CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 2001(FIN) am "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs; making appropriations for the operating expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; capitalizing funds and repealing 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." and SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 2001(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs and capitalizing funds; repealing 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." 8:20:01 PM Senator Pete Kelly moved that Representative Mark Neuman serve as presiding chair of the FY 2016 operating budget Conference Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Representative Neuman is Chair of the Conference Committee. Chair Neuman moved that Senator Kelly serve as Vice-Chair of the FY 2016 operating budget Conference Committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Senator Kelly is Vice-Chair of the Conference Committee. Chair Neuman reviewed the process the conference committee would follow for the meetings: Both the House and Senate budget processes allowed for public testimony. That portion of the process is now concluded; the Conference Committee will not be accepting public testimony. Unless invited by the Chair, only members of the Conference Committee may take part in discussion or sit at the table. Legislative Finance has been directed to prepare the "motion sheets" we will be using at the table. These sheets summarize the differences between the two versions of the bills that are the business of this Conference Committee. The "motion sheets" will be posted on Legislative Finance's website after this meeting and will be updated after each subsequent meeting. The Conference Committee will operate under Uniform Rule 42. Adopting any motion or taking any action requires a majority vote from each body. A copy of Uniform Rule 42 and a Legislative Legal Services opinion dated March 26, 2015, are in each member's packet. 8:21:38 PM Chair Neuman asked for a motion to adopt all identical items. Vice-Chair Kelly moved that all appropriations and language that are identical in both the House and Senate versions of HB 2001 be adopted. Chair Neuman stated that seeing no objection, the items were adopted. Chair Neuman asked for a motion to request "limited powers" for budget allocations for which differences exist. He relayed that he had distributed a letter for this purpose dated June 1, 2015, addressed to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President. Under limited powers, the Conference Committee can adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the House or Senate version of each item subject to conference. Vice-Chair Kelly moved to adopt the letter requesting limited powers of conference for items that are not identical. Chair Neuman stated that seeing no objection, the letter was adopted. He communicated that each member would sign two originals of the letter requesting limited powers, one for each body, at the end of this meeting. Chair Neuman stated that the committee would be meeting to complete action on the operating budget once limited powers have been received. Meetings will be posted on BASIS under the 24-hour rule. He asked if there was any other business, or any questions or comments from the members. 8:22:53 PM Vice-Chair Kelly moved that this meeting of the Conference Committee be adjourned. Chair Neuman stated that without objection, the meeting adjourned. He advised that each member needed to sign the two letters before leaving.