CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 176(FIN)                                                                                                
     "An Act repealing state employee salary schedule                                                                           
     increases; and providing for an effective date."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:16:32 PM                                                                                                                    
Vice-Chair Micciche spoke to the three fiscal notes.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon solicited comments from the committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:18:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly  said that all  state employees  would forego                                                                    
the  2.5 percent  cost of  living adjustment  (COLA) for  an                                                                    
anticipated savings  of $9.2 million.  He asserted  that the                                                                    
legislature  was  not  breaking  any  promises  through  the                                                                    
passage of  HB 176, or  the budget action the  committee had                                                                    
taken, but  in certain financial situations  the legislature                                                                    
had  to take  action  to protect  the  state's reserves  and                                                                    
spend  less money.  He stressed  that no  employee would  be                                                                    
experience a  reduction in  pay, they  would be  foregoing a                                                                    
raise due to a shortfall of revenue.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:21:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair MacKinnon added that  the committee appreciated all                                                                    
of the state employees, but  that the fiscal crisis made the                                                                    
committee action a necessity.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:21:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Micciche  MOVED to report  CS HB 176(FIN)  out of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  176 was  REPORTED out  of committee  with a  "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and with  three previously  published fiscal                                                                    
notes: FN1 (AJS), FN2 (GOV), and FN3 (LEG).                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:22:29 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:23:30 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED