SB 215-REVIEW & REPORTING OF FED. RECEIPTS; LB&A  3:36:18 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 215 "An Act relating to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee; requiring state departments, agencies, municipalities, school districts, Native corporations, the University of Alaska, and other entities that receive state funds to report on federal receipts; and relating to the increase of an appropriation item based on additional federal or program receipts." He asked Ms. Toth to refresh the committee's recall of the bill. 3:37:45 PM KELLI TOTH, Staff, Senator Lora Reinbold, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that SB 215, which is known as the "Federal Receipts Fiscal Accountability Act,requires all entities that receive state funds to submit a report annually on all the federal receipts they receive that the legislature did not appropriate. 3:38:35 PM SENATOR COSTELLO asked if other states have similar reporting requirements. MS TOTH said yes and the sponsor could speak to that. 3:38:56 PM SENATOR LORA REINBOLD, speaking as sponsor of SB 215, stated that the bill is modeled on Utah law. She added that SB 215 would allow the legislature to see the federal receipts that various entities are receiving, which would facilitate better decision making during the budget process. The bill seeks to increase transparency. SENATOR KAWASAKI questioned the reason for the requirement in Section 3 for the listed entities to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget if the intention is to emphasize that the power of appropriation resides with the legislature. SENATOR REINBOLD answered that the entities that receive grant monies and federal receipts are already required to report so OMB is a good central repository from which to send the reports to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee (OMB). SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if a fiscal note from OMB would be forthcoming. SENATOR REINBOLD said Ms. Toth could confirm that OMB did not submit a fiscal note. MR. TOTH said she had no knowledge of receiving a fiscal note for the bill from OMB. CHAIR SHOWER mused that a fiscal note was requested but neither the sponsor nor her staff had received it. 3:42:03 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI asked how a Native corporation could be compelled to submit a federal receipt report. SENATOR REINBOLD offered her belief that anybody that receives federal monies should be open and transparent in their accounting. The bill simply asks to see the books, which will enhance fair and transparent government and increase public trust. MS. TOTH added that the language in Section 3 ties the reporting requirement to the receipt of state funds. 3:43:51 PM SENATOR KAWASAKI referenced the phrase, "and any other entity that receives state funds" and asked if organizations that receive grants through the capital budget process would have to submit a report. MS. TOTH offered her understanding that any agency that receives state funds must report on federal receipts. SENATOR KAWASAKI said it sounds as though it's all inclusive. [He received an affirming nod.] SENATOR KAWASAKI said he appreciated that municipalities with fewer than 200 people could seek assistance from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) in preparing the report. 3:45:30 PM At ease 3:45:47 PM CHAIR SHOWER reconvened the meeting and opened public testimony on SB 215; finding none, he closed public testimony on SB 215. He asked the sponsor if she had any closing remarks. SENATOR REINBOLD summarized that SB 215 seeks to improve the budget process by increasing transparency of entities that receive federal funds that are not appropriated by the legislature. CHAIR SHOWER found no further questions and solicited the will of the committee. 3:47:20 PM SENATOR HOLLAND moved to report SB 215, work order 32-LS1517\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SB 215 was reported from the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.