CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 285(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." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 286(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; and making supplemental appropriations." 1:40:19 PM Co-Chair Hoffman stated that the committee would take up proposed amendments and pass the bill from committee. Senator von Imhof MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1: DEPARTMENT: Alaska Department of Fish and Game APPROPRIATION: Sport Fisheries ALLOCATION: Sport Fisheries ADD: Add $150,000 in one-time only funding from 1223 Commercial Charter Fisheries RLF. DELETE: N/A POSITIONS: N/A EXPLANATION: Continue to support the sport fishing business and guide logbook and vessel registration program for six months in case the Saltwater Guide License Fee sunsets on December 31, 2018. This support allows the program to continue operating while ADF&G seeks the removal of the sunset date by the 31st Legislature. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator von Imhof explained that currently a log book was required by all sports fish charter guide operators. She stated that all daily trips must be reported in the log book, and the book was given to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG). She shared that DFG used the data to manage sports fishing in Alaska. The data was given to the Board of Fisheries to restrict or liberalize limits. The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council used the data for halibut management. She explained that the amendment would keep the program until the end of the following year. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for confirmation that it was a one-time increment. Senator von Imhof replied in the affirmative. Co-Chair Hoffman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Amendment 1 was ADOPTED. Senator Micciche MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2: DEPARTMENT: Administration APPROPRIATION: Centralized Administrative Services ALLOCATION: Labor Relations ADD INTENT: Alaska is facing an increasing crisis regarding the recruitment and retention of Alaska State Troopers. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage the Department of Administration to review and adjust as needed contracts for Alaska State Troopers to ensure successful recruitment and retention to meet the Department's mission in ensuring the public safety of Alaskans. EXPLANATION: In recent years a concern was voiced regarding Trooper recruitment and retention levels. A report was requested by the legislature in the FYI 8 budget process to identify the underlying causes. This intent language addresses the primary issue identified in the report. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Micciche discussed the amendment. Co-Chair Hoffman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Amendment 2 was ADOPTED. 1:44:32 PM Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 3: DEPARTMENT: Public Safety APPROPRIATION: Fire and Life Safety ALLOCATION: Fire and Life Safety ADD: $75,000 1004 Gen Fund (UGF) $125,000 1005 GF/Prgm(DGF) EXPLANATION: Building inspection and rural firefighter training. This item was in the Governor's budget, and is important for the communities in rural Alaska because of the problems they have with maintaining public buildings and with fires. Properly funding the inspections of schools, businesses, hospitals, churches and other buildings is also a crucial component of protecting these assets. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Olson explained the amendment. He recalled the last large fire in his district was in Hooper Bay and resulted in the addition of the money. Co-Chair Hoffman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION. Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the item was in the governor's budget. She wondered whether it was contained in the budget from the other body. Senator Olson replied in the negative. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Olson OPPOSED: Bishop, Micciche, Stevens, Von Imhof, Hoffman, MacKinnon The MOTION FAILED (1/6). Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 4: DEPARTMENT: Public Safety APPROPRIATION: Village Public Safety Officer Program ALLOCATION: Village Public Safety Officer Program ADD: $1,500,000 1004 Gen Fund (UGF) EXPLANATION: This funding, if approved, will be used to improve law enforcement access to rural communities by Alaska State Troopers (AST) and by Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs). With the shortage of both ASTs and VPSOs, adding the travel funds will allow existing positions to go where they are needed in rural Alaska. ASTs and VPSOs have had severe problems with recruitment and retention, which has left many villages without any public protection. So these funds will allow for travel to villages that need those services, and will improve the response time to emergency calls; which will enhance the level of service provided and thus the level of public safety in rural Alaska. ADD LEGISLATIVE INTENT: Village Public Safety Officer Program Appropriation It is the intent of the legislature that the amount of $1,500,000 be used only for travel to rural communities by VPSOs or Alaska State Troopers. It is also the intent of the legislature that the Department support VPSO contractors' efforts to provide public safety services to the maximum geographic area surrounding their duty station. EXPLANATION: The provision of public safety in remote rural Alaska comes with challenges related to distance. VPSO rovers and travel from village to village provides a significantly broader reach for the Department. The intent is to ensure that these additional funds are used only for travel and travel related costs to rural communities, to ensure greater public safety in rural Alaska where distance creates challenges and there are problems with recruitment and retention of VPSOs to provide public safety services. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Olson discussed the amendment. Senator Micciche stated he would offer a conceptual amendment to Amendment 4. 1:49:13 PM AT EASE 1:51:25 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Hoffman informed that Senator Olson // 1:51:51 PM AT EASE 2:15:16 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Hoffman reminded that the committee was considering Amendment 4. Senator Micciche MOVED to ADOPT Conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment 4. The conceptual amendment proposed a $1 million reduction, with the remaining $500,000 as a one-time increment. Co-Chair Hoffman asked if all members understood the motion. The members acknowledged understanding of the motion. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Conceptual Amendment 1 was ADOPTED. Co-Chair Hoffman asked if there was objection to the motion to pass Amendment 4 as amended. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Amendment 4 was ADOPTED as conceptually amended. Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 5: DEPARTMENT: Department of Education and Early Development APPROPRIATION: Educational Support and Administrative Services ALLOCATION: Student and School Support and Achievement ADD: $97,800, UGF, 1004 DELETE: IncoTI, $97,800, UGF, 1004 POSITIONS: ADD: 1 PFT position EXPLANATION: DEED is having a difficult time filling the position because it is temporary. This amendment would make the requested data analyst position permanent, allowing DEED to move forward with filling the position for data collection, analysis, and reporting. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Olson explained the amendment. [Senator Olson erroneously discussed the explanation for Amendment 6 while the committee was considering Amendment 5. The committee later decided to proceed with its action on the amendment despite the error.] Senator Olson continued to discuss Amendment 5. Co-Chair Hoffman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Olson OPPOSED: Micciche, Stevens, von Imhof, Bishop, MacKinnon, Hoffman The MOTION FAILED (1/6). 2:19:13 PM AT EASE 2:20:39 PM RECONVENED Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 6. Co-Chair Hoffman OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Olson explained that he had mistakenly offered the explanation for Amendment 6 during the committee's consideration of Amendment 5. 2:21:21 PM AT EASE 2:22:10 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Hoffman MAINTAINED his OBJECTION to Amendment 6. He stated that the budget gave half of what was requested in the governor's proposed budget, and the House had fully funded the item. The item was conferencable at the expected budget conference committee. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Olson OPPOSED: Micciche, Stevens, von Imhof, Bishop, MacKinnon, Hoffman The MOTION FAILED (1/7). Co-Chair Hoffman clarified that he had mis-spoken on Amendment 3, which was in the House budget. Co-Chair MacKinnon lauded the actions of Co-Chair Hoffman. Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to give the Legislative Finance Division and Legislative Legal Services the ability to make technical and conforming changes to SCS CSHB 285 and SCS CSSB 286. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Co-Chair Hoffman asked his staff to comment on changes to SCS CSHB 285. 2:25:04 PM PETE ECKLUND, STAFF, SENATOR LYMAN HOFFMAN, stated that there had a been tradition that one body removed four projects and kept one in their budget, and the other body did the opposite, resulting in every project becoming conferencable. He pointed out that the Mental Health Essential Program Equipment for $500,000 was included in the budget. He remarked that there were five other capital projects removed in the other body's version that would all be conferencable. Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if it was four or five that were removed. Mr. Ecklund had received a report from LFD that listed five programs. Co-Chair Hoffman informed that the committee of the process. He thanked committee members for the work within a concentrated time period to complete the budget. He recognized that staff had worked on the budget. Co-Chair Hoffman thanked LFD for working on the budget. He referenced the $2.5 billion deficit and thought it needed to be addressed in addition to the services. He stated that the committee was still working with the other body on HB 287, and it was the intention of the Senate to come to some conclusion on the early funding of education. He reiterated that the budget did not have education funding contained within the bill, as was normally done. 2:29:10 PM Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to report SCS CSHB 286(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Micciche, Olson, Stevens, Von Imhof, Bishop, MacKinnon, Hoffman OPPOSED: NONE The MOTION PASSED (7/0). Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to report SCS CSHB 285(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Micciche, Olson, Stevens, Von Imhof, Bishop, MacKinnon, Hoffman OPPOSED: NONE The MOTION PASSED (7/0). Co-Chair MacKinnon expressed gratitude for the efforts on the budget. Co-Chair Hoffman discussed committee business. SCS CSHB 286(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation. SCS CSHB 285(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation.