MINUTES SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE March 8, 2000 8:37 AM TAPES SFC-00 # 49, Side A CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Sean Parnell convened the meeting at approximately 8:37 AM PRESENT Co-Chair John Torgerson, Co-Chair Sean Parnell, Senator Al Adams, Senator Lyda Green, Senator Pete Kelly, and Senator Gary Wilken. Also Attending: NANCY SLAGLE, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; BOB DOLL, Director, Southeast Region, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and former General Manager, Marine Highway System, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities; NICO BUS, Administrative Services Manager, Division of Support Services, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Corrections SUMMARY INFORMATION SB 250-APPROPRIATIONS: CAPITAL/SUPP/REAPPROP The Committee adopted a committee substitute and considered amendments, adopting five. The bill reported from Committee. SB 281-OPERATING BUDGET MISSIONS AND MEASURES This bill was scheduled but not heard. SENATE BILL NO. 250 "An Act making and amending capital, supplemental, and other appropriations and reappropriations; making a reappropriation under art. IX, sec. 17c, Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; making appropriations to capitalize funds; ratifying certain expenditures; and providing for an effective date." Co-Chair Torgerson moved to adopt CS SB 250, 1-GS2041\H, as a working draft. Senator Adams objected to ask why the Committee was not considering HB 343, the supplemental appropriation already adopted by the House of Representatives. Co-Chair Parnell replied that he desired to use the Senate bill and, as co- chair, had that prerogative. Senator Adams removed his objection and the committee substitute was adopted. AMEND #1: This amendment inserts a new bill section on page 4, following line 26 of the committee substitute to read: Page 4, following line 26: Insert a new bill section to read: Sec. 16. REDISTRICTING PLANNING COMMITTEE. (a) The unexpended and unobligated balance, not to exceed $350,000, of the appropriation made by sec. 70, ch. 2, 5 FSSLA 1999 (special election - $939,000) is reappropriated to the Legislative Council for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, for the redistricting planning committee for preparation for the 2000 redistricting plan. (b) If the amount available for reappropriation under (a) of this section is less than $350,000, then the unexpended and unobligated balance, not to exceed the difference between $350,000 and the amount available for reappropriation under (a) of this section, of the appropriations made by sec. 64(a), ch. 2, FSSLA 1999 (Legislative Council), sec. 64(b), ch. 2, FSSLA 1999 (Legislative Budget and Audit Committee), sec. 64(c). ch. 2. FSSLA 1999 (Legislative Budget and Audit Committee), and sec. 64(d), ch. 2, FSSLA 1999 (Legislative Council) is reappropriated to the Legislative Council for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000. for the redistricting planning committee for preparation for the 2000 redistricting plan. Co-Chair Parnell spoke to the amendment, which he sponsored, saying the funds were for the redistricting planning committee. He reminded the Committee the legislature had passed a resolution that established a new election district board method to address redistricting in the year 2001. He continued the resolution also created a planning committee and that committee was in the process of gathering software to support the redistricting effort, which could cost as much as $150,000. He said the planning committee also must contract for technical support and training and for the creation of an election database, in addition to buying computer systems. Co-Chair Torgerson moved for adoption. Senator Adams objected to ask if the $350,000 appropriation would go to the planning committee. Co-Chair Parnell explained that the funds would go to the Legislative Council to purchase the above-mentioned items for the planning committee's use. Senator Adams then asked if the Legislative Council was the proper recipient for the funds according to the US Department of Justice requirements. He also requested an estimated total budget and details for the redistricting project. Co-Chair Parnell countered that it would be hard to predict the cost of the project since the last time it was undertaken was ten years ago. Senator Adams questioned whether the appropriation wouldn't be better addressed through a resolution or bill with a fiscal note. He also said he had not heard a compelling reason why this appropriation should be included in the fast track supplemental. Co-Chair Parnell referred to his earlier statement that explained the intended usage of the funds. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell OPPOSED: Senator Adams ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION PASSED (6-1-2) Co-Chair Torgerson announced that Amendments #2 and #3 were connected but should be taken up in reverse order. AMEND #3: This amendment changes the committee substitute as follows. Page 1, line 1: Delete "making and amending" Insert "making, amending, and repealing" Page 10, following line 1: Insert a new bill section to read: Sec. 23. REPEAL OF ALLOCATION. (a) Section 100, ch. 2, FSSLA 1999, page 67, line 16, is amended to read: APPROPRIATION GENERAL OTHER ITEMS FUND FUNDS Marine Transportation Projects 46,282,OOO 4,000,000 42,282,000 [77,882,000] [73,882,000] (b) Section 100, ch. 2, FSSLA 1999, page 69, lines 6 - 7, is repealed [Note: Text that is new to Section 100, ch. 2, FSSLA 1999 is underlined and deleted text is capitalized and bracketed.] Co-Chair Torgerson moved for adoption. Senator Adams objected. Co-Chair Torgerson referred to backup documents he obtained from communities in Southeast Alaska plus a Transportation Committee Report written by the Southeast Conference Transportation Committee [copies on file]. Co-Chair Torgerson reminded the Committee that the previous year, the legislature had appropriated funds to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to build a fast ferry that would operate out of Sitka and service Sitka and Angoon. He stated that he had since received negative feedback from citizens questioning whether the vessel could operate in the Sturgess Narrows and other places as envisioned. He pointed out a statement in the Transportation Committee Report that read, "The state is currently going to bid for a fast vehicle ferry that was originally intended for Sitka but since its utility as a boat for Sitka access is in question it will now be used in the North Lynn Canal corridor." Co-Chair Torgerson also spoke of the governor's announcement of plans to build another ferry to service the same route as the M/V Malaspina, without making any changes to how the M/V Malaspina operates. Co-Chair Torgerson stated that a vessel of the size proposed simply would not operate in Lynn Canal and fulfill the needs of that area. Co-Chair Torgerson continued that he then wrote a letter to Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Commissioner Joe Perkins and had several meetings with Marine Highways staff but did not get answers to his questions about the project. Co-Chair Torgerson stated that the bid for construction of the vessel was going out this month and he felt it was prudent to slow the process down until the legislature had a chance to examine the project and decide if it should proceed. Senator Adams pointed out a technical error of line six of the amendment that read, "repeal of an allocation" that should read, "repeal of an appropriation." However, he did not think the funds could be utilized as the two amendments intended. He noted that because the project uses SHAKWAK funds, which can only be used for the Haines Highway or the National Highway System (NHS) ferry items for travel between Canada and the United States. He recommended the Committee seek clarification from US Senator Ted Stephens on how the allocations must be used. Senator Adams said the Committee also had to determine the total cost of a road project. Co-Chair Torgerson responded that the SHAKWAK funds could be used for any NHS system project south of Haines. He stressed that the reallocation was part of the Sitka Corridor Study and therefore qualified. His intention was to use the funding change simply as a "place holder" to account for the funds so they wouldn't be spent on another area of the state. He stated the intention is to solve the problems in Sitka and to provide better transportation service. He added that the funds were not necessarily a full appropriation for a road nor was it his intention that a road be built, just to hold the money "for the people of Sitka" until a plan could be agreed upon. Senator Adams said he could be corrected in his statement if the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities were allowed to testify on the amendment. Co-Chair Parnell said he would like to hear from the department since this meeting was the first time this item was brought before the Committee for consideration. NANCY SLAGLE, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spoke to language of Title 23 of US Code that dictates the Alaska Highway, for which the SWAKAK funds are provided. She said the code stipulates that the funds be used for the reconstruction of the Alaska Highway from the Alaskan border to Haines Junction in Canada, and the Haines Cutoff Highway from Haines Junction to Haines. She said the reappropriation to the Sitka road project would require approval by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and that the department could not tell the Committee whether or not it would be approved. Co-Chair Parnell stated that Co-Chair Torgerson's intent was only to slow the process to get answers. Co-Chair Torgerson added that any reallocation of SHAKWAK funds requires approval from the FHA and therefore this matter was not extraordinary. He suggested that if hearings were held within 30 days that resulted in the Committee getting answers, the item could be reinserted in the full supplemental that would be addressed next month. Ms. Slagle read language from Title 23, "upon agreement with the State Of Alaska, the Secretary is authorized." saying this was outside the normal Statewide Transportation Improvement Project (STIP) process and therefore could require special approval. She felt it was important to identify the activities that already transpired concerning this appropriation. She stated that the department had expended approximately $800,000 of the appropriation on preliminary work for the fast ferry to Sitka. BOB DOLL, Director, Southeast Region, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and former General Manager, Marine Highway System, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities told about the Vessel Suitability Study. He said the study was to determine which existing ships should continue to be used after the SE Transportation Plan was complete and what new construction might be required and would also show the relative costs of both the capital and operating expenses. He noted a final report of the study should be completed by May. Mr. Doll then commented on the SHAKWAK ferry and the service for Sitka, saying the department hired a consultant to select a design and builder for the new ferry. One of the questions the consultant was asked, according to Mr. Doll, was the capability of the Catamaran ferry with regards to service the Sitka route. Mr. Doll said the consultant gave a conservative recommendation of the navigation of a ship not yet designed, through the difficult body of water. The department's judgement of the conservative recommendation was that the ship would be more than adequate to carry out the intention of the SE Transportation Plan. Mr. Doll noted that the report Co-Chair Torgerson referred to was issued by a committee that met for the first time only one month ago. He talked about the inexperience of the group with the subject, saying their recommendations could not be considered as technical or even lay advice. Co-Chair Torgerson challenged Mr. Doll's statement saying the committee had met five times since the last annual meeting of the Southeast Conference Transportation Committee. He qualified that the members might be lay people, but so were the members of the Senate Finance Committee, who also had to rely on the expertise of the department. He stressed that he was unwilling to fund the construction of this ferry plus the two other proposed vessels until he saw data to show how they would operate. Senator Donley was told that Alaskan companies have offered to attempt the route at no charge to determine the feasibility of privatization. He asked if the department had considered the offers. Mr. Doll detailed a charter of an 140-foot Alaskan ferry that would be evaluated as it operates through various conditions in the Sitka route over the course of a month beginning in April. He estimated that the state-owned and operated vessel would be about 200 feet. Co-Chair Parnell then stated for the record, a request to the bill drafters to technically conform all amendments to the committee substitute where appropriate. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell OPPOSED: Senator Adams ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION PASSED (6-1-2) Vote 6-3 Amendment #2: This amendment inserts a new bill section on page 10 following line 1 of the committee substitute to read as follows. Sec. 23. BARANOF ISLAND TERMINAL ROAD. Section 100, ch. 2, FSSLA 1999, page 69, lines 6 - 7, is amended to read: ALLOCATIONS Alaska Marine Highway 31,600,000 System: Sitka to East Baranof Island Terminal Road [SHUTTLE VESSEL] (ED 2) [Note: Text that is new to Section 100, ch. 2, FSSLA 1999 is underlined and deleted text is capitalized and bracketed.] Co-Chair Torgerson moved for adoption and Senator Adams objected for the same reasons he objected to Amendment #3. Co-Chair Torgerson deferred to his earlier arguments in favor of the reallocation. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell OPPOSED: Senator Adams ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION PASSED (6-1-2) Amendment #4: This amendment inserts a new subsection to Section 14, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that reads as follows. (c) The sum of $132,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, northern region, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to pay the costs of snow removal on and opening of the Taylor Highway. Senator Phillips who was not present at this meeting sponsored this amendment. Senator Adams noted that funding for this project was included with several similar snow removal projects in Amendment #10, which he sponsored. He suggested the Committee consider Amendment #10 instead of this amendment. Co-Chair Parnell relayed Senator Phillips's request that this appropriation be considered in some form. Therefore, Co-Chair Parnell was comfortable with addressing the matter as part of Senator Adams's amendment. The amendment was NOT OFFERED. Amendment #5: This amendment inserts a new subsection to Section 14, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that reads as follows. (c) The sum of $375,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, northern region highways and aviation, for unanticipated winter storm costs incurred outside the declared Central Gulf storm systems disaster area. Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Torgerson objected. Co-Chair Torgerson requested this amendment be considered at the bottom of the day's calendar. Senator Adams withdrew his motion and the amendment was HELD. Amendment #6: DISASTER RELIEF FUND. The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund and the sum of $3,000,000 is appropriated from federal receipts to the disaster relief fund (AS 26.23.300(a)) for the declared Central Gulf storm systems disaster. Senator Adams moved for adoption, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co- Chair Parnell objected. Senator Adams requested a representative of the department speak to the amendment, which was to avoid cash-flow problems. Co-Chair Parnell commented that the matter was before the Committee before and asked if Senator Adams had any new questions that were not answered before. Senator Adams replied he had no new questions, but that the department needed more money. NICO BUS, Administrative Services Manager, Division of Support Services, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs told the Committee that these funds would allow the department to disburse funds to cover costs until the final supplemental appropriation was made. He noted the final costs of the disaster were being determined and this appropriation would allow the department to reimburse people for the expenses they had already incurred. Co-Chair Parnell objected to inclusion of the item in the fast track noting that none of the Committee's data demonstrated the need for the funds before the regular supplemental appropriation. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (1-6-2) Amendment #7: This amendment makes the following changes to the committee substitute. On page 2, line 3, after the word DEVELOPMENT. Insert (a) On page 2, after line 6 add the following subsections: (b)Section 43, ch. 84, SLA 1999, page 23, line 31 is amended to read: ALLOCATIONS Foundation Program 686,914,600 [689,054,300] (c) Section 43, ch. 84, SLA 1999, page 24, line 10 is amended to read: ALLOCATIONS Pupil Transportation 41,914,800 [39,775, 100] [Note: Text that is new to Section 43, ch. 84, FSSLA 1999 is underlined and deleted text is capitalized and bracketed.] Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell objected. Senator Adams explained that this request takes money from the foundation formula funding to cover the shortfall in pupil transportation costs. He stated that although his district would receive none of these funds, it would assist the Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kenai, Matanuska-Susitna and other school districts. Senator Wilken pointed out that if the item were not funded in either supplemental appropriation, pupil transportation would still be funded at slightly less than 98 percent. He felt the money was necessary but did not know why it needed to be included in the fast track. Co-Chair Torgerson did not approve of the districts renewing the pupil transportation contracts without any negotiation or consideration of legislative appropriation. He wanted an explanation for why the contracts increased 24 percent. AT EASE 9:05 AM / 9:07 AM A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Donley and Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (2-5-2) Amendment #8: This amendment deletes Section 7 (b) and Section 8 from the committee substitute. That language is as follows. Sec. 7. DEPARTMENT OF LAW. (b) the sum of $500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Law for the purpose of advocating the state's legal position on issues related to the protection of rights and privileges granted to Alaska at Statehood, state jurisdictions and authorities, state sovereignty and other states-rights issues for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2001. Sec. 8. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The sum of $400,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative Council for the purpose of supporting the state's interests, including litigation on issues related to the protection of rights and privileges granted to Alaska at Statehood, state jurisdictions and authorities, state sovereignty and other states-rights issues for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2001. Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Parnell and Co-Chair Torgerson objected. Senator Adams stated he offered the amendment to save the state $900,000. He said he had not heard a good reason to spend the money for statehood defense. He specified the Glacier Bay case and pointed out that $380,000 had already been appropriated for that issue. He added that the Department of Law was given $980,000 for general statehood defense items and half that amount remained unspent. He also wanted an explanation of how the funds would be spent. He noted the state only spent $226,000 to argue the Venetie Indian Country issue. Co-Chair Parnell reiterated his comments from the previous meeting that there are numerous issues before the state and listed them as: Antiquities Act withdrawals by President Clinton, national forest roadless issues, rights-of-way issues, Denali National Park snowmachine uses, etc. He urged members to vote against the motion. Senator Adams rebutted that the Department of Law had defended the need for the funds but that the department had $490,000 left from the original allocation for this purpose, which he surmised was adequate to defend the above mentioned items. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (1-6-2) Amendment #9: This amendment inserts a new subsection to Section 14, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that reads as follows. (f) The sum of $180,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, northern region, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to pay the costs of opening the Trims Camp maintenance station. Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Parnell objected. Senator Adams explained this appropriation would cover cost of maintenance in the Northern Region. He spoke of the high amount of snowfall in the region, the safety issues, delayed travel and the need to keep the maintenance camp open. He noted that travelers have been diverted through to the Tok Junction. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (1-6-2) Amendment #10: This amendment adds a new subsection to Section 14, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities that reads as follows: Page 7, after line 26, Add a new section to read: (e) The sum of $299,150 is appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, northern region, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to pay the costs of snow removal and opening of the following roads and is allocated in the following amounts: Taylor Highway $132,000 Boundary Spur $ 10,500 Nome-Teller Road $ 35,700 Nome-Council Road $ 34,700 Kougarok Road/Nome Dexter Bypass $ 43,000 Glacier Creek/Nome $ 10,100 McCarthy Road $ 8,700 Denali Highway $ 20,500 Fbks Cr.,Tofty, Eureka/Rampart $ 3,950 Total $299,150 Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Parnell objected. Senator Adams explained the snow removal was a cheaper way to take care of the roads than allowing the snow to melt. He spoke of the damage caused by snow meltage and the benefits of opening the roads for tourism, economic benefits of such operations as mining and safety impacts. Co-Chair Torgerson opposed the amendment saying that the governor had offered a similar measure a few years before. He shared that the criticism at that time was that the legislature did not notify the communities or the Canadian government that the roads would not be opened sooner and so the legislature "backed off". This year, he stressed the communities were notified of the legislature's intent to not open the roads. He added that program receipts were included in the budget to allow for private mining companies or municipalities to pay the department to perform the snow removal service. Senator Adams agreed that notification was given to communities and that some communities did attempt to cover the costs themselves. However, he noted that due to heavy snowfall, the additional maintenance problems required more money than the communities could contribute. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (1-6-2) Amendment #11: This amendment increases the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority funding appropriation to the Power Cost Equalization program from $3,600,000 to $8 million. Senator Adams moved for adoption and Co-Chair Parnell objected. Senator Adams stated the amendment reflects the actual amount that the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program needed to complete the fiscal year. He spoke of action taken by the legislature in 1999 to appropriate at least $17 million a year until at least 2013 and said that legislation was not being complied with. He relayed that people in rural Alaska would wonder about the future of the program, saying he wanted the legislature to give those residents a sense of security. He also spoke of the higher cost of diesel fuel. Co-Chair Parnell pointed out that this appropriation would fund the program through May 15 and until further discussions could be held. He noted that the previous year, the legislature thought that the funding source was secured, but found out it was not. A roll call was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Senator Adams OPPOSED: Senator Wilken, Senator P. Kelly, Senator Green, Senator Donley, Co-Chair Torgerson and Co-Chair Parnell ABSENT: Senator Leman and Senator Phillips The MOTION FAILED (1-6-2) AT EASE 9:19 AM / 9:26 AM Amendment #12: This amendment adds a new section to read as follows. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. The sum of $70,000 is appropriated from statutory designated program receipts to the Department of Corrections, Administration and Operations, Institution Director's Office, for operating costs associated with the Star Schools Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000. Senator Adams moved for adoption. DWAYNE PEEPLES, Director, Division of Administrative Services, Department of Corrections explained the funds were from the US Department of Education, which were appropriated to the statewide school district of Washington State. Washington, he continued, has operated a long-distance education program across that state in addition to the McLaughlin High School, a youth detention center in Anchorage. He said both the Department of Corrections and the Department of Health and Social Services feel this was a viable opportunity to expand and reinforce the facility's educational services. Co-Chair Parnell asked what the $70,000 would be used for. Mr. Peeples replied that the money received this year would be used to purchase computers, television, videocassette recorders and satellite linkages for communication. Co-Chair Parnell wanted to know if the equipment was only for educational purposes. Mr. Peeples affirmed. Senator Green asked if the program only operated at the McLaughlin facility. Mr. Peeples was unsure but thought other facilities participated as well. There was no objection and the amendment was ADOPTED. Amendment #5: A motion to adopt this amendment was made and then withdrawn earlier in the meeting. Senator Adams again moved for adoption and Co-Chair Torgerson objected for explanation. Ms. Slagle explained the request to cover the cost of extraordinary and unusual winter storm activities in the northern region outside the declared disaster area. She listed the areas and the projects as closures on the Steese, Elliot and Richardson Highways, snow clearing on some rural airports, etc. She stressed the funding was needed in the fast track to accommodate cash flow needs and that if not provided, the department would have lay off, for one month, 87 positions or 40 percent of the highway and aviation personnel. Co-Chair Torgerson supported the amendment noting that he had questions earlier about how $375,000 would sustain the region for three months. He was satisfied with the answer that the department had already spent over a million dollars under the disaster declaration and was hoping for reimbursement. He also was told that additional federal funds would be received soon for summer projects, which would sustain the department through the end of the fiscal year. Co-Chair Torgerson removed his objection. There was no objection and the amendment was ADOPTED. Co-Chair Torgerson offered a motion to report from Committee, CS SB 250, 1-GS2041\H, as amended and with individual recommendations. Without objection, the bill was reported from Committee. ADJOURNED Senator Parnell adjourned the meeting at 9:33 AM. SFC-00 (15) 03/08/00