04/16/2003 09:04 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 75(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)                                                                   
     "An  Act  making appropriations   for the  operating  and  loan                                                            
     program  expenses of  state government,  for certain  programs,                                                            
     and to capitalize  funds; and providing for an effective date."                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 76(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."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Offnet public testimony                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ROGER JENKINS  testified via teleconference  from an offnet  site in                                                            
Nikolai to suggest a wholesale sales tax.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
FRANK  KELTY, Resource  Analyst,  City  of Unalaska,  testified  via                                                            
teleconference  from an offnet location regarding  the Department of                                                            
Public Safety  patrol vessels and  the areas they oversee.  He spoke                                                            
to the importance of the fisheries these vessels protect.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
RICK KINGIKOWSKY, Member,  Unalaska City School Board, testified via                                                            
teleconference from an  offnet location in Unalaska about reductions                                                            
to education funding.  He asserted that school districts  across the                                                            
State  have   made  significant  efforts   to  meet  accountability                                                             
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GEORGE HILLER  testified via teleconference from an  offnet location                                                            
in Central to the importance  of the Power Cost Equalization program                                                            
to rural  residents.  He warned of  the consequences  of failing  to                                                            
subsidize the program.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ANDY DURNY, Employee, City  of Nulatto, testified via teleconference                                                            
from  an offnet  site  in  Nulatto  that permanent  fund  should  be                                                            
utilized for state  services rather than paying annual  dividends to                                                            
state residents.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
DR. MICHAEL DICKENS,  Superintendent, Skagway City  School District,                                                            
testified via  teleconference from  an offnet site in Skagway  about                                                            
the budget for  education and the impact reduced funding  would have                                                            
on students.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Taylor  asked if the witness's suggestion  is to include the                                                            
Learning  Opportunity  Grants  (LOG)  in  the education   foundation                                                            
formula.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Dr. Dickens agreed this was an option.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
This concluded the public testimony for these bills.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Wilken ordered the bill HELD in Committee.