Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/17/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
*+ HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 151 MISSING/MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE;REPORT TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 151(FIN) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 259 COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 118 CRITICAL NATURAL RESOURCES; REPORTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 118(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 236 GRANTS TO DISASTER VICTIMS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 236(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SCR 10 JOINT LEGIS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY TASK FORCE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSCR 10(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 183 WORKERS' COMP BENEFITS GUARANTY FUND TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 183 Out of Committee
+= SB 189 EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 189 Out of Committee
+= SB 205 AHFC AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE BUILDING TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 205 Out of Committee
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      April 17, 2024                                                                                            
                         9:01 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:01:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee                                                                            
meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ken Alper,  Staff to Senator Donny  Olson; Almeria Alcantra,                                                                    
Staff to  Senator Donny Olson;  Ken Alper, Staff  to Senator                                                                    
Donny  Olson;  Jeff  Stepp,  Staff  to  Senator  Elvi  Gray-                                                                    
Jackson; Tim Lamkin, Staff to Senator Gary Stevens.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Shylena Lie, Manilaq Crisis Center, Kotzebue; Noah Klein,                                                                       
Attorney, Legislative Legal Services.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 118    CRITICAL NATURAL RESOURCES; REPORTS                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 118(FIN)  was REPORTED out of  committee with                                                                    
          four "do  pass" recommendations  and with  one "no                                                                    
          recommendation" recommendation,  and with  one new                                                                    
          fiscal   impact  note   from  the   Department  of                                                                    
          Commerce, Community and  Economic Development, and                                                                    
          one  previously published  fiscal impact  note: FN                                                                    
          1(DNR).                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SB 151    MISSING/MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE;REPORT                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 151(FIN)  was REPORTED out of  committee with                                                                    
          five "do  pass" recommendations  and with  one new                                                                    
          fiscal impact  note from the Department  of Public                                                                    
          Safety.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SB 183    WORKERS' COMP BENEFITS GUARANTY FUND                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SB  183 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with four                                                                    
          "do  pass"   recommendations  and  with   one  "no                                                                    
          recommendation"   recommendation,  and   with  one                                                                    
          previously published zero fiscal note: FN 1(LWF).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SB 189    EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          SB  189 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with five                                                                    
          "do pass" recommendations and  with one new fiscal                                                                    
          impact note from the Department of Health.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SB 205    AHFC AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE BUILDING                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          SB  205 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with four                                                                    
          "do  pass"   recommendations  and  with   one  "no                                                                    
          recommendation" recommendation,  and with  one new                                                                    
          fiscal   impact  note   from  the   Department  of                                                                    
          Revenue.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 236    GRANTS TO DISASTER VICTIMS                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
          CSSB 236(FIN)  was REPORTED out of  committee with                                                                    
          three "do  pass" recommendations and with  two "no                                                                    
          recommendation" recommendations, and  with one new                                                                    
          indeterminate fiscal  note from the  Department of                                                                    
          Military and Veterans' Affairs.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB 259    COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          SB  259  was  heard  and  HELD  in  Committee  for                                                                    
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SCR 10    JOINT LEGIS SEAFOOD INDUSTRY TASK FORCE                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          CSSCR 10(FIN)  was REPORTED out of  committee with                                                                    
          five "do  pass" recommendations  and with  one new                                                                    
          zero fiscal note from the Legislature.                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the agenda.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 151                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  establishing   the   Missing  and   Murdered                                                                    
     Indigenous  Persons  Review   Commission;  relating  to                                                                    
     missing  and murdered  indigenous persons;  relating to                                                                    
     the  duties of  the  Department of  Public Safety;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:03:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  relayed that the committee  first heard SB
151  on  March  21,  and   would  be  adopting  a  committee                                                                    
substitute.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Merrick   MOVED   to  ADOPT   proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute for  SB 151, Work Draft  33-LS0052\H (C. Radford,                                                                    
4/11/24).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:04:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF TO SENATOR  DONNY OLSON, explained that the                                                                    
bill  set up  a  task force  and  commission, and  dedicated                                                                    
public  safety  resources  to  the   issue  of  Missing  and                                                                    
Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP).                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:05:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALMERIA ALCANTRA, STAFF TO SENATOR  DONNY OLSON, discussed a                                                                    
Summary of Changes document (copy on file):                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Change #1 Adds mandatory  reporting to National Missing                                                                    
     and  Unidentified  Persons  System database  within  60                                                                    
     days after a first report  is filed with local or state                                                                    
     law enforcement.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Change  #2 Makes  the Missing  and murdered  Indigenous                                                                    
     Persons  Review   Commission  permanent,   rather  than                                                                    
     sunsetting  in 2027.  Additional language  is added  to                                                                    
     establish three-year  terms, a  limit on  members being                                                                    
     able to serve two  consecutive terms, and structure for                                                                    
     the term length for the initial appointees.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Change  #3 The  commissions'  report  now recurs  every                                                                    
     three  years.  Change  #4  Tightened  the  language  to                                                                    
     ensure that  work of the  commission is not  subject to                                                                    
     subpoena.  This is  to protect  the confidentiality  of                                                                    
     the  commission   and  the   privacy  of   victims  and                                                                    
     families.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Change  #5  Adds  clarifying language  that  commission                                                                    
     members  can  be  involved in  cases  in  their  normal                                                                    
     employment that were reviewed by the commission.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Change #6  The submission  date for  the DPS  report on                                                                    
     investigative resources was moved  from January 1, 2026                                                                    
     to 2027.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     We have  also provided the  committee with a  memo from                                                                    
     Legislative   Legal  Services   addressing  issues   of                                                                    
     confidential documents used by the commission.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:06:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked Ms.  Alcantra  to  provide a  brief                                                                    
overview of the bill for the public.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Alcantra explained  that the  bill would  put two  MMIP                                                                    
investigators  in  state  statute, create  the  MMIP  Review                                                                    
Commission,  require  a  report from  the  commission  every                                                                    
three years, and  require DPS to perform  a needs assessment                                                                    
to determine what  was needed by the  department to properly                                                                    
address  the significant  problem  of  Missing and  Murdered                                                                    
Indigenous Persons.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked why the bill was necessary.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Alcantra explained  that  the issue  of  MMIP had  been                                                                    
longstanding  in  the  state and  had  never  been  properly                                                                    
addressed.  She  cited that  there  were  hundreds of  cases                                                                    
throughout the  state. She said that  the commission created                                                                    
by the legislation would be  tasked with creating a cohesive                                                                    
way of combating the problem  by coordinating the efforts of                                                                    
the public,  media sources, and  law enforcement,  to combat                                                                    
the problem of MMIP in the state.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper  pointed out  that  there  was  a memo  from  the                                                                    
Division of Legal and Research  Services (copy on file). The                                                                    
memo  spoke   of  confidentiality  issues   surrounding  the                                                                    
commission and the protection of private information.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:09:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SHYLENA   LIE,   MANILAQ   CRISIS  CENTER,   KOTZEBUE   (via                                                                    
teleconference),  spoke   in  support   of  the   bill.  She                                                                    
explained  that  the  center  was  a  hub  for  11  outlying                                                                    
villages. She shared  that according to a  2022 Census, Nana                                                                    
Alaska  Native  Regional   Corporation  had  reported  7,682                                                                    
people, 80 percent of which were Alaska Native.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:11:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:11:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop  thanked  the  sponsor  and  his  staff  for                                                                    
bringing the bill forward.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  MOVED  to  report   CSSB  151(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 151(FIN)  was REPORTED out  of committee with  five "do                                                                    
pass" recommendations  and with  one new fiscal  impact note                                                                    
from the Department of Public Safety.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 259                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the basic salary schedule for                                                                          
     compensation of state employees; and providing for an                                                                      
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:12:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  relayed that the bill  had been originally                                                                    
heard  on March  25, 2024.  He  announced that  there was  a                                                                    
committee substitute.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  MOVED to ADOPT proposed  committee substitute                                                                    
for SB 259, Work Draft 33-LS1475\U (Klein, 4/15/24).                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:13:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF TO SENATOR  DONNY OLSON, explained that the                                                                    
bill  was intended  to  resolve legal  short  coming due  to                                                                    
legislation passed  previously. He discussed the  changes in                                                                    
the CS and  noted that a new fiscal note  that reflected the                                                                    
changes in the CS was forthcoming.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked for Mr. Alper for                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper explained  that  the bill  was  about pay  tables                                                                    
currently in  statute. He shared  that the bill  would allow                                                                    
for updates to  the exempt employee pay  table, currently in                                                                    
statute, to be periodically  updated to be commensurate with                                                                    
the supervisory union contract  pay table, without requiring                                                                    
an act of the legislature.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:16:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OPENED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:16:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:16:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  MOVED to  ADOPT Amendment  1, Work  Draft 33-                                                                    
LS1475\U (Klein, 4/15/24).                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:17:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JEFF STEPP,  STAFF TO  SENATOR ELVI  GRAY-JACKSON, explained                                                                    
that certain  employees of the Executive,  Judicial, and the                                                                    
University  of Alaska  were not  included  in codified  law,                                                                    
which  required  the amending  on  uncodified  law so  those                                                                    
employees could receive parallel salary increases.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  asked  Mr. Stepp  to  define  "uncodified                                                                    
law."                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper summarized that uncodified  law indicated that the                                                                    
provision did not have a statue number attached to it.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:19:20 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:19:31 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
NOAH  KLEIN,  ATTORNEY,   LEGISLATIVE  LEGAL  SERVICES  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  explained  that   the  difference  between                                                                    
codified and  uncodified law was that  codified law appeared                                                                    
in statute  books and was permanent,  whereas provisions and                                                                    
uncodified law were temporary and not in the statute books.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  objection.  There being  no                                                                    
further objection Amendment 1 was ADOPTED.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB  259  was  heard  and   HELD  in  Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:21:08 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:22:54 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 118                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to critical and essential minerals                                                                        
     and the global energy transition."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:23:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman recounted  that  the  committee had  first                                                                    
heard the bill on March 13, 2024, and too public testimony.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator   Merrick   MOVED   to  ADOPT   proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for SB  118,  Work  Draft 33-ls0706\U  (Dunmire,                                                                    
4/9/24).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
9:24:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper discussed the changes  to the bill proposed in the                                                                    
CS for  SB 118. He read  from a Summary of  Changes document                                                                    
(copy on file):                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Changes in  Finance CS,  Version "A"  to "U"  April 17,                                                                    
     2024 Change  #1 Clarifies the legislative  intent for a                                                                    
     strategic plan to encourage mineral development.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Change  #2  Clarifies  we're  maintaining  the  state's                                                                    
     existing environmental standards.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change  #3  Adds Native  corporations  to  the list  of                                                                    
     entities  that  DNR  will consult  with  in  developing                                                                    
     their report.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Change #4 Removes references in  the bill to a specific                                                                    
     list of minerals.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Change #5  Allows the Commerce report  to be contracted                                                                    
     to ISER, which is intended to reduce the fiscal note.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper noted  that there was an updated  fiscal note from                                                                    
the   Department  of   Commerce,  Community,   and  Economic                                                                    
Development that  reduced the cost associated  with the bill                                                                    
by $300,000.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:25:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked Senator  Merrick to provide a summary                                                                    
of the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick explained  that  the bill  was intended  to                                                                    
help Alaska  develop a strategic  plan to  develop essential                                                                    
minerals  in  the  state.  She  stated  that  currently  the                                                                    
country relies  on adversarial nations to  provide essential                                                                    
minerals.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman mentioned  that "adversarial  nations" did                                                                    
not mean Canada.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Merrick clarified that she was referring to China.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  118(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 118(FIN)  was REPORTED out  of committee with  four "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations  and  with  one  "no  recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation,  and with  one new  fiscal impact  note from                                                                    
the   Department  of   Commerce,   Community  and   Economic                                                                    
Development,  and  one  previously published  fiscal  impact                                                                    
note: FN 1(DNR).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 236                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to grants to disaster victims."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:27:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman shared  that  public  testimony was  taken                                                                    
during the bills first hearing on March 12, 2024.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  MOVED to ADOPT proposed  committee substitute                                                                    
for SB 236, Work Draft 33-LS1142\R (Dunmire/Marx, 4/8/24).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  explained that there  was a single change  to the                                                                    
bill in  Section 2,  which resolved an  issue raised  in the                                                                    
initial  fiscal  note.  The  CS  clarified  that  the  total                                                                    
combined assistance would not exceed $50,000.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  Senator  Kiehl to  provide a  brief                                                                    
overview of the bill.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl explained  that the  bill  would ensure  that                                                                    
owners  of condominiums  would be  eligible for  relief from                                                                    
damage  caused  by  disaster   that  was  commensurate  with                                                                    
homeowners. He  continued that the  second provision  had to                                                                    
do with state grants being made available up to $50,000.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:31:05 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:31:16 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl   MOVED  to  report  CSSB   236(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee with individual  recommendations and a forthcoming                                                                    
fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 236(FIN) was  REPORTED out of committee  with three "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations  and  with  two  "no  recommendation"                                                                    
recommendations, and with one  new indeterminate fiscal note                                                                    
from the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 10                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Establishing the Joint Legislative Seafood Industry                                                                        
     Task Force.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:31:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman recounted  that  the  resolution had  been                                                                    
heard on March  7, 2024, at which time  public testimony had                                                                    
been taken.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:32:36 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:33:04 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVNED                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to  ADOPT proposed committee substitute                                                                    
for SCR 10, Work Draft 33-LS1469\S (Wallace, 4/4/24).                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  discussed the  changes. He  noted that  there was                                                                    
one  additional change  to Version  S,  which addressed  the                                                                    
list  of duties  of the  task force  and clarified  that the                                                                    
process  and  procedures  to execute  limited  entry  permit                                                                    
buyback   programs  would   include  multiple   options  for                                                                    
buybacks throughout the state.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman understood  the  change  pertained to  all                                                                    
areas of the state.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper replied in the affirmative.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:34:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop  asked whether reiver systems  and commercial                                                                    
permit holders were included.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman replied affirmatively.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman WITHDREW  his  OBJECTION.  There being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  Mr. Alper  to provide  a high-level                                                                    
overview of the resolution.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper deferred to Tim Lamkin.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:36:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIM LAMKIN,  STAFF TO SENATOR  GARY STEVENS,  explained that                                                                    
the resolution was  in response to the failing  state of the                                                                    
Alaska  seafood   industry.  He  said  that   the  taskforce                                                                    
included members from all areas of the industry.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:36:50 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:37:01 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman solicited  any other  concerns, questions,                                                                    
or objections.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:37:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  MOVED  to  report   CSSCR  10(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CSSCR 10(FIN)  was REPORTED out  of committee with  five "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations and  with  one new  zero fiscal  note                                                                    
from the Legislature.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 183                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to the workers' compensation benefits                                                                     
     guaranty fund; and providing for an effective date.                                                                        
9:37:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  shared  that public  testimony  had  been                                                                    
taken  during the  first hearing  on  the bill  on March  6,                                                                    
2024.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  relayed that  there were  two issues  embedded in                                                                    
the   bill:   injured  workers   and   the   sweep  to   the                                                                    
Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR).  He stated that the CBR                                                                    
required payback at  the end of each year of  any money left                                                                    
in sub  funds of the  General Fund. Payback could  be halted                                                                    
by a  supermajority vote  of the  legislature. He  said that                                                                    
one of  the funds that  had been   swept  back into  the CBR                                                                    
due  to  lack  of  a supermajority  vote  was  the  Workers                                                                     
Compensation Benefits Guarantee Fund.  He said that the fund                                                                    
brought  in $800,000  per year  and was  generally penalties                                                                    
that were  charged fines  from employers  that did  not have                                                                    
adequate workers  compensation plans.  Those funds then paid                                                                    
benefits to workers who worked  for those companies. He said                                                                    
that in recent years the fund  had been swept and brought to                                                                    
zero at the  beginning of the fiscal year and  when a worker                                                                    
needed compensation  there would  be no  money in  the fund,                                                                    
which meant  they would  have to wait  for penalty  funds to                                                                    
accumulate in order to be compensated.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper   furthered  that  the  bill   would  change  the                                                                    
statutory description of the underlying  fund, taking it out                                                                    
of the General Fund and placing  it in the State Treasury so                                                                    
it would not be subject to the annual sweep.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman added  that several  funds had  been swept                                                                    
for   decades  under   the   constitutional  provision.   He                                                                    
explained  that the  legislature  would  normally perform  a                                                                    
"reverse  sweep  which  meant  the starting  balance of  the                                                                    
funds  would be  replaced at  the beginning  of each  fiscal                                                                    
year. He said  that the bill would assure  that the workers                                                                     
compensation account  would have adequate cash  flow to help                                                                    
injured workers.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:41:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:41:30 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:41:44 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop appreciated  that the intent of  the bill was                                                                    
to assist injured workers.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop MOVED to report  SB 183 out of Committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 183  was REPORTED  out of committee  with four  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations   and    with   one    "no   recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation,  and  with  one  previously  published  zero                                                                    
fiscal note: FN 1(LWF).                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 189                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska                                                                       
     Commission on Aging; and providing for an effective                                                                        
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:42:49 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman said that the  bill had been heard on March                                                                    
7, 2024, and public testimony had been taken.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Alper  explained that the  bill pertained to  the Alaska                                                                    
Commission on Aging and the work  of the board. He said that                                                                    
the initial  hearing had revealed no  material problems with                                                                    
the  boards   operations  by  the  Division  of  Legislative                                                                    
Audit.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson MOVED to report  SB 189 out of Committee with                                                                    
individual  recommendations  and   the  accompanying  fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 189  was REPORTED  out of committee  with five  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations  and with  one new  fiscal impact  note from                                                                    
the Department of Health.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 205                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An   Act  authorizing   the  Alaska   Housing  Finance                                                                    
     Corporation to  acquire or purchase a  building that it                                                                    
     occupies   for  an   amount   that   does  not   exceed                                                                    
     $9,000,000; and providing for an effective date."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:45:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  recounted that  that  the  bill had  been                                                                    
heard on February  27, 2024, at which  time public testimony                                                                    
had been taken.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Alper   detailed  that   the  Alaska   Housing  Finance                                                                    
Corporation was  seeking legislative approval to  purchase a                                                                    
building in  East Anchorage that they  were already renting.                                                                    
He said  that the bill  would authorize the purchase  of the                                                                    
building.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Merrick MOVED  to report  SB 205  out of  Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 205  was REPORTED  out of committee  with four  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendations   and    with   one    "no   recommendation"                                                                    
recommendation,  and with  one new  fiscal impact  note from                                                                    
the Department of Revenue.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman discussed  the  agenda  for the  afternoon                                                                    
meeting.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
9:48:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 a.m.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 151 Legal Memo Confidentiality Provision.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 151
SB151 CS in SFin summary of changes 4-17-24.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 151
SB 151 work draft version H.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 151
SB 259 Amendment 1 Olson.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 259
SB 259 VAR ALL 041624.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 259
SB 118 CS in SFin summary of changes 4-17-24.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 118
SB 118 work draft version U.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 118
SB 236 CS in SFin summary of changes 4-17-24.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 236
SB 236 work draft version R.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 236
SCR 10 2nd CS in SFIN summary of changes 4-17-24.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SCR 10
SCR 10 work draft version S.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SCR 10
SB 118 DCCED CBPL 041624.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 118
SB 259 Amendment 1 Olson.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 259
SCR 10 LEG COU 041624.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SCR 10
SCR 10 Letter of Support - The Nature Conservancy in Alaska.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SCR 10
SB 236 MVA DHSEM 041824.pdf SFIN 4/17/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 236