HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 15, 2017 4:41 p.m. 4:41:46 PM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 4:41 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair Representative Paul Seaton, Co-Chair Representative Les Gara, Vice-Chair Representative Jason Grenn Representative David Guttenberg Representative Scott Kawasaki Representative Dan Ortiz Representative Lance Pruitt Representative Steve Thompson Representative Cathy Tilton Representative Tammie Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT Representative Andy Josephson, Sponsor. PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Christy Lawton, Office of Children's Services, Anchorage; Stacie Kraly, Attorney, Civil Division, Department of Law. SUMMARY HB 105 DENALI WOLF SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA CSHB 105(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do pass" recommendations, one "do not pass" recommendation, three "no recommendation" recommendations, and one "amend" recommendation and with two previously published zero fiscal notes: FN1(DFG) and FN2(DPS). HB 151 DHSS;CINA; FOSTER CARE; CHILD PROTECTION CSHB 151(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations, one "no recommendation" recommendation, and four "amend" recommendations and with a new zero fiscal note by the Department of Administration and two previously published fiscal impact notes: FN1(DHS) and FN2(DHS). Co-Chair Foster reviewed the agenda for the day. He intended to move both bills from committee. He relayed the committee would not be hearing SB 23, the appropriations for the Capital Budget, as previously scheduled. HOUSE BILL NO. 105 "An Act establishing the Gordon Haber Denali Wolf Special Management Area." 4:42:47 PM Co-Chair Foster invited the bill sponsor to introduce himself and to make any comments he wished concerning the legislation. REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON, SPONSOR, replied that the amendment took up a critic's concerns in an earlier hearing. Co-Chair Foster MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1 (copy on file): Page 1, line 1: Delete "hunting or trapping of wolves" Insert "taking of wolves and the use of certain traps and snares" Page 1, line 5: Delete "hunting or trapping of wolves" Insert "taking of wolves and the use of certain traps and snares" Page 1, lines 6 - 7: Delete "Hunting and trapping of wolves is prohibited" Insert "A person may not take a wolf or use a cable snare with a diameter greater than 3/32 of an inch or a leg-hold trap with a jaw spread greater than five inches" Page 3, line 20, following "who": Insert "negligently" Representative Kawasaki OBJECTED for discussion. Representative Josephson continued that his office consulted with Vic Van Ballenberghe who had trapped 100 wolves in his life, mostly for study. He also consulted with Bruce Dale, Wildlife Division Director, Department of Fish and Game and with Bernard Chastain of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) who knew a great deal about trapping. The bill language was prepared by Mr. Bullard of Legislative Legal Services and reviewed by the Department of Law. One of the criticisms of the bill was that there could be incidental take if the state just banned wolf trapping and hunting. He explained that the bill would still ban wolf trapping and hunting, but the case would be stronger if someone used 2 types of traps that were primarily designed to catch a wolf but could catch other animals too. The 2 types of traps would be banned, and a person found using them would be charged with a misdemeanor whether they caught a wolf. He continued that the standard of someone's -mental state would be "negligently." Another concern raised by a caller was about whether the bill would impede subsistence. He confirmed that the legislation would not impede subsistence. Representative Josephson reported that there were two units in question: subunit 20A was closed to subsistence currently, and subunit 20C of which only a small portion would be incumbered. He remarked that all other forms of trapping would be allowed. His office had carved out the types of traps that generally would not impact lynx, wolverine, and coyotes. Finally, he noted the Board of Game had a similar, although not identical, buffer zone and there was no litigation when it was closed regarding subsistence. Representative Guttenberg asked about the "Insert" on line 11. He wondered if the intent was that the snare or the trap was designed such that it would not take animals smaller than a wolf. Representative Josephson responded in the affirmative. Representative Kawasaki WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment 1 was ADOPTED. Co-Chair Foster asked Vice-Chair Gara to review the fiscal notes for the bill. Vice-Chair Gara reported HB 105 had two zero fiscal notes. He relayed the details of FN 1: Department: Department of Fish and Game Appropriation: Wildlife Conservation Allocation: Wildlife Conservation OMB Component Number: 473 He relayed the details of FN 2: Department: Department of Public Safety Appropriation: Alaska State Troopers Allocation: Alaska Wildlife Troopers OMB Component Number: 2746 Co-Chair Seaton MOVED to report CSHB 105(FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CSHB 105(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do pass" recommendations, one "do not pass" recommendation, three "no recommendation" recommendations, and one "amend" recommendation and with two previously published zero fiscal notes: FN1(DFG) and FN2(DPS). Co-Chair Foster moved to the next agenda item. HOUSE BILL NO. 151 "An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to training and workload standards for employees of the Department of Health and Social Services; relating to foster care licensing; relating to placement of a child in need of aid; relating to the rights and responsibilities of foster parents; relating to subsidies for adoption or guardianship of a child in need of aid; requiring the Department of Health and Social Services to provide information to a child or person released from the department's custody; and providing for an effective date." 4:48:41 PM Co-Chair Foster relayed that the committee had heard the bill twice before. Co-Chair Seaton MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for HB 151, Work Draft 30-LS0451\E (Glover, 4/14/17). Co-Chair Foster OBJECTED for discussion. REPRESENTATIVE LES GARA, SPONSOR, reviewed the changes from the N version to the E version. The changes were primarily pear downs of the bill to make it less costly. Version N included a provision that would have granted adoption and guardianship subsidies to families who adopted youth over the age of 18. However, under federal law, he could not find a way to make the provision work. the federal government required the state to also extend the subsidies to anyone adopted before age 18. It would have resulted in an $8 million fiscal note. The provision was removed in the newest version. He added that the previous $1 million fiscal note was removed. He continued that in version E he found a way to lower the cost of the bill. The department recommended that caseloads, on average, be no more that 12 per case worker statewide. He saved about $1 million in a way that continued to make the bill work and vastly improve the system by increasing the statewide standard to 13 families instead of 12. Version E used 13 family. The committee substitute also outlined that no one could sue the department if that standard was not met. The standard was subject to appropriation and recruitment efforts. Those were the major changes in the bill. Co-Chair Foster WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO OBJECTION, the committee substitute for HB 151 was ADOPTED. Co-Chair Foster relayed the names of the testifiers available online to answer questions. He indicated that Representative Pruitt and Representative Tilton had joined the meeting. The committee would be taking a brief "at ease" in anticipation of the arrival of Representative Wilson. Co-Chair Seaton wanted to ask Christy Lawton if the department was okay with the changes made to the bill. CHRISTY LAWTON, OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), responded that the department was satisfied with the changes. She elaborated that while the department would like to see the additional subsidy extended to 21 for all children, it realized it was not fiscally possible was not currently possible in Alaska. She noted the department appreciating the immunity clause that was added to help give further protection given that there were so many things regarding workforce that were beyond the state's control. The department was satisfied with the bill as written. 4:53:59 PM AT EASE 4:55:01 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Foster indicated there were several meetings beginning shortly. The committee would stand at ease and reconvene following the adjournment of the various meetings. 4:55:18 PM AT EASE 6:31:19 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Foster indicated the amendments would be heard for HB 151. Representative Wilson reported the amendments had been dropped off to Vice-Chair Gara's office. Representative Wilson MOVED to ADOPT Conceptual Amendment 1 (copy on file): Page 1, line 3, following "licensing": Insert "relating to civil and criminal history background checks for foster care licensing and payments;" Page 4, following line 8: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 4. AS 47.05.310(c) is amended to read: (c) Except as provided in