Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2021-08-23 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1355 SENATE JOURNAL ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION Juneau, Alaska Monday August 23, 2021 Eighth Day Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order by President Micciche at 2:05 p.m. The roll showed fourteen members present. Senator Wilson was excused from a call of the Senate. Senators Olson, Reinbold, Shower, von Imhof, Wielechowski were absent. The prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Senator Gray-Jackson. Senator Hoffman moved and asked unanimous consent the prayer be spread. Without objection, it was so ordered. Thank you for getting us back to Juneau safely and please keep us safe while we are here. As we move forward, help us to only do what is right for the citizens of our great state. Let us purge our personal opinions and focus on making the required appropriations whole again that are so needed within our communities. And please guide us in making decisions that involve our most vulnerable citizens. Help us use this time wisely with speed and efficiency so we can move our state forward with a comprehensive and sustainable fiscal plan. Help us to make the right decision on the use of the Permanent Fund and a dividend distribution that ensures current and future stability. I thank you for your guidance. Amen. Senator Kawasaki led the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1356 Certification Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the journals for the first through seventh legislative days, Senate Journal Supplement No. 6 and House and Senate Joint Journal Supplement No. 6 be approved as certified by the Secretary. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent Senators Reinbold, Shower, von Imhof be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senators Reinbold, Shower, von Imhof were excused. Senator Begich moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Wielechowski be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Wielechowski was excused. Messages from the Governor Executive Proclamation Under the authority of Article II, Section 9, and Article III, Section 17, Constitution of the State of Alaska, and in the public interest, I hereby amend my proclamation of July 29, 2021, calling the Thirty-Second Legislature of the State of Alaska into special session as follows: The Thirty-Second Legislature of the State of Alaska is called into its third special session at Juneau, Alaska, in the legislative chambers, on August 16, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., to consider the following subjects: • HJR 6, SJR 5, or similar resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to an appropriation limit; and relating to the Constitutional Budget Reserve fund; • HJR 7 or SJR 6, proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to the Alaska Permanent Fund, appropriations from the Alaska Permanent Fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, and power cost equalization. 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1357 • An act or acts relating to measures to increase state revenues. • An act making appropriations, including appropriation for a 2021 Permanent Fund Dividend for eligible Alaskans, and for certain postsecondary education funds. Dated: August 19, 2021 at 3:50 p.m. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor Introduction and Reference of Senate Bills SB 3001 SENATE BILL NO. 3001 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled: "An Act making an appropriation from the general fund to the Department of Education and Early Development for the payment of educational programs; making an appropriation from the earnings reserve account for the payment of permanent fund dividends; making an appropriation from the earnings reserve account to the budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee. Governor's transmittal letter dated August 19: Dear President Micciche: Under the authority of Article III, Section 18 of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting an appropriation bill pursuant to the implementation of a comprehensive fiscal plan for the State of Alaska and in support of recommendations made by the Alaska State Legislature’s Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group. 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1358 The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation closed its fiscal year June 30 at an all-time high of $81.1 billion following a 29.7 percent annual return, a record strong performance. The earnings reserve account alone totaled $21.0 billion at year end. With its strong performance and exceptional management team, the Permanent Fund is critical to Alaska’s long-term fiscal stability and near-term recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill includes two appropriations critical to helping the legislature finalize a structured fiscal solution for our state and to providing Alaskans with an equitable distribution of the state’s resource wealth. The first item is a $1.53 billion appropriation for the payment of the 2021 Permanent Fund Dividend. This appropriation is 50 percent of the FY22 percent of market value draw from the Permanent Fund and would provide a dividend estimated to be $2,350 per eligible Alaskan. The second item is a one-time $1.47 billion transfer from the earnings reserve account to the budget reserve fund which leverages a small portion of the Permanent Fund’s recent earnings windfall to provide bridge funding while all the components of a comprehensive fiscal solution are fully implemented. The third appropriation item in this bill funds the Alaska Performance Scholarship Award, Alaska Education Grant, and WWAMI Medical Education programs. Each of these programs are a strong investment in young Alaskans and critical for the healthy future of our state. I recognize there may be other appropriation items the Legislature will want to address as we work collaboratively to finalize the fiscal year 2022 budget during the special session. Sincerely, /s/ Mike Dunleavy Governor 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1359 Unfinished Business Senator Begich moved and asked unanimous consent to be excused from a call of the Senate on August 26. Without objection, Senator Begich was excused. Introduction of Senate Pages Senator Stevens, Rules Committee Chair, introduced the Senate Pages as follows: Thomas Willhoite, Juneau Annie Connelly, Chugiak Symphoni Mason, Eagle River Announcements Rule 23(d) of the Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules is currently in effect. Announcements are at the end of the journal. Enrollment SB 21 HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 21(L&C) am H "An Act relating to occupational licensing of members of the military and their spouses; relating to mobile intensive care paramedics; relating to duties of the State Medical Board and the Department of Health and Social Services; and providing for an effective date" was enrolled, signed by the President and Secretary, Speaker and Chief Clerk and the engrossed and enrolled copies transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 4:45 p.m., August 20, 2021. Memorandum from the Division of Legal and Research Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, reporting the following manifest errors in HCS SB 21(L&C) am H, which have been corrected in enrolling: 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1360 Page 6, line 4: Delete "including" Insert "which may include" Page 6, lines 10 - 11: Delete "persons, organizations, or governmental agencies that are" Insert "a person, organization, or governmental agency that is" SB 22 SENATE BILL NO. 22 "An Act repealing the termination date for the intensive management hunting license surcharge" was enrolled, signed by the President and Secretary, Speaker and Chief Clerk and the engrossed and enrolled copies transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 4:45 p.m., August 20, 2021. SB 40 SENATE BILL NO. 40 "An Act relating to veterans' benefits services and veterans' benefits appeal services" was enrolled, signed by the President and Secretary, Speaker and Chief Clerk and the engrossed and enrolled copies transmitted to the Office of the Governor at 4:45 p.m., August 20, 2021. Adjournment Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 11:00 a.m., August 26, 2021. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 2:13 p.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1361 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled FINANCE Aug 23 Monday Senate Finance 532 3:00 PM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 24 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 24 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 25 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 25 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 26 Thursday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 26 Thursday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2021-08-23 Senate Journal Page 1362 FINANCE (continued) Aug 27 Friday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled Aug 27 Friday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM + Agenda Forthcoming Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled ---------------------------------------- JOINT COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT Aug 27 Friday Anch Lio Denali Rm 10:00 AM I. Executive Session a. Final Audit Report: 1. Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Special) 2. Board of Examiners in Optometry (Sunset) b. Preliminary Audit Reports + II. Revised Program - Legislative + III. Other Committee Business ---------------------------------------- REDISTRICTING BOARD Aug 23 Monday Anch Lio Denali Rm 10:00 AM + -- Public Testimony -- Public Numbers: Anchorage 563-9085 Juneau 568-9085, Other 844-586-9085 In-person attendance will be subject to the Alaska Legislature's COVID-19 Mitigation Policy, which may require masking and limit the number of attendees **Streamed live on AKL.tv** Aug 24 Tuesday Anch Lio Denali Rm 9:00 AM + -- Public Testimony -- Public Numbers: Anchorage 563-9085 Juneau 586-9085, Other 844-586-9085 In-person attendance will be subject to the Alaska Legislature's COVID-19 Mitigation Policy, which may require masking and limit the number of attendees **Streamed live on AKL.tv**