Legislature(2001 - 2002)
03/08/2001 01:41 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
STATEWIDE TELECONFERENCE
HB 103-APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET
HB 104-APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes
and handouts will be on file with the House Finance
Committee through the 22nd Legislative Session, contact 465-
2156. After the 22nd Legislative Session they will be
available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION
TAPE HFC 00 - 36
SIDE A
000 CO-CHAIR MULDER Opened the House Finance Committee
meeting on statewide teleconferencing,
noting that each testifier would be given
a time-limited opportunity to testify in
support or against proposed budget
changes.
158 DAVE PERKINS - Testified in support continued funding
KODIAK for the Kodiak radio broadcasting and the
current satellite system.
323 DON ROBERTS - KODIAK Requested continued and greater funding
for people suffering from disabilities.
He noted his request for continued
funding for the State's independent
Living Council.
437 DAVE JONES - KODIAK Requested transportation costs for the
Alaska Marine Highway be funded at 100%
510 MIKE MILLIGAN - Referenced Section 7 & Section 15 and the
KODIAK motor fuel tax. Mr. Milligan spoke in
support of paying an income tax rather
than taking money from the Constitutional
Budget Reserve (CBR). He recommended
raising the State fuel tax.
700 Co-Chair Mulder Noted that the State would receive an
additional $40 million federal dollars
this year.
741 KAREN WILLOWS - Voiced concern with the proposed funding
HOMER for fish and wildlife concerns throughout
the State. She noted that problems have
been increasing. She recommended more
dollars for the laws passed over the past
few years for greater public safety.
830 Co-Chair Mulder Pointed out that there was funding
provided for one general fund supported
trooper and five federal funded troopers.
857 SUSAN KERNES - HOMER Testified in support of full funding for
public broadcasting.
998 ELAINE OLSON - HOMER Testified in further support for alcohol
treatment programs.
1116 HAL SMITH - HOMER Testified in support of full funding for
public broadcasting, specifically public
radio.
1187 JAN HENRY - KENAI Testified in greater financial support
for the Department of Military & Veterans
Affairs budget and specifically regarding
the local emergency planning committee
proposed move from Department of Military
and Veterans Affairs to the Department of
Environmental Conservation. He stressed
that funds need to be appropriated to
keep local emergency committees afloat.
Mr. Henry requested further support for
the Alaska State Troopers.
1329 JOAN BENNETT Requested increased funding for mental
SCHRADER - KENAI health concerns and additionally for the
Alaska State troopers.
1425 PATRICK HICKEY - Testified in support of additional
KENAI funding for education.
1525 KARN ROGER - KENAI Spoke in support of greater funding for
the juvenile probation officers in the
Kenai area.
1580 BILL COMER - VALDEZ Spoke in support for increased funding
for the local jails and the Department of
Corrections.
1653 Co-Chair Mulder Commented on the concerns voiced
regarding the Valdez jail.
1665 DIANE MCBRIDE - Testified in support of full funding for
HOMER public broadcasting and the Alaska
connection project.
1797 LEN MALMQUIST - Voiced support for greater funding for
KENAI the local emergency planning committees.
He noted that he had provided written
testimony regarding Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) services on the Kenai
Peninsula.
1893 Representative Croft Asked if guaranteeing funding for fire
suppression could keep the fires smaller.
1910 Mr. Malmquist Replied that it would, adding that it
would be money well spent. He offered to
provide researched data.
1946 Co-Chair Mulder Asked how this could differ from the
current "hot shots".
1959 Mr. Malmquist Replied that currently fire-fighting
crews are assigned and are on mobile
stand-by. The funding could change that
delegation.
1980 Representative Noted that appeal had been indicated in
Hudson Subcommittee. He understood that the
placement would be throughout the State.
He asked for further ideas for
operational prevention of fires.
2025 Co-Chair Mulder Advised the Legislature's reluctance to
start new programs.
2039 LOTTE BOGARD - KENAI Spoke in support of the Governor's Back
to Basic's Health initiative, which would
help the State deal with the tuberculosis
(TB) outbreaks throughout the State. She
noted the need for additional funding for
public health nurses.
2149 JAMES FISHER - KENAI Spoke to legislation that would provide
protection and treatment for women that
are not covered on Medicaid or Medicare,
which could improve their chances for
survival from cervical and breast cancer.
2209 Co-Chair Mulder Advised that those funds had been
attached as a fiscal note to the
Governor's bill.
2228 BRAD ANGASAN - Testified in support of the 15 percent
DILLINGHAM increase in VPSO salaries.
2311 WARD JONES - Spoke in support of greater funding for
DILLINGHAM the Department of Environmental
Conservation's budget component.
TAPE HFC 01 - 36,
Side B
046 CATHY FLAVIN - Voiced support for full effective funding
DILLINGHAM for the Tobacco Prevention and Control
Program.
176 GREG DONEWAR - Requested full restoration of funding for
DILLINGHAM contact jails and the utilization of
community jails.
351 Co-Chair Mulder Acknowledged that Dillingham does have
the most problems with the contact jails
and overcrowding.
379 PAUL SHADURA - KENAI Voiced support for full funding for the
Department of Fish and Game's budget. He
noted that his testimony would be faxed
in.
612 SHIRLEY HENLEY - Stated that public health nurses need
KENAI greater support. She indicated support
for Governor Knowle's Back to Basics
program.
686 CRISTY WILLER TILDEN Spoke in support of increased funding for
- DILLINGHAM the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
819 Representative Croft Asked how the 5% on prevention was
playing-out in other states.
834 Ms. Tilden Commented on a recent budget analyzed for
each State in the Union. She noted that
Alaska was a third down that list.
883 FRED NISHIMURA - Testified in support for an additional
DILLINGHAM ranger for State Parks.
1030 Representative Croft Asked if the State had made specific
commitments for park ranger funding.
1050 Mr. Nishimura Replied that the agreement was signed in
1985 and noted that there were no
provisions within the agreement.
1166 BLANCH MURPHY - Testified in support for additional
DILLINGHAM funding for Head Start programs.
Testified in support for increased
funding for State VPSO's. Ms. Murphy
noted her support for additional funding
for education and testified in support
for the Governor's request for increased
funding for alcohol treatment systems.
1361 CINDY QUIJADA - Testified in support of full funding for
HOMER the University of Alaska.
1424 BOB BENDA - VALDEZ Testified in support of full funding for
the University of Alaska.
1581 CAROLINE RENNER - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
BETHEL cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1776 Co-Chair Mulder Questioned the findings that indicate
that 74 percent of Alaskan's use snuff.
1813 Vice-Chair Bunde Observed that children as young as five
chew tobacco.
1895 ANDREW GARRISON - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
BETHEL cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1941 Vice-Chair Bunde Questioned the number of the patients
that had quit.
1963 Mr. Garrison Noted that 55 patients had quit for up to
a year.
1975 CARRIE ENOCH - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
BETHEL cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
2006 CHERYL THOMPSON - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
BETHEL cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
2067 PAULA ALBERT - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
BETHEL cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
2143 DAN BECK - DELTA Testified in support of additional
JUNCTION funding for education. Testified in
support of inflation proofing the
education foundation formula. Testified
in support of full funding for pupil
transportation.
2238 Mr. Beck Responded to questions by Co-Chair
Mulder.
2250 JULIE SERSTAD - NOME Testified in support of the governor's
request for Back to Basic health
services.
TAPE HFC 01 - 37,
Side A
069 Ms. Serstad Continued her testimony.
159 Vice-Chair Bunde Questioned if the rate of TB was tenfold
in their area.
183 Ms. Serstad Affirmed and stated that the cold arctic
environment and close spaces along with
transportation to and from Russia has
increased the incidents of TB.
249 Vice-Chair Bunde Noted his concern with the rate of TB in
Nome.
281 Representative Croft Agreed that TB is a problem in other
areas of the State. He noted that the
Governor's request for Back to Basics was
$1.5 million dollars. He questioned what
steps would be taken to combat TB.
345 Ms. Serstad Stated that none of the funding was
slated to come to their program at this
time. She indicated that a team of nurses
had been sent to areas afflicted with TB.
472 Representative Croft Questioned the rate of epidemic and the
cost of treatment.
489 Ms. Serstad Thought that 25 or 30 people inflicted
would be considered an epidemic. She did
not know the cost of treatment. She
commented on the cost in administering
the medicines. TB is a terminal disease
if it is not treated.
663 JOSIE STILES - NOME Testified in support of state support for
the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
792 TOM BOLEN - KOTZEBUE Testified in support of Local Emergency
Planning Commission grants.
1172 ROSS SCHAEFFER - Testified in support of State support for
KOTZEBUE the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries
and the addition of 20 troopers.
Testified in support of the Governor's
request for increased funding for alcohol
and drug abuse programs and added his
support for additional funding for Head
Start programs.
1343 GREG RUSSELL - Requested full restoration of funding for
KOTZEBUE contact jails and the utilization of
community jails.
1511 JOHN WARD - KOTZEBUE Requested full restoration of funding for
contact jails and the utilization of
community jails.
1601 BRUCE CULVER - Spoke in greater funding for the natural
BARROW disaster and oil hazards.
1685 LUCIENNE HARGER - Testified in support of additional
BARROW funding for education.
1899 Co-Chair Mulder Indicated that it would be more efficient
to block grant education funds.
1922 PAUL CARR - BETHEL Requested full restoration of funding for
contact jails and the utilization of
community jails. He added support for
further funding for the VPSO's and the
Department of Public Safety budget.
1995 LAVERN SMITH - NOME Stressed the need to fund tobacco
cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
2059 Co-Chair Mulder Advised that there is a misunderstanding
where those funds are directed.
2090 RIC SCHMIDT - NOME Testified in support of full funding for
public broadcasting.
2198 LIZ GILL - NOME Testified in support of additional
funding for education and substance abuse
programs.
2294 MARSHA MAROELLI - Testified for greater funding for
NOME substance abuse and the tobacco abuse
funding. She noted that tobacco funding
has not been available to the Nome area.
2350 TAFFY FOX - NOME Stressed the need to fund tobacco
cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
TAPE HFC 01 - 37,
Side B
069 Testified in support of State support for
WESLEY PERKINS -
the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
NOME
148 TOM OKLEASIK - NOME Testified in support of State support for
the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries
and the Department of Public Safety
budget.
350 Representative Asked about the Alaska Federation of
Hudson Natives (AFN) funds source.
367 Co-Chair Mulder Explained that Senator Stevens had put
$15 million dollars in through the
Department of Education.
403 Mr. Okleasik Understood that to be true. He noted
that those would be a one-time fund
appropriation.
441 JANE FRANKS - NOME Spoke to the problems with alcohol, which
goes hand in hand with the VPSO's and the
substance abuse programs throughout the
State and the Department of Public
Safety's budget.
530 LES DAENZER - BETHEL Testified in support of additional
funding for education and for Head Start
and other preschool programs. Mr.
Daenzer requested greater funding for the
Department of Public Safety and indicated
how that would provide safety for the
children and the village areas.
790 BILL FERGUSON - Testified in support of additional
BETHEL funding for education and drug and
alcohol abuse counseling funding. He
recommended that the problems be looked
at holistically.
1008 JIM HASENOHRL - Requested full restoration of funding for
UNALASKA contact jails and the utilization of
community jails. Testified in support of
State support for the 15 percent increase
in VPSO salaries.
1090 TERESA SOCPELALUK - Spoke against reduced funding for
SHAKTOOLIK substance abuse and mental health
services. She encouraged full funding
for the rural human services programs.
1166 DALLAS LEE DEXTER - Spoke in support for the North Slope
NORTHSLOPE Institute of Learning. She reiterated
her support for the infant learning
program, which provides for the needed
early intervention.
1421 NEIL GEORGE - NORTH Testified in support of additional
SLOPE funding for education. Testified in
support of the Governor's request for
increased funding for alcohol and drug
abuse programs.
1527 JOHN CREED - Testified in support of full funding for
KOTZEBUE the University of Alaska.
1589 ROBERT BROWN - EKWOK Testified in support of State support for
the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
1641 Representative Croft Asked about the AFN grant. He asked how
many villages have banned the use of
alcohol.
1669 Mr. Brown Replied that in Bristol Bay, there are
three communities that have voted to go
dry. He added that there are 10 villages
in that area with VPSO's.
1715 REUBEN MIXSOOKE - Requested funding for a children's home
UNALASKA bed for children that are abandoned
because of alcohol abuse. He noted that
there are 15 villages in that area.
1786 Representative Asked where most of the people go for
Hudson treatment.
1797 Mr. Mixsooke Replied it would be depend on where they
were "caught". It would be either
Kotzebue or Anchorage. The Nome outlet
is outpatient only.
1832 Representative Questioned the concept of a multi-
Hudson generational home.
1843 Mr. Mixsooke Voiced his support of that the idea and
that it stays in the village area.
1866 STANLEY ACTIVE JR. - Testified in support of state support for
TOGIAK the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
1953 HENRY ANELON JR. - Testified in support of state support for
LEVELOCK the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
2010 ERIC GEBHART - KAKE Testified in support of additional
funding for education.
2069 GUST TUNGUING - Testified in support of State support for
KALIBNIK the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries.
2123 LUCY ENINGOWUK - Testified in support of the Governor's
SHISMARAFF request for increased funding for alcohol
and drug abuse programs.
2192 MINA NAYOKPUK - Testified in support of the Governor's
SHISMARAFF request for increased funding for alcohol
and drug abuse programs.
2280 KATRINA CHURCH - Testified in support of full funding for
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND the University of Alaska.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2298 DOUG ZEIT - CRAIG Spoke in support of an income tax or use
of the permanent fund for mental health
programs.
2345 MARGARET O'NEIL - Testified in support of the mental health
CRAIG budget. Testified in support of the
Governor's request for increased funding
for alcohol and drug abuse programs.
Testified in support of State support for
the 15 percent increase in VPSO salaries
and social workers.
184 Representative Observed that only three persons had
Foster testified on behalf of paying taxes to
raise revenues.
252 SUZANNE FALVONI - Testified in support of full funding for
PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND the University of Alaska and community
COLLEGE colleges.
361 VICE-CHAIR BUNDE Asked if there are allowances for special
needs students that want to take a GED
test.
430 Ms. Falvoni Stated that additional resources are
needed for special education students
such as material on tape. The Committee
took an "at ease" for a dinner break at
5:00 p.m.
889 Co-Chair Williams Reconvened the Committee at 6:05 p.m.
933 BILL HARDY - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
KETCHIKAN cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1040 PATTY GREEN - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
KETCHIKAN cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1159 REBECCA KLEINSCHMIDT Stressed the need to fund tobacco
- KETCHIKAN cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1226 MIKE WISNEWSKI - Voiced support for $160 thousand dollars
KETCHIKAN funding to the State Parks budget.
1275 TED SMITH, MAYOR - Spoke in support of increased funding for
PETERSBURG the Alaska Marine Highway system.
1365 LINDA QUARLES - Requested greater funding for the Highway
PETERSBURG Stabilization fund.
1396 MARY FRANCIS - Testified in support of additional
PETERSBURG funding for education.
1511 DAVE CARLSON - Requested fully funding the Alaska Marine
PETERSBURG Highway stabilization fund.
1547 BARRY BRACKEN - Requested fully funding the Alaska Marine
PETERSBURG Highway stabilization fund.
1611 THOMAS CONLEY - Testified in support of additional
SITKA funding for education.
1735 Representative Asked to what extend would the economic
Hudson decline would have on funding for
educational needs.
1817 Mr. Conley Acknowledged that there had been a
substantial effect and changes noted
toward that in the past year. He stated
that it had not affected real estate
costs in Sitka.
1847 FRED REEDER - SITKA Testified in support of additional
funding for education. He noted that $18
million dollars was going to grants. He
asked where the money promised by the
legislators was. He stressed the need to
fully fund education. Testified in
support of full funding for pupil
transportation. Mr. Reeder recommended
adding $200 dollars on the ATM. He
stressed that students cannot pass the
exit exam with the current allocated
funding.
2000 Co-Chair Mulder Stated that the State was fully funding
the education formula according to
statute. Noted that the amount that was
going into pupil transportation was at
the last level for the past three-years.
2056 Mr. Reeder Recommended changing the statute.
2078 Representative Croft Noted that the Legislature wrote the
statute and stressed that the Legislature
has the responsibility to change that
statute.
2111 MARYLS TEDIN - SITKA Requested further funding for the State
Parks system.
2169 MOLLIE KABLER - Testified in support of additional
SITKA funding for education.
2200 JANELLE PRIVETT - Testified in support of additional
WRANGELL funding for education.
2248 PAMELLA MCCLOSKEY - Testified in support of additional
WRANGELL funding for education.
2284 DAVID GALLA - Testified in support of additional
WRANGELL funding for education.
TAPE HFC 01 - 38,
Side A
007 TONNIE BARLOW - Testified in support of additional
WRANGELL funding for education.
129 PENNY DILLARD - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
KETCHIKAN cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
225 DAVID DEAL - Requested greater funding for trooper
KETCHIKAN coverage to help prevent burglaries. He
noted further concern with drunk drivers.
302 BOB WEINSTEIN, MAYOR Testified in support of additional
- KETCHIKAN funding for education. Mayor Weinstein
voiced concern with the current funding
proposed for the Alaska Marine Highway
System. He believed that would
exasperate the economic harm already
experienced throughout Southeast Alaska.
469 WOODY WILSON - Testified in support of additional
WRANGELL funding for education.
553 PAM ROOPE - WRANGELL Testified in support of additional
funding for education.
635 Representative Croft Noted that the recommendation for the 1st
year was a 4% increase to the foundation
formula. He questioned if that was what
was needed.
677 Ms. Roope Explained that could keep the community
even. It would not allow for any growth.
700 TIFFANY BORGES - Testified in support of the Governor's
PETERSBURG request for increased funding for alcohol
and drug abuse programs.
746 JEAN FRANK - SITKA Stressed the need to fund tobacco
cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
838 ALICE JOHNSTONE - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
SITKA cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
Ms. Johnstone spoke in support of the
Governor's request for increased funding
for alcohol and drug abuse programs.
971 DALE STONE - Spoke in support for full funding for the
PETERSBURG Department of Public Safety and all the
Village Public Officers funding.
1130 At-Ease 6:55 p.m.
End of recess: 7:15 p.m.
1151 RUTHAMAE KARR - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
FAIRBANKS cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
Alaskans are over 38% tobacco users.
1334 Representative Asked what programs would be effective.
Hudson He asked for her to submit that
information.
1376 Ms. Karr Explained that there would need to be a
comprehensive program. She offered to
provide that information.
1401 JIM KNOSKE - Voiced support for full funding for the
FAIRBANKS Department of Public Safety and the VPSO
15% increases.
1522 MARTA MUELLER - Testified in support of full funding for
FAIRBANKS the University of Alaska and support the
budget provided by the Governor. She
recommended capping the Permanent Fund
Dividend and also adds a personal
property tax.
1658 VERA BECKER - Stressed the need to fund tobacco
FAIRBANKS cessation programs and pointed to tobacco
settlement funds as a funding source.
1780 RUTH L'HOMMEDIEU - Encouraged further funding for
FAIRBANKS Independent Living Centers throughout the
State.
1901 DAVID JACOBSON - Encouraged further funding for
FAIRBANKS Independent Living Centers throughout the
State.
2032 COLLEEN CHINN - Noted support for greater funding for the
FAIRBANKS infant learning program.
2165 TIM DORAN - Expressed support for the recommendations
FAIRBANKS of the Education Task Force Report.
Testified in support of additional
funding for education.
2341 Representative Questioned if enrollment is down in the
Hudson Fairbanks North Star Borough
2356 Mr. Doran Acknowledged that enrollment is down,
however, emphasized that the needs of the
kids is great. He noted that kids today
are not prepared for school.
TAPE HFC 01 - 38,
Side B
28 Vice-Chair Bunde Questioned if Fairbanks had taken
advantage of school quality school
grants.
62 Mr. Doran Stated that they had taken advantage of
some of the quality school programs and
gave examples.
129 Vice-Chair Bunde Noted that schools needed to align with
the elementary benchmark and asked what
information was provided.
161 Mr. Doran Responded that goals and objectives were
aligned with State standards. He was
confident that the majority of their
students would pass.
467 BETTY DUPEE - Testified in support of full funding for
FAIRBANKS the University of Alaska.
524 BRIAN BRUBAKER - Testified in support of full funding for
FAIRBANKS the University of Alaska.
604 JEFF WALTERS - Testified in support of additional
FAIRBANKS funding for education. He noted the need
to protect art in school.
836 JOE HARDENBROOK - Testified in support of full funding for
FAIRBANKS the University of Alaska.
976 JOHN ASHCRAFT Testified in support of full funding for
the University of Alaska.
1048 JERI LANIER - Testified in support of the mental health
FAIRBANKS budget. Testified in support of the
Governor's request for increased funding
for alcohol and drug abuse programs.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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