MINUTES  HB 365 / HB 366  CONFERENCE COMMITTEE  April 26, 2006  4:57 p.m.    CALL TO ORDER  Representative Chenault convened the meeting at approximately 4:57:58 PM. PRESENT  Senator Gary Wilken, Chair Representative Mike Chenault, Vice-Chair Senator Lyda Green Representative Kevin Meyer Senator Lyman Hoffman Representative Reggie Joule Also Attending: DAVID TEAL, Director, Division of Legislative Finance Attending via Teleconference: There were no teleconference participants. SUMMARY INFORMATION  HB 365-APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS HB 366-APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET The Conference Committee appointed its chair and vice-chair. Items subject to conference were identified and limited powers were requested from the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. 4:58:24 PM CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 365(FIN) am(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; making appropriations for state aid to public schools, centralized correspondence study, and transportation of pupils; and providing for an effective date." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 365(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; making appropriations for state aid to public schools, centralized correspondence study, and transportation of pupils; and providing for an effective date." AND CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 366(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. 366(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." This was the first hearing of the Conference Committee on HB 365 and HB 366. 4:58:28 PM Representative Chenault offered a motion to appoint Senator Wilken to serve as chairperson of the committee. There was no objection and the motion was ADOPTED. Co-Chair Wilken accepted the gavel and formally convened the meeting. 4:58:42 PM Chair Wilken offered a motion to appoint Representative Chenault as vice chairperson of the Committee. There was no objection and the motion was ADOPTED. 4:59:08 PM Chair Wilken stated that both the House of Representatives and the Senate budget process allowed for public testimony. That portion of the process was now concluded; the Conference Committee would not be accepting public testimony. Chair Wilken stated that unless invited by the Chair, only members of the Conference Committee would take part in discussion or sit at the table. Chair Wilken stated that the Conference Committee would operate under Rule 42 of the Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules. Adopting any motion or taking any action would require a majority vote from each body. Chair Wilken requested a motion to adopt all appropriations and allocations that are identical in the versions of the bill passed by the House of Representatives and Senate. These appropriations and allocations are listed as Category 1 items. 5:00:06 PM Representative Chenault offered a motion to adopt all appropriations and allocations in the FY 07 Operating Budget and Mental Health Budget that are identical in the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the bills. There were no objection and the motion was ADOPTED. 5:00:26 PM Chair Wilken requested a motion to request limited powers for budget allocations for which differences exist. Lists of differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions were attached to a letter addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House requesting these limited powers. The attachments include: Category 2 items - differences in intent language Category 3 items - substantial differences Differences in Mental Health Capital projects Representative Chenault offered a motion to adopt the aforementioned letter requesting limited powers of free conference for the items on the lists attached to the letter before the members. There was no objection and the motion was ADOPTED. 5:01:19 PM Chair Wilken provided an explanation of limited powers. Under limited powers the Conference Committee could adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the House of Representatives or Senate version of each item subject to conference. Chair Wilken stated that the Division of Legislative Finance has been directed to prepare "motion sheets" itemizing the differences between the two versions of the bills that would be the subject of Committee discussions. The motion sheets are available at www.legfin.state.ak.us, the Division of Legislative Finance website. Chair Wilken announced that when possible, he would provide affected departments and the Office of Management and Budget 24 hour notice of meetings. ADJOURNMENT  Chair Wilken adjourned the meeting at 5:02:56 PM