Legislature(2001 - 2002)
05/03/2001 06:08 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 234-TOBACCO SETTLEM'T:BONDS & SMOKING PROGRAM
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that a proposed Senate Hess Committee
substitute was before the committee.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to adopt SCS CSHB 234(HES), Version R, as the
working document of the committee.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN explained that SCS CSHB 234(HES) contains language
in Section 2 that allows the legislature to appropriate money to
the tobacco use education and cessation fund. Regarding the list
of projects, the House bill funds two school construction projects,
14 major maintenance projects, the University of Alaska Southeast
(UAS) Egan classroom building, the Ketchikan tech remodel, the
University of Alaska (UA) center for $13 million and the Fairbanks
museum expansion. The Senate Hess version funds two school
construction projects and 27 major maintenance projects, the UAS
Egan classroom building, the Ketchikan tech remodel, the Mat-Su
Ortner building and the Fairbanks museum expansion. The savings
from changing from the UA center to the Mat-Su Ortner building is
about $12.5 million. That money will be used to fund the
additional major maintenance projects. The bills are identical in
the lists of ports and harbor projects.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN announced that with no objection, the motion
carried.
SENATOR LEMAN noted that Chairwoman Green stated that the money
from the UA center will be used for more maintenance projects. He
clarified that the House version was amended on the floor so that
the money for that UA project was for the purchase and remodel of
facilities, not specifically for the UA center.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if the amount for the schools listed on page 4
is the total amount of each project or the state's 70 percent
reimbursement amount. He said he is asking because the version
that passed from the House Finance Committee (Version B.A) has a
lower number.
Number 190
MR. JERRY BURNETT, staff to Senator Green, clarified that SCS CSHB
234(HES) should have the same numbers as the version of SB 94 that
passed out of the Senate HESS Committee.
SENATOR WILKEN commented that the Finance Committee can look into
that question.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if the total cost of the bill is now more or
less than the amount started with.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN answered it is the same.
SENATOR LEMAN said he is aware of the need for renovations at the
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) medical laboratory, which will
cost $600,000. He moved to insert $600,000 into the bill for the
medical laboratory at the UAA campus.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN asked if that project is on the University's list
of projects.
SENATOR LEMAN said he did not know.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN pointed out the additional project added to the
list was from the UA's list of priorities.
SENATOR LEMAN said he would investigate that further in the Senate
Finance Committee.
SENATOR WARD asked if the funding source for this bill is tobacco
settlement money.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said she believes that is correct.
SENATOR WARD commented the purpose of the tobacco settlement and
tobacco tax money is to stop youth from smoking, not for ports and
museum expansions. He asked if this bill requires a vote of the
people.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN said it does not. She commented that a fund will
be created and the money will be appropriated as each legislature
decides.
SENATOR LEMAN indicated that he is not excited about this funding
method for school projects but he is in favor of the projects so he
will not object to moving this bill from committee.
CHAIRWOMAN GREEN stated that she believes it is important that this
bill be part of the package that is under consideration for the
final budget close-out.
SENATOR LEMAN moved SCS CSHB 234(HES) from committee with
individual recommendations and its attached fiscal note. There
being no objection, the motion carried.
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