Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/15/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB44 | |
| SB95 | |
| SB92 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 95 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 44 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 15, 2019
9:02 a.m.
9:02:14 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair von Imhof 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
Juli Lucky, Staff, Senator Natasha von Imhof; Rynnieva
Moss, Staff, Senator John Coghill; Senator John Coghill,
Sponsor; Jasmin Martin, Staff, Senator David Wilson; Anne
Weske, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division; Senator
Cathy Giessel.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Barb Blakeley, Vice-President, Whittier Manor Condo
Association, Whittier; Dutch Lucore, Whittier Manor Condo
Association, MatSu; Brent Cole, Whittier Manor Condo
Association, Anchorage.
SUMMARY
SB 44 TELEHEALTH: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS; DRUGS
CSSB 44(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and with two previously
published fiscal notes: FN 1(CED) and FIN 2(ADM).
SB 92 PFD CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL FUND
SB 92 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 95 ALASKA RAILROAD CORP. LAND TRANSFERS
SB 95 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 44
"An Act relating to the prescription of drugs by a
physician assistant without physical examination."
9:03:30 AM
Senator Wilson MOVED to ADOPT a committee substitute.
Co-Chair von Imhof OBJECTED for discussion.
9:04:03 AM
AT EASE
9:04:40 AM
RECONVENED
9:04:48 AM
Senator Wilson MOVED to ADOPT the committee substitute for
SB 44, Work Draft 31-LS0019\E (Fisher, 4/11/19).
Co-Chair von Imhof OBJECTED for discussion.
9:05:33 AM
JULI LUCKY, STAFF, SENATOR NATASHA VON IMHOF, addressed the
Explanation of Changes (copy on file):
Page 3, line 2: changes "person" to "patient"
After discussion with Leg Legal it was determined
that the term "person" is used when describing
scenarios where an individual is not yet in a
patient-provider relationship or when it comes to
consent; and that the term "patient" is used when
an individual is actively participating as a
patient.
Page 3, line 5: removes [(c)] from that line as it was
a Leg Legal typo
Page 3, line 13: adds a Section 5, creating authority
for the State Medical Board write regulations to
implement this bill
Page 3, line 19: gives an immediate effective date for
Section 5
Co-Chair von Imhof WITHDREW the OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, the proposed committee substitute was
ADOPTED.
Senator Micciche stated that he had introduced the original
telehealth bill. He felt that telehealth was remarkably
successful.
Senator Wilson MOVED to REPORT CSSB 44(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal notes.
CSSB 44(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with two previously published fiscal
notes: FN 1(CED) and FIN 2(ADM).
SENATE BILL NO. 95
"An Act approving the transfer of certain Alaska
Railroad Corporation land; and providing for an
effective date."
9:09:42 AM
RYNNIEVA MOSS, STAFF, SENATOR JOHN COGHILL, explained the
bill. She outlined the sections and subsections of the
bill.
9:11:29 AM
SENATOR JOHN COGHILL, SPONSOR, stated that the legislation
put Whittier Manor into private hands and put railroad out
of a conflict with the city. He felt that the private
ownership would increase the tax base, and the ability to
improve the building.
Co-Chair von Imhof stated that there was invited testimony
prepared to present to the committee.
9:12:50 AM
BARB BLAKELEY, VICE-PRESIDENT, WHITTIER MANOR CONDO
ASSOCIATION, WHITTIER (via teleconference), shared that she
owned a condo in Whittier Manor. She stated that the
property was owned by the Alaska Railroad Corporation, and
the forty year lease was set to expire December 31, 2019.
She stated that there had been an attempt for many years to
purchase the property, but the matter was complicated by
the master lease agreement that the railroad had with the
City of Whittier, whereby when some of the leases expire,
the management of the leases would be assumed by the city.
She stated that a long-term lease was not possible, because
the city's master lease was set to expire in 2033. She
stressed that it was a time of uncertainty, and the
property values were declining. She stressed that financing
was unavailable for units for sale, because of the lease
agreement. She shared that there was an agreement reached
for the railroad to sell the land to the condo association.
Co-Chair von Imhof shared that there were two people from
the Alaska Railroad Corporation available for questions.
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.
9:16:30 AM
DUTCH LUCORE, WHITTIER MANOR CONDO ASSOCIATION, MATSU (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. He echoed
the comments from Ms. Blakeley.
9:17:31 AM
BRENT COLE, WHITTIER MANOR CONDO ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.
9:18:55 AM
Senator Micciche reviewed the fiscal note.
SB 95 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 92
"An Act relating to contributions from permanent fund
dividends to the general fund."
9:20:15 AM
JASMIN MARTIN, STAFF, SENATOR DAVID WILSON, introduced
herself.
9:20:48 AM
SENATOR DAVID WILSON, SPONSOR explained the legislation. He
stated that it provided a mechanism to donate an individual
Permanent Fund Dividend to the General Fund.
Senator Wilson explained the Sectional Analysis (copy on
file):
Part (a)
? Defines the parameters and increments for
contributing to the general fund,
? Establishes that donations through
Pick.Click.Give. take priority over donations to
the general fund if there is a shortfall, and;
? Requires a seven percent administration fee is
deducted from donations to the general fund.
page 1, lines 3 15 continuing on page 2, line 1
Part (b)
? Notes that a public agency that claims a
dividend on an individual's behalf is not
permitted to make contributions from that
dividend.
page 2, lines 2-4
Part (c)
? Explicitly states that this is separate from
the Pick.Click.Give "button," or mechanism, in
the dividend application.
page 2, lines 5-8
Senator Wilson explained the fiscal note.
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Stedman noted that the credit agencies looked to
the Permanent Fund Dividend to collect funds that were owed
to different entities. He wondered what would occur, should
there be garnishments, and whether the dividend could be
gifted to the state while not paying one's debt
obligations.
Co-Chair von Imhof called Ms. Weske to address the
question.
9:26:51 AM
ANNE WESKE, DIRECTOR, PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND DIVISION,
replied that there was a priority order for PFD payments in
the payout, and garnishments were first in that priority
order. One could not bypass a garnishment.
Co-Chair Stedman surmised that the people could not avoid
their obligations by giving their PFD to the state.
Ms. Weske replied in the affirmative.
Senator Micciche remarked that the bill did not change the
current situation in the state. He felt that there should
be a consideration for people to donate their PFD tax free.
Co-Chair von Imhof looked at the Sponsor Statement, and
remarked that some cases could be counted as a tax exempt
contribution, but said that one should consult a tax
professional.
Senator Micciche agreed, and commented on the contribution
based on one's tax bracket.
Co-Chair von Imhof stated that there could be further
conversations about an amendment.
Senator Wilson stressed that people should keep in touch
with a tax professional about their contribution.
9:31:29 AM
Senator Bishop wondered whether the bill was created,
because of Senator Wilson's concerns from his constituents.
Senator Wilson replied that it was in response to people
around the state.
Co-Chair von Imhof cautioned that tax planning was an
individual issue.
Senator Micciche stressed that if someone does not apply
for the dividend, the dividend get split up between all the
people that apply. He stressed that participating will
always be related to one's tax bracket.
Senator Wilson shared that there was a new program added to
the PFD, and asked for how that program had affected the
other PFD charitable giving programs.
Ms. Weske shared that the education raffle was added the
year before, but the numbers for Pick.Click.Give did not
decline, nor did UA college savings. She stressed that
there was an additional $1 million for the education
raffle.
SB 92 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
9:34:40 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 92 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM SSTA 4/4/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92 Letters of Support.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92 - Explaination of Changes Ver. A to Ver. M.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |
| CSSB 92 Version M - Sectional Summary.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92 - Tax Memo 2018 -17-509boo.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |
| SB 92 - Directed Donations Memo 2019 -19-151kwg.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |
| SB 95 ARRC Resolution 3.21.19.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Background - photos.pdf |
HRES 5/6/2019 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/8/2019 1:00:00 PM SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 |
| SB95 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HRES 5/6/2019 1:00:00 PM HRES 5/8/2019 1:00:00 PM SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM SRES 4/5/2019 3:30:00 PM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Testimony - Support.pdf |
HRES 5/6/2019 1:00:00 PM SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Weolber & Cole Letter 3.29.19.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 |
| SB 95 Whittier City Resolution 3.12.19.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 95 |
| SB 44 Work Draft verson E.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 44 |
| SB 44 CSSB44(FIN) Explanation of Changes vsn E.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 44 |
| SB 92 Deduction Priority List - Letterhead.pdf |
SFIN 4/15/2019 9:00:00 AM |
SB 92 |