Legislature(2011 - 2012)ANCH LIO Rm 220
12/13/2012 10:30 AM House LEGISLATIVE BUDGET & AUDIT
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Approval of Minutes | |
| Revised Program - Legislative (rpls) | |
| Executive Session | |
| Release of Audits | |
| Other Committee Business | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
Anchorage, Alaska
December 13, 2012
10:33 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Linda Menard
Senator Thomas Wagoner (via teleconference)
Representative Kurt Olson
Representative Mike Doogan
Senator Kevin Meyer (alternate)
Representative Scott Kawasaki (alternate) (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Representative Mark Neuman
Representative Bill Thomas
Representative Bill Stoltze (alternate)
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
REVISED PROGRAM - LEGISLATIVE (RPLs)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RELEASE OF AUDITS
OTHER COMMITTEE BUSINESS
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
DAVID TEAL, Legislative Fiscal Analyst
Legislative Finance Division
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented RPL 02-3-0042, RPL 05-3-6014, RPL
06-3-0098, and RPL 11-3-0338.
KEVIN BROOKS, Director
Division Office Assistant
Division of Administrative Services
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions regarding RPL 11-3-0338.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:33:40 AM
VICE CHAIR BERT STEDMAN called the Legislative Budget and Audit
Committee meeting to order at 10:33 a.m. Senators French,
Wagoner (via teleconference), Menard, Meyer (alternate), and
Stedman and Representatives Olson, Doogan, and Kawasaki
(alternate) (via teleconference) were present at the call to
order.
^Approval of Minutes
Approval of Minutes
10:35:15 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the first order of business
would be approval of the minutes.
10:35:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON made a motion to approve the minutes of
October 16, 2012. There being no objection, the minutes from
the meeting of October 16, 2012, were approved.
^Revised Program - Legislative (RPLs)
Revised Program - Legislative (RPLs)
10:36:10 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the next order of business
would be consideration of the following RPLs:
RPL 02-3-0042
$896,500 Federal Receipt Authorization - Operating
Department of Administration (DOA)
RPL 05-3-6014
$510,000 Federal Receipt Authorization - Operating
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
RPL 11-3-0338
$2,500,000 Statutory Designated Program Receipt Authorization
Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G)
RPL 06-3-0098
Department of Health and Social Services
$10,800,000 Federal Receipt Authorization - Capital
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN stated that the Legislative Budget and
Audit Committee may adjust the ADF&G RPL amount to address the
purview of the finance committee.
10:37:23 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN asked Mr. David Teal, Legislative Fiscal
Analyst, to brief the committee on the first two RPL requests
for the DOA and DEED.
10:37:31 AM
DAVID TEAL, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, Legislative Finance
Division, Alaska State Legislature, began by explaining that via
RPL 02-3-0042 the Department of Administration (DOA) is seeking
an additional $896,500 of federal receipt authorization -
Operating - for a new grant from the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) related to the Commercial Drivers'
License Program. The additional funds would buy equipment to
allow the department to issue electronic citations, resolve
programming errors, and provide training for examiners. He
stated the division does not have any issue with this RPL.
10:38:23 AM
MR. TEAL, in response to Vice Chair Stedman, turned to RPL 05-3-
6014. He stated that via the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED), the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary
Education (ACPE) is requesting additional federal receipt
authority for a new grant. He explained that via RPL 05-3-6014,
the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is
seeking additional budget authority of $510,000. With the funds
the ACPE developed the Alaska College and Career Guide
initiative, which trains and places recent college graduates in
high schools as mentors around the state. Additional budget
authority is being requested to fund the Alaska College
Challenge Grant (ACCG), which has been in place since fiscal
year 2009 (FY 09). The authorization is needed because it was a
multi-year grant not fully implemented in the early years. The
current choice is to increase FY 13 spending or let the funds
lapse. The intent is to spend approximately $2.4 million on the
program in FY 13.
10:39:21 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN turned to consideration of RPL 11-3-0338,
Department of Fish and Game, $2,500,000, Statutory Designated
Program Receipt Authorization. He noted his recommendation is
to reduce the amount of the request.
10:39:30 AM
MR. TEAL explained that via RPL 11-3-0338, the Department of
Fish and Game (ADF&G) requests $2,500,000 in Statutory
Designated Program Receipt Authorization (SDPR) for the
Division of Commercial Fisheries for authority to receive
contributions from various fish processors to implement the
[Wild/Hatchery Salmon Management Tools] capital project in FY
13. He related that the capital project is a long-term
research project designed to support management decisions
related to hatchery production. The legislature funded the
project with $3,500,000 in general funds monies. This RPL
would allow the department to collect about $500,000 from fish
processors in each of the next five years. He clarified that
other than the potential to reduce that amount for FY 13 and ask
the legislature for future authorization, the Legislative
Finance Division (LFD) does not have any issues with authorizing
the full $2,500,000. He pointed out that the legislature
already considered that potential when it approved the project.
10:40:47 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN suggested reducing the RPL amount to $500,000
since it would fund the capital project to FY 13 and allow the
finance committee to subsequently consider the whole issue.
Additionally, reducing the RPL would allow the finance committee
to consider all aspects of the capital project and review
statewide expenditures.
10:41:20 AM
SENATOR MEYER, in response to Vice Chair Stedman, agreed it was
a reasonable approach.
10:41:28 AM
SENATOR WAGONER provided the finance Fish and Game subcommittee
perspective. He indicated that Senators Hoffman, Olson, and he
provided clear direction to the ADF&G with respect to actions
the department should take. He explained that in January the
ADF&G is to bring forth a five-year plan for the program. He
was unsure of whether a five-year plan exists. He said he did
not favor funding $2.5 million at this point. He cautioned that
the program will need continuous legislative oversight. He then
recalled the Division of Habitat "really made a big boondoggle
out of building hatcheries and operating hatcheries throughout
the State of Alaska." Instead, he said he preferred to see the
department present a plan to the legislature that would include
participation by local aquaculture associations. He recalled
that local aquaculture associations in his legislative district
manage two of the fish hatcheries built by the state. He shared
his view that [the department] did a terrible job operating the
hatchery program.
10:43:12 AM
KEVIN BROOKS, Director, Division Office Assistant, Division of
Administrative Services, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG)
concurred with an earlier comment by Mr. Teal. He explained the
ADF&G came forward with the full $2,500,000 amount since the
legislature discussed it. Additionally, the ADF&G had been
working with the processors on their contributions. He agreed
the department would normally request a single year; however,
the concept wasn't new. With respect to other comments, he
related the department has a five-year proposal forthcoming on
Chinook fisheries statewide. He anticipated considerable
discussion during the upcoming session. He characterized this
effort as totally different since it is a private nonprofit
(PNP) effort between the hatcheries and processors, which
shouldn't be confused with other Chinook initiatives the ADF&G
is pursuing.
10:44:35 AM
SENATOR MEYER asked for an update for the committee on previous
capital budget appropriations to two hatcheries. He recalled
that the Anchorage hatchery was operational, but he said he lost
track of the Fairbanks hatchery status.
MR. BROOKS responded that the two hatcheries are sport fish
hatcheries, which are state operated facilities. He believed
both hatcheries were operational and producing fish. In further
response to Senator Meyer, he concurred the Anchorage hatchery
is currently being operated.
10:45:16 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN suggested the importance of bringing these
issues forward since the finance committees will have new
membership and the briefings will be helpful. He then turned to
the last RPL, RPL 06-3-0098, $10,800,000 Federal Receipt
Authorization - Capital, Department of Health and Social
Services.
10:45:46 AM
MR. TEAL explained that via RPL 06-3-0098, the Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS) is seeking $10,800,000 in
federal receipt authority for FY 13 to add to an existing FY 12
capital project for the implementation of a case management
system for the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services
Care. He related this request will tie into the Medicaid
Eligibility System the LB&A committee previously addressed at
its October 16, 2012 meeting. Additionally, the funding will
provide databases for other services provided by the DHSS. The
required general fund matching funds of $1,350,000 has already
been appropriated. He recalled this funding request was
previously submitted in September, but was withdrawn since
federal funding had not yet been secured, but the funding is now
available. The Division of Legislative Finance does not have
any issue with the request, he stated.
10:46:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON moved to ask unanimous consent that the
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee approve the following
RPLs:
RPL 02-3-0042
Department of Administration
$896,500 Federal Receipt Authorization - Operating
RPL 05-3-6014
Department of Education and Early Development
$510,000 Federal Receipt Authorization - Operating
RPL 11-3-0338
Department of Fish and Game
$500,000 Statutory Designated Program Receipt
Authorization
RPL 06-3-0098
Department of Health and Social Services
$10,800,000 Federal Receipt Authorization - Capital
There being no objection, RPL 02-3-0042, RPL 05-3-6014, RPL 11-
3-0338, as adjusted, and RPL 06-3-0098 were so approved.
^Executive Session
Executive Session
10:47:43 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the committee would next go
into executive session for the purpose of discussing
confidential audits. He asked to have the incoming Legislative
Budget & Audit Committee chair and staff person remain for the
executive session.
10:48:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON made a motion to move to executive session
for the purpose of discussing confidential audit reports under
AS 24.20.301 and Uniform Rule 22(b). There being no objection,
the committee went into executive session at 10:48 a.m.
11:12:26 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN reconvened the Legislative Budget and Audit
Committee at 11:12 a.m. Present at the call back to order were
Senators Menard, Wagoner (via teleconference), French, Meyer
(alternate), and Stedman and Representatives Olson, Doogan,
Kawasaki (alternate) (via teleconference).
^Release of Audits
Release of Audits
11:12:47 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the next order of business
would be the release of audits.
11:12:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON made a motion to release the preliminary
confidential audit reports for the Board of Marine Pilots sunset
review and the Department of Administration (DOA), Office of
Public Advocacy (OPA), select issues [review] to be released to
the appropriate agencies for response. There being no
objection, it was so ordered.
11:13:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE OLSON made a motion for the final audits for the
Board of Public Accountancy (BPA) sunset review and the State
Medical Board sunset review to be released to the public.
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN, after ascertaining that there were no
objections, announced that the motion to release the
aforementioned final audits was approved.
^Other Committee Business
Other Committee Business
11:13:37 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the final order of business,
under other committee business. He asked for any other business
to come before the committee.
11:13:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOOGAN said he has served on this committee all
six years he has served in the legislature. While he did not
enjoy every session, "by and large" the committee performs well
under frequently difficult circumstances. He said he enjoyed
serving on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee and
thanked members for this opportunity.
11:14:13 AM
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN agreed he, too, has served for six to eight
years on the LB&A committee. He expressed confidence in the
incoming chair.
VICE CHAIR STEDMAN announced that the final meeting of the 27th
Legislature's Legislative Budget and Audit Committee would be
held on January 14, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. in Juneau.
11:14:56 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the
Legislative Budget and Audit Committee meeting was adjourned at
11:14 a.m.
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