Legislature(1999 - 2000)
05/13/1999 04:35 PM House C50
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
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CSHB 50(FIN)(brf sup maj fld) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." CSHB 51(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." and SCS CSHB 50(FIN) AM S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date." SCS CSHB 51(FIN) am S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." AMENDMENTS: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Chair Representative Mulder provided members with the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Corrections (see attached motion sheets). He asked if any member would like to entertain a separate vote on any items. Senator Parnell MOVED to AMEND the proposed conference committee amount for item 8, Department of Corrections by adding $64.5 thousand dollars. This would increase spending for community residential centers. Co-Chair Mulder noted that the amendment would retain item 8 at the Governor's requested level. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Adams asked for a separate vote on item 6, unallocated reduction. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for all items, except item 6, for the Department of Corrections, 10% unallocated travel reduction (see motion sheets). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the conference committee recommendation for item 6 (copy on file.) Senator Adam MOVED to AMEND the number to a negative $38.8 thousand dollars. He noted that there are 24 correctional facilities. He emphasized travel needs within the department. Chair Representative Mulder OBJECTED. He argued against the amendment to item 6. He acknowledged that the department's budget is austere. He observed that transport is provided for under category I and in item 4. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Grussendorf, Adams OPPOSED: Therriault, Torgerson, Mulder, Parnell The MOTION FAILED (2-4). DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Chair Representative Mulder provided members with the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Education (see attached motion sheets). He observed that item 11 would be held open. He questioned if members would like to entertain a separate vote on any item. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for all items in the Department of Education, except item 11 (see motion sheets). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell referred to the following letters: May 6, 1999 House/Senate Finance Conference Committee Senator Sean Parnell Representative Eldon Mulder Senator Al Adams Representative Gene Therriault Senator John Torgerson Representative Ben Grussendorf Dear Sirs: It is the intent of the University of Alaska and the Northwest Arctic School District to work during the interim to develop a plan for the integration of the academic and vocational programs currently offered through the Chukchi Campus and the Kotzebue Technical Center. We are committed to working closely with the Department of Education and the Northwest Arctic Borough to assure that the post-secondary, academic and job training programs are redesigned in a way that will be effective, cost efficient, and responsive to the needs of the region. As you know, the University and the Kotzebue Technical Center have been working for many years under joint agreement that assigned the role for most of the post secondary vocational education to the Technical Center and the academic course work to the college. While this agreement has worked well in many respects it has not allowed for the kinds of administrative and program integration that might be achieved through a more complete merger of the programs. The Senate Finance Committee included Legislative Intent with their budget directing a merger of the two programs take place. We understand the Senate Majority members seek a phase-down of funding during FY 00 and FY 01 with $634.0 slated for elimination from the combined budgets at the end of that period. We continue to believe that savings of this magnitude will be difficult to realize in the next two years. With that said, however, you can rest assured that the parties involved will work diligently to meet the intent of the legislative directive, and will provide periodic reports to you on the status of the plan for reorganizing and redesigning the post-secondary programs in Kotzebue. Sincerely, Mark Hamilton, President University of Alaska Statewide System And; May 7, 1999 Dear Sirs: It is the intent of the University of Alaska and the Northwest Arctic Borough School District to work during the interim to try to develop a plan for the integration of the academic and vocational programs currently offered through the Chukchi Campus and the Alaska Technical Center. We are committed to working closely with the Department of Education and the Northwest Arctic Borough to assure that the post secondary, academic and job training programs are redesigned in a way that will be effective, cost efficient and responsive to the needs of the region. As you now, the University and the Alaska Technical Center have been working for many years, under joint agreement that assigned the role for most of the post secondary vocational education to the Technical Center and the academic course work to the College. While this agreement has worked we II in many respects, it has not allowed for the kinds of administrative and program integration that might be achieved through a more complete merger of the programs. The Senate Finance Committee included Legislative Intent with their budget directing a merger of the two programs take place. We understand the Senate Majority members seek a phase-down of funding during FY00 and FY01 with $634,000 slated for elimination from the combined budgets at the end of that period. We continue to believe that savings of this magnitude will be difficult, if not impossible to realize in the next two years. With that said, however, you can rest assured that the parties involved will work diligently with or without the Senate legislative directive and will provide periodic reports to you on the status of the plan for reorganizing and I redesigning the post secondary programs in Kotzebue. Sincerely, Lou Matheson Superintendent Northwest Arctic Borough School District Senator Parnell suggested that the above letters could be included in the Conference Committee recommendations. He noted that the remaining negotiations on the consolidation could be worked out at a later time. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the above letters as part of the Conference Committee record. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: K-12 Funding It is the intent of the legislature that the Foundation Formula be fully funded for FYOO and that the reduction is not intended to pro-rate school district allocations; therefore the Legislature will consider a supplemental budget request if the student count for School Year 99-00 is higher than currently projected. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Executive Administration It is the intent of the legislature that the Department of Education review the amount of federal grant funds budgeted for travel and reduce this amount as much as possible to maximize the use of federal dollars for program expenditures. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Kotzebue Technical Center Operations Grant It is the intent of the legislature that the University of Alaska and Chukchi Community College work together with the Northwest Arctic Borough School District and Alaska Technical Center to consolidate and merge the two programs into one by July l, 2001. It is the intent of the legislature that the merger result in a FY02 savings of at least $634,000. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the house letter of intent: Alaska Vocational Technical Center It is the intent of the legislature that the Alaska Vocational Technical Center explore and discuss coordination of services with the University of Alaska. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Alaska Vocational Technical Center It is the intent of the legislature that the Alaska Vocational Technical Center increase tuition rates for the FYOO budget in order to move a portion of general fund resources to the Statutory Designated Program Receipts fund source. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) It is the intent of the legislature that the statewide responsibilities of the Americans with Disabilities Act be recognized through transfer to a central service agency such as the Office of the Governor or the Department of Administration. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the house and senate letter of intent: Museum Operations It is the intent of the legislature that the department develop a plan to fully fund public operations of the Sheldon Jackson Museum from General Fund Program Receipts or Statutory Designated Program Receipts in the FY01 budget. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Chair Representative Mulder reviewed the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Environmental Conservation (see attached motion sheets). He noted that motion for item number three, Administrative Services, was the Senate number plus $68.9 thousand dollars. Senator Parnell clarified that motion for item 20, Contaminated Sites, would take the senate number plus $76.2 thousand Oil/Hazardous fund dollars, and $183.8 thousand CPI fund dollars. This would restore five positions. Representative Grussendorf questioned how many positions were lost. Senator Parnell clarified that 10 positions were lost. Chair Representative Mulder questioned if any member would like to entertain a separate vote on any item. Senator Adams stated that he would like to entertain a separate motion on item 9. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for all items, except item 9, for the Department of Environmental Conservation (see motion sheets). Representative Grussendorf OBJECTED. He noted that the level of reduction would result in the loss of services. He estimated that water quality (drinking water) would be returned to the federal government. He stated that he had not seen (such severe reductions) in the seven years that he has served on the conference committee. He maintained that the reductions would hinder the functions of the Department of Environmental Conservation. He asked that the department be held open. Senator Adams agreed. He emphasized that the department's budget is being micro managed by the legislature. Senator Parnell maintained that state water primacy would not be jeopardized. After a brief at ease, Representative Grussendorf WITHDREW his objections. Chair Representative Mulder recognized that Representative Grussendorf would get additional information from the department. There being NO OBJECTION, the conference committee recommendations with the exception of item 9 were adopted. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the conference committee's recommendation for item 9, house plus a negative $339 thousand dollars for Food Safety and Sanitation. Senator Adams spoke in support of the senate numbers. He observed that the senate number would free up $1 million dollars in general fund program receipts (GFPR). He emphasized that statutory designated program receipts would encourage privatization. Chair Representative Mulder stated that the appropriation did not fall into the category of statutory designated program receipts as currently used by the legislature. He acknowledged that SB 111 could change the interpretation of statutory designated program receipts. He stated that if SB 111 were adopted that he would entertain a motion to adopt the senate version. Senator Adams WITHDREW his objections. There being NO OBJECTION, item 9 was adopted. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Non-Point Source Pollution Control It is the intent of the legislature that Section 319(h) federal non-point source pollution control funding be spent only for grants to program applicants who qualify for Section 319 funding. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Non-Point Source Pollution Control It is the intent of the legislature that for each grant or contract of Section 319(h) monies the recipient provide by January 30, 2000 and July 30, 2000 to the Department of Environmental Conservation: -A detailed account of how the monies were spent (including salaries, travel, expenses paid, etc.), including any matching funds provided by the applicant, and the source of matching funds. -A report describing the work done, by whom it was done, and where the work was done. -Copies of all reports, mailouts, training materials, videos, etc., developed with the grant or contract monies. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Chair Representative Mulder reviewed the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Public Safety (see attached motion sheets). In response to a question by Senator Adams Chair Representative Mulder clarified that the recommendation for item 4, Alaska State Troopers was house minus $33.2 thousand dollars. Chair Representative Mulder questioned if any member would like to entertain a separate motion on any item. Senator Adams stated that he would like to entertain a separate vote on item 15, unallocated reduction for personal services. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the proposed conference committee amounts for all items, except item 15, for the Department of Public Safety (see motion sheets). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT item 15 for the Department of Public Safety. Senator Adams OBJECTED. Senator Adams noted that the total unallocated reduction for the department was $410 thousand dollars. He questioned if the reduction would affect the number of troopers. Chair Representative Mulder stated that there should be a full component of 240 troopers. He acknowledged that there would be some pressure on vacancies. He spoke in support of the number. There being NO OBJECTION, item 15 was adopted. Senator Parnell MOVED to ADOPT the senate letter of intent: Village Public Safety Officers It is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Public Safety: ( 1) pay no more than 15% for administrative costs to nonprofit corporations administering the Village Public Safety Officer program, (2) not exceed 15% administration costs in future negotiations with nonprofit corporations, (3) retain 100% of the decision to place or relocate VPSO's in communities, and (4) not place a VPSO in a community with an established police department. (5) work to relocate VPSOs in communities with established police departments to communities that need VPSOs that have no police department. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 50 and 51 were HELD in Committee for further consideration.
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