HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE March 16, 2006 4:06 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 4:06:18 PM. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair Representative Richard Foster Representative Mike Hawker Representative Jim Holm Representative Reggie Joule Representative Mike Kelly Representative Beth Kerttula Representative Carl Moses MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Bruce Weyhrauch ALSO PRESENT Representative Sharon Cissna; Meera Kuhler, Alaska Village Electric Association; Alan Budahl, Board Chair, Boys and Girls Club; Cheri Gillian, Volunteer Board Member, Boys and Girls Club; Ira Perman, Ready to Read, Read and Learn Task Force; Suzi Pearson, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Ellen Krasnak, Catholic Social Services; Dave Falsey, Dentist, Key Campaign; Chris Hall; Vern McCorkle; Ronni Sullivan, Director, Southern Region EMS; Jim Udelhoven, CEO, Udelhoven Oil Services; Frank Apple, Pioneer Homes Advisory Board; Steve Lesko, President, Key Coalition; Steve Rollins; Diana Rey, Hope Community Resources; Abigail Nauman, Hope Community Resources; Yvette Wilson, Hope Community Resources; Terry Schoenthal, KSKA/KAKM; Sandy Camery, Mabel T. Caverly Senior Center; Ed Earnhart; Patricia Cochran; Brooke Antonich, VOA of Alaskan KIDS and Families; C.W. Floyd, DHHS-MOA; Tami Eller; Gwen Lee, The Arc of Anchorage; Ellen Paneok, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Peggy Owens, Executive Director, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Alex Johnston, Director of Statewide Initiatives, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Scott Jones, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Robin Phillips, Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Rosalie Nadeau, Executive Director, AKEELA; Jayson Smart, Parent of Developmental Disabilities, ED, Stone Soup Group; Diane Ingle, Municipality of Anchorage Health Department; Dan Saddler; Candace Winkler, Childcare Provider & Parent Network; Kalen Saxton, Alaska Family Childcare Association GENERAL SUBJECT(S): HB 365 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; 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." HB 366 "An Act making appropriations for the operating and capital expenses of the state's integrated comprehensive mental health program; and providing for an effective date." The following overview was taken in log note format. Tapes and handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 24th Legislative Session, contact 465- 6814. After the 24th Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808.   Public Testimony: Anchorage  TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION  4:07:30 PM ELLEN KRASNAK, Spoke in support of reinstating funding CATHOLIC for the Human Services Matching Grant. SOCIAL She related services and the facilities SERVICES served by this grant. She pointed out that Catholic Social Services makes good use of these funds.  4:11:25 PM DAVE FALSEY, Advocated for funding for the Dental DENTIST, KEY Health Bill. He shared how important CAMPAIGN dental health care is for everyone.  4:15:23 PM CHRIS HALL Spoke of a goal of a workforce trained and employed in Alaska. He advocated for funding the University Budget Request.  4:17:46 PM VERN MCCORKLE Testified in support of funding for Alaska Public Radio Network (APRN). He mentioned how valuable public broadcast is to rural Alaska and to the rest of the state.  4:19:50 PM RONNI Testified in support of funding for SULLIVAN, Emergency Medical Services programs, DIRECTOR, which have been flat-funded for several SOUTHERN years. She pointed to changes in EMS REGION EMS relating to pandemic flu issues. She  mentioned a loss of staff and training.  4:23:02 PM JIM UDELHOVEN, Spoke in favor of full funding for the CEO, UDELHOVEN Vocational Training Center. He termed OIL SERVICES it a good investment by reducing future unemployment, cost, and crime.  4:26:26 PM FRANK APPLE, Shared statistics about the high cost PIONEER HOMES of residential care in Pioneer Homes. ADVISORY BOARD Staffing levels have not increased and more staffing is needed to deal with increasingly complex problems. He testified in support of increased funding for staffing in Pioneer Homes.  4:28:20 PM STEVE LESKO, Advocated for families with PRESIDENT, KEY disabilities. He shared a personal COALITION experience. He discussed problems with wait-listed clients and offered solutions by family support resources. He testified in support of reducing the number of Alaskans who are waiting for services.  4:32:25 PM STEVE ROLLINS Testified in support of full funding as proposed in the governor's budget for the University of Alaska Anchorage. He shared the excellent return for dollars invested in the university.  4:34:13 PM DIANA REY, Shared her background with HOPE COMMUNITY individualized services with mental RESOURCES health. She described the benefits attained from receiving mental health services. She shared several examples of support received.  4:36:47 PM MEERA KUHLER, Urged the committee's support of Power ALASKA VILLAGE Cost Equalization, without which, leads ELECTRIC to hardship in rural areas.  ASSOCIATION 4:38:21 PM ALAN BUDAHL, Advocated for support for the Youth BOARD CHAIR, Success Initiative. He shared the BOYS AND GIRLS mission of the Boys and Girls Club and CLUB listed the benefits of supporting the Club's proposal.  4:41:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE Asked if the Boys and Girls Club is JOULE working with other groups. Mr. Budahl replied that four other groups were chosen to work with the initiative.  4:42:28 PM CHERI GILLIAN, Testified in support of funding the VOLUNTEER Youth Success Initiative. She BOARD MEMBER, described the extent of the initiative. BOYS AND GIRLS She related the costs of incarcerating CLUB one youth. She shared the Club's ability to address and measure the outcomes of the initiative.  4:45:24 PM IRA PERMAN, Reported that too many preschool READY TO READ, students are unprepared for school. He  READ AND LEARN shared that kids that don't read well TASK FORCE often get into trouble. He noted that the task force is in the process of putting together a plan to remedy this situation. He asked that a dollar amount be returned to the governor's budget in order to support the Ready to Read initiative.  4:49:19 PM SUZI PEARSON, Spoke to the importance of the funding ABUSED WOMEN'S $3 million for HSMG.  AID IN CRISIS 4:50:42 PM ABIGAIL Testified in favor of CCFC waivers. NAUMAN, HOPE She shared a personal experience of a COMMUNITY client in the program who did not have RESOURCES to remain on the wait list. She encouraged reinstatement of the funding the governor proposed.  4:53:40 PM YVETTE WILSON, Shared her experience as a parent with HOPE COMMUNITY support from these services. She RESOURCES encouraged reinstatement of the wait- list funding in the governor's proposal.  4:55:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE Clarified the wait-list funding was not HAWKER proposed in the governor's budget. He pointed out that the funds were added by the legislature.  4:56:51 PM TERRY Encouraged the committee to accept the SCHOENTHAL, recommendation for funding for public KSKA/KAKM radio.  4:58:18 PM SANDY CAMERY, Encouraged further funding for the MABEL T. matching grants for seniors. She asked CAVERLY SENIOR for all recipients for preventive CENTER dental work that would save Medicaid dollars.  5:00:30 PM ED EARNHART Testified in favor of greater funding for education and the University of Alaska.  5:02:09 PM PATRICIA Urged further funding for substance COCHRAN abuse prevention. 25% of Alaska children are victims of alcohol disorders. Research has shown the greatest factors in secondary activity such as FASD are early diagnosis and living in stable home environment.  5:05:33 PM BROOKE Testified on behalf of greater funding ANTONICH, VOA for prevention services. She addressed OF ALASKAN the services that are taxed without KIDS AND prevention.  FAMILIES 5:08:00 PM C.W. FLOYD, Noted support for Health and Human DHHS-MOA Service line item for the City of Anchorage in the amount of $500,000. He mentioned addressing collateral  services statewide for social detoxification system.  5:11:54 PM TAMI ELLER Requested youth treatment funding at the Governor's requested amount. Children are at risk for meeting their full potential.  5:14:18 PM GWEN LEE, THE Urged support for the HESS subcommittee ARC OF for the wait list to support the work ANCHORAGE of that group waiting for services.  5:16:30 PM ELLEN PANEOK, Requested full funding of the BIG BROTHERS, Governor's Youth Initiative. Big BIG SISTERS Brothers Big Sisters receives a portion of that grant funding.  5:18:14 PM PEGGY OWENS, Expressed support for the Governor's EXECUTIVE Youth Initiative. In Anchorage, there DIRECTOR, BIG are more than 16,000 youths that could BROTHERS, BIG benefit from a quality mentoring SISTERS relationship. She spoke to the success of the BBBS programs helping children leading happier and more productive lives.  5:20:15 PM ALEX JOHNSTON, Urged support for the Governor's Youth DIRECTOR OF Initiative.  STATEWIDE INITIATIVES, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS 5:22:38 PM SCOTT JONES, Spoke about his Little Match, Dante, BIG BROTHERS, and urged full funding for the BIG SISTERS Governor's Youth Initiative.  5:25:22 PM ROBIN Requested support for the Governor's PHILLIPS, BIG Youth Initiative. The partners for the BROTHERS, BIG program have proven their success SISTERS across the State.  5:27:39 PM ROSALIE Urged reconsideration of the reduction NADEAU, to prevention programs for substance EXECUTIVE abuse. Those programs pay for DIRECTOR, themselves. The state is not meeting AKEELA the needs. She stressed the need to look at priorities for progress for the state. She mentioned how the state pays for overcrowded prisons, etc.  5:32:19 PM JAYSON SMART, Spoke in favor of full funding for the PARENT OF Department of Health and Social Service DEVELOPMENTAL programs for FASD. He urged support DISABILITIES, for the $506,000 general fund dollars ED, STONE SOUP and the increment that the governor GROUP proposed, an addition of $500,000. In previous years, Alaska received money from the federal government. He urged those funding increments, a minimal investment for this important work. Testified for further funding for the  DD wait list.  5:37:10 PM DIANE INGLE, Requested for support to continue MUNICIPALITY funding of the infrastructure for OF ANCHORAGE public health nursing support in the HEALTH amount of the governor's request. DEPARTMENT Urged full funding for the immunization registry.  5:41:09 PM DAN SADDLER Testified in support of Home and Community based waiver services for those with disabilities. He shared that he had twins, one with autism. There are special stresses on parents who have children with disabilities. He urged that the governor's proposal be accepted.  5:44:05 PM CANDACE Asked to reinstate the funding of WINKLER, $750,000 that was in the governor's CHILDCARE proposed budget for early childhood PROVIDER & development. She mentioned the Ready PARENT NETWORK to Read Task Force. The investment will help many children in the State of Alaska to be all that they can be.  5:47:56 PM KALEN SAXTON, Urged that the $750,000 be replaced ALASKA FAMILY into the legislative proposed budget. CHILDCARE She added concerns for those children ASSOCIATION with FAS and FAE. She urged diagnosis for those conditions.  ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:49 PM