|
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
Website:
Email:
Hello from Juneau on this 90th day of the legislative session. The trees are budding and flowers have started to bloom here in the Capitol. I am still heavily involved in the restructuring of the retirement system. Between that and the other bills working their way through the system, I have been very busy lately.
It is likely that we will soon see some funding for the backlog of major education maintenance projects, some new schools, and many University projects through . Chair Wilson and I have been very critical of , which would extend the 70/30 percent state match for bondable school projects for an additional 18 months. This would essentially let Anchorage and Mat-Su commit several hundred million dollars of State funds for needed schools. However, the bond debt would also become an on-going state operation budget item and could preclude money from being available for implementation of the geographic cost differential - which is desperately needed by our school district. Workers Compensation changes have not yet gained any consensus or momentum in the House. I’m afraid the capital budget may be in for a severe reduction, as there does not appear to be enough support for using the Amerada Hess earnings portion of the Permanent Fund as the funding mechanism for a bond package. Things will start happening fast in the next few weeks or they will have to wait for next session.
I would like to thank Susan Ernst of Sea View Community Services and Peg Coleman of Women’s Services in Homer for coming down to visit this week. I also met with Roark Brown, Donna Bondioli, and Jerry Scholand of Homer who were in town for the Alaska Tourism Industry Association fly-in.
Don’t forget to file your taxes. The postmark deadline is this Friday, April 15th.
HB 238
House State Affairs has progressed to hearing and debating ; the PERS/TRS retirement bill that would create a new tier for all future employees. On Tuesday the Division of Retirement and Benefits gave a presentation on the medical component of the new proposed tier. CSHB 238 changes the existing bill by extending cost sharing of premiums to retirees who are Medicare eligible and beyond. To see this committee substitute or review the updated sectional analysis, please visit my web site,
House State Affairs Committee
Last week we heard five bills in addition to the continuing PERS/TRS discussion. Four bills moved from committee. makes submission of a fraudulent permanent fund dividend application a class C felony. allows for an advisory vote on whether a portion of the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve Account should be used to fund a community dividend. grants power of attorney, allowing a person to sign a dividend application for a member of the armed services on active duty and receiving hostile fire pay. allows for the establishment of a veterans’ cemetery in Fairbanks. changes the percent of present employee and employer contributions into the PERS/TRS system, to pay for the unfunded liability. This bill was moved to the House Judiciary committee so that more work could be done on the legal issues that the bill presents. was heard but held in committee. This bill creates a hotline within the Ombudsman’s office for an executive branch Employee waste, fraud and abuse report hotline.
This week we will be working on the medical component of the PERS/TRS issue. We will also hear six other bills: eliminates the statutory list of investments that the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation currently uses and directs the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees to adopt regulations identifying those investments. makes not wearing a seatbelt a primary infraction, one that a safety officer can pull you over for. This bill will be amended before it moves out of committee. provides a death certificate without cost to a surviving spouse, next of kin, or other relative of a deceased veteran. prevents state and local governments from using public funds to influence the outcome of a ballot proposition. creates Alaska Territorial Guard Day on October 18th. clears or "expunges" the record on criminal cases that have been set aside by a court.
Resources Committee
Last week we heard two bills, relating to a tax credit for oil and gas exploration on the Alaska Peninsula, and , authorizing the use of the Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan Fund for tender upgrades. Both of these bills passed from committee.
This week we will hear , requiring Alaska retailers to identify and label foods containing fish and shellfish that have been genetically modified. authorizes the Board of Fish to adopt regulations allowing a person holding two limited-entry permits to engage in a fishery using additional or modified gear, to fish at additional times or in additional areas, and to fish under other conditions that the board deems appropriate.
On Wednesday we will hear . This bill provides for the renovation and expansion of the Ft. Richardson and Elmendorf sport fish hatcheries, as well as the creation of an additional sport fish hatchery in the Fairbanks area. To generate funds for these upgrades, HB 252 authorizes a surcharge on resident and non-resident sport fishing licenses. Six million dollars in additional revenue is needed annually to address hatchery needs. When the surcharge is no longer necessary, use of those funds would be at the discretion of the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game. The proposed surcharge would amount to an additional $8.50 on top of existing license fees.
HESS Committee
allows the Office Of Children Services (OCS) to disclose information to legislators when they call on behalf of a foster parent. Currently OCS is not allowed to disclose any information to a legislative staff, which hampers a legislator’s ability to help in certain situations.
makes changes to the state’s organ and tissue donor program. The bill would allow in-state organizations to have control of the registry and clarify definitions regarding who is trained to perform recovery procedures. HB 214 would also increase notification procedures in order to promote donations, and would clear up inconsistencies between federal rulings and State laws.
The committee also confirmed the Governor's appointment of Bonnie Gaborik to the Professional Teaching Practices Commission. Ms. Gaborik has an impressive resume with many years of teaching and administrative experience in Alaska, and is well qualified for the position.
On Thursday the committee discussed , a bill put forward by Public Health to streamline the department's licensing, regulation, and appeals process. This would affect entities currently licensed or certified by the Department of Health and Social Services, including assisted living homes, childcare facilities and hospitals. We will look at a revised bill soon.
If you object to regulations currently enforced for assisted living centers, you should contact the HESS committee immediately as this bill will pattern all other regulations on those now used for assisted living centers. Contact the committee Chair, Representative Wilson, at (907) 465-3824.
Ways and Means Committee
We continued discussing , a resolution to repeal the Constitutional Budget Reserve (CBR). As a constitutional amendment, any such resolution would be put before the people for a vote, provided it were to make it through the House and Senate. The motivations for such a resolution are twofold. Accessing the CBR currently requires a three-quarters vote of the legislature when additional money is needed to balance the budget. This slows things down considerably but does little to yield any better legislative outcome. Secondly, and more importantly, eliminating the budget cushion would motivate the legislature to adopt a fiscal plan based on recurrent anticipated revenues. Our discussion centered primarily on where this money would go if the CBR were repealed, and how that would best fit into a fiscal plan.
The committee also began discussing , which would decouple the states corporate income tax from the new federal tax credit. The new federal corporate tax credit is meant as an incentive to keep manufacturing business in the US. However, it would cost Alaska about 100 million dollars over 10 years if we do not pass this bill.
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
representative_paul_seaton ''@'' legis.state.ak.us # # # |
