Legislature(2011 - 2012)HOUSE FINANCE 519
02/16/2012 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB283 || HB307 || DISCUSSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S FY 2013 BUDGET AMENDMENTS | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 283 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 307 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 16, 2012
1:37 p.m.
1:37:17 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stoltze called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Co-Chair
Representative Anna Fairclough, Vice-Chair
Representative Mia Costello
Representative Mike Doogan
Representative Bryce Edgmon
Representative Les Gara
Representative David Guttenberg
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mark Neuman
Representative Tammie Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
James Armstrong, Staff, Representative Bill Stoltze; Karen
Rehfeld, Director, Office of Management and Budget, Office
of the Governor; Pat Shire, Director, Enterprise Technology
Services, Department of Administration; Laura Achee,
Legislative Liaison, Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation,
Department of Revenue.
SUMMARY
HB 283 BUDGET: CAPITAL
HB 283 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
HB 307 SUPPLEMENTAL/CAPITAL/OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
HB 307 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
DISCUSSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S FY 2013 BUDGET AMENDMENTS:
Karen Rehfeld, Director, Office of Management and
Budget
^DISCUSSION OF THE GOVERNOR'S FY 2013 BUDGET AMENDMENTS
HOUSE BILL NO. 283
"An Act making and amending appropriations, including
capital appropriations and other appropriations;
making appropriations to capitalize funds; and
providing for an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 307
"An Act making supplemental appropriations, capital
appropriations, and other appropriations; amending
appropriations; repealing appropriations; making
appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for
an effective date."
1:39:00 PM
JAMES ARMSTRONG, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE,
relayed that amendments had been incorporated in the
members' binders and that an updated fiscal summary
incorporating the FY 12 supplemental and governor's
amendments had been provided. All legislative offices would
continue to have access to CAPSIS (Capital Project
Submission Information System) until February 27, 2012 at
5:00 p.m.
Co-Chair Stoltze noted that CAPSIS was an electronic system
for capital project submissions.
Mr. Armstrong explained that there had been 424 different
accounts, 1,579 projects, and $4.6 billion entered into FY
12 CAPSIS. Communities had finished their FY 13 submissions
several weeks earlier and at the time the request total had
been $3.8 billion.
Co-Chair Stoltze believed the total would ultimately
surpass the prior year submission request total.
Co-Chair Thomas asked whether there had been any harbor
requests. Mr. Armstrong would provide an answer the
following Monday.
Co-Chair Stoltze turned the gavel over to Co-Chair Thomas.
1:41:49 PM
Co-Chair Thomas asked for a review of proposed operating
budget amendments.
KAREN REHFELD, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, spoke to the amendments as a
capital and operating package. Representatives from each
department were available to answer specific questions.
The total proposed operating and capital budget amendments
for FY 13 were $34,258.3 million and were broken out as
follows:
Unrestricted General Fund $23,486.0 million
Designated General Fund $494.5 million
Other Funds $2,456.6 million
Federal Funds $7,821.2 million
Ms. Rehfeld detailed that capital budget amendments made up
$14.823.7 million of the total $34.258.3 million; $10,943.6
million was unrestricted general fund. The operating
amendments represented $19.4 million of the total. She
explained that of the $23.5 million unrestricted general
fund (operating and capital combined) request, $10.2
million was for the Alaska Land Mobile Radio (ALMR)
emergency response system; $8.7 million of the total was a
capital budget request and $1.5 million was an operating
budget request. She provided detail related to the ALMR
system:
· The goal of ALMR is to build a secure network
that will provide each agency with reliable
communications, which will enhance emergency
response, personnel safety, and operational
capabilities.
· The Department of Defense (DOD) transferred
ownership of 13 ALMR sites effective January 1,
2012 and another 28 sites July 1 to the State of
Alaska. As a result, the state will be
responsible for 41 more sites in addition to the
37 it already owns starting July 1, 2012.
· A recently completed report commissioned by DOA
found:
o ALMR is providing a value for users -
federal, state, and local
o ALMR is the best value, there are no other
viable alternatives
· Operating funding is necessary to perform onsite
preventative maintenance inspection (PMI) and
necessary repairs to keep sites operational.
Ms. Rehfeld discussed Department of Administration (DOA)
capital budget funding in the amount of $3.5 million for
specific hardware and software upgrades for the current
system.
1:45:23 PM
Ms. Rehfeld specified that four individual departments had
requested capital funding to upgrade their systems for the
Federal Communications Commission narrow band requirements
that would take place on July [January] 1, 2013 [Department
of Public Safety (DPS), Department of Corrections (DOC),
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department
of Natural Resources (DNR)]. There were two other new items
for DNR: (1) program receipts for wildland fire-fighting
aircraft maintenance and; (2) statutory designated program
receipts for large dam projects application and review.
Ms. Rehfeld highlighted a $1.8 million capital budget
request from DPS for Alaska Justice Advanced Exchange
program development, which was a multi-agency justice
information exchange system that interfaced with all
criminal justice systems. Two items had inadvertently been
omitted including $100,000 for the federal Help America
Vote Act, and the DHSS State Health Information Gateway.
Ms. Rehfeld addressed National Petroleum Reserve Alaska
grants. She relayed that Department of Commerce, Community
and Economic Development (DCCED) went through a competitive
process to determine the grant awards. The FY 13 award
amount had been slightly revised and was included in the
amendment packets. She relayed that there had been a couple
of technical corrections to project titles and
descriptions; there had also been a scope change.
1:47:21 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze asked about the dynamics of the federal
government transfer related to ALMR. He noted that a
significant amount of money had been invested in the
system.
Ms. Rehfeld replied that the U.S. Department of Defense
(DOD) had developed ALMR and was still a significant user,
but the mission had shifted. There were some community and
small first responder locations, but federal and state
agencies were the primary users of the system. The
Department of Administration was in the process of
developing a cost share model that would require
participation from the federal and state agencies. In
addition to the system upgrades request in the capital
budget amendment, DOD would provide between $4.3 million
and $4.8 million.
Co-Chair Stoltze thought that the transfer was more
appropriately described as a shift of costs by the federal
government.
Co-Chair Thomas wondered whether it was possible to ensure
that radio frequencies were locked in once they were
designated. Ms. Rehfeld deferred the question to the
departments. She noted an answer would be provided.
Representative Doogan referred to an operating request of
$1.1 million for DOA, an operating amendment of $1.5
million, capital amendments of $2.9 million in DNR and $1.6
million in DPS. He referenced Ms. Rehfeld's testimony and
asked about the fourth agency she had highlighted.
Ms. Rehfeld replied that the capital budget request
included $3.5 million for DOA hardware and software
upgrades for the system. There were four agencies
requesting assistance for the narrow band compliance
requirements including, $470,000 for DOC, $297,500 for
DHSS, $2.960 million for DNR, and $1.470 million for DPS.
Representative Doogan surmised that the total was over $11
million. Ms. Rehfeld replied there was $10.2 million in
amendments in addition to the amount in the FY 13 budget.
1:53:31 PM
Representative Guttenberg discussed that fire departments
in his district had been unhappy about the change to the
ALMR system. He thought the state might need more options
to negotiate with the federal government. He wondered
whether DOD or DPS had a priority related to the allocation
of costs for the system. He asked how DOD or DPS would be
impacted if the system was discontinued. He wondered
whether the possibility had been factored into an
allocation of expenses.
Ms. Rehfeld was not aware of a prioritization. She
explained that access to the ALMR system was vital to first
responders. She detailed that a cost allocation plan that
recognized some small but critical users of the system
would probably not be implemented until the FY 14 budget
cycle; the plan would work to capture some of the larger
users, but not to disadvantage smaller users. Over the last
several years the Alaska Municipal League (AML) and smaller
fire service areas had expressed concerns related to the
ability to manage costs while remaining part of the system.
She believed progress had been made and that opportunities
would be available to all of the users.
Representative Guttenberg recognized the importance of the
system, but the allocation was not available because it had
not been developed yet. The system was extremely important
for other users in addition to AML and the fire
departments.
Representative Neuman informed the committee that
additional information would be provided from the budget
subcommittee on the issue. He referenced a survey that had
polled 25 of the 107 users; out of 16,720 responses
approximately 6,700 had been from DOD. He believed the
issue went back to 2009; there had been requests to
determine how the cost sharing program would break out
amongst users, which had not been completed. He emphasized
the importance of obtaining the detail on how costs would
split amongst state, federal, and municipal users. He
detailed that some municipalities were not able to spend
$2,000 to $5,000 per handheld unit.
1:58:05 PM
Co-Chair Thomas recognized the importance of the system and
had been working to get a handle on the issue for the past
six years.
Representative Neuman believed that there was a need for
the program. He expressed concern that the system would be
phased out in approximately 2025 after approximately $117
million was invested. The subcommittee had asked the
department about phasing in a new program and the costs
associated with its implementation.
Co-Chair Thomas noted that six years earlier the state did
not have the cash it had now.
Representative Gara did not believe that enough information
would be obtained during the budget subcommittee process.
He was frustrated that local emergency responders had been
told to purchase equipment for the current ALMR system when
the administration had been tasked with looking at
alternative options. He believed an analysis on system
alternatives should have been completed sooner. He wondered
whether the long-term cost was approximately $10 million
per year until 2025.
Ms. Rehfeld replied that it would be helpful for the DOA to
provide him with its report on ALMR. There had been
significant analysis on the system, which included prior
costs, costs going forward, and alternatives.
Representative Gara explained that during the subcommittee
process DOA had told legislators that alternatives to ALMR
had been analyzed and were no good.
2:01:21 PM
Representative Doogan thought that the proposed ALMR
funding was roughly an 800 percent increase from the prior
year. Ms. Rehfeld responded that the costs would go to the
four departments mentioned earlier in order to bring them
into compliance with the narrow band requirements.
Representative Doogan understood that the expenses
represented capital costs. He communicated that nothing
made him confident that there would not be a similar amount
of capital costs in the years to come. He thought it looked
like a financial mistake had been made and he wondered how
long and how much the state would have to pay for it. He
did not believe other members of the legislature or the
administration could be very happy with the situation.
Vice-chair Fairclough asked whether the legislature could
anticipate the need for additional funds because the number
of sites would be increased on July 1, 2012. Ms. Rehfeld
believed that upgrades for additional sites were
incorporated into the current numbers.
Vice-chair Fairclough asked whether the increased costs
would be ongoing. Ms. Rehfeld answered that system
operation and maintenance costs would be ongoing.
2:04:44 PM
Representative Joule sited testimony that 78 sites had been
transferred and queried the total number of sites. Ms.
Rehfeld deferred the question to other departments.
Representative Joule wondered how long the transition would
go on.
PAT SHIRE, DIRECTOR, ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, replied that the state had
previously owned and maintained 37 sites. There were 41
additional sites moving to state ownership. He clarified
that most of the equipment owned by the military was
already located inside state telecommunication system
shelters.
Representative Joule asked whether there were other sites
that would be transferred in addition to the 41 scheduled
for transfer. Mr. Shire replied in the negative.
Representative Wilson asked what would happen if the state
elected to not take responsibility for the remaining sites.
Mr. Shire answered that studies conducted in 2009 and 2011
indicated that the system would become unstable. He
elaborated that the system would no longer be safely
suitable for DPS, DOT, and the Division of Forestry, which
were three of the primary daily users; the troopers
currently used the system for their daily dispatch. The
military had indicated that it would turn some of the
switches off so that it could not be held responsible for a
failure to the system.
Representative Wilson thought the federal government was
planning to continue using the locations; she wondered how
much of the system it planned on using.
Mr. Shire replied that according to a letter from several
years past, the army wanted to continue using the system.
He detailed that the Military Assistance to Civil
Authorities (MACA) program under the Stafford Act required
the military to divest its ownership of the gear while
maintaining use privileges or to discontinue use of the
system if it became unstable and did not provide items like
security and encryption.
2:08:29 PM
Ms. Rehfeld highlighted items on the "Governor's FY 2013
Capital Budget Amendments" spreadsheet (copy on file):
· Item 1 was related to the ALMR
· Item 2 changed the title from Borough of Ketchikan
to "City" of Ketchikan
· Item 3 included grant allocations under the National
Petroleum Reserve-Alaska; individual awards were
listed in the bill and the dollar amount had been
reduced by $503,000 based on new estimates
· Item 4 reflected the ALMR compliance under DOC
· Items 5 and 6 were connected to school construction
major maintenance projects; $24 million had been
included in the original budget and a $69,972
project had been added for K-12 school mechanical
and electrical upgrades
· Item 7 provided funds to polling place accessibility
under the federal Help America Vote Act
· Item 8 funded ALMR upgrades for DHSS
· Item 9 added $3.6 million for state improvements to
the Health Information Gateway (exchange of
electronic health records), which had inadvertently
been omitted from the original budget
· Item 10 provided funds to DNR for narrow band
requirements
· Item 11 included $500,000 in general program
receipts to fund wildland fire-fighting aircraft
maintenance
· Item 12 used $506,000 in statutory designated
program receipts to fund the large dam projects
application review and certificates of approval; the
funding would allow continued work on Red Dog and
Lynn Creek
· Item 13 allocated $1.8 million to Alaska Justice
Advanced Exchange program development; the item
represented an important piece of the criminal
justice system and allowed different systems to
exchange information
· Item 14 funded DPS ALMR upgrades
· Item 15 made a technical correction to a project
description
· Item 16 changed the University of Alaska Anchorage
(UAA) WWAMI - Lab Upgrade and Additional Space Needs
title to UAA Health - Health Upgrade/Renovation and
Additional Space Needs
2:13:03 PM
KAREN REHFELD, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, highlighted items on a spreadsheet
titled "Governor's FY 2013 Operating Budget Amendments"
(copy on file). The operating amendments totaled $19.4
million including $12.5 million in general funds. She
explained the spreadsheet included several items from the
FY 12 supplemental budget that had been reconsidered in the
FY 13 amendments. Other items included in the spreadsheet
were:
· $3,785.6 million for the Judicial Retirement System
past service costs
· $2.0 million for Trauma Care Fund capitalization
· ($2.1 million) reduction in debt service due to
refinancing
· $1.5 million ALMR - operating
· Technical corrections for several items that resulted
in net zero changes
Ms. Rehfeld explained that there were a few proposed
efficiency transactions related to Executive Order 116,
which would move the DHSS Hearing and Appeals Office to the
DOA Office of Administrative Hearings. Other additional
requests included three in-house investment management
positions for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC)
that would result in significant savings and a $500,000
request from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
(AMHTA) for a patient centered medical homes competitive
pilot project.
2:16:15 PM
Ms. Rehfeld explained that pages 1 through 12 of the
spreadsheet reflected the operating numbers changes, pages
12 through 14 reflected language changes, page 14 included
the AMHTA item, and pages 15 through 16 included technical
corrections. Page 1, items 1 through 6 boiled down to three
transactions. She explained that general funds had been
retained in the Administrative Hearing Office that needed
to be distributed to several agencies; the state paid for
costs and agencies were billed.
Ms. Rehfeld discussed that items 7 and 8 on page 2 were
related to the Executive Order 116 transfer. Item 9
included $75,000 for the DOA Division of Retirement and
Benefits. She elaborated that currently the division did
not have general fund resources for items that were not
related to retirement system funds (e.g. management of the
political subdivision health contract, legal expenses,
consultant fees, research and analysis on proposals,
legislation, and other). Item 10 provided funds to DOA.
Items 11 and 12 proposed funding for the Office of Public
Advocacy (OPA) and Public Defender Agency (PDA) related to
caseload increases. Item 13 proposed a $62,000 increment
for the addition to the Lower Yukon Alaska Regional
Development Organization (ARDOR); without the additional
funding money provided to the existing ARDOR would be
diluted.
2:19:59 PM
Representative Doogan asked whether the absence of the
increment for new ARDORs would require any of the new
organizations to be funded with money designated for the
existing organizations. Ms. Rehfeld replied in the
affirmative. She believed that money would be prorated
across existing agencies if the increment was not funded.
Representative Neuman communicated his understanding from a
budget subcommittee that PDA had sealed cases that had
resulted in a caseload reduction and cost decrease. He
queried the reason for item 12 that proposed funding for
agency caseload increases.
Ms. Rehfeld deferred to DOA to sort through any discrepancy
between the item on the spreadsheet and the subcommittee
hearings; it was her understanding that the item was
necessary.
Representative Neuman indicated his intent to bring the
issue to the committee at a later time.
2:22:14 PM
Ms. Rehfeld moved to item 14 related to funding for
community jails; funding had also been included in the FY
12 supplemental budget.
Vice-chair Fairclough wondered whether there was a $5
million overhead related to item 14. Ms. Rehfeld referred
the committee to page 14 of the backup (copy on file) and
replied that there was a $5,000 overhead for item 14.
Ms. Rehfeld discussed that item 15 included a correction to
the total amount available related to the Permanent Fund
Dividend (PFD) felon funds that were appropriated for
physical health care. Item 16 addressed a transfer related
to the Human Rights Commission and the administrative
hearings that had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
Vice-chair Fairclough shared that she had traveled with
Representative Joule to Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf
of Alaskans for the consideration of the Alaska National
Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). She notified the committee that
Congress had just passed an energy bill that included ANWR;
she appreciated its work on the issue. She recognized the
issue would be a challenge in the U.S. Senate.
2:24:38 PM
Ms. Rehfeld pointed to items 17 and 18 that proposed
funding for the state and tribal portions of the Low Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Alaska
Affordable Heating Program; funding had also been included
in the FY 12 supplemental budget in the same amount. The
numbers were expected to be modified due to winter and
price changes and would be communicated when new
information became available.
Co-Chair Thomas asked about the total LIHEAP amount. Ms.
Rehfeld responded that with the proposed amendment the
total FY 13 budget would be $31.7 million.
Representative Wilson requested a cost breakdown by
community. Ms. Rehfeld would ask the department to provide
the information.
Ms. Rehfeld moved to item 19 that requested $350,000 in
program receipts for specialty newborn screening clinics;
funding had also been included in the FY 12 supplemental
budget. She furthered that demand for the clinics had
increased. Items 20 through 22 were all related to the
transfer contemplated in Executive Order 116 from DHSS to
DOA. Item 23 included an increase of $168,000 in designated
general funds for the Workers' Compensation Benefits
Guarantee Fund; funding had also been included in the FY 12
supplemental budget to address increased legal costs
associated with the entity. Item 24 corrected the fund
source from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
to federal receipts. Items 25 through 27 resulted from a
change in the required match rate for armories in Kodiak,
Ketchikan, and Kenai; a proposed request was also included
to continue operations at the Bethel armory and a
correction had been made to the electrical usage at Eielson
Air Force Base. Item 28 removed $75,000 in funding from the
governor's request for Interior Alaska cemetery operations,
given that the project had been delayed. She relayed that
the costs would begin in FY 14.
2:28:18 PM
Representative Guttenberg believed the time frame for the
cemetery funding was appropriate.
Ms. Rehfeld directed attention to item 29 that reflected a
$143,100 decrease in National Guard and Naval Militia
Retirement System (NGNMRS) based on its actuarial
evaluation. Item 30 provided $260,000 to DNR for the
Horticultural Evaluation Program. She explained that the
United States Division of Agriculture had recently closed
its agricultural research service in Alaska (materials had
gone to the plant materials center); the funding would
continue the work for commercial plant producers in the
state. Item 31 proposed $75,000 for DPS dispatch services
in Kotzebue. Item 32 included $1.9 million for the Bureau
of Highway Patrol; the item was related to federal highway
safety funds for non-DUI related activities.
Ms. Rehfeld addressed item 33 that proposed funding for a
transfer related to administrative appeals. Item 34 showed
a decrement for DPS related to unrealizable revenue from a
variety of sources. Line 35 proposed a $200,000 increase in
general funds to maintain current services; a funding
request for the item had also been included in the
supplemental budget. Item 36 included a transfer for
administrative hearings. Item 37 removed $120,000 related
to a cigarette tax stamp; the manufacturer had agreed to
delay the increase in price due to push back from state
governments. Item 38 moved $77,000 in bankcard compliance
costs from the language section to the numbers section of
the budget. Item 39 moved $265,300 in general funds for the
child support enforcement efforts 34 percent federal match
from the language section to the numbers section. Items 40
and 41 proposed an increment to fund three APFC in-house
investment manager positions, which would reduce management
fees and increase efficiency.
2:32:21 PM
Representative Gara asked whether item 40 would save money
by reducing the number of external investment managers. Ms.
Rehfeld responded that the APFC estimates showing potential
savings related to the in-house positions would be provided
to the committee.
Representative Guttenberg pointed out that savings may
occur in the Department of Law if more positions were
brought in-house.
Ms. Rehfeld discussed items 42 and 44 that related to
insurance costs for rural airport contracts. An adjustment
had been made to how costs were calculated, which allowed
for a $175,000 reduction to the Central region and a slight
increase of $21,300 for the Northern region.
Representative Neuman asked about contractor costs under
item 42. He wondered whether the state had been over
charging on leases to independent operators who rented
space on state land. He asked whether operators would see a
reduction in their bills if they had been over charged.
Ms. Rehfeld replied that item 42 was related to insurance
costs. She would have the department follow up with an
answer.
Vice-chair Fairclough referred to costs that appeared to be
duplicated for salary or Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
at APFC; the governor had included an increment for the
item in the FY 13 budget and APFC had also made the
request. She had expected to see a reduction related to
APFC as a result of the duplication.
LAURA ACHEE, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON, ALASKA PERMANENT FUND
CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, replied that the items
represented two different increases: one was the 2 percent
COLA that went to all state employees; the other increase
was for the board approved salary management program that
allowed APFC to fully staff the office and to provide merit
increases.
Vice-chair Fairclough asked for the information to be
provided to the Legislative Finance Division as it was
currently listing the items as duplicates. Ms. Achee agreed
to follow up with the division.
2:38:09 PM
Ms. Rehfeld discussed that item 43 on page 10 represented a
$121,100 increment to fund a Barrow airport manager
position. She elaborated that Barrow was one of the only
certified airports in the state without an on-site manager.
The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
(DOT) had requested general funds for an existing position
that would be transferred to Barrow.
Representative Gara asked for clarification on the fund
source related to the Barrow airport manager. Ms. Rehfeld
explained that DOT had a vacant position that had
previously been funded by a non-general fund source; the
position would be transferred to Barrow and could not be
funded with the prior funding source.
Ms. Rehfeld communicated that items 45 through 54 (pages 10
through 12) were related to the University of Alaska. Item
47 related to a university five-year mentoring grant for
urban areas; the grant totaled $14.9 million and the
university was requesting federal receipt authority for the
project. Item 49 included $5 million in federal receipt
authority for Pell grants; a request in the same amount had
also been included in the FY 12 supplemental budget
request. She explained that all of the other transfers in
federal funds were aligning the university's federal
authorization. She detailed that there was a total addition
of $7.5 million in federal authority in the proposed
amendments.
Ms. Rehfeld highlighted several proposed language amendment
items on page 12. Item 57 was related to the catastrophic
reserve; one section related to sweeping certain funds into
the reserve at the end of the year and a second section
that appropriated $5 million into the reserve. She
explained that the second section was not necessary and
should be deleted. Item 58 related to child support
services was deleted from the language section and moved to
the numbers section of the budget. Item 59 appropriated $2
million to the Trauma Care Fund that would allow hospitals
to complete their work towards becoming certified in the
four levels of trauma care. Item 60 related to bank card
compliance costs was deleted from the language section and
moved to the numbers section of the budget. The decrement
of $431,400 related to NGNMRS was not required at the
present time and was deleted (Item 61). Item 62 added $3.7
million to fund the JRS past service liability per the
request of the Court System; the normal cost rates for JRS
had been included in the December budget. Items 63 through
67 related to a reduction in debt service costs due to
refinancing.
2:43:51 PM
Ms. Rehfeld directed attention to item 70 that provided
$500,000 in funding for four mental health pilot programs
with AMHTA authorized receipts. Pages 15 and 16 included
very technical corrections and did not alter any numbers in
the budget. Item 78 was the only exception; a decrement of
$1.5 million in ARRA carry-forward funds was removed, given
that the funds would no longer be available after the end
of the year. She added that the carry-forward amount would
be known at a later date. She advised the committee that
other budget related documents were available on the OMB
website.
Co-Chair Thomas thanked OMB for providing the backup
materials.
Vice-chair Fairclough did not see funding included for a
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) program
that would attract military veterans with an opportunity to
attend school free of charge.
2:47:01 PM
Ms. Rehfeld replied that the administration had become
aware of the issue. She explained that the educational
benefits had been transferred to the University of Alaska a
few years earlier; she relayed that the university and DMVA
were discussing the issue.
Co-Chair Thomas discussed the schedule for the following
week.
HB 283 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
HB 307 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:48:36 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:48 PM.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB283-Transmittal_Letter_Capital_Amend_2-15-12.pdf |
HFIN 2/16/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 283 |
| HB283-FY13_Capital_Amendments_2-15-12-Spreadsheet.pdf |
HFIN 2/16/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 283 |
| FY13_Gov_Amended_Fiscal_Summary_2-15-12.pdf |
HFIN 2/16/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 283 HB 284 |
| HB284-Transmittal_Letter_Operating_Amend_2-15-12.pdf |
HFIN 2/16/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 284 |
| HB284-FY13_Operating_Amendments_2-15-12-Spreadsheet.pdf |
HFIN 2/16/2012 1:30:00 PM |
HB 284 |