Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519
05/08/2025 10:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB80 | |
| HB73 | |
| HB28 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 28 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
May 8, 2025
10:15 a.m.
10:15:12 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 10:15 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Andy Josephson, Co-Chair
Representative Calvin Schrage, Co-Chair
Representative Jamie Allard
Representative Jeremy Bynum
Representative Alyse Galvin
Representative Sara Hannan
Representative Nellie Unangiq Jimmie
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Will Stapp
Representative Frank Tomaszewski
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Sponsor; Emily Ricci, Deputy
Commissioner, Department of Health; Kim Champney, Executive
Director, Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities;
Representative Dan Saddler; Representative Justin
Ruffridge.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Kevin Richard, Director, Alcohol and Marijuana Control
Office, Anchorage; Phillip Tafs, Self, Anchorage; Kermit
Wilson, Executive Director, Advocacy Board, Juneau; Jared
Kosin, President and CEO, Alaska Hospital and Healthcare
Association, Anchorage; Michelle Baker, Executive Vice
President, Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage; Kay Riley,
Self, Juneau; Kerry Thomas, Acting Executive Director,
Alaska Commission on Post-Secondary Education, Juneau.
SUMMARY
CSSB(FIN) 80
EXTEND BOARDS
CSSB(FIN) 80 was REPORTED out of committee with
seven "do pass" recommendations, two "no
recommendation" recommendations, and one "amend"
recommendation, and with three previously
published fiscal impact notes: FN1(CED),
FN2(CED), and FN3(DOH).
HB 73 COMPLEX CARE RESIDENTIAL HOMES
HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 28 TEACHER/STATE EMPLOYEE STUDENT LOAN PRGRM
HB 28 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the meeting agenda.
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 80(FIN)
"An Act extending the termination date of the Big Game
Commercial Services Board; extending the termination
date of the Board of Massage Therapists; extending the
termination date of the Alaska Commission on Aging;
extending the termination date of the Marijuana
Control Board; and providing for an effective date."
10:16:42 AM
SENATOR JESSE BJORKMAN, SPONSOR, introduced the bill.
Co-Chair Foster asked if anyone could discuss the letter
included in the packet.
KEVIN RICHARD, DIRECTOR, ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA CONTROL
OFFICE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke to the
letter.
Representative Allard asked about the personal services and
the 10 full-time positions and one special investigator.
Mr. Richard responded that work was not passed on to the
Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Representative Allard asked if the three special
investigators used to fall under the DPS umbrella.
10:20:41 AM
Mr. Richard responded that at one point in time,
enforcement was handled under the DPS umbrella but it was
before his time.
Representative Allard asked whether and why they did not
carry weapons anymore
Mr. Richard responded that they were generally focused on
enforcement and regulation and not arresting people.
Representative Allard wanted to find out for sure if they
could arrest and carry firearms.
Senator Bjorkman did not have a specific answer, because
the circumstances varied based on the scenario.
Representative Allard relayed that her intent was that law
enforcement should use the full force of the law to do what
they needed to do.
10:25:45 AM
Co-Chair Josephson MOVED to REPORT CSSB(FIN)80 from
committee, Work Draft 34-LS0416\N, with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal notes.
CSSB(FIN) 80 was REPORTED out of committee with seven "do
pass" recommendations, two "no recommendation"
recommendations, and one "amend" recommendation, and with
three previously published fiscal impact notes: FN1(CED),
FN2(CED), and FN3(DOH).
HOUSE BILL NO. 73
"An Act relating to complex care residential homes;
and providing for an effective date."
10:27:13 AM
EMILY RICCI, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,
reviewed HB 73.
10:29:19 AM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
10:29:48 AM
KIM CHAMPNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA ASSOCIATION ON
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, spoke in support of the
legislation.
Representative Galvin asked about the bed limit of 15 per
home.
Ms. Champney responded that the hope was to leave the limit
as open ended as possible.
10:35:42 AM
Representative Hannan stressed that she wanted to provide
support for people with a wide range of needs.
10:38:38 AM
PHILLIP TAFS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the bill.
10:41:18 AM
KERMIT WILSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ADVOCACY BOARD, JUNEAU
(via teleconference), testified in support of the bill.
10:43:56 AM
JARED KOSIN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ALASKA HOSPITAL AND
HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
stated that the association supported the bill.
Representative Galvin asked how many Alaskans were waiting
for a spot.
Mr. Kosin responded that they did not have the data broken
down to reasonably assess the number.
Representative Galvin asked if he could estimate.
Mr. Kosin responded that he would follow up with the
information.
10:47:53 AM
Representative Allard asked if he could do it today to put
it on public record.
Mr. Kosin responded that the assessment of bed need was
approximately 1,491.
Representative Allard appreciated him putting it on the
record
10:48:57 AM
MICHELLE BAKER, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SOUTHCENTRAL
FOUNDATION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in
support of HB 73.
10:52:30 AM
Representative Hannan wondered whether the limit was 16 or
60.
Ms. Baker responded that it was 16 or less
Representative Galvin noted that they were concerned about
the size being too much and felt that the goal was for it
to feel like a home based environment.
Ms. Baker responded that the intent was to create as much
flexibility as allowed within the law.
Co-Chair Foster noted that Representative Dan Saddler was
present
Representative Jimmie asked about village centers.
Ms. Baker responded that the framework allowed for a new
license type at the village center.
10:56:45 AM
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
10:57:08 AM
Representative Bynum queried the definition of putting not
more than fifteen, and striking it from the language.
Ms. Ricci responded the department was in support of
providing flexibility to organizations.
Representative Bynum asked if there was anything that would
prohibit them.
Ms. Ricci replied that it would not inhibit the department
of doing the work.
11:02:53 AM
Co-Chair Josephson asked for clarification on the position
of the department.
Ms. Ricci responded that the department did not support
integrating kids and adults.
11:05:18 AM
AT EASE
11:08:27 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Josephson stressed that the removal of the cap on
residents would run opposite to recommendations.
Ms. Ricci responded that they had thoughtfully engaged with
stakeholders and provider groups to ensure that the
stakeholders would provide the best service.
Representative Tomaszewski asked about the timeframe.
Ms. Ricci responded that they believed that Sections 6 and
7 could be removed and a July 1 date could be implemented
into the legislation.
Representative Tomaszewski wondered whether it would be
better to move the bill out of committee and have an
amendment on the floor.
11:12:55 AM
Representative Allard queried the definition of
"stakeholders."
Ms. Ricci responded that stakeholders meant anyone who was
working to meet the needs of individuals, and the
complexities of different provider groups.
11:16:49 AM
Representative Allard understood that someone was in a
homeless shelter who needed help, care could be delayed if
there were not enough beds
Ms. Ricci responded in the affirmative.
Representative Allard understood that children could not be
with adults.
Representative Galvin asked about the limit of fifteen.
11:21:16 AM
Ms. Ricci would hesitate to use the word investors, but
were providers who see a need to offer a service.
Representative Galvin wondered why the number 15 was
originally chosen.
Ms. Ricci responded that it was because of the limit of 16
beds or less.
Representative Hannan was in support of the bill being
amended because the subtleties of the bill.
11:26:06 AM
Representative Johnson agreed that the committee should
make the changes rather than doing it on the floor.
Co-Chair Foster stressed that the amendments would need to
be rolled into a committee substitute.
Ms. Ricci thanked the committee.
HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
11:29:37 AM
HOUSE BILL NO. 28
"An Act establishing a student loan repayment pilot
program; and providing for an effective date."
11:29:45 AM
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
11:30:11 AM
KAY RILEY, SELF, JUNEAU (via teleconference), testified in
support of the bill.
11:31:32 AM
KERRY THOMAS, ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION
ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, JUNEAU (via teleconference),
was online to answer questions about the bill.
Co-Chair Foster stated that Tuesday, May 13, 5pm was the
amendment deadline.
ADJOURNMENT
11:32:46 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 80 AMCO Response to HFIN 5.8.25.pdf |
HFIN 5/8/2025 10:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |