SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 11, 2022 1:16 p.m. 1:16:48 PM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Stedman called the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order at 1:16 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair Senator Lyman Hoffman Senator Donny Olson Senator Natasha von Imhof Senator David Wilson MEMBERS ABSENT Senator Click Bishop, Co-Chair Senator Bill Wielechowski ALSO PRESENT Representative Matt Claman, Sponsor; Representative Chris Tuck, Sponsor; Representative Grier Hopkins, Sponsor; Erin Shine, Staff, Senator Click Bishop; Representative Liz Snyder, Sponsor. SUMMARY HB 99 PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BD/PRACTICE HB 99 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and one previously published fiscal note: FN 2(CED). HB 155 COURT SYSTEM PROVIDE VISITORS & EXPERTS SCS HB 155(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and two previously published fiscal impact notes: FN 3(ADM), FN 4(AJS). HB 168 ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR STATE BENEFITS SCS HB 168 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN 2(DHS). HB 307 EXTEND BOND AUTH FOR INTERIOR ENERGY PROJ HB 307 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN 1(CED). HOUSE BILL NO. 99 "An Act relating to the State Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Board; relating to the practice of physical therapy; and relating to the practice of occupational therapy." 1:17:39 PM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the second hearing on HB 99, and the committee had heard public testimony on April 22, 2022. He stated that the committees intention was to hear a quick reintroduction of the bill, cover the fiscal note, and look to the will of the committee. 1:18:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, SPONSOR, discussed a brief overview of the bill. He described that his office had introduced HB 99 at the request of the Alaska Physical and Occupational Therapy Association. The bill would amend the governing statutes and would bring them up to date for modern standard for occupational therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and physical therapy assistants. Senator Hoffman discussed a fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, with an appropriation and allocation from the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing (CBPL), OMB Component 2360. The fiscal note had one line item under Services of $2.3 thousand. The funding source was receipt services. Senator Hoffman MOVED to report HB 99 out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 99 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and one previously published fiscal note: FN 2(CED). HOUSE BILL NO. 155 "An Act relating to court-appointed visitors and experts; relating to the powers and duties of the office of public advocacy; relating to the powers and duties of the Alaska Court System; and providing for an effective date." 1:20:02 PM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the second hearing for HB 155, and the committee had heard public testimony on April 25, 2022. The committees intention was to have a quick bill reintroduction, cover the fiscal notes, and look to the will of the committee. 1:20:29 PM REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS TUCK, SPONSOR, discussed a high-level overview of the bill. He explained that the bill was a collaborative effort between the Office of Public Advocacy (OPA) and the Alaska Court System to put the Court Visitor Program into the Court System rather than in OPA. He spoke to FN 4, which proposed about $104,700 in additional money going into the program. He explained that the funding would provide for an additional staff member to take care of training. He noted that there was an increase in cases, particularly with the states aging population. He commented that OPA had been reluctant to complete the training, which was best done by the Court System. Senator von Imhof discussed FN 3 from the Department of Administration, which reflected a decrement of $854,400 annually that was transferred to FN 4, for the Alaska Court System. Senator von Imhof discussed FN 4, which reflected a total of $960,600 annually to cover the program. Senator von Imhof MOVED to report SCS HB 155(JUD) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SCS HB 155(JUD) was REPORTED out of committee four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and two previously published fiscal impact notes: FN 3(ADM), FN 4(AJS). HOUSE BILL NO. 307 "An Act relating to the financing and issuance of bonds for a liquefied natural gas production system and natural gas distribution system; and providing for an effective date." 1:23:09 PM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the second hearing on HB 307, and the committee had taken public testimony on May 5, 2022. It was the committees intention to have a quick bill reintroduction, cover the fiscal note, and look to the will of the committee. 1:23:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE GRIER HOPKINS, SPONSOR, explained that the bill would extend the authorization for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) to issue conduit revenue bonds related to the Interior Energy Project for an additional five years to the date of June 30, 2028. Senator Wilson discussed a previously published zero fiscal note from the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, OMB Component 1234. Senator Wilson MOVED to report HB 307 out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HB 307 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN 1(CED). HOUSE BILL NO. 168 "An Act requiring the Department of Health and Social Services to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits; and providing for an effective date." 1:24:50 PM Co-Chair Stedman relayed that it was the second hearing for HB 168, and the committee had heard public testimony on April 22nd. The committee intended to quickly review the bill, review the fiscal notes, and look to the will of the committee. He noted that there was a proposed committee substitute for consideration. Senator Olson MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute for HB 168, Work Draft 32-LS0639\N (Foote, 4/28/22). Co-Chair Stedman OBJECTED for discussion. 1:25:41 PM ERIN SHINE, STAFF, SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, explained that the only change in the proposed committee substitute was a change from the Department of Health and Social Services to the Department of Health. There were also other technical and conforming changes related to the Executive Order 121, which had passed earlier in the session. Co-Chair Stedman WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. 1:26:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE LIZ SNYDER, SPONSOR, explained that HB 168. She explained that the bill required the Department of Health to establish a fully online application process for public assistance programs, without eliminating other existing application options. She thought it was important to know that online applications could increase accessibility and efficiency in application and processing. The greater efficiency would improve access and granting to eligible applicants more quickly. She noted that efforts to create an online application option had been ongoing for many years but had not yet been unsuccessful. The bill established a deadline of July 1, 2022 and protected the option in statute. Senator Olson discussed FN 2, a previously published zero fiscal note from the Department of Health. Senator Olson MOVED to report SCS HB 168 (FIN) out of Committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. SCS HB 168 was REPORTED out of committee with four "do pass" recommendations and with one "no recommendation" recommendation, and with one previously published zero fiscal note: FN 2(DHS). Co-Chair Stedman reviewed the agenda for the following day. ADJOURNMENT 1:29:33 PM The meeting was adjourned at 1:29 p.m.