SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE February 3, 2012 9:01 a.m. 9:01:26 AM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair Senator Lesil McGuire, Vice-Chair Senator Johnny Ellis Senator Dennis Egan Senator Donny Olson Senator Joe Thomas MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT Senator Hollis French, Sponsor; Kimberly Poppe-Smart, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health and Social Services; Thomas Obermeyer, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis. SUMMARY SB 13 WAIVE PARK FEE FOR DISABLED VETERANS CSSB 13(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR). SB 70 ALASKA HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE CSSB 70(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with three new fiscal impact notes: DHSS, DOA, and DCCED; and one new zero fiscal note from DCCED. SB 83 TEACHER BOARD CERTIFICATION INCENTIVES CSSB 83(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal impact note and one new zero fiscal note from the Department of Education and Early Development. SB 86 PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS/MINORS CSSB 86(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with six new zero fiscal notes: DHSS, DOA, DOL, DPS, DOC, and Courts; and one fiscal impact note from the Department of Public Safety. SCR 2 UNIFORM RULES: PRESIDING OFFICER PRO TEM CSSCR 2(STA) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note from the Senate Finance Committee for the Legislature. 9:02:14 AM SENATE BILL NO. 13 "An Act providing for the waiver of certain fees and charges in state parks for disabled veterans." Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for SB 13, Work Draft 27-LS0097\B (Bullock, 1/31/12). Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion. He explained that at the sponsor's request the word "resident" had been added on page 3, line 4 to clarify that the fee waivers and reductions would only apply to disabled veterans who were residents of Alaska. Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, Work Draft 27-LS0097\B was ADOPTED. SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH, SPONSOR, explained that the bill was designed to make Alaska parks and recreational facilities more accessible to disabled veterans. Cabins would be available to veterans at 50 percent of the normal fee as a complete elimination of the fee presented logistical difficulties. Co-Chair Stedman pointed to Fiscal Note 1 from the Department of Natural Resources that requested a $10,000 general fund appropriation to cover program costs. The governor's FY 13 budget request also included $206,000 in funds; the two funding sources would cover the anticipated revenue losses. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 13(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 13(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with previously published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR). SENATE BILL NO. 70 "An Act establishing the Alaska Health Benefit Exchange; and providing for an effective date." 9:04:54 AM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that SB 70 had previously been heard twice by the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for SB 70, Work Draft 27-LS0286\E (Bailey, 2/1/12). Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion. He explained that the effective dates had been updated on page 19, lines 21 and 23 and on page 20, line 9. He removed his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, Work Draft 27-LS0286\E was ADOPTED. Senator Hollis French, Sponsor explained that the bill established an exchange or website that would allow the 115,000 uninsured Alaskans to select a viable and worthwhile insurance policy; it did not impact residents who had existing insurance coverage. Co-Chair Stedman directed attention to the four fiscal notes: one fiscal note from the Department of Administration in the amount of $3 million in general funds for bandwidth, hardware, software, and maintenance costs; a fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) in the amount of $1,824,700 in general funds for 12 new positions, and board and supply costs (the note had been increased by $162,600 due to increased personal service costs); a fiscal note from the Department of Health and Social Services in the amount of $182,700 in general funds and $182,700 in matching federal funds for three part-time analyst positions; and a zero fiscal note from DCCED. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 70(FIN) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 70(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with three new fiscal impact notes: DHSS, DOA, and DCCED; and one new zero fiscal note from DCCED. SENATE BILL NO. 83 "An Act providing for payment and loan incentives to public school teachers for national board certification." 9:07:52 AM Co-Chair Stedman communicated that the bill had previously been heard once by the committee. Senator Joe Thomas explained the legislation as a member of the Senate Education Committee. The bill provided payment and loan incentives to public school teachers for national board certification; teachers would receive a $1000 stipend and an additional $500 for teaching in a low income area. Additionally the bill would provide loans to help teachers to afford program tuition and a modest annual stipend to encourage teacher improvement. Co-Chair Stedman discussed two new fiscal notes from the Department of Education and Early Development: one zero fiscal note and one fiscal impact note in the amount of $116,500 in general funds for teaching and learning support. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 83(EDC) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 83(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one new fiscal impact note and one new zero fiscal note from the Department of Education and Early Development. SENATE BILL NO. 86 "An Act relating to the protection of property of persons under disability and minors; relating to the crime of violating a protective order concerning certain vulnerable persons; relating to aggravating factors at sentencing for offenses concerning a victim 65 years or older; relating to the protection of vulnerable adults; amending Rule 12(h), Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure; amending Rule 45(a), Alaska Rules of Criminal Procedure; amending Rule 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure; amending Rule 17, Alaska Rules of Probate Procedure; amending Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date." 9:09:59 AM Co-Chair Stedman shared that the legislation had previously been heard by the committee. KIMBERLY POPPE-SMART, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, explained that the bill provided additional protections to vulnerable Alaskans including, the opportunity to appoint a temporary conservator and ex parte protection of financial and property interests. Additionally, the legislation added mandated reporters in schools and health care settings and incorporated the definition of "undue influence" as an offence that could be acted upon. Co-Chair Stedman highlighted seven new fiscal notes including six zero notes from the Departments of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Administration (DOA), Law (DOL), Public Safety (DPS), Corrections (DOC), and Courts; and one fiscal impact note from DPS in the amount of $48,000 in general funds to cover costs of the development of new protective order forms, updates to the Alaska Public Safety Information Network, and training. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 86(JUD) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSB 86(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with six new zero fiscal notes: DHSS, DOA, DOL, DPS, DOC, and Courts; and one fiscal impact note from the Department of Public Safety. SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2 Proposing amendments to the Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature relating to the presiding officer pro tempore. 9:11:33 AM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that the resolution had been heard previously by the committee. THOMAS OBERMEYER, STAFF, SENATOR BETTYE DAVIS, explained that the resolution would amend the Alaska Uniform Rules to increase the duties of temporary presiding officers and to allow more legislators to function in leadership positions. Co-Chair Stedman referenced a new zero fiscal note from the Senate Finance Committee. Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSCR 2(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSSCR 2(STA) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note from the Senate Finance Committee for the Legislature. ADJOURNMENT 9:13:34 AM The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 AM.