Legislature(2001 - 2002)
01/17/2001 01:34 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 17, 2001
1:34 PM
TAPE HFC 01 - 11, Side A
TAPE HFC 01 - 11, Side B
TAPE HFC 01 - 12, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Mulder called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:34 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Eldon Mulder, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Con Bunde, Vice-Chair
Representative Eric Croft
Representative John Davies
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Richard Foster
Representative John Harris
Representative Bill Hudson
Representative Ken Lancaster
Representative Jim Whitaker
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Representative Gretchen Guess; Karen Perdue, Commissioner,
Department of Health and Social Services; Janet Clarke,
Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of
Health and Social Services; Joseph Perkins, Commissioner,
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; Kurt
Parkan, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities; Nancy Slagle, Director, Division of
Administrative Services, Department of Transportation and
Public Facilities.
GENERAL SUBJECT (S):
Review of Departments Accomplishments
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
Department of Health and Social Services
The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes
and handouts will be on file with the House Finance
Committee through the 22nd Legislative Session, contact 465-
2156. After the 22nd Legislative Session they will be
available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC
TAPE HFC 00 - 11
FACILITIES
SIDE A
000 JOSEPH PERKINS, Reviewed rewards received; update on
COMMISSIONER, recent public opinion survey; update on
DEPARTMENT OF measures from SB 261.
TRANSPORTATION AND
PUBLIC FACILITIES
182 Commissioner Perkins Outlined the responsibilities of the
department. He spoke to the mission of
the department to develop, operate,
maintain, and manage facilities,
vehicles, and transportation modes.
268 Commissioner Perkins Outlined the number of outstanding awards
that the department and the employees had
received this past year.
399 Commissioner Perkins Emphasized that the department has the
top engineers in the nation. He listed
the committees in which he participates.
Alaska should be proud of the
accomplishments of the department.
478 Commissioner Perkins Discussed how the customers view the
department. He mentioned that the
department had improved over the past two
years. Satisfaction with highways and
roads has increased 52%. He noted that
78% were satisfied with the Alaska Marine
Highway System. Those who use bikes and
walking trails are more satisfied.
Reviewed areas of concern. Only 7% of
Alaskans had participated in a DOT plan
process.
600 Commissioner Perkins Need to improve public awareness of the
programs implemented by the department.
650 Representative Croft Thought that the process is made for
frustration. He recommended taking
another approach.
727 Commissioner Perkins Addressed the performance measures. All
divisions are tracking legislatively
assigned performance measures. The
department has not determined how to
measure the percentage but will provide
that info next year.
786 Commissioner Perkins The percentage of state national highway
system lane miles of roads that meet
standards of the American Association of
state highway and transportation
officials. There are many that do not
meet the progress.
855 Commissioner Perkins Reviewed the percentage of requested
engineering firm audits and desk reviews
completed in the previous fiscal year.
886 Commissioner Perkins Discussed the percentage of required
compliance reviews for responsiveness to
disadvantaged business enterprise and on
the job training contract requirements
completed.
921 Commissioner Perkins Reviewed the environmental impact
statement phase due on the Ketchikan
Airport access by December 31, 2001.
1024 Commissioner Perkins Answered questions of the Committee
regarding the Dalton Highway.
1089 Representative Asked the total miles the state is
Hudson responsible for.
1102 Commissioner Perkins 600,000 miles.
1111 Commissioner Perkins Compared the percentage of cost effective
private maintenance contracts at non-
certified airports compared to the total
number of non-certified airports.
1146 Commissioner Perkins Discussed the percent pass level of
annual federal airport certification
inspections for response and safety
standards set out in federal aviation
regulations.
1204 Commissioner Perkins Reviewed the 5% target for annual
increase in cargo landings at the
international airports measured on a
three year rolling average.
1235 Commissioner Perkins Responded to Representative Hudson,
noting that there would be an increased
cost. The problem is with the structural
engineering. The problem is complex and
will need to be earthquake proof. The
big contract has not yet been awarded.
It is generating interest at this point.
1324 Commissioner Perkins Discussed the percentage of airport
development master plans that are
completed and airport layout plans that
are adopted by Region.
1364 Commissioner Perkins Discussed deferred maintenance projects.
The department received $8 million in
FY01. The backlog has increased by 14
percent and public facilities continue to
deteriorate.
1409 Commissioner Perkins Referred to mechanical systems and noted
that 100 percent passed safety
inspections
1429 Commissioner Perkins Reviewed airport regulations.
1445 Commissioner Perkins Noted that the legislation passed bond
funding for the transfer of some harbors.
No community has taken advantage of the
bonding.
1472 Co-Chair Williams Asked the problem
1481 Commissioner Perkins Noted that the community has to bond and
then the state repays their bond Some
communities cannot bond; communities
would like the state to bond and the
communities take over the harbor.
1587 Co-Chair Mulder Continued discussion on community vs.
state bonding. He noted that there would
have to be statutory changes to allow the
use of GAVEE bonds.
1653 Commissioner Perkins Concluded that once a problem is
recognized it can be addressed.
1704 Representative Asked for information regarding fish
Hudson taxes that have been paid.
1717 Commissioner Perkins Noted that regional numbers were
collected for asphalt road surfacing. The
total was 157 miles.
1757 Commissioner Perkins Discussed the Dalton Hwy. He noted that
approximately 30 miles were paved. The
Taylor Hwy had 10 - 15 miles paved.
Additional paving will be under contract
by this summer on the Dalton highway.
1837 Commissioner Perkins The northern region maintains highway and
airport lane miles with 42.1 miles per
full time equivalent position. The
average is 38.1 per FTE position. The
average of other western states is 21.7
miles. The state of Alaska is doing
almost twice the work per employee of
other states.
1982 Commissioner Perkins Stated that the department is not doing
the maintenance that he would like to
see. He would like to do more.
2026 Commissioner Perkins The state transferred 22.6 lane miles to
other municipal governments.
2054 Commissioner Perkins Observed that the department would
implement a maintenance management system
to establish specific maintenance
criteria. It should be completed by 2003.
2086 Commissioner Perkins In response to a question by
Representative Lancaster, Commissioner
Perkins felt that the transfer of lane
miles would stay about the same.
2109 Commissioner Perkins Noted that a better schedule is needed
for preventive maintenance on the fleet.
2134 Commissioner Perkins He did not know the average down time for
light duty equipment.
2153 Commissioner Perkins In response to a question by
Representative Whitaker, Commissioner
Perkins explained that the state does
maintenance on equipment that is not
owned by the state. This is called light
duty equipment.
2203 Representative Asked if the cost per mile would be
Lancaster available. Commissioner Perkins affirmed.
He added that the equipment fleet for the
department is stable.
2234 NANCY SLAGLE, Explained that agencies can continue to
DIRECTOR, DIVISION hold onto vehicles after the replacement
OF ADMINISTRATIVE cost has been fully depreciated. This
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT would allow the fleet to enlarge
OF TRANSPORTATION slightly.
AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES
2280 Representative John Questioned if down time is a maintenance
Davies measure. Ms. Slagle affirmed.
2308 Ms. Slagle Stated that the heavy-duty equipment
fleet stays even.
2338 Commissioner Perkins The state equipment fleet has ranged from
less than 10 percent to 86 percent of
blue book rate.
TAPE HFC 01 - 11,
Side B
027 Commissioner Perkins Noted that actual performance was 145.53
inspections per full-time-equivalent
employee. This is an increase.
071 Commissioner Perkins There were a total of 14,813 weighing and
measuring devices inspected.
112 Commissioner Perkins Observed that 100 percent of the federal
highway funds were obligated. The state
received an additional $1.5 million
dollars in federal funds.
170 Commissioner Perkins Noted that it is difficult to measure the
percentage of projects in the capital
budget that have been designed.
220 Commissioner Perkins Noted that 14 percent of total project
costs were spent on development.
243 Commissioner Perkins Implemented a system which will provide
information on difference between
projection and actual.
283 Commissioner Perkins Observed that 55 percent of the design
and engineering work was performed by
private contractors.
344 Commissioner Perkins Noted that outsourcing is generally more
expensive than doing the work in house.
365 Commissioner Perkins Observed that approximately $500 million
dollars of planned project work is
completed each year; this is 6.6 percent
of the $7.5 billion dollar needs list.
411 Commissioner Perkins Stated that 100 percent of the required
federal data was collected.
445 Commissioner Perkins Discussed highway costs and reviewed
contract administration costs.
Administration costs were approximately
18 percent.
477 Commissioner Perkins Discussed change order costs.
501 Commissioner Perkins Noted that there is a 77 percent on time
departure rate for ferries.
527 Commissioner Perkins Discussed costs per rider mile: marine
hwy was .51. The Washington State Ferry
System reports a ratio of .60 per rider
mile.
562 Commissioner Perkins Fuel prices have increased 50 percent,
which has increased the cost
585 Commissioner Perkins Ridership increased about 1 percent.
619 Commissioner Perkins Average onboard costs declined.
663 Commissioner Perkins Customer satisfaction was good with 75
percent at very good.
682 Commissioner Perkins Concluded that 2000 was a good year for
the department. There was $80 million in
extra federal that did not require a
state match; $30 million of this will be
spent on the Dalton Highway.
775 Representative John Discussed roads in his district. He noted
Davies that during the paving process gravel
flows into the road shoulder, which could
be a problem.
830 Commissioner Perkins Noted that the department is looking at
precoated gravel.
875 Commissioner Perkins In response to a question by
Representative John Davies, Commissioner
Perkins discussed the ability to keep
winter maintenance workers during the
summer. Most summer workers are on the
federal dollar.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
986 Karen Perdue, Highlighted performance measures. He
Commissioner, provided members with a handout (copy on
Department of Health file). Reviewed page 19. He discussed
and Social Services ATAP. Noted that 38 percent of families
were working; 58 percent were working but
not all had enough hours of participation
to count as the federal participation. No
state has ranked higher.
1162 Commissioner Perdue Discussed Page 20; 80 percent of the
clients are keeping their jobs after one
year. The success is not as great after 2
years; about 30 percent come back to
assistance.
1255 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed childcare; 1,000 children in 600
families are in childcare Pass II.
1298 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 22 - earned income. Noted
that 31 percent were getting a pay check
while on assistance; this reflects that
some of those working are in training or
volunteering. The average wage is $10.20
an hour for those leaving public
assistance.
1356 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 24 - immunizations. Would
like to modify by percentage at age 2.
Now at 80 percent for age 2. Outreach and
the outbreak of measles have resulted in
a higher percentage.
1465 Commissioner Perdue Noted that the department will work to
immunize for hepatitis.
1506 Representative Questioned if the numbers take into
Hudson account those whose parents opt out of
immunizations.
1530 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 25 - infant learning.
Noted that 84 percent of those qualified
are enrolled in the program. There is a
307-child waiting list. The program works
with infants and toddlers. The children
with the most challenge are taken first.
The problem is that children with slight
disabilities that could be helped are not
addressed.
1620 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 26 - tuberculosis. The
state has the highest rate of
tuberculosis in a decade. There has been
an outbreak in Anchorage. She gave a
brief history of tuberculosis procedures.
1716 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 27 - rate of child
hospitalizations and fatalities. This
number is declining. Accident injury is
the leading cause of deaths in children
over 1yrs.
1807 Representative Croft Noted that suicide rates have increased.
She discussed measures to prevent
suicides. There is a relationship to drug
and alcohol use.
2000 Commissioner Perdue Discussed the need for helmet and life
jacket uses.
2020 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 29 - acute or binge
drinking. In response to a question by
Vice-Chair Bunde, Commissioner Perdue
noted that the data comes from surveys.
Risk information is difficult to gather.
2105 Representative Croft Clarified that acute equals binge.
2117 Commissioner Perdue Noted that the numbers for acute or binge
drinking is greater than for chronic
drinking.
2137 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 31 - new and repeat
convictions for driving while
intoxicated. There were 317 felony
convictions for DWI's in FY99. This is
down from 326 in FY98. Felony convictions
result from multiple arrests. Arrests are
going up.
2248 Co-Chair Mulder Concluded that not much has changed in
the last 3 years. He observed that
efforts to tighten enforcement are the
result of a few instances.
2273 Representative John Observed that over 50 percent of driving
Davies related fatalities had alcohol or drugs
as a contributing factor.
2307 Commissioner Perdue Noted that ASAP offices have been closed.
2326 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 32 - infant fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS). The state of Alaska has
the highest rate in the nation; 134
children in 1998 were born with prenatal
exposure to alcohol.
TAPE HFC 01 - 12,
Side A
30 Commissioner Perdue Noted that most FAS children have been
adopted and do not reside with their
parents.
57 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 33 - new admissions for
alcohol and drug treatment.
150 Representative Croft Asked about client admissions.
166 Commissioner Perdue Admitted that she did not know.
219 Co-Chair Mulder Noted that it was an important issue to
have a handle on.
238 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 34 - the average time the
division takes from receiving a claim to
paying it. She noted that this is
important to providers.
292 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 35 - the number of errors
per claim processed categorized by the
type of provider. The measure of the
providers' ability to file error-free
claims.
348 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 36 - the percentage of
total funds that are used to pay claims
compared to the percentage used for
administration of the Division.
400 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 37 - the percentage of
providers who are participating in the
Medical Assistance Program.
485 Vice-Chair Bunde Understood that people do not want to be
involved in the program.
507 Commissioner Perdue Stated that there has been no change in
nursing homes. There has been a change in
dentistry.
544 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 38 - the number of
children substantiated as abused or
neglected; 49% cases are substantiated.
588 Representative Croft Measure of how many of the claims end up
being accurate.
630 Commissioner Perdue Noted that there are Fewer repeat phone
calls. More on target on being active.
Intervening as a whole at a correct time.
664 Representative Asked if the criteria were changing.
Whitaker
677 Commissioner Perdue Replied to that they are changing to some
degree due to new laws passed a couple
years ago by the Legislature.
725 Representative Asked what had affected the similarity
Whitaker from year to year.
741 Commissioner Perdue Pointed out that the actual number has
decreased.
754 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 39 - the number of
children harmed while in state custody.
Children do die in foster care, some of
natural causes. She noted that 6 of the
2000 children in custody died in 2000.
816 Co-Chair Mulder Asked the break down of the six children
that died.
829 Commissioner Perdue Some died from suicide, some were ill or
medically fragile, and one from abuse in
the foster home.
853 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 40 - the number of
children in state custody longer than 18
months and 36 months. The graph
indicates 632 kids that have been in the
state system for an extended time; 82% of
those kids have been addressed.
916 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 41 - the average time a
child spends in state custody, considered
by category. The figures represent
children in custody and out of home care
only.
1040 Commissioner Perdue Pointed out that 25 months is the
average. There are a lot more children
in some categories than the others.
These are kids in foster care. For the
first time, the number of children in the
adoptive care is more than foster care.
1117 Commissioner Perdue In response to a question by
Representative Lancaster, She explained
that children in custody and are not home
less.
1130 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 42 - the number of closed
cases in which there is a reoccurrence of
abuse or neglect.
1187 Representative Croft Asked if it was classified by parent.
1200 Commissioner Perdue Stated yes. Some cases are closed.
1212 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 43 - the number of foster
homes operating at greater than licensed
capacity; this reflects the shortage of
foster parents.
1272 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 44 - the number of
legitimate reports of harm that are
investigated. Noted appreciation for the
legislative support.
1329 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 45 - the turnover rate of
the Division of Family and Youth Services
staff by region. Turnover rate is
declining. Turnover means someone is
promoted or quitting. Anchorage has the
most turnover.
1367 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 47 - the percentage of
juvenile offenders in long-term treatment
who improve their grade point average
during their time at the facility. The
teachers are challenged to find a means
to address the scholastic need of all the
kids.
1443 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 48 - the percentage of
juvenile offender court-ordered
restitution and community service that is
paid or performed.
1486 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 49 - the number of escapes
from juvenile justice institutions.
1505 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 50 - the percentage of
those consumers who seek services for
developmental disabilities who receive
services from the division. There was a
26% increase in the past year.
1556 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 51 - the length of time
that developmentally disabled consumers
are on a waitlist before receiving
services.
1581 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 52 - the percentage of
mental health consumers receiving
services who show improved functioning as
a result of their services.
1612 Commissioner Perdue Discussed page 53 - the percentage
programs designated by the department
that are reviewed for consumer
satisfaction; 86 percent were reviewed
for consumer satisfaction in FY00.
1638 Commissioner Perdue Reviewed page 54 - the total number of
publicly funded psychiatric hospital days
per hospitalized person.
1672 Co-Chair Mulder Complimented the Commissioner for the
informative overview.
1693 Co-Chair Mulder Adjourned the meeting at 3:40 pm
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