Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/12/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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Audio Topic
09:01:45 AM Start
09:03:13 AM SB20 || SB21
09:06:40 AM Public Testimony: Kenai, Kodiak, Dillingham
09:30:39 AM Public Testimony: Glennallen, Seward, Homer
10:20:43 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= SB 20 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony <Time Limit May Be Set> --
+= SB 21 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
Uniform Rule 23 Waived
- 9:00-9:45: Kenai LIO, Kodiak LIO, Dillingham
LIO - Sign Up by 9:30 am
- 9:45-10:30: Glennallen LIO, Seward LIO, Homer
LIO - Sign Up by 10:15 am
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
SENATE BILL NO. 20                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     loan  program  expenses  of state  government  and  for                                                                    
     certain   programs;    capitalizing   funds;   amending                                                                    
     appropriations;  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."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 21                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act making  appropriations for  the operating  and                                                                    
     capital    expenses   of    the   state's    integrated                                                                    
     comprehensive   mental    health   program,   including                                                                    
     supplemental  appropriations;  and   providing  for  an                                                                    
     effective date."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:03:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  noted that  senators  may  be coming  and                                                                    
going throughout the day to  attend to other state business.                                                                    
He stated that the time  limit was one minute per testifier.                                                                    
He  stressed that  the testimony  should be  focused on  the                                                                    
bill.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Micciche.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: KENAI, KODIAK, DILLINGHAM                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:06:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TODD  SYVERSON, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
against the governor's proposed budget.  He felt that it was                                                                    
the  state's  responsibility  to   fund  education  and  the                                                                    
University.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:07:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FRED   STURMAN,   SELF,   SOLDOTNA   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the governor's proposed budget.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:08:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JUSTIN  HANSEN, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
against  the governor's  proposed budget.  He felt  that the                                                                    
proposed budget would  eliminate extracurricular activities,                                                                    
and possibly close his school.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:08:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALLEN AUXIER, SELF, SOLDOTNA  (via teleconference), spoke in                                                                    
support of  funding for  public media.  He stressed  that it                                                                    
provided  news  and  information  to the  entire  state.  He                                                                    
remarked  that   the  smaller  communities  would   lose  an                                                                    
extremely valuable service.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:10:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID BRIGHTON, SELF,  KENAI (via teleconference), testified                                                                    
in  opposition to  the governor's  budget. He  remarked that                                                                    
the result of the bill would  be closing of schools. He felt                                                                    
that a major  cut to education would lead to  an increase in                                                                    
crime.  He  pointed  out that  cutting  public  broadcasting                                                                    
would create a problem. He stated  that he did not mind that                                                                    
the  legislation  was  done  thousands  of  miles  from  his                                                                    
district,  but  eliminating  public  broadcasting  would  be                                                                    
detrimental.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:11:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMY SEITZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  ALASKA FARM BUREAU, SOLDOTNA                                                                    
(via  teleconference),  spoke  in  support  of  funding  for                                                                    
programs that relate to agriculture economy programs.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:12:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMANDA FAULKNER, FRONTIER  COMMUNITY SERVICES, SOLDOTNA (via                                                                    
teleconference),  spoke  against   the  cuts  to  behavioral                                                                    
health grants.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:13:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAT  HOLMES,   SELF,  KODIAK  (via   teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against  the  governor's  proposed budget.  He  support  the                                                                    
operating budget that  was recently passed by  the House. He                                                                    
felt that there should be  some more information about where                                                                    
the operating budget  was in the Senate.  He encouraged more                                                                    
information about the history of the state.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:15:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WAYNE  DONALDSON, SELF,  KODIAK (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in  support of  reinstating funds  for higher  education. He                                                                    
shared that he  had graduated from the  University of Alaska                                                                    
Fairbanks (UAF).                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:16:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JERED  GRIFFIN,  SELF,  KODIAK (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against the  proposed cuts to  public broadcasting.  He felt                                                                    
that public  broadcasting should be considered  the same way                                                                    
that  education  and libraries  are  treated.  He felt  that                                                                    
public broadcasting was essential  and enhanced the lives of                                                                    
Alaskans.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:17:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHAWN  DOCHTERMANN,   SELF,  KODIAK   (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified against  the governor's  proposed budget.  He felt                                                                    
that  the House  had  provided an  adequate  version of  the                                                                    
budget. He  spoke in  support of  funding for  education and                                                                    
the Alaska  Marine Highway System  (AMHS). He  remarked that                                                                    
the ferry system  should function in order to  serve all the                                                                    
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:18:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAN  ROHRER,  MAYOR,  KODIAK  ISLAND  BOROUGH,  KODIAK  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  remarked that  there was  a concern  about                                                                    
the budget,  because it would  shift the cost of  the school                                                                    
bond debt to  the community. He spoke in  support of funding                                                                    
for school bond debt.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:20:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BOB  BRODIE, SELF,  KODIAK  (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of funding for public  broadcasting. He testified in                                                                    
support of funding for AMHS.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:21:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAT  BRANSON, SELF,  KODIAK (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of a shared fisheries  tax. She testified in support                                                                    
of AMHS and the community assistance fund.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:22:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN ADKINS,  SELF, KODIAK (via  teleconference), opposed                                                                    
the  governor's proposed  budget.  She spoke  in support  of                                                                    
public broadcasting. She also testified in support of AMHS.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:24:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JANE PETRICH,  SELF, KODIAK  (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support  of public  broadcasting. She  remarked that  public                                                                    
radio was her family's only source of information.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:25:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID WARTINBER, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in support of maximum funding  of education. He testified in                                                                    
support   of  public   broadcasting,  because   it  provided                                                                    
unbiased information.  He noted  that many people  relied on                                                                    
public broadcasting for all of their information.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:27:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALICE  RUBY,  MAYOR,  CITY OF  DILLINGHAM,  DILLINGHAM  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  spoke  in  support  of  school  bond  debt                                                                    
reimbursement,  the  shared   fisheries  business  tax,  and                                                                    
community assistance.  He felt  that omitting  those funding                                                                    
sources would have a crippling impact on communities.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:29:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOLLY   SCOTT,   SELF,    SOLDOTNA   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
encouraged  continual examination  of  the proposed  budget.                                                                    
She stated  that she  had submitted  a letter  that outlined                                                                    
her concerns.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: GLENNALLEN, SEWARD, HOMER                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:30:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JILLIAN  LUSH, SELF,  HOMER (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of  Medicaid funding and  education of  funding. She                                                                    
spoke  in support  of reversing  elimination of  Pre-K, Head                                                                    
Start, Best Beginnings, and Parents as Teachers.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:32:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEG  MITCHELL,  SELF,   HOMER  (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against   the  privatization   of  the   Alaska  Psychiatric                                                                    
Institute.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Micciche stated that testimony  should be focused on                                                                    
the operating budget.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Mitchell felt  that the  governor  had traumatized  the                                                                    
state, and did not respect the value of the state.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:33:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA  ASSELIN  MARTIN,  SELF,  HOMER  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified in  support of education funding.  She stated that                                                                    
she was a parent of an elementary age person.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:34:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RACHEL  LORD, SELF,  HOMER  (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of funding for education. She felt that                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:35:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAY BECHTOL, SELF, HOMER  (via teleconference), testified in                                                                    
support of funding Medicaid and behavioral health grants.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:36:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PEGGY PAVER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  HOMER COUNCIL ON THE ARTS,                                                                    
HOMER (via teleconference), spoke  in support of funding for                                                                    
the State Council on the Arts.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:38:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DELANE   BLACKSTOCK,  SELF,   HOMER  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
stressed that she  was a part of the  community, because she                                                                    
valued education and the arts.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:39:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JIM  HORNADAY, SELF,  HOMER (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
opposition to  the repeal of the  senior assistance program.                                                                    
He spoke in support of education funding.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:40:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID ECKWERT,  UNIVERSITY OF  ALASKA, KACHEMAK  BAY CAMPUS,                                                                    
HOMER (via teleconference), spoke  in support of funding for                                                                    
the university, specifically the Kachemak Bay Camus.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:41:26 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:48:08 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:48:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MOIRA   IRELAND,    SELF,   KENAI    (via   teleconference),                                                                    
appreciated the  examination of  the budget.  She encouraged                                                                    
the  committee to  increase revenue  by  decreasing oil  tax                                                                    
credits.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:49:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROL  HAMIK, SELF,  HOMER  (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of  funding for education.  She spoke in  support of                                                                    
an income tax  for workers who lived  permanently outside of                                                                    
the state. She wanted increased taxes for oil companies.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:51:12 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LINDA  CORBIN,  SELF,  SEWARD  (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against the proposed budget cuts to education.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:52:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MAR SWANSON,  SELF, SEWARD  (via teleconference),  felt that                                                                    
education was  the prime  objective of  the budget.  He felt                                                                    
that stable  education funding was the  highest priority. He                                                                    
remarked that  he could be taxed  and his PFD could  be used                                                                    
to fund education.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:53:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LETTY SWANSON,  SELF, SEWARD (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support of  early childhood  education programs.  She stated                                                                    
that she was in support of using taxes for education.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:54:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JANE  DUNN, LIAISON,  STUDENTS  IN  TRANSITION KPBSD,  HOMER                                                                    
(via teleconference),  spoke in  support of funding  for the                                                                    
Homeless Assistance  Program. She stated that  there were no                                                                    
homeless  shelters  in the  central  peninsula  area of  the                                                                    
state.  She remarked  that the  communities relied  on state                                                                    
funding.  She noted  that Alaska  was the  highest in  human                                                                    
trafficking in the country.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:56:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LAURIE  DEAKINS,  CARE  COORDINATION  RESOURCE,  HOMER  (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke  in support  of senior  benefits. She                                                                    
remarked that  she worked with  seniors who were on  a fixed                                                                    
income. She  stated that those  in the lower  income bracket                                                                    
relied  heavily on  the couple  of hundred  dollars provided                                                                    
through the program.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:57:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADAM  HYKES, SELF,  HOMER  (via  teleconference), looked  at                                                                    
page  10, lines  17  and  18 of  the  bill.  He queried  the                                                                    
definition  of "student  and school  achievement" and  asked                                                                    
why it  cost $158 million. He  looked at page 33,  lines 24,                                                                    
27, and  30, and asked why  UAF had a budget  five times the                                                                    
size of UAS, when Fairbanks  and Juneau had roughly the same                                                                    
population. He spoke in support of the governor's budget.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Micciche handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:58:57 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:17:11 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Micciche.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:17:44 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MAYA  MORIARTY,  SELF,  SEWARD (via  teleconference),  spoke                                                                    
against the  governor's proposed  budget. She  believed that                                                                    
the  loss of  the Marine  Highway would  be damaging  to the                                                                    
communities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Micciche handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the following meeting's agenda.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SB 20 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SB 21 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 6.pdf SFIN 4/12/2019 9:00:00 AM
SB 20
SB 20 Public Testimony - Support Medicaid Services.pdf SFIN 4/12/2019 9:00:00 AM
SB 20