Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
04/06/2018 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB285 || HB286 || HB287 | |
| Public Testimony: Juneau | |
| Public Testimony: Barrow, Tok, Delta Junction | |
| Public Testimony: Kenai, Kodiak, Dillingam | |
| Public Testimony: Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 286 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 285 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 287 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 285(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. 286(FIN) am(brf sup maj fld)(efd fld)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; and making supplemental
appropriations."
HOUSE BILL NO. 287(brf sup maj fld)
"An Act making appropriations for public education and
transportation of students; and providing for an
effective date."
9:08:54 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman announced that amendments would be due the
following Monday.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: JUNEAU
9:10:54 AM
TAMMY JABLONSKI, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
recidivism reduction services and mental health services.
She had first-hand experience with addiction recovery. She
stressed that the programs required money. She stated that
it was important to understand the addiction driver in
order for the person to return to functioning as a
productive member of society. She felt that without
treatment, the individual would put communities at a public
safety risk. She remarked that the state was in the middle
of an opioid crisis.
9:13:40 AM
PATRICK RYLAND, BEST BEGINNINGS AND SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of early childhood education funding. He stressed
the importance of investing in early childhood education.
He remarked that education before age five resulted in
higher success in communities. He stressed that the
children should benefit from the resources in the state.
9:14:59 AM
JEFFREY SHORT, MEMBER, JUNEAU BOARD OF EDUCATION, JUNEAU,
spoke in support of funding for education. He shared that
since 2008 inflation had reduced the budget by 10 percent,
or $600 per student. He remarked that it had resulted in a
$3 million shortfall in the current budget. He stressed
that those students from disadvantaged homes often
struggled to learn. He stated that those students' grades
were the reason that the overall test scores were low. He
stressed the importance of keeping the budget in line with
inflation. He remarked that investing in education would
save money in corrections and public safety.
9:17:16 AM
GENE RANDALL, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of
education funding, by increasing the Base Student
Allocation (BSA) and instituting an income tax. He stated
that he was a retired teacher. He shared that he had
previously lived in a state with an income tax. He felt
that the state relied too heavily on oil revenue. He
remarked that there was uncertainty about whether there
would be quality teachers in the state. He shared that he
had witnessed many teachers get laid off, because the
legislature may not be willing to commit to education in
the state.
9:20:10 AM
MARK MILLER, SUPERINTENDENT, JUNEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT,
JUNEAU, spoke in support of education funding. He felt that
there should be early funding for education programs. He
understood that the legislature would not end on time.
9:22:16 AM
MARTIN STEPETIN, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of school
funding. He shared that there should be a $100 to the Base
Student Allocation (BSA), so that funding could keep pace
with inflation. He also spoke in support of funding for the
Office of Children's Services (OCS). He also spoke in
support of reinstating the permanent fund dividends (PFDs)
for the Fairbanks Four. He stated that he was testifying
for his family and his children's' future.
9:23:57 AM
BRENDA TAYLOR, JUNEAU STEM COALITION, JUNEAU, testified in
support of education funding.
9:24:15 AM
REBECCA SOZA, JUNEAU STEM COALITION, JUNEAU, shared that
she was a part of the STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math) Coalition. She urged support of a
$100 increase to the BSA, and reinstatement of the one-time
$100,000 to Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED) for STEM education. She stressed that there was a
direct link between education and the economy. She remarked
that the reductions were affecting all aspects of STEM
education. She shared that curriculum materials were
lacking.
9:26:23 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman stressed that BSA legislation was not in
the committee. He stated that the public testimony should
be related to the three budget bills.
9:27:18 AM
BRIANA HELLER, SELF, JUNEAU, shared that she was raising
five children, and a wife to a recovering addict. She spoke
in support of education funding. She stated that there were
many women who were raising children who were not
biologically their children. She stated that many people
were failing their children due to mental illness and
addiction. She stated that she worked with seniors and
disabled people, so she saw that many relied on Medicare.
9:28:51 AM
EMILY THOMPSON, PARENTS AS TEACHER, JUNEAU, spoke in
support of funding for Best Beginnings and Parents as
Teachers. She thanked the committee for their efforts to
fund those programs.
9:29:28 AM
TALEA KELLAR, PARENTS AS TEACHER, JUNEAU, spoke in support
of Parents as Teachers. She shared that there was new
understanding of the impact of trauma in children's lives.
She stated that the Parents as Teachers programs worked
with families to nurture their children. She stated that it
was important for parents to be their children's first
teacher, and understand healthy discipline in high stress
situations.
9:31:09 AM
SARAH SLEDGE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COALITION FOR EDUCATION
EQUITY, ANCHORAGE RESIDENT, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
reliable education funding. She spoke in support of HB 287.
She also testified in support of early childhood education.
She stated that the state had historically overlooked early
childhood education in smaller population districts.
9:33:19 AM
BRIAN HOLST, DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL,
JUNEAU, felt that Alaska's economy needed a stronger
workforce, and therefore spoke in support of education. He
urged the committee to increase the budget for post-
secondary education. He felt that flat-funding for schools
continued to provide less money for schools. He felt that
the K-12 system was strained, because many kindergarten
children were not prepared to enter school.
9:35:27 AM
SALLY DONALDSON, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding
for education. She felt that it was important to educate
children, because they would eventually be the leaders of
the state. She shared that she had worked for thirty years
in education. She stated that she had witnessed increased
and decreased education funding. She remarked that Alaska
used to be rated second in the country in teacher pay but
had dropped to 32 in the last 20 years. She felt that an
increase in the education budget was the most important
move that the legislature could make.
9:38:11 AM
DON HABEGER, COMMUNITY COORDINATOR, JUNEAU REENTRY
COALITION, JUNEAU, spoke in support of partnerships with
Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS) in supporting reentry
programs. He spoke in support of reliable housing,
employment, and treatment services. He remarked that there
should be funding for efforts to reduce recidivism. He
remarked that combatting crime in the state was a multi-
pronged approach. He felt that reducing drug abuse was
essential in reducing crime in the state.
9:40:27 AM
DENISE DANILLO, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING, JUNEAU, spoke
in support of Medicaid services for older Alaskans. She
thanked the committee for funding the Senior Benefits
program. She stated that Alaska had the highest cost of
senior home care in the country.
9:42:19 AM
SEAN EAGAN, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of funding for
education. He stated that there were a large number of
students per classroom, so teachers were overwhelmed with
the high number of work that resulted from the high class
volume. He remarked that the smaller number of students per
classroom would result in a better education. He felt that
shop classes and physics classes were important.
9:44:25 AM
JOSH KEATON, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of education
funding. He hoped that there would be a consideration to
increase the education funding, specifically the BSA. He
felt that the quality of education was the decision of the
legislature. He spoke against the decrease to early
childhood education funding. He stressed that the budget
decreases resulted in larger classrooms. He thanked the
committee for their support.
9:46:41 AM
SANDER SCHIJVENS, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
education funding, specifically the university and K-12
systems.
9:47:17 AM
TARI STAGE-HARVEY, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of
funding for additional staff for the Division of Public
Assistance Field Services. She stated that her church ran a
food program, summer lunch program, and programs for
homeless families. She remarked that she worked with many
struggling people.
9:49:05 AM
EMILY FERRY, SELF, JUNEAU, testified in support of an
increase to education funding. She remarked that flat
funding would be a decrease year after year. She noted that
it would result in layoffs of teachers year after year. She
felt that the state should contribute, so Alaska should be
taxed to fund the services provided by the state. She spoke
in strong support of a broad-based tax, such as an income
tax.
DR. LISA PARADY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COUNCIL OF
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, JUNEAU, testified in support of
education funding. She thanked the committee for carefully
considering the needs of K-12 education. She remarked that
flat-funding of education would be detrimental to schools.
She spoke in support of HB 287, especially in regard to the
forward-funding of education. She hoped that the bill would
move rapidly through the legislative process. She stressed
the importance of timely funding for Alaska schools.
9:53:34 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman thanked the community of Juneau, and the
testimony from the city. He stated that public testimony
could be submitted directly to the Senate Finance
Committee.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: BARROW, TOK, DELTA JUNCTION
9:54:45 AM
MICHAEL JEFFERY, SELF, BARROW (via teleconference), spoke
in support of an income tax. He testified in support of
funding for behavioral health public guardians. He spoke in
support of funding for public defenders. He spoke in
support of public health field services. He also testified
in support of funding for reducing recidivism. He spoke in
support of funding for advance training for social workers.
9:57:07 AM
SALLIE DEMERS, TOK SENIOR CENTER, TOK (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for senior services. She stated
that most senior citizens in Tok depended on the senior
benefit programs. She stressed that senior benefits were a
life source. Due to the backlog of applications and a case
overload her disabled daughter had not received services in
recent months.
9:59:16 AM
JASON TAURIAINEN, KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH SCHOOL BOARD,
KENAI (via teleconference), testified in support of
education funds. He was excited early funding in HB 287 was
moving forward. The early budget would enable schools and
teachers to plan effectively. Early funding would enable
schools to secure teachers as well. Rising healthcare costs
were impacting school budgets. He asked the committee to
consider a BSA increase. He had been upset in the past
about proposed dividend cuts in the past, but he supported
the current plan to use a portion of the Permanent Fund. He
appreciated the legislature's hard work.
10:01:42 AM
JAMES SQUYRES, SELF, RURAL DELTANA (via teleconference),
spoke in opposition to budget increases. He did not believe
forward funding education was necessary if the legislature
completed its budget in 90 days. He supported a full
Permanent Fund Dividend as statutorily required. He
believed the legislature had broken the law the previous
year by not following the statute. He was opposed to SB 26
pertaining to the Permanent Fund. He was appalled that no
one had corrected an erroneous statute pertaining to the
calculation of inflation proofing on the Permanent Fund's
principal rather than the fund corpus. He thought the
legislature was concerned about paying credits to the oil
industry, but it was not concerned with paying the public
back for the unpaid PFD. He did not believe the committee
had the public's best interest at heart.
10:03:56 AM
AT EASE
10:15:59 AM
RECONVENED
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: KENAI, KODIAK, DILLINGAM
10:16:06 AM
Co-Chair Hoffman provided the Senate Finance Committee
email address for written testimony.
PAGE O'CONNELL, SELF, DILLINGHAM (via teleconference),
testified in support of $1.456 million to hire additional
advocates in the Office of Public Advocacy. She discussed
that when a vulnerable adult did not have a person to
assist them they depended on the Office of Public Advocacy
to help with services. She shared that she had seen
individuals land in the Alaska Psychiatric Institute or
jail without consistent family support. Increasing funding
for the Office of Public Advocacy to hire additional
guardians to serve vulnerable Alaskans was critical. High
caseloads meant it took time to get information to support
her clients. She provided a list of benefits and work
conducted by public advocates. The individuals helped
manage finances, crises, maintain safe housing, medical
services, travel, and other. Some of her clients had never
met their guardians who had an instrumental role in their
lives. She implored the committee to add funding for
additional advocates.
10:20:17 AM
FRED STURMAN, SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),
supported additional cuts to the budget. He believed the
cuts had been too minimal and surmised the budget would be
larger than the preceding budget. He had visited a business
the previous day where employees had agreed to take their
third salary cut to avoid layoffs. He remarked that
individuals were leaving Alaska for employment elsewhere.
The city had lost numerous businesses in recent years;
however, the state's budget continued to increase. He
stated there was no way the private sector could keep up
with state spending. He supported closing the Division of
Motor Vehicles (DMV). He thought the governor had only laid
off 80 people. He urged the legislature to quit spending
money.
10:23:15 AM
AT EASE
10:30:04 AM
RECONVENED
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: KETCHIKAN, WRANGELL, PETERSBURG
10:30:14 AM
PAT HOLMES, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
favor of additional funds for education. He relayed that
the first 17 years of statehood the Democrats had
controlled the House and Senate (he referred to himself as
a Wally Hickel Republican); there had been a balanced
budget with consensus and compromise. The priorities had
been education, public safety, fisheries, and
transportation. He thought there should be additional
support from oil. He believed the gasline was a joke; all
of the economist reports he had read stated that the
gasline was not feasible. He appreciated the legislature
trying to find some balance.
10:32:43 AM
GINGER FORTIN, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), echoed
priorities listed by the previous speaker. She supported
funding to support Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)
cross gulf trips in the winter months. She was concerned
about senior benefits and was against cuts to the program.
Additionally, she supported public radio.
10:33:55 AM
MARY DEIHL, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke in
support of AMHS cross gulf service to enable travel between
Southcentral and Southeast with a car. She stated renting a
car in Ketchikan was more expensive than accommodations.
10:34:44 AM
AT EASE
10:47:37 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Hoffman relayed that no additional testifiers had
signed in. He addressed the schedule for the afternoon
meeting.
HB 285 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 286 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 287 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.