MINUTES SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 14, 1999 9:24 PN TAPES SFC-99 # 140, Side A CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Torgerson reconvened the meeting at approximately 9:24 P.M. PRESENT In addition to Co-chair Torgerson, Senators Dave Donley, Loren Leman, Gary Wilken, Al Adams, Pete Kelly and Randy Phillips were present when the meeting was reconvened. Senator Sean Parnell arrived shortly thereafter. Also Attending: REPRESENTATIVE JERRY SANDERS; DEBORAH VOGT, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Revenue; NANCI JONES, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend Division, Department of Revenue; aides to committee members and other members of the Legislature. Attending via Teleconference: SUMMARY INFORMATION Co-chair Torgerson called HB 157. HOUSE BILL NO. 157 "An Act relating to absences from the state while serving on oceangoing vessels of the United States merchant marine for purposes of eligibility for permanent fund dividends; and providing for an effective date." Representative JERRY SANDERS, sponsor of HB 157 was invited to join the committee. He referred briefly to his sponsor statement. Senator Wilken MOVED amendment #1. Representative Sanders objected and said amendment #1 would kill the bill. He thought with the amendment they would lose his bill and that they did not all fit together. He said the weight of the extra addition would bury the bill. By a roll call vote of 3 yeas (Torgerson, Wilken, Phillips,) and 4 nays (Donley, Leman, Adams, Kelly) (Parnell, Green absent) amendment #1 FAILED. Co-chair Torgerson indicated that since amendment #1 FAILED the need for a Senate Concurrent Resolution was now MOOT. DEBORAH VOGT, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Revenue was invited to join the committee. Ms. Vogt said the department would address the administrative issues regarding this bill. The particular allowable absence would be manageable. Senator Donley MOVED HB 157. Senator Wilken requested Ms. Nanci Jones, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend be invited to join the committee. NANCI JONES, Director, Permanent Fund Dividend, Department of Revenue was invited to join the committee. In response to a question from Senator Wilken, Ms. Jones advised that if one were absent from the State for more than 180 days they would not qualify for the dividend. Senator Donley MOVED HB 157. Senator Wilken OBJECTED. By a roll call vote of 7 yeas (Torgerson, Parnell, Donley, Leman, Adams, Kelly, Phillips) and 1 nay (Wilken) (Green absent) HB 157 was REPORTED OUT with individual recommendations and accompanying zero fiscal note from t he Department of Revenue, Revenue Operations. Co-chair Torgerson called HB 40. HOUSE BILL NO. 40 "An Act combining parts of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and parts of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs by transferring some of their duties to a new Department of Commerce and Rural Development; transferring some of the duties of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the Department of Community and Regional Affairs to other existing agencies; eliminating the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the Department of Community and Regional Affairs; relating to the Department of Commerce and Rural Development and the commissioner of commerce and rural development; adjusting the membership of certain multi- member bodies to reflect the transfer of duties among departments and the elimination of departments; creating the office of international trade and relating to its duties; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 40(CRA) "An Act combining parts of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and parts of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs by transferring some of their duties to a new Department of Commerce and Rural Development; transferring some of the duties of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the Department of Community and Regional Affairs to other existing agencies; eliminating the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and the Department of Community and Regional Affairs; relating to the Department of Commerce and Rural Development and the commissioner of commerce and rural development; establishing in the Office of the Governor the position of rural affairs advocate; adjusting the membership of certain multi- member bodies to reflect the transfer of duties among departments and the elimination of departments; creating the office of international trade and relating to its duties; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 40(FIN) "An Act reorganizing certain departments in the executive branch of state government and relating to their duties; eliminating and amending certain duties and programs in the executive branch; adjusting the membership of certain multi- member bodies; and providing for an effective date." CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 40(FIN) am "An Act merging certain departments in the executive branch of state government; changing the names of certain departments in the executive branch of state government; transferring duties among departments and offices in the executive branch of state government; providing that certain discretionary duties formerly performed by the Department of Community and Regional Affairs are mandatory in the department to which those duties are transferred; relating to the licensing of child care facilities; relating to the division of vocational rehabilitation; relating to the Alaska Human Resource Investment Council; adjusting the membership of certain multi-member bodies; providing that a certain commissioner may designate department employees to serve in the commissioner's place on a board, council, or similar entity; providing for advice to be given by a department head to the governor and other commissioners on the delivery of government services to rural areas and providing for recommendations to be made to the governor and other commissioners by that same commissioner about policy changes that would affect rural governments and rural affairs; relating to the federal community development quota program; eliminating references to the division of tourism; eliminating a reference to manpower training programs; eliminating references to the director and deputy director of international trade; eliminating the requirement for a local advisory committee for consideration of rural electrification loans; and providing for an effective date." Senator Leman MOVED the committee RESCIND their action on amendment #10. Senator Wilken OBJECTED. By a roll call of 7 yeas (Torgerson, Parnell, Donley, Leman, Adams, P. Kelly, Phillips) and 1 nay (Wilken) (Green absent) the committee action on amendment #10 was RESCINDED. Senator Wilken said he was strongly against changing the title. Senator Leman responded. The committee took a brief at ease. Co-chair Torgerson reconvened the meeting. Senator Wilken said the Commissioner of Education wanted to keep the name as it was. There was brief discussion by Senator Donley. By a roll call vote of 7 yeas (Torgerson, Parnell, Donley, Leman, Adams, P. Kelly, Green, Phillips) and 1 nay (Wilken) (Green absent) amendment #10 was ADOPTED. In response to Co-chair Torgerson, Senator Wilken advised that he maintained his objection to the bill being reported out. By a roll call vote of 5 yeas (Leman, Phillips, Donley, Torgerson, Parnell) and 3 nays (Wilken, Adams, Kelly) (Green absent) SCS HB 40 was REPORTED OUT with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal note (Dept. affected various - (355.5).) ADJOURNMENT Co-chair Torgerson recessed the meeting at approximately 9:45 p.m. SFC-99 -5- 05/14/99 pn