HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE April 13, 2011 1:55 p.m. 1:55:01 PM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Thomas called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:55 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Co-Chair Representative Anna Fairclough, Vice-Chair Representative Mia Costello Representative Mike Doogan Representative Bryce Edgmon Representative Les Gara Representative David Guttenberg Representative Reggie Joule Representative Mark Neuman Representative Tammie Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair ALSO PRESENT Representative Bob Herron, Sponsor; Joe Michel, Staff, Representative Bill Stoltze. SUMMARY HB 78 INCENTIVES FOR CERTAIN MEDICAL PROVIDERS HB 78 was HEARD and HELD and referred to a subcommittee that consisted of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Costello, Representative Joule, Representative Guttenberg, Representative, and Bob Herron for further consideration. HB 223 ALASKA RAILROAD BUDGET HB 223 was HEARD and HELD and referred to subcommittee consisting of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Joule, Representative Costello, and Representative Guttenberg for further consideration. SB 46 BUDGET: CAPITAL SB 46 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD. HOUSE BILL NO. 78 "An Act establishing a loan repayment program and employment incentive program for certain health care professionals employed in the state; and providing for an effective date." 1:56:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE BOB HERRON, SPONSOR, discussed that the bill provided a solution to the health care provider shortage and would help both rural and urban Alaska. He looked forward to working on the legislation with the committee during the upcoming interim. He expressed hope that the bill would report out of committee the following year. Co-Chair Thomas reported that the workdraft had been adopted by the House Finance Committee on March 31, 2011. He discussed that the bill would be referred to a subcommittee that consisted of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Costello, Representative Joule, Representative Guttenberg and, Representative Bob Herron [he noted later in the meeting that Representative Guttenberg had requested to be removed from the subcommittee and that Co-Chair Stoltze would consider the request]. Representative Herron hoped that the subcommittee would have a minimum of two meetings, including one in rural and one in urban Alaska. HB 78 was HEARD and HELD and referred to a subcommittee that consisted of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Costello, Representative Joule, Representative Guttenberg, Representative, and Bob Herron for further consideration. 1:57:58 PM AT EASE 1:58:59 PM RECONVENED HOUSE BILL NO. 223 "An Act providing that the Alaska Railroad Corporation is subject to the Executive Budget Act and providing that expenditures of the Alaska Railroad Corporation are subject to appropriation; and providing for an effective date." 1:59:09 PM Vice-chair Fairclough moved HB 223, version 27-LS0771\M before the committee. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. JOE MICHEL, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE, explained that HB 223 was an exact replica of HB 127 that had been heard the prior legislative session. He delineated that the bill would place the Alaska Railroad Corporation under the Executive Budget Act. 2:00:06 PM Representative Neuman wondered about the history and purpose of the legislation. Mr. Michel replied that the bill placed the Alaska Railroad Corporation under the Executive Budget Act to provide the legislature with better visibility of the corporation's actions and because many state corporations, including the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, had operated well under the act. Representative Neuman believed that the legislation was a good idea. Co-Chair Thomas discussed that the bill would be referred to subcommittee that consisted of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Joule, Representative Costello, and Representative Guttenberg. He noted that Co-Chair Stoltze would consider a request made by Representative Neuman for a seat on the HB 223 subcommittee and a request by Representative Guttenberg to be removed from the HB 78 subcommittee. HB 223 was HEARD and HELD and referred to a subcommittee that consisted of Co-Chair Stoltze, Representative Joule, Representative Costello, and Representative Guttenberg for further consideration. 2:01:49 PM AT EASE 2:03:39 PM RECONVENED SENATE BILL NO. 46 "An Act making and amending appropriations, including capital appropriations and other appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." SB 46 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:03 PM. 2:03:57 PM