Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/17/2016 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB170 | |
| SB101 | |
| SB124 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 101 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 124 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 124
"An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska
Commission on Aging; and providing for an effective
date."
9:52:43 AM
DENISE DANIELLO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
AGING, JUNEAU, explained that the sources of funding for
the commission included General Funds, General Fund mental
health funds and an interagency receipt from the Division
of Senior and Disability Services, as well as Mental Health
Trust authority authorized receipts for one position.
9:53:51 AM
JACQUELLI ZIEGENFUS, ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS MANAGER,
DIVISION OF SENIOR AND DISABILITIES SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, (DHSS) explained the fiscal
note in detail. She noted that the total operating
expenditures each year was $539.7 thousand; $42.9 from the
General Fund, $348.1 from interagency receipts (this was
funding that was passed on from the Division of Senior and
Disability Services to the commission), $29.6 General
Fund/Mental Health, and $119.1 from Mental Health Trust
Authority dollars.
9:55:12 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered why there were four personnel
staff to support 11 board members.
Ms. Daniello replied that the 11 person board had been
supported by four staffers for many years. She said that in
2004, the commission had been under the Department of
Administration, and at that time the decision had been made
to transfer the commission over to the Department of Health
and Social Services with a focus on advocacy, planning, and
education for senior programs. She shared that the
commission provided a significant amount of service in the
state by developing a state plan for senior services, which
required substantial staff support in developing needs
assessment activities, and by conducting community forums
and advising the governor and the legislature on senior
programs. She detailed the important work for seniors
performed by the board and their staff.
9:56:57 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon specifically wondered how often the
plans needed to be rewritten. She questioned the need for
four staff positions to serve the board. She reminded Ms.
Daniello that all other state agencies had taken a 22
percent, year-to-year, Operating Budget reduction. She said
that at least one staff member should be immediately
removed from the fiscal note, if not two, because the
interagency receipts were actually General Fund dollars
that came from other departments.
Ms. Daniello explained that the four staff were involved in
the development and implementation of the state planning.
She shared that there were six goals in the state plan,
with 24 strategies and 28 performance measures. She shared
that the efforts were based on the development of services
to promote the health and safety of Alaska's seniors. She
announced that she was shocked by the potential loss of
personnel. She said that the commission worked to educate
Alaskans about senior issues through many campaigns and
coalitions. She added that employees talked with seniors
about Medicaid reform efforts and hosted community forums.
She shared that the commission hosted a regular senior
legislative advocacy teleconference, which helped to guide
policy and budget recommendations.
9:59:53 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered what was specifically required
of the commission under state statute in order to comply
with the federal Older Americans Act.
Ms. Daniello responded that the commission was responsible
for the development of the aforementioned state plan, for
the education of Alaskans about senior issues, and to be a
visible advocate for seniors.
10:00:24 AM
AT EASE
10:01:42 AM
RECONVENED
10:01:45 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon summarized AS 47.45.240, which spoke to
the power, duties, and limitations of the commission:
(1) approve a comprehensive statewide plan that
identifies the concerns and needs of older Alaskans
and, with reference to the approved plan, prepare and
submit to the governor and legislature an annual
analysis and evaluation of the services that are
provided to older Alaskans;
(2) make recommendations directly to the governor and
the legislature with respect to legislation,
regulations, and appropriations for programs or
services that benefit older Alaskans;
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked how often the comprehensive
statewide plan was reviewed.
Ms. Daniello responded that the plan was reviewed annually.
10:02:38 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether at the time of review the
plan was readopted, or was there was five-year plan.
Ms. Daniello replied that the plan was a four-year plan.
She furthered that the commission gathered data related to
performance measures associated with recognized goals. She
added that the commission brought together stakeholders to
discuss any work that had been completed on the plan.
10:03:02 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon read from the statute:
(3) encourage the development of municipal commissions
serving older Alaskans and community-oriented programs
and services for the benefit of older Alaskans;
(4) employ an executive director who serves at the
pleasure of the commission;
(5) help older Alaskans lead dignified, independent,
and useful lives;
(6) request and receive reports and audits from state
agencies and local institutions concerned with the
conditions and needs of older Alaskans;
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked what type of reports and audits
the commission received from state agencies.
Ms. Daniello responded that the commission published the
annual Senior Snapshot, which was contained in an annual
report that the commission provided to the legislature. She
said that for the document, data was gathered from variety
of demographic and economic health indicators. She said
that other reports dealing with health and safety were also
prepared by the commission.
10:03:40 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon read from statute:
(7) with the approval of the commissioner of health
and social services, set policy for the administration
of federal programs subject to state control as
provided under 42 U.S.C. 3001 - 3058ee (Older
Americans Act), as amended;
(8) with the approval of the commissioner of health
and social services, set policy for the administration
of state programs as provided under AS 47.65 ;
(9) give assistance, on request, to the senior housing
office in the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation in
administration of the senior housing loan program
under AS 18.56.710 - 18.56.799 and in the performance
of the office's other duties under AS 18.56.700 ; and
(10) provide to the Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, for its review and consideration,
recommendations concerning the integrated
comprehensive mental health program for persons who
are described in (d) of this section and the use of
the money in the mental health trust settlement income
account in a manner consistent with regulations
adopted under AS 47.30.031 .
10:04:35 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the personnel position titles.
Ms. Daniello responded that there was a planner 2, a
planner 1, and an administrative assistant.
10:04:54 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried the responsibilities of the 2
planner positions.
Ms. Daniello explained that the planner 1 focused on
planning advocacy for serving senior mental health trust
beneficiaries. She stated that the planner 2 position was
in charge of the other responsibilities under the state
statute. She said that the planner 2 position worked
directly with her to develop the state plan and provided
additional planning and advocacy support.
10:06:21 AM
Senator Bishop wondered whether a reduction in staff would
jeopardize the federal reporting requirement and jeopardize
grant funding.
Ms. Daniello replied that it would compromise the
commission's ability to compile necessary information and
the overall quality of the state plan. She stressed that
the state plan was a comprehensive document and was used by
other state and local agencies that applied for
foundational and corporate grants.
10:07:53 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether there were any
reductions that could be found in the commission's budget.
Ms. Daniello replied that there had been reductions in
travel expenses. She added that the commission had worked
to contain travel expenses.
10:08:39 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon requested the travel savings dollar
amount.
Ms. Daniello replied $3,000 in FY 17.
10:08:58 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether cuts had been made prior
to FY 17.
Ms. Daniello replied in the negative.
10:09:05 AM
Senator Olson asked whether the legislative audit had
recommended a decrease in staff.
Ms. Daniello responded that the audit had made no such
recommendation.
10:09:30 AM
Senator Olson queried whether auditors had question whether
the work could be done with less staff.
Ms. Daniello replied in the negative.
10:09:43 AM
Senator Bishop requested any corrective actions the
commission had taken to solve audit findings 1 and 2.
Ms. Daniello responded that the commission had amended its
policies and procedures to include corrective action
strategies to post all meeting notices for both the board
and the committee. She said that the commission now
required the chair of the commission, as well as for the
legislative advocacy committee, to sign off on the watch
list prior to its distribution.
10:10:31 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon interjected that for the past three
years the commission had been asked to take a $3,000 budget
cut.
Ms. Ziegenfus explained that, in FY 17, the commission put
forward a $3,000 travel reduction.
10:11:16 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked whether there had been any
reductions in the past three years.
Ms. Ziegenfus replied in the negative.
10:11:34 AM
AT EASE
10:12:05 AM
RECONVENED
10:12:19 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon reiterated the concerns for the four
staff for 11 board members.
10:12:54 AM
SENATOR BILL STOLTZE, understood the fiscal reasoning
behind the committee's examination of the personnel.
10:14:37 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon invited Kris Curtis, Legislative
Auditor, Alaska Division of Legislative Audit to speak to
the issue.
KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, introduced herself.
10:15:14 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon stressed that all of the councils and
commissions in the state were experiencing repercussions
from the fiscal crisis.
Ms. Curtis replied that Page 10 of the audit contained
historical expenditure information, including how much
General Funds and federal funds the commission received.
She said that the division did not approach audits with the
idea of recommending cuts to positions; however, there were
hundreds of boards and commissions in the state that were
not currently up for a sunset review, and that perhaps it
was time for a full review of boards and commissions. She
felt that an evenhanded review of the staffing levels and
needs of commissions was a wise idea given the current
fiscal climate. She testified that the elimination of one
position from the commission would not result in a loss of
federal funds. She stressed that a cut to the commission
would be a cut to the services provided to the population
that they served.
10:18:03 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon surmised that the co-chairs should send
a letter requesting a review for how staff was utilized to
support boards and commissions across the state. She
wondered when such an assessment could be ready for the
legislature.
Ms. Curtis responded that the Division of Legislative Audit
had also faced budget cuts, and she did not think that the
work could be completed by next legislative session. She
added that the new IRIS system would present additional
challenges to the division. She added that the last full
review of boards and commission had been conducted in 1992.
10:19:33 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon said that the discussion would continue
into the interim.
10:20:24 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the committee was in
support of reducing the personnel by one or two
individuals. She asserted that she was not targeting the
commission, but had to find cuts somewhere.
10:21:00 AM
Co-Chair Kelly wondered whether the fiscal note could be
adjusted in conference committee once it was altered in
finance committee.
10:21:26 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon replied that she would contact
Legislative Legal about the inquiry.
10:21:56 AM
Vice-Chair Micciche wondered why the budget had increased
$100 thousand since FY 12.
Ms. Daniello replied that most of the increase was through
the personnel service line. She shared that 3 of the 4
staff had served on the commission for 10 years. She stated
that the planner 2 was a recent hire. She noted the steady
reduction in travel expenses and services. She attempted to
offer ideas for cost savings.
Co-Chair MacKinnon said no.
10:23:42 AM
Vice-Chair Micciche probed the increase from FY 12 that was
reflected in the audit.
10:24:09 AM
Ms. Curtis responded that the chart reflected the actual
numbers, not the budget, which meant that the increase
could be the reflection of the commission expending their
full authorization. She added that vacancies were often
reflected by a dip in personal services totals.
10:24:43 AM
Ms. Daniello added that the planner 2 position had been
vacant for an extended period of time, and was vacant
during the time when the commission was preparing to
develop the state plan. She stressed that the position was
critical to the development of the plan, and it had been
decided that the position would be contracted out in order
to complete the plan.
10:25:19 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered how long the position was
vacant.
Ms. Daniello replied that the position was vacant for
approximately eight months in 2015.
10:25:37 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried any recommendation Ms. Daniello
could offer on how to reduce the commission's budget by at
least 20 percent.
Ms. Daniello replied that there could be a sharing of an
administrative position with another agency. She suggested
furlough days or a cut to her own salary.
10:26:40 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon wanted a discussion to be held off the
record. She stressed that it was a goal to analyze the
boards and the costs thereof. She hoped that there would be
a consolidation.
10:28:14 AM
Senator Olson hoped to discuss the subject further,
specifically, how cuts in personnel would affect services.
Ms. Curtis replied that it depended on how the commission
implemented the cuts. She shared that there would be a
consideration of priorities.
10:30:07 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon discusses housekeeping.
SB 124 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 101 Briefing Paper.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 101 |
| SB 101 Transmittal Letter.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 101 |
| SB0170-Explanation of Changes-Version A to Version W.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 170 |
| SB0170-Sectional Analysis-Version W.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 170 |
| SB0170-Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 170 |
| SB0170-Supporting Document-FAQs from DNR-DGGS.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 170 |
| SB0170-Supporting Document-Letter-DNR-DGGS.pdf |
SFIN 3/17/2016 9:00:00 AM |
SB 170 |