Legislature(2003 - 2004)
03/04/2004 06:01 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
March 04, 2004
6:01 PM
TAPE HFC 04 - 45, Side A
TAPE HFC 04 - 45, Side B
TAPE HFC 04 - 46, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Harris called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 6:01 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Harris, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Vice-Chair
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Eric Croft
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Carl Moses
Representative Bill Stoltze
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Representative David Guttenberg.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Carter Crawford, Arctic Alliance, Fairbanks; Cameron
Leonard, Alaska Legal Services, Fairbanks; Brenda Stenfill,
Interior Alaska Center for Non-violent Living, Fairbanks;
Antonia Graffia, Fairbanks; Jeanette Grasto, Alaska Mental
Health Board/ National Alliance for the Mentally Ill,
Fairbanks; Joy Price, National Alliance for the Mentally
Ill, Fairbanks; Greg Petrowich, KUAC, University of Alaska
Fairbanks; Diane Darnall, Fair Air, Fairbanks; Marta
Mueller, Fairbanks; H.B. Telling, Fairbanks; Jackie Bisbee,
North Pole; Becky Snow, Fairbanks; Else Guttenberg,
Fairbanks Native Association, Fairbanks; Luck Hopkins,
Fairbanks; Gordon DePue, Fairbanks; Taber Rehbaum,
Fairbanks; Ian Michael Herbert, Fairbanks; Elizabeth Olson,
Fairbanks; v Karen Parr, Fairbanks; Ruthamae Karr,
Fairbanks; Mary Calmes, Fairbanks; Tim Quintal, Fairbanks;
Art Hansen, Fairbanks; Gerald Brown, Fairbanks; Jennifer
House, Finance Director, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital,
Fairbanks; Julie Maier, Fairbanks; Nancy Baker, Fairbanks;
Thomas Walker, Fairbanks; Marilyn Russell, Fairbanks; Philip
Martin, Fairbanks; Sandra Trumboer, MADD; Lizanne Hanson,
Fairbanks; Mike Prax, North Pole; Carrie Dershin; Scott
Palder, Fairbanks.
hb375
GENERAL SUBJECT(S):
HB 375-APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 377-APPROP:MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
Public Testimony - Fairbanks
The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes
and handouts will be on file with the House Finance
Committee through the 23rd Legislative Session, contact 465-
2156. After the 23rd Legislative Session they will be
available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.
LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION
TAPE HFC 04 - 45
SIDE A
000 Co-Chair Harris Convened the House Finance Committee
meeting to take statewide testimony on
the operating budget from Fairbanks.
129 CARTER CRAWFORD, Testified in support of funding for the
ARCTIC ALLIANCE, community-matching block grants program.
FAIRBANKS
508 Representative Observed that community grants were
Hawker zeroed in the Governor's FY04 budget and
restored by the House to $1 million. The
grants remain at $1 million in the FY05
budget.
650 CAMERON LEONARD, Expressed concern with reductions to
ALASKA LEGAL Alaska Legal Services, which was zeroed
SERVICES, FAIRBANKS out in the current budget. This is the
only legal service for low-income
families.
856 BRENDA STENFILL, Testified in support of funding for the
INTERIOR ALASKA domestic violence and sexual assault
CENTER FOR NON-shelters.
VIOLENT LIVING,
FAIRBANKS
1037 ANTONIA GRAFFIA, Testified in support of funding for the
FAIRBANKS domestic violence and sexual assault
shelters.
1312 JEANETTE GRASTO, Testified in support of funding for
ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH community mental health programs. Voiced
BOARD/ NATIONAL opposition to further cuts to the mental
ALLIANCE FOR THE health budget. Voiced opposition to the
MENTALLY ILL, cuts in Medicaid Services.
FAIRBANKS
1557 JOY PRICE, NATIONAL Testified in support of funding for
ALLIANCE FOR THE community mental health programs.
MENTALLY ILL, Expressed concern with reductions to
FAIRBANKS Alaska Legal Services, which was zeroed
out in the current budget.
1809 GREG PETROWICH, Voiced support for continuation of
KUAC, UNIVERSITY OF funding for the public broadcasting
ALASKA FAIRBANKS satellite infrastructure.
2011 Representative Fate Would loss of the transponder affects
medical services and village health aids.
2126 Mr. Petrowich Could not respond, but observed that
there are community health programs
offered by the service.
2153 Representative Questioned why the University did not pay
Hawker for the service.
2313 Mr. Petrowich Pays a portion of the cost, and brings in
money through course work, but there are
multiple use of four channels. He
estimated that the users would not have
sufficient funds to pay for the service.
2414 Mr. Petrowich In response to a question by
Representative Hawker, observed that the
state leases space from a private
provider. Public broadcasting provides
services for free, not everyone in the
state can afford the cost of cable.
2507 Representative Fate Clarified that federal funds are used for
the tele-medical services.
2615 DIANN DARNALL, FAIR Voiced support for funding for tobacco
AIR, FAIRBANKS prevention and cessation programs.
2759 Representative Questioned if the tax on tobacco should
Hawker be increased.
2822 Ms. Darnall Stressed that the prevention of youth
smoking would be enhanced by a tax
increase.
2914 Representative Observed that the $1 million
Hawker appropriation in the FY05 budget is at
the full 20 percent funding level.
3023 MARTA MUELLER, Voiced support for the University of
FAIRBANKS Alaska. Noted support for additional
revenue measures.
3210 Vice-Chair Meyer Questioned if she supports the Percent of
Market Value.
3321 Ms. Mueller Expressed support for the POMV plan.
3401 H.B. TELLING, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education.
3446 JACKIE BISBEE, NORTH Testified in support of funding for
POLE Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, vocational rehabilitation
programs.
3603 BECKY SNOW, Voiced opposition to the cuts in Medicaid
FAIRBANKS Services. Spoke in support of additional
funding for education. Noted support for
additional revenue measures. Expressed
support for the POMV plan. Expressed
support for implementation of a statewide
income tax. Testified in support of full
funding for public broadcasting.
3902 ELSE GUTTENBERG, Testified in support of the Alcohol
FAIRBANKS NATIVE Safety Action Program, Department of
ASSOCIATION, Health and Social Services (ASAP).
FAIRBANKS
4230 Representative Noted that the Department of Health and
Hawker Social Services has proposed a cut off of
the program for the youth ASAP program.
He observed that the Subcommittee has
restored a full six-month funding for the
adult ASAP program.
4518 LUCK HOPKINS, Spoke in support of the Governor's
FAIRBANKS increments for the University.
TAPE HFC 04 - 45, Side B
4544 GORDON DEPUE, Noted support for an examination of PERS,
FAIRBANKS which he feels is an unfunded liability.
The average contribution is 16.5 percent,
which is higher than the 11 percent
average for the private sector.
3932 TABER REHBAUM, Testified in support of funding for the
FAIRBANKS community-matching block grants program.
Expressed concern with reductions to
Alaska Legal Services.
3640 IAN MICHAEL HERBERT, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education and the University.
Expressed support for implementation of a
statewide income tax and encouraged a tax
to the oil companies.
3124 ELIZABETH OLSON, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education. Expressed support for
implementation of a statewide income tax.
3018 Representative Asked what cuts were made to education.
Chenault
2940 Vice-Chair Meyer Increased K-12 by $8 million dollars.
The Governor's budget funded the formula
at full cost but enrollment is down so
that amount has been cut. He guaranteed
that the House Finance Committee would
continue to look at greater funding for
education.
2834 KAREN PARR, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education. She pointed out that if
there continues to be teacher reduction,
there will be a dismantling of important
programs. Teachers will be leaving the
State. It would take years to rebuild
programs.
2438 Representative Asked about the shortage of teachers in
Chenault the Fairbanks area. He asked if
Fairbanks funds to the cap. Ms. Parr
thought it was funded close to the cap.
Inflation has eaten up the buying power.
Representative Chenault agreed that the
State has not kept pace with the
education needs.
2047 RUTHAMAE KARR, Voiced support for funding for tobacco
FAIRBANKS prevention and cessation programs.
Expressed support for implementation of a
statewide income tax.
1615 MARY CALMES, Commented on ways to raise money to fund
FAIRBANKS programs. Expressed support for
implementation of a statewide income tax.
1454 TIM QUINTAL, Expressed support for implementation of a
FAIRBANKS statewide income tax and noted support
for additional revenue measures so that
support services and education can be
fully funded. He added concerns with the
PERS and TRS drain on the system.
1257 Representative Asked if there should be a moratorium on
Stoltze retirement incentive programs.
1229 Representative Fate Asked about consideration given to income
tax.
1158 Mr. Quintal A graduated tax would be painless.
1140 ART HANSEN, Testified in support of funding for
FAIRBANKS community mental health programs. He
added that there needs to be alternatives
to the court system option. Keep the
patients out of jail. Spoke in support
of additional funding for education.
942 Representative Fate Commented on jail & substance abuse
concerns currently existing in the State
prisons. He asked about the difference
between alcohol and drug abuse.
843 Mr. Hansen Did not know, however, other works in the
Mental Health field testify that alcohol
and abuse go together. Domestic abuse &
child abuse go together.
754 Representative Fate Voiced appreciation for all those coming
out to testify for education from
Fairbanks.
715 GERALD BROWN, Commented on the role of government to
FAIRBANKS the people in the State. Spoke in
support of additional funding for
education. Testified in support of
funding for community mental health
programs. Mr. Brown commented on how to
fund these projects should come from
income and expressed support for
implementation of a statewide income tax
and a statewide income tax. Permanent
Fund should be used as a revolving loan
fund. An endowment fund. Expressed
support for the community matching grant
program in the Department of Health and
Social Services.
TAPE HFC 04 - 46, Side A
013 JENNIFER HOUSE, Voiced opposition to the cuts in Medicaid
FINANCE DIRECTOR, Services.
FAIRBANKS MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL, FAIRBANKS
344 JULIE MAIER, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education. Expressed support for
implementation of a statewide income tax.
704 NANCY BAKER, Expressed support for implementation of a
FAIRBANKS statewide income tax. Tax is not a
penalty, but a privilege. Expressed
support for the POMV plan if there is
also an income tax.
1208 Representative Fate Questioned if Ms. Baker supports a
spending limit.
1234 Ms. Baker Did not have an opinion on a spending
limit. She observed that the lowest
income individuals are suffering the
worst effects of the reductions.
1342 Vice-Chair Meyer Observed that an income tax would cost $8
million a year to implement. The Percent
of Market Value would not have a cost to
implement.
1451 Ms. Baker Spoke against implementation of a income
tax.
1552 THOMAS WALKER, Spoke in support of the Governor's
FAIRBANKS increments for the University.
1726 MARILYN RUSSELL, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education. Expressed support for
implementation of a statewide income tax
and increased taxes on the oil industry.
2410 PHILIP MARTIN, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education. Noted support for
additional revenue measures.
2654 LIZANNE HANSON, Spoke in support of additional funding
FAIRBANKS for education.
3011 MIKE PRAX, NORTH Spoke in support of reductions to the
POLE budget. He emphasized the people need to
take responsibility for themselves.
3338 SANDRA TRUMBOER, Support of funding for women's shelters
MADD and alcohol and action programs.
3549 CARRIE DERSHIN Support for the community matching block
grants.
3942 Representative Recognized the wiliness of testifiers to
Foster pay for services. He observed the
reduction of revenue to the state. The
state's income has been reduced by
approximately half of its funding since
the 1980's. He observed the need for
multiple revenue measures.
4139 SCOTT PALDER, Testified in support of a citizen review
FAIRBANKS of cases of children taken from their
homes by Division of Family and Youth
Services.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 PM
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