HOUSE BILL NO. 55 1 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." ALASKA COURT SYSTEM The House Finance Subcommittee for the Alaska Court System consists of Chair Parnell with members Representatives Barnes, Porter, Navarre and Grussendorf. Representative Parnell provided members with a letter from the Alaska Court System answering questions regarding their budget (Attachment 1). Representative Parnell asked the Alaska Court System to respond to the following questions: * What specific areas of responsibility have increased significantly in the past five years? * What budgetary or planning action, if any has taken place to address these demands? * Over the next five to ten years, what areas of the respective division or agency are anticipating increased workloads? * How does the department's proposed FY 94 budget help to prepare the department for these demands. Representative Parnell presented members with the Alaska Court System FY 94 Operating Budget, Impact of House Budget Reduction (Attachment 2). Representative Parnell stressed that the Alaska Court System is not just another department but a branch of government. He pointed out that the Governor's proposed FY 93 Alaska Court System budget is $44,362.5 million general fund dollars. This is a 4.1 percent increase. The Subcommittee was given a 2 percent reduction target. The Subcommittee's proposed budget for the Alaska Court System is 2.1 percent over FY 93 Authorized. Representative Parnell provided members with the Subcommittee's Transaction Summary for the Governor to House (Attachment 3). He reviewed Attachment 3. * Trail courts - <642.3 thousand dollars> $140.4 thousand dollars in new positions were deleted as prioritized by the Alaska Court System. Other reductions were; new equipment <$10.1 thousand dollars> and office space <$23.4 thousand dollars>. The Subcommittee deleted a 2 $401.2 thousand dollars request for jury fee increases. A $67.5 thousand dollars reduction was made to the mediation pilot project. The project was suggested by the legislature for divorce and family law mediation. The project will be conducted only in Anchorage. * Administration and Support - <210.0 thousand dollars> New positions were deleted. * Commission on Judicial Conduct - <$3.0 thousand dollars> An investigator position was eliminated. The position's funds were transferred to contractual with a $3.0 thousand dollar reduction. * Judicial Council - <$68.0 thousand dollars> Funding for a malpractice project was reduced. Representative Hoffman noted that the court clerk position was eliminated in Dillingham. He stressed that there has been a 71 percent increase in caseload in Dillingham. He emphasized that the area needs to have a district judge and attorney. He asked why the Bristol Bay area is being neglected. ARTHUR H. SNOWDEN, II, ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COURT SYSTEM agreed that problems in the Bristol Bay area need to be addressed. He stated that the Alaska Court System had to chose between deletions in court personnel or magistrate training. He expressed his desire to reinstate the court clerk position at a later date. Representative Hoffman reiterated his concerns. Representative Grussendorf expressed concern that 3 court clerk positions were deleted in Ketchikan, Dillingham and Craig. He also expressed concern that the Internal Auditor position was deleted. He emphasized that the internal auditor was requested through the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. Representative Parnell MOVED to adopt and INCORPORATE into HB 55 the proposals by the House Finance Subcommittee on the Alaska Court System. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 3 HB 55 was HELD in Committee.