Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519
05/03/2024 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB149 | |
| SB187 | |
| HB307 | |
| SB74 || SB75 | |
| HB232 | |
| SB104 | |
| SB118 | |
| HB122 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 187 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 307 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 177 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | SB 74 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 75 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 232 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 104 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 149 | TELECONFERENCED | |
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 187(FIN) am
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and other
appropriations; making reappropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; amending
appropriations; and providing for an effective date."
2:30:14 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon relayed that the committee would consider
amendments to the capital budget and would at some point
move it out. He relayed that the capital budget was a
product of an agreement between the House and Senate in
terms of timeline, process, and funding amounts. The
current budget achieved the parameters of work with the
other body. The amendment deadline had been 10:00 a.m. that
morning.
2:31:18 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon began the amendment process noting that
Amendment 1 was his amendment. He asked for a motion to
move it.
Co-Chair Johnson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1 (copy on file):
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska
PROGRAM: University of Alaska Fairbanks
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture &
Sequestration Project
DELETE: $2,200,000 UGF, 1004
ADD: $2,200,000 UGF/Match, 1003
$8,880,00 Fed Receipts, 1002
EXPLANATION: This is a technical fix. The federal
receipts for this project were inadvertently omitted.
This amendment restores the federal match and
correctly classifies the $2.2 million in UGF as match.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED for discussion.
Co-Chair Edgmon explained the amendment that was a
technical fix related to the University of Alaska
Fairbanks tied to the Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture and
Sequestration Project. The original budget contained $2.2
million in unrestricted general funds (UGF). In order to
properly account for the entire package of funding, which
was state and federal in nature, it was necessary to delete
the increment and add $2.2 million in UGF matching funds
that would allow the inclusion of $8.8 million in federal
receipt authority for a total of $11.1 million.
Representative Stapp WITHDREW the OBJECTION.
There being NO further OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED.
2:32:50 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska Unassigned
PROGRAM: University of Alaska Fairbanks
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture &
Sequestration Project
DELETE: $1,000,000 UGF, I 004
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation
PROGRAM: Federal Program Match
PROJECT TITLE: Match Assistance for Local Transit
Providers
ADD: $1,000,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION: This is an Alaska Mobility Coalition
priority. Transit Match Funding would be used to
support small community and non-profit efforts to draw
down federal infrastructure funds for transportation
assistance.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson explained that due to the passage
of Amendment 1, the fund source on Amendment 2 should be
1003. The fund source was UGF match, and it would divert
some of the carbon capture sequestration project funding.
The amendment pertained to $1 million in transit match
funding for the Alaska Mobility Coalition. He read a
selection on the Alaska Mobility Coalition:
Prior to FY 18 the state put in general fund capital
dollars to help transit providers with their local
match requirements for various federal transit program
grants for operational support and capital equipment
and facility purchases. This grant program existed for
more than a decade and varied from half a million to
$1.5 million. This state investment helped leverage
more than three times as much in federal funds. During
the COVID epidemic the federal government provided
considerable extra funding, much of which did not
require a match but that has changed. Now more than
ever before, the federal government is making huge
investments to community and public transit systems
nationwide and Alaska can access these federal funds
if they can come up with a local match. Applicants
must provide matching funds in the amount of 10, 20,
and sometimes 50 percent depending on the program. To
ensure that our local transit providers can access all
the new federal funding for community transportation,
the legislature should provide $1 million to transit
sub-recipients to help meet local match requirements.
Representative Josephson highlighted letters of support
from Patrick Reinhart, the Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education, and the Alaska Mobility
Coalition. He listed some of the entities that would
benefit including the City of Bethel, Glacier Valley
Transit, City and Borough of Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway
Borough, Senior Citizens of Kodiak, Sunshine Transit, and
Valley Transit. He stated it seemed like something the
legislature funded through the operating budget, but it was
a capital amendment. He respected the agreement on the
capital budget that had been reached between the bodies,
but he was not a party to it. He understood the Senate had
left $113 million in the FY 24 budget, which would lapse
into the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR). He stated
there were ways to fund the item. He asked for members'
support.
2:36:41 PM
Representative Stapp opposed the amendment. He stated the
amendment deleted the general fund match for the previous
amendment, which would create hollow receipt authority for
the federal fund match available for the University of
Alaska. He stated that no aspect of the amendment created
the fund source to leverage the federal match; therefore,
it would jeopardize the match for the carbon sequestration
project.
Co-Chair Edgmon noted that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) director, Legislative Finance Division (LFD)
staff, and University staff, were all available for
questions.
Representative Tomaszewski asked if it was the amendment
sponsor's intention to have the program for the University
deleted. He asked if the sponsor was aiming to kill the
project.
Representative Josephson replied that the amendment would
kill less than half of the project. It was his
understanding that the other body was not funding the item.
The amendment would be an adjustment to the program.
2:38:31 PM
AT EASE
2:39:13 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson stated that because of the concern
about the carbon capture and sequestration project he asked
that the funding be spent as UGF as written in the original
amendment.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Josephson, Ortiz, Hannan
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Coulombe, Johnson,
Foster, Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt Amendment 2 FAILED (3/7).
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 3 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska Unassigned
PROGRAM: University of Alaska Fairbanks
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture &
Sequestration Project
DELETE: $150,000 UGF, 1004
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Grants to Named Recipients (AS 37.05.316)
PROJECT TITLE: Build Alaska's Future - GIS Mapping &
Engagement Project
ADD: $150,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION: Project funding for permanent
improvements to GIS mapping of Federal infrastructure
funding across Alaska.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
2:41:22 PM
AT EASE
2:41:59 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson asked members to delete the part
of the amendment referring to department, program, and
project title. The amendment request would use UGF and the
program was Build Alaska's Future Education Fund GIS
Mapping and Engagement Project. The program was a
transformative initiative, leveraging cutting edge
geographic information systems (GIS) technology to
illuminate the scope and impact of state and federal
infrastructure funding across Alaska. The project was
seeking $150,000 to expand the breadth and depth of the key
initiatives to deliver unique insights and educate the
public. He noted it was a CAPSIS [Capital Projects
Submission and Information System] item. He understood
there were many CAPSIS items that did not necessarily make
it into the budget. He entered the item as a request for an
Alaskan earlier in the year and he asked for members'
support.
Co-Chair Edgmon stated that a good part of the capital
budget was built around infrastructure. The budget included
$1.25 million for a navigator program for the Alaska
Municipal League, $1.5 million for the Alaska Federation of
Natives, $7 million in matching funds for the Denali
Commission, $895 million in federal funding for the
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
program, and myriad projects from around the state. He
thought the project in the amendment was good, but it was
not possible to include every project in the budget. He
felt satisfied with the amount of infrastructure, school
maintenance, and energy projects included in the budget. He
remarked that the $150,000 was not included in the
agreement with the other body. He stated that some projects
would not be included as worthy as they may be and there
was a likelihood they may be seen the following year. He
recognized the meritorious content of the amendment but
could not support it.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Hannan, Josephson
OPPOSED: Stapp, Representative Coulombe, Tomaszewski,
Cronk, Johnson, Foster, Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt Amendment 3 FAILED (3/7).
2:45:29 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 4 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska Unassigned
PROGRAM: University of Alaska Fairbanks
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture &
Sequestration Project
DELETE: $160,000 UGF, 1004
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Grants to Named Recipients (AS 37.05.316)
PROJECT TITLE: Build Alaska's Future - Alaska Native
Workforce Development Workshops (ANWDW), a Rural-Urban
Exchange Pilot Project
ADD: $160,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION: Pilot program to address workforce needs
in rural areas and Alaska Native communities.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson explained the amendment. He noted
that the project title would not relate to carbon capture
and sequestration. The amendment would provide funding to
the Alaska Native Workforce Development Workshops. He
detailed that the pilot project aimed to bridge the
rural/urban gap by convening stakeholders to address
pressing training and workforce needs specifically focusing
on rural and Alaska Native communities. The workshops were
a necessary step towards bridging the divide in workforce
development opportunities for rural Alaska. The program
comprised a statewide virtual workshop and three in person
sessions in Akiak, Eagle, and Klawock. The program would
convene Alaska Native leaders, workforce development
organizations, and labor and state local officials to build
partnerships and create comprehensive training programs for
rural Alaska workers. He asked for members' support.
Co-Chair Edgmon stated that he was sure there was a lot of
value in the program. He remarked that being from rural
Alaska he was familiar with vocational tech centers in
Kotzebue, King Salmon, Bethel, and possibly in Nome. He
noted that significant recruitment had taken place with
regional Native corporations pertaining to construction on
the North Slope. Given the budget constraints he could not
support the amendment.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Josephson, Ortiz, Hannan
OPPOSED: Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Foster,
Johnson, Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt Amendment 4 FAILED (3/7).
2:48:07 PM
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendment 5 (copy on
file).
2:48:21 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 6 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: University of Alaska Unassigned
PROGRAM: University of Alaska Fairbanks
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Railbelt Carbon Capture &
Sequestration Project
DELETE: $90,000 UGF, 1004
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Grants to Named Recipients (AS 37.05.316)
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Native Arts Foundation-Alaska
Native Artist Directory
ADD: $90,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION: Creates directory to boost visibility and
market access of Alaska Native artists from remote
areas.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson relayed that a longtime Alaskan
from Ketchikan and Anchorage had recommended the project.
The amendment was not associated with the Alaska Railbelt
Carbon Capture and Sequestration Project as a fund source.
The funding would create a directory to boost visibility
and market access of Alaska Native artists from remote
areas. The directory was designed to give Alaska Native
artists from remote communities with historically
insufficient online resources, centralized access to art
markets. By the development of a platform collaboratively
designed with artist feedback, indigenous artists from
across geographic isolated regions could achieve higher
visibility and facilitate connection between organizations,
regions, other artists, and new patrons throughout the
state, making Alaska Native artwork more broadly available.
He asked for members' support.
2:49:33 PM
AT EASE
2:49:47 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Edgmon was aware of the effort and a number of
regional efforts to involve the boosting of Native artists.
He elaborated that much of the arts and crafts culminated
at the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) fair in the fall.
He relayed that the regional corporation in Bristol Bay had
an online marketing effort that did something similar to
what the amendment proposed. He believed there were others
around the state as well. Due to budget constraints, he
would oppose the amendment.
Representative Cronk agreed with the statements made by Co-
Chair Edgmon. He remarked that Native artists increasingly
had their own websites. He did not think the amendment was
needed. He believed that with the boost of broadband in
rural Alaska in the coming years it would be a great avenue
for artists to sell their work.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Josephson, Ortiz, Hannan, Foster
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Coulombe, Johnson,
Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt Amendment 6 FAILED (4/6).
2:51:33 PM
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 7 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Unassigned
PROJECT TITLE: Alaska Energy Authority - Round 16
Renewable Energy Project Grants (AS 42.45.045)
ADD: $5,000,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION: This would add additional funding for
this program.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Josephson relayed that for several members
of his caucus and broadly speaking, there was interest in
increasing the Renewable Energy Fund (REF). He recognized
that Co-Chair Edgmon and his caucus found generous ways to
fund the REF beyond the administration's request. The
amendment would add another $5 million UGF. He understood
that the other body reduced the waterfall because
circumstances changed (there were fiscal notes and new
contracts) and the amount intended to send to the CBR one
year back had shrunk by about $30 million. He noted that
during conference committee [to be held at the end of
session] the argument could presumably be made that all of
that $113 million did not need to go to the CBR. The
amendment would expand the Renewable Energy Fund portfolio
to include Goat Lake Hydro in Skagway, Nuvista Kwethluk,
Quinhagak Battery Energy Storage, Nenana biomass heat
system, Kongiganak 100 kilowatt solar energy project, and
the Railbelt wind diversification project. He asked for
members' support.
Co-Chair Edgmon appreciated acknowledgement that the
current budget proposal increased the REF funding by almost
$11 million and provided for the addition of eight
projects. In a perfect world, he would like to fund every
project on the list, which would increase the amount from
$14 million to $32 million. He stated that, unfortunately,
the opportunity was not available. He relayed that the
previous year the legislature had funded $15 million and
made the REF program permanent with legislation supported
by the entire committee. He had spoken with the Alaska
Energy Authority (AEA) director Curtis Thayer several days
back and Mr. Thayer had talked about the inception of the
program in 2008. Over $300 million had gone into the
program over time and it was more than just seed money for
a bunch of projects that never reach fruition. There were a
number of major renewable energy projects around the state
that started out by being included on the REF project list.
Unfortunately, there were budget limitations and the
current budget included almost $15 million, which was on
par with the previous year. Due to budget constraints, he
would have to oppose the amendment.
Representative Hannan stated that the actions of
Representative Josephson were supported by the entire
minority caucus. She remarked there had been reference to a
deal that had been cut between the majority caucuses in
both bodies; however, no one in the House minority was
allowed to have district projects and they had not received
any say on the included projects. She highlighted that none
of the projects on the list in the amendment were located
in her district; however, it was something as a caucus they
could support. She stated that investing more in renewable
energy was something the minority caucus supported
universally as being good for Alaska.
2:56:44 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon politely rebutted the comments by stating
that the capital budget did get a number of House district
priorities funded while it was in the other body. There
were some Juneau projects in the budget including one for
the University. He agreed that individual projects for the
minority and the majority did not get funded in the budget.
He relayed that they did best they could. He characterized
it as imperfectly perfect or perfectly imperfect.
Representative Stapp supported the work done by Co-Chair
Edgmon on the capital budget. He addressed the discussion
on people's individual projects not being included. He
assured the committee that the Senate majority took care of
the House minority very well. He remarked that his senator
was in the Senate majority and every one of the capital
projects included were not in his own district but were
located in the downtown [Fairbanks] district.
2:58:24 PM
Co-Chair Johnson appreciated the work done by Co-Chair
Edgmon and the work done to make sure everyone was as
fairly treated as possible.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Hannan, Josephson
OPPOSED: Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Coulombe, Johnson,
Foster, Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to Adopt Amendment 7 FAILED (3/7).
2:59:43 PM
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendment 8 (copy on
file).
3:00:01 PM
AT EASE
3:00:27 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendments 9 and 10 (copy
on file).
Representative Josephson MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 11 (copy
on file):
DEPARTMENT: Revenue
PROGRAM: Unassigned
PROJECT TITLE: Dividend Application Information System
Replacement Phase I
DELETE: $3,500,000 UGF, 1004
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Grants to Municipalities (AS 37.05.315)
PROJECT TITLE: Anchorage- Tanaina Hills Water
Distribution Installation
ADD: $3,500,000 UGF, 1004
EXPLANATION:
North Link Aviation plans to create a parking and fuel
depot for jumbo jets south of the Ted Stevens
International Airport. Many residents living near the
potential South Airpark Cargo Improvement project use
well water. Residents are already experiencing PFAS
contamination. They worry of additional PFAS
contamination from the project, and request that the
city water service be extended to the area.
Representative Josephson explained that he had lived in
many communities in Alaska and twice in rural Alaska and he
had an Alaska-wide spectrum. He considered himself to be
another rural Alaska vote if asked. He explained that the
amendment pertained to a project that was not in his
district; it was located close to the airport in Anchorage
and just south of Raspberry Road. He explained that the
Tanaina Hills subdivision included about 24 homes, all on
well water. The homeowners had protested adamantly with no
success over the creation of the south airpark cargo
improvement project located on the south part of the
airport campus. The homeowners were opposed to the project
because it would create air issues and because the
subdivision already suffered from PFAS inundated well water
related to fire suppression work. He believed the project
was located in Representative Tom McKay's district and
Senator Matt Claman's district. He requested to ask LFD
about the Dividend Application Information System
Replacement fund source in the amendment.
MICHAEL PARTLOW, ANALYST, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION,
introduced himself.
Representative Josephson asked Mr. Partlow what he knew
about the Dividend Application Information System
Replacement and whether it needed the $7.5 million in the
budget.
Co-Chair Edgmon remarked that the specific budget request
addressed by Amendment 11 had come to the House very late;
he believed it had come to the Senate Finance Committee co-
chairs right as they were sending the budget over. He
stated that the Dividend Application Information System
Replacement totaled about $7.5 million and the House and
Senate agreed that each would put in $3.75 million for each
component. He thought perhaps the OMB director would be
appropriate to answer the question.
Mr. Partlow answered that the budget included $7.5 million
for the project and Amendment 11 would reduce the funding
by $3.5 million. He deferred to the OMB director for more
details on the project.
LACEY SANDERS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, relayed that the Dividend
Application Information System Replacement was a new
project for the Department of Revenue (DOR). The funding
was for the first of what the administration was hoping
would be two phases of requests to come to the legislature.
She explained that DOR was working on issuing a request for
proposal (RFP) for a contract to start the work on the
development of the new system. There were concerns about
automation and security with the current system and the new
system would replace it. The $7.5 million would enable DOR
to start on the design and issue a contract for the work.
Representative Josephson asked if the project had received
an appropriation before.
Ms. Sanders replied in the negative. She clarified that the
system would be brand new.
Representative Josephson asked about the minimum amount
needed in the coming fiscal year for the project.
Ms. Sanders replied that OMB believed it would cost $7.5
million to get started on design work with a contractor.
The total project cost would not be known until the
contract was issued. She estimated it could be $15 million
to $20 million total.
Representative Josephson asked about the level of
confidence the funds would be needed in the coming fiscal
year.
Ms. Sanders responded that she was very confident DOR
needed the funding to be able to get started with a
contractor.
Representative Josephson asked if it was appropriate for
LFD to offer an opinion.
Co-Chair Edgmon noted there were questions from other
committee members.
Representative Cronk stated the committee could "literally
do this to every single item in the budget." He thought
asking whether budget items were needed was opening a can
of worms. He stated the committee could spend weeks asking
for opinions. He did not believe it was appropriate.
Co-Chair Edgmon agreed. He stated that the program was new,
and his office did its own due diligence on whether the
project was worthy. He believed the initial number had been
much higher and his office had pared it down. He added that
the other body agreed with the budget item.
3:09:11 PM
Co-Chair Johnson relayed that she had questioned the budget
item when it had initially come forward. She had spent a
lot of time analyzing the request and amount and had
determined it was needed.
Co-Chair Edgmon commended Representative Josephson for
bringing the amendment forward and highlighting the new
expansive project near the [Anchorage] airport. He referred
to existing indications of PFAS before the project had
started.
Representative Coulombe thanked Representative Josephson.
She shared that it was a very sad story in Anchorage. She
speculated that if committee members had houses in their
community that were contaminated and needed city water,
they would likely feel just as passionate about the issue.
She asked if the municipality was able to address the
issue. Alternatively, she wondered if the contamination
from the airport meant it had to come from the state.
Representative Josephson answered it was very expensive at
$3.5 million for 24 families. He did not know whether the
families were using potable water. He appreciated
Representative Coulombe's comments.
Representative Stapp appreciated the maker of the
amendment. He shared that Fairbanks knew all about PFAS
contamination in wells. He estimated that about one-third
of the town was contaminated by PFAS, which was why he had
sponsored a bill to start the process on PFAS mitigation.
He would not be supporting the amendment.
Co-Chair Edgmon noted that the committee had reported out a
PFAS bill SB 167 several days back (the House companion
version had been introduced by Representative Stapp). He
highlighted that his hometown of Dillingham also had a PFAS
problem.
3:12:49 PM
Representative Hannan reminded the committee that the PFAS
bill did not clean up contaminated wells. The bill allowed
the collection of PFAS material from small communities.
There had been several PFAS bills that went much further,
one that was vetoed the previous year. Across the state
there were Code Red canisters waiting to be collected
instead of being dispersed in communities. Additionally,
there were communities with contaminated wells. Some of the
cleanup was federal obligation and some may involve
litigated money to clean up. Meanwhile, people still had
contaminated water in their wells and the legislature
needed to start getting money to people's wells or
connecting them to safe drinking water systems. She stated
it would not come fast enough and there would be some real
health impacts. She highlighted the impact on drinking
water in Dillingham, Tok, and other locations. She believed
the state needed to start dealing with the projects and not
wait for the federal government. She noted that drinking
water was already a critical issue in rural Alaska. She
wished the committee could support the amendment.
Representative Josephson respected Representative Cronk's
point; however, he guessed that the item [for DOR] had
likely been identified as something that was not necessary
in its entirety for the coming year.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Josephson, Hannan
OPPOSED: Coulombe, Stapp, Tomaszewski, Cronk, Johnson,
Foster, Edgmon
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt Amendment 11 FAILED (3/7).
3:15:49 PM
Representative Josephson WITHDREW Amendments 12 and 13
(copy on file).
3:16:08 PM
AT EASE
3:17:09 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Ortiz MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 14 (copy on
file):
DEPARTMENT: Commerce, Community and Economic
Development
PROGRAM: Grants to Unincorporated Communities (AS
37.05.317)
PROJECT TITLE: Metlakatla - Emergency Repair for Frank
Hayward Memorial Breakwater
ADD: $695,000, Unrestricted General Funds, (1004)
EXPLANATION: Critical repairs are needed for the
Frank Hayward Memorial Breakwater where the emergency
medevac vessel, Triton, is moored.
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.
Representative Ortiz explained the amendment. He thanked
Co-Chair Edgmon for his work on the capital budget and
believed he had done an exceptional job. He had no
complaints and understood the situation. He was offering
the amendment in the name of public health and safety. He
understood it was one of the major goals put forward by
both capital budget chairs. The amendment would provide
$695,000 for Metlakatla to address a pressing health and
safety need. He relayed that Metlakatla was located on
Annette Island, 20 miles south of Ketchikan and could only
be reached by seaplane or boat. The Frank Hayward Memorial
Breakwater was constructed in 1986 and increased storm
intensity and high tides had increased pressure on the
aging infrastructure, resulting in significant storm
damage. He stressed that the damage needed to be addressed
to protect the health and safety of the community. He
explained that three floats and six pilings needed to be
replaced. The Medivac vessel, Triton was moored in the area
and emergency medical patients were transported from that
location. He relayed that the community was looking to do a
larger overhaul of the breakwater in the future, but in the
meantime, repairs were needed to make it usable. The
amendment addressed the health and safety of the Tsimshian
people of Metlakatla.
3:20:53 PM
Co-Chair Edgmon appreciated the amendment. He asked if it
was a project that would endeavor to seek federal funds for
overall completion. He had a number of fishing communities
in his district such as St. Paul Island and other
communities with breakwaters that had ultimately involved
millions in federal funds. He did not see matching funds
attached to the amendment. He asked if the overall amount
being sought was the overall amount needed.
Representative Ortiz replied that the amendment included
the total amount for the repairs to make it useable for
emergency evacuation purposes. The community had further
plans in the future to make the repair more sustainable for
long-term usage.
Co-Chair Edgmon stated that given the similarities in their
coastal districts he could empathize and understand the
need for the project. He noted that unfortunately it butted
up against the fiscal realities facing the committee.
3:22:42 PM
Representative Ortiz provided wrap up on Amendment 14. He
thanked the committee for its serious consideration of the
request. He believed there would be little pushback from
the other body during conference committee. He remarked on
the potential for $113 million to be set aside for some
particular purposes. He did not believe the ask was too
large to see the project move forward in the name of public
safety for the people on Annette Island.
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Josephson, Hannan, Edgmon
OPPOSED: Stapp, Coulombe, Cronk, Tomaszewski, Foster,
Johnson
Representative Galvin was absent from the vote.
The MOTION to adopt amendment 14 FAILED (4/6).
Representative Cronk introduced family members in the
audience.
Representative Hannan requested a brief at ease for
Representative Cronk to see his family.
Co-Chair Edgmon thanked the committee for its input into
the budget process. He asked if there were committee
comments.
Representative Coulombe thanked Co-Chair Edgmon for the
process. She noted that noted that her first year in the
legislature [2023] there had not been a good capital budget
process. She acknowledged the work and appreciated that the
process was different than the prior year.
3:26:07 PM
Representative Cronk did not believe the House had done the
capital budget for his first several of years in office. He
remarked that it was not possible to fund everything and he
believed the process and effort had been fair. He thanked
Co-Chair Edgmon for his work.
Co-Chair Johnson thanked staff and Co-Chair Edgmon for
their work.
Co-Chair Edgmon thanked his staff, LFD, OMB, and Co-Chair
Foster's staff Brodie Anderson.
Co-Chair Johnson MOVED to REPORT HCS CSSB 187(FIN) out of
committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes with permission to LFD and
Legislative Legal Services to make technical and conforming
changes.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HCS CSSB 187(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with seven
"do pass" recommendations and three "amend"
recommendations.
Co-Chair Foster noted there would be a 10 minute break.
3:29:12 PM
AT EASE
3:54:23 PM
RECONVENED
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 307 Amendments 1 - 8 050324 (2).pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 307 |
| SB 118 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 118 |
| SB 118 cs Summary of Changes.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 118 |
| SB118 Sectional.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 118 |
| SB 187 HCS FIN Amendment Pkt 1-14 050324.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 187 |
| HB307 Amendment 3 Backup 050324.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 307 |
| HB 232 Public Testimony Rec'd by 050324.pdf |
HFIN 5/3/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 232 |