04/04/2000 02:00 PM House FIN

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 281(FIN) am                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
An Act relating to missions and measures to be applied                                                                          
to certain expenditures by the executive branch of                                                                              
state government and the University of Alaska from the                                                                          
state operating budget for the fiscal year ending June                                                                          
30, 2001; and providing for an effective date.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips MOVED to adopt Amendment #2, 1-                                                                         
LS1392\GA.1, Cramer, 4/4/00.  [Copy on File].  Co-Chair                                                                         
Therriault OBJECTED.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips stated that the amendment would                                                                         
address all concerns of the House and of the Senate to                                                                          
become briefer.  Co-Chair Therriault noted that he objected                                                                     
for the purpose of an amendment to the amendment.  The                                                                          
change offers a compromise of new language as suggested by                                                                      
the University in regards to the mission.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips spoke against the change.  She noted                                                                    
that training has nothing to do with vocational education.                                                                      
She added that she had cleared the language of the amendment                                                                    
through the University and that they supported it.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips stated that if vocational education                                                                     
were not included, it would be lost at the University level.                                                                    
Representative Phillips stated that she was not willing to                                                                      
let the University do away with vocational education.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault WITHDREW the amendment to the amendment.                                                                    
He stated that he would propose a technical change to Line                                                                      
2, adding "vocational".  Co-Chair Therriault MOVED the new                                                                      
amendment to the amendment.  [Copy on File].                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder noted that in conversations with President                                                                      
Hamilton, he was a "big" supporter of the vocational                                                                            
training.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde noted that he would be more comfortable                                                                        
including it in the mission statement.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative J. Davies pointed out there are other                                                                            
concerns and that it would not limit it to post-secondary                                                                       
education.  He stated that there are two types of research                                                                      
not being recognized, both basic and applied.    It is                                                                          
important to acknowledge both of these types of research. In                                                                    
context of the University, the Representative Phillips'                                                                         
amendment is important because it shows that research driven                                                                    
needs are crucial to the program.  He did not understand the                                                                    
argument being proposed regarding the mission statement.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Phillips added that Co-Chair Therriault's                                                                        
amendment does not take into consideration the impact that                                                                      
the University has on the State economy as a whole.  She                                                                        
believed that the language of the amendment was more                                                                            
inclusive.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the                                                                           
amendment to Amendment #2.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR:  Bunde, G. Davis, Therriault, Mulder                                                                                  
OPPOSED: Austerman, J. Davies, Foster, Grussendorf,                                                                             
Moses, Phillips, Williams                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION FAILED (4-7).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Mulder commented that there remains a couple areas                                                                     
in Amendment #2 which are "flowery".                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative J. Davies MOVED a "friendly" change to                                                                           
Amendment #2 on Page 1, Line 4, deleting "ensure education                                                                      
opportunities to meet the" and inserting "respond to the                                                                        
educational".  Additionally, a change to Page 1, Line 6,                                                                        
deleting "the highest" and replacing it with "high".                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
WENDY REDMAN, VICE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA,                                                                             
FAIRBANKS, noted support for the change.  There being NO                                                                        
OBJECTION, the change was adopted.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
There being NO OBJECTION to the amended Amendment #2, it was                                                                    
adopted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Austerman explained Amendment #3.  [Copy on                                                                      
File].  He commented that there are no guidelines for the                                                                       
Alaska Regional Development Organization (ARDOR) program.                                                                       
He believed that it would be a good idea to address through                                                                     
the legislation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Therriault referenced sub-Section (3).  He                                                                             
recommended a change, which would clarify an increase in                                                                        
non-State funds being leveraged by the ARDOR's.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Austerman noted that the sentence would read:                                                                    
"(3) the increase of non-state funds leveraged by ARDOR                                                                         
grants".                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative J. Davies recommended changing "increase" to                                                                     
"amount".  Committee members agreed.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Austerman MOVED Amendment #3 with the                                                                            
language change.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Vice Chair Bunde MOVED to report HCS CS SB 281 (FIN) out of                                                                     
Committee with individual recommendations and with the                                                                          
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HCS CS SB 281 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do                                                                    
pass" recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the                                                                         
Office of the Governor dated 3/17/00.