Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/12/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB20 || SB21 | |
| Public Testimony: Kenai, Kodiak, Dillingham | |
| Public Testimony: Glennallen, Seward, Homer | |
| 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 12, 2019
9:01 a.m.
9:01:45 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 Mike Shower
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bill Wielechowski
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Todd Syverson, Self, Soldotna; Fred Sturman, Self,
Soldotna; Justin Hansen, Self, Soldotna; Allen Auxier,
Self, Soldotna; David Brighton, Self, Kenai; Amy Seitz,
Executive Director, Alaska Farm Bureau, Soldotna; Amanda
Faulkner, Frontier Community Services, Soldotna; Pat
Holmes, Self, Kodiak; Wayne Donaldson, Self, Kodiak; Jered
Griffin, Self, Kodiak; Shawn Dochtermann, Self, Kodiak; Dan
Rohrer, Mayor, Kodiak Island Borough, Kodiak; Bob Brodie,
Self, Kodiak; Pat Branson, Self, Kodiak; Kathryn Adkins,
Self, Kodiak; Jane Petrich, Self, Kodiak; David Wartinber,
Self, Soldotna; Alice Ruby, Mayor, City of Dillingham,
Dillingham; Holly Scott, Self, Soldotna; Jillian Lush,
Self, Homer; Meg Mitchell, Self, Homer; Lisa Asselin
Martin, Self, Homer; Rachel Lord, Self, Homer; Jay Bechtol,
Self, Homer; Peggy Paver, Executive Director, Homer Council
on the Arts, Homer; Delane Blackstock, Self, Homer; Jim
Hornaday, Self, Homer; David Eckwert, University of Alaska,
Kachemak Bay Campus, Homer; Moira Ireland, Self, Kenai;
Carol Hamik, Self, Homer; Linda Corbin, Self, Seward; Mar
Swanson, Self, Seward; Letty Swanson, Self, Seward; Jane
Dunn, Liaison, Students in Transition KPBSD, Homer; Laurie
Deakins, Care Coordination Resource, Homer; Adam Hykes,
Self, Homer; Maya Moriarty, Self, Seward.
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.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
KENAI, KODIAK, DILLINGHAM
GLENNALLEN, SEWARD, HOMER
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."
9:03:13 AM
Co-Chair Stedman noted that senators may be coming and
going throughout the day to attend to other state business.
He stated that the time limit was one minute per testifier.
He stressed that the testimony should be focused on the
bill.
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Micciche.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: KENAI, KODIAK, DILLINGHAM
9:06:40 AM
TODD SYVERSON, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke
against the governor's proposed budget. He felt that it was
the state's responsibility to fund education and the
University.
9:07:15 AM
FRED STURMAN, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
testified in support of the governor's proposed budget.
9:08:11 AM
JUSTIN HANSEN, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke
against the governor's proposed budget. He felt that the
proposed budget would eliminate extracurricular activities,
and possibly close his school.
9:08:58 AM
ALLEN AUXIER, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for public media. He stressed that it
provided news and information to the entire state. He
remarked that the smaller communities would lose an
extremely valuable service.
9:10:12 AM
DAVID BRIGHTON, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference), testified
in opposition to the governor's budget. He remarked that
the result of the bill would be closing of schools. He felt
that a major cut to education would lead to an increase in
crime. He pointed out that cutting public broadcasting
would create a problem. He stated that he did not mind that
the legislation was done thousands of miles from his
district, but eliminating public broadcasting would be
detrimental.
9:11:31 AM
AMY SEITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA FARM BUREAU, SOLDOTNA
(via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
programs that relate to agriculture economy programs.
9:12:56 AM
AMANDA FAULKNER, FRONTIER COMMUNITY SERVICES, SOLDOTNA (via
teleconference), spoke against the cuts to behavioral
health grants.
9:13:48 AM
PAT HOLMES, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke
against the governor's proposed budget. He support the
operating budget that was recently passed by the House. He
felt that there should be some more information about where
the operating budget was in the Senate. He encouraged more
information about the history of the state.
9:15:02 AM
WAYNE DONALDSON, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke
in support of reinstating funds for higher education. He
shared that he had graduated from the University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF).
9:16:12 AM
JERED GRIFFIN, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke
against the proposed cuts to public broadcasting. He felt
that public broadcasting should be considered the same way
that education and libraries are treated. He felt that
public broadcasting was essential and enhanced the lives of
Alaskans.
9:17:28 AM
SHAWN DOCHTERMANN, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference),
testified against the governor's proposed budget. He felt
that the House had provided an adequate version of the
budget. He spoke in support of funding for education and
the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). He remarked that
the ferry system should function in order to serve all the
communities.
9:18:45 AM
DAN ROHRER, MAYOR, KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH, KODIAK (via
teleconference), remarked that there was a concern about
the budget, because it would shift the cost of the school
bond debt to the community. He spoke in support of funding
for school bond debt.
9:20:05 AM
BOB BRODIE, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for public broadcasting. He testified in
support of funding for AMHS.
9:21:11 AM
PAT BRANSON, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of a shared fisheries tax. She testified in support
of AMHS and the community assistance fund.
9:22:27 AM
KATHRYN ADKINS, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), opposed
the governor's proposed budget. She spoke in support of
public broadcasting. She also testified in support of AMHS.
9:24:03 AM
JANE PETRICH, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of public broadcasting. She remarked that public
radio was her family's only source of information.
9:25:19 AM
DAVID WARTINBER, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke
in support of maximum funding of education. He testified in
support of public broadcasting, because it provided
unbiased information. He noted that many people relied on
public broadcasting for all of their information.
9:27:16 AM
ALICE RUBY, MAYOR, CITY OF DILLINGHAM, DILLINGHAM (via
teleconference), spoke in support of school bond debt
reimbursement, the shared fisheries business tax, and
community assistance. He felt that omitting those funding
sources would have a crippling impact on communities.
9:29:12 AM
HOLLY SCOTT, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
encouraged continual examination of the proposed budget.
She stated that she had submitted a letter that outlined
her concerns.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: GLENNALLEN, SEWARD, HOMER
9:30:39 AM
JILLIAN LUSH, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of Medicaid funding and education of funding. She
spoke in support of reversing elimination of Pre-K, Head
Start, Best Beginnings, and Parents as Teachers.
9:32:12 AM
MEG MITCHELL, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke
against the privatization of the Alaska Psychiatric
Institute.
Senator Micciche stated that testimony should be focused on
the operating budget.
Ms. Mitchell felt that the governor had traumatized the
state, and did not respect the value of the state.
9:33:26 AM
LISA ASSELIN MARTIN, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference),
testified in support of education funding. She stated that
she was a parent of an elementary age person.
9:34:29 AM
RACHEL LORD, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for education. She felt that
9:35:33 AM
JAY BECHTOL, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified in
support of funding Medicaid and behavioral health grants.
9:36:50 AM
PEGGY PAVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOMER COUNCIL ON THE ARTS,
HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
the State Council on the Arts.
9:38:06 AM
DELANE BLACKSTOCK, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference),
stressed that she was a part of the community, because she
valued education and the arts.
9:39:23 AM
JIM HORNADAY, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
opposition to the repeal of the senior assistance program.
He spoke in support of education funding.
9:40:15 AM
DAVID ECKWERT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, KACHEMAK BAY CAMPUS,
HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for
the university, specifically the Kachemak Bay Camus.
9:41:26 AM
AT EASE
9:48:08 AM
RECONVENED
9:48:38 AM
MOIRA IRELAND, SELF, KENAI (via teleconference),
appreciated the examination of the budget. She encouraged
the committee to increase revenue by decreasing oil tax
credits.
9:49:43 AM
CAROL HAMIK, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for education. She spoke in support of
an income tax for workers who lived permanently outside of
the state. She wanted increased taxes for oil companies.
9:51:12 AM
LINDA CORBIN, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke
against the proposed budget cuts to education.
9:52:47 AM
MAR SWANSON, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), felt that
education was the prime objective of the budget. He felt
that stable education funding was the highest priority. He
remarked that he could be taxed and his PFD could be used
to fund education.
9:53:47 AM
LETTY SWANSON, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke in
support of early childhood education programs. She stated
that she was in support of using taxes for education.
9:54:57 AM
JANE DUNN, LIAISON, STUDENTS IN TRANSITION KPBSD, HOMER
(via teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the
Homeless Assistance Program. She stated that there were no
homeless shelters in the central peninsula area of the
state. She remarked that the communities relied on state
funding. She noted that Alaska was the highest in human
trafficking in the country.
9:56:16 AM
LAURIE DEAKINS, CARE COORDINATION RESOURCE, HOMER (via
teleconference), spoke in support of senior benefits. She
remarked that she worked with seniors who were on a fixed
income. She stated that those in the lower income bracket
relied heavily on the couple of hundred dollars provided
through the program.
9:57:27 AM
ADAM HYKES, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), looked at
page 10, lines 17 and 18 of the bill. He queried the
definition of "student and school achievement" and asked
why it cost $158 million. He looked at page 33, lines 24,
27, and 30, and asked why UAF had a budget five times the
size of UAS, when Fairbanks and Juneau had roughly the same
population. He spoke in support of the governor's budget.
Senator Micciche handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
9:58:57 AM
AT EASE
10:17:11 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Micciche.
10:17:44 AM
MAYA MORIARTY, SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke
against the governor's proposed budget. She believed that
the loss of the Marine Highway would be damaging to the
communities.
Senator Micciche handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the following meeting's agenda.
SB 20 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 21 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
10:20:43 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 6.pdf |
SFIN 4/12/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |
| SB 20 Public Testimony - Support Medicaid Services.pdf |
SFIN 4/12/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 20 |