Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/15/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 | |
| Department Review: Law | |
| Department Review: Corrections | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 15, 2019
9:01 a.m.
9:01:53 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Natasha von Imhof, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mike Shower
ALSO PRESENT
Donna Arduin, Director, Office of Management and Budget;
Anna Kim, Administrative Services Director, Department of
Law, Office of Management and Budget; Ed Sniffen, Deputy
Attorney General, Department of Law; Sylvan Robb,
Administrative Services Director, Department of
Corrections, Office of Management and Budget; Kelly Goode,
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Corrections;
Representative Tammie Wilson.
SUMMARY
SB 20 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
SB 20 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 20
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making appropriations under art. IX,
sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from
the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing
for an effective date."
9:04:34 AM
^DEPARTMENT REVIEW: LAW
9:04:34 AM
DONNA ARDUIN, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,
introduced herself.
9:05:51 AM
ANNA KIM, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF
LAW, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT and BUDGET, introduced herself.
9:06:08 AM
ED SNIFFEN, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF LAW,
introduced himself.
Ms. Kim discussed the presentation, "State of Alaska,
Office of Management and Budget; FY 2020 Governor's Amended
Budget; Presentation to the Senate Finance Committee;
February 15, 2019; Director Donna Arduin" (copy on file).
She highlighted slide 2, "Department of Law."
Co-Chair Stedman asked for a funding comparison.
Ms. Kim explained the funding comparison.
Co-Chair Stedman asked how many chairs were full in keeping
the constant position count.
Ms. Kim detailed the numbers of the divisions.
Co-Chair Stedman asked about what would be considered
abnormal.
Ms. Kim deferred to Mr. Sniffen.
Mr. Sniffen looked at slide 3, "FY 2020 Budget: Department
of Law."
9:10:14 AM
Senator Wielechowski noted the request for all exempt and
partially exempt employees to support the governor's
agenda. He asked for the number of employees that were
terminated due to the governor's request.
Mr. Sniffen replied that there were three positions that
were let go as a result of the transition.
Senator Wielechowski wondered how many were let go in the
Department of Law.
Mr. Sniffen replied three.
Senator Wielechowski asked why they were let go.
Mr. Sniffen did not have that information.
Senator Wielechowski requested that information.
Co-Chair Stedman felt that the question could be considered
later. He requested the expected demands on the department
if there was a new crime bill package.
Mr. Sniffen stated that positions had been added the year
prior.
Co-Chair Stedman asked for information about the long
distance plea bargaining in the rural areas.
Mr. Sniffen agreed to provide that information.
9:17:12 AM
Ms. Kim addressed slide 4, "FY2020 Budget: Department of
Law Snapshot":
? Fully support Civil Division through billing of
services (-$750.0 GF//+$750.0 I/A)
? Statewide Support Executive Branch 50 percent
Travel
Reduction (-$190.1 GF)
Criminal and Civil Divisions Fully Funding
Positions Added in SLA2018 (+$307.6 GF)
Co-Chair von Imhof asked what the final bullet meant, and
what the money would be used toward.
Ms. Kim replied that eight positions were added in the year
prior, but were not fully funded. The money fully funded
the positions in the current year.
Co-Chair von Imhof surmised that the travel and fully
funded positions offset each other. She wondered whether
the $1.1 million in SB 32 for prosecutors and support staff
was not added to the budget until the bill passed the
legislature.
Ms. Kim replied in the affirmative.
9:20:55 AM
Senator Wielechowski remarked that the Criminal Division
had seen many cuts, and the Attorney General testified that
those cuts lead to the inability to prosecute over 5000
criminals. The legislature had restored a few positions the
year prior, but nowhere near the previous level. He
wondered how the level would be reached to not allow
criminals to run free without the positions restored in the
Criminal Division.
Mr. Sniffen recalled that testimony, and noted that there
were a number of positions that were let go. The goal was
to slowly add the prosecutors over time, and that process
would continue.
Senator Wielechowski stressed that there were new crimes
that needed to be prosecuted, so the level was not being
reached. He wondered whether there were enough prosecutors
to prosecute all the crimes in the state.
Mr. Sniffen replied that the cases would be prosecuted to
the fullest extent of the law. He remarked that the crime
package would provide prosecutors with more tools.
Senator Micciche announced that he estimated that backing
out the changes, and examined the policy calls, there would
be a $60 million to $80 million shift.
Ms. Arduin replied that all the departments worked on the
fiscal note to determine what may happen. The fiscal note
may change in the process. She noted that if more resources
were needed, there would be a request.
9:25:41 AM
Senator Hoffman stressed that the key statement was "within
the given resources."
Ms. Arduin replied that all the agencies in the
administration was to live within the resources. The crime
bills might cause some confusion, because those
appropriations were not in the budget. The appropriations
would come with the passage of the crime bills, and
increase resources for the agencies according to the
increased activities.
Senator Wilson requested information about the 24
positions.
Mr. Sniffen agreed to provide detailed information.
9:30:48 AM
Senator Bishop noted that the departments were
communicating with each other. He wondered whether it was
said that if the legislature felt that there should be more
money, that the administration would accept that money.
Ms. Arduin replied that she could not provide an answer,
rather would leave that for the governor to analyze.
Senator Bishop noted that the legislature had passed an
omnibus crime bill. He did not believe that the money or
time was given to see if that bill would work. He remarked
that there was a desire to respond to the concerns. He did
not want to "low ball" the number.
Senator Wielechowski recalled that the Attorney General
would start approving plea bargains, and wondered whether
that was a new policy.
Mr. Sniffen agreed to provide further information.
Co-Chair Stedman asked for a high level answer.
Mr. Sniffen replied that when a case was prosecuted with an
opportunity to review the case, and decide to settle. The
prosecutors made that decision within the bounds of the
law.
9:35:23 AM
Co-Chair Stedman wondered whether substantial savings would
be expected if there were more plea bargains.
Mr. Sniffen replied that the issue of saving money would
enter into the discussion when determining a plea bargain.
Co-Chair Stedman remarked that if there were budgetary
pressure related to bargaining, he would rather have a
supplemental request.
Ms. Arduin stressed that the department stated that the
budget was not related to the plea bargains.
Senator Hoffman stated that in order to keep Alaskans safe
with the financial means available would utilize their
budget on a priority basis.
^DEPARTMENT REVIEW: CORRECTIONS
9:38:48 AM
SYLVAN ROBB, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT and BUDGET, introduced
herself.
KELLY GOODE, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS, introduced herself.
Ms. Robb looked at slide 6, "FY2020 Budget: Department of
Corrections." She looked at the top of the bars which
showed the changes in the budget. She shared that the grey
represented federal funding. She stated that the change was
due to an increase in federal man days. She remarked that
there were more inmates in the institutions paid for by the
federal government. She stated that there were steadily
increasing numbers in federal man days since 2013, with the
exception of 2015. She looked at the green bars, which
represented other funding. She shared that, for the
department, the majority of the other funding was comprised
of the PFD criminal funds. She explained that those were
funds from PFD awarded to the department from the PFD
applications that were ineligible to apply. That money was
used to offset the healthcare cost.
9:40:37 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked for explanation of the general
funds.
Ms. Robb replied that the department did not have much DGF,
and only had a small number of fees. She stated that
inmates were charged a copay for health insurance, and
there were some other small fees. She shared that the
department was approximately 89 percent UGF funded.
Senator Micciche looked at the issue of transparency, and
asked that each department provide the split out from UGF
and DGF.
Co-Chair Stedman stated that the request had been given to
OMB, and it was hoped that they would modify their charts.
Senator Micciche felt that continuing to discuss the fee
for service option, there was a discouraging of potential
for services that folks may choose to help fund through
DGF.
Co-Chair Stedman felt that there was a difference of
opinion, and wanted to focus on the schedule of the
committee.
Senator Hoffman wondered whether the department could give
a general overview of where the state is on overcrowded
facilities. He remarked that the Yukon Kuskokwim facility
was probably close to twice the capacity than it was
designed. He wanted to know the overall capacity versus
what the facilities were at.
9:46:02 AM
Co-Chair Stedman felt that the question was applicable in
the next slide.
Ms. Robb continued to look at the funding comparison in the
slide.
Co-Chair Stedman queried the position comparisons.
Ms. Robb addressed the position comparisons on the slide.
9:49:22 AM
Ms. Robb highlighted slide 7, "FY2020 Budget: Department of
Corrections Snapshot":
? Funding for Video Court Hearing Institutional
Staffing (+$969.6 GF and +10 PFTs)
? Reduce Authority Due to the Elimination of the
Professional Conduct Unit (-$1,199.7 GF and -5 PFTs)
? Transition at least 500 inmates to out of state
facilities (-$12,802.5 GF)
? Close a Sentenced Wing of the Wildwood Correctional
Center (-$6,000.0 GF and -46 PFTs)
? Statewide Support Executive Branch 50 percent
Travel Reduction (-$71.2 GF)
9:54:27 AM
Senator Micciche stressed that the population of inmates
that would not move out of state would increase
dramatically. He felt that the decisions were made without
corrections professionals.
Ms. Robb replied that there were a number of factors that
went into considering the facilities. She stated that a
number of facilities had a number of unsentenced inmates,
so closing facilities with unsentenced inmates increased
cost, because transportation costs were added.
Senator Micciche felt that the response made less sense. He
stressed that the facility open made more sense.
10:00:15 AM
Co-Chair Stedman remarked that there would be many
questions in subcommittee on that issue.
Senator Wielechowski remarked that there were many people
in the news who have said that being sent to out of state
prisons is like sending them to a crime university. The
criminals learned all new types of ways to commit crime,
and brought those lessons back to Alaska. He stressed that
it was a bad idea to send inmates out of Alaska. He
remarked that Ms. Arduin had past experience with private
prison groups. He wondered whether she had any discussions
with any private prisons, that she had a relationship with,
about housing Alaska inmates.
Ms. Arduin replied that she had no connections with private
prisons and she did not have any conversations with them.
Senator Wielechowski wondered whether the department had
any conversations with any out-of-state facilities about
housing Alaska inmates.
Ms. Robb replied that the conversations were only about
whether beds were available.
Senator Wilson noted no changes in the Judicial services
line item, and wondered whether there was a still a plan to
have video court funding in FY 20 and the implementation in
FY 21.
Ms. Robb understood that the change in the law still said
that Courts "may" use videoconferencing instead of "shall."
Senator Wilson noted that in the Matsu there were four
prison facilities. He queried the intent of the Palmer
Correctional Facility.
10:05:04 AM
Ms. Robb replied that there was no decision made to reopen
the Palmer Correctional Facility, and the department was
currently gathering the cost of that facility.
Senator Wilson asked about the maintenance and facilities
of Highland Correctional Facilities. He noted that facility
had seen some problems, and did not like that the TLC
program had been eliminated.
Co-Chair Stedman queried the description of the program.
Senator Wilson shared that TLC was a faith-based
recidivism-reduction program. He felt that the rate was so
reduced, and did not see anything about reductions for
substance abuse and additional services in the
presentations.
Co-Chair Stedman wondered if Senator Wilson wanted to know
the status of the program.
Senator Wilson stated that he wanted to know why good
programs were moved out of the prisons.
Ms. Robb stated that TLC was moved to the Anchorage
Correctional Center. The 37 men were moved with the men.
The program was not discontinued, rather it allowed the
commissioner to bring the program to the women housed in
the Highland Correctional Center.
Co-Chair von Imhof wondered whether each commissioner would
be participating and present in the subcommittee meetings.
Ms. Arduin replied that she could not speak for every
commissioner, but assumed that there would be work as they
are scheduled to be present at the meetings.
Co-Chair von Imhof queried a plan for implantation of all
the structural changes that were being brought for each of
the departments. She remarked that there were many
correctional facilities, and wondered how the flow of
inmates would be within the different facilities.
10:10:38 AM
Ms. Arduin replied that there was a plan to address those
details in the subcommittee process.
Senator Hoffman remarked that he had requested a general
overview of the correctional facilities. He queried the
capacity of the facilities, and whether they were
overcrowded. He queried future plans for any additional
facilities in the upcoming four years.
Ms. Robb replied that the facilities were at an average 94
percent capacity statewide. She stated that the Yukon
Kuskokwim was often near capacity.
Senator Hoffman wondered whether there were plans to add an
additional facility in the future.
Ms. Robb replied that there was currently no plan for an
additional facility. She stated that the plan was to send
500 out of state, and providing numbers on reopening Palmer
Correctional Center.
Senator Wielechowski asked whether there was an analysis to
determine if this was the most efficient system.
Ms. Robb stated that transporting prisoners to hearings was
the responsibility of the Department of Public Safety.
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the status of community jails
in the budget proposal.
Ms. Robb replied that there were 15 community jails in
locations with no institutions. She stated that those
contracts were still in place.
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the money for the community
jails.
Ms. Robb stated that it was essentially unchanged from the
previous year.
Senator Olson recalled that during the administration
transition period, there were resignations requested of
some of the health professionals. He stressed that there
was a nursing shortage. He wondered how many of those
health care providers were relieved of their duties.
10:15:24 AM
Co-Chair Stedman also requested the status of the medical
issues within the prison.
Ms. Robb replied that nurses were classified staff, so none
of them were asked to resign. He stated that there were a
number of health professionals, and they were all retained.
Senator Olson queried the status of the jail in Nome.
Ms. Robb did not understand the issue.
Senator Olson wondered whether there was a consideration of
closing the jail.
Ms. Goode stated that there was no discussion about closing
that jail.
Senator Bishop remarked that he was the former commissioner
of Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and had
worked closely to develop job training programs in the
prisons. He hoped to see that continue. He remarked that
Wildwood had assets to expand vocational education for
inmates. He stressed the importance of the inmates
developing careers. He felt that shutting down Wildwood was
troubling.
Senator Wilson wondered whether there would be compliance
with RIA funding.
Ms. Robb agreed to provide further information.
Co-Chair Stedman asked for explanation of the program.
Ms. Robb replied that it was the Rape Elimination Act.
Senator Micciche shared a story about when he was mayor,
and strongly support the people working in public safety,
and correction officers were no exception. He requested
that the departments notify employees respectfully about
whether they were losing their jobs. He asked that the
department conduct a study about how to reduce the costs
for housing inmates in Alaska.
Co-Chair Stedman requested the cost of Goose Creek.
Senator Micciche added that he would like information about
the existing facilities.
SB 20 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
10:26:27 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:26 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| FY2020 Gov Amend Budget to SFC 2.15.19 Law DOC MVA JUD UPDATED.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |