Legislature(2019 - 2020)ADAMS 519
03/11/2020 09:00 AM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB127 | |
| HB182 | |
| HB30 | |
| HB197 | |
| HB223 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 127 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 182 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 197 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 223 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 11, 2020
9:02 a.m.
9:02:57 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Johnston called the House Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:02 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Jennifer Johnston, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Gary Knopp
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Kelly Merrick
Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard
Representative Cathy Tilton
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Erin Shine, Staff, Representative Jennifer Johnston;
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Sponsor; Mike Mason, Staff,
Representative Chris Tuck; Representative Laddie Shaw,
Sponsor; Josh Walton, Staff, Representative Laddie Shaw;
Vikki Jo Kennedy, Self, Juneau; Tom Studler, Chief Warrant
Officer, United States Army (Retired), Fairbanks.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Sterling Strait, Alaska Seismic Hazard Safety Commission,
Anchorage; Lynn Kyle, President, Alaska Chapter of Vietnam
Helicopters Pilots Association, Eagle River.
SUMMARY
HB 30 WORKERS' COMP: DEATH; PERM PARTIAL IMPAIR
CSHB 30(FIN) was REPORTED OUT of committee with
five "do pass" recommendations, one "do not pass"
recommendation, and five "no recommendation"
recommendations and with one new fiscal impact
note by the Department of Administration and two
new fiscal impact notes by the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development.
HB 127 DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT
CSHB 127(FIN) was REPORTED OUT of Committee with
seven "do pass" recommendations and four "no
recommendation" recommendations and with one new
zero fiscal note by the Department of Commerce,
Community and Economic Development, one new zero
fiscal note by the Department of Health and
Social Services, and one new fiscal impact note
by the Department of Health and Social Services.
HB 182 SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS: TESTING
CSSSHB 182(STA) was REPORTED OUT of Committee
with a "do pass" recommendation and one new
fiscal impact note by the Department of Public
Safety.
HB 197 EXTEND SEISMIC HAZARDS SAFETY COMMISSION
HB 197 was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with one previously
published fiscal impact note: FN1 (DNR).
HB 223 NAMING VIETNAM HELI. PILOTS' MEM. BRIDGE
HB 223 was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and one previously published
fiscal note: FN1 (DOT).
Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
HOUSE BILL NO. 127
"An Act relating to the practice of dental hygiene;
establishing an advanced practice permit; prohibiting
unfair discrimination under group health insurance
against a dental hygienist who holds an advanced
practice permit; relating to medical assistance for
dental hygiene services; and providing for an
effective date."
9:04:01 AM
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute for HB 127, Work Draft 31-LS0836\S (Fisher
3/10/20).
Co-Chair Johnston OBJECTED for discussion.
ERIN SHINE, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER JOHNSTON,
reported that the proposed CS, version S, made one change
on page 6, line 23. The effective date was changed to
January 1, 2021. In conversations with the sponsor and with
the Division of Business and Professional Licensing the new
effective date would provide enough time to promulgate
regulations.
Co-Chair Johnston WITHDREW her OBJECTION.
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:05:17 AM
REPRESENTATIVE IVY SPOHNHOLZ, SPONSOR, explained that bill
created an advanced practice permit for dental hygienists
which would allow experienced licensed dental hygienists to
apply for a license to provide preventative oral care to
underserved populations. Underserved populations included
people at senior centers, healthcare facilities, daycares,
schools, and for Alaskans eligible for Public Assistance
who were homebound or who lived in an underserved
community.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report CSHB 127(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 127(FIN) was REPORTED OUT of Committee with seven "do
pass" recommendations and four "no recommendation"
recommendations and with one new zero fiscal note by the
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development,
one new zero fiscal note by the Department of Health and
Social Services, and one new fiscal impact note by the
Department of Health and Social Services.
9:06:30 AM
AT EASE
9:06:43 AM
RECONVENED
HOUSE BILL NO. 182
"An Act relating to testing of sexual assault
examination kits; and providing for an effective
date."
9:06:43 AM
Co-Chair Johnston reported no one had any questions for the
sponsor.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report CSSSHB 182(STA) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSSHB 182(STA) was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and one new fiscal impact note by the
Department of Public Safety.
HOUSE BILL NO. 30
"An Act relating to the exclusiveness of liability of
an employer in the case of death; relating to the
payment of workers' compensation benefits in the case
of permanent partial impairment; relating to notice of
workers' compensation death benefits; relating to the
payment of workers' compensation death benefits
payable to a child of an employee where there is no
surviving spouse; relating to the payment of workers'
compensation death benefits for an employee without a
surviving spouse or child; and providing for an
effective date."
9:07:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON, SPONSOR, relayed that the
bill did one thing; it updated 20-year old permanent
partial impairment ratings that had flagged because of
encroaching inflation. It positioned the state in a place
where the compensation for a permanent partial impairment
was too low.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report CSHB 30(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal notes.
Representative Carpenter OBJECTED.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Josephson, Knopp, LeBon, Merrick, Ortiz,
Sullivan-Leonard, Wool, Johnston, Foster
OPPOSED: Tilton, Carpenter
The MOTION PASSED (9/2).
CSHB 30(FIN) was REPORTED OUT of committee with five "do
pass" recommendations, one "do not pass" recommendation,
and five "no recommendation" recommendations and with one
new fiscal impact note by the Department of Administration
and two new fiscal impact notes by the Department of Labor
and Workforce Development.
HOUSE BILL NO. 197
"An Act extending the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety
Commission; and providing for an effective date."
9:10:09 AM
MIKE MASON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, reported that
Alaska was one of the most seismically active regions on
Earth. The state had a history of very large and damaging
earthquakes. The state had tried to work diligently to
prepare for future earthquakes and, as part of that work,
it created the Alaska Seismic Hazard Safety Commission in
2001. House Bill 197 would simply extend the Alaska Seismic
Hazard Safety Commission through June 30, 2028. The bill
included an immediate effective date because the current
authorization expired in June. A recent audit of the
commission included a specific recommendation to extend the
commission until 2028. The chair of the commission,
Sterling Strait, was online and available to answer
questions. He thanked the committee.
9:11:18 AM
AT EASE
9:11:55 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Johnston OPENED public testimony.
STERLING STRAIT, ALASKA SEISMIC HAZARD SAFETY COMMISSION,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), thanked Representative Tuck
for bringing the bill forward and the House Finance
Committee for hearing it. He was available to answer any
questions. He stated that he was excited about the work the
commission was doing. There had been good discussion about
the Anchorage earthquake that occurred 1.5 years prior. The
commission was compiling some good recommendations to move
forward and was excited about what it could do to help
improve seismic safety in the state. He thanked members for
their time.
9:13:21 AM
Co-Chair Johnston CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report HB 197 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 197 was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with one previously published fiscal
impact note: FN1 (DNR).
HOUSE BILL NO. 223
"An Act naming the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Memorial
Bridge."
9:14:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, SPONSOR, reported that Vietnam
was called the helicopter war, and during that war there
were 12,000 helicopters that flew in combat or support
missions. He reported 5,000 helicopters were destroyed, and
40,000 pilots served. He deferred to his staff to provide
an overview of the bill.
JOSH WALTON, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE LADDIE SHAW, relayed
that the bill named bridges 1124 and 1889 the Vietnam
Helicopter Pilots' Memorial Bridge. The bridges spanned the
Matanuska River Northbound and Southbound at Mile 30.4 of
the Glenn Highway.
9:15:13 AM
Co-Chair Johnston OPENED public testimony.
9:15:31 AM
VIKKI JO KENNEDY, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of HB 223.
She recalled a friend she lost to the Vietnam War. She
thought a memorial in Alaska for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots
was long overdue. She thanked the committee for hearing her
testimony.
9:17:57 AM
TOM STUDLER, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, UNITED STATES ARMY
(RETIRED), FAIRBANKS, supported the bill. He was a Vietnam
Veteran. He served in Vietnam and flew on hunter-killer
teams. He thought it was ironic the representative had
asked him to testify on the bill. He undoubtedly flew
Representative Shaw, a member of Seal Team 1, at some
point, as they served in the same area at the same time.
One of his jobs was to support Seal Team 1. The other
primary mission of his team was with Special Forces. He
flew on a hunter-killer team where their job was to find
and seek out the enemy. He flew approximately 1,500 hours
and was shot down five times during his tour in Vietnam.
One of those times was across the border in a country in
which they were not it. It took him a week to get out. He
could attest that the pilots and crew members in Vietnam
had a very tough mission. The Vietnam War was the
"Helicopter War." He thought the U.S. Army flew more
missions during Vietnam than any other time. He found it
difficult to reflect on his time in Vietnam because of the
many friends he lost - the people that sacrificed their
lives. Just under 5,000 pilots and crew died during the
war. He happened to be personal friends with a couple of
Medal of Honor recipients, Chief Warrant Officer Gerald
(Pappy) Devine and Chief Warrant Officer Mike Novosel, for
their heroism flying dust off missions. They returned time-
after-time to evacuate the wounded. He noted the average
life of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam once engaged was
under 5 minutes. The Vietnam helicopter pilots were very
deserving of the bill for their sacrifices made to their
country.
Co-Chair Johnston thanked Representative Shaw and Mr.
Studler for their service. She remarked, "We never did that
enough for the Vietnam Vets."
9:21:21 AM
LYNN KYLE, PRESIDENT, ALASKA CHAPTER OF VIETNAM HELICOPTERS
PILOTS ASSOCIATION, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), was a
Vietnam Veteran and helicopter pilot. He noted that the
Alaska Chapter was an all exclusive group of helicopter
pilots and crew and had 89 members, 7 of which were
deceased. According to the National Vietnam Helicopter
Pilots Association, there were over 300 pilots and crew in
Alaska. However, finding everyone was ore difficult, being
that they were all senior citizens. The Vietnam conflict
was a helicopter war and the sacrifices made by the pilots
and crews could not be understated. They brought in a
revolutionary way of doing business which was still in
existence. For instance, medical treatment was a standard
presently and started in Vietnam. Air crews flew over
500,000 missions and saved over 900,000 patients at an
astonishing rate of 82 percent survival. It was currently
used in all of the country's combat arms, across the
country, and in Alaska. Many people gave their lives to the
cause. Those that came home, brought their skills and
provided significant contributions to Alaska in aviation
capability. He indicated that many Veterans were passing
away each day. It would be an honorable thing for Veterans
to see the memorial. Their contribution and sacrifice to
the nation was certainly worthy of their legacy to be
honored and a dedication of a landmark in their honor was a
historic opportunity. He recognized funding could be an
issue, but so was their sacrifice. He emphatically
supported the bill.
Co-Chair Johnston thanked Mr. Kyle for his testimony and
his service.
Co-Chair Johnston CLOSED public testimony.
9:24:05 AM
AT EASE
9:24:16 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster MOVED to report HB 223 out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note.
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 223 was REPORTED OUT of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and one previously published fiscal note:
FN1 (DOT).
Co-Chair Johnston reviewed the agenda for the afternoon.
ADJOURNMENT
9:25:09 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 30 public Testimony Red'd by 030920.pdf |
HFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 30 |
| HB 182 Public Testimony Rec'd by 031020.pdf |
HFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 182 |
| HB 127 v. S 3.10.2020.pdf |
HFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 127 |
| HB 127 AK Board of Dental Examiners Letter of Support 3.9.2020.pdf |
HFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM |
HB 127 |