Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
04/04/2022 01:00 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB229 | |
| SB168 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 229 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 307 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 4, 2022
1:42 p.m.
1:42:43 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Merrick called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:42 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Kelly Merrick, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Sara Rasmussen
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative DeLena Johnson
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Andy Josephson, Sponsor; Senator Robert
Meyers, Sponsor.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Kerry Thomas, Director, Postsecondary Education Operations,
Department of Education and Early Development; Andy Mills,
Legislative Liaison, Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities.
SUMMARY
HB 229 ALASKA HIGHER EDUCATION INVESTMENT FUND
CSHB 229(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with
six "do pass" recommendations and four "no
recommendation" recommendations and with one new
fiscal impact note from the Department of
Education and Early Development and one new
indeterminate fiscal note from the Office of the
Governor/Fund Capitalization.
HB 307 EXTEND BOND AUTH FOR INTERIOR ENERGY PROJ
HB 307 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.
SB 168 DONATIONS/GIFTS FOR DOT&PF SIGNAGE
SB 168 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
Co-Chair Merrick reviewed the meeting agenda.
HOUSE BILL NO. 229
"An Act relating to the Alaska higher education
investment fund; and relating to the Alaska Student
Loan Corporation."
1:43:27 PM
Co-Chair Merrick noted that the bill had been previously
heard and no amendments had been received by her office.
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.
1:44:16 PM
AT EASE
1:47:02 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Merrick asked the department to review the fiscal
note.
KERRY THOMAS, DIRECTOR, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION OPERATIONS,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT (via
teleconference), reviewed the fiscal note with the control
code cxzuG. The fiscal note included a funding request for
personal services to provide additional funds for half-time
accounting position. The note also included [Department of
Law] legal fees, audit fees, and a one-time legal cost to
establish the Higher Education Investment Fund under the
Alaska Student Loan Corporation.
1:48:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON, SPONSOR, thought the
committee could zero out the fiscal note. He believed the
expenses shown in the note were excessive. He stated that
the bill was well vetted and was in cooperation with the
University of Alaska. He elaborated that the bill offered
and afforded the greatest protection from a sweep for the
Higher Education Investment Fund. He encouraged passage of
the bill.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to REPORT CSHB 229(EDC) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 229(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with six "do
pass" recommendations and four "no recommendation"
recommendations and with one new fiscal impact note from
the Department of Education and Early Development and one
new indeterminate fiscal note from the Office of the
Governor/Fund Capitalization.
1:50:20 PM
AT EASE
1:51:28 PM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 168
"An Act relating to program receipts; and relating to
the acceptance of gifts, donations, and grants for the
purpose of providing signage for assets under the
control of the Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities."
1:51:33 PM
Co-Chair Merrick noted the committee had previously heard
the identical companion bill.
SENATOR ROBERT MEYERS, SPONSOR, introduced the bill. He
relayed that the bill included identical language to HB
296, which had been heard by the committee the previous
week. He explained that the bill would provide a new avenue
for funding commemorative naming projects by allowing
receipt authority for the Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities to enable the department to collect
donations for signage. The bill did not require costs to be
paid by outside groups but helped to codify a process that
would not be reliant on state funds. The bill was less
about policy and more about codifying process and timing.
1:52:41 PM
Co-Chair Merrick OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.
1:53:00 PM
Co-Chair Merrick asked the department to review the fiscal
note.
ANDY MILLS, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES (via teleconference),
reviewed the zero fiscal note with the control code dkycm.
He detailed that the language of the bill sought to provide
a [funding] method option for future naming legislation. He
explained that a future bill would be required to produce
an associated fiscal note. The process included in SB 168
outlined the method a future [naming] bill would use. He
elaborated that future naming legislation could outline
that statutory designated program receipts would be
collected and used to pay for the legislation.
Senator Meyers thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
Co-Chair Merrick set an amendment deadline for Wednesday at
6:00 p.m.
SB 168 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Merrick reviewed the schedule for the following
day.
ADJOURNMENT
1:55:59 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 p.m.