Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
04/07/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB214 | |
| HB64 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 214 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE BILL NO. 214
"An Act authorizing the Department of Environmental
Conservation to award grants for the control of air
emissions or the development and administration of air
quality control programs; and providing for an
effective date."
Co-Chair Hawker commented that HB 214 resulted from
conversations of the economic stimulus package. He explained
that $2 million could be available to the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) for grant awards for air
emissions development and air quality control programs. The
Department of Environmental Conservation has had limited
participation in the program in the past. The new stimulus
money creates a competitive grant program that would extend
to municipalities. House Bill 214 provides the generic
authority to issue grants, subject to appropriation.
2:26:59 PM
Representative Austerman noted that HB 214 also provides the
department with blanket authority when necessary.
Representative Kelly read from the sponsor statement, "The
authority is needed so that DEC can distribute funds
available through the Air Quality Grant-Diesel Emission
Reduction program in the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (AARA) of 2009." He believed there to be an
inconsistency between the bill and sponsor statement.
2:28:23 PM
Co-Chair Hawker acknowledged that the wording could be
clarified. He explained that authority is necessary for the
department to distribute funds through the stimulus package,
but the authority is not limited to the package.
Representative Kelly maintained that the language was
inconsistent.
2:29:15 PM
ALICE EDWARDS, ACTING DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY,
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIORMENTAL CONSERVATION, testified via
teleconference, that the legislation authorizes the Division
of Air Quality to award grants related to air quality
control programs to communities and others entities. The
statutory authority could be used for sub-grant funding
received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The
department receives EPA grant funds for programs and
projects to reduce air pollutants from emissions of diesel
engines. The new authority allows the division to grant
funds to municipalities for local diesel emission reduction
programs. She remarked that directly funding local programs
and projects through the granting program would be
efficient, and allow more flexibility in distribution of
funds to Alaska's communities.
2:31:03 PM
Representative Fairclough asked if the division would create
a new position to oversee the broadened authority. Ms.
Edwards replied no.
Representative Kelly asked how the cases are currently
handled. Ms. Edwards remarked that the division looked into
agreements with other state agencies for different projects,
exploring the use of the procurement process to distribute
funds, she emphasized that the granting process would be
more efficient.
2:32:04 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony.
Representative Kelly questioned if the $2 million in
stimulus funds was contingent on the passing of the
legislation.
2:33:13 PM
Representative Co-Chair Hawker replied that the Office of
Management and Budget with the Department of Environmental
Conservation have identified the program as a statutory
necessity.
2:33:42 PM
MARIT CARLSON VAN DORT, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE
COMMISSIONER, LEGISLATIVE LIASON, DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, reiterated that the additional
granting authority is needed to best use the stimulus funds.
She added that the funds could be distributed through other
methods, but this method would be the most efficient.
Representative Kelly expressed his desire that the bill be
limited to the purpose identified in the sponsor statement.
2:35:43 PM
Representative Fairclough questioned the possibility of
limiting the authority to ARRA 2009 funding rather than
giving total grant authority. She believed there would be
cost to the state to rewrite regulations for grant giving
authority. She wondered if the state would be in compliance
if it only allowed the granting of the ARRA 2009 money, as
opposed to the full amount. Co-Chair Hawker explained that
after discussions with the involved departments, it was felt
that continued authority was necessary for the existing
program to operate more efficiently.
Representative Fairclough asked Ms. Edwards how the grant
process is currently run, without the grant authority. Ms.
Edwards explained that the grant program is new. She listed
several entities that the department has been working with.
2:38:52 PM
Representative Fairclough requested a dollar amount. Ms.
Edwards reported that the initial grant for the program was
$295,000. Representative Fairclough asked how long the
program had been in existence. Ms. Edwards replied that the
first grant was received in the fall of 2008.
2:39:31 PM
Representative Kelly maintained his concern in granting the
department more authority. He questioned the level of
importance, at this time, of allowing the department ongoing
authority when deciding the use of the stimulus dollars.
2:40:12 PM AT EASE
2:40:48 PM RECONVENED
Co-Chair Hawker entered into record an email from the
Division of Administrative Services with the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) (copy on file.) The
language in this bill is exactly verbatim as requested by
ADEC concerning the grant authority. He stressed the
importance of committee support of the bill.
Representative Kelly understood that DEC needed the
authority to issue the stimulus money. His concern was with
the request for additional authority. He wondered if
language could be written into the bill to limit the
department's grant authority to the stimulus dollars.
2:42:15 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas remarked that often small villages are out
of compliance and cannot receive grant applications. The
bill would allow rural communities to work through DEC to
obtain grant monies. He believed that allowing the
department the grant authority would be beneficial to rural
village communities.
2:43:46 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze reported on the zero fiscal note attached
to the bill.
Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to report HB 214 out of Committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
Representative Kelly OBJECTED.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Crawford, Fairclough, Joule, Salmon, Thomas,
Austerman, Stoltze, Hawker
OPPOSED: Foster, Kelly
Representative Gara was absent from the vote.
The MOTION PASSED (8-2).
HB 214 was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note from the
Department of Environmental Conservation.
2:45:35 PM
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Article on Gift Cards.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| HB214 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 214 |
| Newspaper Artcle.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| Legislative research report.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| HB64 Sponsor Statement.PDF |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| HB64 Sectional Analysis.PDF |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| HB64 NFIB Letter to Rep Gatto.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 64 |
| HB214-DEC-AQ-4-3-09.pdf |
HFIN 4/7/2009 1:30:00 PM |
HB 214 |