Rep. Seaton’s February 16, 2009 Newsletter

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Greetings from Juneau this 28th day of the 26th Legislative Session. This week has been hectic with numerous meetings of the House finance committees, meeting on top of regular committee meetings, and so many groups coming to town to lobby for their issues. We have had the school boards, firefighters, seafood processors, and mining industry, in addition to many municipalities to name a few. Everyone is a bit frazzled with the pressure of the first time we have operated the beginning session (after elections, with new legislative members) under the 90 day short session.
The budget committees are complicated by awaiting the Governor’s budget amendments which are due by the 18th. The amendments are anticipated to be big cuts from her proposed budget since oil has been averaging only about half the previously projected $74/barrel. This is further complicated because the Federal Stimulus package may offset some of those cuts, so they may now appear as just a fund source switch. However, no one has known what will be in the bill and what strings may be attached.
This week we welcomed constituents Doug and Sandy Stark, Lynn, Ramona, and Juls Stowe of Homer along with Dana Paperman, Lynn Hohl, and David Squires of Seward. Tim and Mary Anderson were here representing Cooper Landing Senior Citizens.

Committees

Education
Last week we heard a number of overviews including “Bring the Kids Home”, and the Department of Education and Early Development (EED) Special Education and Intensive Needs programs. The Committee held confirmation hearings and moved two University of Alaska Board of Regents appointments to the joint session of the House and Senate for confirmation votes later in the session. We heard two bills, HB 69 EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: RATING & HOME VISITS and HB 109 EDUCATION LOANS: SUPPLEMENTAL & FAMILY, and moved HB 109 on to the House Finance Committee.
We will continue with a discussion of No Child Left Behind on Monday. EED will present on the minimum expenditure for instruction requirement in the Department’s funding formula (specifically we will discuss AS 14.17.520 and the Board of Education and Early Development recommendation to amend this statute. AS 14.17.520 requires districts to spend a minimum of 70 percent of their operating funds on instruction.) HB 94 will be introduced on Monday. This bill creates an Alaska Achievers Incentive Scholarship Program to provide scholarships for Alaskans based on high academic achievement as well as financial need. Wednesday the committee will meet jointly with Senate Resources to hear a report from the University of Alaska (required by SB 241 passed in 2008) on its efforts to attract, train, and retain public school teachers. The Alaska Military Youth Academy will present to the committee following the joint meeting. Friday we will hold an overview on Charter Schools in Alaska.

State Affairs
State Affairs met only once this week and heard two bills. HB 63 enacts recommendations from the Legislative Task Force for the Council on Domestic Violence. It adds two members to the Council, one from rural Alaska and the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, and extends member’s terms by one year. It also gives employees classified status so they are not subject to political appointment. HB 63 moved on to the Finance Committee. We also heard HJR 3 an Alaska constitution amendment which would allow the people of Alaska to vote before allowing “for-profit” gambling. This would not effect current Bingo and pull-tab practices. I believe the negative social consequences of gambling are well documented and I would hate to see Alaska experience such ills. The bill was held but I expect it will be taken up soon and I will support it moving from committee.

Resources
A meeting will be held on Wednesday to hear a presentation from the Farm Bureau on the potential to use barley for fuel in Alaska. We will also hear HB 12 which creates a 14 member Alaska Council on Invasive Species within the Department of Fish & Game to plan and coordinate efforts to deal with invasive species in Alaska. HCR 16, recreating the Cook Inlet Salmon Task Force is scheduled for a hearing pending referral from House Fisheries. However, HCR 16 has not yet been heard in House Fisheries, so it will not be heard in House Resources this week.

Health and Social Services
Last week there were presentations by the Mental Health Trust on a Mental Health Comprehensive Plan and the Bring the Kids Home program. Senior & Disability Services reported on the on-going process of developing rate methodologies for service providers.
Next week there will be a Joint session with the Senate HSS committee on “The Prevention Plan”. This will be a presentation discussing the power of prevention and the clinical and financial impact of chronic care management on the State Medicaid population. That will be followed on Thursday with a look at Medicaid reform.

Personal Legislation

HB 109 was heard for the first time on Monday and moved on to the Finance committee on Wednesday. The bill requires that, as a condition of eligibility for an Alaska Student Loan, a borrower must have good credit or, if unable to document a history of good credit, must apply with a credit-worthy co-signer. The Legislature should carefully examine changes that put limitations on borrowers. However, HB 109 is necessary for the Alaska Student Loan Corporation to continue to meet their mission to promote, support, and provide access to postsecondary education for Alaskans and in Alaska, without relying on the State General Fund to finance its operations.

Bits and Pieces

Notes from Intern Hannah Harrison
Greetings from the Capitol! It’s been a busy week here in Juneau and I’ve been keeping busy with several projects. I’ve teamed up with Louie Flora on Net Metering Legislation to help him with background research. It is interesting to learn about utilizing renewable technologies. I’ve also done some work on a new program called FosterWear. It’s a program designed to give clothing discounts to foster families and their children to help them afford to dress appropriately for Alaska weather and adjust into new schools. REI in Anchorage has started a pilot program, but we’re hoping to expand FosterWear to businesses across the State. If you’re a business owner and want to learn more about this program, I encourage you to contact Katie Conway in Representative Les Gara’s office. HB 58, Student Loan Forgiveness legislation I am following, is picking up speed, and we’re hoping to get a new draft of the bill soon and then request a hearing with the Education Committee. HB 58 could potentially really help students pursue careers desperately needed in Alaska, especially in fields where you cannot receive instate training (i.e. specialized medicine). Thanks to those of you who have helped me with the research for this bill, and especially to those who are writing letters of support.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) is accepting Nomination Request for the 2012-2013 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP). You may view the criteria and submit project nominations by: http://dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/cip_stip/stip10_13.shtml. To submit your nominations you may e-mail: DOT_STIP@dot.state.ak.us . Nominations are due by March 2, 2009.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) will hold a public workshop on pollutant reduction and removal technologies that may have potential to be installed on cruise ships. The workshop is scheduled for February 18, 2009 at Centennial Hall in Juneau, Alaska.
ADEC is producing an inventory and evaluation of existing and emerging control technologies to reduce or remove pollutants from treated effluent of large cruise ships. ADEC is specifically looking at technologies to limit levels of ammonia, copper, nickel and zinc, as required by ADEC’s Large Commercial Passenger Vessel Wastewater Discharge General Permit issued in May, 2008. DEC’s contractors will present draft findings at the workshop. The February workshop will include technical sessions on technologies that have been applied to shore-based facilities and as yet untested wastewater technologies and specifics on how they might be applied on vessels.
For more information on the workshop or cruise ship programs, go to DEC’s website at: www.dec.alaska.gov/water/cruise_ships/ and http://www.dec.state.ak.us/water/cruise_ships/EffluentAmmMetalRemoval.htm.

Pick. Click. Give.
The Rasmuson Foundation asked to get the word out about their program “Pick. Click. Give.” Everyone in Alaska is feeling the effects of this tough budget year, and unfortunately there is never enough money to help everyone in need. Here is a way for you to help in your community. For more information, please visit the website at www.pick.click.give.org .

Just a reminder don’t forget to sign up for your 2008 Permanent Fund Dividend, you can do it on-line by going to the following website www.pfd.state.ak.us, then click apply online.

Following Bills
All bills can be accessed through 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. You can view all bills relating to your specific areas of interest by selecting “Subject Summary” from the menu on the right. You can access BASIS through the link below, or by doing a search for “BASIS Alaska” http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp

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. http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/schedule.cfm

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 address to send them a note, or 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 and will help us better serve you.

Contact Us
Louie Flora
Education, Resources, Oil & Gas issues, HB41, HB46, HB66
(907) 465-3923
Louie_Flora@legis.state.ak.us
Katie Koester
State Affairs, Budget, Community relations, HB40, HB43, HB 109
(907) 465-2028
Katie_Koester@legis.state.ak.us

Mary Jane Shows
Health & Social Services, Scheduling, Newsletter contact, Constituent Relations, HCR1
(907) 465-2689
Mary_Jane_Shows@legis.state.ak.us

Hannah Harrison
UAF Intern
(907) 465-6256
Hannah_Harrison@legis.state.ak.us
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