Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532

04/11/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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09:02:08 AM Start
09:02:40 AM SB20 || SB21
09:04:23 AM Public Testimony: Mat-su, Fairbanks
10:31:58 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
- Matsu LIO & Fairbanks LIO: Sign Up by 10:00 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."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:02:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman   relayed   that  the   committee   would                                                                    
concurrently take  public testimony on  SB 20 and SB  21. He                                                                    
discussed  the  public  testimony parameters.  He  requested                                                                    
that comments be confined to the budget.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: MAT-SU, FAIRBANKS                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:04:23 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:05:10 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman asked  whether  representatives wanted  to                                                                    
chair the meeting during  their respective regions scheduled                                                                    
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Shower took  control of the gavel  for Fairbanks and                                                                    
MAT-SU public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:06:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE  ROSS, MAT-SU  COALITION ON  HOUSING AND  HOMELESSNESS,                                                                    
MAT-SU  (via   teleconference),  testified  in   support  of                                                                    
funding for  the Homeless Assistance Program  Fund. The fund                                                                    
assisted in  helping individuals meet emergency  needs; with                                                                    
over  30, non-  profit, agencies  and organizations  serving                                                                    
low-income  residents.   He  discussed   the  work   of  the                                                                    
coalition.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:07:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARK   LACKEY,   CCS   EARLY  LEARNING,   MATSU   LIO   (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke  in support  of funding for  the Head                                                                    
Start program. He noted that  the governor's budget proposed                                                                    
to eliminate  100 percent of  the $6.8 million  provided for                                                                    
Head  Start services  in the  state. He  specified that  the                                                                    
proposed cut would  result in 534 fewer  children served and                                                                    
138 jobs lost  around the state. He noted that  one of three                                                                    
children in his  program was a foster child  or homeless. He                                                                    
estimated that 20 percent of  other families were at risk of                                                                    
fostering or homelessness.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:08:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JUDY  SNYDER, SELF,  MATSU (via  teleconference), was  a 35-                                                                    
year resident of the MAT-SU  Valley. She spoke in support of                                                                    
full funding  for the Washington, Wyoming,  Alaska, Montana,                                                                    
and  Idaho  (WWAMI) program.  She  detailed  that WWAMI  had                                                                    
provided   the   state   with   214   physicians   currently                                                                    
practicing. She  discussed the function of  the program. She                                                                    
thought  it  was not  economically  feasible  for Alaska  to                                                                    
establish  its  own medical  school.  She  informed that  61                                                                    
percent of WWAMI students returned  to the state, the fourth                                                                    
highest return  rate of  all public  medical schools  in the                                                                    
country. She  felt that  with an  investment of  only $4.62,                                                                    
per  capita, per  year, the  program was  a win/win  for the                                                                    
state.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:10:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MERCER   WELSH,  SELF,   MATSU  (via   teleconference),  was                                                                    
concerned  about proposed  cuts to  government programs.  He                                                                    
was a ten-year resident of Wasilla.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Stedman  recognized  Senator Costello  and  Senator                                                                    
Kawasaki in the audience.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Shower handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Bishop.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:12:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VALERIE   THERRIEN,  FAIRBANKS   CITY  COUNCIL,   FAIRBANKS,                                                                    
thanked  the committee  for supporting  community assistance                                                                    
and revenue sharing. Fairbanks had  received $500,000 in the                                                                    
current  fiscal  year  and  expected  the  same  amount  the                                                                    
following  year. Without  the funds,  she expected  that the                                                                    
city would  have to cut  an entire department. She  spoke in                                                                    
support  of  funding  for the  Department  of  Environmental                                                                    
Conservation. She relayed that  there was as serious problem                                                                    
with infiltration of chemicals  at the fire training center.                                                                    
The city  had spent  over $1 million  in trucking  water and                                                                    
providing city  water. The issue was  increasing nationwide.                                                                    
There was  a lawsuit  started with a  national firm  to help                                                                    
with costs.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:13:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JUNE ROGERS,  FAIRBANKS CITY  COUNCIL, FAIRBANKS,  was proud                                                                    
of organizing a coalition  working on issues of homelessness                                                                    
and  rehabilitation of  many forms  of substance  abuse. She                                                                    
mentioned  prisoner  reentry  programs.  She  discussed  the                                                                    
effects  of volunteer  efforts and  thought the  effects had                                                                    
been  exponential. She  thought  state  programs could  work                                                                    
more  effectively in  concert with  volunteerism. She  noted                                                                    
financial contributions from the  Alaska Mental Health Trust                                                                    
Authority (AMHTA) and the  Rasmuson Foundation. She asserted                                                                    
that the city was responsible  for people and networking for                                                                    
people's benefit.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:15:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PATTY MERITT,  SELF, FBX LIO (via  teleconference), spoke in                                                                    
support of  programs that produced long-term  benefits, such                                                                    
as, early  childhood education,  Head Start,  Pre-K, Parents                                                                    
as Teacher,  and Best Beginnings. She  supported funding for                                                                    
the University. She discussed the  importance of the work of                                                                    
the  University. She  was  a  UAF graduate.  Her  son was  a                                                                    
University graduate  and would  become a teacher.  She hoped                                                                    
the University would be there for her grandchildren.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:17:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SAMANTHA KIRSTEIN,  FAIRBANKS COMMUNITY  FOOD BANK,  FBX LIO                                                                    
(via   teleconference),   supported   the   Human   Services                                                                    
Community  Matching  Grant  Fund within  the  Department  of                                                                    
Health  and  Social Services  (DHSS).  She  said that  funds                                                                    
allocated through  the grant were  used to meet  human needs                                                                    
as defined  in state law.  She said current  year's programs                                                                    
provided meals 325,000  to those in need,  through the local                                                                    
food bank.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:18:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  SZUDLOSKI,  SELF,  FBX  LIO  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
stressed  the importance  of  the  University. He  discussed                                                                    
growing  sectors of  employment in  the state  in healthcare                                                                    
and  education.  He  thought  the  proposed  cuts  in  those                                                                    
sectors  were  ludicrous and  would  be  devastating to  the                                                                    
state's  economy. He  encouraged  the  legislature to  fully                                                                    
fund education and health care in the state.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:19:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JINNEL  CHOINIERE, FBX  CHAMBER  OF COMMERCE,  FBX LIO  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  supported   using  the  earnings   of  the                                                                    
Permanent Fund.  She supported  funding for  the University.                                                                    
She  mentioned   the  importance  of   efficient  government                                                                    
encouraging  resource  development   and  business  friendly                                                                    
practices.  She  supported  passage of  an  appropriate  and                                                                    
timely  capital  budget.  She asserted  that  the  Fairbanks                                                                    
Chamber of Commerce did not support any new taxes.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:21:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SUSAN   HENRICHS,  SELF,   FBX  LIO   (via  teleconference),                                                                    
supported  funding for  the University.  She  was a  37-year                                                                    
resident of  the state.  She discussed  the benefits  of the                                                                    
University.   She  cited   research  that   better  educated                                                                    
residents encouraged  economic growth. She worried  that the                                                                    
budget  cuts  would  affect   the  Universitys   ability  to                                                                    
generate revenue.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:22:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LINDA  SCHANDELMEIER, SELF,  FBX  LIO (via  teleconference),                                                                    
testified  in support  of full  funding for  the University.                                                                    
She  was the  daughter  of homesteaders.  She discussed  her                                                                    
work  at  the  University.  She was  a  field  biologist,  a                                                                    
teacher, and  a writer. She  was grateful for  the education                                                                    
she had received at the  University. She emphasized that the                                                                    
state had the money to fund the University.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:23:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FORMER  REPRESENTATIVE  JOHN  DAVIES,  SELF,  FBX  LIO  (via                                                                    
teleconference), associated himself with  the remarks of the                                                                    
previous   testifier.   He   supported   funding   for   the                                                                    
University. He was a member of  the Board of Regents. He had                                                                    
lived  in  Alaska   for  over  50  years.   He  thought  the                                                                    
University  was  important  for   the  economy.  He  thought                                                                    
reductions should be in a "glide path" approach.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:25:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EMILY  VOCKEROTH, BEST  BEGINNINGS/IMAGINATION LIBRARY,  FBX                                                                    
LIO  (via  teleconference),   supported  funding  for  early                                                                    
childhood  education.   She  stressed  that   waiting  until                                                                    
kindergarten to begin education  placed undue burden on both                                                                    
teachers   and  schools.   She  supported   the  Imagination                                                                    
Library,  Parents   as  Teachers,   Head  Start,   and  Best                                                                    
Beginnings.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:26:04 AM                                                                                                                    
JEANETTE GRASTO,  NAMI, FBX LIO (via  teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in support  of Medicaid  funding. She  had read  of proposed                                                                    
cuts  to  Medicaid and  the  possible  loss of  accompanying                                                                    
federal matching funds. She  supported adult dental services                                                                    
as  part  of Medicaid.  She  said  that primary  care  level                                                                    
behavioral health care would ease  the reliance on emergency                                                                    
care. She supported safety net  services such as housing and                                                                    
food banks. She supported an income tax.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:27:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRENDA RILEY, UNITED WAY/UAF,  FBX LIO (via teleconference),                                                                    
supported funding for the University.  She advocated for the                                                                    
DHSS Community  Matching Grants.  She mentioned  the various                                                                    
organizations  that  benefitted  from the  grant.  With  the                                                                    
grants, the agencies mentioned were  able to provide crucial                                                                    
services to  underserved families. She supported  Head Start                                                                    
funding.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:28:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRUCE JAMIESON,  SELF, FBX LIO  (via teleconference),  was a                                                                    
50-year resident  of the state.  He supported new  taxes. He                                                                    
did  not   support  the   governor's  proposed   budget.  He                                                                    
supported  a  different  oil  and   gas  tax  structure.  He                                                                    
supported funding for public radio and television.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:30:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANN   JAMIESON,   SELF,   FBX  LIO   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
encouraged the committee to look  at the written comments of                                                                    
the  Fairbanks  Chamber  of   Commerce.  She  discussed  the                                                                    
recession of the 1980s and  worried that the proposed budget                                                                    
would cause a recession/depression in the state.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:31:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JASON  CLARK, SELF,  FBX  LIO  (via teleconference),  shared                                                                    
that  he was  a  commercial fisher  and  business owner.  He                                                                    
emphasized   the  need   for   cuts   and  to   "right-size"                                                                    
government.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:32:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MELINDA EVANS, SELF, FBX LIO  (via teleconference), spoke in                                                                    
support  of  funding  for  the   University  and  the  WWAMI                                                                    
program. She had been in  the WWAMI program and had returned                                                                    
to the state as a  primary care physician. She was concerned                                                                    
about  trouble  recruiting  new physicians  in  Alaska.  She                                                                    
worried that  young healthcare professionals would  seek job                                                                    
in different states that could offer loan payback programs.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:33:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HAYDEN   NEVILL,  SELF,   FBX   LIO  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in  support of funding for  Medicaid. He discussed                                                                    
the  difficulty in  finding healthcare,  particularly mental                                                                    
healthcare. He thought there were  clear and positive fiscal                                                                    
reasons to  fund Medicare. He  discussed the  potential cost                                                                    
shift to emergency services if Medicaid was cut.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:35:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE POWERS, FOUNDATION HEALTH  PARTNERS, FAIRBANKS LIO (via                                                                    
teleconference), supported  robust funding for  Medicaid. He                                                                    
was  chief operating  officer of  Tanana  Valley Clinic.  He                                                                    
thought Medicaid  allowed protection of the  most vulnerable                                                                    
in the  health care system. He  described Fairbanks Memorial                                                                    
Hospital as a  safety net. He pointed out  that his hospital                                                                    
was  a   rural  referral   and  designated   sole  community                                                                    
hospital, which added to the  complexity of the area covered                                                                    
by the facility.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:36:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAREN TABER,  BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS  OF ALASKA, FAIRBANKS                                                                    
LIO (via  teleconference), supported  funding for  the Human                                                                    
Services Community Matching Grants.  Without the grants, the                                                                    
program  would suffer  from decreased  funding and  would be                                                                    
unable  to  provide  screened  and  trained  mentors  to  20                                                                    
children in  the greater Fairbanks  area. She  discussed the                                                                    
importance  of BBBS  program.  She  stressed that  nurturing                                                                    
relationships  with caring  adults were  essential to  youth                                                                    
avoiding   delinquency,   drug   use,  alcohol   use,   teen                                                                    
pregnancy, academic failure, and  suicide. She asserted that                                                                    
the  program  assisted  in   children  reaching  their  full                                                                    
potential.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:37:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOMO  STEWART, FAIRBANKS  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATION,                                                                    
FAIRBANKS LIO (via  teleconference), testified in opposition                                                                    
of the governor's proposed budget  as submitted. He wanted a                                                                    
balanced fiscal plan that reduced  harm to individual groups                                                                    
of businesses.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:39:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LYNETTE  CLARK, SELF,  FOX  (via teleconference),  supported                                                                    
constitutionally  mandated funding.  She  wanted a  balanced                                                                    
budget. She wanted a fully funded Permanent Fund Dividend.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Wilson.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:41:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH RIPLEY,  MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION, MATSU  LIO (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke  in support of funding  for Medicaid,                                                                    
early  childhood  education,  and housing  and  homelessness                                                                    
support.  She supported  funding healthcare  infrastructure.                                                                    
She  discussed access  to services.  She  asserted that  the                                                                    
Mat-Su  Head  Start  program   received  $550,000  in  state                                                                    
funding and leverages $5 million.  She discussed the science                                                                    
based,  positive  effects of  the  Head  Start program.  She                                                                    
related that  housing was a critical  determinant of health,                                                                    
without shelter all other  state and community interventions                                                                    
were compromised.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:43:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BERT  HOUGHTALING,  SELF,  BIG  LAKE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
supported the governor's proposed budget cuts.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:44:22 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:11:26 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gave to Senator Bishop.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:11:48 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JIM   WILLIAMS,   FBSB   MAYOR    OFFICE,   FBX   LIO   (via                                                                    
teleconference), testified that  the Fairbanks community was                                                                    
facing dire  impacts if the governor's  proposed budget were                                                                    
to  pass. He  discussed potential  financial impacts  on the                                                                    
city. He  worried about  the impacts of  the budget  cuts to                                                                    
the entire state.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:13:16 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JESS  PENA,   FAIRBANKS  ARTS  ASSOCIATION,  FBX   LIO  (via                                                                    
teleconference),  spoke  in  support  of  the  Alaska  State                                                                    
Council on  the Arts. The  Fairbanks Arts Association  was a                                                                    
grantee of  ASCA, and supported organizations  in Fairbanks.                                                                    
She referenced  a House Finance  Committee meeting  on April                                                                    
4, 2019,  where the council  had been lauded  for leveraging                                                                    
state dollars.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
10:14:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTOPHER  MILLER,  SELF,  FBX LIO  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
supported   funding  for   early  childhood   education.  He                                                                    
mentioned  support for  Best Beginnings  and Head  Start. He                                                                    
supported  funding  for  the  University.  He  worked  as  a                                                                    
journeyman laborer and was in the laborers union.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:15:41 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JULIET SHEPARD, SELF, FBX  LIO (via teleconference), opposed                                                                    
the governor's  proposed budget. She thought  the governor's                                                                    
budget proposed  cash payouts (dividends) at  the expense of                                                                    
vital  services.  She  supported   a  balanced  budget.  She                                                                    
mentioned the  long vision development that  would result in                                                                    
the opening  of northern  sea routs  and an  emerging Arctic                                                                    
economy. She supported using the  Permanent Fund Earnings as                                                                    
originally   intended  to   fund   necessary  functions   of                                                                    
government.  She  supported   funding  for  early  childhood                                                                    
education,   K-12  education,   and   the  University.   She                                                                    
supported funding for public health and Medicaid expansion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
10:17:45 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JANET KIDD,  SELF, FBX  LIO (via  teleconference), supported                                                                    
funding for  K-12 education. She  did not have  children but                                                                    
recognized  the importance  of  education.  She thought  the                                                                    
state  was not  getting enough  for its  oil. She  discussed                                                                    
comparisons of  oil credits and  profits in the rest  of the                                                                    
world. She thought it was  important for the state to invest                                                                    
in  industry and  technology that  would  sustain the  state                                                                    
financially into the future. She supported an income tax.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:19:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JOE THOMAS,  SELF, FBX LIO (via  teleconference), questioned                                                                    
the split of  oil and gas revenue between the  state and the                                                                    
oil industry,  and how the  split compared with the  rest of                                                                    
the world. He thought the  Permanent Fund should be used for                                                                    
its original purpose;  that the fund should be  used to fund                                                                    
operating budgets and not to pay out large dividends.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop handed the gavel to Co-Chair Stedman.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:22:06 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:22:20 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:22:30 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHARLENE  FISHER,  COUNCIL  ATHABASKAN TRIBAL  GOV.,  BEAVER                                                                    
(via  teleconference),   testified  in  opposition   to  the                                                                    
governor's proposed  budget. She  shared the many  ways that                                                                    
the  council partnered  to bring  federal  funding into  the                                                                    
state to  supplement state  programs. She  supported funding                                                                    
for  early childhood  education. She  supported funding  for                                                                    
Medicaid, public safety, PCE,  and Head Start. She discussed                                                                    
the lack of  water and sewer infrastructure  in rural areas.                                                                    
She  believed that  rural Alaskans  had the  same rights  to                                                                    
infrastructure funding as those in urban areas.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:24:31 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:24:54 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Senator Wilson.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson noted that there  were students from his area                                                                    
sitting in the gallery that wished to testify.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Shower  invited  the   students  to  the  table  to                                                                    
testify.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:25:47 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ANDREW SPIROCOPULOR,  SELF, PALMER, testified in  support of                                                                    
K-12  education  funding.  He discussed  the  importance  of                                                                    
education. He understood that his  class traveling to Juneau                                                                    
was a privilege. He felt  that education funding should be a                                                                    
priority.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator Shower thanked him for his testimony.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
10:26:42 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
GRACE  COOK,  SELF, PALMER,  testified  in  support of  K-12                                                                    
education   funding.  She   expressed   gratitude  for   the                                                                    
opportunities her  schooling allowed  her and  believed that                                                                    
all  of  Alaskas   children  should   be  awarded  the  same                                                                    
opportunities.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Shower recalled  that he  has discussed  her future                                                                    
with her the previous day.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Cook  expressed that  she  wanted  to be  a  helicopter                                                                    
pilot.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
10:27:54 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
KAITLYN JOHNSON,  SELF, PALMER, supported  increased funding                                                                    
for K-12  education. She discussed  the need  for technology                                                                    
funding.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
10:28:34 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
RYEN  LEFFEE,  SELF,  PALMER,  spoke   in  support  of  K-12                                                                    
funding.  He discussed  the need  for a  strong economy.  He                                                                    
felt  that government  spending  had limited  the amount  of                                                                    
funds available for education.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Shower thanked  Academy  Charter  School for  their                                                                    
testimony.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:29:50 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:30:21 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  noted that sign  up for  morning testimony                                                                    
had ended at 10 AM.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:30:51 AM                                                                                                                   
RECEESSED                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
10:31:35 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman stated that the meeting would adjourn, and                                                                     
the committee would reconvene at 1 PM.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 3.pdf SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM
SB 20
SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 2.pdf SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM
SB 20
SB 20 Public Testimony Packet 1.pdf SFIN 4/11/2019 9:00:00 AM
SB 20