Legislature(2015 - 2016)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/31/2015 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB72 || HB73 | |
| Public Testimony: Anchorage | |
| Public Testimony: Glennallen, Seward, Homer | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 31, 2015
9:08 a.m.
9:08:57 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Kelly called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:08 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Pete Kelly, Co-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche, Vice-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Mike Dunleavy
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Vernon Carlson, Board Chair, Denali Borough School
District, Denali Borough; Maureen Moore, Sprout Family
Services, Homer; Jackie Eisenberg, Sprout Family Services,
Homer.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Gideon Garcia, Chief Operating Officer, CIRI Alaska
Tourism, Anchorage; Deborah Hansen, Pikes Waterfront Large,
Anchorage; Douglas Staats, Commander, Alaska Civil Air
Patrol, Anchorage; Catherine Coward, Self, Anchorage;
Candice McDonald, Owner, Salmon Berry Tours, Anchorage;
Alyse Galvin, Self, Anchorage; Deena Mitchell, Self,
Anchorage; Juliana Wayman, Best Beginnings, Anchorage; Erin
Harrington, Former Board Member, Kodiak Public Broadcasting
Corporation, Anchorage/Kodiak; Bill Romberg, Alaska
Mountain Rescue Group, Anchorage; Stacey Lucason, UAA
Student Government, Anchorage; Abbe Hensley, Deputy
Director, Best Beginnings, Anchorage; Abigail Dunning
Newbury, Board of Directors, Bean's Café, Eagle River;
Randy Olson, Program Manager, Children's Lunchbox Program,
Bean's Café, Anchorage; Scott Stender, Manager, Bean's
Café, Anchorage; Warren Olson, Member, Citizens Advisory
Commission on Federal Areas, Anchorage; Pamela Kelley,
Education Director, Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska,
Anchorage; Melissa Emmel, Deputy Director, Abused Women's
Aid in Crisis (AWAIC), Anchorage; Richard Irwin, Chair,
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Anchorage;
Kaira Shaw, Self, Wasilla; Andy Holleman, President,
Anchorage Education Association, Anchorage; Sam Snyder,
Member, Susitna River Coalition, Anchorage; Ron Holstron,
Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and
Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Anchorage; Mary Jo Torgeson,
Director, Anchorage Library; Anchorage; Emily Cross, Board
Member, KNBA Radio; Anchorage; Robin Smith, Self,
Anchorage; Jessica Cler, Alaska Public Affairs Manager,
Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest, Anchorage; Laura
Cisnero, Project Manager, Best Beginnings; Coordinator,
Imagination Library, Eagle River; Alex Scivka, Self,
Anchorage; Chelsie Morrson-Heath, Community Educator,
Standing Together Against Rape, Anchorage; Ray Metcalfe,
Former Alaska State Legislator, Anchorage; Brett Carlson,
Self, Coldfoot; Kristin Ramstad, Director, Head Start,
Rural Cap, Anchorage; Dirk Shumaker, Executive Director,
Kids' Corp. Inc., Anchorage; Deborah Williams, Executive
Director, Anchorage Youth Development Coalition, Anchorage;
Kaylee Jenkins, Self, Anchorage; Alan LeMaster, Alaska
Travel Industry Association (ATIA), Gakona; Stephanie
Littleton, Self, Glennallen; Milli Martin, Self, Homer;
Rajil Christianson, Self, Homer; Mako Haggerty, Self,
Homer; Dave Lewis, Self, Homer; Anna Meredith, Self, Homer;
Sherry Stead, Self, Homer; Shenandoah Lush, High School
Student, Homer; Lillian Johnson, High School Student,
Homer; Boyd Ables, Self, Glennallen; Mary Odden, Self,
Celchina; Karen Shemet, Self, Homer; Lisa "Red" Asselin,
Early Childhood Coalition, Homer; Megan Murphy, Homer,
Self; Alisa Mooy, Parent, Homer; Jim Stearns, Parent,
Homer; Jill Lush, Sprout Family Services, Homer; Rachel
Romberg, Prevention and Outreach Coordinator, South
Peninsula Haven House, Homer; Tara Schmidt, South Peninsula
Haven House, Homer; Ingrid Harrald, South Peninsula Haven
House, Homer.
SUMMARY
CSHB 72(FIN)
APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
CSHB 72(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
CSHB 73(FIN)
APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
CSHB 73(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for
further consideration.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY:
ANCHORAGE
GLENNALLEN, SEWARD, HOMER
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 72(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
loan program expenses of state government and for
certain programs and capitalizing funds; and providing
for an effective date."
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(FIN)
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; and providing for
an effective date."
9:09:09 AM
Co-Chair Kelly discussed that the committee would hear
public testimony on CSHB 72(FIN) and CSHB 73(FIN).
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: ANCHORAGE
9:10:06 AM
GIDEON GARCIA, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CIRI ALASKA
TOURISM, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in
support of the restoration of $3 million for the tourism
marketing budget. He detailed that CIRI Alaska Tourism
operated various tour companies and lodges in Alaska; the
company employed close to 500 employees during its peak
season. The company worked closely with other visitor
industry partners such as the Alaska Railroad Corporation.
He discussed that the visitor industry had seen growth, but
competition continued to be strong worldwide. He stressed
the need to ensure that Alaska was a viable and welcoming
destination. He touched on the return on investment
provided to CIRI shareholders; the company contributed to
communities through sales, property, bed taxes, and port
fees. He stressed that tourism marketing provided a
positive return on investment.
9:12:23 AM
DEBORAH HANSEN, PIKES WATERFRONT LARGE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for
tourism marketing. She shared a recent experience in
Coldfoot, Alaska related to tourism; many of the visitors
were from other countries. She explained that the
experience was an example of how tourism funding brought
people and money to the state. She stressed that the
tourism industry provided employment. She asked the
committee to adopt the House version of the proposed $11.9
million increment for tourism; the amount represented a cut
of 40 percent.
9:14:23 AM
DOUGLAS STAATS, COMMANDER, ALASKA CIVIL AIR PATROL,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke against a reduction
of $100,000 for the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in the
Department of Public Safety budget. He relayed that CAP had
saved seven lives in the past year on search and rescue
missions. He detailed that CAP operated various aircrafts
in multiple areas; it had 749 volunteer members statewide.
The volunteers had contributed time with an estimated value
of $2.6 million in the past year. Funding had been static
since 2008, which represented a reduction of 9 percent. He
stressed that CAP could not absorb the cut and it would
mean current functions could not be maintained. He relayed
that the cut would likely mean the closure of one or more
units, which would reduce search and rescue capabilities.
9:16:27 AM
CATHERINE COWARD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of increased funding for public schools. She
related that she was active in working for increased school
funding the previous year. She was dismayed at the need to
fight to keep funding that was promised the prior year. She
understood that the state was facing difficulty
financially, but balancing the budget on the backs of
children was immoral and unsustainable. She stressed that
the state's communities and economy would not effectively
grow if graduation rates decreased and incarceration rates
increased. She noted that Alaska would lose young adults
seeking better education opportunities for their children
in other states. She emphasized that public education
funding was a core need for Alaska. She believed it was
time to find additional revenue elsewhere if the state
could not find funds for education.
9:18:19 AM
CANDICE MCDONALD, OWNER, SALMON BERRY TOURS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the restoration of $3
million increment for tourism marketing. She provided
information about her business that was growing at an
average of 32 percent annually. She detailed that the
company's growth was due largely to the state's tourism
marketing efforts. She stated that the focus on marketing
had enabled her company to provide year-round jobs with
benefits.
9:20:19 AM
ALYSE GALVIN, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in favor of fully funding education. She reasoned that the
current session was the beginning of an extended process
where Alaskans were coming to grips with the fiscal crisis
facing the state. She discussed that the problem could not
be solved with budget cuts alone. She believed the state
and society had an obligation to provide a quality
education to all children. She opined that it was time for
strength, courage, and vision. She stressed that it was
extremely short-sighted to cut the voluntary Pre-K and
Parents as Teachers funding. She spoke in support of
reinstating funds for Best Beginnings. She encouraged the
committee to keep the promise made by the legislature the
previous year by restoring the education funds.
9:22:37 AM
DEENA MITCHELL, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke
in support of funding education. She believed public
schools were the foundation of the country's democracy. She
asked the committee to stand by the three-year schedule of
funding it provided to school districts statewide in HB 278
the prior year. She recalled watching what past cuts had
done to the state's education system. She was dismayed that
the system was back where it had started prior to the
passage of HB 278. She reminded the committee that
legislators had acknowledged that a promise is a promise
and that in spite of low oil prices, education was a top
priority and would continue to be funded per HB 278.
9:24:43 AM
JULIANA WAYMAN, BEST BEGINNINGS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of reinstating funds for
Best Beginnings. She testified in favor of restoring funds
for Imagination Library. The programs currently served
close to 24,000 children statewide including 10,000 in
Anchorage of which 50 percent were in low income
neighborhoods. She stated that with local chapters the
program had the ability to reach 85 percent of the state's
children. She stated that investment in early learning had
been shown to be a good investment.
9:25:57 AM
ERIN HARRINGTON, FORMER BOARD MEMBER, KODIAK PUBLIC
BROADCASTING CORPORATION, ANCHORAGE/KODIAK (via
teleconference), urged the committee to restore funding for
public broadcasting. She recognized the difficult budget
situation. She asked the legislature to let public media be
partners in a rational move towards smaller state
government. She believed the public media system needed
time to adapt to budgetary changes. She stressed that 100
percent cuts overnight would have cascading impacts on
rural and urban locations that would be difficult to absorb
well. She opined that publicly supported media was an
invaluable service to the state's citizenry and to informed
decision making in the state.
9:28:12 AM
BILL ROMBERG, ALASKA MOUNTAIN RESCUE GROUP, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of funding for the Alaska
State Trooper request for search and rescue within the
Department of Public Safety. He asked for full funding for
the department's aircraft section including a $500,000
request for maintaining the helicopter assets. Members
recognized that the state was facing revenue shortfalls;
however, they were concerned that risks to search and
rescue volunteers and troopers would increase if support
was not provided. He discussed pilot training and provided
an example of a recent rescue mission that highlighted the
need for helicopter assets and a robust training program.
9:31:22 AM
STACEY LUCASON, UAA STUDENT GOVERNMENT, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in favor of restoring funding for
the University of Alaska. She appreciated that a Senate
Finance Budget subcommittee had reduced the cut to $20
million. She read from a variety of student comments
regarding budget cuts. She shared that a cut in funding
encouraged students to finish their education out of state.
She relayed information from a student who could not
complete their prerequisites because funding cuts had
limited courses. She stressed that Alaska could not support
losing its talent in order to sustain its economic future.
She communicated that in the absence of oil cutting
education was not the way forward.
9:33:36 AM
ABBE HENSLEY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, BEST BEGINNINGS, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), spoke in support of reinstating funds
for Best Beginnings and the Imagination Library. She shared
that 23,603 children under five years of age had received a
high-quality, age appropriate book through the program in
the past month. She emphasized that many Alaskans had
worked hard to achieve the remarkable milestone; currently
43 percent of Alaska children under the age of five were
receiving books at home. She stated that a cost of $30 per
year per child was a bargain. She discussed the critical
importance of early literacy in a child's education. She
detailed that children who are read to at home develop a
stronger vocabulary, better language ability, and other.
Additionally, kindergarten assessment scores for language
and literacy had increased by 11 percent from 2009 to 2013.
She shared additional statistics about the benefits of the
program.
9:36:40 AM
ABIGAIL DUNNING NEWBURY, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BEAN'S CAFÉ,
EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference), spoke in favor of
reinstating funds for the human services community matching
grant to the House version of the bill. Bean's Café and the
Children's Lunchbox program provided basic human services
to the poorest people in Anchorage. She stated that the
more the economy suffered from falling oil prices and from
the deficit facing the state, the more people would need
the services. She related that the program provided hot
meals and warm shelter year-round for hungry and homeless
people. Children's Lunchbox provided weekend meals for
children in Title 1 schools. She detailed that it was
estimated that every human services community matching
grant $1.00 ultimately leveraged to provide approximately
$9.00 to the community.
9:38:54 AM
RANDY OLSON, PROGRAM MANAGER, CHILDREN'S LUNCHBOX PROGRAM,
BEAN'S CAFÉ, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in favor
of reinstating full funding for the human services
community matching grant to the level passed by the House.
She shared that the Children's Lunchbox program was
currently offered in seven Title 1 schools in Anchorage;
the budget reduction would mean the loss of one school (416
children). She stressed that if children were worried about
where their next meal was coming from they could not focus
on anything else including education. She implored the
committee to reconsider the cuts to the human services
matching grant.
9:40:20 AM
SCOTT STENDER, MANAGER, BEAN'S CAFÉ, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), testified in support of the human services
community matching grant for Bean's Café. He stated that a
$64,000 gap did not sound like a substantial amount of
money, but it was significant to the Bean's Café clients.
He stated that the community value was over $500,000. He
did not know where the people would go. The program
provided clients with mail, transportation, and family
stabilizing services. He asserted that every dollar
provided to the program meant less money was spent on
emergency response and other. He stressed that the money
was critical to hundreds of people.
9:42:28 AM
WARREN OLSON, MEMBER, CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMISSION ON
FEDERAL AREAS, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), believed the
current federal administration would have an influence on
Alaska in the upcoming two years. He discussed the
interpretation and implementation of the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). He shared that
the organization was an advantage to Alaska. He asked for
future funding.
9:44:43 AM
PAMELA KELLEY, EDUCATION DIRECTOR, ALZHEIMER'S RESOURCE OF
ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged the committee
to support the human services community matching grant and
to hold the reduction at the 20 percent mark passed by the
House. She shared that the agency was a recipient of grant
funding; the matching grants partially funded two programs
serving individuals Fairbanks. She detailed that the
agency's programs resulted in measurable improvement in the
ability for a family caregiver to continue providing care
to a family member. She stressed that family caregivers
carried more than 75 percent of the care burden that
Alzheimer's and related dementias represented in Alaska.
The program represented savings to the state through
Medicaid.
9:46:55 AM
MELISSA EMMEL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, ABUSED WOMEN'S AID IN
CRISIS (AWAIC), ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged the
committee to reinstate funds for domestic violence and
sexual assault prevention programs. She detailed that
primary prevention stopped violence before it occurred. She
shared that many women in her life had personally
experienced violence. She was sick and tired of watching
people she loved get hurt. She was proud to be an Alaskan,
but she was not proud that half the women in Anchorage
would experience domestic or sexual violence in their
lifetime. She referred to the staggering costs associated
with violence. She stressed the importance of investing in
evidence-based strategies. She highlighted the Green Dot
intervention model. She reiterated her request for
reinstatement of the funding for prevention programs.
9:51:14 AM
RICHARD IRWIN, CHAIR, COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND
SEXUAL ASSAULT, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged the
committee to reinstate $1.5 million in the Department of
Public Safety, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault (CDVSA) budget. He spoke to the devastating
statistics related to domestic violence and sexual assault
in Alaska. He spoke to the necessity of cultural change. He
stressed the importance of a primary focus on prevention.
He believed that without prevention the same issues would
need to be managed repeatedly. He stated that a change in
cultural norms would not occur without a focus on
prevention. He opined that the state should stop building
more prisons and work on preventing people from being
incarcerated. He stated that "it is much easier to build a
boy, than repair a man."
9:55:17 AM
KAIRA SHAW, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), urged the
committee to reinstate funds for domestic violence and
sexual assault prevention programs. She related her
personal experience with domestic violence and a lack of
safety for her family. She stressed that if the assaults
could have been prevented that the past two years of her
life would not be in shambles. She discussed the
heartbreaking impact of the violence on herself and her
teenage son. She passionately implored the committee to
fund violence prevention programs. She stressed that her
life would never be the same as a result of the assault.
9:58:09 AM
ANDY HOLLEMAN, PRESIDENT, ANCHORAGE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in support of
education funding. He spoke to the problems caused by
uncertainty in funding. He observed that education funding
was always the last thing to be voted on during legislative
sessions even as local school budgets were being formed. He
was not asking for an increase in the current budget, but
that the committee keep the legislature's promise from the
previous year that would provide stability and help
districts plan for the future.
10:00:05 AM
SAM SNYDER, MEMBER, SUSITNA RIVER COALITION, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke against funding for the Susitna
River Dam. He stressed that the Alaska Energy Authority
(AEA) was sitting on $33.5 million to build a project that
was bad for the state's fish and communities and failed to
solve energy needs. He asserted that the project should be
shut down and the funds should be reappropriated. He stated
that the funds could be used to address domestic violence
for 30 years, the education budget could be backfilled to
keep teachers in the classroom, multiple years of oil spill
response, the Chinook salmon recovery program, etc. He
referred to polling showing that over 65 percent of
Alaskans opposed the project. He spoke to the projected
cost of the project of $5.65 billion; however, by the time
it was completed it could cost over $10 billion. He urged
the committee to take the money from AEA for
reappropriation to more essential state priorities.
10:02:22 AM
RON HOLSTRON, SCREEN ACTORS GUILD-AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS (SAG-AFTRA), ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in opposition to SB 39, which would
eliminate the film credit program. He stated that the bill
would eliminate the motion picture industry in Alaska. He
relayed that other states and countries had begun
developing film incentive programs at approximately the
same time as Alaska. He shared that other states had
immediately begun building infrastructure associated with
the industry, but Alaska had not. He spoke about the lack
of major motion pictures being filmed in Alaska in the
previous three years. He believed alternatives were needed
to stimulate Alaska's economy. He opined that the film
industry was important and could help bring money to the
state.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the public testimony for SB
39 had been opened and closed previously. She relayed that
any additional comments could be sent in written form to
the Senate Finance Committee.
10:05:36 AM
VERNON CARLSON, BOARD CHAIR, DENALI BOROUGH SCHOOL
DISTRICT, DENALI BOROUGH, spoke in favor of education
funding and funding for Alaska Native Science and
Engineering Program (ANSEP). He thanked the committee for
hearing public testimony. He relayed that funds from the
education bill that passed the prior year meant $156,000 in
2016 and $96,000 in 2017; the district had hired its
guidance counselor and curriculum director back after
receiving the funds. He detailed that the district would
have to eliminate the positions if the funds were lost. He
stressed that the Denali Borough did not have any "fluff"
in its school budget; it did not have food programs,
swimming pools, tracks, etc. He provided a story about a
student and ANSEP. He relayed that ANSEP was using a
significant amount of private funding. He spoke to the
program's success.
10:08:44 AM
MARY JO TORGESON, DIRECTOR, ANCHORAGE LIBRARY; ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in favor of the Online with
Libraries (OWL) program. She also spoke in support of
reinstating funds for Best Beginnings. She shared that Live
Homework Help was a tutoring program that had started
approximately five years earlier; there were currently
34,000 users. She requested funding for OWL at the House
level. She discussed the need for broadband service to
access the program. She related that without the OWL
program, village libraries would not have good access to
computers. She urged the committee to fund OWL at $772,000
and Live Homework Help at $138,000. She spoke in support of
full funding for Pre-K programs.
10:11:30 AM
EMILY CROSS, BOARD MEMBER, KNBA RADIO; ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), urged the committee to restore funding for
public broadcasting. She stressed that a 100 percent cut to
public broadcasting was too excessive; the loss of $135,000
in grants received by KNBA would significantly impact the
services provided by the station. She detailed that the
cuts would likely mean workforce reduction and the loss of
news, public affairs, and music programming. The station
was the producer of Native America Calling and National
Native News. She emphasized that a loss of public radio
would cause a serious disconnect for rural communities. She
encouraged committee members to visit rural Alaska.
10:13:18 AM
ROBIN SMITH, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for education. She understood that the
state was facing a deficit and that cuts needed to be made;
however, the reduction in oil prices was already negatively
impacting the state's economy. She implored the committee
to take care when making cuts to prevent the state from
going into a recession. She urged the committee to adopt
Governor Walker's more moderate plan to reduce the budget
over several years to help the economy to adapt. She shared
that she was not a parent, but felt strongly that education
and children's success at school was critical to Alaska's
success. She elaborated that children who succeeded did not
end up on Medicaid, in prison, or taxing governmental
services. She spoke in support of Best Beginnings and other
Pre-K programs.
10:15:34 AM
JESSICA CLER, ALASKA PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER, PLANNED
PARENTHOOD VOTES NORTHWEST, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in favor of restoring $360,000 that had been removed
from the budget the previous year for the Chlamydia
Campaign. She detailed that in 2013 Alaska had ranked
number 1 in rates of chlamydia infection; the rate was
nearly double the national average. She stressed that when
left untreated the disease could lead to infertility,
ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. She encouraged
adding funding for accessible sexually transmitted
infection testing and treatment; it would only require
$50,000 to keep a portion of the program running.
Additionally she requested a restoration of $1.5 million
for statewide domestic violence and sexual assault
prevention programs. She emphasized that the state's public
health goals would never be reached until the prevalence of
relationship abuse was greatly reduced.
10:17:50 AM
LAURA CISNERO, PROJECT MANAGER, BEST BEGINNINGS;
COORDINATOR, IMAGINATION LIBRARY, EAGLE RIVER (via
teleconference), spoke in support of reinstating funds for
Best Beginnings and the Imagination Library. She related
that the previous day, her office had to send an email out
to thousands of parents notifying them that online
enrollment had to be shutdown given fiscal difficulties.
She relayed that the response from the public had been
immediate. She encouraged the committee to reinstate some
of the funding to help the program become more self-
sustaining in the following year.
10:19:19 AM
ALEX SCIVKA, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), urged
the committee to restore funding for public broadcasting.
He understood that reductions should be expected, but
believed that the proposed elimination of funding was
steep. He recalled public media programming from his
childhood including Sesame Street. He asked the committee
to consider restoring funding to the level proposed by the
House.
10:20:06 AM
CHELSIE MORRSON-HEATH, COMMUNITY EDUCATOR, STANDING
TOGETHER AGAINST RAPE, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
urged the committee to reinstate funds for domestic
violence and sexual assault prevention programs. She had
witnessed Alaska's rates of violence firsthand. She
supported evidence-based prevention programming including
Green Dot. She implored the committee to advocate and act
as voices against violence in the state. She reasoned that
"if we're only focused on reaction, we'll always be
reacting." She stressed the importance of thinking about
individuals impacted by violence every day. She emphasized
that the high rates of violence were not inevitable.
10:22:18 AM
RAY METCALFE, FORMER ALASKA STATE LEGISLATOR, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), recalled his former role as chair of
the state affairs committee. He shared that the legislature
had set up a management system for the Alaska Permanent
Fund; the system had been created with the expectation that
the state would someday need to rely on the fund to take
over when oil ran dry. He believed it was time to consider
converting the Permanent Fund to an endowment fund by
contributing all future revenues produced by the fund and
by the sale of resources. He believed there should be a
fixed percent per year and that a dividend should be
included in the process. He had historically pushed back
against spending the fund earnings. He was willing to
change his position if the proper proposal was put forth.
He stated that an 8 percent return could easily be achieved
on dedicated funds, which would provide the state with a
$5.5 billion budget in the current year.
10:24:44 AM
BRETT CARLSON, SELF, COLDFOOT (via teleconference), spoke
in favor of funding for tourism marketing. He discussed the
goal for Alaska's travel resource was developed to the
maximum benefit of Alaskans and that the development
occurred in a way where Alaskan-owned businesses
(particularly in rural areas) could share in the benefits.
He stated that from a small business perspective, nothing
was more important to development of the industry than the
tourism marketing program. He stated that the tourism
marketing program was to the development of Alaska's travel
resource what a gasline was to the monetization of gas on
the North Slope. He understood the need to develop
sustainable state budgets and to stabilize the private
sector economy as government funding began to be withdrawn.
He relayed that the travel industry brought $2 billion into
the state and created over 40,000 jobs.
10:27:21 AM
KRISTIN RAMSTAD, DIRECTOR, HEAD START, RURAL CAP, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), spoke in support of reinstating funds
for Best Beginnings. She thanked a Senate Finance
subcommittee for adding an unallocated increment of
$320,000 for Pre-K grants, Parents as Teachers, or Best
Beginnings. She was fully aware of the need to balance the
state budget. She urged the committee to make smart choices
as the state entered the fiscal situation. She stated that
high quality early childhood education was an extremely
wise investment. She detailed that early childhood
education helped prepare young children to succeed in
school and to become better citizens. She spoke to the
favorable outcomes of access.
10:29:50 AM
DIRK SHUMAKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KIDS' CORP. INC.,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in favor of
restoring funds for the Parents as Teachers and Best
Beginnings programs. He discussed how the programs helped
parents to be more confident parents and to better
understand and meet their child's developmental needs. He
shared additional benefits of the programs. He stated that
eliminating the programs that provided the Imagination
Library and early learning coalitions throughout the state
would greatly weaken Alaska's fragile early learning
systems. He asked the Senate to keep young children as the
state's highest priority.
10:31:24 AM
DEBORAH WILLIAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANCHORAGE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT COALITION, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
urged the committee to reinstate funds for domestic
violence and sexual assault prevention programs. She
emphasized the effectiveness of prevention. She stated that
full funding saved the state money. She stressed the
importance of funding for early learning and childhood
development. She urged the committee to review her written
testimony. She implored the committee to fund K-12
education.
10:34:05 AM
KAYLEE JENKINS, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
testified in support of the Imagination Library. She
relayed that the program had been a blessing. She recalled
that her mother had focused on reading to her at an early
age. She stressed the importance of early education. She
encouraged the committee to reinstate funding.
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: GLENNALLEN, SEWARD, HOMER
10:35:46 AM
MAUREEN MOORE, SPROUT FAMILY SERVICES, HOMER, spoke in
support of early childhood education. She asked the
committee members to consider their life experiences when
thinking about the budget. She asked committee members to
think about Alaska their family and to consider what they
would do for their children. She emphasized that children
were the most important resource in the state. She stressed
that it was not possible to get the first five years of a
child's life back. She stressed the importance of providing
education to children.
10:38:38 AM
JACKIE EISENBERG, SPROUT FAMILY SERVICES, HOMER, testified
in favor of funding for early childhood programs. She
worked with families that were at risk of having their
children removed from the home. She shared that she had
been a victim of domestic violence and had been a mother
with high risk factors. She stressed that various providers
had offered her extra help and support. She relayed that
families she was working with were strong and resilient,
but had many things they were facing inter-generationally.
She stated that the little help that could be provided by
home visiting was very important. She stated that the state
could invest in changing the trajectory early on instead of
paying for it later.
10:41:07 AM
ALAN LEMASTER, ALASKA TRAVEL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (ATIA),
GAKONA (via teleconference), testified in support of
increased funding to the ATIA marketing budget. He owned
one of the small businesses in rural Alaska. He relayed
that the businesses in rural Alaska were made up of 40,000
employees and accounted for the state's second largest
industry. He spoke against a proposed reduction of 40
percent to the tourism budget. He believed 40 percent
dramatically exceeded ATIA's fair share. He stressed that
the cut could be catastrophic. He relayed that the industry
was willing to do its part to make cuts. He stated that the
industry contributed directly to the marketing plans with a
contribution of $2.7 million. He stated that Alaska had one
of the most effective marketing programs worldwide. The
industry continued to be committed to making its
contribution in the future. The reduction by the
legislature from $16 million down to $6.2 million with a
caveat of increasing funds from businesses was not
realistic. He asked the committee to add $1.7 million to
the $6.2 million increment. He stated that the businesses
depended on the legislature and its decision. He urged the
committee to do all it could to support the 40,000
individuals and businesses.
10:43:48 AM
STEPHANIE LITTLETON, SELF, GLENNALLEN (via teleconference),
spoke against cuts to the public broadcasting system. The
local station provided the community with news, weather,
emergency broadcasting, and other. She communicated that
the community had been about to upgrade its signal in order
to carry 360 North and Gavel to Gavel, but the cut would
prevent the upgrade. She believed other areas had more
options for connectivity. She stated that many people could
not afford to get a satellite service or internet. She
hoped the committee would help her community.
10:44:50 AM
MILLI MARTIN, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in opposition to cuts to public broadcasting. She relayed
that in 35 years she had witnessed five volcanic eruptions
and several devastating fires; she appreciated the warnings
by public radio. She stressed that public radio provided
notification about emergencies, news, public safety, and
other. She did not believe commercial radio stations could
afford to devote the time that public radio could provide.
She believed the legislature had a responsibility to
provide public safety. She urged the committee to
reconsider the cut.
10:46:39 AM
RAJIL CHRISTIANSON, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke
against the 100 percent cut to public broadcasting. She
acknowledged the financial difficulties currently facing
the state; however, the Kenai Peninsula relied on public
radio for emergency service notification, information,
local government meetings, and other. She stressed that
public radio empowered her to be an informed voter. She
stressed that public radio should not be cut.
10:48:21 AM
MAKO HAGGERTY, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of public broadcasting and the Homer Legislative
Information Office. He relied on the public radio station
and the LIO for remaining connected to the rest of the
state. He was aware of the financial difficulties facing
Alaska. He emphasized that rural communities were just as
integral to the state as the larger communities. He spoke
to the safety alerts, weather, news, and other provided by
public radio. He stressed that the radio was a key
component for rural communities in the state.
10:50:24 AM
DAVE LEWIS, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of public radio. He asserted that it was not
necessary to clear cut the state's budget. He stressed that
destroying programs was not beneficial for the average
Alaskan. He stated that other sources of income needed to
be considered including a statewide income tax. He believed
oil and tax credits needed to be looked at and that
corporate and mining taxes should be increased. He stated
that cuts needed to be equal across the board.
10:51:36 AM
ANNA MEREDITH, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of prevention programming. She worked to reduce
violence in the community by educating youth. She mentioned
various prevention programs. She shared that the
programming models were effective and provided positive
youth and adult and peer-to-peer interactions. She stated
that the programs helped teens in making choices that
supported their resilience. She wanted to live in a
community where children knew they were supported by adults
in making healthy and safe choices. The programs had
provided a place for community members to connect after a
sexual assault case had occurred several years earlier. She
communicated that prevention work was good for business.
10:53:49 AM
SHERRY STEAD, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of prevention programs. She stressed that Alaska
had the highest rate of violence in the nation. She
stressed that a $1.5 million cut to prevention programs
would be spent on hospital costs, police costs, court
cases, and domestic shelters. She stressed that the state's
current rate of violence was hindering its communities and
families. She communicated that the psychological cost of
violence lasted a lifetime. She stated that education was
the only way violence had ever been reduced. The local
Girls on the Run and Coaching Boys into Men programs were
successful.
10:55:35 AM
SHENANDOAH LUSH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, HOMER (via
teleconference), spoke in support of prevention funding.
She discussed domestic violence, teen homelessness,
substance abuse, and other that existed in the community.
She mentioned various prevention programs including Green
Dot, Girls on the Run, Stand up Speak up, and Lead on that
had been successful. She stated that cutting the funding
would be harmful and would reduce progress. She stressed
that lacerating funding would not benefit the community.
10:57:27 AM
LILLIAN JOHNSON, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, HOMER (via
teleconference), testified in support of prevention
funding. She shared that she had seen the entire community
be deeply affected by violence, suicide, and sexual
assault; however, she had also been a part of helping Homer
to bounce back from times of adversity. She discussed
community projects that had changed her life for the
better. She discussed that Green Dot had been proven to
reduce sexual violence by 50 percent in high schools. She
stated that the response to the program was overwhelmingly
positive. She emphasized that without Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) funds Green Dot would
not be provided.
11:00:24 AM
BOYD ABLES, SELF, GLENNALLEN (via teleconference), spoke in
support of public broadcasting. He appreciated the
legislature's work. He stressed that the service had made a
significant difference in his life and in the lives of
others. He was willing to pay his share of taxes if they
were needed. He recognized that the legislature had an
impossible job, but he hoped public broadcasting would be
funded.
11:02:38 AM
MARY ODDEN, SELF, CELCHINA (via teleconference), spoke in
support of public broadcasting and the Glennallen
Legislative Information Office. She stated that public
broadcasting was the only access to state news, weather,
local jobs, connectivity to the world, and other. She
shared that topics on Alaska science, education, and social
concerns were addressed daily in programming. She stressed
that her family would not have the ability to live in the
area while maintaining their responsibility as citizens to
the state without public radio. She stated that the Alaska
Public Radio Network was a statewide organization that
brought issues from rural and urban areas together in a
professional and objective venue. She stated that cutting
funding to public broadcasting cut the head and hands off
the body politic; the message was that rural areas did not
need to know what was going on in the rest of the state.
She strongly believed the cuts were unwise.
11:05:13 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the meeting would adjourn
shortly due to Senate Floor Session. Vice-Chair Micciche
wondered if there was another time to fit the testifiers
in. Co-Chair MacKinnon replied that testifiers could call
in at 3:00 p.m. if they did not have time to speak during
the current meeting.
KAREN SHEMET, SELF, HOMER (via teleconference), testified
in support early childhood education, youth programs,
prevention, and public radio.
11:06:38 AM
LISA "RED" ASSELIN, EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION, HOMER (via
teleconference), requested the restoration of partial
funding to Best Beginnings and Parents as Teachers.
11:06:53 AM
MEGAN MURPHY, HOMER, SELF (via teleconference), testified
in favor of early childhood funding, public radio, and
primary prevention.
11:07:15 AM
ALISA MOOY, PARENT, HOMER (via teleconference), requested
the reinstatement of $1.5 million in CDVSA prevention
funds. Additionally, she asked for the restoration of
public radio funding.
11:07:26 AM
JIM STEARNS, PARENT, HOMER (via teleconference), spoke in
support of the reinstatement of CDVSA prevention funding.
He stated that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure."
11:07:40 AM
JILL LUSH, SPROUT FAMILY SERVICES, HOMER (via
teleconference), asked for full funding for Parents as
Teachers and Best Beginnings. She stated that "an
investment in early childhood is an investment for life."
11:07:55 AM
RACHEL ROMBERG, PREVENTION AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR, SOUTH
PENINSULA HAVEN HOUSE, HOMER (via teleconference),
requested the restoration of $1.5 million in CDVSA
prevention funds. She asked for full funding for the early
childhood education programs Best Beginnings and Parents as
Teachers.
11:08:16 AM
TARA SCHMIDT, SOUTH PENINSULA HAVEN HOUSE, HOMER (via
teleconference), requested the restoration of $1.5 million
in CDVSA prevention funds. She urged the reinstatement of
funds for public radio and early childhood programs.
11:08:32 AM
INGRID HARRALD, SOUTH PENINSULA HAVEN HOUSE, HOMER (via
teleconference), strongly urged the committee to restore
funding to early learning programs including Best
Beginnings and Parents as Teachers in addition to funds for
CDVSA prevention.
CSHB 72(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
CSHB 73(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
11:10:14 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.