Legislature(2021 - 2022)ADAMS 519
03/03/2022 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB281 || HB282 | |
| Public Testimony: Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glennallen, Valdez, Wrangell, Homer, | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 281 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 282 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 3, 2022
1:33 p.m.
1:33:23 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Kelly Merrick, Co-Chair
Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair
Representative DeLena Johnson
Representative Andy Josephson
Representative Bart LeBon
Representative Sara Rasmussen (via teleconference)
Representative Steve Thompson
Representative Adam Wool
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Ben Carpenter
Representative Bryce Edgmon
ALSO PRESENT
Millie Ryan, Vice President, Key Coalition of Alaska,
Juneau; Brenda Stanfill, Executive Director, Alaska Network
on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Juneau; Don
Habeger, Coalition Coordinator, Juneau Reentry Coalition,
Juneau; Noah Williams, Self, Juneau; Tom Brice, Self,
Juneau; John Sonin, Self, Juneau.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Bill Trembley, Self, Petersburg; Scott Arndt, Member,
Kodiak Island Borough Assembly, Kodiak; Robert Purcell,
Board of Directors, KBBI Public Radio, Homer; Dave Aplin,
Self, Homer; Travis Million, CEO, Copper Valley Electric,
Glennallen; Donna Aderhold, Homer City Council, Homer;
Becky Meiers, General Manager, KCAW Radio, Sitka; Michelle
Mahoney, Sitkans Against Family Violence, Sitka; Bob
Sivertsen, Alaska Commission on Aging, Ketchikan; Janette
Bowers, City Manager, City of Seward, Seward; Pat Branson,
Mayor, City of Kodiak, Kodiak; Grant Echohawk, WISH,
Ketchikan; Suzanne Vuillet-Smith, Secretary of Board of
Directors, KHNS Lynn Canal Broadcasting, Haines; Jessica
Whitaker, Administrative Operations Manager, Behavioral
Health, Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
(SEARHC), Wrangell; Tina Russell, Direct Service
Coordinator, Advocates for Victims of Violence, Valdez;
Tony Jackson, Southeast Alaska for Independent Living
(SAIL), Sitka; Mandy Cole, AWARE, Juneau; James Kerr, Chief
of Police, Petersburg Police Department, Petersburg;
Marilyn Casteel, SAFE, Dillingham; Cindy Sweat, General
Manager, KSTK Public Broadcasting, Wrangell; Arika
Paquette, Women in Safe Homes (WISH), Ketchikan; Eleanor
Hewitt, Self, Ketchikan; Janet Elisovsky, Self, Cordova;
Charles Barker, Self, Kodiak; Deb Potter, Self, Skagway;
Robert Baty, Chief of Police, Sitka Police Department,
Sitka; Joyanna Geisler, Independent Living Center, Homer;
Ellen Frankenstein, Artchange Inc., Sitka; Suzi Townsley,
Program Director and Lead Advocate, Seward Safe Harbor,
Seward; Penny Lample, Kodiak Women's Resource Crisis
Center, Kodiak.
SUMMARY
HB 281 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
HB 281 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HB 282 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
HB 282 was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 281
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs; capitalizing funds; amending
appropriations; making reappropriations; making
supplemental appropriations; making appropriations
under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State
of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve
fund; and providing for an effective date."
HOUSE BILL NO. 282
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making capital
appropriations and supplemental appropriations; and
providing for an effective date."
1:35:07 PM
Co-Chair Foster relayed that the committee would hear
public testimony from the communities of Juneau, Sitka,
Petersburg, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Glenallen, Valdez,
Wrangell, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Seward, and Tok. He
relayed the call in numbers. He reported that the committee
would be hearing public testimony on the governor's version
of the budget and the committee substitute which would not
be released until Friday because of the length of floor
session the prior day. However, the changes in the CS were
reviewed in the finance subcommittee reports in the
previous day. He recessed the meeting until 2:00 p.m.
1:41:48 PM
AT EASE
2:03:37 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster repeated the information he had provided
earlier about call-in numbers. He indicated testimony was
limited to 2 minutes. He anticipated that the committee
substitute (CS) would be provided prior to public testimony
the following day. He relayed that budget reports were
available on the Legislative Finance Division website. He
noted that public testimony was available statewide the
following day from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:09:33 PM
Representative Johnson thanked Co-Chair Foster for the
explanation. She had some concern with taking public
testimony without having the CS in hand and requested an
update of the CS changes when it was received.
Co-Chair Foster would provide a simplified summary of the
changes in the bill. He noted the numbers section of the CS
was under the purview of the finance subcommittees, whereas
the language section encompassed the bigger picture (e.g.,
inflation proofing, Permanent Fund Dividend, school bond
debt, etcetera).
Representative Johnson thanked Co-Chair Foster for putting
the information on the record.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: JUNEAU, SITKA, PETERSBURG, DELTA
JUNCTION, DILLINGHAM, GLENNALLEN, VALDEZ, WRANGELL, HOMER,
KETCHIKAN, KODIAK, SEWARD, TOK
2:13:06 PM
BILL TREMBLEY, SELF, PETERSBURG (via teleconference), spoke
in support of public broadcasting. He was disappointed the
legislature had not been able to override the governor's
vetoes of public broadcasting funding for the past three
years. He reported that stations had seen state funds cut
by close to 50 percent during the former Walker
administration, but the funding level had been kept at a
certain level for stations to work around; however, that
was no longer the case. Some radio stations had been able
to keep afloat during the past several years with COVID
relief funds from the federal government; however, the
federal funding was running out. He shared that some of the
smaller stations had not been able to keep up and may be at
risk of losing federal grants. He highlighted the many
benefits to public radio. He remarked that whenever
elections came around, legislators and the administration
were quick to get on the radio to talk about policies. He
stated it would be nice to have the service supported. He
noted that communities had competing concerns to pay for
such as housing, health, business, and COVID related costs.
He advocated state support for public radio.
2:16:34 PM
SCOTT ARNDT, MEMBER, KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY, KODIAK
(via teleconference), spoke in support of school bond debt
reimbursement. He mentioned the challenges of receiving
only a percentage of a full reimbursement over the past
couple of years. He stated that the legislature had
approved full reimbursement in the current year, but the
community had only been receiving 37 percent since July 1.
He requested full reimbursement for FY 23 going forward. He
asked for reconsideration of additional funding to make up
for the veto the governor imposed in FY 21. He relayed that
Kodiak had been using school maintenance funds to cover the
missing funding. He spoke in support of full funding for
community assistance.
2:19:01 PM
MILLIE RYAN, VICE PRESIDENT, KEY COALITION OF ALASKA,
JUNEAU, relayed that the Key Coalition advocated for
individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities. She thanked the committee for the budget
increment to draw 70 people from the waitlist.
Additionally, she thanked the committee for the intent
language asking the Department of Health and Social
Services to develop a five-year plan in collaboration with
stakeholders to eradicate the waitlist and report annually
to the legislature on progress made. She reported that the
waitlist had been an issue for 30 years, but thanks to
support from the legislature there was an opportunity to
turn the curve.
2:20:15 PM
BRENDA STANFILL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA NETWORK ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT, JUNEAU, provided
information about the organization. She thanked the
committee for supporting the services the organization
provided. She shared that the funding allowed the
organization to perform lifesaving services and prevention
work. She expressed gratitude that the legislature had
covered a $6 million shortfall in funding the previous
year. She shared programs had continued to provide services
while navigating COVID. She detailed new systems had been
set up to allow for different methods of service delivery
during the pandemic. She highlighted the budget included
full funding for the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault (CDVSA) grant line. The organization
appreciated the budget support for prevention, new
prosecutors, troopers, village public safety officers, the
crime lab, and other.
2:22:51 PM
Representative Rasmussen thanked Ms. Stanfill for her
testimony and if the legislature had overlooked any
budgetary needs to help support survivors.
Ms. Stanfill responded that flat funding was never the same
as the funding from the previous year. She highlighted that
with the increase in fuel prices, the increase in the
utility cost for the organizations facilities went up. The
organizations budget primarily included buildings and
people. She shared that the program operated at a lean
level. The organization would appreciate it if the
legislature took the situation into consideration.
2:23:52 PM
DON HABEGER, COALITION COORDINATOR, JUNEAU REENTRY
COALITION, JUNEAU, relayed that the Juneau Reentry
Coalition's mission promoting success after incarceration
to reduce recidivism and increase public safety in Juneau.
The coalition requested additional funds for behavioral
health and treatment and recovery grants including
behavioral health prevention and early intervention grants
to providers and peer support programs. He reported that
reentry had become increasingly challenging in the past
couple of years. He elaborated that no-visitation policies
in Department of Corrections facilities had disrupted pro-
social connections. Additionally, case management pre-
planning through traditional in-person relationships had
ceased and community treatment providers had reduced
capacity. All of the issues presented stressors to
successful reentry. He relayed that the investments were
warranted to enable individuals to successfully reenter
society.
2:26:15 PM
ROBERT PURCELL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, KBBI PUBLIC RADIO,
HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in support of public
radio. He provided information about his background. He
highlighted the importance of public radio during
emergencies and the recovery of emergencies. He explained
that radio provided a much broader service than the
emergency broadcast system. He discussed the importance of
being able to keep a community informed of emergency
situations. He stated that public radio became the avenue
for government agencies and nonprofits during recovery
periods. He pointed out there was not an alternative
structure for the communication. He believed the state
needed to begin contributing to public radio again to
provide the stability and security needed in order to
provide the service to communities and citizens.
2:29:05 PM
DAVE APLIN, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), urged the
reinstatement of state funding for the public radio
network. He depended on public radio in times of
emergencies such as wildfires, tsunami warnings, or
earthquakes. He had followed the weekly COVID broadcast
from local leaders and institutions to understand what was
going on during the pandemic. He stressed that public radio
was a critical component of the states emergency
management system. He also relied on radio to keep him up
to date on events including politics, fisheries, and
tourism. He spoke to the quality of the content. He pointed
out that public radio had been operating without state
funding for the past three years. He believed it was
important to bring the state support back into the picture.
He highlighted that state support leveraged federal funding
and donations by individuals.
2:31:57 PM
TRAVIS MILLION, CEO, COPPER VALLEY ELECTRIC, GLENNALLEN
(via teleconference), stated the legislature had passed the
transportation and infrastructure debt service
reimbursement authorization in the early 2000s. He detailed
that the beneficiaries had primarily been municipalities,
but Copper Valley Electric was included. He reported that
the company had received $351,200 annually as part of the
program to help pay off the debt for a project in Valdez.
He stated that the entire program had been eliminated a
couple of years back. He informed the committee the
companys capital budget remained tight and limited. He
stated that if the funding was available, the company could
find ways to produce additional hydroelectric power for its
members. He elaborated that the projects would increase the
economic production of renewable electricity for the
communities of Copper Basin, Valdez, and surrounding areas.
He requested the reinstatement of the program.
2:33:45 PM
DONNA ADERHOLD, HOMER CITY COUNCIL, HOMER (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for community
assistance, community jails, the municipal harbor grant
program, and public broadcasting. She communicated the
communitys support for community assistance at the
statutory formula level; however, full recapitalization
would require another $28.2 million. She highlighted that
many users of the city jail came from outside the city by
state troopers. The community supported the proposal to
fund community jails with an additional $4 million. The
community also supported full funding for the municipal
harbor grant program. The program helped complete deferred
maintenance from when state harbors were transferred to
municipal ownership. She stated the program was an
effective and equitable mechanism for completing projects,
leveraging a 50 percent local share in funded projects. The
city also supported funding for public broadcasting. She
discussed the important emergency communications provided
by public radio. She spoke to the benefits of public radio.
2:35:52 PM
BECKY MEIERS, GENERAL MANAGER, KCAW RADIO, SITKA (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for public
radio broadcasting. She requested funding for public
broadcasting to allow stations to continue supporting
communities, communications, and emergency infrastructure.
She shared that public radio stations worked hard to
bolster public safety efforts and the way of life in
Alaska. She provided further detail about the benefits of
public radio. She shared that public radio had not received
state funding for the past three years. She asked for a
reinstatement of the funds. She appreciated members'
service.
2:38:03 PM
MICHELLE MAHONEY, SITKANS AGAINST FAMILY VIOLENCE, SITKA
(via teleconference), supported the House budget
subcommittee recommendation to use $3.5 million in general
funds to replace the temporary federal funds for grants
that supported community-based domestic violence and sexual
assault programs statewide, specifically for children and
families experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault.
She discussed services the organization provided to
survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and
stalking. The grants they received from the Department of
Public Safety allowed the organization to provide emergency
shelter, legal advocacy, and other. She thanked the
subcommittee for recognizing the critical nature of the
services.
2:39:37 PM
BOB SIVERTSEN, ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING, KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the House Health and
Social Services subcommittee's recommendation to add
language to increase funding to grants for home and
community based services. He highlighted that states
senior population had increased by 51 percent over the past
ten years. Additionally, the cost of living had increased
by over 20 percent during the same timeframe. He stated
that without additional funding, providers would be asked
to do less with less. He elaborated that the funding would
support services including meals, homemaking, family
caregivers, safety, and more. He referenced the increasing
senior population in the coming years. The funding could
help provide a higher quality of life for seniors.
Vice-Chair Ortiz thanked the testifier for calling in and
advocating for a worthy cause.
2:41:49 PM
JANETTE BOWERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY OF SEWARD, SEWARD (via
teleconference), supported funding for community jails. She
highlighted that although the jails were referred to as
community jails, they were state jails operated for the
state by municipalities. She provided information about the
jail located in Seward that operated under a state
contract. She relayed that the city had been underfunded
for many years. She reported the city was underfunded by 47
percent in 2022. She elaborated that the city had
demonstrated its willingness to be a good partner. The city
understood that if it stopped operating the jail, the
burden would rest entirely on the state. The city
understood the Department of Corrections and Department of
Public Safety would be negatively affected, and the city
did not wish to further burden the departments. However,
the city wanted to be funded and for city residents to no
longer make up for the funding deficit for the state jail
operated by Seward.
2:43:41 PM
PAT BRANSON, MAYOR, CITY OF KODIAK, KODIAK (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the subcommittee's
addition of $4 million to increase funding for the regional
community jail and pretrial services program under the
Department of Corrections. She shared that the city had a
jail services contract with the department since 1960 and
two years back, new pretrial services had been added. The
city's willingness to operate a jail saved the departments
a tremendous amount of money. She elaborated that the costs
to operate the jail had been underfunded by almost $200,000
in FY 21. The jail provided a secure detention facility for
the Kodiak Island road system and offered a regional
solution supporting six surrounding villages. She provided
additional detail about the jail. The city also supported
full funding for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS).
She provided additional detail about the benefits of AMHS.
The city supported community assistance. She personally
advocated in support of public radio.
Co-Chair Merrick indicated she and Representative LeBon had
traveled to Kodiak and appreciated the city's hospitality.
2:46:29 PM
GRANT ECHOHAWK, WISH, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference), spoke
in support for WISHs sexual assault and domestic violence
program and any additional community funding for prevention
addressing intimate partner violence and substance abuse
disorders. He shared that the programs reduced substance
use, crime, and high school dropouts. He furthered that the
program gave the community the opportunity to prosper and
grow by investing as much as possible into the programs. He
spoke to the importance of ensuring safety in communities
and of providing individuals with the support they need. He
thanked members for their service and for offering the
funding options for various nonprofits. He highlighted his
personal support for public radio and AMHS. He stated the
importance of enabling communities to have the ability to
grow economically as a result of the ability to transport
goods and people on AMHS between Southeast communities.
Vice-Chair Ortiz thanked Mr. Echohawk for his testimony.
2:49:48 PM
NOAH WILLIAMS, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of public
radio and AMHS. He had traveled via the AMHS as a student
growing up. He found it distressing to see the ferry system
gutted and ferries in disrepair. He stressed the importance
of seeing the system restored to its full working order.
2:51:09 PM
TOM BRICE, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of the
subcommittee actions for the University of Alaska. He
appreciated the increase and the acceptance of the Board of
Regents numbers. Following three years of extreme
austerity he thought it was time to invest in future
Alaskans. He highlighted the funding for the medical branch
at the University of Anchorage. He also appreciated the
support for mariculture. He thanked the committee for its
work.
Representative LeBon thanked the former representative for
his service to the state.
Representative Wool revealed that when he went to the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Mr. Brice had been the
class president.
2:53:13 PM
SUZANNE VUILLET-SMITH, SECRETARY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
KHNS LYNN CANAL BROADCASTING, HAINES (via teleconference),
spoke in support of public radio. She highlighted that
public radio had not received state funding for three
years. She detailed the specific station represented
Haines, Skagway, and Klukwan. She shared that she had
worked on the ambulance crew for many years. She pointed
out that public radio stations kept residents informed when
climate disasters hit. She noted climate disasters were
coming with increasing frequency. She referenced a
devastating landslide that occurred a little over one year
back. She emphasized that the only thing that had held the
community together had been listening to the mayor and
emergency operations committee daily on the radio. She
informed the committee that the radio staff had slept at
the station to ensure their own safety and to keep things
going. She stressed that without public radio communities
could not communicate with each other to learn about local,
state, and world events. She noted that the price of oil
was skyrocketing, and it was time to support the service.
She noted that pandemic funds had been well used, but the
funding had run out. She thanked the committee.
2:56:30 PM
JESSICA WHITAKER, ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS MANAGER,
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL HEALTH
CONSORTIUM (SEARHC), WRANGELL (via teleconference), spoke
in support of increased funding for the behavioral health
grants program. She relayed that SEARHC was a current
recipient of the comprehensive behavioral health treatment
and recovery grant and depended on the funds to help
support the cost of providing local psychiatric emergency
service response in many of its rural communities in
Southeast. The funding helped support the cost of providing
services to patients who were not eligible or enrolled in
the states funded Medicaid program. She thanked the
committee for its work and time.
2:58:25 PM
TINA RUSSELL, DIRECT SERVICE COORDINATOR, ADVOCATES FOR
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, VALDEZ (via teleconference), spoke in
support of services for victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault. She shared that funding enabled the
organization to provide emergency shelter and additional
services. She thanked members for their time.
2:59:17 PM
TONY JACKSON, SOUTHEAST ALASKA FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING
(SAIL), SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in support of
funding for SAIL. The organization worked to enable
disabled individuals to remain in their homes. He shared
that over the years SAIL had provided his wife with access
to wheelchairs and a stair rail at home to allow her to
live at home longer. He urged members to increase the SAIL
budget and thanked members for listening.
3:01:06 PM
MANDY COLE, AWARE, JUNEAU (via teleconference), urged
support of the addition of $3.5 million in general funds to
replace temporary federal funds for grants supporting AWARE
and other similar agencies. She shared that AWARE had been
challenged to provide services over the past several years
due to COVID. She shared that isolation had caused problems
for survivors. She reported individuals had avoided
shelter, the hospital, and reaching out for help during the
start of the pandemic. Over the past year, the need for
services had sharply increased. She elaborated that AWARE
was overwhelmed by the need for increased behavioral health
services. She shared that increased funding for behavioral
health and treatment grants and the prevention and early
intervention grants would go a long way in ensuring the
organization was able to match treatment resources with
needs. She emphasized that the need for services impacted
clients, program staff, and others. She thanked the
committee.
3:03:21 PM
JOHN SONIN, SELF, JUNEAU, spoke in support of education and
public broadcasting. He stated that public radio was his
primary source of information. He spoke to the importance
of education. He spoke about the importance of ensuring
responsible gun ownership. He thought the influx of federal
funding would be beneficial for the state. He supported
funding for cultural welfare instead of private enterprise.
3:06:50 PM
JAMES KERR, CHIEF OF POLICE, PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT,
PETERSBURG (via teleconference), spoke in support of
funding for community jails. He shared that current funding
from the Department of Corrections was $173,626 per
contract year since 2016. He stressed the amount was only
43 percent of operating costs. He emphasized that since
2016 the Petersburg taxpayers had been forced to pay over
$1 million to operate the states community jail. He
relayed that all bookings into the community jail were
state charges. The deficit had resulted in reduced
staffing, decreased wages, and the inability to hire and
retain qualified personnel. He shared that the Department
of Corrections rural community jail contract had specific
requirements the city had to follow. He explained proper
state funding should be required because community jails
were agents of the state. He spoke in support of increased
funding for community jails and funding public radio. He
noted the two items were valuable public safety resources
in Southeast Alaska.
Co-Chair Foster believed funds for public radio had been
added to the budget.
Representative Wool answered that the subcommittee had
added $1.5 million to the budget for public radio.
3:10:18 PM
MARILYN CASTEEL, SAFE, DILLINGHAM (via teleconference),
shared information about her work with women, men, and
children suffering from domestic violence, sexual assault,
and other types of violence. She emphasized that without
state funding for shelters across Alaska, especially in
rural areas, communities would be in worse shape. She
supported funding to increase the safety and protection for
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and for 24-
hour emergency shelters. She expressed appreciation for
past funding. She thanked the committee for its time.
3:12:02 PM
CINDY SWEAT, GENERAL MANAGER, KSTK PUBLIC BROADCASTING,
WRANGELL (via teleconference), asked for reinstated funding
for public radio. Public radio had not received state
funding for three years, which had put some stations in
danger of shutting down broadcast signals. The stations
receipt of federal grants depended on receipt of annual
non-federal funding support. She shared the station in
Wrangell was required to match $250,000 annually in non-
federal funding in order to qualify for the grant. She
stated that the small community of 2,000 residents had been
challenged with raising the funding and it had not been
able to meet the benchmark every year after losing state
funding. She spoke to the importance of emergency services
and keeping Alaskans informed.
Vice-Chair Ortiz asked what the state annual state funding
had been prior to its elimination several years back. He
asked whether the $1.5 million came close to matching the
states previous appropriations [to public radio].
Ms. Sweat answered that she did not have the number for the
entire state on hand. She reported that the Wrangell
station had received $130,000 at one point. She elaborated
that the amount had first been cut in half and eventually
reduced to zero.
3:14:58 PM
ARIKA PAQUETTE, WOMEN IN SAFE HOMES (WISH), KETCHIKAN (via
teleconference), spoke in support the additional funding
for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
(CDVSA). She shared that WISH served multiple communities
across Southeast Alaska. The funding allowed the
organization support primary prevention programming and to
provide safe shelter and mental health services to children
and youth exposed to domestic violence. The programs
reduced the likelihood that youth exposed to violence would
experience violence over their lifetime. She informed the
committee that funding for CDVSA was incredibly important
in reducing violence in communities along with other
benefits. She thanked the committee.
3:16:47 PM
ELEANOR HEWITT, SELF, KETCHIKAN (via teleconference),
testified in support of the SAIL program. She shared that
she is a caregiver for her husband who is a veteran. The
program allowed them to say in their home. She was very
grateful for the SAIL program. She urged the committee to
include funding in the budget for the program.
Vice-Chair Ortiz shared that Ms. Hewitt was a longstanding
community advocate and participant. He thanked her for
calling in.
3:17:57 PM
JANET ELISOVSKY, SELF, CORDOVA (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the SAIL program. She shared that she is
physically disabled, and the program had enabled her to
remain living in her home instead of assisted living. She
stated that Cordova was often a forgotten community. She
emphasized that the SAIL advocate she dealt with over the
years was wonderful. She stressed that her advocate did not
get paid enough for her hard work. She pointed out the
difficulty of finding help and programs in Cordova. She
implored the legislature to consider giving more to the
program.
3:20:10 PM
CHARLES BARKER, SELF, KODIAK (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the Independent Living Center. He is a
wheelchair confined adult. He shared that the program had
provided many resources to help him get out into the
community. The organization had enabled him to live on his
own in an apartment, which he had never considered to be a
possibility in the past. He listed benefits the program had
provided him. He detailed that the program helped disabled
individuals get into the outdoors. He emphasized how
wonderful the program and its staff were. He thanked the
committee.
3:22:10 PM
DEB POTTER, SELF, SKAGWAY (via teleconference), shared that
she was a new assembly member calling on her own behalf.
She testified in support of public radio. She elaborated
that public radio provided a valuable public safety service
in extreme weather events. She spoke about the importance
of a fully functional Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS)
to Southeast communities. She highlighted it was the second
year in a row where poor weather prevented travel by plane
from Skagway to Juneau. She relayed the community had gone
over a month without ferry service, which meant the
community had to contract private ferries. She stressed it
was necessary to be able to transport people to hospitals
and medical services.
3:24:04 PM
ROBERT BATY, CHIEF OF POLICE, SITKA POLICE DEPARTMENT,
SITKA (via teleconference), spoke in support of a $4
million increase to fully fund community jails. He shared
that the services provided by the municipalities had
historically been based off of a skewed man days formula
instead of the true cost of doing business. He communicated
that if the state had to provide the same services, it
would cost the state more money to build facilities and pay
for costs including upkeep and personnel. He explained that
communities had been supplementing shortfalls of community
jails. For example, Sitka had been operating at a $200,000
deficit since the budget had been cut in 2016. He thanked
the committee for its work. He vocalized support for AMHS,
sexual assault awareness, and public radio.
Co-Chair Foster asked which committee member had chaired
the corrections subcommittee. He thought it was
Representative Edgmon [who was not present]. He asked if
the subcommittee added on top of the $4 million. He thought
the subcommittee had added at least $4 million.
Vice-Chair Ortiz answered it was a consistent number that
had been going from year-to-year and it had not been
increased.
Co-Chair Foster noted he would look into the issue further.
3:27:56 PM
JOYANNA GEISLER, INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER, HOMER (via
teleconference), supported a $1.49 million amendment
offered by Representative Josephson for independent living
centers and senior grant providers. She shared there were
four centers for independent living across Alaska. She
provided office locations for the Independent Living
Center. She detailed that the centers provided services to
people and families experiencing disabilities. She shared
that the previous year, the organization had provided
services to approximately 715 people in the gulf coast
region. The services varied based on the particular needs
of the client. She provided several examples of clients to
illustrate how different the various services were. She
shared that the organization had worked with 60 different
veterans the previous year in collaboration with the
Veterans Administration, enabling the individuals to remain
at home and out of nursing homes. She asked for support for
the increment. She thanked the committee for its time.
3:31:08 PM
ELLEN FRANKENSTEIN, ARTCHANGE INC., SITKA (via
teleconference), spoke in support of public broadcasting.
She shared detail about her work in public broadcasting.
She highlighted that Alaskans relied on public radio in a
unique way. She asked for resources to support
communications and emergency infrastructure needs for
public radio. She reported that the station worked hard to
support public safety and the Alaskan way of life. She
pointed out that oil prices were up, and money was
available. She implored the committee to support rural
Alaskans by reinstating state support for public
broadcasting. She supported funding for sexual assault
services and AMHS. She thanked the committee.
3:33:01 PM
SUZI TOWNSLEY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND LEAD ADVOCATE, SEWARD
SAFE HARBOR, SEWARD (via teleconference), spoke in support
of funding for sexual assault and domestic violence
programs. She listed communities served by the organization
in the Seward region. She highlighted that the operating
budget included additional funding to support multiple
communities statewide with domestic violence and sexual
assault work. She shared that program participants
struggled with finding affordable housing. The organization
looked forward to continuing to work in collaboration with
the state and sister organizations to continue removing the
many barriers facing survivors of domestic violence and
sexual assault. She thanked the committee for its
recognition of the importance of stable funding for the
organization and related programs.
3:34:42 PM
PENNY LAMPLE, KODIAK WOMEN'S RESOURCE CRISIS CENTER, KODIAK
(via teleconference), supported funding for domestic
violence and sexual assault. She detailed that the center
had 25 beds to shelter women and children and people
directly impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault.
The center provided outreach and prevention throughout
Kodiak and its six villages. She provided information on
services provided. She believed the services were extremely
important for the community and its residents. She thanked
the committee for working to keep the center funded.
Co-Chair Foster there were currently no additional
testifiers. He shared that the committee would come back at
3:55 p.m.
3:37:40 PM
AT EASE
3:58:44 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Foster noted there were no additional testifiers
in the room or online.
HB 281 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
HB 282 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the following day.
ADJOURNMENT
4:00:37 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 281 HF Public Testimony 03.03.22_redacted.pdf |
HFIN 3/3/2022 1:30:00 PM |
HB 281 |