29TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB72 and HB73 April 15, 2015 4:15 p.m. 4:15:11 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Neuman called the Conference Committee meeting on HB72 and HB73 to order at 4:15 p.m MEMBERS PRESENT: House: Representative Mark Neuman, Chair Representative Steve Thompson Representative Les Gara Senate: Senator Pete Kelly, Vice-Chair Senator Anna MacKinnon Senator Donny Olson MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT: David Teal, Director, Legislative Finance Division; fiscal analysts with the Office of Management and Budget and Legislative Finance Division; and aides to committee members and other members of the Legislature. SUMMARY HB 72 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HB 73 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 72(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs and capitalizing funds; and providing for an effective date." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 72(FIN) am S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs and capitalizing funds; amending appropriations; and providing for an effective date." and CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(FIN) "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." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 73(FIN) "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." 4:15:52 PM DEPARTMENTS NATURAL RESOURCES TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Chair Neuman communicated that the conference committee would be meeting on HB 72 and HB 73 open items. He noted that Limited Powers of Free Conference had been granted by both the Senate and the House. Departments with open items would be taken up based on the motion sheets distributed to members earlier in the day and dated April 15, 2015. He relayed that the conference committee would not address open items from the Department of Health and Social Services budget during the current meeting. 4:16:15 PM AT EASE 4:17:36 PM RECONVENED DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Department of Natural Resources budget: Item 1 Senate Item 2 On line 1, Senate On line 2, Senate and change fund source to In-State Natural Gas Pipeline Fund, fund code 1229 Item 3 House Item 13 Senate Representative Gara OBJECTED for discussion. He objected to items one and two. He suggested that the proposed cuts would eliminate two staff within the Department of Natural Resources who were experts in North Slope gas commercialization. The cuts totaled approximately $4.3 million. He relayed that the administration was concerned that the cuts would hamper the state's efforts to move ahead with a gas pipeline and to get gas to market. Representative Gara shared the same concerns. Co-Chair Neuman responded that in his discussions with members of the department they did not oppose the proposed cuts. 4:19:48 PM AT EASE 4:22:21 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Neuman placed items 1 and 2 on hold. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action left open items 1 and 2 in the budget for the Department of Natural Resources' budget. 4:23:07 PM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Vice-Chair Kelly MOVED to ADOPT the Chair's recommendation on the following items for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' budget: Item 1 On line 1, Senate On line 2, House Item 2 Senate Item 3 Senate for both fund sources Item 4 Senate for both fund sources Item 5 House for both fund sources Item 6 Senate for both fund sources Item 7 Senate for both fund sources Item 8 Senate Item 9 Senate Item 10 Senate Item 11 Senate for both fund sources Item 12 House Item 13 Senate for both fund sources Item 14 Senate Item 15 Senate Item 16 Senate Item 17 House for both fund sources Item 18 House minus $156.9 thousand General Fund, fund code 1004, and minus 1 position Item 19 Senate Item 20 Senate Item 21 Senate Item 22 House for both fund sources Item 23 House Item 24 Senate Item 25 Senate Item 26 Senate Item 27 Senate Items 28 through 50 remain open. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. This action left open items 28 through 50 for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' budget. Chair Neuman relayed that the next meeting would be held on Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. HB 72 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HB 73 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 4:25:39 PM The meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.