SENATE BILL NO. 26 "An Act making appropriations, including capital appropriations and other appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." 9:02:26 AM ^OVERVIEW: FY 16 BUDGET DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 9:02:52 AM GARY FOLGER, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY (DPS), introduced himself and shared that he felt in partnership with the committee as they worked on the budget process. KELLY HOWELL, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, discussed the presentation "Department of Public Safety Capital Budget Overview" (copy on file), and related that the department had three requests and one reappropriation. Ms. Howell addressed slide 2, "FY 2016 Capital Budget Request": -Marine Fisheries Patrol Improvements: $1,200.0 Fed -Rental Assistance for Victims - Empowering Choice Housing Program: $2,000.0 DGF -Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program: $850.0 DGF -Reappropriation for Body Worn Cameras and In-Car Video Cameras: $350.0 UGF Ms. Howell explained that the Marine Fisheries Patrol Improvements request was federal funds. She furthered that it was an annual project and was part of a joint enforcement agreement with National Marine Fisheries Service to primarily fund equipment for the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. She added that it also would fund four positions: a sergeant and administrative assistant in Kodiak; a public safety technician in Dutch Harbor, and a public safety technician in Seward. Ms. Howell spoke about two project requests, the Empowering Choice Housing Program ($2 million) and the Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program; both of which she characterized as "pass-through" funds. She clarified that the two items were placed in the budget, and were Designated General Funds (DGF) through the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) Criminal Fund. She noted that the previous day the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) had covered the housing program request in its presentation to the committee. She specified that the department had envisioned that the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA), which was administratively housed by DPS, would transfer the funds to AHFC via a reimbursable services agreement in order to continue providing rental assistance to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms. Howell spoke to the Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program request for $850,000. She enumerated that the program was a collaboration between the Anchorage Police Department, the municipal prosecutors office, the municipal Department of Health and Human Services, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), Victims for Justice, and both the Council and the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. She discussed the goal of reducing domestic violence in Alaska by increasing offender accountability, and improving victim safety. She added that there were multiple services funded through the program; at the current time the $850,000 funded about 45 percent of the cost of the program, with the municipality funding the remaining portion through in-kind and cash matches. 9:07:15 AM AT EASE 9:09:06 AM RECONVENED Ms. Howell clarified that the programs receiving funding were members of the Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, and the funds were not being received or directed by the network. Senator Olson asked if the intervention program had been funded through one-time funding the previous year. Ms. Howell stated that her understanding was that the program was ongoing and received federal funding directly through the Municipality of Anchorage. Once the federal funding was expended, the program began seeking other funding sources. She specified that they had received funding from Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and other sources prior to the upcoming fiscal year. She reiterated that the municipality provided some support directly and through personal services (such as two officers designated from the Anchorage Police Department). Senator Olson asked why the request was placed in the capital budget rather than the operating budget if it was not a one-time appropriation. Ms. Howell clarified that it was not a department initiated request; rather, the administration had placed the two programs in the department's budget. She furthered that the request was placed in the department's budget for the reason that the CDVSA was one of the agencies able to grant funding using the PFD Criminal Funds. 9:11:32 AM Senator Dunleavy reflected that under AHFC there was a similar program, and asked why the programs did not collaborate or combine efforts. Ms. Howell concurred that the previous day AHFC had presented the Empowering Choice Housing Program, which had historically been placed in its budget; however the administration placed the rental assistance for victims in the DPS budget to continue the program using PFD Criminal Funds. She asserted that DPS would continue to work with AHFC in support of the housing program as well as the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) housing program. She advised that the department worked very closely in consultation with AHFC for the communities that were receiving funding through the VPSO housing program. Senator Olson pointed out that DPS, along with AHFC, was already supporting some programs (such as STAR) and asked for clarification as to how the funding was directed. Ms. Howell explained that the funding that had been going directly to the municipality of Anchorage for the program provided more than just direct services to victims. She elaborated that the program also provided staff to update the public safety information network with immediate information on conditions of release, which embodied an offender accountability component to the program. She agreed to provide additional details if necessary. Senator Olson expressed a desire for additional details on the program. 9:14:50 AM Senator Dunleavy asked if the Marine Fisheries Patrol improvements request was completely federally funded. Ms. Howell responded in the affirmative. Senator Dunleavy asked if the reappropriation (for body worn cameras and in-car video cameras) was to support the project, rather than a reappropriation from that to another project. Ms. Howell confirmed that the reappropriation was from an existing capital appropriation that was for a video conferencing project that had been completed. She furthered that the estimated amount to be reappropriated would be $350,000, for the purchase of body-worn and in-car video cameras for Alaska State Troopers. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if $5,000 per unit was the average cost of the in-car video cameras. Ms. Howell shared that the estimated cost of body-worn cameras was $500 to $700 per unit. She added that the reappropriation, in addition to being for the cameras, would cover the cost of storage for the video files that would be generated. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if Ms. Howell could provide her office with justification for the high cost of the in-car cameras at a later date. 9:17:06 AM Vice-Chair Micciche wondered if there was an inconsistency with the number and price of cameras. Ms. Howell reiterated that her notes indicated that the cost of body-worn cameras to be $500 o $700 per unit, and the cost of the in-car video cameras to be $5,000 per unit. She reasserted that DPS would provide additional information to the committee with regard to cost of the cameras, and whether the cost included installation and other components. Co-Chair MacKinnon reiterated the request for additional information regarding the Alaska Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Intervention Program that Senator Olson and Senator Dunleavy had asked about earlier in the meeting. She mused that the program may have been funded from DHSS funds that were being "swept" in the previous year, thereby not appearing in the current year's operating budget. She added that it appeared as if the program should be an operating budget item. She asked for a follow-up on the use of the felon dollars, to make certain they were being appropriately utilized within DPS. She reiterated the request for follow-up on the cost of the cameras. 9:19:08 AM AT EASE 9:21:14 AM RECONVENED ^OVERVIEW: FY 16 BUDGET GOVERNOR 9:21:22 AM GUY BELL, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, stated that there was one $500,000 request in the capital budget (RN AMD 60745); and the money would be used to advance Alaska's Arctic policy. Mr. Bell stressed the importance of the timing of the request, as the United States would assume the two-year chairmanship of the multi-national arctic council in April. Mr. Bell maintained that due to the work of the legislature and the Arctic Policy Commission, the state had taken major steps toward defining and articulating its Arctic interests. He asserted that through the project, the administration hoped to work with the legislature and the commission to advance Alaska's Arctic interests by educating and informing the council members as well as participating in the work of the council and other Arctic-associated groups. He specified that that money would be used to enable a closer working relationship with the legislature's Special Committee on the Arctic, and enumerated other expenditures from the document "GOV Budget Justification Narrative - 500K Arctic" (copy on file): · cover travel for state officials to participate in the numerous Arctic meetings and symposia over the next two to three years · enable participation in Senior Arctic Official and Arctic Council Working Group meetings at which national policies are formulated · establish and coordinate a host committee for Arctic Council activities · enable participation in activities of the Northern Forum · evaluate and set the framework for a public outreach campaign on Arctic issues · determine whether Alaska should host the Arctic Economic Council Secretariat 9:24:23 AM CRAIG FLEENER, ARCTIC POLICY ADVISOR, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR (via teleconference), described the shaping of Arctic policy to be a monumental undertaking and emphasized the importance for Alaska. He discussed his participation in the Arctic Council ten years prior, when the state had little to no involvement. He stressed the importance of the opportunity for Alaska to help shape Arctic policy rather than solely the federal government. He mentioned the potential exclusion of many important issues to the state (infrastructure, economic diversification, food security, communications, reducing energy costs, arctic sovereignty, gasline construction, navigation, etc.) by the federal government as it shaped Arctic policy. Senator Dunleavy mentioned the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA) and asked if Mr. Fleener had observed any complimentary approaches or cross- over with the commission. Mr. Fleener thought that there was always opportunity to work in the same direction as CACFA. He related that had attended as many CACFA meetings as possible and appreciated the work that it had done. He stated that he was unaware of any Arctic activities by the commission; nor activities with the state department, which did not work domestically. He thought CACFA's focus had been on federal land units in Alaska, such as the National Park Service or Environmental Protection Agency. He surmised that arctic policy had been outside the scope of authority of CACFA, but expressed a willingness to work with the commission. 9:27:45 AM Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if Mr. Bell could provide the committee with explicit line items detailing expenditures of the budget request. Mr. Bell stated he had the information and would provide it to the committee members. Senator Bishop expressed an interest in further discussing the Secretariat organization [host committee coordinator for the Arctic Council]. Mr. Fleener stated he was happy to engage in the discussion at a later date. Senator Dunleavy asked if this was a one-time request, or was it anticipated to be an ongoing funding need. Mr. Bell stated that it was a one-time request. Co-Chair MacKinnon commented that the back-up documents demonstrated two years' worth of planning.