SENATE BILL NO. 161 "An Act making supplemental appropriations and capital appropriations; amending appropriations; and providing for an effective date."   TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION  9:03:13 AM Co-Chair Opened statewide public testimony.  Stedman 9:04:27 AM MIKE HUELSMAN, Encouraged acceptance of all federal VSA ARTS OF stimulus funds for the arts. He ALASKA, stressed that that there are over 1,168 ANCHORAGE jobs and $45 million worth of economic activity created by arts in Anchorage. He described the extent of the loss of funding for arts. He referenced a petition with over 100 signatures supporting acceptance of stimulus funds for the arts.  9:08:30 AM KEVIN GADSEY, Spoke in support for stimulus funds for STATE one-time projects benefiting citizens INDEPENDENT with disabilities.  LIVING COUNCIL, KETCHIKAN 9:10:54 AM JAMIE STACKS, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus SUPERINTENDENTfunding for education. She stressed the , PRIBILOF importance of using the funds for SCHOOL students and to keep people employed.  DISTRICT 9:12:23 AM CHARLOTTE FOX, Encouraged acceptance of all federal EXECUTIVE stimulus funds for the arts. She DIRECTOR, detailed how funding would be used. ALASKA STATE Many arts organizations have already COUNCIL FOR experienced extensive funding cuts. She  THE ARTS emphasized the importance of the bridge funds.  9:14:27 AM NANCY NOLAN, Urged acceptance of all stimulus funds, SENIOR POLICY especially for education. She pointed DIRECTOR FOR out that Anchorage has one of the ACTING MAYOR largest school systems in the state. MATT CLAMAN, She asked for support for energy ANCHORAGE development. She did not think the building code issues applied. She also asked for support for COBRA, unemployment, the arts, and public safety.  9:17:41 AM KARLA JUTZI, Described the functions of the center. EXECUTIVE She urged acceptance of funds for DIRECTOR, people with disabilities, especially ALASKA CENTER for the Division of Vocational FOR THE BLIND Rehabilitation and for the council on AND VISUALLY independent living. The majority of IMPAIRED people with visual disabilities are unemployed.  9:20:02 AM ANDI NATIONS, Asked the committee to accept all EXECUTIVE stimulus funds, especially funds for DIRECTOR, independent living and citizens with STATEWIDE disabilities. She described the INDEPENDENT services offered by the council of LIVING independent living, which often helps COUNCIL, people live at home and keep their ANCHORAGE jobs.  9:22:16 AM AT EASE  9:23:15 AM RECONVENED  SUSAN Testified in support of accepting all SULLIVAN, ARRA funds for public safety programs, EXECUTIVE especially those connected with violent DIRECTOR, crimes. She explained the increase in VICTIMS FOR crime in times of economic difficulty. JUSTICE, Severe decline in corporate support has ANCHORAGE impaired the ability of the organization to do its job.  9:25:44 AM JIM BECK, Urged acceptance of all stimulus ACCESS ALASKA funding, especially funds for & INDEPENDENT vocational education and for LIVING, PALMER independent living programs. The community has worked nationally to get the funding in the ARRA legislation, and they are ready to use it well. He described plans for the funds.  9:29:52 AM SARAH SCANLAN, Described the services of RurAL CAP. RURAL CAP, She requested acceptance of the $3.9 ANCHORAGE million community services block funds. She stressed that the use of the funds will enhance energy efficiency.  9:31:59 AM MITZI BARKER, Discussed the phenomenon and effects of RURAL ALASKA foreclosure in the state. She stressed  COMMUNITY that RurAL CAP proposes to inform and ACTION PROGRAM educate the public regarding the (RURAL CAP), process leading towards losing a home. CHUGIAK She encouraged acceptance of funds for community service block grant program.  9:35:47 AM ROGER PURCELL, Supported acceptance of stimulus funds MAYOR, HOUSTON for shovel-ready projects for the Mat- Su, especially the public safety building. He pointed out how dangerous the highway near Houston is. He described needs for road work near a new housing project and need for a public works building.  9:39:12 AM DANE CROWLEY, Asked for acceptance of funds related SUPERIOR to renewable energy upgrades. He PELLET FUELS, pointed out that Power Cost WASILLA Equalization applies only to oil-fired systems and does not apply to other technologies. He stressed that the costs for energy in rural Alaska is a critical issue.  9:41:12 AM MELINDA MYERS, Testified in support of funding for SENIOR early childhood programs, especially MANAGER, BEST for professional development for early BEGINNINGS care programs. She supported $113 ALASKA, million for public schools and the ANCHORAGE university, funding for special needs children, the Title 1 grant funds, and funds for workforce training.  9:43:33 AM JUDY CORDELL, Requested that federal stimulus funds ABUSED WOMEN'S be accepted for the Council on Domestic AID IN CRISIS Violence and Sexual Assault and Public (AWAIC), Safety. She described difficulties in ANCHORAGE shelters resulting from funding cuts.  9:45:32 AM LUKE HOPKINS, Requested acceptance of all stimulus ASSEMBLY funds, especially Department of Revenue MEMBER, funds for weatherization and energy FAIRBANKS conservation, and block grants. He NORTH STAR described the importance of energy BOROUGH projects. He supported accepting education and social services funds.  9:48:17 AM CHERYL Supported acceptance of funds for early KEEPERS, EARLY care and education. She stated that CHILDHOOD access to child care makes it possible COMMISSION, for lower income families to work while FAIRBANKS their children are supported. Children with good early care have a better chance of succeeding in school.  9:51:00 AM DENISE Supported acceptance of funds for older DONIELLO, Alaskans for services, including meals EXECUTIVE delivered at home or served at senior DIRECTOR, centers. She described experience with ALASKA food services for elder Alaskans.  COMMISSION ON AGING  9:53:50 AM NANCY Encouraged acceptance of all federal DECHERNEY, stimulus funds for the arts. She EXECUTIVE reported that funding will replace DIRECTOR, funding lost for projects that are JUNEAU ARTS & already planned. She drew attention to HUMANITIES the fact that individual donations are COUNCIL up significantly, indicating the importance the public places on the arts. She listed projects that need the funds.  9:55:35 AM Senator Ellis Asked if the council understood the nature of one-time stimulus funding.  Ms. DeCherney Replied that all funding for the arts is one-time funding and that they understood fully how to use the funds.  9:56:36 AM Senator Ellis Stressed for the record that the one- time nature of the funding was understood and urged other testifiers to clarify their understanding of the same.  9:56:52 AM PEGGY BROWN, Requested that federal stimulus funds EXECUTIVE be accepted for the Council on Domestic DIRECTOR, Violence and Sexual Assault and Public ALASKA NETWORK Safety. She pointed out the connection ON DOMESTIC between economic downturns and an VIOLENCE & increase in domestic violence. She SEXUAL ASSAULT stated that the network understood the nature of the one-time funding.  9:58:58 AM JOY LYON, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus CHAIR, ALASKA funding for education, particularly for ASSOCIATION early childhood care and education. She FOR EDUCATION described grants that have increased OF YOUNG quality of early childhood programs.  CHILDREN 10:02:01 AM CANDICE Supported accepting stimulus funding of WINKLER, early childhood education programs, ALASKA CHILD especially the early childhood CARE RESOURCE development block grant funds. She AND REFERRAL stated that the network understood the NETWORK one-time nature of the funding. She hoped to enhance technical assistance and training of teachers of young people with behavioral problems.  10:04:58 AM AT EASE  10:05:14 AM RECONVENED  10:05:17 AM JOHANNA Testified in support of accepting DARROUGH, stimulus funds for electronic health DIRECTOR, records program. She described the ALASKA PRIMARY increase in healthcare quality that CARE would result from the program.  10:07:10 AM CAROL COMEAU, Urged acceptance of all stimulus money, SUPERINTENDENTespecially for K-12 education. She , ANCHORAGE emphasized her clear understanding of SCHOOL the one-time nature of the stimulus DISTRICT funding. She explained the funds would be used for training and to redirect Title I funds. The school district is completely willing to be accountable for the use of the funds.  10:08:54 AM KAREN PARR, Urged acceptance of stimulus funds for CHAIRMAN, housing and services for seniors. She SENIOR understood the one-time nature of the PROJECT, funds. She suggested appointing a FAIRBANKS watchdog to makes sure stimulus funds are expended as intended by the legislature.  10:11:08 AM SARAH FINNELL, Asked for stimulus funding of any sort HOMELESS YOUTH that would help homeless youth. She ADVOCATE, described the struggles and needs of FAIRBANKS youth.  COUNSELING AND ADOPTION, FAIRBANKS 10:12:24 AM PAUL SHERRY, Urged acceptance of funds for PRESIDENT, competitive grant funding for high-tech ALASKA E-health information exchange and HEALTH electronic health records. He asked for NETWORK, clarification of the intent of Title 13 FAIRBANKS high-tech funds. He referred to SB 133.  10:16:21 AM TOM MORGAN, Urged acceptance of federal stimulus DIRECTOR, funding for education. He discussed COMMUNITY results from other funding for SCHOOLS OF libraries and reading. He stated that ALASKA non-profit agencies understand the nature of one-time funding as a bridge during a difficult economic time.  10:19:14 AM Co-Chair Closed public testimony.  Stedman SB 161 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration.  10:19:35 AM # The meeting was adjourned at 10:19 AM.  ADJOURNMENT