Legislature(2007 - 2008)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/25/2008 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Statewide Public Testimony | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 310 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 312 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 25, 2008
1:45 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:45:09 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Les Gara
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Mary Nelson
Representative Bill Thomas Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Harris
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Beth Kerttula
JUNEAU:
Marianne Mills, Program Director, Southeast Senior Services;
Pamela Watts, Administrator, Juneau Alliance for Mental
Health (JAMI); Jeremy Gieser, Local Chapter President,
Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), Juneau Chapter;
Lorene Palmer, President & CEO, Juneau Convention and
Visitors Bureau; Walter Majoros, Executive Director, Juneau
Youth Services & President, Alaska Behavioral Health
Association; Jorden Nigro, Residential Director, Juneau
Youth Alaska Services, President, Alaska Association for
Homes for Children; Heather Swanson, Help Desk Consultant,
University of Alaska-Southeast; Kathrin McCarthy, Assistant
Professor, University of Alaska-Southeast; Jed Whittaker,
Self; Ron Duncan, Self; Mandy O'Neal Cole, Director Services
Manager, Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE),
Inc.; Ellen Naughter, Program Services Manager, Aiding Women
in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), Inc.; Joy Lyon,
Executive Director, Association for the Education of Young
Children (AEYC) in Southeast Alaska; Kevin Skeet, Vice
President, Student Government, University of Alaska-
Southeast (UAS); Mary McDowell, Vice President, Pacific
Seafood Processing Association; Jerry McCune, United
Fishermen of Alaska (UFA); Jacqueline Hardy, Social Worker,
Anchorage Office for Children's Services; Michael Powell,
Social Workers Board & Community Worker; Matt Felix,
Director, Division of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Juneau
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Paul Kendall, Self, Anchorage
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
The following overview was taken in log note format.
Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee
through the 25th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814.
After the 25th Legislative Session they will be available
through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
^STATEWIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
JUNEAU
TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION
1:45:09 PM Co-Chair Convened the House Finance Committee in
Chenault order to hear testimony from
participants in Juneau on the operating
budget.
JUNEAU
1:47:13 PM MARIANNE Noted that she represents a group
MILLS, PROGRAM called Age-Net that advocates for
DIRECTOR, vulnerable older Alaskans. She
SOUTHEAST indicated support for the increased
SENIOR Medicaid reimbursements @ 4%.
SERVICES Ms. Mills urged increases for the
Senior Services Community Grant
Program, which would be considerably
cheaper to the State of Alaska compared
to costs associated with nursing homes.
1:51:47 PM PAMELA WATTS, Noted support for the 4% Medicaid
ADMINISTRATOR, reimbursements for seniors. She stated
JUNEAU that costs for services have risen for
ALLIANCE FOR the severely mentally ill adults group
MENTAL HEALTH living. She indicated supported for the
(JAMI) Senior and Behavioral Health Grant.
1:56:31 PM JEREMY GIESER, Spoke in support of funding to the
LOCAL CHAPTER Alaska Travel Industry Association in
PRESIDENT, the amount of $8 million for Alaska
ALASKA TRAVEL tourism marketing and a $1 million
INDUSTRY dollar independent grant. He asked that
ASSOCIATION there be greater funding than the
(ATIA), JUNEAU proposed amounts.
1:59:25 PM LORENE PALMER, Spoke in support of funding to the
PRESIDENT & Alaska Travel Industry Association,
CEO, JUNEAU Governor's request of $8 million for
CONVENTION AND Alaska tourism marketing and a $1
VISITORS million dollar independent grant. She
BUREAU added that in reality, the industry
needs $20 million dollars in today's
funds.
2:05:00 PM WALTER Addressed the behavioral health issues
MAJOROS, contained in the proposed budget. He
EXECUTIVE noted his supported for the 4% Medicaid
DIRECTOR, funding, which includes several
JUNEAU YOUTH increases to lost federal funding. He
SERVICES & testified in support of greater funding
PRESIDENT, for behavior and mental grants; many
ALASKA clients do not qualify for Medicaid
BEHAVIORAL that the medical health grants would be
HEALTH used in those circumstances.
ASSOCIATION Mr. Majoros pointed out the importance
of the community and early intervention
grants and suicide prevention programs.
He added greater support for funding of
substance abuse prevention and
treatment programs.
2:09:35 PM JORDEN NIGRO, Echoed previous testimony for full
RESIDENTIAL funding for the Medicaid health budget.
DIRECTOR, She added supported of the incremental
JUNEAU YOUTH grants not included in the proposed
ALASKA House budget.
SERVICES, She indicated support for funding for
PRESIDENT, the behavior and mental programs and
ALASKA the support of funding for behavior and
ASSOCIATION mental grant programs.
FOR HOMES FOR
CHILDREN
2:13:16 PM HEATHER Spoke in support of full funding for
SWANSON, HELP the University's proposed budget. She
DESK pointed out that the funding level was
CONSULTANT, less than Governor's funding proposal
UNIVERSITY OF and should be increased for University
ALASKA-programs.
SOUTHEAST
2:17:29 PM KATHRIN Spoke in support of reinstating the
MCCARTHY, $600 thousand dollars of the Governor's
ASSISTANT proposal for the Head Start program.
PROFESSOR, She explained how the support of the
UNIVERSITY OF funding those dollars dramatically
ALASKA-effect early childhood development as
SOUTHEAST it is a comprehensive early childhood
development program.
2:21:02 PM JED WHITTAKER, Spoke in support of full funding for
SELF the University of Alaska; while he
encouraged that the Legislature look at
the salaries currently being paid to
the University president.
2:23:17 PM RON DUNCAN, Noted support of funding for substance
SELF abuse prevention and treatment programs
statewide. He directed his statements
to the favor of Rainforest Recovery
Unit and their funding.
2:26:31 PM MANDY O'NEAL Spoke in support of Governor's proposed
COLE, DIRECT funding for domestic violence and
SERVICES sexual assault programs in the State.
MANAGER, She stressed that training programs are
AIDING WOMEN very important in that funding.
IN ABUSE AND
RAPE
EMERGENCIES
(AWARE), INC.
2:30:36 PM ELLEN Spoke in support of Governor Palin's
NAUGHTER, proposed increase of $436 thousand
PROGRAM dollars funding for domestic violence
SERVICES and sexual assault programs. The
MANAGER, increase would encourage the shelter
AIDING WOMEN programs to increase and expand
IN ABUSE AND services.
RAPE
EMERGENCIES
(AWARE), INC.
2:33:37 PM JOY LYON, Spoke in support of the Governor's
EXECUTIVE proposal for funding the Head Start
DIRECTOR, programs statewide. She stressed the
ASSOCIATION needs and rights of all the State's
FOR THE children.
EDUCATION OF
YOUNG CHILDREN
(AEYC)
SOUTHEAST
ALASKA
2:37:49 PM KEVIN SKEET, Spoke in support of full funding for
VICE the University funding as proposed by
PRESIDENT, the Governor in the amount of $7
STUDENT million dollars. He explained that the
GOVERNMENT, University is addressing climate change
UNIVERSITY OF research.
ALASKA-
SOUTHEAST
2:40:50 PM MARY MCDOWELL, Spoke in supported for fully funding
VICE the Department of Fish and Game budget
PRESIDENT, as proposed by Governor. She addressed
PACIFIC the economic benefits to the State when
SEAFOOD supporting the fishery programs. She
PROCESSORS concluded that it is a wise investment
ASSOCIATION for the State to support the fisheries.
(PSPA)
2:44:27 PM JERRY MCCUNE, Indicated support for the Governor's
UNITED proposed operating budget for the
FISHERMEN OF Department of Fish and Game and the
ALASKA proposed amendments to replace federal
monies.
2:47:50 PM JACQUELINE Voiced support for funding of the
HARDY, SOCIAL Medicaid increases.
WORKER, She addressed the foster care program
ANCHORAGE funding, pointing out that there has
OFFICE FOR not been a rate increase since 1999.
CHILDREN'S Ms. Hardy added support of full funding
SERVICES for all substance abuse and prevention
treatment programs.
2:51:42 PM MICHAEL Testified in support of funding for
POWELL, SOCIAL substance abuse prevention and
WORKERS BOARD treatment programs as they relate to
& COMMUNITY statewide crime. Many of the people in
WORKER prisons in Alaska are there because of
substance abuse addictions.
3:01:03 PM MATT FELIX, Testified in support of funding for
STATE substance abuse prevention and
DIRECTOR, treatment programs statewide. He
DIVISION OF encouraged that legislators support the
ALCOHOL AND budget as proposed by Governor Palin.
DRUG ABUSE,
JUNEAU
3:05:33 PM PAUL KENDALL, Voiced support for saving money in the
SELF, proposed budget rather than spending it
ANCHORAGE on too many social service projects. He
added that he would not recommend any
energy saving projects in the State.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:16 P.M.
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