29TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB72 and HB73 April 23, 2015 1:04 p.m. 1:04:01 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Neuman called the Conference Committee meeting on HB72 and HB73 to order at 1:04 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: House: Representative Mark Neuman, Chair Representative Steve Thompson Representative Les Gara Senate: Senator Pete Kelly, Vice-Chair Senator Anna MacKinnon Senator Donny Olson MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT: David Teal, Director, Legislative Finance Division; fiscal analysts with the Office of Management and Budget and Legislative Finance Division; and aides to committee members and other members of the Legislature. SUMMARY HB 72 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HB 73 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 72(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs and capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 72(FIN) am S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs and capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; and providing for an effective date." and CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(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." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(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." 1:04:28 PM DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Chair Neuman communicated that the conference committee would be meeting on HB 72 and HB 73 open items. He noted that Limited Powers of Free Conference had been granted by both the Senate and the House. Departments with open items would be taken up based on the motion sheets distributed to members earlier in the day and dated April 23, 2015. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to REOPEN Items 33, 38, 39, and 48 in the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. There being NO OBJECTION, Items 33, 38, 39, and 48 were back before the Committee. Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to RESCIND its action adopting the House on Items 33, 38, 39, and 48. 1:05:07 PM Representative Gara OBJECTED. He was encouraged that items were opened for discussion. He stated that the minority was in favor of the prior version. Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action left open Items 33, 38, 39, and 48 in the budget for Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 1:05:47 PM STATEWIDE SALARY ADJUSTMENT DECREMENTS Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the following in the Statewide Salary Adjustment Decrements budget: Item 1 Senate plus $366.0 thousand General Fund, fund code 1004 1:06:10 PM Representative Gara OBJECTED. He reasoned that that there had already been debate regarding non-union salary increases that no longer appeared in the legislation. The minority did not agree with defunding the labor contracts that had already been negotiated with the unions. He suggested that the arguments back and forth on the issue were already known. He stated that he did not intend to argue the point but disagreed with the proposed decrement. Representative Gara MAINTAINED his OBJECTION. Co-Chair Kelly clarified that a "yes" vote meant the committee adopted the motion. Co-Chair Neuman concurred. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator MacKinnon, Representative Thompson, Senator Kelly, Representative Neuman OPPOSED: Representative Gara, Senator Olson The MOTION PASSED (House: 2/1; Senate: 2/1). The action closed all conferencable items in the budget for the Statewide Salary Adjustment Decrements 04/23/15. HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 1:07:55 PM The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.