Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

05/09/2024 04:15 PM House CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB268 AND HB270

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04:19:36 PM Start
04:48:38 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN)                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     loan  program  expenses  of state  government  and  for                                                                    
     certain   programs;   capitalizing   funds;   repealing                                                                    
     appropriations;    amending   appropriations;    making                                                                    
     supplemental  appropriations and  reappropriations; and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 268(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     loan  program  expenses  of state  government  and  for                                                                    
     certain   programs;    capitalizing   funds;   amending                                                                    
     appropriations; making  supplemental appropriations and                                                                    
     reappropriations;  and   providing  for   an  effective                                                                    
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
and                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270(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."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 270(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."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:21:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following within the                                                                      
Department of Administration (DOA):                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Item 2         House minus $50 thousand UGF                                                                                
     Item 3         House                                                                                                       
     Item 4         Senate, Change to a Temporary Increment                                                                     
                    for  the fiscal years 25 through 27                                                                         
     Item 5         Senate minus $250 thousand UGF, Change                                                                      
                    to a Temporary Increment for the fiscal                                                                     
                    years 25 through 27                                                                                         
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 7         Senate, Change to a Temporary Increment                                                                     
                    for  the  fiscal years 25 through 27                                                                        
     Item 8         House, both items                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action                                                                        
closed the conference-able items in the Department of                                                                           
Administration's budget.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT   OF    COMMERCE,   COMMUNITY,    AND   ECONOMIC                                                                  
DEVELOPMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:22:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the                                                                          
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development                                                                      
(DCCED):                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         House                                                                                                       
     Item 2         House minus $150 thousand UGF                                                                               
     Item 3         House                                                                                                       
     Item 4         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 5         Senate minus $200 thousand UGF                                                                              
     Item 6         House                                                                                                       
     Item 7         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 9         House, modify to add intent                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson read the intent language into the                                                                            
record:                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     It is  the intent  of the  legislature that  the Alaska                                                                    
     Gasline  Development   Corporation  continue   to  work                                                                    
     towards meeting  the critical energy needs  of Alaskans                                                                    
     by advancing  a pipeline  project proposal  which would                                                                    
     deliver North Slope natural  gas to Alaska's utilities,                                                                    
     businesses, and  homeowners. Further, it is  the intent                                                                    
     of the legislature that  the Alaska Gasline Development                                                                    
     Corporation complete an  independent third-party review                                                                    
     of a  project proposal  that would  commercialize North                                                                    
     Slope gas and present  that analysis to the legislature                                                                    
     by December 20,  2024. It is the further  intent of the                                                                    
     legislature that if analysis  shows a positive economic                                                                    
     value  to  the state,  all  parties  would work  toward                                                                    
     Front  End Engineering  and  Design for  Phase  1 of  a                                                                    
     pipeline project.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Item 10        House                                                                                                       
     Item 11        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 14        Open                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  conference-able  items  1   through  7,  item  9  as                                                                    
modified, items 10 and 11, and  item 14 in the Department of                                                                    
Commerce, Community,  and Economic Development    budget and                                                                    
left open items 4, 11, and 14.b.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:24:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the                                                                          
Department of Corrections (DOC):                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 7         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 8         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 9         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 10        Senate minus $1.98 million UGF on the                                                                       
                    first line,                                                                                                 
             Senate plus $1.98 million Federal                                                                                  
                    Receipts  on the second line                                                                                
     Item 11        Senate                                                                                                      
     Items 12-25    Open                                                                                                        
     Item 26        Senate plus $450 thousand UGF                                                                               
     Item 27        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 28        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 30        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 31        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 32        Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson restated Item 10.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:26:11 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:26:42 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz WITHDREW his OBJECTION.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson re-read Item 10.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz asked if the  net effect of Item 10 was                                                                    
based on  the understanding  that there were  enough federal                                                                    
receipts to cover the item, or  if the funding would have to                                                                    
be made up in the supplemental budget.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:27:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALEXEI  PAINTER,  DIRECTOR,  LEGISLATIVE  FINANCE  DIVISION,                                                                    
explained that  historically the amount of  federal receipts                                                                    
the state had received was  just shy of $8 million, however,                                                                    
the United  States Marshals Service had  stopped reimbursing                                                                    
the state for  prisoners that had a joint  state and federal                                                                    
hold.  The Department  of Corrections  was working  with the                                                                    
federal government to  try and come to a  new agreement. The                                                                    
Senate  position had  been to  replace half  of the  federal                                                                    
receipts affected  by the policy change  with General Funds.                                                                    
The  Conference  Committee  action   ended  up  replacing  a                                                                    
quarter of the  funds, so depending upon the  outcome of the                                                                    
negotiations,  the amount  could  be sufficient  or not.  He                                                                    
understood that the negotiations were ongoing.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz WITHDREW his  OBJECTION. There being NO                                                                    
further  OBJECTION, it  was so  ordered. This  action closed                                                                    
conference-able  items 6  through 11,  items 26  through 28,                                                                    
and items  30 through 32  in the Department  of Corrections'                                                                    
budget and left open items 12 through 25.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:29:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED):                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 5         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 6         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 7         House minus $500 thousand UGF                                                                               
     Item 8         House minus $500 thousand, change fund                                                                      
                    source to UGF                                                                                               
     Item 9         Senate minus $600 thousand UGF                                                                              
     Item 10        House minus $750 thousand UGF                                                                               
     Item 13        Senate                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz  spoke to  Item  6.  He asked  if  Mr.                                                                    
Painter  could explain  the  impact of  Item  6. He  thought                                                                    
there would be impact to the  Alaska Food Bank or the Alaska                                                                    
Childrens Trust.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter  explained that Item  5 was funding, and  Item 6                                                                    
was associated  intent language for students  that currently                                                                    
received  reduced-price  school   lunches.  The  item  would                                                                    
provide additional funding  to make the lunches  free to the                                                                    
students. The  funding had been  added through  an amendment                                                                    
in the House. He explained  that by taking the Senate number                                                                    
for the item the lunches would be at a reduced cost.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz asked  if the item made  it more likely                                                                    
or less likely  that there would be  resources available for                                                                    
students to receive lunch through the program.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter  explained that the  item would affect  how much                                                                    
students would  pay for  lunches. The  item did  not address                                                                    
the  amount of  federal  funds going  to  schools but  would                                                                    
signify that  the students  would have to  pay a  portion of                                                                    
the cost.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:31:40 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:31:51 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Rep Ortiz clarified  that Item 6 was an item  of interest to                                                                    
a member in the House. He  asked if the intent of the member                                                                    
was  to  make sure  that  the  program  was funded  so  that                                                                    
students could receive lunch. He  asked if the item impacted                                                                    
the intent he described in any way.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Painter  explained that  if  there  were students  that                                                                    
could  not afford  the  reduced cost,  the  lack of  funding                                                                    
would mean the student could not afford the lunch.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz MAINTAINED his OBJECTION.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:33:05 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:34:35 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman favored  a   yea  vote  on  the motion  to                                                                    
adopt Item 6.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Item 6.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Hoffman, Edgemon, Stedman, Johnson                                                                                    
OPPOSED: Olson, Ortiz                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (4/2).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Rep. Ortiz expressed concern about  Item 5, which he thought                                                                    
was connected  to Item  6. He asked  Mr. Painter  to address                                                                    
how the two items were connected.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter explained that Item  5 concerned funding to make                                                                    
the  lunches  free   for  the  students,  and   Item  6  was                                                                    
associated intent language asking  for reporting on how many                                                                    
students were affected.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz asked  if even  though he  objected to                                                                    
Item 6, the vote concerned Item 5.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter noted that Item 5 related to the funding.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:36:29 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:37:58 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz OBJECTED to the ADOPTION of Item 5.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman favored a yea vote on the motion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to ADOPT Item 5.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Edgemon, Hoffman, Johnson, Stedman                                                                                    
OPPOSED: Ortiz, Olson                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION PASSED (4/2).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This                                                                       
action closed the conference-able items in the Department                                                                       
of Education and Early Development's budget.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:39:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the                                                                          
Department of Family and Community Services:                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Item 5         House                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This     action                                                                    
closed the conference-able items in the Department of                                                                           
Family and Community Services' budget.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:40:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT the following in the                                                                          
Department of Health (DOH):                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Item 3         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 5         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 7         Open                                                                                                        
     Item 10        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 11        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 12        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 13        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 15        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 16        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 17        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 18        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 19        Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 20        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 21        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 22        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 25        Open                                                                                                        
     Item 27-32     Open                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed conference-able  item 12,  and items 15    19  in the                                                                    
Department of  Health's budget and  leaves open items  3, 5,                                                                    
7, 10, 11, 13, items 20    22, item 25, and items 27 through                                                                    
32.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:41:55 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:42:05 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman clarified  that  under  the Department  of                                                                    
health, open items included Items  20 through 22 rather than                                                                    
Items 12 through 22.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF LAW                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:42:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Law:                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Item 2         Open                                                                                                             
Item 4         Open                                                                                                             
Item 18        House                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed conference-able  item 18  in the Department  of Law's                                                                    
budget and leaves open items 2 and 4.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:43:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Item 1         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 2         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 3         House, all items                                                                                            
     Item 4         Senate                                                                                                      
     Item 5         House                                                                                                       
     Item 6         House                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closes  the  conference-able  items  in  the  Department  of                                                                    
Military and Veterans' Affairs' budget.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
^DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:43:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Johnson  MOVED to  ADOPT  the  following in  the                                                                    
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT):                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Items 1 and 2       Open                                                                                                   
     Item 5              House                                                                                                  
     Items 6-10          Open                                                                                                   
     Item 13             Open                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being  NO OBJECTION,  it was  so ordered.  This action                                                                    
closed  conference-able   item  5   in  the   Department  of                                                                    
Transportation and  Public Facilities' budget and  left open                                                                    
items 1, 2, items 6 through 10, and item 13.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:44:39 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:46:44 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson revisited the  items from the Department of                                                                    
Corrections. She explained that Item  12 through Item 21 and                                                                    
items 24 through Item 25 remained open.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman made note of  the clarification and relayed                                                                    
that the  action closed conference-able items  6 through 11,                                                                    
items 26 through  28, and items 30 through 32.  It left open                                                                    
items 12 through 21, and items 24 and 25.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:47:35 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:47:55 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed future conference committee                                                                          
action and noted that future meetings would be posted as                                                                        
scheduled and noticed under the 24-hour rule.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADJOURN. There being NO                                                                               
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                

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