29TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB72 and HB73 April 18, 2015 3:10 p.m. 3:10:55 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Neuman called the Conference Committee meeting on HB72 and HB73 to order at 3:10 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." DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES LEGISLATURE FUND TRANSFERS MENTAL HEALTH CAPITAL BUDGET FISCAL NOTES   Chair Neuman communicated that the committee would complete all of the open items based on the motion sheets distributed to members earlier in the day (dated April 17)(copy on file). 3:11:54 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development: Item 5 Senate plus $1 million 250 thousand Item 6 Senate minus $625.0 thousand Item 7 Senate minus $625.0 thousand Item 10 Senate Representative Gara OBJECTED. He understood that the items had been tough; however, he believed it was the responsible action to take given the state's fiscal situation. He appreciated all the collaborative work that had been done. He WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items in the budget for the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. 3:12:47 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Department of Natural Resources: Item 1 Senate Item 2 On line 1, Senate On line 2, Senate and change fund source to In-State Natural Gas Pipeline Fund, fund code 1229 There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items in the budget for the Department of Natural Resources. 3:13:34 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities: Item 28 House Item 29 Senate Item 30 House Item 31 House Item 32 House Item 33 House Item 34 Senate for both fund sources Item 35 Senate Item 36 Senate Item 37 Senate for both fund sources Item 38 House Item 39 House Item 40 Senate Item 41 Senate Item 42 House Item 43 Senate Item 44 House Item 45 Senate Item 46 House Item 47 Senate Item 48 House Item 49 Senate Item 50 Senate Representative Gara OBJECTED. He stated that he was trying to read what had been picked for Item 42. He commented on the difficult font size of the backup document. 3:15:00 PM AT EASE 3:15:52 PM RECONVENED Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items in the budget for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. 3:16:25 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Legislature's budget: Item 10 Senate There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items in the budget for the Legislature. 3:16:40 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items in the Fund Transfers budget: Item 1 No selection is required. Decisions will be made in Language Items 6 and 11. Item 2 No selection is required. Decisions will be made in Language Items 6 and 11. Item 3 Senate Representative Gara OBJECTED. He commented that the Senate version of the budget had included the withdrawal of funds from the Public Education Fund. He was trying to determine what Items 1 and 2 did in relation to the withdrawal of funds. Mr. Teal explained that currently the items did nothing because no decision had been made; therefore, the items did not affect the amount withdrawn or deposited in any way. Representative Gara asked for verification that the issue remained open. Mr. Teal replied in the affirmative. Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items within Fund Transfers. 3:18:09 PM Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Mental Health Capital Budget: Item 1 House Item 2 House Item 3 House Item 4 Senate There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. The action closed all conferencable items for the Mental Health Capital Budget. 3:18:31 PM FISCAL NOTES Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the fiscal note document with the footer "FY16 Fiscal Note Section of HB72, Sec. 2" as Section 2 of HB 72. Chair Neuman OBJECTED for discussion. Vice-Chair Kelly relayed that Section 2 made appropriations associated with the bills listed. Additionally, if a bill listed failed to pass, its substance failed to be incorporated in some other measure, or it was vetoed by the governor, the appropriations associated with the bill would be reduced. Chair Neuman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. Representative Gara OBJECTED. He did not believe all of the committee members had the document referenced by Vice-Chair Kelly. He asked for verification that the action would adopt fiscal notes that had passed and that fiscal notes in any vetoed bills would disappear. Vice-Chair Kelly agreed. Representative Gara WITHDREW his OBJECTION. HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. [Note: the meeting was recessed at 3:20 p.m. and did not reconvene.] ADJOURNMENT 3:20:01 PM The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.