MINUTES  HOUSE AND SENATE CONFERENCE COMMIITTEE  FOR HB 312 AND HB 313  April 21, 2000  4:39 PM TAPES CC-00 # 5, Side A CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Sean Parnell convened the meeting at approximately 4:39 PM PRESENT Chair Sean Parnell Vice-Chair Eldon Mulder Senator John Torgerson Representative Gene Therriault Senator Al Adams Representative John Davies Also Attending: DAVID TEAL, Director, Division of Legislative Finance SUMMARY INFORMATION HB 312-APPROPRIATIONS: OPERATING BUDGET HB 313-APPROPRIATIONS: MENTAL HEALTH Mental Health Department of Education and Early Development Department of Labor and Workforce Development Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Department of Military and Veterans Affairs University of Alaska - held SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 312(FIN) "An Act making and amending 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." AND SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 313(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." MENTAL HEALTH CAPITAL Chair Parnell reviewed the proposed conference committee mental health capital item. [See motion sheet on file.] Vice-chair Mulder moved to adopt the motion sheets. There being no objection, the item was ADOPTED. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT Chair Parnell noted that the allocation to the childcare assistance program would increase $3,138,700, and the childcare grants would rise from $22 to $28 per day, a 27 percent increase. He added that the waitlist would begin to be addressed with an additional $438,700. Chair Parnell reviewed the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Education and Early Development. [See motion sheets on file.] Representative Davies requested Item #9, Headstart Grants be addressed separately. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt all items except Item #9, Headstart Grants and Item #12, WWAMI Medical Education as reviewed by Chair Parnell and contained on the motion sheets. There being no objection, the items were ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt Item #9. Representative Davies objected to ask if this appropriation funds the Headstart grants at the FY 00 level. Chair Parnell affirmed it does. Representative G. Davis noted for the record that the $2 million increase requested by the governor was not funded. Representative Davies withdrew his objection. Item #12 was HELD. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Chair Parnell reviewed the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. [See motion sheets on file.] He noted that Item #1, State Training Employment Program would be HELD. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt the remaining items contained on the motion sheets. There being no objection, the items were ADOPTED. DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS Chair Parnell reviewed the proposed conference committee motions for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. [See motion sheets on file.] Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt the items contained on the motion sheets. There being no objection, the items were ADOPTED. INTENT LANGUAGE Chair Parnell relayed that because Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds were allocated to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, conforming intent language for the Department of Health and Social Services and Department of Public Safety is necessary. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance. [Copy on file, titled "Language A".] There was no objection and the language was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Public Safety, Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. [Copy on file, titled "Language B".] There being no objection, the language was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Statewide Highways Snowplowing and Winter Maintenance component. [Copy on file, titled "Language C".] Chair Parnell explained this language relates to the $257,600 general fund transfer from the Northern Region Highways to be used to open certain roads, mainly the Taylor Highway. Representative Davies objected to ask if the Denali Highway was included. Senator Torgerson responded that the Denali Highway is fully funded through a separate component. There being no objection, the language was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Statewide Highways and Aviation Maintenance Needs. [Copy on file, titled "Language D".] Chair Parnell explained this relates to the reopening and maintaining the Kalsin Bay, North Kenai, Moose Pass, Willow Trims, Birch Lake and other maintenance stations. There was no objection and the language was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Central Region Highways and Aviation component. [Copy on file, titled "Language E".] There being no objection, it was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Whittier Access and Tunnel. [Copy on file, titled "Language F".] There was no objection and it was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Northern Region Highways and Aviation component. [Copy on file, titled "Language G".] There being no objection, it was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Southeast Region Highways and Aviation component. [Copy on file, titled "Language H".] There being no objection, it was ADOPTED. Vice-Chair Mulder moved to adopt intent language for the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Vessel Operations Management component. [Copy on file, titled "Language I".] There being no objection, it was ADOPTED. Senator Adams requested Chair Parnell's staff work with the Department of Health and Social Services regarding childcare assistance to clear confusion regarding the language. ADJOURNED Senator Parnell adjourned the meeting at 4:53 PM.