SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 14, 2021 2:07 p.m. 2:07:54 PM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Bishop called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 2:07 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair Senator Donny Olson (via teleconference) Senator Natasha von Imhof Senator Bill Wielechowski (via teleconference) Senator David Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Lyman Hoffman ALSO PRESENT Representative Adam Wool, Sponsor; Ashley Carrick, Staff, Representative Wool; Erin Shine, Staff, Senator Click Bishop; Kris Curtis, Legislative Auditor, Alaska Division of Legislative Audit; Representative Dan Ortiz, Sponsor; Caroline Hamp, Staff, Representative Dan Ortiz. PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Bethel Belisle, Chair, Board of Certified Midwives, Anchorage. SUMMARY CSHB 41(FIN) SHELLFISH PROJECTS; HATCHERIES; FEES CSHB 41(FIN) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD. HB 100 EXTEND WORKFORCE INVEST BOARD ALLOCATIONS HB 100 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and one previously published fiscal note; FN 1(EED). HB 117 EXTEND BOARD OF DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES HB 117 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. HOUSE BILL NO. 100 "An Act relating to allocations of funding for the Alaska Workforce Investment Board; and providing for an effective date." 2:09:12 PM REPRESENTATIVE ADAM WOOL, SPONSOR, introduced himself. ASHLEY CARRICK, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE WOOL, introduced herself. Representative Wool explained that the bill was the Technical Vocational Education Program (TVEP) reauthorization. The bill took a percentage of the Alaska Workforce Investment fund, and distributed it throughout the state, with the University of Alaska (UA) being the largest recipient of the funds at 45 percent. He stated that nine other recipients received between two and seven percent, which was an approximate distribution of $12 million. Senator Wilson MOVED Amendment 1 (copy on file). Co-Chair Bishop OBJECTED for discussion. Senator Wilson explained that the amendment would take a 10 percent reduction to the formula in UA and redistribute it to the remaining TVEP recipients. Co-Chair Stedman expressed concern about the amendment, and also expressed concern about the bill. He stated that his region's allocation came from the university. He felt that his region was underrepresented, although he supported the passage of the bill. He felt that the issue should be reviewed periodically to ensure that it was fair and in the best interest of the entire state. He remarked that adopting the amendment would further heighten the issue of some areas of the state having underrepresentation. He opposed the amendment. Senator von Imhof remarked that there should be conversations around whether or not the university system should be more focused on workforce development or whether it should be more participatory with other organizations to provide workforce development. She worried that the amendment would have unintended consequences, because some programs would not have those relied upon funds. She invited the amendment drafter to address the subject at a later date to engage in a robust conversation. A roll call vote was taken on the motion. IN FAVOR: Olson, Wilson OPPOSED: Von Imhof, Wielechowski, Bishop, Stedman Senator Hoffman was absent from the vote. The motion FAILED (2/4). 2:15:09 PM Senator Olson wondered whether he could offer a conceptual amendment. Co-Chair Bishop queried the length of the conceptual amendment. Senator Olson felt that the sunset could be adjusted to be reviewed every ten years. Co-Chair Bishop felt that the discussion should continue before the offering of the conceptual amendment. 2:16:03 PM ERIN SHINE, STAFF, SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, discussed the Letter of Intent (copy on file). She stated that the letter would state that it was the intent of the legislature that the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL), and UA cooperate with a special audit to be requested a future Legislative Budget and Audit (LB and A). She stated that the conversation around the amendment highlighted some questions around the funding and participants in the program. Co-Chair Bishop wondered whether Ms. Shine was accurate. KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, replied in the affirmative. Co-Chair Stedman stated that he supported the Letter of Intent, and that it helped address his concern with the bill. Co-Chair Bishop agreed with Co-Chair Stedman. Senator Olson queried the purpose of the audit. Ms. Shine replied that special audit would be designed in conjunction with the Legislative Budget and Audit Chair and Ms. Curtis in outlining some of the criteria to be brought to that committee for consideration. Senator von Imhof pointed to the Governor's request in Fiscal Note 1. She remarked that there was a request of $490,000. Co-Chair Bishop highlighted the fiscal note. Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to REPORT HB 100 with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note. 2:25:56 PM AT EASE 2:26:05 PM RECONVENED 2:26:08 PM Co-Chair Stedman added to move the Letter of Intent with the bill There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 100 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published fiscal note: FN 1 (EED). 2:26:26 PM AT EASE 2:26:46 PM RECONVENED CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 41(FIN) "An Act relating to management of enhanced stocks of shellfish; authorizing certain nonprofit organizations to engage in shellfish enhancement projects; relating to application fees for salmon hatchery permits and shellfish enhancement project permits; relating to the marketing of aquatic farm products by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute; and providing for an effective date." CSHB 41(FIN) was SCHEDULED but not HEARD. 2:26:46 PM Co-Chair Bishop stated that HB 41 would be set aside. HOUSE BILL NO. 117 "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; and providing for an effective date." 2:27:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAN ORTIZ, SPONSOR, introduced himself. CAROLINE HAMP, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE DAN ORTIZ, introduced herself. Representative Ortiz stated that the bill renewed the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives. KRIS CURTIS, LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR, ALASKA DIVISION OF LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, discussed the sunset audit of the board. She remarked that, overall, the audit concluded that the board served the public interest by holding meetings in accordance with state laws and by effectively certifying midwives. The board adopted regulatory changes to improved the profession, however it failed to pursue the statutory changes due to concerns over related costs. Additionally, the audit found that the peer review process was not effectively monitored. Co-Chair Bishop OPENED public testimony. Senator Wilson queried the percentage of mortality rates of children born to midwives. 2:35:37 PM BETHEL BELISLE, CHAIR, BOARD OF CERTIFIED MIDWIVES, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), replied that there was less than the national standard of mortality and morbidity in the state at potentially less than one demise every few years. Senator Wilson recalled some concern about whether the board needed additional medical supervision. He wondered about those concerns. Ms. Belisle replied that the board was a standalone profession. She recalled that the statutory changes would allow for even more ability to be a standalone practice. She remarked that many practices in the recent year were working toward arrangements with local medical providers and hospital systems for better collaboration and accountability. Senator von Imhof remarked that the response to the recommendation about the board pursuing regulatory changes, the board changed the education requirement. She wondered whether the change in education had been in place, and whether there had been a change in behavior. Ms. Belisle replied that the change did not retroactively apply to the midwives. She remarked that it had increased accountability. Co-Chair Bishop CLOSED public testimony. 2:40:39 PM AT EASE 2:41:17 PM RECONVENED Co-Chair Bishop thanked Ms. Holtkamp (secretary) for her service and hoped that she would have a successful birth. HB 117 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 2:42:57 PM The meeting was adjourned at 2:42 p.m.