Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/07/2021 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Consideration of Governor's Appointees: Department of Law, Attorney General Treg Taylor | |
| HB69 || HB71 | |
| Subcommittee Close-out Reports | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HOUSE BILL NO. 69
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making reappropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making appropriations
under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State
of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve
fund; and providing for an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 71
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
1:57:43 PM
^SUBCOMMITTEE CLOSE-OUT REPORTS
1:57:56 PM
JAMIE JONES, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE KELLY MERRICK, would be
presenting three agency FY 22 House Finance budget
subcommittee narrative reports. She would begin with
reviewing the subcommittee close-out report for the
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) (copy on
file). She read directly from the report:
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs submits
the following recommended operating budget for FY 22
to the House Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $22,066.3
Designated General Funds (DGF) $178.4
Other Funds $12,061.2
Federal Funds $31,377.3
Total $65,683.2
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 281
Permanent Part-time 0
Temporary 0
Total 281
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs held four
meetings, reviewing, and accepting the FY 22
Governor's budget request, no member amendments were
offered.
Ms. Jones moved to the subcommittee close-out report for
the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (copy on file).
She read directly from the report:
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Natural Resources submits the following
recommended operating budget for FY 22 to the House
Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $63,376.6
Designated General Funds (DGF) $39,198.2
Other Funds $36,089.5
Federal Funds $17,483.4
Total $156,147.7
The only difference between the FY 22 Governor's
Request and the FY 22 House Subcommittee recommended
budget is $200.0 in General Fund Program Receipts,
adding six temporary positions.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 623
Permanent Part-time 247
Temporary 58
Total 928
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Natural Resources held six meetings with
the Department analyzing the Governor's Budget. The
Subcommittee accepted 12 of the 12 Budget Action Items
proposed.
The following member amendments were also adopted:
No. 2 Parks Management and Access
DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources
APPROPRIATION: Parks and Outdoor Recreation
ALLOCATION: Parks Management and Access
ADD: $200.0 GF/Prgm (fund code 1005)
ADD POSITIONS: 6 Temporary Positions
ADD Intent Language: It is the intent of the
legislature that the department only fill the
additional Alaska Conservation Corps positions
authorized by the legislature if fee collections
enable this expenditure to occur without using
carryforward revenue.
No. 4 Geological and Geophysical Surveys
DEPARTMENT: Department of Natural Resources
APPROPRIATION: Fire Suppression, Land and Water
Resources
ALLOCATION: Geological and Geophysical Surveys
ADD Intent Language: It is the intent of the
legislature that the Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys submit
to the Finance Co-Chairs and Legislative Finance
Division by December 1, 2021, a proposal to conduct
large geophysical, geochemical, and geological data
collections over mineral-rich portions of the state,
and to develop fee schedules to charge for the raw
data, once collected, while publishing low-cost
hardcopy maps, and providing free access to visual
representations of the data through the division's
website.
Co-Chair Foster asked about item 2 regarding parks
management and access and 6 temporary positions. He
suspected that the positions would exist as long as they
were paid for through fees without using carry-forward
revenue. He asked if he was correct. Ms. Jones responded in
the affirmative.
Representative Rasmussen commented on budget action
item 10, a request for $250,000 for additional law
enforcement in the parks. She opined that it was an
appropriate request and hoped the full finance committee
would have a discussion about program receipts. Alaskans
paid relatively low fees for parking lots and park access.
She thought it was a way to collect additional funds
without having to use additional UGF.
2:04:04 PM
Ms. Jones relayed the subcommittee close-out report for the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) (copy on file). She read
the report:
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Public Safety submits the following
recommended operating budget for FY2022 to the House
Finance Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $180,264.6
Designated General Funds (DGF) $8,663.6
Other Funds $12,223.2
Federal Funds $28,033.9
Total $229,185.3
There is a decrease of $238.6 in Unrestricted General
Funds from the FY22 Adjusted Base to the House
Subcommittee budget recommendation, which is a -0.1
percent change.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 873
Permanent Part-time 18
Temporary 20
Total 911
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Department of Public Safety held six meetings with the
Department to analyze the Governor's Budget. The
Subcommittee accepted 20 of the 23 proposed Budget
Action Items.
The following three items were not accepted:
? Budget Action Item No. 4: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska Bureau of Judicial Services, fully fund Office
Assistant II position added at 75 percent funding in
FY21.
? Budget Action Item No. 6: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska State Trooper Detachments, continue one-time
capital outlay funding for positions added in FY21.
? Budget Action Item No. 8: Alaska State Troopers,
Alaska State Trooper Detachments, fully fund 28 new
positions added at 75 percent funding in FY21.
The subcommittee also adopted the four intent language
amendments listed below:
Amendment No. 1
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Fire and Life Safety
ALLOCATION: Fire and Life Safety
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety's Plan Review Bureau
allocate appropriate resources to ensure that the
review time of building plans be kept under 30 days.
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety add to its measures of
core services the average review time of building
plans on a monthly basis.
Amendment No. 2
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety prioritize the deployment
of law enforcement resources to non-urbanized areas
that lack organized government.
Amendment No. 3
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Alaska State Troopers
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that no funds
shall be moved outside of the personal services line
of any allocation within the Alaska State Troopers
appropriation.
Amendment No. 4
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety
APPROPRIATION: Alaska State Troopers
ADD INTENT LANGUAGE:
It is the intent of the legislature that the
Department of Public Safety increase efforts to fill
vacant positions within the Alaska State Troopers
appropriation and reduce overtime in order to better
manage within the authorized budget. The Department
should provide two reports to the Co-Chairs of Finance
and the Legislative Finance Division, the first no
later than December 1, 2021, and the second no later
than July 1, 2022, that details monthly hiring and
attrition, as well as premium and overtime costs by
category, and describes any contributing factors from
the start of the fiscal year to the month preceding
the due date of the report.
Ms. Jones concluded her presentation of the subcommittee
reports for DMVA, DNR, and DPS.
2:07:08 PM
AT EASE
2:09:13 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson turned to page 2 of the narrative
pointing to item 3 that was not adopted. The item was for
full funding of 28 new positions added at 75 percent. He
asked for further explanation. Ms. Jones replied that in FY
21 the department received 75 percent funding for 36 new
positions, the majority of which had not been filled to-
date. The subcommittee did not approve the remaining 25
percent funding for 2021 for those positions. She continued
that the positions she knew were filled were reflected in
items 11 and 12. The subcommittee funded the positions that
were filled.
Co-Chair Foster asked if cuts were made to the Village
Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Program. Ms. Jones confirmed
that there were no cuts made to the VPSO Program.
Representative Carpenter thought he heard that there were
no cuts but there was a decrease in UGF. He asked if the
money was made up somewhere else. Co-Chair Foster clarified
that his question was whether there were cuts made to the
VPSO Program.
Co-Chair Foster indicated his staff would present the
reports for the Office of the Governor and the Legislature.
PATRICK FITZGERALD, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE NEAL FOSTER,
presented the subcommittee close-out report for the Office
of the Governor (copy on file). He read from the report:
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor submits the following recommended
operating budget for FY 22 to the House Finance
Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $23,215.9
Designated General Funds (DGF) $ 000.0
Other Funds $3,087.9
Federal Funds $229.0
Total $26,532.8
The Unrestricted General Fund difference from FY 22
Adjusted Base to the House Subcommittee budget
recommendation is an increase of $950.3 thousand of
Unrestricted General Funds, which is 4.3 percent above
FY 22 Adjusted Base.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 151
Permanent Part-time 0
Temporary 23
Total 174
? Approves 2 PCNs transferred from DCCED to the Office
of the Governor and increased receipt authority for
Statewide Economic Development.
? Created the Administrative Services Director's
Allocation within OMB.
? Replace Inter-Agency receipts (I/A Rcpts) for Budget
Analysts (200.0 UGF) and reduced receipt authority
within OMB.
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor reviewed the FY 22 budget request,
including amendments, and recommends the following
actions:
Accept the Office of the Governor's budget proposal,
which includes these highlights:
? Approves 2 PCNs transferred from DCCED to the Office
of the Governor and increased receipt authority for
Statewide Economic Development.
? Created the Administrative Services Director's
Allocation within OMB.
? Replace Inter-Agency receipts (I/A Rcpts) for Budget
Analysts (200.0 UGF) and reduced receipt authority
within OMB.
OTHER SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the Office
of the Governor also took the following actions:
? Deleted hollow receipt authority and authorized UGF
for expected costs within the Division of Elections
(706.7 UGF).
? Provided intent language stating the following: o It
is the intent of the legislature that the director of
OMB conducts a review of FY 21 Single Audit Costs, as
identified in the Division of Legislative Audit memo
billings, to determine the extent the single audit
costs were billed to the federal government as well as
the extent the costs were reimbursed. A report showing
the results of the review shall be provided to Co-
Chairs of Finance and the Legislative Finance Division
by December 1st, 2021.
Co-Chair Foster asked Mr. Fitzgerald to summarize the bulk
of the changes. There were two items primarily affected.
Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the bulk of the increase came
from the Division of Elections for voting cards and maps
and costs related to the new rank-choice voting system
currently being implemented.
Representative Wool asked about the two positions
transferred from Department of Commerce, Community and
Economic Development (DCCED) to the Department of Education
and Early Development (DEED). Mr. Fitzgerald deferred to
Kelly Cunningham. Representative Edgmon answered that the
two positions with the Alaska Development team housed in
DCCED were transferred from DCCED to the Office of the
Governor. The item completed the transaction.
Representative Wool thanked Representative Edgmon. He noted
the question had arisen recently as to whether the transfer
had been completed.
2:16:15 PM
Mr. Fitzgerald reviewed the subcommittee report for the
Legislature (copy on file). He read from the report:
LEGISLATURE:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature submits the following recommended
operating budget for FY 22 to the House Finance
Committee:
Fund Source: (dollars are in thousands)
Unrestricted General Funds (UGF) $64,921.1
Designated General Funds (DGF) $341.5
Other Funds $1,462.4
Federal Funds $00.0
Total $66,725.0
The Unrestricted General Fund difference from FY 22
Adjusted Base and to the House Subcommittee budget
recommendation is an increase of $393.7 of
Unrestricted General Funds, which is 0.6 percent above
FY 22 Adjusted Base.
Positions:
Permanent Full-time 258
Permanent Part-time 288
Temporary 28
Total 574
? Approved the Legislature Budget and Audit
Committee's requested budget.
? Approved the Legislative Council's requested budget.
? Approved the Replacement of Restorative Justice Fund
with UGF (232.5 Rest Just/UGF).
BUDGET ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature reviewed the FY 22 budget request,
including amendments, and recommends the following
actions:
Accept the Legislature budget proposal, which includes
these highlights:
? Approved the Legislature Budget and Audit
Committee's requested budget.
? Approved the Legislative Council's requested budget.
? Approved the Replacement of Restorative Justice Fund
with UGF (232.5 Rest Just/UGF).
OTHER SUBCOMMITTEE ACTION:
The House Finance Budget Subcommittee for the
Legislature also took the following actions:
? Denied Performance Reviews for Legislative Audit
(1,395.2 UGF).
SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
? The House Finance Budget Subcommittee recommends
that House Finance Committee consider amending the
Redistricting Boards multi-year appropriation for
FY 21 through FY 22 of $2.5 million, by increasing the
appropriation by $1 million (totaling $3.5 million)
and extend until the end of FY 2023. The Subcommittee
further recommends that the action be taken in the
Language Section of House Bill 69.
? Fund Source change in Legislative Audit for
statewide single audit to replace an RSA with the
Division of Finance in the Department of
Administration ($1,000.0 Fund Source Change I/A
Receipts to UGF). This item is related to a decrement
in the Department of Administration's budget and would
ensure that Legislative Audit is fully funded without
the RSA.
Mr. Fitzgerald concluded his presentation of the
subcommittee report.
Representative Wool asked where he could find the terms of
the Beacon contract. He assumed the budget increased due to
COVID-19. Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the contract fell
under the Legislative Council's budget.
Representative Wool asked if the increase in the
Legislative Council's budget was due to Covid. Mr.
Fitzgerald responded affirmatively. He expounded that the
Legislature budget subcommittee approved Legislative
Council's request in full. Representative Edgmon added that
it was FY 21 and was related to Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security (CARES) Act money and would not be
seen in FY 22. Co-Chair Foster noted an affirmation from
the back of the room [Ms. Kelly Cunningham, Analyst,
Legislative Finance Division]
Vice-Chair Ortiz asked where the bulk of the $393,000
increase in UGF could be found. Mr. Fitzgerald responded
that the increase was related to the approval of the
Legislative Budget and Audit's and the Legislative
Council's requested budgets.
2:20:47 PM
Representative LeBon asked for further detail on the
additional $1 million appropriation related to the Alaska
Redistricting Board budget.
Co-Chair Foster provided further detail. He indicated in
the budget subcommittee the Alaska Redistricting Board had
submitted a request for an additional $1 million because of
the National Census being slowed down. The costs covered
additional rents and other operational costs. He continued
to provide additional detail. He indicated that in the
previous census, the Alaska Redistricting Board spent $7.5
million which included money for a lawsuit. The board was
concerned with having to make an additional request. The
board was also asking that the request extend into FY 23.
The request had not been accepted by the subcommittee and
would be taken up by the full committee.
Representative LeBon thought Co-Chair Foster's response
made sense. He asked if the Alaska Redistricting Board
would need more time, as the date was extended a year on
the use of the money. Mr. Fitzgerald responded that the
because of the Covid-19 pandemic, census data had been
delayed. The Alaska Redistricting Board wanted to make sure
to have a viable map. The extension would weigh heavily on
the deadlines the board needed to meet in order to complete
its duties before the 2022 election.
Representative Edgmon indicated that the Alaska
Redistricting Board had 30 days after receipt of census
data to put together a draft plan. The board would have 90
days to put together a plan that would have an even higher
likelihood of being challenged. He reported that a
challenge was expected in state and federally because of
the U.S. Census Bureau's collection of census data. The
additional $1 million was much smaller than the $7 million
10 years prior and would be used to provide counsel to fend
off any potential litigation. It was a significantly
different litigation atmosphere than ten years prior.
Co-Chair Foster indicated the committee had concluded all
of its subcommittee reports.
HB 69 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 71 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| House Finance Subcommittee Closeout Reports Link.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2021 1:30:00 PM |