Legislature(1993 - 1994)
05/05/1993 01:17 PM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 5, 1993
1:17 p.m.
TAPES
SFC-93, #77, Side 1 (000-end)
SFC-93, #77, Side 2 (575-end)
SFC-93, #78, Side 1 (000-end)
SFC-93, #78, Side 2 (575-195)
CALL TO ORDER
Senator Drue Pearce, Co-chair, convened the meeting at
approximately 1:17 p.m.
PRESENT
In addition to Co-chairs Pearce and Frank, Senators Kelly,
Kerttula, Rieger, and Sharp were present. Senator Jacko
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
ALSO ATTENDING: Senator Leman; Senator Little; Senator
Miller; Representative Carney; Representative Davies;
Representative Toohey; Charlie Cole, Attorney General, Dept.
of Law; Bruce Botelho, Deputy Attorney General, Dept. of
Law; Art Snowden, Administrative Director, Alaska Court
System; Tom Koester; David Walker, Lead Attorney for
Settling Plaintiffs in the Weiss case; Tom Waldo, Attorney
for Public Interest Intervenors in Mental Health Litigation;
Katya Kirsch, Alaska Environmental Lobby; and aides to
committee members and other members of the Legislature.
ALSO PARTICIPATING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM ANCHORAGE: Cliff
Eames, Alaska Center for the Environment; Peter Maassen,
Marathon/Unocal; Bob Stiles, Diamond Chuitna; Lois Ann
Reeder, Susitna Valley; Mary Grisco, Sierra Club; Becky Gay,
Resource Development Council; Steve Borell, Alaska Miners
Association; Yvonne Jacobson, Alaska Alliance for the
Mentally Ill; Janice Monigold, Vice President, Board of
Directors, Action for Consumers Trusting in Ourselves Now;
Jim Gottstein, Attorney for Settling Plaintiffs (Traditional
Mental Health Recipients); Jeff Jessee, Attorney for
Mentally Retarded and Mentally Defective Beneficiaries of
the Mental Health Trust.
ATTENDING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM MAT-SU: Ellen Wolf,
Valley Alaska Center for the Environment.
PARTICIPATING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM FAIRBANKS: Charlie
Boddy, Usibelli Coal; Marie Beaver, Northern Environmental
Center.
ATTENDING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM KETCHIKAN: David Katz,
Tongass Conservation Society.
PARTICIPATING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM HOMER: Larry Smith.
ATTENDING VIA TELECONFERENCE FROM SOLDOTNA: Dorothy
Westphal, Member, Local Mental Health Group.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
SB 67 - MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AMENDMENTS
Lengthy teleconference was had. Testimony
was presented by numerous individuals (listed
above). CSSB 67 draft "U" was distributed
for members' review. The bill was
subsequently HELD in committee for continued
discussion.
SB 124 - ALASKA ENERGY AUTH POWERS & FINANCES
CSSB 124 (Fin) version "J" was REPORTED OUT
of committee with a new title, "do pass"
recommendation, and zero fiscal note from the
Dept. of Commerce and Economic Development.
[Note - The bill was ultimately returned to
committee from the Floor of the Senate 5-7-
93.]
SENATE BILL NO. 124
An Act relating to the powers and finances of the
Alaska Energy Authority; and providing for an effective
date.
Upon convening the meeting, Co-chair Pearce directed that SB
124 be brought on for discussion and advised that work draft
CSSB 124 (8-GS1023\J, Cramer, 5/4/93) was being distributed
for members' review. Senator Sharp MOVED for adoption of
CSSB 124, version "J." No objection having been raised,
CSSB 124 (Finance), version "J" was ADOPTED.
Senator Sharp explained that CSSB 124 (Finance) provides a
vehicle for establishment of a task force to evaluate
regimented phase out of the Alaska Energy Authority. The
Senator noted complications associated with phase out due to
bonding requirements. Task force work would be accomplished
during the interim between May and December.
Senator Kerttula noted the absence of minority
representation on the task force. Senator Sharp advised
that he would have no problem accommodating a minority
member. Senator Frank suggested that the Senate President
and the Speaker of the House each appoint two members to the
task force. That would provide opportunity to for minority
participation. Senator Sharp suggested that the following
amendment be prepared for offering on the floor of the
Senate:
Page 2, Line 7
Delete existing subsection (3) and replace with
the
following:
(3) two members of the House of Representative
and
two members of the Senate selected by appropriate
president officers, one of each body being of the
minority.
Senator Kerttula concurred in the foregoing.
Co-chair Pearce queried members regarding disposition of the
bill. Senator Sharp MOVED that CSSB 124 (Finance) pass from
committee with individual recommendations. Co-chair Pearce
asked if the task force would operate without fiscal impact.
Senator Sharp voiced his understanding that the legislative
budget would bear a portion of the cost and that utilities
would provide their own funding. Co-chair Pearce suggested
that bill language allow the commissioner of commerce and
economic development and the commissioner of community and
regional affairs to appoint designees to the task force but
noted that that change could also be made on the floor of
the Senate. No objection to passage of CSSB 124 (Finance)
having been raised, it was REPORTED OUT of committee with a
new title, and a zero fiscal note from the Dept. of Commerce
and Economic Development. Co-chairs Pearce and Frank and
Senators Kelly and Sharp signed the committee report with a
"do pass" recommendation. Senators Kerttula and Rieger
signed "no rec." Senator Jacko was absent and did not sign.
[NOTE - CSSB 124 (Finance) was returned to committee from
the floor of the Senate on May 7, 1993.]
SENATE BILL NO. 67
An Act amending provisions of ch. 66, SLA 1991, that
relate to reconstitution of the corpus of the mental
health trust, the management of trust assets, and to
the manner of enforcement of the obligation to
compensate the trust; and providing for an effective
date.
Co-chair Pearce directed that SB 67 be brought on for
discussion and distributed a work draft CSSB 67, version "U"
(8-LS0409\U, Chenoweth, 5/5/93) for committee review. She
further advised of a statewide teleconference hook up.
[A transcript of testimony on SB 67 was prepared by the
Dept. of Law. A copy is on file in the Senate Finance
Committee minute book. A copy of the transcript and tapes
of the meeting may be obtained from the office of the
committee secretary, Room 520, State Capitol Building,
Juneau, Alaska (465-2618), or by contacting the Legislative
Finance Division, P. O. Box 113200, Juneau, Alaska 99811-
3200, (465-3795).]
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:10 p.m.
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