HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE March 27, 2001 1:51 PM TAPE HFC 01 - 64, Side A TAPE HFC 01 - 64, Side B CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Williams called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:51 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair Representative Con Bunde, Vice-Chair Representative Eric Croft Representative John Davies Representative Richard Foster Representative John Harris Representative Bill Hudson Representative Ken Lancaster Representative Jim Whitaker MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Eldon Mulder Representative Carl Moses ALSO PRESENT Kenneth Bischoff, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Public Safety; Ann Ringstad, Director of Statewide Relations, University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Doug Wooliver, Administrative Attorney, Alaska Court System; Steve Hildebrand, Budget Analyst, Office of Management and Budget. PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Wendy Redman, Vice President, Statewide Programs, University of Alaska, Anchorage; Joe Beedle, University of Alaska, Anchorage; Steve Smith, university of Alaska, Anchorage; Rhonda McLeod, Fiscal Officer, Alaska Court System, Anchorage. GENERAL SUBJECT(S):  GOVERNOR'S CAPITAL BUDGET: University of Alaska Alaska Court System Department of Public Safety The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes and handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 22nd Legislative Session, contact 465- 2156. After the 22nd Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.   LOG SPEAKER DISCUSSION    TAPE HFC 00 - 64  SIDE A  000 Co-Chair Williams Called the House Finance Committee meeting to order to discuss HB 47, the Governor's Capital Budget. He requested that the Committee discuss only the Governor's budget at this time.  UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA  261 WENDY REDMAN, Introduced staff assisting her in the (TESTIFIED VIA presentation of the capital budget TELECONFERENCE), requests for the University of Alaska.  VICE PRESIDENT, STATEWIDE PROGRAMS, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA 322 JOE BEEDLE, Discussed the safety and highest priority (TESTIFIED VIA renewal and replacement request in the TELECONFERENCE), amount of $4 million dollars. He noted UNIVERSITY OF that the number had been broken down to ALASKA, ANCHORAGE various campuses. This would conclude all sprinkler programs in the housing for students.  468 Mr. Beedle Continued, the costs for UAS water/fire system-code would be $1.259 of that full request. A housing sprinkler system would amount to $870 thousand dollars. Student housing safety upgrades in the amount of $1.230 million dollars. $200 thousand dollars would be used for the ventilation air for fume hoods for the arts building in Anchorage. In the Anchorage district, there would be a B- core fire suppression and air conditioning replacement in the amount of $440 thousand dollars.  604 STEVE SMITH, Spoke to the telecommunications equipment (TESTIFIED VIA improvements request in the amount of TELECONFERENCE), $1.875 million dollars. He noted that UNIVERSITY OF this would be a phased project and the ALASKA, ANCHORAGE needs were evaluated using the criteria from the Impact on Daily Business functions. The funding would provide for on-line registration. He spoke to the  technology integration system for the University. It would deliver academic programs throughout the State by leveraging the University's ability to take the best programs from every MAU and deliver those when and where needed across the State.  812 Mr. Beedle Discussed the University of Alaska - Small Business Development Center. The request is in the amount of $450 thousand dollars and the project would be an on going. The program encourage the BUY ALASKA program which encourages in-state purchases of goods and services through a multi media public awareness campaign and by assisting Alaska businesses, government entities and consumers in finding competitive, local sources for goods and services previously purchased outside of Alaska.  923 Mr. Beedle Spoke to the air traffic control stimulator request in the amount of $2.5 million dollars. The request is needed to address the FY02 BOR goal of meeting Alaska's employment needs.  955 Mr. Beedle Addressed the Arctic Region supercomputer purchase request in the amount of $30 million dollars federal receipts. Noted that this was a high priority item necessary to meet the BOR goal of preparing for Alaska's economic success.  992 Mr. Beedle Commented that there would be a letter forthcoming from the President of University outlining these priority needs.  1039 Representative Asked what the acronym ACPE meant.  Hudson 1058 Mr. Beedle Noted that the University had not yet been directed about using those receipts. He understood that "other funds" would be received from the Alaska Postsecondary.  1112 Representative Spoke to that concern.  Davies 1136 Representative Asked why the University Museum expansion Whitaker had not been included on the list.  1155 Co-Chair Williams Advised that this list was that put forth by the Governor's budget.  1178 Ms. Redman Did not know why it had not been included. She pointed out that was a top priority of the University and that it would be 50% funded by private funds.  1214 Representative Inquired if the University would be  Whitaker willing to support an amendment for that concern.  1229 Ms. Redman Replied, absolutely.  1241 Vice-Chair Bunde Asked how much general fund money would the University be requesting in this fiscal year.  1261 Ms. Redman Following discussion, Ms. Redman replied it would be around $27 million dollars.  1278 Co-Chair Williams Asked the amount of APCE dollars allocated.  1300 STEVE HILDEBRAND, Offered to check that information out and BUDGET ANALYST, provide it to the Committee.  OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET 1335 Representative Noted that there was no appropriation in Davies this year's budget that relies on the postsecondary money.  1374 Ms. Redman Advised that the House Finance Committee had added $2 million ACPE dollars.  1403 Representative Croft Pointed out that the budget had about $6 million dollars that was non-federal money. He stated that it would be both capital and operating budget dollars.  1455 Representative Spoke to other items that the University Davies had requested which were not included in the Governor's budget. He asked that those be highlighted.  1500 Mr. Beedle Distributed a document prepared by the President of the University highlighting project summaries. * Attracting and Retaining AK Students Community Campus Improvements Classroom and Lab improvements Student Satisfaction * Meeting Alaska's Employment Needs Career & Technical Training Teacher Education * Preparing for Alaska's Economic Success Building for Economic Development Planning through Partnerships He noted that the highest priorities would amount to $120.258 million dollars.  ALASKA COURT SYSTEM  1657 DOUG WOOLIVER, Addressed the automated case management ADMINISTRATIVE system, Phase 2, request in the amount of ATTORNEY, ALASKA $1.75 million dollars. He noted that the COURT SYSTEM current system is seriously inadequate.  1775 Mr. Wooliver Discussed the capital replacement equipment request in the amount of $745 thousand general fund dollars. He noted that the funding would be used for statewide replacement of court system  technology and communications resources.  1808 Mr. Wooliver Spoke to the Court security projects request in the amount of $500 thousand general fund dollars. He noted the estimates prepared for all the superior courts and selected district court requests.  1885 Co-Chair Williams Questioned if there had been problems occurring in that area.  1896 Mr. Wooliver Replied that there have been problems, particularly in Kenai, and that the court clerks had been hassled.  1920 Mr. Wooliver Spoke to the request for deferred maintenance costs in the amount of $1 million general fund dollars for the district court house and repairs to building components that have not been sufficiently maintained and now threaten longevity of the buildings.  1950 Mr. Wooliver Discussed the rural court technology upgrades for digital recording equipment request in the amount of $420 thousand general fund dollars. He claimed that funding the component would provide a tremendous long-term savings. He noted that this would be the final phase of the four-phase multi-year project to replace courtroom audio recording and electronic sound systems statewide.  2021 Mr. Wooliver Spoke to the statewide remodeling costs request in the amount of $500 thousand general fund dollars for renovation projects to increase staff efficiency and accommodate improved means of conducting court business, particularly accommodation of improved technology.  2031 Representative Asked about the deferred maintenance Davies projects. He inquired how much damage has been caused because the deferred maintenance concerns had not been addressed in previous years.  2082 Mr. Wooliver Commented that he would gather that information for the Committee.  2090 Representative Stressed that these deferred maintenance Davies concerns are the consequences of not addressing the deferred maintenance problems throughout the years. He added that the buildings would continue to deteriorate without further funding.  TAPE HFC 01 - 64, Side B  000 Mr. Wooliver Discussed the court building code and energy upgrade request in the amount of  $400 thousand general fund dollars. He noted that the funding would be used to redesign of courtroom bench configurations to provide adequate space for clerks, witnesses and judges to comply with the ADA.  123 Mr. Wooliver Spoke to the one time request for the Law Library catalog software for web access. The request would be in the amount of $60 thousand general fund dollars. The project is for the purchase of software to allow users access to the law library's electronic catalog of available legal resources.  175 Vice-Chair Bunde Noted that since this would be available to the public, if consideration had been given to using user fees.  209 Representative Asked if the law library request would Lancaster require more personnel to put the info on the web.   228 Mr. Wooliver Replied that it would not, and that there is currently an employee working who could do that in put work.  250 Representative Asked about the ADA requirements and Hudson money, which would be receive able from the federal government for those related tasks.  290 Mr. Wooliver Noted that there was someone on line that could answer that question.  209 RHONDA MCLEOD, Offered to research that information and (TESTIFIED VIA provide it to Committee members.  TELECONFERENCE), ALASKA COURT SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY  348 KENNETH BISCHOFF, Discussed the aircraft and vessel repair DIRECTOR, DIVISION and maintenance request. The funds would OF ADMINISTRATIVE be used for the annual repair and SERVICES, DEPARTMENT maintenance requirement of the Division's OF TRANSPORTATION aircraft and vessel fleet. The requested amount would be $1.2 million general fund dollars.  389 Mr. Bischoff Spoke to the trooper law enforcement equipment request for the use of State Trooper personnel throughout the State. The requested amount would be $350 thousand general fund dollars.  409 Mr. Bischoff Discussed the fish and wildlife statewide law enforcement equipment request. He noted that the request would provide for replacement of FWP statewide law enforcement equipment required for the  day-to-day enforcement activity of the division. The requested amount would be $250 thousand general fund dollars.  428 Mr. Bischoff Addressed the Fairbanks Public Safety Building roof replacement request in the amount of $770.1 thousand general fund dollars. He noted that the request would replace the deteriorating roof on the Public Safety Building.  556 Mr. Bischoff Discussed the Soldotna Public Safety building roof repair in the amount of $155.1 thousand general fund dollars.  592 Mr. Bischoff Discussed the Crime Lab Improvement Program request in the amount of total $1.459 million dollars. The State match amount would be $209.6 thousand general fund dollars. He noted that there are several components to the project.  690 Mr. Bischoff Spoke to the fish and wildlife enforcement vessels replacement request in the amount of $400 thousand general fund dollars. He noted that the money would be used to replace 6 law enforcement patrol vessels statewide.  832 Representative Asked if speed was an essential element Hudson in the boating operations.  862 Mr. Bischoff Replied that it depends on the mission.  915 Representative Asked if when the vessels were being Hudson replaced, did the Department look at options outside the State of Alaska.  944 Mr. Bischoff Replied that they do.  967 Mr. Bischoff Discussed the grants to the Domestic Violence shelters in the amount of $200 thousand general fund dollars which would provide about 40% of the amount required to met the highest priority health and safety needs as determined through a comprehensive needs' assessment by the programs.  990 Mr. Bischoff Spoke to the Alaska Law enforcement photo network request in the amount of $1.3 million dollars. He stated that the enforcement requires critical identifiers with fingerprints, photographs and DNA to conduct the daily work. The project would provide direct access to Alaska booking, driver and ID photographic information by law enforcement agencies throughout the State.  1017 Mr. Bischoff Discussed the rural law enforcement support request in the amount of $1.8 million federal dollars. The Department  of Justice will be awarding the Department of Public Safety $1.8 million dollars to train Village Police Officers, Village Public Safety Officers and Tribal Police Officers to increase their ability to deal with crisis situations and to purchase equipment for better responses to emergencies.  1033 Mr. Bischoff Addressed the technology, policing and enforcement initiatives grants to municipalities in the amount of $2.2 million federal dollars. The federal grants will be pass-through grants through the Department of Public Safety to local municipalities for various public safety projects.  1060 Mr. Bischoff Mentioned the King Salmon Fishing repairs, which is an added request, and is not included in member's packets.  1090 Mr. Bischoff Added that in the Department is requesting the authority to sell aircraft in order to use those funds to buy future aircraft that would be more appropriate for the Department's use.  1112 Representative Croft Questioned how that would happen.  1117 Mr. Bischoff Did not know exactly how it would work but offered to look into it. He reiterated that it would include aircraft that is no longer suitable for the Department's missions.  1145 Co-Chair Williams ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 P.M.