Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/07/2018 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Appointment: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Board of Trustees | |
| Appointment: Regulatory Commission of Alaska | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 7, 2018
9:04 a.m.
9:04:51 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair MacKinnon called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Anna MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop, Vice-Chair
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Natasha von Imhof
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Mike Powers, Appointee, Alaska Mental Health Trust
Authority, Fairbanks; Verne Boerner, Appointee, Alaska
Mental Health Trust Authority, Anchorage; Janis Wilson,
Appointee, Regulatory Commission of Alaska, Anchorage; Paul
Lisankie, Appointee, Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
SUMMARY
APPOINTMENT: ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
APPOINTMENT: REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
^APPOINTMENT: ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY BOARD OF
TRUSTEES
9:06:34 AM
MIKE POWERS, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference), (AMHTA)
discussed his credentials. He stated that he had served for
10 years as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and 20 years
as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Fairbanks Memorial. He
spent one year as an interim chancellor at the University
of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). He shared that as CEO, much of
his time was focused on building programs and recruiting
personal to support behavioral related programs and
services. He noted that there were related efforts in the
emergency department, police departments, and support
centers. He noted the crisis situation related to coverage
for behavioral health issues. He shared that he had a 23-
year-old developmentally disabled niece. His brother had
attempted to obtain housing for her in the Denver area. He
noted that there were two exceptionally vulnerable
populations: seniors; and the mentally ill and
developmentally disabled. He felt that his background,
experience, and desire were the reasons for his interest in
the position.
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether Mr. Powers had been
employed by the state within the last two year. Mr. Powers
replied in the affirmative. He was interim chancellor at
UAF.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that there was a prohibition that
stated that a member appointed by the governor may not be
an officer or employee of the state, or within two years
preceding or during the member's term of office have an
interest in, served on a governing board, or been employed
by an organization that had received money from the Mental
Health Trust Income Account under a grant or contract
services. She wondered whether there was a passage of the
threshold. Mr. Powers replied in the affirmative. He
finished in May 2016, so that would be two years in the
spring. He felt that UAF stood apart from a state agency.
9:10:29 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted a geographic interest for
different boards. She remarked that Fairbanks was not
currently represented on the board.
Senator von Imhof queried a process the board could
evaluate the limitation, and whether there could be an
acceptance of the violation.
Co-Chair MacKinnon agreed to communicate with the board and
the Governor's Office.
Senator Micciche felt that it did not fit initially, but
wondered whether the paragraph referred to a current
employee.
Co-Chair MacKinnon agreed to reexamine an issue.
Senator Stevens felt that Mr. Powers was qualified. He
wondered whether Mr. Powers left the Board of Regents on
May 2016. Mr. Powers replied in the affirmative.
Senator Stevens felt that the appointment may need to wait
until May.
Vice-Chair Bishop asked that Ms. Boerner be put on the
record.
9:15:11 AM
VERNE BOERNER, APPOINTEE, ALASKA MENTAL HEALTH TRUST
AUTHORITY, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), introduced
herself. Shared her earliest memory. Her specific interest
came from the tribes and tribal leaders. She announced that
she was the president and CEO for the Alaska Native Health
Board, which was the statewide voice on Alaska Native
health issues.
9:22:01 AM
Senator Micciche reviewed the resume, and noted that it was
interesting that the Master's thesis was on health
disparities. He wondered whether the Alaska Mental Health
Trust Authority (AMHTA) had Alaska Native representation in
the past. Ms. Boerner replied that there was Alaska Native
in the past, and currently had a member on the board. She
stated that it was limited, and the experience had not been
tied to the Alaska Tribal Health system.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted the purpose of the authority. She
noted that one of the qualifications was the ability in
financial management and investment; or land management.
She noted that there could be assistance in the mental
health and health side of the trust. She queried skills in
those managements. Ms. Boerner replied that she was the
administrative officer for a board who was responsible for
negotiating lease and contract agreements.
9:26:22 AM
Vice-Chair Bishop was impressed with the resume. He queried
best practices from the lower 48. Ms. Boerner replied that
the Alaska Tribal Health system was extremely advanced.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked the Mr. Powers answer the same
questions about financial management.
9:29:53 AM
AT EASE
9:33:16 AM
RECONVENED
9:33:47 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked for information about experience
with financial management. Mr. Powers stated that he served
10 years as CFO and 20 years as CEO of Fairbanks Memorial
hospital. He dealt with extensive audits, public
accountability, clinical safety, and regulatory reviews.
Co-Chair MacKinnon announced that there was a need for
additional legal review of the limitations. She stated that
his name needed to be set aside, because there may be a
hurdle within state statute. Mr. Powers clarified that he
officially stepped down in August 2016.
Co-Chair MacKinnon announced that the committee had
established that.
9:37:45 AM
Vice-Chair Bishop felt that there were many direct
involvement of the large capital projects in the hospital.
Mr. Powers replied in the affirmative.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that there would be a formal
legal request to review the qualifications. Mr. Powers
replied that he understood.
9:39:25 AM
Vice-Chair Bishop moved to advance Verne Boerner to a Joint
Legislative Session for consideration for the Alaska Mental
Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) Board of Trustees.
9:39:51 AM
AT EASE
9:42:03 AM
RECONVENED
^APPOINTMENT: REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
9:43:48 AM
JANIS WILSON, APPOINTEE, REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), discussed her
qualifications. She stated that most of her work experience
was with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, therefore she
would provide significant institutional knowledge for an
agency with a recent high personnel turnover.
Co-Chair MacKinnon noted that the reappointment would be
March 2018.
Senator Micciche felt that Ms. Wilson was extremely
qualified. He noted that she had been regulating pipeline
for 38 years in the state.
Vice-Chair Bishop agreed.
9:46:21 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried comments on providing lower cost
energy in rural Alaska. Ms. Wilson replied that it was a
difficult issue, because of the cost of transporting fuel.
She could not provide further information on that issue.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried a position on the regulation of
the smaller utilities. Ms. Wilson replied that the
Regulatory Commission of Alaska did not currently municipal
or cooperative utilities. She noted that many rural
locations were not regulated by the Regulatory Commission
of Alaska.
Co-Chair MacKinnon wondered whether the lack of regulation
was contributing to the higher cost, or a function of the
delivery of the fuel source. Ms. Wilson did not believe
that the lack of regulation contributing to the cost. She
felt that the lack of regulation would limit the cost,
because there was a cost to regulation.
9:49:36 AM
PAUL LISANKIE, APPOINTEE, REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA
(via teleconference), discussed his qualifications. He
stated that he was appointed of the remainder of the six
year term.
Co-Chair MacKinnon queried thoughts on the high energy cost
in rural Alaska. Mr. Lisankie stressed that the cost of
regulation was an important factor. He noted that the small
communities ability to respond to regulation would be
difficult.
Vice-Chair Bishop MOVED to ADVANCE the names, Janis Wilson
and Paul Lisankie to a Joint Legislative Session for
consideration of appointment to the Regulatory Commission
of Alaska.
9:55:29 AM
AT EASE
9:57:28 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair MacKinnon discussed the following day's agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
9:58:13 AM
The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 AMHTA Board.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2018 |
| 2018 RCA Board.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2018 |
| FIN MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY Boerner.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2018 |
| FIN MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY Powers.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmation 2018 |
| FIN REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA Wilson.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2018 |
| FIN REGULATORY COMMISSION OF ALASKA Lisankie.pdf |
SFIN 3/7/2018 9:00:00 AM |
Confirmations 2018 |