By Senator Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak
For The Cordova Times
Greetings from the Capitol. After a cold and snowy start to the month, Juneau has started to see warmer days of late. Things are also heating up in the Capitol, where this week the Senate should be receiving the House’s version of the Fiscal Year 2018 operating budget, HB 57. As you may know, HB 57 will reach the Senate several days after its anticipated arrival due to extensive House floor debate involving a flurry of amendments.
HB 57 proposes $5.1 billion in general fund spending on state services and agencies in FY ’18, a cut of $82 million over the FY ’17 budget. With the Senate Majority leadership proposing $300 million dollars in budget cuts, differences between the two bodies’ budgets will need to be resolved before the Legislature can adjourn the session.
The Senate Finance Committee will take public testimony on the budget bill prior to coming before a floor vote by the full Senate. If you have the time, I encourage you to take part in the process. You can contact the Legislative Information Office (LIO) near you to learn more about the public comment schedule.
The Cordova LIO can be reached at (907) 424-5461.
The Homer LIO can be reached at
(907) 235-7878.
The Kenai LIO can be reached at
(907) 283-2030.
I expect a Senate floor vote on the budget during the first week of April.
Conference Committee and the 24-Hour Rule
With the House highly unlikely to agree to the Senate’s changes to the budget bill, a conference committee comprised of 3 legislators from each body will be appointed to negotiate a compromise spending plan. When the conference committee is appointed, all other committees will fall under the 24-Hour Rule. This means bills and resolutions may receive a hearing with twenty-four hours’ notice, and legislation can move quickly through the committee process.
If you have any questions regarding the status of bills and resolutions, please call the LIOs near you or my office for assistance.
You can also follow bills online through the legislature’s Bill Action Status Inquiry System at http://www.akleg.gov/basis/Home/BillsandLaws.
New District P Constituent Survey
Although budget discussion are currently occupying the bulk of the legislature’s attention, there are numerous bills generating much comments and concerns from people throughout the state, including bills regarding the way we elect our nation’s leader, the federal REAL ID Act, and legislative conflict of interest rules.
As we work on these issues in Juneau, I welcome your feedback. If you have a few minutes, please click on the link below to take you to a brief, non-scientific survey on some of the bills under consideration this session.
You can find the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/marchissues2017
I will share the results with you in a future edition of the Capitol Report. As always, individual responses are confidential.
Update on Personal Legislation
On March 21st, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee passed SB 71 out of committee. The bill keeps the current cap of $400,000 in the state’s Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan Program, but would allow a borrower greater flexibility in how they reach that cap. The idea behind the bill is to help more Alaskans get the financial assistance to grow a successful fishing business.
SB 71 has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration. The bill is companion legislation to HB 56, which is currently awaiting a House floor hearing.
I am still awaiting a Senate Finance Committee hearing on SB 7. The bill sets ups a matching grant program within the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (CCED) for museum construction, expansion and major renovation projects, and repatriation of Alaska Native artifacts. Under terms of the bill, CCED would not do any work on these projects until it receives a legislative appropriation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to hear SB 15 on March 27th. The idea behind the bill is to ban sales of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, and similar products to minors
I expect a hearing this week by the Senate State Affairs Committee hearing on SB 8. This bill is intended to give Alaska’s federally recognized tribal governments the ability to be part of the PFD Division’s popular Pick.Click.Give. program should they choose.
PFD Deadline Approaching
If you have yet to do so, I encourage you to get your PFD application completed soon. The filing deadline is March 31st.
The easiest way to apply is through the PFD Division’s website at www.pfd.alaska.gov. If you are planning on mailing in your application, please send it by certified mail and request a return receipt to ensure your application’s receipt.
Please Keep in Touch
Your thoughts on the matters coming before the legislature are greatly appreciated. Please keep in touch.
E-mail me anytime at:
sen.gary.stevens@akleg.gov.
My Capitol office can be reached by phone at 1-800-821-4925, and in Juneau at 465-4925. The fax number is 465-3517.
My mailing address is:
Senator Gary Stevens,
Alaska State Legislature,
120 4th Street, State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, AK 99801.
Thanks for reading the Capitol Report. I look forward to updating you our work in Juneau in the next edition.
