HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE February 25, 2008 1:45 P.M. CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Chenault called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:45:09 PM. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair Representative Harry Crawford Representative Les Gara Representative Mike Hawker Representative Reggie Joule Representative Mike Kelly Representative Mary Nelson Representative Bill Thomas Jr. MEMBERS ABSENT Representative John Harris ALSO PRESENT Representative Beth Kerttula JUNEAU: Marianne Mills, Program Director, Southeast Senior Services; Pamela Watts, Administrator, Juneau Alliance for Mental Health (JAMI); Jeremy Gieser, Local Chapter President, Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA), Juneau Chapter; Lorene Palmer, President & CEO, Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau; Walter Majoros, Executive Director, Juneau Youth Services & President, Alaska Behavioral Health Association; Jorden Nigro, Residential Director, Juneau Youth Alaska Services, President, Alaska Association for Homes for Children; Heather Swanson, Help Desk Consultant, University of Alaska-Southeast; Kathrin McCarthy, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska-Southeast; Jed Whittaker, Self; Ron Duncan, Self; Mandy O'Neal Cole, Director Services Manager, Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), Inc.; Ellen Naughter, Program Services Manager, Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), Inc.; Joy Lyon, Executive Director, Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) in Southeast Alaska; Kevin Skeet, Vice President, Student Government, University of Alaska- Southeast (UAS); Mary McDowell, Vice President, Pacific Seafood Processing Association; Jerry McCune, United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA); Jacqueline Hardy, Social Worker, Anchorage Office for Children's Services; Michael Powell, Social Workers Board & Community Worker; Matt Felix, Director, Division of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, Juneau PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Paul Kendall, Self, Anchorage GENERAL SUBJECT(S): The following overview was taken in log note format. Handouts will be on file with the House Finance Committee through the 25th Legislative Session, contact 465-6814. After the 25th Legislative Session they will be available through the Legislative Library at 465-3808. ^STATEWIDE PUBLIC TESTIMONY JUNEAU TIME SPEAKER DISCUSSION  1:45:09 PM Co-Chair Convened the House Finance Committee in Chenault order to hear testimony from participants in Juneau on the operating budget.  JUNEAU  1:47:13 PM MARIANNE Noted that she represents a group MILLS, PROGRAM called Age-Net that advocates for DIRECTOR, vulnerable older Alaskans. She SOUTHEAST indicated support for the increased SENIOR Medicaid reimbursements @ 4%. SERVICES Ms. Mills urged increases for the Senior Services Community Grant Program, which would be considerably cheaper to the State of Alaska compared to costs associated with nursing homes.  1:51:47 PM PAMELA WATTS, Noted support for the 4% Medicaid ADMINISTRATOR, reimbursements for seniors. She stated JUNEAU that costs for services have risen for ALLIANCE FOR the severely mentally ill adults group MENTAL HEALTH living. She indicated supported for the (JAMI) Senior and Behavioral Health Grant.  1:56:31 PM JEREMY GIESER, Spoke in support of funding to the LOCAL CHAPTER Alaska Travel Industry Association in PRESIDENT, the amount of $8 million for Alaska ALASKA TRAVEL tourism marketing and a $1 million INDUSTRY dollar independent grant. He asked that ASSOCIATION there be greater funding than the (ATIA), JUNEAU proposed amounts.  1:59:25 PM LORENE PALMER, Spoke in support of funding to the PRESIDENT & Alaska Travel Industry Association, CEO, JUNEAU Governor's request of $8 million for CONVENTION AND Alaska tourism marketing and a $1  VISITORS million dollar independent grant. She BUREAU added that in reality, the industry needs $20 million dollars in today's funds.  2:05:00 PM WALTER Addressed the behavioral health issues MAJOROS, contained in the proposed budget. He EXECUTIVE noted his supported for the 4% Medicaid DIRECTOR, funding, which includes several JUNEAU YOUTH increases to lost federal funding. He SERVICES & testified in support of greater funding PRESIDENT, for behavior and mental grants; many ALASKA clients do not qualify for Medicaid BEHAVIORAL that the medical health grants would be HEALTH used in those circumstances. ASSOCIATION Mr. Majoros pointed out the importance of the community and early intervention grants and suicide prevention programs. He added greater support for funding of substance abuse prevention and treatment programs.   2:09:35 PM JORDEN NIGRO, Echoed previous testimony for full RESIDENTIAL funding for the Medicaid health budget. DIRECTOR, She added supported of the incremental JUNEAU YOUTH grants not included in the proposed ALASKA House budget. SERVICES, She indicated support for funding for PRESIDENT, the behavior and mental programs and ALASKA the support of funding for behavior and ASSOCIATION mental grant programs. FOR HOMES FOR CHILDREN  2:13:16 PM HEATHER Spoke in support of full funding for SWANSON, HELP the University's proposed budget. She DESK pointed out that the funding level was CONSULTANT, less than Governor's funding proposal UNIVERSITY OF and should be increased for University ALASKA-programs.  SOUTHEAST 2:17:29 PM KATHRIN Spoke in support of reinstating the MCCARTHY, $600 thousand dollars of the Governor's ASSISTANT proposal for the Head Start program. PROFESSOR, She explained how the support of the UNIVERSITY OF funding those dollars dramatically ALASKA-effect early childhood development as SOUTHEAST it is a comprehensive early childhood development program.  2:21:02 PM JED WHITTAKER, Spoke in support of full funding for SELF the University of Alaska; while he encouraged that the Legislature look at the salaries currently being paid to the University president.  2:23:17 PM RON DUNCAN, Noted support of funding for substance  SELF abuse prevention and treatment programs statewide. He directed his statements to the favor of Rainforest Recovery Unit and their funding.  2:26:31 PM MANDY O'NEAL Spoke in support of Governor's proposed COLE, DIRECT funding for domestic violence and SERVICES sexual assault programs in the State. MANAGER, She stressed that training programs are AIDING WOMEN very important in that funding.  IN ABUSE AND RAPE EMERGENCIES (AWARE), INC. 2:30:36 PM ELLEN Spoke in support of Governor Palin's NAUGHTER, proposed increase of $436 thousand PROGRAM dollars funding for domestic violence SERVICES and sexual assault programs. The MANAGER, increase would encourage the shelter AIDING WOMEN programs to increase and expand IN ABUSE AND services. RAPE  EMERGENCIES (AWARE), INC. 2:33:37 PM JOY LYON, Spoke in support of the Governor's EXECUTIVE proposal for funding the Head Start DIRECTOR, programs statewide. She stressed the ASSOCIATION needs and rights of all the State's FOR THE children.  EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (AEYC) SOUTHEAST ALASKA 2:37:49 PM KEVIN SKEET, Spoke in support of full funding for VICE the University funding as proposed by PRESIDENT, the Governor in the amount of $7 STUDENT million dollars. He explained that the GOVERNMENT, University is addressing climate change UNIVERSITY OF research.  ALASKA- SOUTHEAST 2:40:50 PM MARY MCDOWELL, Spoke in supported for fully funding VICE the Department of Fish and Game budget PRESIDENT, as proposed by Governor. She addressed PACIFIC the economic benefits to the State when SEAFOOD supporting the fishery programs. She PROCESSORS concluded that it is a wise investment ASSOCIATION for the State to support the fisheries.  (PSPA) 2:44:27 PM JERRY MCCUNE, Indicated support for the Governor's UNITED proposed operating budget for the FISHERMEN OF Department of Fish and Game and the  ALASKA proposed amendments to replace federal monies.  2:47:50 PM JACQUELINE Voiced support for funding of the HARDY, SOCIAL Medicaid increases. WORKER, She addressed the foster care program ANCHORAGE funding, pointing out that there has OFFICE FOR not been a rate increase since 1999. CHILDREN'S Ms. Hardy added support of full funding SERVICES for all substance abuse and prevention treatment programs.  2:51:42 PM MICHAEL Testified in support of funding for POWELL, SOCIAL substance abuse prevention and WORKERS BOARD treatment programs as they relate to & COMMUNITY statewide crime. Many of the people in WORKER prisons in Alaska are there because of substance abuse addictions.  3:01:03 PM MATT FELIX, Testified in support of funding for STATE substance abuse prevention and DIRECTOR, treatment programs statewide. He DIVISION OF encouraged that legislators support the ALCOHOL AND budget as proposed by Governor Palin.  DRUG ABUSE, JUNEAU 3:05:33 PM PAUL KENDALL, Voiced support for saving money in the SELF, proposed budget rather than spending it ANCHORAGE on too many social service projects. He added that he would not recommend any energy saving projects in the State.   ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:16 P.M.  #