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Contact Information:
Toll Free:(800) 665-2689
In the Homer Area:(907) 235-2921
Via Mail or in Person: 345 W. Sterling Hwy., Suite 102B
Homer, Alaska 99603
Fax:(907) 235-4008
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Greetings from Juneau. The cold and flu season is still ravaging the Capitol. Finance subcommittee and House committee overviews are also in full swing. Budget subcommittees are mainly engaged in scrutinizing the Governor’s proposed budget changes. There is general agreement in the legislature that there should be some increases in personnel numbers, especially for public safety and children’s services. There is concern that the governor’s proposal for an additional 242 executive branch positions is too large an increase.
Internship Opportunity
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation will be offering its college internship program again this year. This is a fantastic opportunity for any of our college-aged kids interested in pursuing a career in finance. Around 25% of the APFC’s interns have been hired directly from their internships to work in the firms that employed them. Although many of the positions are not in Alaska, the program aims to develop investment talent who may one day return to the state. If you know any of our kids who might be interested in this type of internship, please send them to the link below for more details.
House State Affairs Committee
Melanie Millhorn, Director of the Division of Retirement and Benefits testified regarding the state’s initiative to create a fourth tier to the Public Employees Retirement System, and a third tier to the Teachers Retirement System. Bob Reynolds, Senior Actuarial Consultant for Mercer Human Resource Consulting testified telephonically. This is a $5 billion liability for the State and a follow-up hearing will occur on February 15th.
On Thursday we heard HB 79, HB 97 and HB 94. HB 97 was a “fast track” supplemental appropriation to the Division of Elections to cover unexpected costs related to the processing and review of ballot initiative and recall petitions, ballot reprints, and election recounts. Higher than average by-mail and by-fax voting numbers increased postage and fax equipment costs. This total appropriation was for $694,900. It was voted out of committee without objection.
HB 97 updates Alaska Statute 44.50 dealing with the powers and duties of notaries public. It was voted out of committee with minor amendments. HB 94, the omnibus Division of Elections bill was heard and held in committee.
If you are concerned about election and voting procedures please comment on HB 94. We will also hear HB 90 "an act requiring warrants drawn by the Department of Administration against the state treasury to be negotiable instruments," and Executive Order (EO) 113 relating to the dissolution of the Telecommunications Information Council. EO 113 consolidates authority over design, development, management and operation of a state information systems plan with the Commissioner of the Department of Administration. The problem that I see with EO 113 is in the wording that places the legislature under the authority of the commissioner of Administration. This is a "separation of powers" issue and House State Affairs may sponsor a bill that takes the legislature out of the administration’s jurisdiction.
Resources Committee
HB 76 will re-establish the Big Game Commercial Services Board that was allowed to sunset ten years ago. The board will coordinate and centralize the state’s big game licensing and regulating system for guides and transporters. The Alaska Board of Game has requested the re-establishment of the board, as have numerous big game guides. This bill passed out of committee without objection.
HB 107, "providing for the award of full actual attorney fees and costs to a person aggrieved by unlawful obstruction or hindrance of hunting, fishing, or viewing of fish or game," did not pass out of committee. This act seeks to allow any person whose experience of wildlife is obstructed purposefully by another party to recoup full attorney fees if they win their trial. Large problems with this bill include the loose definition of "unlawful obstruction or hindrance" and the possible applications to commercial fishermen. It also seems unfair to grant full fees to a winning plaintiff in a civil suit differently and only 30% to a winning defendant.
Ways and Means Committee
We continued our overview from the Department of Revenue this week. Included in their report were details concerning tax rates for alcohol, tobacco, tires, motor fuel and vehicle rentals. I was surprised to learn that municipalities can also enact any of these directed taxes, although alcohol taxes can only be added if the local government also taxes some other item. We also discussed the state’s corporate and occupational taxes, as well as taxes on timber, fishing, mining and tourism. The committee members had several questions for the department, which we will be addressing next week. This is a very complex overview and we will be
returning to many of these issues in future meetings.
Health Education and Social Services Committee
On Tuesday we heard an overview from the Division of Behavioral Health, and on Thursday the Office of Children Services and their Assistant Attorney General regarding opportunities available for children needing aid (foster care and adoption). Next week the committee will be hearing its first bills. This includes HB 82 extending the Suicide Prevention Council introduced by Rep. Dahlstrom. The remaining bills are all by request of the governor and include HB 105, providing Adult Dental Service under Medicaid, HB 106, establishing funding for the Senior Care Program, and HB 95 regarding duties and responsibilities of public Health.
Budget Finance Subcommittees
I am serving on the following four budget subcommittees this term. This gives me the ability to review and add input to a number of departmental budgets. Once we have thoroughly reviewed budget proposals from each department, we will pass our recommendations on to House Finance. This includes adopting “missions and
measures” for the departments.
To see the complete budgets of any one of these departments, go to and under "Operating and Capital
Budgets," select the department you are interested in.
Department of Education and Early Development (EED)
EED has a larger budget than any other state department. They have gone through most aspects of their budget with us, including the proposed $4,576 base student allocation and various capital projects. In our district, EED’s budget includes a $298,651 capital project proposal for roof upgrades to Kenai Central High School and Homer Middle School.
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
DEC has included two additional positions in their budget this year for Anchorage’s new laboratory, created after last summer’s Vibrio virus outbreak that affected much of Kachemak Bay’s oyster industry.
Safe drinking water and sewage treatment remain near the top of DEC’s priority list. The proposed water and sewer improvements in Homer, Nanwalek, Seldovia and Voznesenka will be under the purview of DEC.
As the agency responsible for enforcing environmental regulations, the DEC is still doing it’s best to manage the impact of the Selendang Ayu spill in Unalaska.
I will be questioning the department on its mixing zone in fish spawning stream regulations.
Department of Fish and Game (Dept. of F&G)
The Fish and Game Finance Subcommittee held its first meeting this Wednesday. We began with a regional overview of the department, given by representatives from the Office of the Commissioner. The Central Region in which we are located was noted for its thriving aquaculture industry and the Kenai River as one of the
state’s largest sport fishing areas.
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT)
On Tuesday DOT provided the committee with a general overview of their various services, including roads, airports and the Alaska Marine Highway. One of DOT’s proposals will include new water trucks to be used for dust control. This has been a problem on the roads and runways of some of our smaller villages.
HB 20 – Early Funding of Education
HB 20 was heard and held Tuesday morning in the House Special Committee on Education. Many organizations and individuals came forward to testify on behalf of HB 20, including representatives from the Kenai Peninsula School District, National Educators Association of Alaska, American Federation of Teachers, Department of Education and Early Development, Alaska Municipal League, Delta Greely School District, as well as parents from both Mat Su and Kenai. Some concerns were raised regarding the specific dates the legislature will be required to notify districts of their funding. Alternate dates will be discussed at upcoming committee meetings. The bill will still be open for comment at future meetings, but I do not expect it to move out for another few weeks.
HB 25 – Fish Export Tax
HB 25 failed by one vote to pass out of the House Community and Regional Affairs committee on Thursday morning. We have received broad support for this bill, and will continue to compile letters and resolutions from the fishing communities statewide that are losing local tax revenue under the current system of shared tax distribution. Most people agree with the philosophy of giving a portion of the tax back to the community that generates that revenue, however, some communities that have been receiving the tax revenue don’t want to give it up.
HB 50 – Municipal Elections
When we originally submitted HB 50, we did so as a companion bill with Gary Stevens’ SB 14. SB 14 made it through the Senate this week, and has moved over to be heard by the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee and State Affairs. We will be carrying SB 14 in the House where it will take over for HB
50. If things go as well in the House as they did in the Senate, SB 14 should find its way through relatively soon.
Following Bills
All bills can be found on the State's Bill Action and Status Inquiry System (BASIS). You can see what committee a bill is in, when it will be heard, how committee members voted, and much more. Don't forget that you can view all bills relating to your areas of interest by selecting "Subject Summary" from the menu on the right. You can access BASIS through the link below.
Live on the Web
Most committee hearings can be seen and heard on Gavel to Gavel, which is broadcast on both local access TV and on the internet. You can also access online archives from their website. .
Contact Us
If you would like to speak to me regarding a specific issue, it is helpful to first get in touch with the member of my staff handling related issues. You can click on their email addresses to send them a note, or just give us a call at the office. Please provide your full name, address and phone number on any correspondence with the office. Your time and effort are much appreciated.
Louie Flora
State Affairs, Resources, Fisheries, HB 25
(907) 465-4963
louie_flora ''@'' legis.state.ak.us
Katie Shows
Health Education and Social Services, HB 20, HB 24
(907) 465-2028
katie_shows ''@'' legis.state.ak.us
Ian Laing
Ways and Means, HB 50
(907) 465-2689
ian_laing ''@'' legis.state.ak.us
Rep. Paul Seaton
House District 35
(800) 665-2689
rep_paul_seaton ''@'' legis.state.ak.us # # # |
