Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/22/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB186 || SB187 || SB188 | |
| Public Testimony: Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiagvik, Unalaska, Dillingham, and Offnets | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 187 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 188 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 22, 2024
9:34 a.m.
9:34:56 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:34 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Steve Carriere, City Council, City of Dillingham; Layton
Lockett, City Manager, City of Adak.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Eileen Arnold, Executive Director, Tundra Women's
Coalition, Bethel; Jill Keene, Tundra Women's Coalition,
Bethel; Kurt Buchholz, Board Member, Blood Bank of Alaska,
Dillingham; Anthony Cravalho, Director of Planning and
Development, Maniilaq Association, Kotzebue; Roseanne Evan,
Self, Bethel.
SUMMARY
SB 186 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM
SB 186 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
SB 187 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP
SB 187 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
SB 188 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 188 was heard and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, and OFFNETS
SENATE BILL NO. 186
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making capital appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making reappropriations;
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. 187
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations and other appropriations; making
reappropriations; making appropriations to capitalize
funds; and providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 188
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
9:35:24 AM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: NOME, BETHEL, KOTZEBUE, UTQIAGVIK,
UNALASKA, DILLINGHAM, and OFFNETS
9:36:10 AM
STEVE CARRIERE, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF DILLINGHAM, testified
in support of funding to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS). He noted that the city had identified 17
wells that had alarming rates of PFAS contamination. He
mentioned that He had worked with Peter Pan Seafoods. He
noted that Dillingham had a plan in place for mitigation
that included a municipal water line extension from the
boat harbor to the airport. The line would address the
problem and would revitalize the airport area. He mentioned
this issue of erosion at Stag Point, which was the location
of the water treatment facility. He referenced an Army
Corps of Engineers report that indicated loss of 12 feet of
ground per year. He mentioned the need for a fire hall and
indicated that the tribe had provided some funding. He
discussed insufficient clearance of emergency vehicles in
the bays of the fire hall.
9:39:30 AM
AT EASE
9:39:36 AM
RECONVENED
LAYTON LOCKETT, CITY MANAGER, CITY OF ADAK, spoke in favor
of recapitalization of the Community Assistance Program. He
mentioned a major loss of industry in Adak. He mentioned a
major issue with the high cost of energy and cited that
there was an upcoming increase to $2 per kilowatt hour. He
mentioned aged transmission lines. He asked for support
with the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) Program and funding
to leverage federal grants. He mentioned the Village Safe
Water program and water and sewer needs.
9:41:09 AM
Co-Chair Stedman referenced a military build-up in the
North Pacific and a former substantial facility at Adak. He
asked if the community was looking for infrastructure
improvements to help support the activity of the United
States Navy or Coast Guard in the area.
Mr. Lockett affirmed that the City of Adak continued to
have outreach with the military regarding possibilities. He
noted that the city worked through state agencies to have
the ability to maintain infrastructure. He mentioned the
importance of maintaining facilities to support possible
expansion without great expense.
9:42:24 AM
EILEEN ARNOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TUNDRA WOMEN'S
COALITION, BETHEL (via teleconference), spoke in support of
increased funding for Alaska's Council on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) budget for victim's services.
She noted that the budget currently had a $4 million
deficit that could result in the loss of programs and was
the equivalent of three full-time staff. She discussed
reductions in daily capacity shelters, which
disproportionately affected Alaska Natives. She discussed
the effect of shorter shelter stays on vulnerable
populations. She discussed the justice response in her area
and noted that troopers were not always available. She
mentioned a newspaper headline that mentioned a criminal
case and highlighted the coalitions work in connecting
victims with the justice process.
9:44:34 AM
JILL KEENE, TUNDRA WOMEN'S COALITION, BETHEL (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
CDVSA Victims Services budget within DPS. She was a 39-
year resident of Bethel. She discussed the criminal justice
system and its processes. She discussed programs designed
to reduce recidivism. She noted that historically the
Yukon-Kuskokwim region of the state had the highest rates
of domestic violence and sexual assault in the state. She
discussed the work of the Tundra Womens Coalition (TWC)
and noted that a decline in services would leave victims
vulnerable. She was a survivor of domestic violence and
attested to the need for shelters, legal assistance,
housing assistance, and support.
9:46:31 AM
Co-Chair Stedman asked about the Tundra Women's Coalition
and if there was more demand for services and if there was
headway being made.
Ms. Keene thought the question would be better addressed by
the TWC director.
Co-Chair Olson noted that the director was not present.
Ms. Keene agreed to provide the information at a later
time.
9:47:06 AM
KURT BUCHHOLZ, BOARD MEMBER, BLOOD BANK OF ALASKA,
DILLINGHAM (via teleconference), spoke in favor of funding
for blood testing in the state. He relayed that he was a
pathologist and had practiced in the state for 28 years. He
served five rural hospitals through the blood bank and
mentioned hospitals in Nome and Wrangell. He spoke to the
need for blood in rural communities and decreasing the
turnaround time for patience. He detailed that currently
blood testing was done in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which
caused delays and shortages of blood in the state. He asked
for funding to complete the testing facility for the Blood
Bank of Alaska.
Co-Chair Olson asked how much additional funds were
requested.
Mr. Buckholz thought the request was for an additional $2
million for equipment. He thought the project total was $3
million. He noted that once the program was set up it would
be self-sufficient and would not require further funding.
9:49:39 AM
ANTHONY CRAVALHO, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT,
MANIILAQ ASSOCIATION, KOTZEBUE (via teleconference),
testified in favor of increased behavioral health grant
funding. He noted that he was also representing the Alaska
Regional Coalition, which was a small tribal coalition
representing 109 different tribes in the state. He
discussed the Medicaid 1115 waiver and Medicaid behavioral
health grant funding, which was the primary way that his
association was able to bill for services. He stressed the
need to eliminate gaps in the behavioral health continuum
of care. He wanted to ensure that the Department of Health
had the resources to ensure Medicaid applications and
redeterminations were reviewed and completed in a timely
manner. He thanked the legislature for its work. He
stressed the importance of doing what was possible to make
community-based services possible, specifically in rural
Alaska.
9:52:06 AM
ROSEANNE EVAN, SELF, BETHEL (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for victim's services programs such as
TWC. She was originally from Napakiak. She was a domestic
violence survivor and had used the shelter in Bethel and
recounted having help from TWC. She discussed the need for
housing. She attributed her survival to the availability of
services at TWC. She emphasized the need for victims
services.
Senator Merrick thanked Ms. Evan for her brave and powerful
testimony.
9:55:20 AM
RECESSED
10:16:39 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda for the following
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
10:17:07 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 10:17 a.m.
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