Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/30/2001 04:55 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
April 30, 2001
4:55 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chair
Senator Loren Leman, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Wilken
Senator Bettye Davis
Senator Jerry Ward
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 38
"An Act relating to a new optional group of persons eligible for
medical assistance who require treatment for breast or cervical
cancer; and providing for an effective date."
Committee Action: See HB 65
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 65(HES)
"An Act relating to a new optional group of persons eligible for
medical assistance who require treatment for breast or cervical
cancer; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED SCS CSHB 65(HESS) OUT OF COMMITTEE
Confirmation Hearings for the Board of Dental Examiners, Board of
Dispensing Opticians, Board of Education and Early Development,
Board of Marital and Family Therapy, State Medical Board, Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees, Board of
Certified Direct Entry Midwives, Board of Nursing, Board of
Examiners of Optometry, Board of Pharmacy, State Physical Therapy
and Occupational Therapy Board, Board of Professional Counselors,
Professional Teaching Practices Commission, Board of
Psychologists and Psychological Associate Examiners, University
of Alaska Board of Regents and Board of Social Work Examiners.
SENATE BILL NO. 192
"An Act relating to child care grants; and providing for an
effective date."
MOVED SB 192 OUT OF COMMITTEE
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 142(HES)
"An Act relating to the Alaska temporary assistance program; and
providing for an effective date."
MOVED SCS CSHB 142(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1(STA)
Relating to establishing a Task Force on a Statewide
Comprehensive Energy Plan.
HEARD AND HELD
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 94
"An Act relating to the financing of major maintenance of public
school facilities; authorizing the commissioner of revenue to
sell the right to receive a portion of the anticipated revenue
from a certain tobacco litigation settlement to the Northern
Tobacco Securitization Corporation; relating to the deposit of
certain anticipated revenue from a certain tobacco litigation
settlement; authorizing the issuance of bonds by the Northern
Tobacco Securitization Corporation with proceeds to finance
public school major maintenance; and providing for an effective
date."
MOVED SSSB 94 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 38 - See Labor and Commerce minutes date 2/01/01 and 2/15/01
and HESS minutes dated 4/23/01.
HCR 1 - See State Affairs minutes dated 4/24/01.
SB 94 - See HESS minutes dated 3/16/01, 3/28/01.
WITNESS REGISTER
Mary Louden Johnson, Coordinator
Fairbanks Breast Cancer Support Group
Fairbanks, AK 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 38
Karen Perdue, Commissioner
Department of Health &
Social Services
PO Box 110601
Juneau, AK 99801-0601
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 65
Victoria Shaver
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 65
Carla Williams
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 65
Marsha Hastings
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 65
Shelly Coolidge
No address provided
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 65
Kristy Tibbles
Legislative Aide to Senator Drue Pearce
Room 119
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 192
YVONNE CHASE, Deputy Commissioner of Early Development
Department of Education &
Early Development
th
801 W 10 St.
Juneau, AK 99801-1894
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SB 192
JOY LYON, President
Alaska Chapter of the National Association of the Education of
Young Children (AAEYC)
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 192
GWENI MAKI, Owner and Director
ABC Child Care Center
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 192
Patrick Flynn, Aide to Representative Ethan Berkowitz
Alaska State Capitol, Room 404
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced HCR 1
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-01-42, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN LYDA GREEN called the Senate Committee meeting to order
at 4:55 p.m. Present were Senators Leman, Wilken, Davis and
Green. Senator Ward arrived at 5:50 p.m. The first order of
business was SB 38.
SB 38-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE:BREAST/CERVICAL CANCER
HB 65-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE:BREAST/CERVICAL CANCER
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN recapped written testimony that told the story
of a college student who was repeatedly dismissed as too young to
have cervical abnormalities each time she described the
difficulties she was having to various physicians. At no time was
she offered free cervical screening even though she qualified for
the service. At the age of 26 she was diagnosed with cervical
cancer and died at the age of 28. The friends relating the story
expressed support for SB 38.
MARY LOUDEN JOHNSON, coordinator for the Fairbanks Breast Cancer
Support Group, testified via teleconference in support of SB 38.
The group represents about 150 women and has some members that
have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and others who
are 15 year survivors. She noted that, on average, one woman per
week is diagnosed with breast cancer. Although most members are
working women with insurance, they want to support those women
who are not fortunate enough to have coverage.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced HB 65 was moved to the Senate after
the hearing for SB 38 was scheduled. Because they are mirror
bills, permission was received to waive the 24-hour rule so HB 65
could be heard instead of SB 38.
SENATOR LEMAN moved adoption of CSHB 65, version F as the working
document. There were no objections.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN noted that the language in section 1, subsection
(b) requires that not more than $175,800.00 of general fund money
be spent in fiscal year 2002, and not more than $189,500 be spent
in 2003.
She asked Senator Leman to address page 2, line 3.
SENATOR LEMAN explained that the Department of Health and Social
Services would provide information on environmental, behavioral
and genetic factors contributing to breast and cervical cancer.
From this, recommendations would be made to reduce the incidences
in Alaska.
SENATOR LEMAN moved adoption of amendment 1.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN explained amendment 1 requires that information
concerning the total medical cost per person for the fiscal year
preceding the date of the report, whether paid for by the state
or not, shall be provided separately for each person who receives
assistance under section 1 of the bill. The information would be
presented in a way that would not allow the identification of
individuals.
SENATOR DAVIS objected to the amendment.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN responded she wants to know what the charges are
and what the state is actually paying because she believes the
measure is under funded for the predicted number of individuals.
She wants to ensure that Medicaid is not requiring Alaskan
doctors, vendors, oncologists and others to settle for an agreed
upon sum over which there is no control.
SENATOR GREEN asked that a representative from the Department of
Health and Social Services speak to the amendment.
Number 319
KAREN PERDUE, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Social
Services, said she saw some implementation problems with the
amendment because the total medical cost per person for the
fiscal year preceding the date of the report may include time
when the person is not on medical assistance and is therefore no
business of the state. Additionally, there is no method for
collecting that private information.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said her reason for gathering that information
is that the measure is under funded and not because she wants
individuals to be identified. She wanted to know what the total
billing would be and what amount Medicaid would pay.
COMMISSIONER PERDUE replied the fiscal note was developed using
actual yearly Medicaid payments for breast and cervical cancer
diagnoses. From this data, they averaged the cost per experience.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked whether the data was collected on the
State's fiscal year.
COMMISSIONER PERDUE said the fiscal note was written to collect
the information that way.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said the way the accounting is done is the
department's decision but it is important to know how much is
being paid for the service.
She then asked whether the treatment expenses were those coming
just from the State of Alaska.
COMMISSIONER PERDUE responded that although some treatment is not
done in state they do have a policy that favors using in-state
providers.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN commented that if they have enough information
to make the payment, that's the information she's talking about.
She wants to know what the impact is on the system.
SENATOR DAVIS asked why the funding is limited to $175,800 and
$189,500 if she feels these amounts are not adequate.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN responded, "We may have a bigger issue coming
back next year and we need to have the information when we get
ready for another review. If we don't have the information we
don't know." They based their figures on the department's
numbers.
COMMISSIONER PERDUE pointed out the fiscal note represents the
most accurate numbers currently available and are based on their
experience of the average cost. She assumes it is not the
intention of the legislature to cut women off if the funding
estimate is inaccurate. Statute language allows eligible women to
be served.
SENATOR DAVIS asked whether women would continue to receive
treatment if the funds were exhausted. She pointed out that there
is a monetary limitation in the bill but statute says that once a
woman is identified, treatment will continue.
COMMISSIONER PERDUE replied she would be concerned about that and
didn't really know its effect but her reading is that treatment
would continue.
VICTORIA SHAVER, Diana Craig Cervical Cancer Awareness Foundation
member, testified via teleconference and asked for clarification
on the amendment.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said it was a temporary law that requires
mandatory review in two years.
MS. SHAVER thought it might be better if the amendment did not
pass. A five year review period might be better because the
appropriation Senator Frank Murkowski secured for Alaska will
help the Alaska Medicaid program for five years.
Number 491
CARLA WILLIAMS, Coordinator for the Alaska State Breast Cancer
Coalition, testified via teleconference. She particularly wanted
to address the comment made earlier about behavioral changes to
prevent cancer. Scientists do not know what causes breast cancer
and as an 11-year survivor of breast cancer she has heard many
explanations. She asked whether the 250 percent above poverty
level measurement was addressed in the amendment.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN replied that it has not been changed.
MS. WILLIAMS was pleased to hear that. She said it was a
bipartisan bill because it is a bipartisan disease. She agreed
with Senator Murkowski's call for an additional $200 million
federal dollars to expand the state's Medicaid program over the
next five years.
MARSHA HASTINGS, YWCA Encore Plus Program and member of the
Alaska Breast Cancer Advocacy Partners, testified via
teleconference in support of the legislation. She has been
implementing early screening for both breast and cervical cancer
since 1995. Accessing early screening is a positive behavioral
change but additional screenings bring more detections of cancer.
The women being diagnosed are without financial resources and are
uninsured. Because they have been diagnosed with cancer they have
a preexisting condition and are consequently uninsurable. They
would be on the Medicaid program for the duration of their
treatment. She would like to see the bill move forward without
any amendments.
SHELLY COOLIDGE, member of the Alaska Breast Cancer Advocacy
Partners, testified via teleconference. She helps women who have
been diagnosed with breast cancer move along the care continuum.
In her experience, it is not unusual for the discussion about a
woman's medical bills to be as emotional as the discussion about
her cancer. Unfortunately, many women are making treatment
decisions based on cost of treatment rather than what is
medically beneficial to them.
She would like to see the bill passed from committee without the
amendment because the potential of running out of treatment funds
is unacceptable.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN stated that the public policy side of the issue
is not whether or not women with financial need should be offered
treatment but to make certain that fairness is demonstrated
throughout the system.
She called for a roll call on amendment 1. The measure passed 3
to 1 with Senators Leman, Wilken and Green voting yes and Senator
Davis voting no.
She said the figures provided by the Department of Health and
Social Services as well as information received from Washington
were used to arrive at the dollar amounts in amendment 1.
SENATOR DAVIS asked whether or not the $189,500 amount came from
the department.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN responded the figures came from the fiscal note
prepared by the department.
She called for additional testimony and received no response.
SENATOR LEMAN moved SCS CSHB 65(HESS) and corrected fiscal notes
from committee with individual recommendations.
There being no objection, the bill moved from committee.
Number 630
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced legislative confirmation hearings
would be the next order of business. Earlier in the week she
notified committee members that unless they specifically
requested a confirmation hearing, the list of nominees would be
forwarded to the full Senate and House for consideration.
SENATOR LEMAN moved the Senate HESS Committee report a letter to
the full Senate stating they have reviewed the qualifications of
the referrals but are giving no indication whether they intend to
vote for or against those nominees.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN wanted it on record that each committee member
had an extensive packet of background information on each of the
nominees and many of them have been approved in previous
legislatures.
The list of confirmation nominees reported out to the full Senate
for action in a joint Senate & House session.
SB 192-INCREASE CHILD CARE GRANTS
KRISTY TIBBLES, legislative assistant to Senator Drue Pearce,
testified that SB 192 would increase the monthly base rate for
child care from $33.00 to $50.00 per child and remove the $50.00
cap that currently exists in the Child Care Grant Program. This
is a state funded program that provides grants to licensed child
care centers and homes for the benefit of the facility and the
children. The grants are used for staff salaries, benefits,
substitute staff, goods or services relating to the health
nutrition and safety of children in care, age appropriate
equipment and supplies and activities for the children.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN reported she had heard from many child care
providers in her community particularly as other state and
federally funded programs receive substantial grants and
training.
Side B
She's always encouraged to hear of increased opportunities for
people to make a choice on child care.
YVONNE CHASE, Deputy Commissioner of Early Development for the
Department of Education and Early Development, agreed that it is
essential for small child care providers in particular to get the
necessities to continue in business. Because this is a flexible
pot of money, it allows for a wide variety of uses, which is of
particular value to small providers.
Clearly, as the number of providers increases, the base rate
decreases if the current level of appropriation stays the same.
Because the department doesn't know how the final bill will be
configured, they have submitted a fiscal note that reflects a
range of costs depending upon whether just current licensed
providers in the child care grant program receive a base increase
or whether current and new program members are included. She
emphasized that this is not an entitlement.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked whether there is a possibility that child
care providers will simply drop out of the business altogether
causing a shortage of care givers.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE said that all states are finding that
because this is such a low pay industry, it is difficult to
attract and retain quality people. Small providers feel this may
be the only money that may allow them to increase salaries,
provide training and perhaps offer some health insurance.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked whether the language in this legislation
could change a grant to an entitlement program.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE was not certain whether the language
would make it an entitlement but this is why they gave a range on
the fiscal note.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN responded this might be an optional grant
program, which would keep it from being an entitlement. She then
read the following: "A grant under (a) of this section shall be
$50.00 per month for each child the child care facility cares
for, or for each full time equivalent as determined by the
department." She then asked whether that was an entitlement.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE replied that currently and in the past,
a child care grant is not an entitlement. They have increased the
rate and limited the number of providers who may participate
depending on the amount of funds available.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN then asked Ms. Tibbles whether she could clear
up the confusion since she did not want to "change a may to a
shall if that's not the intention."
MS. TIBBLES replied that Senator Pearce's intention was to make
the base level $50.00 and then apply geographic adjustments. She
was not sure about what she meant by entitlement.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said a comparable entitlement would be Medicaid.
If seven people came in for service then seven people receive the
service. Anyone who meets the qualifications automatically
qualifies, so it is not possible to determine how many people
will qualify ahead of time. If this is the case, she wanted to
make sure that the fiscal note reflects that adequately.
She pointed out they could pass the measure along and let the
Finance Committee make the decision.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE closed by saying that the department is
supportive of the Child Care Grant and also of the increase of
the base rate. She wanted to make sure it was understood that as
the number of providers increases, those same funds are spread
across more providers and the base rate goes down.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said, "That's the difference in [an] entitlement
program. Nothing goes down; just the total amount goes up every
time someone else walks through the door."
JOY LYON, President of Alaska Chapter of the National Association
of the Education of Young Children (AAEYC) represents individuals
and groups across the state that are concerned about young
children. She testified in strong support of SB 192. Grant funds
are typically used for staff salaries that average just $8.14 per
hour. An increase in the base rate is needed to help attract and
hold quality staff and reduce the current 40 percent turnover
rate. Additionally, the Child Care Grant is the only incentive
for family child care providers to become licensed.
Number 507
GWENI MAKI, owner and director of the ABC Child Care Center,
testified in support of SB 192. The increase in the base rate
would allow her to improve salaries for her staff to decrease
staff turnover.
SENATOR WILKEN wanted to cover several finance issues that would
be developed further when the bill is heard in the Finance
Committee. First he pointed out this is a $34.528 million
program. The legislature and administration can take pride in the
fact that by midyear 2001 there is no longer a wait list for day
care.
In 2000, the grant program was $1.7 million and in 2001 it was
$2.25 million and in 2002 it is $3.7 million which means a base
rate of $23.00 in the first year, $33.00 in the second and with
the monies appropriated in 2002 it will rise to about $40.00.
This reflects extraordinary growth in the grant program and
really shows you the impact of this bill. When you multiply the
area cost differential by $33.00 you get about $48.00 per day for
those areas with high costs. When you use $40.00 and use the same
area cost differential you get $58.00. Therefore, the $50.00 cap
locks in people with higher costs at $50.00. Raising the base
rate to $50.00 would mean those same people would get somewhere
around $78.00 per day making this a very expensive bill.
With the increase from $23.00 to $33.00, he wanted to receive
information on how that money was used. He sent a letter to 50
child care providers in Fairbanks asking them how they used the
extra money and he received a response from just three providers.
He said he would try again and expected to receive an answer.
Next, he expressed disappointment in the fiscal note. He thought
it was possible to take the existing day care population and
multiply it by the higher number, which would give the fiscal
impact today.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE replied that was the reason for the
range in the fiscal note. The lower end represents moving the
individuals currently on the program up to the $50.00 base rate
that is adjusted for their area of operation.
SENATOR WILKEN asked whether that was the $1.5 million.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE said it was the additional funds
bringing the total up to $3.7 million. Next she showed the total
estimated population that is available to apply for the grant if
it were open to all licensed providers and they opted to apply.
In years past, she thought many did not apply because the small
amount of money available was not worth the additional paperwork.
As the rates increased, more providers returned to the program.
SENATOR WILKEN cautioned her to have a better fiscal note when
the bill was heard in the Finance Committee.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHASE agreed to do so.
SENATOR WILKEN then pointed out that several years ago, with HB
40, daycare moved to the Department of Education providing a
starting point in government. The legislature wants to be able to
look back ten years from now to evaluate the costs. During the
interim they will be working with the department so that next
year there will be more information about what providers are
doing or plan to do with the money. Since this is an expensive
but necessary program there needs to be accountability. With
that, he reiterated his support for the program.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said one of her concerns is that there tends to
be a disincentive for private daycare providers. She does not
want all providers to be government directed programs. She wants
to equalize the gift to Head Start and Boys and Girls Club but
does not want to put others out of business. It is her preference
to allow individuals a choice of child care options.
SENATOR WARD moved SB 192 and accompanying fiscal note from
committee with individual recommendations.
There being no objection, the bill moved from committee.
HB 142-AK TEMP. ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AMENDMENTS
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that members had a committee
substitute in their bill packet that returns the bill to the
original language in the Senate version.
SENATOR WILKEN moved version O as a working document. There was
no objection.
SENATOR WARD moved SCS CSHB 142(HES) from committee with
individual recommendations.
There being no objection, the bill moved from committee.
HCR 1-STATEWIDE COMP ENERGY PLAN TASK FORCE
PATRICK FLYNN, aide to Representative Berkowitz, explained that a
reliable energy system in Alaska is, among other things, a public
health issue. Late last year when the development of North Slope
natural gas was being discussed, it was brought to light that a
statewide comprehensive energy plan had never been produced. This
legislation establishes a task force that will examine the
condition of Alaska's energy resources, identify areas needing
improvement and recommend action.
SENATOR WARD asked for the sunset date.
MR. FLYNN said it sunsets on March 1, 2002.
SENATOR WILKEN referred to page 1, line 10 and asked whether the
words "and tribal governments" adds to the bill.
MR. FLYNN responded it recognizes there are tribal organizations
providing energy programs and to the extent they can aid in
ensuring reliable, affordable energy in Alaska, their support is
welcome.
SENATOR WILKEN asked whether deleting "tribal governments" would
exclude anyone because it seemed redundant since federal, state
and municipal governments are already included.
MR. FLYNN said it would be exclusionary because some tribal
governments are not municipal governments.
SENATOR WILKEN thought he would look into that because it seemed
out of place to him.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN looked at the list of proposed task force
members and asked for an explanation of Alaska Village Electric
Cooperative (AVEC).
MR. FLYNN said AVEC is an organization that provides power to 52
small villages throughout rural Alaska. Their prospective is
valuable because they understand some of the difficulties of
providing power in low population areas.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if they are a part of the Alaska Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (ARECA).
MR. FLYNN said they are members of ARECA. From their
conversations, it is presumed that their task force member would
be from the rail belt region, along the intertie area.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN then asked about the Alaska Coal Administration.
MR. FLYNN explained that the Alaska Coal Administration felt they
should be represented because interior Alaska power comes almost
exclusively from coal.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN then asked about the Alaska Audubon Society.
MR. FLYNN said they recognize the efforts to provide interties
and additional power production in Alaska have caused
difficulties with conservation groups. A frequent complaint is
that they are not invited to the table. Therefore, when several
conservation organizations asked to be included they decided this
was a reasonable request. Initially they asked the Alaska
Conservation Alliance to join the task force but received
complaints from other members.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said she did not intend to move the bill from
committee that day.
SENATOR WARD asked about the possibility that the Alaska Audubon
Society member be replace by a member from the Alaska Federation
of Natives (AFN).
MR. FLYNN said AFN was contacted and that although they are not
opposed to the idea, neither are they overly enthusiastic.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN held SCS CSHCR 1 (STA) in committee.
SB 94-EDUCATION FUNDING
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced the final order of business was SSSB
94.
SENATOR TAYLOR, bill sponsor, said the dollar amount in the
substitute is very similar to the original bill. They wanted to
raise the formula by $210.00, which would have generated $57 to
$60 million but because the bill was misread and therefore
misunderstood, it was not successful. Therefore, he decided the
$58 million could be used to repair every school in the state
according to the list provided by the Department of Education.
This does not include any new school construction. Forty-six
schools are listed that would benefit from its passage. The
tobacco settlement is part of the funding base and he knows there
is controversy concerning the funding mechanism. There are at
least two mechanisms coming from the House.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN commented she has no letters either in support
or against the bill.
SENATOR TAYLOR said that is because the bill is fairly new.
Anyone having read SB 94 would be familiar with the intent. He
has received enthusiastic support from educators and
administrators.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked for the general response to using the
tobacco settlement money.
SENATOR TAYLOR said there could be better ways to finance this,
he's not necessarily tied to that method.
SENATOR WARD reported he asked for a printout from the settlement
and the tax and learned there is a little over $75 million. Of
that, almost $2 million has been spent on campaigns to stop
smoking and $73 million on government. Therefore, this is "in
stride with that effort of those people that wanted children to
stop smoking."
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if the money was from the tobacco
litigation.
SENATOR TAYLOR said it was.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN commented that the money is headed to the
general fund.
SENATOR WARD said, "We and the Governor have certainly spent it
like general fund money… We've spent $73 of the $75 on government
and from one that voted against the cigarette tax for this very
reason, I hope we keep this in mind when the next sin tax rolls
around."
SENATOR WILKEN thanked Senator Taylor then pointed out that the
deferred maintenance list includes about 98 projects totaling
about $108.8 million, so the money would address about one-half
the list.
He then expressed frustration with those Rural Education
Attendance Areas (REAA) that are unwilling to help fund their own
educational needs but are more than willing to accept "free
government". He said he would continue to vocalize his views in
this area.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked for other testimony and received no
response. She asked for the will of the committee.
SENATOR WILKEN moved SSSB 94 and fiscal note from committee with
individual recommendations.
There being no objection, the bill moved from committee.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
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