Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/17/2021 01:00 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB49 || SB50 || SB51 | |
| Public Testimony: Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, and Matanuska Valley | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 49 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 51 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 50 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 17, 2021
1:01 p.m.
1:01:10 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee
meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Donny Olson
Senator Natasha von Imhof
Senator Bill Wielechowski (via teleconference)
Senator David Wilson (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Cris Eichenlaub, Self, Wasilla; Mary Jo Torgeson, Alaska
Library Association and Alaska Library Network, Anchorage;
Philip Licht, Set Free Alaska, Wasilla; Shannon Davenport,
Alaska Nursing Association, Anchorage; Michelle Reiman, Set
Free Alaska, Wasilla; Jenni Pollard, Thread, Anchorage;
Suzy Pearson, Executive Director, Abused Women Aid Crisis,
Anchorage; Gregory Heath, Self, Palmer; Alli Lythgoe, Set
Free Alaska, Matsu Valley; Steve Ray, Set Free Alaska,
Wasilla; Linda Hendrickson, Set Free Alaska, Wasilla; Ric
Nelson, Arc of Anchorage, Anchorage; Ryan Ray, Set Free
Alaska, Palmer; Katie Rooks, Self, Prince of Wales; Adam
Cardwell, Self, Willow; Abbe Hensley, Best Beginnings,
Anchorage; Robin Minard, Matsu Health Foundation, Wasilla;
Roger Branson, Self, Eagle River; Willy Keppel, Self,
Quinhagak; Bert Houghtaling, Self, Big Lake; Gary McDonald,
Self, Anchorage.
SUMMARY
SB 49 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS
SB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 50 APPROP: CAP; REAPPROP; SUPP; AMEND
SB 50 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 51 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET
SB 51 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 49
"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."
SENATE BILL NO. 50
"An Act making appropriations, including capital
appropriations, reappropriations, and other
appropriations; making supplemental appropriations;
making appropriations to capitalize funds; and
providing for an effective date."
SENATE BILL NO. 51
"An Act making appropriations for the operating and
capital expenses of the state's integrated
comprehensive mental health program; making
supplemental appropriations; and providing for an
effective date."
1:02:33 PM
^PUBLIC TESTIMONY: KENAI PENINSULA, ANCHORAGE, AND
MATANUSKA VALLEY
1:02:33 PM
CRIS EICHENLAUB, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the statutory formula for the Permanent Fund
Dividend (PFD). felt that the current budget issues were
due to mismanagement of resources. He felt that there
needed to be a repeal of former legislation, SB 26. He
stated that the PFD should be taken out of the legislators'
purview. He felt that the people should be given the
authority to determine who should receive the money from
the PFD.
1:04:33 PM
MARY JO TORGESON, ALASKA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND ALASKA
LIBRARY NETWORK, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in
support of funding for the Alaska State Libraries. She
understood that it was a challenging time, but the money
would be used for the Alaska Library Catalog, which was a
consortium of 90 percent of the public libraries in the
state. She stressed that it was a very large database, and
the budget amount was in the previous year's budget, but
the governor had vetoed that funding.
1:07:53 PM
PHILIP LICHT, SET FREE ALASKA, WASILLA (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
Alaska Recidivism, Reduction, and Recovery Project. He
stated that request had been submitted to the capital
budget. He thanked the committee for their previous years'
support. He noted that the goal of the program was to
develop a pilot that would work toward reducing new crimes
and recidivism, and help people to get sober and improve
their quality of life.
1:09:57 PM
SHANNON DAVENPORT, ALASKA NURSING ASSOCIATION, ANCHORAGE
(via teleconference), testified in support of increased
funding in the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
(AMHTA). She spoke to some issues related to the Alaska
Psychiatric Institute (API). She talked about continuity of
care, as it related to patients returning to the community
and the limited resources available. She felt that the
budget needed greater funding for those in the mental
health community. She echoed similar concerns of Mr. Licht.
1:11:44 PM
MICHELLE REIMAN, SET FREE ALASKA, WASILLA (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
Alaska Recidivism, Reduction, and Recovery Project. She
shared that she had dealt with addiction and had worked
with people in recovery. She stressed that stable housing
was essential for sobriety and reducing recidivism.
1:13:38 PM
JENNI POLLARD, THREAD, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of funding for early childhood education.
She stated that the proposed budget included funding for
early childhood resources and benefits. She felt that every
dollar invested in children helped them to prepare for life
and school. She urged the committee to designate additional
resources toward early childhood programs and support.
Senator von Imhof noted that there were funds for early
education in the budget.
1:14:59 PM
SUZY PEARSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ABUSED WOMEN AID CRISIS,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of
funding for the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual
Assault; Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC)'s
Homeless Assistance Program; and Empowering Choices
Program. She felt that the programs helped victims move
from shelters to permanent housing.
1:16:09 PM
GREGORY HEATH, SELF, PALMER (via teleconference), testified
in support of funding for the Alaska Recidivism, Reduction,
and Recovery Project. He shared that he was a judge, and
had adjudicated thousands of criminal probation and child
in of aid need cases. He stated that in the majority of
criminal cases the lack of available substance abuse
treatment and safe, sober, and supervised housing were keys
to rehabilitation for formerly incarcerated individuals. He
stated that most of the barriers were addressed by the
project.
1:19:05 PM
ALLI LYTHGOE, SET FREE ALASKA, MATSU VALLEY (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
Alaska Recidivism, Reduction, and Recovery Project. She
felt that there was great benefit and success to a recovery
project in the state. She stressed that she had worked
directly with a multi-disciplinary recovery focused team.
She pointed out that the needs stretched far beyond
treatment, and required establishing solid roots in the
community.
1:21:34 PM
STEVE RAY, SET FREE ALASKA, WASILLA (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for the Alaska Recidivism,
Reduction, and Recovery Project. He shared that he had
spent time in residential recovery, and had worked with
inmates in prison. He stated that he had seen the need for
men who immediately return to their previous situations
after prison, and either reoffend or abuse substances. He
felt that the program would help those leaving
incarceration to be a part of the community and their
families.
1:24:22 PM
LINDA HENDRICKSON, SET FREE ALASKA, WASILLA (via
teleconference), testified in support of funding for the
Alaska Recidivism, Reduction, and Recovery Project. She
remarked that it was apparent that the need for recovery
services were great and substantial. She noted the need for
certified peer support, intensive case management,
supportive housing, access to treatment in the prison
system, outpatient services, school counseling for
children, and inpatient service.
1:26:21 PM
RIC NELSON, ARC OF ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), (spoke with an interpreter) spoke in
support of funding for the sprinkler system for the Arc of
Anchorage, which assists individuals with developmental and
intellectual disabilities as well as behavioral health. He
requested $150,000 for two of the behavioral health homes.
He also requested $330,000 for non-behavioral health homes,
or $30,000 for each of the eleven homes. The City of
Anchorage recently released a mandate, which said that all
group and assisted living homes must have sprinkler systems
installed with more than three individuals in each home.
Senator von Imhof stated that Co-Chair Bishop would look at
that issue in the budget.
1:30:33 PM
RYAN RAY, SET FREE ALASKA, PALMER (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding for the Alaska Recidivism,
Reduction, and Recovery Project. He stressed that the mass
incarceration of individuals with addiction disorders was
devastating for public health and safety. He stressed that
the challenge was especially evident in Alaska, because
over 80 percent of Alaska's incarcerated population
reported an addiction disorder. He pointed out that upon
release from incarceration, those individuals were more
than 129 times more likely to die of a drug overdose, and
of those who are not deceased, 83 percent were likely to be
arrested again in their lifetime.
1:33:18 PM
KATIE ROOKS, SELF, PRINCE OF WALES (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the proposed gasoline tax. She also
spoke against an income tax. She supported measures to
reduce certain state spending and measures designed to
encourage and support diverse forms of state revenue.
1:34:49 PM
ADAM CARDWELL, SELF, WILLOW (via teleconference), spoke
against the use of money set aside for the PFD for
government and Native Corporations. He stressed that
Alaskans needed the PFD money to pay for things like
heating fuel and other necessities.
1:36:54 PM
ABBE HENSLEY, BEST BEGINNINGS, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), echoed statements from Ms. Pollard. She
testified in support of funding for early childhood
education, and Best Beginnings. She shared many positive
impacts of Best Beginnings Imagination Library. She
remarked that there was a recent study of the Imagination
Library in the state, and the results were extremely
positive.
1:39:26 PM
ROBIN MINARD, MATSU HEALTH FOUNDATION, WASILLA (via
teleconference), testified against the proposed cuts to
Medicaid. She stressed that the cuts would have negative
impacts on Matsu residents. She remarked that Medicaid was
vital to keeping Alaskans healthy and working, because it
provide access to many different health services to serve
as a path to self-sufficiency.
1:41:50 PM
AT EASE
1:59:47 PM
RECONVENED
2:00:01 PM
ROGER BRANSON, SELF, EAGLE RIVER (via teleconference),
testified in support of funding to assist the homeless and
funding for substance abuse recovery. He spoke against
transferring the AMHTA funds. He recalled the court case to
establish the AMHTA. He spoke against the reopening of the
settlement.
2:01:27 PM
WILLY KEPPEL, SELF, QUINHAGAK (via teleconference), spoke
in concern about the current budget deficit. He felt that
the budget should focus on the debt. He testified in
support of funding backpay for the PFD. He stressed that
Alaskans were in need of the money because there had been
great economic damage to the people of the state.
2:05:26 PM
AT EASE
2:20:18 PM
RECONVENED
2:20:43 PM
BERT HOUGHTALING, SELF, BIG LAKE (via teleconference),
testified against the use of the PFD to fund state
government. He felt that the budget should align with
current state revenue. He stressed that Alaskans needed a
full PFD to support those that had been devastated by the
pandemic.
2:22:20 PM
GARY MCDONALD, SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), echoed
the comments of Mr. Keppel and Mr. Haoughtaling. He spoke
in support of audits of many programs, and spoke against
funding for nonprofits.
2:23:16 PM
AT EASE
2:36:23 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman discussed the following day's schedule.
SB 49 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 50 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 51 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:37:27 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:37 p.m.
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