Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/20/2015 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB26 | |
| Overview: Fy 16 Budget Department of Public Safety | |
| Overview: Fy 16 Budget Governor | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 20, 2015
9:02 a.m.
9:02:26 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Gary Folger, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety;
Kelly Howell, Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Department of Public Safety; Guy Bell,
Administrative Director, Division of Administrative
Services, Office of the Governor.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Craig Fleener, Arctic Policy Advisor, Office of the
Governor.
SUMMARY
SB 26 BUDGET: CAPITAL
SB 26 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
FY 16 BUDGET OVERVIEWS:
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
SENATE BILL NO. 26
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations and other appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for
an effective date."
9:02:26 AM
^OVERVIEW: FY 16 BUDGET DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
9:02:52 AM
GARY FOLGER, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
(DPS), introduced himself and shared that he felt in
partnership with the committee as they worked on the budget
process.
KELLY HOWELL, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, discussed the
presentation "Department of Public Safety Capital Budget
Overview" (copy on file), and related that the department
had three requests and one reappropriation.
Ms. Howell addressed slide 2, "FY 2016 Capital Budget
Request":
-Marine Fisheries Patrol Improvements: $1,200.0 Fed
-Rental Assistance for Victims - Empowering Choice
Housing Program: $2,000.0 DGF
-Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Intervention Program: $850.0 DGF
-Reappropriation for Body Worn Cameras and In-Car
Video Cameras: $350.0 UGF
Ms. Howell explained that the Marine Fisheries Patrol
Improvements request was federal funds. She furthered that
it was an annual project and was part of a joint
enforcement agreement with National Marine Fisheries
Service to primarily fund equipment for the Alaska Wildlife
Troopers. She added that it also would fund four positions:
a sergeant and administrative assistant in Kodiak; a public
safety technician in Dutch Harbor, and a public safety
technician in Seward.
Ms. Howell spoke about two project requests, the Empowering
Choice Housing Program ($2 million) and the Alaska Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program; both of
which she characterized as "pass-through" funds. She
clarified that the two items were placed in the budget, and
were Designated General Funds (DGF) through the Permanent
Fund Dividend (PFD) Criminal Fund. She noted that the
previous day the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)
had covered the housing program request in its presentation
to the committee. She specified that the department had
envisioned that the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault (CDVSA), which was administratively housed by DPS,
would transfer the funds to AHFC via a reimbursable
services agreement in order to continue providing rental
assistance to those impacted by domestic violence and
sexual assault.
Ms. Howell spoke to the Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault Intervention Program request for $850,000. She
enumerated that the program was a collaboration between the
Anchorage Police Department, the municipal prosecutors
office, the municipal Department of Health and Human
Services, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Standing
Together Against Rape (STAR), Victims for Justice, and both
the Council and the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault. She discussed the goal of reducing domestic
violence in Alaska by increasing offender accountability,
and improving victim safety. She added that there were
multiple services funded through the program; at the
current time the $850,000 funded about 45 percent of the
cost of the program, with the municipality funding the
remaining portion through in-kind and cash matches.
9:07:15 AM
AT EASE
9:09:06 AM
RECONVENED
Ms. Howell clarified that the programs receiving funding
were members of the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault, and the funds were not being received or directed
by the network.
Senator Olson asked if the intervention program had been
funded through one-time funding the previous year. Ms.
Howell stated that her understanding was that the program
was ongoing and received federal funding directly through
the Municipality of Anchorage. Once the federal funding was
expended, the program began seeking other funding sources.
She specified that they had received funding from
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and other
sources prior to the upcoming fiscal year. She reiterated
that the municipality provided some support directly and
through personal services (such as two officers designated
from the Anchorage Police Department).
Senator Olson asked why the request was placed in the
capital budget rather than the operating budget if it was
not a one-time appropriation. Ms. Howell clarified that it
was not a department initiated request; rather, the
administration had placed the two programs in the
department's budget. She furthered that the request was
placed in the department's budget for the reason that the
CDVSA was one of the agencies able to grant funding using
the PFD Criminal Funds.
9:11:32 AM
Senator Dunleavy reflected that under AHFC there was a
similar program, and asked why the programs did not
collaborate or combine efforts. Ms. Howell concurred that
the previous day AHFC had presented the Empowering Choice
Housing Program, which had historically been placed in its
budget; however the administration placed the rental
assistance for victims in the DPS budget to continue the
program using PFD Criminal Funds. She asserted that DPS
would continue to work with AHFC in support of the housing
program as well as the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO)
housing program. She advised that the department worked
very closely in consultation with AHFC for the communities
that were receiving funding through the VPSO housing
program.
Senator Olson pointed out that DPS, along with AHFC, was
already supporting some programs (such as STAR) and asked
for clarification as to how the funding was directed. Ms.
Howell explained that the funding that had been going
directly to the municipality of Anchorage for the program
provided more than just direct services to victims. She
elaborated that the program also provided staff to update
the public safety information network with immediate
information on conditions of release, which embodied an
offender accountability component to the program. She
agreed to provide additional details if necessary.
Senator Olson expressed a desire for additional details on
the program.
9:14:50 AM
Senator Dunleavy asked if the Marine Fisheries Patrol
improvements request was completely federally funded. Ms.
Howell responded in the affirmative.
Senator Dunleavy asked if the reappropriation (for body
worn cameras and in-car video cameras) was to support the
project, rather than a reappropriation from that to another
project. Ms. Howell confirmed that the reappropriation was
from an existing capital appropriation that was for a video
conferencing project that had been completed. She furthered
that the estimated amount to be reappropriated would be
$350,000, for the purchase of body-worn and in-car video
cameras for Alaska State Troopers.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if $5,000 per unit was the average
cost of the in-car video cameras. Ms. Howell shared that
the estimated cost of body-worn cameras was $500 to $700
per unit. She added that the reappropriation, in addition
to being for the cameras, would cover the cost of storage
for the video files that would be generated.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if Ms. Howell could provide her
office with justification for the high cost of the in-car
cameras at a later date.
9:17:06 AM
Vice-Chair Micciche wondered if there was an inconsistency
with the number and price of cameras. Ms. Howell reiterated
that her notes indicated that the cost of body-worn cameras
to be $500 o $700 per unit, and the cost of the in-car
video cameras to be $5,000 per unit. She reasserted that
DPS would provide additional information to the committee
with regard to cost of the cameras, and whether the cost
included installation and other components.
Co-Chair MacKinnon reiterated the request for additional
information regarding the Alaska Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault Intervention Program that Senator Olson and
Senator Dunleavy had asked about earlier in the meeting.
She mused that the program may have been funded from DHSS
funds that were being "swept" in the previous year, thereby
not appearing in the current year's operating budget. She
added that it appeared as if the program should be an
operating budget item. She asked for a follow-up on the use
of the felon dollars, to make certain they were being
appropriately utilized within DPS. She reiterated the
request for follow-up on the cost of the cameras.
9:19:08 AM
AT EASE
9:21:14 AM
RECONVENED
^OVERVIEW: FY 16 BUDGET GOVERNOR
9:21:22 AM
GUY BELL, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, stated
that there was one $500,000 request in the capital budget
(RN AMD 60745); and the money would be used to advance
Alaska's Arctic policy. Mr. Bell stressed the importance of
the timing of the request, as the United States would
assume the two-year chairmanship of the multi-national
arctic council in April. Mr. Bell maintained that due to
the work of the legislature and the Arctic Policy
Commission, the state had taken major steps toward defining
and articulating its Arctic interests. He asserted that
through the project, the administration hoped to work with
the legislature and the commission to advance Alaska's
Arctic interests by educating and informing the council
members as well as participating in the work of the council
and other Arctic-associated groups. He specified that that
money would be used to enable a closer working relationship
with the legislature's Special Committee on the Arctic, and
enumerated other expenditures from the document "GOV Budget
Justification Narrative - 500K Arctic" (copy on file):
· cover travel for state officials to participate in the
numerous Arctic meetings and symposia over the next
two to three years
· enable participation in Senior Arctic Official and
Arctic Council Working Group meetings at which
national policies are formulated
· establish and coordinate a host committee for Arctic
Council activities
· enable participation in activities of the Northern
Forum
· evaluate and set the framework for a public outreach
campaign on Arctic issues
· determine whether Alaska should host the Arctic
Economic Council Secretariat
9:24:23 AM
CRAIG FLEENER, ARCTIC POLICY ADVISOR, OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR (via teleconference), described the shaping of
Arctic policy to be a monumental undertaking and emphasized
the importance for Alaska. He discussed his participation
in the Arctic Council ten years prior, when the state had
little to no involvement. He stressed the importance of the
opportunity for Alaska to help shape Arctic policy rather
than solely the federal government. He mentioned the
potential exclusion of many important issues to the state
(infrastructure, economic diversification, food security,
communications, reducing energy costs, arctic sovereignty,
gasline construction, navigation, etc.) by the federal
government as it shaped Arctic policy.
Senator Dunleavy mentioned the Citizens' Advisory
Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA) and asked if Mr.
Fleener had observed any complimentary approaches or cross-
over with the commission. Mr. Fleener thought that there
was always opportunity to work in the same direction as
CACFA. He related that had attended as many CACFA meetings
as possible and appreciated the work that it had done. He
stated that he was unaware of any Arctic activities by the
commission; nor activities with the state department, which
did not work domestically. He thought CACFA's focus had
been on federal land units in Alaska, such as the National
Park Service or Environmental Protection Agency. He
surmised that arctic policy had been outside the scope of
authority of CACFA, but expressed a willingness to work
with the commission.
9:27:45 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if Mr. Bell could provide the
committee with explicit line items detailing expenditures
of the budget request. Mr. Bell stated he had the
information and would provide it to the committee members.
Senator Bishop expressed an interest in further discussing
the Secretariat organization [host committee coordinator
for the Arctic Council]. Mr. Fleener stated he was happy to
engage in the discussion at a later date.
Senator Dunleavy asked if this was a one-time request, or
was it anticipated to be an ongoing funding need. Mr. Bell
stated that it was a one-time request.
Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that the back-up documents
demonstrated two years' worth of planning.
ADJOURNMENT
9:30:18 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 032015 DPS Capital Budget Overview.pdf |
SFIN 3/20/2015 9:00:00 AM |
SB 26 |