Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/09/1995 01:35 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
FEBRUARY 9, 1995
1:35 P.M.
TAPE HFC 95 - 19, Side 1, #000 - end.
TAPE HFC 95 - 19, Side 2, #000 - #668.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Mark Hanley called the House Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:35 P.M.
PRESENT
Co-Chair Hanley Representative Kohring
Representative Martin Representative Kelly
Representative Mulder Representative Navarre
Representative Brown Representative Parnell
Representative Grussendorf Representative Therriault
Representative Foster was not present for the meeting.
ALSO PRESENT
Mike Greany, Director, Legislative Finance Division;
Margaret Pugh, Commissioner, Department of Corrections; Bob
Cole, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Corrections; Nancy Slagle, Director, Division
of Budget Review, Office of Management and Budget; Office of
the Governor; Bob Baratko, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Revenue.
SUMMARY
HB 137 An Act making supplemental appropriations for
operating expenses of state government for fiscal
year 1995; and providing for an effective date.
HB 137 was HELD in Committee for further
discussion.
HOUSE BILL 137
"An Act making supplemental appropriations for
operating expenses of state government for fiscal year
1995; and providing for an effective date."
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
MARGARET PUGH, COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,
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explained the supplemental budget request for Out-of-State
Contract Beds in the amount of $2.3 million dollars. She
continued, in order to reduce prisoner populations
throughout institutions across the State, the Department has
entered into a professional services agreement, which will
move 206 prisoners to out-of-state prison beds. Action has
been undertaken in order to stop the court contempt
sanctions from accruing at a rate of approximately $5,500
per day. The costs of the beds are $50 dollars per day.
She added that the request was necessary in order to
maintain acceptable service levels in non-safety areas.
The State of Alaska has contracted 206 beds to the Arizona
facility. This cost reflects the fixed contract as signed.
Representative Parnell asked if the cost included inmates
health care. Commissioner Pugh stated that it would cover
day-to-day medical costs and added it would not be a savings
in health care spending when sending the prisoners out of
state. Prisoners with on going health needs were screened
out from those sent out of state.
Commissioner Pugh noted that the State has the flexibility
to send up to a total of 250 prisoners to Arizona within the
contract. Representative Martin asked if only the long term
prisoners were being sent out of state. Commissioner Pugh
responded, the basic criteria used to identify those inmates
to send were the ones furthest from possible release into
the communities and with at least seven years left to serve.
The cost of the contract does not include medical treatment
or transportation costs.
Co-Chair Hanley asked if the cost charged to Alaska per
prisoner per day included the out-of-state debt service
charge. Commissioner Pugh offered to provide that
information to the Committee at a later date.
Co-Chair Hanley questioned the increased gratuity request in
the amount of $72.5 thousand dollars. Commissioner Pugh
advised that the number of inmates has grown at a rate of
200 per year. The amount budgeted last year for gratuities
was based on 200 less people than are currently in the
system.
Co-Chair Hanley provided the Committee with handouts.
[Attachments #1 & #2]. He asked the Department for an
explanation of Attachment #1, the inmate population history.
Commissioner Pugh voiced the need for an additional $3.1
million dollar request for institutions statewide. While
the Department recognizes that State resources are
declining, reality dictates that funding for adequate
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staffing must be available in order to ensure that a safe
and effective operation is maintained at all times. She
stressed that the request adds only enough personal service
funding to provide stabilization of the existing personnel
staffing levels within the institutions to reduce the level
of risk to staff and prisoners alike. Due to depleted
stocks resulting from the sustaining of previous budget
reductions, facilities are not able to cover the support
costs of the increased prisoner populations.
Co-Chair Hanley interjected that in order to determine the
level of funding, more information should be provided to the
Committee by the Department. Commissioner Pugh explained
that the prisons are currently at 99% of emergency capacity
which is well over operating capacity. She emphasized that
this is a supplemental need this year and that in summer
months prison loads increase above the current growth rate.
Co-Chair Hanley reiterated that this request has resulted
from an administrative policy call.
Commissioner Pugh responded to a question by Representative
Brown regarding the reduction levels provided in FY95
budget. She noted that the positions authorized to be cut
were not cut, and that, consequently, drove the need for the
current supplemental request. The last Administration began
a pattern of spending above authorization levels.
Representative Therriault stated that if the Department of
Correction's budget was fully funded last year, it would be
less than the requested supplemental. Commissioner Pugh
stated that overcrowding combined with a more violent inmate
population, resulting from diversion of low risk inmate
community settings has resulted in an 84% increase in the
assaults on correctional staff.
Representative Therriault referenced Attachment #2, the
Fairbanks Correctional Center (FCC) component being far less
than other facilities operational costs. Commissioner Pugh
offered to research that component and then provide further
information to the Committee.
Commissioner Pugh explained the Inmate Health Care component
request in the amount of $2.1 million dollars. She noted
that the incredibly high expenditures are due to inmates who
have required extended ICU stays and surgeries due to HIV
related illnesses, osteomyelitis, heart disease (three
different inmates with serious heart problem requiring
surgery and hospitalization, cancer, a pancreatic blockage,
and septicemia). Additionally, there have been visits to
the emergency room and hospital stays for lesser illnesses.
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Commissioner Pugh presented the Sixth Avenue Correctional
Center administrative position increment request in the
amount of $51.9 thousand dollars. She pointed out that as
the prisoner population increases at the Sixth Avenue
Correctional Center, more and more emphasis must be placed
on safety staffing needs within the Institutions.
Correctional officers are currently performing full-time
clerical and computer oriented duties.
(Tape Change, HFC 95-19, Side 2).
Commissioner Pugh interjected these functions must be
performed by less costly and appropriately classified
administrative clerks to free up the correctional officers
to provide safety and security at the facility. The request
would fund three Administrative Clerk II positions for the
remainder of FY95.
The following increment in the supplemental request for the
Department was in the amount of $928.9 thousand dollars for
bed increases at Spring Creek and Wildwood Correctional
Center (C.C.). In order to utilize every available
institutional bed, the FY95 budget request funding to
increase the Spring Creek Correctional Center by fifty beds
and to upscale Wildwood C.C. to full capacity by bringing on
line the fifty-nine available beds in that facility.
Although funding was rejected, the over population crisis
has required that these beds be brought on line. The
request would provide the funding necessary to support the
costs associated with the additional staff and programs
allowing the Department to legally add these beds to the
correctional system.
Co-Chair Hanley questioned the decisions between double
bunking or triple bunking a facility. Commissioner Pugh
responded the difference result from the square footage size
of the cells. Wildwood C.C. was originally a military
institution; the rooms now used for housing of inmates are
larger than the cells constructed at Spring Creek and would
meet the square footage requirement for three bunks.
Co-Chair Hanley asked about additional employees being hired
at the Wildwood C.C. Commissioner Pugh stated that past
downsizing of Wildwood has made the supplemental request
necessary in order that facility could work at full
capacity.
She added that it was her understanding that there was no
duplication within the Department's supplemental requests.
Co-Chair Hanley stressed that the way the supplemental
requests had been written, it appeared there was overlap in
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requests. Representative Therriault asked if the square
footage allocation per prisoner had been determined by the
Cleary case. Commissioner Pugh stated that they had been
and they mirrored the standards established by the American
Correctional Association (ACA). Representative Therriault
asked if those standards were tied to the number of staff
recommended. Commissioner Pugh indicted that staffing
considerations are determined by the number of prisoners,
the functioning of cameras and other electronic surveillance
equipment, the number of constraints or barriers constructed
and the layout of the facility. Co-Chair Hanley asked if
the Alaskan facilities are over or under the staffing needed
in order to be a safe environment. Commissioner Pugh
commented that the National Security Consultant has
recommended more staff than currently used.
Commissioner Pugh continued explaining the next supplemental
increment request in the amount of $1.47 million dollars for
Community Residential Treatment Beds. She pointed out that
the FY95 operating budget included funding for 412 CRC beds.
To reduce overcrowding, classification criteria changes were
implemented in FY95. The change required an increase in CRC
beds in order to accommodate increased placements. The
Department contracted for 567 CRC beds. In order to
maintain the higher level of beds for the remainder of FY95,
supplemental funding is required. Representative Mulder
pointed out concerns regarding the standards used in
determination of CRC beds in the Anchorage area.
Commissioner Pugh noted that the costs for a CRC bed per day
varied between $37/$70 dollars per day. The average cost is
$42 dollars per day.
BOB COLE, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, pointed out that there has been a
dispute of the average daily cost of the CRC beds. He noted
that the Department is currently using the formula provided
by the Legislative Finance Division to determine those costs
and will provide the average cost information to the
Committee at a later date.
Continuing, Commissioner Pugh explained the supplemental
request in the amount of $31.8 thousand dollars for the
Southeast Region Probation. The Southeast Region Probation
component is currently unable to conduct field visits to the
smaller towns and communities under its supervision. In
addition, management cannot audit district probation officer
and the staff cannot meet the Alaska Police Standards
Council training requirements, potentially subjecting the
State and the Department to substantial liability. She
stressed that all these needs are not enhancements to
services but are basic needs which were not funded in the
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FY95 operating authorization.
Commissioner Pugh spoke to the supplemental request of
$362.5 thousand dollars for the Point MacKenzie
Rehabilitation Program; the program has been in existence
for just over a year and has an operational presence on two
farms. There is housing for ninety-two prisoners but
staffing and fiscal support to maintain the safety and
security of prisoners at that level is not available. The
supplemental request would provide the additional funding
support required by the reclassification of LTC positions to
Correctional Officers, fund the six correctional officer
positions which were transferred without funding from
Wildwood Correctional Center and enhance the fiscal
resources needed to feed, clothe, and provide gratuities for
prisoners.
Commissioner Pugh completed the supplemental overview for
the Department of Corrections.
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
ROBERT BARATKO, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, provided a letter from
Nancy Slagle, Director, Office of Management and Budget,
indicating a change to Section 2 amended from $711,100 to
$313,300 dollars. [Attachment #3]. The change would
reflect the most pressing start-up costs for the Mental
Health Trust Authority. Mr. Baratko provided the Committee
with an additional handout. [Attachment #4]. He pointed
out an additional reduction in the amount of $15,000
dollars; the total request for that portion of the
supplemental would now be $298,300 dollars.
Co-Chair Hanley remarked that the statute indicated that
executive director position would be paid at least at a
range #26 although had been budgeted at a range #29. Mr.
Baratko responded that the range would be dependant on the
experience of that person. Co-Chair Hanley supported the
Executive Director position being hired at a range #26 with
the extra funds spent on services.
Representative Brown observed that the request for equipment
had not been reduced following past Committee
recommendations. Mr. Baratko responded that a "rule of
thumb" had been applied; as a cubby is established in a pre-
established work environment, one should budget $6.5
thousand dollars per work space. This was the planning
guideline used to determine that request.
Mr. Baratko concluded the supplemental overview request for
the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for the Department
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of Revenue.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 3:05 P.M.
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