Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/11/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 || SB21 | |
| Public Testimony: Mat-su, Fairbanks | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 21 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 11, 2019
9:02 a.m.
9:02:08 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:02 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 Mike Shower
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bill Wielechowski
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Mia Costello; Senator Scott Kawasaki; Valerie
Therrien, Fairbanks City Council, Fairbanks; June Rogers,
Fairbanks City Council, Fairbanks; Andrew Spirocopulor,
Self, Palmer; Grace Cook, Self, Palmer; Kaitlyn Johnson,
Self, Palmer; Ryen Leffee, Self, Palmer;
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Dave Ross, Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and Homelessness,
Mat-Su; Mark Lackey, CCS Early Learning, MatSu LIO; Judy
Snyder, self, MatSu; Mercer Welsh, self, MatSu; Patty
Meritt, Self, FBX LIO; Samantha Kirstein, Fairbanks
Community Food Bank, FBX LIO; Michael Szudloski, self, FBX
LIO; Jinnel Choiniere, FBX Chamber of Commerce, FBX LIO;
Susan Henrichs, Self, FBX LIO; Linda Schandelmeier, Self,
FBX LIO; Former Representative John Davies, Self, FBX LIO;
Emily Vockeroth, Best Beginnings/Imagination Library, FBX
LIO; Jeanette Grasto, NAMI, FBX LIO; Brenda Riley, United
Way/UAF, FBX LIO; Bruce Jamieson, Self, FBX LIO; Ann
Jamieson, Self, FBX LIO; Jason Clark, Self, FBX LIO;
Melinda Evans, Self, FBX LIO; Hayden Nevill, Self, FBX LIO;
Mike Powers, Foundation Health Partners, Fairbanks LIO;
Karen Taber, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska, Fairbanks
LIO; Jomo Stewart, Fairbanks Economic Development
Corporation, Fairbanks LIO; Lynette Clark, Self, Fox;
Elizabeth Ripley, Mat-Su Health Foundation, MatSu LIO; Bert
Houghtaling, Self, Big Lake; Jim Williams, FBSB Mayor
Office, FBX LIO; Jess Pena, Fairbanks Arts Association, FBX
LIO; Christopher Miller, self, FBX LIO; Juliet Shepard,
self, FBX LIO; Janet Kidd, self, FBX LIO; Joe Thomas, self,
FBX LIO; Charlene Fisher, Council Athabaskan Tribal Gov.,
Beaver;
SUMMARY
SB 20 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
SB 20 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 21 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 21 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."
SENATE BILL NO. 21
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program, including
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
9:02:40 AM
Co-Chair Stedman relayed that the committee would
concurrently take public testimony on SB 20 and SB 21. He
discussed the public testimony parameters. He requested
that comments be confined to the budget.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: MAT-SU, FAIRBANKS
9:04:23 AM
AT EASE
9:05:10 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman asked whether representatives wanted to
chair the meeting during their respective regions scheduled
public testimony.
Senator Shower took control of the gavel for Fairbanks and
MAT-SU public testimony.
9:06:03 AM
DAVE ROSS, MAT-SU COALITION ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS,
MAT-SU (via teleconference), testified in support of
funding for the Homeless Assistance Program Fund. The fund
assisted in helping individuals meet emergency needs; with
over 30, non- profit, agencies and organizations serving
low-income residents. He discussed the work of the
coalition.
9:07:16 AM
MARK LACKEY, CCS EARLY LEARNING, MATSU LIO (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the Head
Start program. He noted that the governor's budget proposed
to eliminate 100 percent of the $6.8 million provided for
Head Start services in the state. He specified that the
proposed cut would result in 534 fewer children served and
138 jobs lost around the state. He noted that one of three
children in his program was a foster child or homeless. He
estimated that 20 percent of other families were at risk of
fostering or homelessness.
9:08:47 AM
JUDY SNYDER, SELF, MATSU (via teleconference), was a 35-
year resident of the MAT-SU Valley. She spoke in support of
full funding for the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana,
and Idaho (WWAMI) program. She detailed that WWAMI had
provided the state with 214 physicians currently
practicing. She discussed the function of the program. She
thought it was not economically feasible for Alaska to
establish its own medical school. She informed that 61
percent of WWAMI students returned to the state, the fourth
highest return rate of all public medical schools in the
country. She felt that with an investment of only $4.62,
per capita, per year, the program was a win/win for the
state.
9:10:11 AM
MERCER WELSH, SELF, MATSU (via teleconference), was
concerned about proposed cuts to government programs. He
was a ten-year resident of Wasilla.
Senator Stedman recognized Senator Costello and Senator
Kawasaki in the audience.
Senator Shower handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Bishop.
9:12:07 AM
VALERIE THERRIEN, FAIRBANKS CITY COUNCIL, FAIRBANKS,
thanked the committee for supporting community assistance
and revenue sharing. Fairbanks had received $500,000 in the
current fiscal year and expected the same amount the
following year. Without the funds, she expected that the
city would have to cut an entire department. She spoke in
support of funding for the Department of Environmental
Conservation. She relayed that there was as serious problem
with infiltration of chemicals at the fire training center.
The city had spent over $1 million in trucking water and
providing city water. The issue was increasing nationwide.
There was a lawsuit started with a national firm to help
with costs.
9:13:44 AM
JUNE ROGERS, FAIRBANKS CITY COUNCIL, FAIRBANKS, was proud
of organizing a coalition working on issues of homelessness
and rehabilitation of many forms of substance abuse. She
mentioned prisoner reentry programs. She discussed the
effects of volunteer efforts and thought the effects had
been exponential. She thought state programs could work
more effectively in concert with volunteerism. She noted
financial contributions from the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority (AMHTA) and the Rasmuson Foundation. She asserted
that the city was responsible for people and networking for
people's benefit.
9:15:35 AM
PATTY MERITT, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), spoke in
support of programs that produced long-term benefits, such
as, early childhood education, Head Start, Pre-K, Parents
as Teacher, and Best Beginnings. She supported funding for
the University. She discussed the importance of the work of
the University. She was a UAF graduate. Her son was a
University graduate and would become a teacher. She hoped
the University would be there for her grandchildren.
9:17:09 AM
SAMANTHA KIRSTEIN, FAIRBANKS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, FBX LIO
(via teleconference), supported the Human Services
Community Matching Grant Fund within the Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS). She said that funds
allocated through the grant were used to meet human needs
as defined in state law. She said current year's programs
provided meals 325,000 to those in need, through the local
food bank.
9:18:51 AM
MICHAEL SZUDLOSKI, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
stressed the importance of the University. He discussed
growing sectors of employment in the state in healthcare
and education. He thought the proposed cuts in those
sectors were ludicrous and would be devastating to the
state's economy. He encouraged the legislature to fully
fund education and health care in the state.
9:19:58 AM
JINNEL CHOINIERE, FBX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FBX LIO (via
teleconference), supported using the earnings of the
Permanent Fund. She supported funding for the University.
She mentioned the importance of efficient government
encouraging resource development and business friendly
practices. She supported passage of an appropriate and
timely capital budget. She asserted that the Fairbanks
Chamber of Commerce did not support any new taxes.
9:21:06 AM
SUSAN HENRICHS, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
supported funding for the University. She was a 37-year
resident of the state. She discussed the benefits of the
University. She cited research that better educated
residents encouraged economic growth. She worried that the
budget cuts would affect the Universitys ability to
generate revenue.
9:22:29 AM
LINDA SCHANDELMEIER, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
testified in support of full funding for the University.
She was the daughter of homesteaders. She discussed her
work at the University. She was a field biologist, a
teacher, and a writer. She was grateful for the education
she had received at the University. She emphasized that the
state had the money to fund the University.
9:23:52 AM
FORMER REPRESENTATIVE JOHN DAVIES, SELF, FBX LIO (via
teleconference), associated himself with the remarks of the
previous testifier. He supported funding for the
University. He was a member of the Board of Regents. He had
lived in Alaska for over 50 years. He thought the
University was important for the economy. He thought
reductions should be in a "glide path" approach.
9:25:07 AM
EMILY VOCKEROTH, BEST BEGINNINGS/IMAGINATION LIBRARY, FBX
LIO (via teleconference), supported funding for early
childhood education. She stressed that waiting until
kindergarten to begin education placed undue burden on both
teachers and schools. She supported the Imagination
Library, Parents as Teachers, Head Start, and Best
Beginnings.
9:26:04 AM
JEANETTE GRASTO, NAMI, FBX LIO (via teleconference), spoke
in support of Medicaid funding. She had read of proposed
cuts to Medicaid and the possible loss of accompanying
federal matching funds. She supported adult dental services
as part of Medicaid. She said that primary care level
behavioral health care would ease the reliance on emergency
care. She supported safety net services such as housing and
food banks. She supported an income tax.
9:27:32 AM
BRENDA RILEY, UNITED WAY/UAF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
supported funding for the University. She advocated for the
DHSS Community Matching Grants. She mentioned the various
organizations that benefitted from the grant. With the
grants, the agencies mentioned were able to provide crucial
services to underserved families. She supported Head Start
funding.
9:28:39 AM
BRUCE JAMIESON, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), was a
50-year resident of the state. He supported new taxes. He
did not support the governor's proposed budget. He
supported a different oil and gas tax structure. He
supported funding for public radio and television.
9:30:02 AM
ANN JAMIESON, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
encouraged the committee to look at the written comments of
the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. She discussed the
recession of the 1980s and worried that the proposed budget
would cause a recession/depression in the state.
9:31:09 AM
JASON CLARK, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), shared
that he was a commercial fisher and business owner. He
emphasized the need for cuts and to "right-size"
government.
9:32:22 AM
MELINDA EVANS, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for the University and the WWAMI
program. She had been in the WWAMI program and had returned
to the state as a primary care physician. She was concerned
about trouble recruiting new physicians in Alaska. She
worried that young healthcare professionals would seek job
in different states that could offer loan payback programs.
9:33:55 AM
HAYDEN NEVILL, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for Medicaid. He discussed
the difficulty in finding healthcare, particularly mental
healthcare. He thought there were clear and positive fiscal
reasons to fund Medicare. He discussed the potential cost
shift to emergency services if Medicaid was cut.
9:35:09 AM
MIKE POWERS, FOUNDATION HEALTH PARTNERS, FAIRBANKS LIO (via
teleconference), supported robust funding for Medicaid. He
was chief operating officer of Tanana Valley Clinic. He
thought Medicaid allowed protection of the most vulnerable
in the health care system. He described Fairbanks Memorial
Hospital as a safety net. He pointed out that his hospital
was a rural referral and designated sole community
hospital, which added to the complexity of the area covered
by the facility.
9:36:37 AM
KAREN TABER, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ALASKA, FAIRBANKS
LIO (via teleconference), supported funding for the Human
Services Community Matching Grants. Without the grants, the
program would suffer from decreased funding and would be
unable to provide screened and trained mentors to 20
children in the greater Fairbanks area. She discussed the
importance of BBBS program. She stressed that nurturing
relationships with caring adults were essential to youth
avoiding delinquency, drug use, alcohol use, teen
pregnancy, academic failure, and suicide. She asserted that
the program assisted in children reaching their full
potential.
9:37:53 AM
JOMO STEWART, FAIRBANKS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
FAIRBANKS LIO (via teleconference), testified in opposition
of the governor's proposed budget as submitted. He wanted a
balanced fiscal plan that reduced harm to individual groups
of businesses.
9:39:29 AM
LYNETTE CLARK, SELF, FOX (via teleconference), supported
constitutionally mandated funding. She wanted a balanced
budget. She wanted a fully funded Permanent Fund Dividend.
Senator Bishop handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Wilson.
9:41:20 AM
ELIZABETH RIPLEY, MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION, MATSU LIO (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for Medicaid,
early childhood education, and housing and homelessness
support. She supported funding healthcare infrastructure.
She discussed access to services. She asserted that the
Mat-Su Head Start program received $550,000 in state
funding and leverages $5 million. She discussed the science
based, positive effects of the Head Start program. She
related that housing was a critical determinant of health,
without shelter all other state and community interventions
were compromised.
9:43:03 AM
BERT HOUGHTALING, SELF, BIG LAKE (via teleconference),
supported the governor's proposed budget cuts.
Senator Wilson handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
9:44:22 AM
AT EASE
10:11:26 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gave to Senator Bishop.
10:11:48 AM
JIM WILLIAMS, FBSB MAYOR OFFICE, FBX LIO (via
teleconference), testified that the Fairbanks community was
facing dire impacts if the governor's proposed budget were
to pass. He discussed potential financial impacts on the
city. He worried about the impacts of the budget cuts to
the entire state.
10:13:16 AM
JESS PENA, FAIRBANKS ARTS ASSOCIATION, FBX LIO (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the Alaska State
Council on the Arts. The Fairbanks Arts Association was a
grantee of ASCA, and supported organizations in Fairbanks.
She referenced a House Finance Committee meeting on April
4, 2019, where the council had been lauded for leveraging
state dollars.
10:14:41 AM
CHRISTOPHER MILLER, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference),
supported funding for early childhood education. He
mentioned support for Best Beginnings and Head Start. He
supported funding for the University. He worked as a
journeyman laborer and was in the laborers union.
10:15:41 AM
JULIET SHEPARD, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), opposed
the governor's proposed budget. She thought the governor's
budget proposed cash payouts (dividends) at the expense of
vital services. She supported a balanced budget. She
mentioned the long vision development that would result in
the opening of northern sea routs and an emerging Arctic
economy. She supported using the Permanent Fund Earnings as
originally intended to fund necessary functions of
government. She supported funding for early childhood
education, K-12 education, and the University. She
supported funding for public health and Medicaid expansion.
10:17:45 AM
JANET KIDD, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), supported
funding for K-12 education. She did not have children but
recognized the importance of education. She thought the
state was not getting enough for its oil. She discussed
comparisons of oil credits and profits in the rest of the
world. She thought it was important for the state to invest
in industry and technology that would sustain the state
financially into the future. She supported an income tax.
10:19:42 AM
JOE THOMAS, SELF, FBX LIO (via teleconference), questioned
the split of oil and gas revenue between the state and the
oil industry, and how the split compared with the rest of
the world. He thought the Permanent Fund should be used for
its original purpose; that the fund should be used to fund
operating budgets and not to pay out large dividends.
Senator Bishop handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
10:22:06 AM
AT EASE
10:22:20 AM
RECONVENED
10:22:30 AM
CHARLENE FISHER, COUNCIL ATHABASKAN TRIBAL GOV., BEAVER
(via teleconference), testified in opposition to the
governor's proposed budget. She shared the many ways that
the council partnered to bring federal funding into the
state to supplement state programs. She supported funding
for early childhood education. She supported funding for
Medicaid, public safety, PCE, and Head Start. She discussed
the lack of water and sewer infrastructure in rural areas.
She believed that rural Alaskans had the same rights to
infrastructure funding as those in urban areas.
10:24:31 AM
AT EASE
10:24:54 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Wilson.
Senator Wilson noted that there were students from his area
sitting in the gallery that wished to testify.
Senator Shower invited the students to the table to
testify.
10:25:47 AM
ANDREW SPIROCOPULOR, SELF, PALMER, testified in support of
K-12 education funding. He discussed the importance of
education. He understood that his class traveling to Juneau
was a privilege. He felt that education funding should be a
priority.
Senator Shower thanked him for his testimony.
10:26:42 AM
GRACE COOK, SELF, PALMER, testified in support of K-12
education funding. She expressed gratitude for the
opportunities her schooling allowed her and believed that
all of Alaskas children should be awarded the same
opportunities.
Senator Shower recalled that he has discussed her future
with her the previous day.
Ms. Cook expressed that she wanted to be a helicopter
pilot.
10:27:54 AM
KAITLYN JOHNSON, SELF, PALMER, supported increased funding
for K-12 education. She discussed the need for technology
funding.
10:28:34 AM
RYEN LEFFEE, SELF, PALMER, spoke in support of K-12
funding. He discussed the need for a strong economy. He
felt that government spending had limited the amount of
funds available for education.
Senator Shower thanked Academy Charter School for their
testimony.
10:29:50 AM
AT EASE
10:30:21 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman noted that sign up for morning testimony
had ended at 10 AM.
10:30:51 AM
RECEESSED
10:31:35 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman stated that the meeting would adjourn, and
the committee would reconvene at 1 PM.
ADJOURNMENT
10:31:58 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 3.pdf |
SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 2.pdf |
SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 1.pdf |
SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |