CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 103(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 104(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." and SCS CSHB 103(FIN)(BRF SUP MAJ FLD S) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." SCS CSHB 104(FIN)(BRF SUP MAJ FLD S) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." Department of Education and Early Development Open Item 14  Department of Environmental Conservation Held Department of Health and Social Services Open Items: 2, 5, 44, 55 Military and Veterans Affairs Closed HB 103 and HB 104 were HELD in Committee for further consideration. [Meeting tapes and motion sheets are available through the Legislative Library, 465-3808.] Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for items 1 - 10 in the Department of Education and Early Development (see motion sheets). Representative Davies asked that item 7 be held open. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. There being NO OBJECTION, items 1 - 10 with the exception of item 7 were adopted. Representative Davies asked if the funds in item 7 were being transferred into the Childcare Assistance grant line. Chair Mulder explained that the House structure was titled Childcare Quality Imitative and the Senate proponent was not. DAVID TEAL, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION clarified that the existing title would be kept. Representative Davies WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, item 7 was adopted. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Department of Education and Early Development items 11 - 16 (see motion sheets). Representative Davies asked that item 13 be held open. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. There being NO OBJECTION, items 11 - 16 with the exception of item 13 were adopted. Representative Davies spoke in support of the Senate number for item 13: Alaska State Council on the Arts. He noted that it was a relatively small amount. The Senate number would increase the grant by 2 percent. Senator Donley noted that the motion before the Committee was to adopt the House. Senator Hoffman noted that the funds would allow a federal match. KAREN REHFELD, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT clarified that the state funds would provide a federal match at a 1:1 ration. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the House numbers for item 13. IN FAVOR: Senate: Kelly, Donley House: Mulder, Williams OPPOSED: Senate: Hoffman House: Davies The MOTION PASSED. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT item 17: Senate Intent Language for the Department of Education and Early Development (see motion sheets). Ms. Rehfeld noted that the department did not object to the intent language. The department is working on revising the income eligibility scale for childcare assistance and implementing a market rate survey. The Senate intention would be to keep these changes from driving up the cost. Department of Education and Early Development was closed with the exception of item 14. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Military and Veterans Affair (see motion sheets). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Department of Health and Social Services items 1 - 15 (see motion sheets). Senator Hoffman asked that item 6 be held open. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Davies asked that items 4 and 8 be held. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. There being NO OBJECTION, items 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 - 15 were adopted. Representative Davies spoke to item 4: Public Assistance Administration. He maintained that the Senate number would result in a $100 thousand dollars reduction to the base of public assistance. Chair Mulder replied that funding was shifted to the foundation formula. Senator Hoffman noted that it would be a $100 thousand dollars general fund reduction, which would have a disproportional affect on the Adult Public Assistance Program that benefits the blind, elderly and disabled. Senator Donley noted that it would be a 1.5 percent reduction. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the House numbers for item 4. IN FAVOR: Senate: Kelly, Donley House: Mulder, Williams OPPOSED: Senate: Hoffman House: Davies The MOTION PASSED. Senator Hoffman spoke to item 6: Family Preservation. He recommended that the item remain open. Chair Mulder noted that there are no dollars attached to the shift. The Senate approach would consolidate health grants into one BRU. He stated that it was not his intention that by consolidation that the rural communities see any decrement in the funding going to rural health programs. The intent is to allow competition for the provision of services. Senator Hoffman pointed out that the corporations provide the services on the behalf of the state of Alaska at a cheaper rate. Senator Donley stressed that the goal is to improve services through competition. Representative Williams questioned the length of the grants. JERRY BURNETT, STAFF, SENATOR GREEN thought that the grants would be on an annual basis. JANET CLARKE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES explained that the grants are issued on a two-year basis. Chair Williams asked if the grants could be increased to three years. Ms. Clark stated that it would be possible to increase the grant time through regulation. She noted that the RFP's have been issued for the next fiscal year. Representative Davies expressed concern that the process has been begun and that the department may need time to phase into the structure. Chair Mulder suggested that his concern could be incorporated into a letter of intent. Senator Hoffman noted that other items might be of concern. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the House numbers for item 6. IN FAVOR: Senate: Kelly, Donley House: Mulder, Williams OPPOSED: Senate: Hoffman House: Davies The MOTION PASSED. Representative Davies spoke to item 8: Front Line Social Workers. He stressed that the transcription services could provide efficiency of social workers. Chair Mulder observed that it is a management decision that could be done internally. He suggested that the department implement a pilot project to demonstrate its success. Representative Davies stressed that the workload is over the national average. He spoke in support of transition funding and maintained that it would not be practical to ask the department to reduce the number of front line social workers in order to divert funds to transcription services. Senator Hoffman pointed out that one day a week would be saved in administrative time. Ms. Clark observed that the department did a pilot project with $30 thousand dollars for eight social workers. Each social worker saved a day of administrative time. She stressed the need for additional funds. Senator Donley maintained that the department should shift their resources to accommodate the proposal. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the House numbers for item 8. IN FAVOR: Senate: Kelly, Donley House: Mulder, Williams OPPOSED: Senate: Hoffman House: Davies The MOTION PASSED. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Department of Health and Social Services items 16 - 28 (see motion sheets). Senator Hoffman noted that items 17 - 28 might need to be reopened since they relate to the BRU allocation to rural Alaska in item 6. There being NO OBJECTION, items 17 - 28 were adopted. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Department of Health and Social Services items 29 - 39 (see motion sheets). Senator Hoffman noted that items 29 - 39 might need to be reopened since they relate to the BRU allocation to rural Alaska in item 6. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Donley MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for the Department of Health and Social Services items 40 - 50 (see motion sheets). Senator Hoffman noted that items 40, 45, and 48 might need to be reopened since they relate to the BRU allocation to rural Alaska in item 6. He OBJECTED to items 44 and 49. Representative Davies asked that item 43 also be held. There being NO OBJECTION, items 40, 41, 42, 45 - 48 and 50 were adopted. Representative Davies spoke to item 43: State Health Services. He thought that the federal receipts were not expected. Ms. Clark explained that the department expects to receive federal funds for epidemiological work to prove that Alaskan fish are healthy. Chair Mulder observed that the department could request funds from the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. He stated that he would review the request positively when more information is available. Representative Davies expressed concern the time not be lost in assuring that Alaskan fish are safe. Ms. Clark spoke in support of approving of the funds before the Committee. Chair Mulder MOVED to AMEND the motion on item 43 by moving the Senate number. There being NO OBJECTION, the Senate numbers for item 43 was adopted. Senator Hoffman spoke to item 44: Community Health Emergency Medical Services. He observed that there are no new monies in the component. He maintained that there was a discrepancy on the House side of a $100 thousand dollars stemming from federal grants that were not in the proper column when the grant was submitted. The Senate did not accept the restoration. The request affects two positions, which train EMT's throughout the state of Alaska for certification. TAPE CHANGE CC103, 01-5, SIDE B  Item 44 was HELD in Committee for further consideration. Senator Hoffman spoke to item 49: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Grants. Discussion occurred regarding item 49 [tape failure]. Senator Donley maintained that it was not a reduction due to the addition of federal funds. Chair Mulder questioned if the funds went through the department. Senator Hoffman thought that the dollars were identified but not acted on. He pointed out that the request supports the infant learning program. Ms. Clark clarified that there were no federal funds to replace the state funds. She observed that programs would be cut July 1, 2001. She stressed that it is a real reduction. Representative Davies pointed out that the change would be a regression. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the House numbers for item 49. IN FAVOR: Senate: Kelly, Donley House: Mulder, Williams OPPOSED: Senate: Hoffman House: Davies The MOTION PASSED. HB 103 and HB 104 were heard and HELD in Committee for further consideration.