Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
04/03/2024 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB268 || HB270 | |
| Amendments | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 307 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 368 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 3, 2024
1:06 p.m.
1:06:24 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Johnson called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Co-Chair
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative DeLena Johnson, Co-Chair
Representative Julie Coulombe
Representative Mike Cronk
Representative Alyse Galvin
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Dan Ortiz
Representative Will Stapp
Representative Frank Tomaszewski
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Alexei Painter, Director, Legislative Finance Division;
Senator Click Bishop; Representative Jesse Sumner;
Representative Mike Prax.
SUMMARY
HB 268 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET; CAP; SUPP; AM
HB 268 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 270 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 270 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
Co-Chair Johnson reviewed the meeting agenda. The committee
would continue to consider amendments to the operating and
mental health budgets.
HOUSE BILL NO. 268
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making capital appropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making reappropriations;
making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c),
Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the
constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for
an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 270
"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."
1:06:24 PM
^AMENDMENTS
Co-Chair Johnson relayed that the committee left off on
Amendment N 71.
1:07:23 PM
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 71 (copy
on file):
Agency: Natural Resources
Appropriation: Administration & Support
Allocation: Mental Health Trust Land Admin
Transaction Details
Title: Delete Funding for Trust Land Office Salary
Increases
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: -55.9
Travel: 14.9
Services: 0.0
Commodities: -4.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1092 MHTAAR -45.0
Explanation
This amendment reverses the pay increase for the
employees at the Department of Natural Resources,
Trust Land Office.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe explained that the amendment
pertained to a salary merit increase within the Department
of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Trust Land Office (TLO).
The amendment was a decrement of $45,000 and would reverse
the pay increase. She highlighted that the TLO personal
services line showed an expenditure of $3.5 million. She
recalled that the office had generated about $11 million
for the trust. She thought the personal services
expenditure was a hefty cost. She highlighted positions
making $317,000, $259,000, $240,000, $200,000, $247,000,
$327,000 within the TLO. She explained that half the money
produced by the TLO went into the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority (AMHTA) and the remainder was used. She was
offering the amendment to make a point that the TLO needed
to keep its operating cost as limited as possible because
it impacted the amount going into the trust and how much
money went towards mental health services in the state.
1:09:44 PM
Representative Ortiz found the salaries listed by
Representative Coulombe to be eye popping. He asked if the
figures included salary only or salary and benefits.
Representative Coulombe responded that the figures included
salary and benefits.
Representative Hannan was in opposition to the amendment.
She stated her understanding that merit increases were
contractual. She thought it was bad precedent to give
demerits to contracted employees based on other policy
issues. She did not support taking away something that was
an expectation when an individual accepted a position. She
considered the argument that she had supported an amendment
[for a decrease] to a specific state employee in another
area. She highlighted that Alaska Gasline Development
Corporation (AGDC) employees were exempt staff with no
contractual pay. She thought the two situations were very
different. She noted that the staff working for the TLO
were DNR employees. She thought it was bad precedent and
practice for lawmakers to make cuts to specific PCNs
[position control numbers] and not others. She remarked
that she had many criticisms of the TLO for a variety of
reasons, but she thought the proposed reduction was a bad
practice.
1:11:45 PM
Representative Cronk opposed the amendment. He pointed out
that the increment was requested and approved by the AMHTA
Board and authorized by the [DNR] budget subcommittee. He
would oppose the amendment, but he appreciated the maker of
the amendment bringing it forward and the effort to slowly
chip away at some of the budget.
Co-Chair Johnson appreciated the that the amendment sponsor
had brought the amendment forward.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
1:13:38 PM
AT EASE
1:14:55 PM
RECONVENED
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Tomaszewski, Ortiz, Stapp, Johnson
OPPOSED: Galvin, Cronk, Hannan, Josephson, Edgmon, Foster
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 71 FAILED (5/6).
1:16:26 PM
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 72 (copy
on file):
Agency: Natural Resources
Appropriation: Parks & Outdoor Recreation
Allocation: Parks Management & Access
Transaction Details
Title: Increase Funding for Improvements within
Chugach State Park.
Section: Section 1
Type: Inc
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 269.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 42.0
Commodities: 5.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 25.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 2
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 2
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1200 VehRntlTax 341.0
Explanation
The Chugach park, in FY2022, operated on a $2.1
million budget, while bringing in $1.68 million in
receipts. The park needs additional resources to
operate the most utilized State Park in Alaska.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe explained the amendment pertaining
to Chugach Park. She detailed that in FY 22, Chugach Park
operated on a $2.1 million budget while bringing in $1.68
million in receipts. She relayed that additional resources
were needed to operate the most utilized state park in
Alaska. The park had the highest traffic and was almost
500,000 acres and about the size of Yosemite National Park.
The park was one of the four largest state parks in the
U.S. with year-round access to a variety of recreational
pursuits. The public use in the park had increased 47
percent between 2019 and 2021. Generally, through the
COVID-19 pandemic there had been a huge surge of park
access.
Representative Coulombe highlighted that the park had not
received an increase in funding associated with the
increase in usage. She met with the parks department over
the interim and had learned that Chugach State Park
subsidized a lot of maintenance at the other parks
throughout the state because it brought in substantial
funding. She pointed out that trailheads in her district
were being overrun with trash and there were not enough
employees to keep the trails clear. She elaborated that an
increase in sanitation maintenance was needed. There were a
lot of issues because traffic had increased rapidly, and
the park had not received sufficient funds to deal with the
issues.
Representative Coulombe stated that the $341,000 increment
in the amendment would go to waste and sanitation funding,
a resource technician, volunteer stipends, a park
specialist, trail crew staff, and tools and building
materials for trail crew. She explained that the funds
would go a long way towards the situation at the park in
the summer. The fund source was the vehicle rental tax. She
had received data from the Legislative Finance Division
(LFD) and detailed that rental tax revenue in FY 23 was $15
million. Currently, the legislature appropriated about $12
million of the funding. She noted that the amount was well
within the expenditure window. She added that much of the
park budget came from vehicle rental tax. The increase
would work to get trailheads cleaned up.
1:19:54 PM
Representative Galvin thanked the member from south
Anchorage for putting the amendment forward. She
underscored that the Chugach Park was a state jewel. She
considered the number of statewide visitors who enjoyed the
particular area. She saw value in the small increment and
appreciated that the sponsor had found funding other than
general funds. She viewed the increment as a tiny seed that
would hopefully grow. She stated it would have an
incredible return on investment and it was necessary to
ensure the parks were welcoming, clean, and safe. She
supported the amendment.
Representative Josephson spoke in strong support of the
amendment. He noted there had been a veto of some funds in
the past and he thought they may have been general fund
dollars. He considered that perhaps the alternative funding
source would be viewed more favorably. He thanked
Representative Coulombe for offering the amendment.
Representative Cronk spoke in friendly opposition to the
amendment. He shared that the topic had been discussed in
his subcommittee. Over the past three years, the Division
of Parks received an increase exceeding $4.7 million. He
noted that Anchorage had voted on Proposition 4, which he
believed was $4.35 million that could leverage an
additional $16 million in federal funding. He asked if it
would have anything to do with the park. He directed a
question to LFD and asked if the addition of the vehicle
rental tax exceeded the fund balance.
Co-Chair Johnson asked Mr. Painter to come to the table to
address the question. She noted she did not want to consult
LFD on every amendment. She thanked Mr. Painter for being
present and available for questions.
1:23:27 PM
ALEXEI PAINTER, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION,
responded that prior to the amendment LFD projected there
was about $2.7 million available from the vehicle rental
tax. Funds from the account were spent on a lag basis,
meaning the legislature used funds from previous years'
collections. After the amendment there would be over $2
million available in the fund.
Co-Chair Edgmon highlighted that if the committee deducted
$341,000, it would be $341,000 that could not go somewhere
else. He asked Mr. Painter about any insight on the net
impact.
Mr. Painter responded that there was an increase in vehicle
rental collections in FY 23 versus the previous year. He
relayed that the governor did not increase use of the fund
source with the increase in collections. Currently, the
additional amount would lapse to the general fund. He noted
that the funding could be used in the capital budget or
elsewhere; it had often been used for the Alaska Travel
Industry Association (ATIA) grant, which the governor had
funded with undesignated general funds (UGF). There was
currently over $2 million available from the fund source
based on the governor's budget.
1:25:14 PM
Representative Coulombe highlighted that the exact
amendment had passed in the committee the previous session
with vehicle rental tax as the fund source. She explained
that somehow the fund source had been switched to UGF in
the other body and it had been vetoed [by the governor].
She thought it sounded like the increment would make it
through if the fund source remained as vehicle rental tax.
She noted that a proposition that was currently winning in
Anchorage was to address the roads to the trails; the state
had to deal with the trailheads. She elaborated that all of
the roads were residential and were limited road service
areas (LRSAs). She explained that people who lived in the
neighborhoods paid into the road maintenance and
unfortunately, they were paying for all of the traffic to
the trailheads. She stated it was unfair and it was wearing
the roads out much faster than necessary. The bond would
help support the road maintenance. She was grateful for the
increase to the parks department; however, it did not
guarantee Chugach Park would receive more funding. She
noted that the parks department had to deal with many areas
that did not make much revenue; therefore, she was
uncertain the increase would help the issue in her
district.
Representative Ortiz directed a question to Representative
Cronk as the DNR subcommittee chair. He asked if the
particular request was considered by the subcommittee.
Representative Cronk replied that he did not believe the
topic was considered in subcommittee.
Co-Chair Johnson asked if the amendment included the access
to Goldstar Peak that went all of the way to Eagle River.
She noted that Goldstar Peak was a well trafficked trail.
Representative Coulombe answered that the funds would go to
the highest use access points to the park. She stated that
her district had the highest traffic, but any access to
Chugach Park through Eagle River and elsewhere could use
the funds.
Representative Cronk WITHDREW the OBJECTION.
There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment N 72 was
ADOPTED.
1:29:09 PM
AT EASE
1:41:34 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 73 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Statewide Support
Allocation: Commissioner's Office
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Department of Law RSA for
Criminal Division Attorneys
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: -418.2
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -418.2
Explanation
Remove additional funding for an existing RSA with the
Department of Law for two Criminal Division Attorneys.
The Department of Law has added three new Attorney 5
positions in the Criminal Division in their FY25
budget with associated funds.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Coulombe shared that she had a couple of
amendments regarding the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
She relayed that she had not offered the amendments in
subcommittee because she had needed to talk with the
department and do more research. She clarified that she was
not picking on DPS, but the department had 968 budgeted
positions. She explained that DPS had a huge budget with
huge increases, and she wanted to make sure all of the
requests were absolutely necessary. She found some issues
with some of the requests in the FY 25 budget request.
Representative Coulombe explained that the amendment was a
decrement of $418,000 to remove additional funding for an
existing RSA [reimbursable services agreement] with the
Department of Law (DOL) for two Criminal Division
attorneys. The department had added three new attorney V
positions in the Criminal Division in its FY 25 budget with
associated funds. She elaborated that the new positions
were covered with existing resources. The department had
explained that the cost had been absorbed, but it did not
want to absorb the cost any longer. She was asking the
department to continue to absorb the cost.
1:44:02 PM
Representative Stapp stated his understanding that under an
RSA, DPS was paying DOL attorneys for their time. He asked
for verification that Representative Coulombe was arguing
that the department had been absorbing the cost and should
continue to do so.
Representative Galvin noted that she had spoken with Mr.
Painter earlier about the absorbing of the funds. She
appreciated the amendment and supported it.
Co-Chair Johnson thought it sounded like Representative
Galvin had spoken with Mr. Painter and it had resolved her
questions.
Representative Galvin agreed.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Galvin, Hannan, Ortiz, Coulombe, Stapp,
Tomaszewski, Foster
OPPOSED: Cronk, Edgmon, Johnson
Representative Josephson was absent from the vote.
The MOTION PASSED (7/3). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 73 was ADOPTED.
[Note: action on Amendment N 73 was rescinded at 2:39 p.m.
and the amendment was adopted by a vote of 8/3.]
1:47:15 PM
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 74 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers
Allocation: AST Detachments
Transaction Details
Title: Delete Funding Associated with Unfilled
Rural State Trooper Post
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: -21.6
Services: -41.0
Commodities: -7.2
Capital Outlay: -17.4
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -87.2
Explanation
Removes funding for additional costs associated with
an unfilled rural Alaska State Trooper post. This
position was added in FY2024 with full funding, but is
not going out to bid until the fourth quarter of
CY2024.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe explained that the amendment would
delete $87,200 for additional costs associated with an
unfilled rural Alaska State Trooper (AST) post. She read
the amendment explanation above. She noted that she wanted
state troopers to have their equipment. She elaborated that
the specific position was unfilled and would not go out to
bid until towards the end of the year. She stated that if
the position was filled, the department could request the
equipment cost funding the following year. She stated that
the request was in anticipation of filling the position.
1:48:25 PM
Representative Galvin observed that when the state was
short on ASTs it meant other troopers had to work overtime.
She wanted to ensure there was adequate funding in order
for that to happen. She wanted to make sure the committee
was not lessening opportunity for the services needed in
public safety.
Co-Chair Edgmon opposed the amendment. He understood the
rationale being offered; however, the fiscal year started
on July 1 and the fourth quarter started September 1. He
estimated it would be around two months to get the position
filled. He understood DPS had a sizeable vacancy list
currently. He noted that the recruit population through the
Sitka academy had been somewhat robust over the past few
years, but overall, the department was losing a lot of
senior presence. He stated that getting troopers out in
rural areas had always been challenging, which was tied to
housing and other factors. Given the unknowns and the lack
of ASTs in rural Alaska, he opposed the amendment.
Representative Coulombe provided wrap up on the amendment.
She relayed that there were currently 95 AST vacancies (18
percent). She noted there was quite a bit of vacancy money.
She did not want to hold up filling trooper positions;
however, the position was not going out to bid until the
fourth quarter. She thought it would not necessarily be
filled quickly. The amendment aimed to be more responsible
in terms of when the money was released. She referred to
comment about overtime and reiterated there were 95
positions open. She did not think the one equipment request
would hold anything up. She stated it was one position out
of a $320 million budget and she did not think it was
unreasonable to have DPS fill the position and then request
the funding.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
1:51:55 PM
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Hannan, Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Galvin
OPPOSED: Ortiz, Cronk, Josephson, Edgmon, Foster, Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 74 FAILED (5/6).
1:53:03 PM
Representative Coulombe WITHDREW Amendment N 75 (copy on
file).
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 76 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers
Allocation: Aircraft Section
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Aircraft Maintenance
Inspector
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: -131.3
Travel: 0.0
Services: -16.0
Commodities: -1.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: -1
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -148.3
Explanation
Delete Full-Time Aircraft Maintenance Inspector and
start-up costs. In 2022, the Department reclassified
three Labor, Trades, and Crafts (LTC) positions to add
additional Aircraft Maintenance Inspectors. The
Department uses a vendor-based maintenance program for
its statewide fleet, therefore the duties of a fourth
Inspector should be performed with existing resources.
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers
Allocation: Aircraft Section
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Aircraft Maintenance
Inspector Start-up Costs
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -18.4
Explanation
Delete Full-Time Aircraft Maintenance Inspector start-
up costs.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Coulombe explained that the amendment was a
decrement of $148,000 to remove funding for a full-time
aircraft maintenance inspector position and associated
startup costs. She elaborated that in FY 22, DPS
reclassified three labor, trades, and crafts positions to
add additional aircraft maintenance inspectors. She stated
that the department used a vendor-based maintenance program
for its statewide fleet; therefore, the duties of a fourth
inspector should be performed with existing resources. She
believed one of the reclassed positions was still vacant
and DPS used contracts to fill in the gaps. She thought the
department should fill its existing positions first. She
suggested that if the positions were filled and the
department was using contracts and still felt there was
enough work to be done, the issue could be addressed later.
She was weary of adding PCNs when there were vacancies.
1:55:06 PM
Representative Ortiz asked if there was any direct
communication with DPS about any potential impact on the
safety of troopers if the position was not filled in the
long-term.
Representative Galvin thought it seemed the amendment was
getting into the weeds and deciding what DPS decisions
should and should not be. She wondered if the action would
send the message that the legislature did not want the
positions filled. In general, there was a great need for
public safety. She was hesitant to support the amendment if
the DPS commissioner recommended the position.
Co-Chair Foster thought the argument made sense and he
understood the rationale; however, he was very hesitant
when it came to aircraft safety to make a reduction. He did
not know what the department's argument would be, but he
would rather fall on the side of caution. He highlighted
that there had recently been a loss of state workers in an
aviation accident. He noted that sometimes accidents were
related to mechanical, weather, or other things. He would
rather fall on the side of caution and would oppose the
amendment.
1:57:43 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon spoke to the importance of aircraft
maintenance and stated that the aviation industry was a
vital link for residents living off the road system. He
preferred to be on the side of caution and would not
support the amendment.
Representative Tomaszewski asked how much the department
spent on the vendor-based program. He asked if the position
would reduce the costs by more than the position cost.
Co-Chair Johnson remarked that it always made her concerned
when looking at reducing funding for aircraft maintenance;
however, she found the existing vacancies in the area more
worrisome. She reasoned that having the position in place
[but unfilled] would not improve aircraft maintenance. She
was inclined to support the amendment. She highlighted
items that had been added to DPS including a new airplane
and pilot. She stated that DPS had requested numerous new
positions, which were fairly high paying. She thought it
may mean more maintenance positions were needed. She
highlighted that there were many good aircraft mechanics in
the private sector around the state. She believed it was
how DPS filled in its maintenance already. She considered
whether there needed to be people on state payroll doing
maintenance or if it was better to have private businesses
in place. She thought it was a good question for DPS and
she would like to hear from the department. She anticipated
the committee may see the request the following year. She
hoped the department would fill its existing maintenance
positions and come back the following year to explain why
the additional position was needed. She supported the
amendment.
Representative Coulombe clarified that she was not against
aircraft maintenance, and it was not the intention of the
amendment. She explained that the amendment was about being
responsible in the timing of requests and filling vacant
positions. She detailed that DPS had two aircraft
maintenance inspectors stationed in Anchorage and the
requested funding would add a third inspector in Fairbanks
to meet the agency's workload. She noted that the previous
year, DPS added an aircraft maintenance position in
Fairbanks, but it was where some of the vacancies were. She
thought the department should fill its vacant positions in
Fairbanks prior to requesting an additional position. She
recalled hearing in subcommittee that Fairbanks was a hub
for many rural areas, so it was important that they have
the positions, but they were relying heavily on vendors
because the positions had not been filled. She did not know
the cost of the vendors, but surmised it was likely higher
than normal. She would support an additional position in
the future if the department filled its existing positions
and still needed another.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Hannan, Johnson
OPPOSED: Josephson, Ortiz, Cronk, Galvin, Edgmon, Foster
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 76 FAILED (5/6).
2:05:25 PM
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 77 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Statewide Support
Allocation: Commissioner's Office
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Criminal Justice
Technician 2
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: -110.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: -31.0
Commodities: -1.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 1
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -142.0
Explanation
Delete one full-time Criminal Justice Technician 2
position. The Department is requesting this position
for the Mobile Audio and Video Recording Equipment
team to assist with public records requests relating
to body-worn cameras.
In FY24, the Legislature appropriated $471.1 to add
four full-time positions to increase the Public
Information Office staff related specifically to body-
worn cameras. The mid-year status report for the
Department states that they have not yet filled these
positions.
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Statewide Support
Allocation: Commissioner's Office
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Criminal Justice
Technician 2 Start-up Costs
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0 Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -18.4
Explanation
Delete one full-time Criminal Justice Technician 2
position start-up costs.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe explained the amendment was a
reduction of $142,000 plus funding for position start-up
costs. The amendment would delete one full-time criminal
justice technician 2 position. She detailed that DPS
requested the position for the mobile, audio, and video
recording equipment team to assist with public records
requests related to body worn cameras. She detailed that in
FY 24, the legislature appropriated $471,000 to add four
full-time positions to increase the public information
office staff related specifically to body worn cameras. The
department's mid-year status report stated it had not yet
filled the positions. She understood there were a larger
number of information requests associated with body worn
cameras and it took more people to fulfil the requests. She
explained that the department had submitted the position
request with the anticipation it would be needed. She
pointed out that funding had been appropriated for
positions that had not yet been filled. She suggested
filling those positions before requesting an additional
one. She believed the legislature would approve the request
the following year if the other positions had been filled.
Co-Chair Edgmon commended the amendment sponsor and
acknowledged it was not easy to put cuts forward. He
thought the amendment highlighted the difficulty agencies
were having filling positions and the difficulty in
budgeting for the positions departments needed and had to
keep recruiting for. He thought the department likely would
not have made the budget request if the position was not
needed because the Dunleavy administration and the
legislature were all looking for agency reductions. He
added that overall, the governor's budget included an
agency reduction of approximately 4 percent. He was
hesitant to select a position to cut. He thought the
department was likely aggressively recruiting to fill the
position. He would oppose the amendment.
2:08:31 PM
Representative Hannan shared that she had served on the DPS
subcommittee for six years. She highlighted that the
department had seen significant growth and there had been a
lot of vacancies in a variety of its sections. She had a
variety of concerns about a prior amendment (Amendment N
18) offered earlier in the process that would have
eliminated long-term empty positions. She was supportive of
the current amendment because she viewed it as a surgical
approach by the chair. She recollected that in addition to
the four positions funded in FY 24, there was a request for
two more positions, which would result in six unfilled
positions related to body worn cameras. She reasoned that
once body worn cameras were used, it would require
additional DPS staff. She thought it made sense to wait a
year until four of the positions were filled and the office
was operational prior to adding two more positions. The
position requests were in anticipation there would be a
substantial need for processing and storing data once it
was used by the public and criminal prosecution.
Representative Galvin thought the amendment proposed the
deletion of one position. She asked if it deleted one or
two positions.
Representative Coulombe clarified that the department's
request was to add one full-time criminal justice
technician 2. The legislature appropriated funding for four
of the positions in FY 24. She explained that the amendment
denied the request for an additional position and did not
cut an existing position. She understood the department
would need to fulfil the public information requests. She
thought the current vacancies should be filled before the
department requested more. She highlighted that the
department had 165 vacancies and any of those positions
could be reclassed to fill its needs if an emergency
situation arose.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Oritz, Coulombe, Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski,
Galvin, Hannan, Johnson
OPPOSED: Josephson, Edgmon, Foster
The MOTION PASSED (8/3). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 77 was ADOPTED.
2:12:52 PM
Representative Coulombe WITHDREW Amendment N 78 (copy on
file).
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 79 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers
Allocation: AST Detachments
Transaction Details
Title: Retention Initiative to Fund Relocation
Costs for Alaska State Troopers.
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: -400.0
Services: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -400.0
Explanation
Delete funding for Alaska State Trooper relocation
costs related to tax liabilities. The Department
states that it will enter into Letters of Agreement to
cover airfare, temporary lodging, and packaging and
shipping of household goods. While the Department may
cover these costs, it is unnecessary to also cover the
tax liability associated with a benefit of employment.
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers
Allocation: AST Detachments
Transaction Details
Title: Retention Initiative to Fund Relocation
Costs of Wildlife Troopers.
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: -37.5
Services: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -37.5
Explanation
Delete funding for Wildlife Trooper relocation costs
related to tax liabilities. The Department states that
it will enter into Letters of Agreement to cover
airfare, temporary lodging, and packaging and shipping
of household goods. While the Department may cover
these costs, it is unnecessary to also cover the tax
liability associated with a benefit of employment.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe explained the amendment was a
decrement of $400,000 to delete funding for AST relocation
costs related to tax liabilities. She read the amendment
explanation above. The second page of the amendment would
delete $37,500 for Alaska Wildlife Trooper (AWT) relocation
costs related to tax liabilities. She recognized it was
important for the state to cover the cost of relocation to
get troopers in position. She took issue with covering the
taxes associated with relocation costs. She detailed that
there were 530 AST positions and 129 AWT positions. She
remarked that it was costing the state $400,000 to cover
AST relocation taxes. She did not think paying the taxes
seemed like a huge burden to the troopers. She apologized
for using the word "unnecessary" in the amendment. She
questioned whether the state should be covering the tax
portion because everything else was covered including
housing, equipment, and other items listed in the
amendment.
2:15:17 PM
Representative Galvin opposed the amendment. She believed
whatever the state could do to bring in and attract
troopers needed to remain in place. She understood that the
state had already done many things including bonuses. She
highlighted that taxes could cost up to 40 percent of the
relocation cost, which could be a heavy burden for a new
trooper. She considered that covering the taxes could be
quite a benefit and attractive to new troopers.
Representative Stapp thought he would likely be in
opposition to the amendment. He thought it appeared that a
state trooper would pay out of pocket and would be
reimbursed by the state for the expenses (e.g., airfare,
hotel stay, packaging and shipping of goods). He considered
that potentially an individual moving for the job would be
coming from a state with a high sales tax and would have to
pay sales tax on top of the movers. He considered that at
the end of the year, in theory, the individual would have
to pay tax on the cost. He thought the budget item looked
like an incentive for recruitment. Given the trooper
shortage, he did not think he would support the reduction
in what appeared to be a clear incentive structure to hire
people.
Representative Coulombe agreed that the comments were a
valid argument. She noted that her intention had been to
bring the amendment forward in order to discuss the topic
with the committee. She understood there was an incentive
piece. She did not have a list of all the trooper costs and
what the amendment would impact. She WITHDREW Amendment N
79.
Co-Chair Edgmon highlighted that the last five amendments
were all to the one agency that he thought had received the
most funding in the past six years of the Dunleavy
administration and it underscored the dire issue Alaska was
facing with state positions. He found it troubling. He
viewed the last five amendments as "a microcosm of where we
are at as a state."
2:19:56 PM
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 80 (copy
on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Victim Services Admin & Support
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Administrative Assistant
1 Position Start-up Costs
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: -18.4
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -18.4
Explanation
Remove start-up costs associated with funding for a
full-time Administrative Assistant 1 position.
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Victim Services Admin & Support
Transaction Details
Title: Remove Funding for Administrative Assistant
1 Position
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: -92.3
Travel: 0.0
Services: -16.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -109.3
Explanation
Remove funding for a full-time Administrative
Assistant 1 position. The new Victims Services
Division's Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault's organizational chart currently lists an
Administrative Officer 2 and an Administrative
Assistant 2. In addition, the Violent Crimes
Compensation Board lists an Administrative Officer and
an Administrative Assistant 3. Finally, the Victims
Services Administration and Support component has one
Administrative Assistant 2. The new division has been
stood up, and the duties performed by the three
combined components should be streamlined and absorbed
by existing resources.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Coulombe believed committee members were
aware that the DPS commissioner was proposing to create a
Victims Services Division. She detailed that the Council on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) and the
Violent Crimes Compensation Board (VCCB) would be housed
under one division. Associated with the new division, DPS
was requesting two paralegal positions and two
administrative support positions. She highlighted that it
took a while for a division to meld, and she understood the
division would need some supports; however, she wanted the
money to go to victims and did not want the funds to go to
a large administrative cost. She supported the
commissioner's idea, but in order to do that she believed
there should be better performance working with victims and
more money going to victims. The amendment left the
paralegal positions and removed one administrative position
for $109,000 and the associated support for $18,000. She
highlighted that the new division CDVSA organizational
chart currently listed an administrative officer 2 and an
administrative assistant 2. Additionally, VCCB listed an
administrative officer and administrative assistant 3. She
relayed that the victim services administration and support
component had one administrative assistant 2. She stated
that the new division had been stood up and the duties
performed by the three combined components should be
streamlined and absorbed by existing resources.
2:22:30 PM
Representative Galvin understood how streamlining was
helpful and she also understood the importance of having
staff. For example, she leaned heavily on admin to figure
out why a constituent was not receiving their Permanent
Fund Dividend, or when they needed help with a food card or
renters' rights. She wondered if cutting the position would
mean fewer people services for victims. She wanted to make
sure the division had enough staff to operate well.
Representative Coulombe replied that she could not speak to
how the new division would work. She was suggesting that
there were numerous administrative assistant positions in
the different agencies going under one umbrella and she
believed the department could likely pull one to help at
the top. She stated that the agencies' load would lighten
when they had someone at the top assisting with duties. She
highlighted that the cost of the one position was $109,000
plus another $18,400 for startup costs. She wanted the
victims' services to work. She thought that if the new
division hinged on the one administrative position, it
should not be a new division. She added that the new
division also had two paralegal positions to help with the
set up.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Hannan,
Foster, Johnson
OPPOSED: Josephson, Ortiz, Galvin, Edgmon
The MOTION PASSED (7/4). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 80 was ADOPTED.
2:27:03 PM
Representative Hannan MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 81 (copy
on file):
Bundle Description
For several years now the Legislature has had to
backfill Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault funding because of the loss of federal Victims
of Crime Act funds. Most of us are in strong agreement
on the importance of CDVSA. The time has come to add
the shortfall funding to the base budget so that we
don't have to revisit the issue every year. This
amendment removes the $3.7 million one-time increment
for CDVSA grants and then restores the funds as a base
budget appropriation.
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Domestic Viol/Sexual Assault
Transaction Details
Title: Re-instating the $3.7 Million for CDVSA as
an Increment in the Base Budget
Section: Section 1
Type: IncM
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 3,700.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 3,700.0
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Domestic Viol/Sexual Assault
Transaction Details
Title: Delete One-Time Increment for CDVSA with the
Intent to Add the Appropriation to the Base Budget
Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -3,700.0
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Hannan relayed that the amendment had zero
cost. She detailed that for several years, the legislature
had backfilled CDVSA funding because of the loss of federal
Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. She stated there was
clear and strong legislative support for CDVSA and she
believed the time had come to move the funding into the
base budget instead of a one-year, one-time allocation. The
amendment would take it out of the one-time funding and put
it into the base budget. The net cost was currently zero.
She urged support for the amendment.
2:28:04 PM
Representative Stapp was in opposition to the amendment,
primarily because there was currently legislation looking
at switching revenue from a different fund source to go
into CDVSA. He stated it was a substantial amount of money.
He stated that currently the CDVSA funding was a one-time
increment, but if the separate legislation passed, there
would be a different fund source to pay for CDVSA. He hoped
it would be the last time the legislature had to revisit
domestic violence money. He thought it was wiser to go the
route of the separate legislation.
Co-Chair Edgmon supported the amendment and believed it was
a necessity and beyond the definition of well-deserved. He
noted that the bill, HB 162, had yet to pass and depended
on the size of the PFD every year. He highlighted that the
committee had heard from the [Alaska Network on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault] director Brenda Stanfill that
$3.7 million was less than it would cost for the
organization to fulfill all of its duties. He believed the
legislature owed it to CDVSA and victims to give them the
higher priority. He reiterated his support for the
amendment.
Representative Coulombe stated that the amendment was
tricky for her due to the separate legislation with a
different fund source. She pointed out that putting
something in the base budget indicated to the recipient
that they would receive the funds every year; however, she
stated that with appropriation it was not true. She
considered that although they may not necessarily have to
come back every year to keep the funding in the base, it
would be a constant battle of being certain the state
government appropriated the funding. She had discussed the
possibility of looking at different sources of income other
than state government with CDVSA. She remarked that CDVSA
always seemed to be the first on the chopping block whether
the funds were in the base or one-time increments. She
recognized that one-time funding was worse. She thought
there were other creative ways to find funding outside of
state government. She supported the funding and the one-
time increment, but she believed it was a bit disingenuous
to say CDVSA would be able to sit on its laurels if it was
in the base. She remarked that a future legislature could
put the funding to another use if they did not view CDVSA
as a priority. She would likely oppose the amendment, but
definitely supported funding CDVSA for FY 25 and trying to
find some stable solutions.
Co-Chair Edgmon hoped he did not imply that CDVSA sat on
its laurels or anything of that nature.
Representative Coulombe apologized for her use of term. She
clarified that she was trying to say that perhaps CDVSA
would feel like their funding was safe [if it was in the
base budget].
Representative Galvin strongly supported the amendment. She
shared that she had visited many women's and family
shelters where there had been deep difficulties in coming
up with funds. She agreed that it would be great to find
other funding sources; however, she had been to many
fundraisers and had personally helped to raise funds.
Additionally, federal funds were leveraged. She stressed
that one-time funding was worse than putting funding in the
base budget. She thought putting the item in the base may
help secure federal funds. She thought it was a shame CDVSA
had to spend so much energy on fundraising due to the
erratic nature of the funding. She thought the state should
do better and the amendment represented one step better.
2:33:29 PM
Co-Chair Johnson had some concern about putting the funding
in the base without paying attention for at least one more
year to find out the total amount or what should be done.
She stated that the one-time increment in the FY 25 budget
was the amount for the current year. She considered that
maybe it was the right number or maybe it was not the right
number [going forward]. The budget included the full
request from CDVSA for FY 25. She preferred to see the one-
time increment remain in the budget with an analysis to
find out what the number should be. She stated it was a
difficult vote to take. She would stand by the item in the
budget as is and hoped for better information going
forward. She clarified that it had nothing to do with the
work provided by CDVSA. She noted there were some bills
that were pending, which would change some of the things
CDVSA had to do and she suspected the funding would be
addressed in future bills as well.
Representative Hannan thanked members of the committee for
putting the money in the budget. She highlighted the
committee heard hours of public testimony and heard
repeatedly about the demands across Alaska for ongoing
service needs of domestic violence and sexual assault
shelters. She stated it was a shame that it was one of the
places where Alaska led the nation. She pointed out that
the problem was not easily resolved and was not going away.
She recognized that putting something in the base did not
change that the legislature could always change the fund
source. She hoped HB 162 passed and that the legislature
would be talking about extra revenue because she believed
the funding was far below where it should be for
preventative programs. She noted that the funding reflected
the full request by CDVSA. She thought most domestic
violence shelters were used to "bake saling" their way to
surviving and piecing things together. She believed it
would always be an obligation of the state to provide for
that public safety aspect. She thought it was time to put
the funding in the base so that at a minimum it would save
the agency from having to beg for grant funding. She
suggested they could start talking about program growth
needs and prevention. She hoped there was a point in
several years where the legislature was talking about the
absence of a need for general funds because there were
funds from other sources. She urged support for the
amendment. She viewed it as a public safety program that
Alaska had an obligation to provide.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
2:37:31 PM
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Cronk, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Ortiz,
Coulombe, Edgmon, Foster
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Johnson
The MOTION PASSED (8/3). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 81 was ADOPTED.
2:38:17 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to RESCIND action on
Amendment 73 (copy on file).
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
2:39:08 PM
AT EASE
2:39:58 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Coulombe MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 73 (copy
on file)[see 1:41 p.m. for amendment details].
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson stated that he had heard about the
other side of the issue through the Department of Law (DOL)
budget subcommittee. He was told that the positions at DPS
would focus on offering advice on excessive use of force,
general training, contracts, and issues related to the
enforcement of the sex offender registry. He wanted to be
on record opposing the amendment.
Representative Stapp clarified that the amendment was a
reduction in the money appropriated for a reimbursable
services agreement (RSA) from DPS to DOL. He did not
believe the amendment would cut attorney positions. The
amendment sponsor explained that the amendment would reduce
a cost the department had been absorbing for the purposes
of the RSA.
Representative Coulombe did not have any additional
comments.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Hannan, Ortiz,
Galvin, Foster, Johnson
OPPOSED: Cronk, Josephson, Edgmon
The MOTION PASSED (8/3). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 73 was ADOPTED.
2:43:27 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 82
(copy on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Domestic Viol/Sexual Assault
Transaction Details
Title: Additional One-Time Grant Support for the
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Section: Section 1
Type: IncOTI
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 3,000.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 3,000.0
Explanation
Brenda Standfill testified March 25th that this
increment was necessary to CDVSA.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson highlighted that he had asked
Brenda Stanfill how much funding CDVSA really needed in a
recent House Finance Committee meeting. He relayed that her
response had been that the agency needed an additional $3
million on top of the requested $3.7 million. He stated it
was consistent with the outcry from the domestic violence
and sexual assault community. The total amount requested
from victim services programs when they applied to CDVSA
for FY 24 funding was $3 million more than was available
under the flat funding plan appropriated by the
legislature. The individual programs asked for what was
needed to keep their doors open to continue emergency
services. He detailed that allowing the one-time funding
gave breathing room to keep level services continuing in FY
25, while seeking additional resources. The amounts
included covered child advocacy center services. He noted
he had offered a previous amendment to start funding the
services, but it was denied. Additionally, the amendment
would fund domestic violence and sexual assault services at
just over $2.8 million.
Representative Josephson stated that the $3 million
included child abuse advocacy centers and the domestic
violence shelters. He noted it was on the low end of the
estimate. He highlighted that a CDVSA PowerPoint from
earlier in the session requested almost $3.5 million. He
th
relayed that Alaska Beacon reported on March 6 that Brenda
Stanfill identified the funding gap as 20 percent. He noted
that the budget covered that amount. He relayed that she
had stated the amendment would restore the funding level
from the previous year, which the entity recognized as a
cut due to high inflation rates. The funds would prevent
the closure of shelters and reduction of programs. He
referenced another article by Alaska Beacon on December 4th
where Diane Casto, former director of ANDVSA had stated
that the $5 million difference was a significant slice of
the council's funding. She had elaborated that the past
year, the council's budget was close to $25 million and
nearly $21 million went to grants. Ms. Casto had stated
that the loss was exacerbated by inflation, especially in
remote parts of the state. He stated that the council
needed $2.6 million just to inflation proof the money that
came from the state's general fund. The $2.8 million was a
recurring expense, but the amendment was a one-time
increment. He thought the amendment would give the
conference committee some flexibility to drive home the
best result. He asked for support.
2:48:57 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon thought the amendment was the perfect
illustration about why budgeting was an imperfect process.
He had supported the past couple of amendments pertaining
to CDVSA including providing administrative support in the
department and to put funding in the base budget. He
remarked that at some point tough choices had to be made.
While he appreciated the intent of the amendment, he
reluctantly would vote in opposition.
Representative Ortiz concurred with the comments about the
imperfect budget process and moving forward with a workable
budget. However, he remarked that every budget was a
reflection of where the legislature's priorities resided.
He highlighted that the committee had just unanimously
passed an amendment to support the state parks program. He
thought the committee would want to be supportive of CDVSA.
He supported the amendment.
Co-Chair Johnson wanted to be clear that the money was not
in the [original] budget. She stated that the committee had
received the request and people had called in [during
public testimony]. The request from CDVSA was for $3.7
million and it had been added to the budget. She did not
expect to feel a little beat up about it. She was standing
by the budget and believed the increment included was what
had been requested to maintain services and provide funding
for a shortfall. The budget fully funded CDVSA's request.
She opposed the amendment. She looked forward to having
further conversations with Ms. Stanfill in the future.
Representative Cronk stated that every vote was a hard
vote. He noted that he had not been on finance as a
minority member and did not know how that worked. He did
not appreciate how the votes were prioritized because every
vote was hard and impacted someone's life in one way or
another. He stated that if he voted no on the amendment, it
did not mean he deemed it to be unimportant.
Representative Stapp reiterated the fact that the item
started out with $3.7 million in additional one-time
funding and there had been an amendment to put it in the
base budget. He stated that the amendment asked for another
$3 million. He did not appreciate the idea that the
committee was not funding something when the committee just
passed an amendment to change the length of the funding
source to include it in the base.
2:54:29 PM
Representative Ortiz agreed that all of the votes were
tough. He clarified that he had been speaking to the
broader issue and recognizing that adopting the amendment
it would reduce the amount of money for things like the
PFD. He was comfortable with that, and he realized that
some other people were not. He was not intending any
disrespect to any committee members on their votes. He
elaborated that every vote was a statement about choosing
to do one thing or another. He personally felt comfortable
with providing the funds in the amendment.
Representative Coulombe considered that when dealing with
shifting priorities it meant removing funding from one item
that was no longer the priority and moving funding to
another item. She stated that when priorities shifted it
did not mean continuing to repeatedly add funding to the
budget. She may have been able to support the amendment if
there was a corresponding decrement.
Representative Tomaszewski stated that the committee
prioritized the funding by voting to include the funding in
the base budget instead of as a one-time increment. He
remarked that now there was an amendment for an additional
$3 million. He found the comments distasteful indicating
that the item was not a priority. He suggested committee
members should not impugn the motives of other committee
members. He stated the committee had worked hard and had
included requested funding in the budget.
2:57:02 PM
AT EASE
2:57:44 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson thought that nonprofits
strategized on the best approach when requesting funding
from the legislature. He had asked Ms. Stanfill what CDVSA
really needed and the amount in the amendment reflected the
answer. Additionally, Ms. Casto had provided the same
number. He asked for support for the amendment.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Josephson, Hannan, Galvin
OPPOSED: Tomaszewski, Stapp, Cronk, Coulombe, Edgmon,
Foster, Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 82 FAILED (4/7).
2:59:45 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 83
(copy on file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Domestic Viol/Sexual Assault
Transaction Details
Title: Funding for Costs Related to Utilities
(FY2025-FY2026)
Section: Section 1
Type: IncT
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 500.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 500.0
Explanation
Operating costs for the CDVSA are flat funded in the
FY25 budget. The past two years, the CDVSA received an
appropriation for these costs but that appropriation
has ended. This would provide funding needed to pay
for operating costs for the next two fiscal years.
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson explained there was a drop off in
federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. He detailed
that VOCA funds were related to white collar crime, which
had decreased. Consequently, there were fewer federal VOCA
dollars available. Additionally, COVID-19 funds had been
used to cover some of the domestic violence network's
costs. He stated that things had been so desperate for
domestic violence shelters that they were worried about
paying their utility bills. The programs had been flat
funded for the past five years. In the FY 23 budget, the
legislature appropriated a one-time amount of $500,000 to
assist programs with utility costs. In FY 24, CDVSA was
able to provide utility assistance one more time through
other funds in its budget. In FY 25, the victims' services
programs were currently in the House budget at the amount
necessary for programs to be flat funded, not including the
additional $500,000 dispersed from CDVSA during the past
two years for utility increases. The increased cost of
utilities in the 33 member organizations exceeded $500,000
in FY 23 and FY 24.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Hannan, Galvin, Josephson
OPPOSED: Tomaszewski, Coulombe, Cronk, Stapp, Foster,
Edgmon, Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 83 FAILED (4/7).
3:03:14 PM
Representative Cronk MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 84 (copy on
file):
Agency: Public Safety
Appropriation: Victim Services
Allocation: Victim Services Admin & Support
Transaction Details
Title: Add Intent
Wordage Type: Intent
Linkage: Agency - Public Safety
Wordage
It is the intent of the legislature that the
department, when preparing its FY26 budget submission
to the legislature, consider how to maintain Child
Advocacy Center (CAC) service in regard to the loss of
federal Department of Justice funding.
Explanation
The legislature is expressing its intent for the
administration to recognize the importance of Child
Advocacy Center's in their FY26 budget submittal in
light of the knowledge that the current federal
funding will be expiring.
Co-Chair Foster OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Cronk explained the amendment would add
intent language to the budget. He read the wordage above.
He detailed that the Alaska Children's Alliance (ACA) was a
statewide association of the Child Advocacy Centers, which
were multidisciplinary centers providing law enforcement,
prosecutors, tribal welfare officials, and social workers
to families and victims in cases of child abuse
investigations. The legislature aimed to assist ACA in
raising red flags that three of its federal funding streams
were in jeopardy of running out in FY 26, including
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), VOCA, and
Department of Justice funds. The organization had funds for
FY 25, but the intent language highlighted to the
administration that the funds would run out in FY 26.
Co-Chair Foster WITHDREW the OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, Amendment 84 was ADOPTED.
3:04:55 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 85
(copy on file):
Agency: Transportation
Appropriation: Highways/Aviation & Facilities
Allocation: Stwd Contracted Snow Removal
Transaction Details
Title: Improve Public Snow Removal Services
Section: Section 1
Type: Inc
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 500.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 500.0
Explanation
$915,000 is currently in the budget for this
allocation, but that is obviously not enough for
statewide services. This amendment increases the
appropriation by almost 50%.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson highlighted that the past three
years had experienced higher than usual snowfall in Juneau
and Anchorage. The amendment was designed to allow for more
statewide contracted snow removal. He noted that Department
of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT) Commissioner
Ryan Anderson had been asked about snow by both bodies in
February.
3:06:27 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon thought the $500,000 would fit Dillingham.
He corrected that the House Finance Committee had heard
from the deputy commissioner Katherine Keith and two other
department employees. He did not believe the overall effort
from DOT was adequate in terms of providing a strategy and
gearing up to properly address the amount of snow. He would
vote against the amendment.
Representative Galvin supported the amendment. She noted
that she resided in the same town as the amendment sponsor.
She understood that other towns had done okay moving snow,
but legislators had learned that more than half of the
state graters in Anchorage were broken. She had received
hundreds of emails and phone calls about the snow problems.
She noted that some of the roads were taken care of by the
city and others were taken care of by the state. She
believed there had been a lack of funds to hire
contractors, a lack of funds to fix the equipment, or lack
of choosing to use the funds correctly. She wanted to
ensure there were funds available if there was another high
snow year.
Representative Coulombe stated that she lived in Anchorage
and was fully aware of its snow removal issues. She relayed
that she had been in several meetings with DOT and the
department was not requesting the money [put forward in the
amendment]. She remarked that the committee had asked DOT
what it needed from the legislature to improve the
situation; however, the department did not have a clear
strategy for Anchorage. She highlighted that changing the
priority status of the roads in her district and getting
off of the contracting plan for the Anchorage hillside
(that had failed miserably) would make a difference in her
district. She stated that those two things did not cost
money but had cost her a lot of time and effort to try to
fix. She believed when there was a problem like the one at
hand, it was a gut instinct to try to throw money at it to
try to fix it. She did not believe the amendment was
particularly focused on Southcentral. She asked the sponsor
if the funding would go into the base budget. She would
support the amendment if she believed it would solve
Anchorage's problems, but she did not think it was the
targeted approach that was needed to correct the issue.
3:11:05 PM
Representative Stapp opposed the amendment. He noted he did
not live in Anchorage. He looked at the amendment language
stating the funds would be for statewide contracted snow
removal, which he viewed to mean outsourcing the work from
state employees to contractors. He thought the practice was
generally fine, but he did not think the state needed to do
more of that. He thought the department had done a good job
in the northern region in Fairbanks had done an excellent
job at snow removal. He was uncertain whether the
appropriation would help what happened in Southcentral.
Additionally, there was no decrement to balance out the
increase.
Representative Tomaszewski relayed that the particular
allocation had been discussed in subcommittee. He
elaborated that DOT had indicated the ~$900,000 in the DOT
budget for the particular line item would be sufficient. He
believed the department had other sources as back up if
more money was needed. He opposed the amendment.
Co-Chair Johnson noted that DOT had come before the
committee and the committee had asked if the department
needed more money to address snow removal issues. She
relayed that the department had told the committee it did
not need more money. She elaborated that funding had been
provided for emergency snowplowing the previous year due to
heavy snowfall. She had asked the department how much of
the funding had been spent out of the amount appropriated
for emergency plowing services. The department had told the
committee that it did not know. She had learned that the
department had not spent down the funding. There was $3
million left from the previous capital appropriation. She
stated that sometimes it was not about how much money, it
was about getting out there, doing the job, and getting it
done. She felt mad knowing there was $3 million in funding
available and the roads had not been plowed the past
winter. She was unwilling to appropriate more money to a
fund for the department to not plow the roads.
Co-Chair Edgmon remarked that the committee had added
intent language in other provisions in the budget. He
considered why the committee should not include intent
language asking DOT to develop a specific plan to tackle
the problem head on. He was not satisfied with the approach
DOT took when it presented to the committee. He recognized
the problem in Anchorage; however, he felt like the
amendment was well intentioned but a piecemeal approach. He
requested to take a break to craft some language.
3:15:35 PM
AT EASE
5:22:07 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson stated that the committee had left off on
Amendment N 85.
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT conceptual
Amendment 1 to Amendment N 85 (copy on file). He explained
that the conceptual amendment would delete the entirety of
the amendment and replace it with the conceptual amendment:
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation
APPROPRIATION: Highways/Aviation & Facilities
ALLOCATION: Stwd Contracted Snow Removal
INTENT: It is the intent of the Legislature that the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
shall submit a report regarding a state-wide snow
removal plan by December 20, 2024, and provide a
presentation to the Finance committees during the next
legislative session. This plan should include
strategies to effectively remove snow from streets and
sidewalks in a timely manner, including the purchase
and maintenance of equipment, salary increases, and
methods to ensure public services remain operational.
Co-Chair Johnson asked Representative Josephson to explain
the intent language. She acknowledged Senator Click Bishop
in the room.
Representative Josephson read the intent language above.
5:24:01 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon OBJECTED for discussion. He thought the
second sentence of the intent language had a "statewide
sort of feel to it." He asked if it was Representative
Josephson's intent to make it statewide in scope.
Representative Josephson responded affirmatively.
Representative Ortiz asked if there would be an emphasis in
Ketchikan.
Representative Galvin referenced the language "to ensure
public services remain operational." She assumed the
language was referring to ensuring schools remain open and
operational. She thought it perhaps applied to private
businesses as well. She highlighted that Anchorage had lost
a whole week of school over the current winter. She
commented on that on a Monday it had been known schools
would be closed the entire week because of a lack of a
strategy, equipment, or something else. She asked the
sponsor to clarify what he meant by public services during
wrap up on the amendment. She had heard from many people
that getting down Northern Lights Boulevard was tricky. She
stated it should never be the case.
Co-Chair Johnson remarked that it had been more than
tricky, and it had nearly destroyed her four-wheel drive
car.
5:26:03 PM
AT EASE
5:27:35 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson MOVED a conceptual amendment to
conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment N 85. The amendment
would insert the language "report made to the Chairs of the
Finance Committees and Legislative Finance Division" after
the words "December 20, 2024." The amendment would also
include the words "(schools, private businesses, and
hospitals)" after the words "public services."
There being NO OBJECTION, the conceptual amendment to
conceptual Amendment 1 was ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Johnson asked if there were any objections to
conceptual Amendment 1 as amended.
There being NO OBJECTION, conceptual Amendment 1 to
Amendment N 85 was ADOPTED as amended.
Representative Cronk wanted to make sure the committee was
not expecting a miracle. He stated that snow removal crews
could only work so many hours before being done. He stated
that snow removal operations would not occur on a 24/7
basis. He understood the intent. He noted there were a
limited number of workers and there were not backup crews
in the wings to take over. He wanted to be clear the
committee was not expecting a miracle, but it was expecting
improvement.
Co-Chair Johnson asked Representative Josephson to provide
wrap up and a review of the amendment.
Representative Josephson explained that the amendment would
include intent language in the budget. The intent language
called for DOT to prepare a report on December 20, 2024,
that reflected a serious effort to respond to legislators'
dismay and unhappiness connected to snow removal in the
state.
Representative Cronk WITHDREW his OBJECTION to Amendment N
85 as amended.
There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment N 85 was
ADOPTED as amended.
5:31:52 PM
AT EASE
5:33:36 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendments N 86, N 87,
and N 88 (copy on file).
5:34:29 PM
AT EASE
5:34:41 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 89
(copy on file):
Agency: University of Alaska
Appropriation: University of Alaska
Allocation: Systemwide Reduction/Additions
Transaction Details
Title: University of Alaska Indigenous Student
Support
Section: Section 1
Type: Inc
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 2,021.3
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 11
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 1,146.0
1048 Univ Rcpt 875.3
Explanation
Indigenous Student Support and Leadership: Improve
indigenous student support and leadership.
UAA Supporting Alaska's Future Workforce
UAF Indigenous Leadership, Humanities and Social
Science
UAS Advancing Graduation Rates and Workforce Entry by
Strengthening the Knowledge and Teaching of Indigenous
Culture
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson stated that the committee when
acting as subcommittee of the whole had rejected the
amendment 30 days earlier; however, the updated spring
forecast had come out since that time, which suggested $150
million in additional revenue spanning the 18 months. The
amendment reflected a University of Alaska Board of
Regent's request. He noted that almost all of the regents
had been selected by Governor Dunleavy. The amendment would
offer indigenous student support and leadership at the
University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Additionally, the
amendment would provide funding for UAA Supporting Alaska's
Future Workforce, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Indigenous Leadership, Humanities and Social Science, and
University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Advancing Graduation
Rates and Workforce Entry by Strengthening the Knowledge
and Teaching of Indigenous Culture. He stated that the
amendment would benefit each of the major regional
campuses. He asked for members' support.
Representative Hannan was in support of the amendment
because she believed it dovetailed closely and supported
UAF's R1 efforts. She highlighted that indigenous studies
programs were one of the areas of growing Ph.D.
opportunities. She detailed that Ph.D. programs were
available at UAF but the feeder colleges at UAF and UAA
offered cohorts of indigenous programs that could lead to
Ph.D. programs in a fairly quick progression. She believed
the support would help and enhance R1 efforts.
5:37:35 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon called the question on the amendment.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Ortiz, Foster
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Coulombe, Cronk, Edgmon,
Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 89 FAILED (5/6).
5:38:31 PM
Representative Galvin stated that she would not offer
Amendment 90 at the current time.
Representative Galvin MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 91 (copy
on file):
Agency: University of Alaska
Appropriation: University of Alaska
Allocation: Anchorage Campus
Transaction Details
Title: Improve Campus Public Safety and Physical
Security at UAA
Section: Section 1
Type: Inc
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 1,020.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 6
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 1,020.0
Representative Stapp OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Galvin explained the amendment would
increase funding for UAA public safety and mental health
response capacity at UAA and Southcentral community
campuses including Kenai and Mat-Su. The UAA police
department (UPD) provided safety and crisis response in the
Anchorage U-Med District including the UAA campus. The UPD
responded to over 21,000 calls annually including major
incidents relating to mental health, drugs, property
crimes, and weapon assaults. She elaborated that public
safety issues were increasing sharply, and funding was
needed to ensure student safety. The amendment was also
found in the red book by universities. She had a conceptual
amendment to change the line items to include university
receipts in addition to general funds.
5:41:24 PM
Representative Galvin MOVED to ADOPT conceptual Amendment 1
to Amendment 91.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED for discussion.
Representative Galvin explained that the conceptual
amendment would change the fund source to $816,000 UGF and
$204,000 from university receipts. The amendment
incorporated university receipts as a funding source
supporting public safety and physical security services.
Representative Stapp WITHDREW the OBJECTION.
Co-Chair Johnson OBJECTED.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Representative Tomaszewski, Galvin, Hannan,
Josephson, Ortiz, Representative Coulombe, Cronk, Stapp,
Edgmon, Foster
OPPOSED: Johnson
The MOTION PASSED (10/1). There being NO further OBJECTION,
conceptual Amendment 1 to Amendment N 91 was ADOPTED.
5:43:20 PM
Representative Galvin asked for support for the amendment
to ensure students were safe. The University decided the
funding was needed and she supported the needs. She
detailed that $615,000 would go toward the use of officers
and $405,000 went to physical security.
Representative Coulombe thanked the sponsor for bringing
the amendment forward. She stated it was a modest amount
for a security issue that spanned three different campuses.
She supported the amendment.
Representative Cronk MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Hannan, Galvin, Josephson, Ortiz, Coulombe,
Stapp, Edgmon
OPPOSED: Cronk, Tomaszewski, Foster, Johnson
The MOTION PASSED (7/4). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 91 was ADOPTED as amended.
5:45:10 PM
AT EASE
5:45:58 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendments N 92 and N 93
(copy on file).
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 94
(copy on file):
Agency: University of Alaska
Appropriation: University of Alaska
Allocation: Fairbanks Campus
Transaction Details
Title: UAF Ensuring Alaska's Food Security and
Resilience
Section: Section 1
Type: IncOTI
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 625.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 3
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 425.0
1048 Univ Rcpt 200.0
Explanation
This investment will respond to the needs of the
agriculture industry in Alaska, improve food security,
and independence, and strengthen Alaska's food system.
This funding will support hiring additional
agricultural research faculty and contributing to
expanding soil research, varietal trials, and product
development within
Alaska as part of the Institute of Agriculture,
Natural Resources, and Extension's mission. ROI:
Faculty will provide the expertise needed to support
Alaskans' success in pursuing and expanding farming,
agriculture-related businesses, and sustainability in
Alaska. This allows UAF more competitive federal
funding estimated at $200K/year. This will improve the
economic yield for farmers, promote self-sufficiency,
and provide an economic boost for the state.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson noted that the amendment had not
previously been seen in subcommittee. The University was
seeking a $425,000 increase in the operating budget for the
UAF Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Extension campus to ensure Alaska's food security program.
The program would use waste products from seafood and
mariculture industries and would turn them into soil
amendments. He read the amendment explanation above. He
asked for members' support.
5:48:51 PM
Representative Stapp opposed the amendment because it added
three permanent full-time positions to UAF in the
agricultural department. He remarked that it was a robust
program and he encouraged members to visit to see the work
being done. He stated that the University had a lot of
positions in its budget and numerous vacancies. He
explained that the University had enough vacant positions
it could reclassify for the agriculture section. He
appreciated the sponsor for offering the amendment, but he
would vote in opposition.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Hannan, Josephson
OPPOSED: Coulombe, Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Galvin,
Ortiz, Edgmon, Foster, Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 94 FAILED (2/9).
5:50:42 PM
Representative Stapp MOVED to RESCIND action on Amendment
67 (copy on file). [Note: Amendment N 67 was previously
adopted on a vote of 6/5 during the 4/2/24 10:30 a.m.
meeting. See separate minutes for detail.]
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 67
(copy on file):
Agency: Law
Appropriation: Civil Division
Allocation: Dep. Attny General's Office
Transaction Details
Title: Delete Increase for Statehood Defense (FY25-
FY27) Section: Section 1
Type: Dec
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: -1,500.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund -1,500.0
Explanation
The Governor sought for a temporary increment of
$2,018,000 to increase funding for Statehood Defense
each year between FY25 -FY27. This appropriation would
be used to challenge federal environmental decisions
by the Environmental Protection Agency and other
federal agencies. The department has claimed that
cases taken on under the umbrella of statehood defense
are "not controversial," but this is factually
inaccurate.
The House Finance Department of Law subcommittee
decremented $518,000 from the Governor's request, and
this amendment seeks to eliminate the rest of the
appropriation.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Stapp MOVED to ADOPT conceptual Amendment 1
to Amendment N 67. The conceptual amendment would remove
the $1.5 million decrement to statehood defense and would
replace it with a $500,000 decrement to statehood defense.
He referenced a handout he had provided to committee
members (copy on file) regarding discussions he had with
the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and DOL
pertaining to existing actions and many reasons why he
believed the funding was valuable. He was interested in
compromising. He noted that the representative from Tok had
decremented the amount of money during the subcommittee
process and the House Finance Committee had voted to
decrement the full amount on 4/2/24. He was requesting a
second bite at the apple and asked members to review the
information from DEC and DOL in terms of what the money was
spent on. He highlighted that DOL reported that actions
were coming out on a weekly basis. Additionally, many of
the statehood defense issues DEC dealt with were technical
and pertained to legal analyses and technical resources
that DEC was currently unequipped to handle without the
funding. He reminded committee members that the funding was
allocated to numerous cases. He noted he had passed
information out related to the various cases. He asked for
members' support on the conceptual amendment.
5:53:33 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon OBJECTED for discussion. He supported the
conceptual amendment.
5:54:11 PM
AT EASE
5:56:44 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Edgmon WITHDREW the OBJECTION to conceptual
Amendment 1 to Amendment N 67.
Co-Chair Edgmon called the question on the underlying
amendment.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Coulombe, Edgmon,
Johnson
OPPOSED: Josephson, Hannan, Ortiz, Galvin, Foster
The MOTION PASSED (6/5). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 67 was ADOPTED as amended.
5:58:41 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to RESCIND action on
Amendment N 25 (copy on file). [Note: Amendment N 25 was
offered and failed to be adopted during the 4/1/24 morning
meeting. See separate minutes for detail.]
Representative Cronk OBJECTED.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Coulombe, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson,
Edgmon, Foster, Johnson
OPPOSED: Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski
The MOTION PASSED (8/3). There being NO further OBJECTION,
action on Amendment N 25 was RESCINDED.
6:01:20 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 25
(copy on file):
Agency: Commerce, Community & Econ Dev
Appropriation: Community and Regional Affairs
Allocation: Community & Regional Affairs
Transaction Details
Title: Grant to the Municipality of Anchorage:
State Match for East 56th Avenue Shelter
Section: Section 1
Type: IncOTI
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 0.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 4,000.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 4,000.0
Explanation
The former Solid Waste Services Administration
building at 1111 E 56th Avenue has been identified and
used as an emergency cold weather shelter in Anchorage
this year. The current operating costs of the shelter
are estimated to be $3.94 million for the total cost
between October 15 - April 30. This funding is
covered. However, the shelter is also able to be used
as a low-barrier shelter that could be used between
May 1 - October 15. The cost for doing so would amount
to another $3.6 million.
The Anchorage Assembly and Mayor have jointly
requested (through Anchorage Resolution 2023-37 and
the 2024 Anchorage Legislative Program) a $4 million
match for the Alaska Legislature to keep the shelter
running year-round. This amendment would allow this to
happen.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson explained that the amendment was a
repeat request of $4 million for the Municipality of
Anchorage to operate a year-round shelter. The shelter
would close. Anchorage Assemblymember [Anna] Brawley was
currently describing the urgency of the increment to the
Anchorage delegation. He relayed that the municipality had
invested considerable sums as Representative Coulombe had
previously noted, including in the proposal at hand. He
recognized that although it was easier to survive in the
summer, the increment had a lifesaving component. He
indicated that about half of the homeless population in
Anchorage was not from Anchorage. He was making the request
on behalf of the Anchorage Assembly and Mayor Bronson.
Representative Coulombe emphasized how crucial the
amendment was for Anchorage. She noted that everyone in the
state was impacted by what was happening in Anchorage. She
urged the committees' support.
Representative Galvin emphasized that finally people had
come together on a plan, and it was serving the entire
state because of who the particular homeless shelter
housed. She highlighted she and others had heard from
constituents that homelessness was one of the top crises.
She thought it was the one space in the operating budget
where the legislature could make a difference. She
understood there were other things happening in the capital
budget side. She believed the amendment would send a
message that policymakers were looking to do what they
could to make a difference. She strongly supported the
amendment.
Representative Ortiz stated that he voted for the amendment
previously and would vote for it again. He asked how the
amendment helped the homeless situation in Ketchikan,
Dillingham, or Juneau.
6:04:39 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon believed the amendment had a statewide
impact. He knew from firsthand experience being on the site
in Anchorage. He stated that the homelessness problem in
Anchorage had ties to rural Alaska. He did not have an
exact percentage, but the appropriation would lend itself
to assisting with the problem in other areas.
Co-Chair Edgmon called the question on the amendment.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION to Amendment
N 25.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Ortiz,
Edgmon, Foster
OPPOSED: Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Johnson
The MOTION PASSED (7/4). There being NO further OBJECTION,
Amendment N 25 was ADOPTED.
6:06:01 PM
AT EASE
6:07:36 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson noted that the committee was on Amendment
N 95.
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment N 95
(copy on file):
Agency: University of Alaska Appropriation:
University of Alaska Allocation: Anchorage Campus
Transaction Details
Title: Anchorage Athletics Funding Increase
Section: Section 1
Type: Inc
Line Items (Amounts are in thousands)
Personal Services: 0.0
Travel: 0.0
Services: 2,500.0
Commodities: 0.0
Capital Outlay: 0.0
Grants: 0.0
Miscellaneous: 0.0
Positions
Permanent Full-Time: 0
Permanent Part-Time: 0
Temporary: 0
Funding (Amounts are in thousands)
1004 Gen Fund 2,500.0
Explanation
Collegiate level athletics is an integral part of
college, but it is also a great way to build community
cohesion and attract talented students from inside and
outside the state.
This amendment would appropriate funding for Seawolves
athletics which have seen a 90% cut to the athletics
department since FY16. This funding would match
private gifts and sponsorships.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson relayed that some of the Anchorage
delegation met with UAA Chancellor Sean Parnell in early
March regarding an FY 25 operating request for Seawolves
athletics. He relayed that general funds for athletics had
been cut 90 percent since FY 16. The increment in the
amendment was designed to match private gifts and
sponsorships. He elaborated that $4.3 million had been
nearly zeroed out over recent years for the athletics
program. He relayed that state funds of $256,000 UGF
accounted for less than 3 percent of the budget for Seawolf
Athletics and the athletic arena. Chancellor Parnell had
told the delegation the funding was unsustainable and put
UAA athletic programs at risk. The chancellor communicated
that state funding was needed to match and sustain Seawolf
Athletics. He highlighted that several years back the UAA
gymnastics, cross country, and hockey teams had been
threatened with demise if they did not fundraise
aggressively. He noted they had successfully staved off
certain death. He asked for members' support.
6:10:33 PM
Representative Stapp did not support the amendment. He
asked how full the sports complex was during games.
Representative Josephson responded that hockey had returned
to the Sullivan arena. The events he attended men's and
women's basketball games at the sports arena under
discussion. He described the events as being popular. He
noted Anchorage lost its shootout, which was a renowned
national event. He believed UAA was raising all it could
for ticket sales through designated general funds.
Representative Coulombe asked if the funding was a one-time
increment.
Representative Josephson responded, "no." The proposed
increment would be in the base budget.
Representative Coulombe supported UAA but did not support
including the increment in the base.
Representative Galvin wondered if the maker of the
amendment would be open to a conceptual amendment to change
the funding to a one-time increment. She stated that former
Governor Parnell was careful with his requests, and he felt
the request was important. She stated that the athletes
representing the university system had been incredible.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED. He called the question on
the amendment.
Representative Josephson did not have an objection to the
conceptual amendment.
6:14:21 PM
AT EASE
6:14:41 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Stapp WITHDREW the OBJECTION.
There being NO further OBJECTION, conceptual Amendment 1 to
Amendment N 95 was ADOPTED.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION to Amendment
N 95 as amended.
Representative Josephson remarked that there was much he
could read from the University of Alaska FY 25 operating
budget description about UAA's contribution to the funding
including private donations and fundraising efforts. He
noted that the request was also included on a one page
priority list from the Board of Regents. He stated it fell
under the category of reputational enhancement through
nationally ranked athletics. He asked for members' support.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Coulombe, Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Ortiz
OPPOSED: Cronk, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Edgmon, Foster,
Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 95 as amended FAILED (5/6).
6:18:07 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED Amendment N 96 (copy on
file):
DEPARTMENT: Education & Early Development
APPROPRIATION: Libraries, Archives, and Museums
STRUCTURE: Create Live Homework Help Allocation
ADD: $75,000, 1004 Gen Fund (UGF)
DEPARTMENT: Education & Early Development
APPROPRIATION: Libraries, Archives, and Museums
ALLOCATION: Library Operations
DELETE: $75,000, 1004 Gen Fund (UGF)
EXPLANATION:
The Institute of Museum and Library Service (IMLS)
Grants to States Program uses a population-based
formula to distribute around $180 million among the
State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) each
year. The Alaska State Library serves as the SLAA for
Alaska. The Division of Libraries, Archives and
Museums directly manages the IMLS funds that are used
to support statewide initiatives and services,
distributed through competitive subawards, or used to
support cooperative agreements with Alaskan libraries
or consortia. The IMLS Grants to States award for
Alaska has increased an average of $79.0 each year
from 2019 to 2023. The 2023 IMLS Grants to States
award was $1,280.2, an increase of $171.6 from the
2022 IMLS award. The division transferred federal
authority from Museum Operations to Library Operations
component in FY2024 to cover the increased award
amount. However, there will not be sufficient federal
authority in FY2025 to cover another increase in the
IMLS Grants to State award. This proposal requests
additional federal receipts authority to have
sufficient authority to accept the 2024 IMLS Grants to
States award.
This amendment transfers Live Homework Help funding
from the Library Operations allocation to a separate
allocation within the Library, Archives and Museums
appropriation. The entire $75,000 UGF associated with
Live Homework Help is transferred. There are no
associated positions.
Representatives Stapp and Cronk OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson requested a brief at ease.
6:18:28 PM
AT EASE
6:18:33 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson acknowledged Representative Jessee Sumner
in the room.
Representative Josephson explained that the amendment would
cost the state nothing. He had received a call from one of
the chief librarians in the University of Alaska system who
had informed him that the Live Homework Help program had
been subsumed into the library operations allocation and
would no longer be in its own allocation. He relayed that
individuals who "love and defend" the program did not know
what the ramifications would be. He reported that the
program had received state funding since former Governor
Parnell was in office. The program was successful and
provided needed on-demand help for student homework and
class assignments. The program could help increase
retention and graduation rates that were too low. Students
who were looking for help at their library's reference desk
after school and on weekends could be directed to the Live
Homework Help website.
Representative Josephson elaborated that schools,
homeschoolers, and universities were seeking supplemental
learning opportunities to help students succeed. He
emphasized that nearly 9,000 tutoring sessions had been
conducted online across the state the previous year. The
program was available for K-12 students and for intro level
university students. The service was offered every day of
the week. Based on feedback from students, 98 percent of
the reporting students were able to complete their homework
on time, 96 percent thought the service helped improve
their grades, 98 percent felt the service increased their
confidence, and 98 percent would recommend the program to a
friend. He stated that advocates of the program were
concerned that being subsumed inside another allocation
would leave them in the dark. The request was to receive
their own allocation.
6:22:08 PM
Representative Galvin shared that she had visited many
schools throughout the state, and she had heard from many
students that they had used the program. She highlighted
that with 9,000 students using the service, it was a cost
of $0.83 each. She stressed the program was a "golden
jewel." She believed the request made sense. She supported
the amendment.
Co-Chair Edgmon called the question.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Galvin, Hannan, Josephson, Ortiz, Edgmon
OPPOSED: Cronk, Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Foster,
Johnson
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 96 FAILED (5/6).
6:24:05 PM
Co-Chair Johnson believed the amendment process was
concluded. She thanked members.
6:24:26 PM
AT EASE
6:27:03 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Coulombe MOVED to RESCIND action on
Amendment N 18 (copy on file). [Note: Amendment N 18 was
previously considered and failed on a vote of 5/6 during
the 4/1/24 morning meeting. See separate minutes for
detail.]
Representative Coulombe explained that the amendment would
cut slightly over $40 million UGF in vacancies. She stated
they were finished with the other amendments and as of
Amendment 70 the committee had added $48 million to the
budget. Her amendment would remove $44 million. She stated
that the amendment could provide headroom in the budget.
She remarked that a lot of priorities had been passed
during the amendment process. She requested another vote on
the amendment within the context.
Co-Chair Johnson acknowledged Representative Mike Prax in
the room.
Representative Josephson was grateful to Representative
Coulombe offering Amendment N 18 the second time; however,
the amendment would cut almost $12 million from the
Department of Corrections. The committee had already cut
$32 million from the department. He stressed that the cut
to Family and Community Services included the Alaska
Psychiatric Institute, Office of Children's Services, and
Juvenile Justice. He found the proposed cut to the
governor's office to be impressive as it suggested someone
was an equal opportunity player. The budget already cut $10
million from Medicaid and the amendment would cut $4
million from the Department of Health. The committee had
added some money for prosecutors under the Department of
Law and had cut some other funding. The amendment would cut
$2 million from the Department of Law. He did not see the
problem letting the money lapse or letting it go into one
of two other funds previously reviewed by Mr. Painter. He
could not support the amendment.
6:29:55 PM
AT EASE
6:30:25 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnson remarked that there had been a motion to
call the question by Representative Cronk.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Tomaszewski, Stapp, Cronk, Coulombe, Johnson
OPPOSED: Ortiz, Josephson, Hannan, Galvin, Edgmon, Foster
The MOTION to adopt Amendment N 18 FAILED (5/6).
Co-Chair Johnson thanked members for their work. She
relayed that the amendment process was complete, and
amendments would be incorporated into a new committee
substitute to be considered on Friday.
Co-Chair Foster discussed the schedule for bill hearings.
HB 268 was HEARD and HELD for further consideration.
HB 270 was HEARD and HELD for further consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
6:34:59 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB307 Sectional Analysis ver A.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 307 |
| HB307 Transmittal Letter.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 307 |
| HB 368 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 368 |
| HB 368 Summary of Changes H to Y.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 368 |
| HB0368 14Mar2024 testimony by S Colt ACEP.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 368 |
| CSHB 368(ENE) Sectional Analysis Version Y.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 368 |
| Op Amendment 96 032724.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 268 |
| HB 268 Amendment 1 to AMD 91 Galvin 040324.pdf |
HFIN 4/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 268 |