Legislature(2013 - 2014)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/28/2014 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB266 || HB267 | |
| SB168 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 266 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 267 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 266(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs, capitalizing funds, and making
reappropriations; and providing for an effective
date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 267(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."
9:18:38 AM
AT EASE
9:24:52 AM
RECONVENED
9:25:17 AM
Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 2 (copy on file):
DEPARTMENT: Fund Capitalization
APPROPRIATION: Fund Capitalization (No approp out)
ALLOCATION: Trauma Care Fund
ADD: $1,000,000 UOF (1004) as a new language
subsection under FUND CAPITALIZATION
(xx) The sum of$1,000,000 is appropriated from
the general fund to the Trauma Care Fund (AS
18.0S.0S5(a)). It is the intent of the
legislature that the Department of Health and
Social Services develop a trauma care fund grant
application process that includes a list of pre-
approved uses in the application for trauma care
funding.
Co-Chair Meyer OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Olson explained AMENDMENT 2.
Co-Chair Kelly asked for a description of the fund.
JAMES ARMSTRONG, STAFF, SENATOR PETE KELLY, stated that the
fund was capitalized when needed.
Co-Chair Meyer REMOVED his objection. There being NO
OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 2 was adopted.
Senator Dunleavy MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 3 (copy on file).
Co-Chair Kelly OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Dunleavy explained AMENDMENT 3. He stated that the
amendment would reduce unrestricted general fund (UGF)
spending by $3.381 million across all agencies including
the governor's office, legislature, and courts. The amount
of the unallocated reduction was equal to 12.5 percent of
agencies (UGF) portion of travel. Departments would have
the flexibility to reduce their budgets where most
appropriate.
Co-Chair Kelly asked why the documentation was necessary.
Mr. Armstrong explained that the document outlined the most
appropriate way to equally distribute a 12.5 percent
reduction. He noted that the second column to the right
showed some funds that were added since the subcommittee
process.
Co-Chair Kelly stressed that, without the document, the
legislation would not provide an equal distribution of
travel reduction.
Co-Chair Kelly REMOVED his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 3 was adopted.
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 4.
Amend the SALARY AND BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS subsections
(a) and (b) as follows:
SALARY AND BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS. (a) The operating
budget appropriations made in sec. 1 of this Act
include amounts for salary and benefit
adjustments for public officials, officers, and
employees of the executive branch, Alaska Court
System employees, employees of the legislature,
and legislators and to implement the terms for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, of the
following ongoing collective bargaining
agreements:
(1) Public Employees Local 71, for the
labor, trades and crafts unit;
(2) Teachers' Education Association of Mt.
Edgecumbe;
(3) Alaska Correctional Officers
Association, representing the correctional
officers unit;
(4) Confidential Employees Association, for
the confidential unit;
(5) Alaska Public Employees Association, for
the supervisory unit;
(6) Alaska State Employees Association, for
the general government unit;
(7) Public Safety Employees Association;
(8) Alaska Vocational Technical Center
Teacher's Unit.
(b) The operating budget appropriations made to
the University of Alaska in sec. 1 of this Act
include amounts for salary and benefit
adjustments for the fiscal year ending June 30,
2015, for university employees who are not
members of a collective bargaining unit and to
implement the terms for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2015, of the following collective
bargaining agreements:
(1) University of Alaska Federation of
Teachers;
(2) Fairbanks Firefighters Union, IAFF Local
1324;
(3) United Academics -American Association
of University Professors, American
Federation of Teachers;
(4) United Academic -Adjuncts -American
Association of University Professors,
American Federation of Teachers;
(5) Alaska Higher Education Crafts and
Trades Employees, Local 6070.
EXPLANATION:
F our collective bargaining union agreements have been
reached that are not yet included in the Senate
operating budget.
Alaska Vocational Technical Center Teacher's Unit
DEPARTMENT: Labor and Workforce Development
APPROPRIATION: Alaska Vocational Technical Center
ALLOCATION: Alaska Vocational Technical Center
ADD: $26,100 General Fund (1004) $1,700 Interagency
Receipts (1007) $2,800 Statutory Designated Program
Receipts (1108)
Public Safety Employees Association
DEPARTMENT: Public Safety APPROPRIATION: Various
ALLOCATION: Various
ADD: $510,500 General Fund (1004)
$3,500 General Fund Program Receipts (1005)
$9,700 Capital Improvement Project Receipts (1061)
600 Interagency Receipts (1007)
$3,400 Federal Receipts (1002)
DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Public Facilities
APPROPRIATION: Various ALLOCATION: Various
ADD: $73,100 International Airport Revenue Fund (1027)
$4,800 Federal Receipts (1002)
University of Alaska and United Academic -Adjuncts -
American Association of University Professors,
American Federation of Teachers
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska
APPROPRIATION: University of Alaska
ALLOCATION: Budget Reductions/Additions -System wide
ADD: $174,800 General Fund (1004) $174,800 University
Receipts (1048)
Alaska Higher Education Crafts and Trades Employees,
Local 6070
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska
APPROPRIATION: University of Alaska
ALLOCATION: Budget Reductions/ Additions -System wide
ADD: $279,900 General Fund (1004) $279,900 University
Receipts (1048)
Further explanation of agreements:
The following collective bargaining unions have
reached agreements for FY2015 through FY2017:
Alaska Vocational Technical Center Teacher's Unit:
FY2015 -1 percent Cost of living Adjustment
FY2016 -1 percent Cost of living Adjustment
FY2017 -1 percent Cost of living Adjustment
Health insurance will be provided for the economy
plan which is $1,371/month for FY2015, a
reduction of $18 per employee per month. These
reductions off-sets the FY2015 cost of living
adjustment costs.
Public Safety Employees Association:
FY2015 -1 percent Cost of living Adjustment
FY2016 -1 percent Cost of living Adjustment
FY2017 -2 percent Cost of living Adjustment
Health insurance will be provided for the economy
plan which is $1,371/month for FY2015, a
reduction of$18 per employee per month. These
reduction off-sets the FY2015 cost of living
adjustment costs.
University of Alaska and United Academic -Adjuncts -
American Association of University Professors,
American Federation of Teachers:
A tentative agreement between was reached on
February 18, 2014 and includes a rate increase
based on the number of semesters taught at the
University of Alaska:
0-5 years 1 percent
6-11 years 2 percent
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Mr. Armstrong explained the amendment.
Vice-Chair Fairclough spoke to the contracts that were just
adopted. She appreciated those that had entered into the
bargaining agreements, and understood that the state could
not sustain continued increases.
9:30:34 AM
Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 5.
DEPARTMENT: Health and Social Services
APPROPRIATION: Public Health
ALLOCATION: Health Planning and Systems Development
ADD: $370,000 UOF (1004)
EXPLANATION:
The Senate Subcommittee reduced $1.2 million of
UGF for the SHARP Program in FY15. Since the
closeout, updated information has been received
indicating that this cut will result in a
reduction of funding needed to pay for existing
contracts. The CS version "E" restored $615,500,
but the program is still short $584,500. This
amendment when combined with the increase in the
Finance CS version "E" restores $985,500 of the
reduction and ensures that the state funds
existing contracts. With the change in the CS and
this amendment, the net reduction to the program
in FY15 is $214,500.
Co-Chair Kelly OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Olson explained the amendment.
Co-Chair Kelly felt that the amendment was a positive
response to public testimony.
Senator Olson remarked that the program was extremely
important.
Co-Chair Kelly REMOVED his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 5 was adopted.
9:32:33 AM
Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 6.
DEPARTMENT: Health and Social Services
APPROPRIATION: Behavioral Health
ALLOCATION: Community Action Prevention & Intervention
Grants
ADD: $370,000 UGF (1004), One-time funding
ADD INTENT: It is the intent of the legislature
that the appropriation to the Municipality of
Anchorage for the Alaska Domestic Violence
Intervention Project is one-time funding which
will provide the resources necessary to bridge
program operations until January 1,2015 when
funding is expected to become available to them
through other funding sources. It is also the
intent of the legislature that the Alaska
Domestic Violence Intervention Project secure
other funding for ongoing operations, with no
additional funding to be provided by the
legislature.
EXPLANATION:
This amendment adds one-time funding for a grant
to the Municipality of Anchorage for the Alaska
Domestic Violence Intervention Project.
Co-Chair Kelly OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Olson explained the amendment.
Co-Chair Kelly REMOVED his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 6 was adopted.
Senator Bishop MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 7.
AMEND THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE SECTION:
Sec. IS. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
(e) If any portion of the federal receipts
appropriated to the Department of Natural
Resources for division of forestry wild land
firefighting crews is not received, that amount
is appropriated from the general fund to the
Department of Natural Resources, fire suppression
preparedness [ACTIVITY], for the purpose of
paying costs of the division of forestry wild
land firefighting crews for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2015.
EXPLANATION: This amendment corrects the
allocation name in the above language section.
Co-Chair Kelly OBJECTED for discussion.
Senator Bishop explained the amendment.
Co-Chair Kelly REMOVED his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 8 was adopted.
9:34:20 AM
AT EASE
9:44:31 AM
RECONVENED
9:44:41 AM
Co-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT AMENDMENT 8.
Page 61, line 3, following "DEVELOPMENT.":
Insert "(a)"
Page 61, line 4:
Delete "$24,999,999"
Insert "$100,000,000"
Page 61, following line 7:
Insert new subsections to read:
"(b) The sum of $100,000,000 is appropriated
from the general fund to the Department of
Education and Early Development to be
distributed as state aid to districts for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016,
according to the average daily membership
for each district adjusted under AS
14.l7.41O(b)(l )(A)-(d) for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2016.
(c) It is the intent of the legislature that
the appropriations made in subsections (a)
And (b) will allow the Alaska public school
system to maintain operations at a level
sufficient to educate children and will
provide time for all stakeholders to work
with the legislature to identify innovative
approaches and possible consolidation of
services that will, over time, lower costs
while maintaining a quality education
system. It is also the intent of the
legislature that this increased funding will
serve as a bridge to develop a plan and
identify solutions to implement these
changes in an effort to recalibrate
individual district budget spending levels
to the 2014 fiscal year spending levels.
Co-Chair Meyer OBJECTED for discussion.
Co-Chair Kelly explained the amendment.
Co-Chair Meyer REMOVED his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, AMENDMENT 8 was adopted.
Co-Chair Kelly told Senator Hoffman that he was added as a
sponsor of the amendment.
Senator Hoffman expressed support of the amendment, and
remarked that many Alaskans were concerned with education.
Co-Chair Kelly thanked the individuals who had helped with
the operating budget development process.
Mr. Armstrong stated that the technical motions would be
available on the Legislative Finance Division website.
Co-Chair Kelly felt that the budget acknowledged that
education was important to the state.
9:50:58 AM
AT EASE
9:51:42 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Kelly announced that the reduction in the budget
related to day-to-day agency operations.
Co-Chair Meyer thanked the committee for the work on the
operating budget.
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to REPORT SCS CSHB 266(FIN) as amended
out of committee with individual recommendations, and
instructed legislative legal and legislative finance to
make the necessary technical and conforming changes There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Meyer MOVED to REPORT SCS CSHB 267(FIN) as amended
out of committee with individual recommendations, and
instructed legislative legal and legislative finance to
make the necessary technical and conforming changes. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Kelly expressed gratitude for the work of the
committee.
SCS CSHB 266(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do
pass" recommendation.
SCS CSHB 267(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with a "do
pass" recommendation.
9:55:11 AM
RECESS
2:41:14 PM
RECONVENED