Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/08/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB22 | |
| Confirmation of Governor's Appointees: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 8, 2021
9:03 a.m.
9:03:27 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Bishop called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman
ALSO PRESENT
Emma Torkelson, Staff, Senator Josh Revak; Erin Shine,
Staff, Co-Chair Bishop;
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Senator Josh Revak, Sponsor; Eddie Grasser, Director,
Division of Wildlife Conservation, Department of Fish and
Game; Rhonda Boyles, Appointee, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority Board of Trustees; Brent Fisher, Appointee,
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees;
Annette Gwalthney-Jones, Appointee, Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority Board of Trustees; Anita Halterman,
Appointee, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of
Trustees;
SUMMARY
SB 19 EXTEND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY
SB 19 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.
SB 22 INTENSIVE MGMT SURCHARGE/REPEAL TERM DATE
SB 22 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal
impact note from the Department of Fish and Game.
Confirmation of Governor's Appointees: Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority Board of Trustees
Rhonda Boyles
Brent Fisher
Annette Gwalthney-Jones
Anita Halterman
Co-Chair Bishop discussed housekeeping.
SENATE BILL NO. 22
"An Act repealing the termination date for the
intensive management hunting license surcharge."
9:04:51 AM
Co-Chair Bishop relayed that the committee had heard the
bill on March 7, 2021 and had taken public testimony.
9:05:55 AM
SENATOR JOSH REVAK, SPONSOR (via teleconference), thanked
the committee. He introduced his support staff.
EMMA TORKELSON, STAFF, SENATOR JOSH REVAK, relayed that the
bill leveraged federal dollars and allowed for users to
fund the program. She added that the bill helped to
maintain wildlife populations and promote food security
across the state.
9:06:59 AM
EDDIE GRASSER, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION,
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (via teleconference), suggested
committee staff address the fiscal note.
9:07:16 AM
AT EASE
9:07:33 AM
RECONVENED
ERIN SHINE, STAFF, CO-CHAIR BISHOP, discussed the updated
fiscal note from the Department of Fish and Game, OMB
component 473, which reflected an updated figure of $500
thousand for FY 23.
Senator von Imhof MOVED to report SB 22 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
SB 22 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with one new fiscal impact note from the
Department of Fish and Game.
9:09:13 AM
AT EASE
9:10:14 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Bishop introduced Rhonda Boyles.
9:10:31 AM
^Confirmation of Governor's Appointees: Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees
Rhonda Boyles
Brent Fisher
Annette Gwalthney-Jones
Anita Halterman
9:10:36 AM
RHONDA BOYLES, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (via teleconference), discussed
her background. She relayed her civic work in Fairbanks and
offered a personal history of her life in Fairbanks and
Anchorage. She appreciated consideration of her continued
service on the board.
9:12:44 AM
Co-Chair Bishop appreciated Ms. Boyles recognition, and
continued diligence in tackling, the hard work done by the
board.
Ms. Boyles emphasized the importance of the work of the
AMHTA Board of Trustees. She said she was anxious to
continue the work of the board.
9:13:45 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked for Ms. Boyles' thoughts regarding
inflation-proofing the trust.
Ms. Boyles responded that inflation proofing the trust was
critical and was a high priority for her.
9:14:59 AM
BRENT FISHER, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (via teleconference), discussed
his background. He discussed his military and educational
background and various certifications related to
healthcare. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve
on the board.
Co-Chair Bishop commented that Mr. Fishers resume was
impressive.
9:16:54 AM
Senator von Imhof mentioned the 25 percent of the AMHTA
budget used for administrative services. She asked whether
the trust had done a peer review to consider whether 25
percent was within the typical margin for administrative
expenses.
Mr. Fisher relayed that he was a new appointee and could
not yet definitively answer the question. He recalled that
the subject had come up in a meeting the previous month and
was under consideration. He commented on the administrative
expense of maintaining the trust land office.
9:18:34 AM
Co-Chair Bishop asked whether Mr. Fisher had an over-
arching principal that he wanted to bring to the board.
Mr. Fisher considered that the primary responsibility of
the members was to ensure that trust funds were available
for future beneficiaries.
9:19:27 AM
Senator Olson observed that Mr. Fisher's resume reflected a
number of executive positions. He asked how Mr. Fisher's
abilities would translate into budgetary issues from a
trustee standpoint.
Mr. Fisher explained that part of the responsibility of the
trustees was to ensure trust funds were managed well. He
thought his experience as an executive directly applies to
the responsibilities of a trustee. He had been in a number
of positions on boards that had responsibility for trust
funds. He noted that he had had numerous opportunities on
several boards to take on fiduciary responsibilities.
9:21:20 AM
ANNETTE GWALTHNEY-JONES, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH
TRUST AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (via teleconference),
discussed her background. She had over 25 years of
managerial experience in human resources and social
services. She had worked for many beneficiary trust
organizations in Anchorage. In 1992 she had become a
certified emergency medical technician. She relayed that
with her certification she joined the Alaska Professional
Volunteers. She discussed her experience as a court
appointed special advocate and her becoming a foster
parent. She recalled her experiences on 9/11. She shared
her experience as a military key spouse.
9:26:02 AM
Ms. Gwalthney-Jones continued to discuss her
qualifications. She thought her experiences would be
beneficial to her service on the board.
9:28:36 AM
ANITA HALTERMAN, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (via teleconference), discussed
her background. She stated that she enjoyed serving on the
board and would like to continue. She mentioned her past
work for the legislature. She had received a Masters
degree in Business Administration from Wayland Baptist
University. She shared that she had worked extensively with
the Department of Health and Social Services and had
devoted her lifes work to working with underserved
populations. She expressed and eagerness to use her life
and professional experiences to help build amental heath
program that met the needs of the boards beneficiaries.
9:34:04 AM
Co-Chair Stedman FORWARDED the appointment(s) of Rhonda
Boyles, Brent Fisher, Annette Gwalthney-Jones, and Anita
Halterman for consideration in accordance with Alaska
Statute. He relayed that this did not reflect an intent by
any member of the Senate Finance Committee to vote for or
against the confirmation of the individuals during any
further sessions.
9:34:46 AM
AT EASE
9:42:11 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Bishop relayed that he was going to set SB 19
aside for a hearing at a later date.
ADJOURNMENT
9:42:28 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:42 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 22 Response to Committee Questions - PR Approtionments 3.5.2021.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 22 |
| SB 22 Response to Committee Questions - Hunting License Sales 3.5.2021.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 22 |
| AMHTA Board Appointee Resumes.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2021 |
| SB 22 NEW FN DFG 030521.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 22 |
| SB 22 AK WSF Letter in Support.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 22 |
| SB 19 SESA_Research_Special-Child-Total-Count_Oct2019.pdf |
SFIN 3/8/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 19 |