27TH ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE SECOND SESSION CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB 284 and HB 285 April 6, 2012 3:12 p.m. 3:12:38 PM CALL TO ORDER Chair Hoffman called the Conference Committee meeting on HB 284 and HB 285 to order at 3:12 p.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Senate: Senator Lyman Hoffman, Chair Senator Bert Stedman Senator Joe Thomas House: Representative Bill Thomas, Vice-Chair Representative Bill Stoltze Representative Les Gara MEMBERS ABSENT None ALSO PRESENT: David Teal, Director, Legislative Finance Division; fiscal analysts with the Office of Management and Budget and Legislative Finance Division; and aides to committee members and other members of the Legislature. SUMMARY HB 284 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS HB 284 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration. HB 285 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET HB 285 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further consideration. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 284(FIN) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs, capitalizing funds, amending appropriations, and making reappropriations; and providing for an effective date." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 284(FIN) am S "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government and for certain programs, capitalizing funds, amending appropriations, and making reappropriations; and providing for an effective date." and CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 285(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." SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 285(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." 3:13:10 PM Representative Thomas MOVED that Senator Hoffman serve as the presiding chair of the FY 13 Conference Committee on HB 284 and HB 285. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Chair Hoffman MOVED that Representative Thomas serve as Vice-chair of the FY 13 Conference Committee on HB 284 and HB 285. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Chair Hoffman reviewed procedures pertaining to the conference committee. He noted that both the House and Senate budget process allowed for public testimony. That portion of the process was concluded; the conference committee would not accept further public testimony. Unless invited by the Chair, only members of the conference committee would take part in discussions or sit at the table. He noted that the director of the Legislative Finance Division would be invited to sit at the table beginning with the next meeting. Chair Hoffman observed that the Legislative Finance Division had been directed to prepare the "motion sheets" for use by the conference committee. The motion sheets summarized the differences between the two versions of the bills before the conference committee and were located on the Legislative Finance Division's website. 3:14:26 PM Chair Hoffman explained that the conference committee would operate under Uniform Rule 42. All action required a majority vote from each body for adoption. A copy of Uniform Rule 42 and related legal opinions were provided in each member's packet. Motions required a majority of each body. 3:14:53 PM Vice-chair Thomas MOVED that all appropriations and language in the FY 13 operating budget that were identical in House and Senate versions of HB 284 and HB 285 be adopted. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Chair Hoffman observed that the committee would need limited powers to reach agreements. He explained that under limited powers the Conference Committee could adopt any amount between zero and the higher of the House or Senate version of each item subject to conference. 3:15:38 PM Vice-chair Thomas MOVED to ADOPT a letter requesting limited powers of free conference for the items that were not identical. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Chair Hoffman observed that the committee meetings would be posted on BASIS under the 24-hour rule. He relayed the expectation that the committee would meet the following Monday. HB 284 and HB 285 were heard and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 3:16:40 PM The meeting was adjourned at 3:16 p.m.