  of $229.5  million  (line                                                                   
24). He  said that  $1.5 billion  would be  left in  the CBR,                                                                   
with a  total of approximately  $3.5 billion between  the CBR                                                                   
and SBR, and  $4.7 billion when including forward  funding of                                                                   
K-12 Education.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
2:38:55 PM                                                                                                                    
Co-Chair Stedman  spoke of the  gross value of  the sovereign                                                                   
wealth fund  when compared to  others in the world.  He noted                                                                   
that the Permanent  Fund was not the largest in  the world by                                                                   
size, but  when viewed  as a percentage  of the  state budget                                                                   
the  fund was  the largest  on the  planet. He  noted that  a                                                                   
mechanism  to move  excess  revenue into  the  fund could  be                                                                   
considered.  He  said  years   ago  when  the  committee  had                                                                   
amassed  a   small  fortune  in   savings,  they   had  never                                                                   
considered  that future  legislatures  would  spend down  the                                                                   
savings so  quickly. He thought  that the legislature  should                                                                   
seriously consider  the concept  putting away excess  revenue                                                                   
so that past  shortfalls could be avoided. He  pointed out to                                                                   
the committee that  the desire to install another  check from                                                                   
the ERA to the corpus would be part of future discussion.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:43:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman continued  his  comments.  He stressed  the                                                                   
importance   if  putting   some   of  the   funds  into   the                                                                   
constitutionally  protected  part of  the  fund. He  stressed                                                                   
that the committee  understood the importance  of the savings                                                                   
over  the  past few  years  and  noted  that there  had  been                                                                   
difficult budget discussions.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:45:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson  asked  whether  there  were  other  sovereign                                                                   
wealth funds that put excess savings into liquidity.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  thought that had  been mentioned by  a past                                                                   
presenter.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Olson wondered  how money  could be  accessed in  an                                                                   
emergency.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  asserted that that was what  the purpose of                                                                   
the ERA or the CBR.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:47:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Bishop noted  that  the state  was  above the  four                                                                   
times draw  amount. He  lamented that  the state should  take                                                                   
advantage of the  increase in oil price caused by  the war in                                                                   
Ukraine.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman agreed.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:48:45 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:49:19 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  relayed that the CS was  a working document                                                                   
and  that  members  were welcome  to  submit  amendments.  He                                                                   
noted that amendments  would be drafted into a  future CS for                                                                   
expediency - he offered a Thursday  April 21, 2022 deadline.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:50:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed housekeeping.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 162 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SB 163 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  281(FIN) am(brf  sup maj  fld)(efd fld)  was HEARD  and                                                                   
HELD in committee for further consideration.                                                                                    
CSHB 282(FIN)  was HEARD  and HELD  in committee for  further                                                                   
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
2:52:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 2:52 p.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 162-HB 281 CS 2 big picture and housekeeping.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
SB 162-HB 281 Agency Summary Documents.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
SB 162-HB 281 FY23 CS 2 CHANGES Explanation.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
SB 162-HB 281 Short Fiscal Summary FY23 SCS2 w PFD w $400 Cap 04.19.22.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
SB 162-HB 281 Short Fiscal Summary FY23 SCS2 w PFD 04.19.22.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
SB 162-HB 281 Short Fiscal Summary FY23 SCS2 04.19.22.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
SB 162
HB 281 work draft version L.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 281
HB 282 work draft version G.pdf SFIN 4/19/2022 1:00:00 PM
HB 282