Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/21/1993 01:30 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 60 An Act making appropriations for capital projects; and providing for an effective date. HB 60 was held in Committee for further consideration. HOUSE BILL 60 "An Act making appropriations for capital projects; and providing for an effective date." Co-Chair MacLean provided the Committee with a copy of work draft, CS HB 60 (FIN), #8-GH1039\E dated 4/21/93. She noted her intent to review the cut sheet which lists the reductions to the Governor's amended budget. The legislation totals: $18,863.9 Total general funds which include mental health trust funds, general fund match and program receipts. $496,660.3 Federal and other funds. $677,524.2 Total for all funds in the bill. The Governor's budget as amended was $267,496.4 million dollars. Schools have been removed and will be funded through the House Finance Committee substitute for HB 63. The ISTEA - Department of Transportation and Public Facilities has abandoned the Borough Transfer Program for the current fiscal year. The Commissioner established that some boroughs are not capable to assume the responsibilities. She added, the Village Safe Water program will receive over $26.4 million dollars for thirty-nine needed projects. An additional $16.1 million dollars will be provided for water and sewer projects and will qualify for the 50% Municipal Match Program. The proposed budget adds $4.2 million dollars of designated grant money based on Mental Health Board lists to community based services and will continue the Department of Health and Social Services competitive grant program. CHERYL FRASCA, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF BUDGET REVIEW, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, offered to review the work draft for the Committee. She added, agency reallocations are not yet reflected in the proposed draft. DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION 5 Representative Grussendorf referenced the Pioneers' Homes Repair and Renovation component and asked for further information. Co-Chair MacLean replied FY 93 determination figures were being used. Representative Therriault asked if the full allocation would be distributed to all the Pioneer Homes. Ms. Frasca advised the funding would cover all costs for all districts. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Co-Chair MacLean stated that all school construction grant projects were deleted and added to the school bill. Representative Brown noted funding for Intelligent Dialing System and Data Processing Enhancement and asked if they were priorities for the Administration. Ms. Frasca acknowledged they were. Ms. Frasca explained that the Administration is requesting increased staff to help update records. Representative Hoffman questioned the Borrower Records Imaging component for $50 thousand dollars. Ms. Frasca stated the funds would allow imagining records for the Student Loan Corporation. This is a pilot project provided by the Department of Administration to standardize all projects. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES Representative Brown asked if federal funds were included for the General Computer\Communications. Ms. Frasca said it included general funds and mental health funds. There is an additional computer system included which is federally funded. Co-Chair MacLean stated that the General Computer\Communications had been reduced to the bare essential to match federal dollars. Ms. Frasca said the package would include upgrades to the existing computer system and the purchase of additional computers. NEWTON CHASE, FACILITIES SECTION CHIEF, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, noted the funds would include a general upgrade to the hardware computer systems and the designs used. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DAVID TEAL, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, addressed the Workers' Compensation Records component 6 stating that $300 thousand dollars would be used for imaging. Co-Chair MacLean asked why the Department was requesting an additional $83 thousand dollars for Imaging Consulting Services. Mr. Teal stated the allocation would complete a contract with Texas Instruments for imaging consulting services. Representative Parnell asked if public access to records would be affected. Mr. Teal replied they would be improved. Each record would not be xeroxed, but instead would be available through imaging. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUY BELL, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, responded to Representative Martin's question regarding the ARDORS. He pointed out a fiscal note exists which the House Finance Committee approved for the amount of $250 thousand dollars which would be part of the operating budget. The $97 thousand dollar allocation would be for a project to target economic development in the regions. DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS Representative Brown noted that the State Trooper detachment was not included in the component. Co-Chair MacLean pointed out, trooper move-outs were in excess of budget projections. DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Representative Brown asked if general fund or 470 fund allocation dollars had been used for the Contaminated Cleanup/Assessment. Ms. Frasca replied, 470 funds. Co-Chair MacLean noted that the Parks Stations Improvements component had been merged into the Repair Renovation Park facility component. DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Representative Parnell noted his concern with the reduction to the Aircraft Equipment/Overhaul/Repairs component. Co- Chair MacLean noted the House recommended the cut. C.E. SWACKHAMMER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, stated the reduction will affect the priority list at which time specific vessels will not be repaired. Representative Parnell asked if the Vigilant would be affected by the cut. Mr. Swackhammer replied all cuts would 7 be for the fleet size up to the 65' class. (Tape Change, HFC 93-115, Side 2). DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES RON LIND, PLANS, PROGRAMS BUDGET DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES, stated the length of service varies for the class of equipment. Some of the vehicles are up to eight years old. Two percent of federal money ($4 million dollars) was spent on planning and research activities. Representative Martin asked if $5 million dollars would be sufficient for the American Disabilities Act general funds. Mr. Lind noted, before the State is finished with this requirement, the State will be spending $40 - $50 million dollars. A good faith demonstration should be made to address the highest priority. Representative Navarre questioned the reduction to the Kenai Spur road. Mr. Lind noted this was an error on the part of DOTPF. The initial review showed that a previous appropriation of federal money was available for that road. The scope or work will not be changed by the reduction. Representative Navarre pointed out that the project was scheduled for FY 89 and to date there has only the surveying has been completed. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Representative Parnell questioned the deferred maintenance in the Department of Corrections budget. Co-Chair MacLean replied it was merged with the Statewide Renewal and Replacement Fund. UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA Co-Chair MacLean pointed out that the School Construction Fund addresses deferred maintenance. These concerns will be removed from the capital budget. Representative Navarre asked why the Contaminated Site Assess/Cleanup component was removed. Co-Chair MacLean emphasized in order to cut the capital budget. Representative Parnell shared Representative Navarre's concern. Co-Chair MacLean suggested that an amendment be proposed to address their concern. 8 ALASKA COURT SYSTEM Representative Parnell asked what would be eliminated with the $2.4 million dollar reduction to the Alaska Court System. Co-Chair MacLean stated, the agency had overhead administrative costs. Representative Navarre asked why the Court Technology Enhancements component to upgrade the computer system was reduced. He emphasized the request was low. Ms. Frasca noted that last session the Legislature approved last session $400 thousand dollars for Court System computer enhancement. She added none of the data processing systems in the State are fully funded. Representative Navarre argued that the Court System is further behind than other governmental agencies and he recommended fully funding it. Representative Parnell agreed with Representative Navarre. ART SNOWDEN, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT SYSTEMS, stated that last year the Governor requested $880 thousand dollars for court system technology. At that point, there had been no technology awarded to the Courts for the previous ten years. The Governor agreed to provide half the allocation last year and promised the remaining amount this year. Mr. Snowden explained the money would be used to provide computers for rural courts. There are fifty-six court locations which need to tie into the master court system to make necessary information available. LEGISLATURE HB 60 was HELD in Committee for further discussion.
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