Friday, May 4, 2012

University of Alaska End of Session Report

After 90 days, the 27th Alaska State Legislature adjourned ‘sine die’ in the early morning hours of April 16. This concludes the two-year session. Any legislation left in play is now ‘dead,’ meaning it will have to be reintroduced next year. 595 bills were introduced; 114 bills passed both houses, just a little over a 19% passage rate.

The Governor called the legislature back into a special session commencing April 18, specifically for legislation dealing with oil taxes, in-state gas line and human trafficking. The university issues and budget items are not part of the mix. We now await the Governor’s action on legislation and the FY13 operating and capital budgets.

Typically the legislature does not send the budget bills to the governor for signature or veto immediately after passage; instead the bills are held for a period of time, sometimes for more than a month. Once the operating and capital budgets have been sent to the governor he will have 20 days, Sundays excepted, to exercise vetoes on specific appropriations.

The university fared very well this year, thanks in a large part to the active advocacy efforts of UA supporters throughout the state. UA advocates came out strong at all public hearings on the operating and capital budgets. Over 20% of those that testified at all three statewide public hearings were supporting UA initiatives.

The following is a summary of legislative actions this year. The following lists the FY13 Operating Budget and FY13 Capital Budget. Details are found in the links.

FY13 operating budget status
(PDF - detailed spreadsheet w/recommendations)

The Conference Committee report on the operating budget (CCS HB 284 and CCS HB 285) was adopted by the House and the Senate in the final hours of the session. This final version of the operating budget will now be sent to the governor for his signature and any line item vetoes. Below is a comparison of the different versions of the operating budget, including the final Conference Committee version.

The Governor’s proposed budget for UA is an $8.9 million increase (2.5%) over the current fiscal year. This number includes the budget originally submitted by the governor, as well as amendments to that budget submitted by the governor following our House Subcommittee hearings. The Conference Committee’s (CC) budget for UA is higher at a $12.2 million increase (3.5%). The $3.3 million difference is for priority programs added by the House and Senate.

Conference Committee members included:
Senators Stedman, Hoffman and Thomas
Representatives Thomas, Stoltze and Gara


Funded Initiatives in this operating budget include:
  • Honors Program
  • New initiatives to improve graduation rates
  • Health/Bio Med programs
    UAA Nursing, UAA Physical Therapy, UAF Vet Medicine
  • Teacher Ed programs
    ISER Alaska Education Policy Research, UAS Elementary Ed program
  • Workforce Development
    UAA Process Tech; UAF Early Childhood Education; UAS Alaska Tech Center; UAS Fisheries Tech
  • UA Research, Economic Development
    UAF Indigenous PhD Program
    UAF Resilience Adaptation Program
  • Also includes:
    UAF Future Farmers of America/4H programs
    UAA AMIPA
    UAF National Guard Scholarships
    UAS Marine Transportation Program
FY13 Capital Budget status

The Senate concurred in the House amendments and this bill passed as one of the last actions this legislative session. This means that the capital budget will be sent to the Governor in its current form. It is not part of the package of legislation specified by the Governor for the special session commencing April 18.

The final Committee Substitute of SB 160 endorses the Senate Finance Committee numbers for the UA FY13 capital budget with one small addition. This includes:

$37,500,000 Deferred Maintenance
$ 6,250,000 Banfield Hall Dorm

$46,300,000 UAF Engineering Facility

$58,600,000 UAA Engineering Facility

$ 2,700,000 Ocean Acidification Research (+s $750,000 receipt authority)
$  5,000,000 UAF Research/Development of Unmanned Aerial Systems


$     450,000 UAF Kuskokwim Campus R&R

$    190,000 UAS Mining Workforce Development

$      50,000 UAA Katchemak Bay Campus Pioneer Ave. Bldg.
$    100,000 UAF Georgeson Botanical Gardens Research


$157,140,000    Total GF

There is intent language attached to the $5.0 million for Unmanned Aerial Systems:

“It is the intent of the Legislature that the University of Alaska collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration in establishing a research and development program and possible test facility for Unmanned Aerial Systems in Alaska. Unmanned Aerial Systems are already being utilized in Alaska in many ways and as the Arctic race progresses they will become even more vital as a resource to the State and the Country.”

In addition to the general fund appropriations, the bill contains the $15,000,000 in receipt authority for capital projects that was requested in the Regents' budget. These are funds the legislature gives the university ‘permission’ to receive, i.e. grants and contacts, indirect cost recovery, private dollars, etc.

The bill also contains a $20,743,999 GF appropriation to the Department of Law for the purpose of paying judgments and settlements. This amount is supposed to include the full ORP settlement, among other things.

Legislation:
Many pieces of legislation dealing with some aspect of the University of Alaska were introduced these past two years. The following highlights those bills that passed in 2012. (See complete list of legislation affecting UA.) Any legislation not passed by the end of session ‘dies’ at the end of this legislative session. 

These were the bills in play during the 2012 session:

HCR 18 – House Special Committee on Fisheries
Status: Awaiting transmittal to the Governor

Relating to an examination of fisheries-related programs to facilitate the entry of young Alaskans into commercial fisheries careers and to collaboration with the University of Alaska fisheries, seafood, and maritime initiative.

The Alaska State Legislature endorses and encourages the continuing work of the University of Alaska fisheries, seafood, and maritime initiative. The resolution directs the president of the senate to appoint one senator and the speaker of the house to appoint one representative as liaisons to the University of Alaska fisheries, seafood, and maritime initiative so that the Alaska State Legislature is kept well apprised of the initiative's progress. The appointed legislators shall provide quarterly reports to the legislature on the initiative's progress, and submit recommendations to the legislature by January 20, 2013.

HCR 23 – Alaska Arctic Policy Commission by request of the Northern Waters Task Force
Status: Awaiting transmittal to the Governor

This resolution was created to address one of the top three recommendations of the Alaska Northern Waters Task Force to continue the work in Arctic Policy. This 20-member commission is tasked with proving a preliminary report of their findings and recommendations by January 2014, and the final report by January 2015. The University of Alaska will hold one seat on the commission.

HCR 24 State Food Resource Development Group by Representative Stoltze
Status: died in the final hour of session

This resolution requests the Governor to establish a state food resource development working group to work with the Alaska Food Policy Council to identify resources and set policies to build a strong, sustainable healthy food system in the state; to identify new or expanded economic opportunities for state residents in new food production, food processing, and food distribution businesses; review existing or proposed programs, policies, and regulations that affect the state's food system and recommend to policymakers methods to improve the coordination and implementation of the programs, policies, and regulations.

The resolution encourages the governor to involve all state agencies, as well as the University of Alaska and the National Future Farmers of America organization, the National 4H Council, the Alaska Farm Bureau, and other farming groups, and to work cooperatively with the Rasmuson Foundation, Native organizations, etc., to address food production, nutrition, sustainability, availability in Alaska, and use of state grown food for the betterment of Alaskans.

HB 6 Removal of a Regent by Rep. Gruenberg
Status: awaiting transmittal to the Governor

This bill creates a statutory due process procedures under which the governor may suspend or remove a University of Alaska regent for good cause. It will protect both the regent's interests and the university's interests.

HB 104   Alaska performance scholarship by the Rules Committee by request of the Governor
Status: Conference Committee CS passed both bodies – awaiting transmittal to Governor

This bill makes amendments to the current Alaska Performance Scholarship to address requirements of eligibility of program to allow school districts more time to
incorporate the necessary components into their schools’ course offerings, and to offer students opportunities to complete the eligibility requirements. It also makes funding adjustments on a pro-rata basis dependent upon availability of funds.

HB 282 /SB 150 ‘An Act relating to applying military education, training, and service credit to occupational licensing and certain postsecondary education and employment training requirements’ by Rep. Bill Thomas
Status : died in last hour of session

HB 282 requires the Division of Professional Licensing, University of Alaska and vocational educational facilities to examine the credentials of related military experience. Relevant military experience would be credited for licensing requirements and educational credit would be granted for appropriate training. 

HB 302  ‘Contributions to UA from PFD Pick-Click-Give program’ by Rep Seaton
Status: Died in Senate Rules Committee

This bill requires each campus of the university to pay a yearly administrative fee of $450 to be included in the PFD Pick-Click-Give program.

SB 130Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council by Senator Donny Olson
Status: Awaiting transmittal to the Governor

The intent of this legislation is to preserve and maintain Alaska Native languages. It creates a Council to assess the current status of Alaska Native Languages, evaluate programs within the state in this regard and to make recommendations to the legislature and governor to establish new programs or re-organize existing programs.

Special note: Now would be a good time to send letters of thanks to the co-chairs of the House and Senate Finance Committees for their support of the university, as well as Rep. Anna Fairclough, Senator Joe Thomas and Senator Johnny Ellis. The university has fared very well this year thanks to the efforts of many active advocates and legislators who understood the importance of funding the university requests. However, until the Governor signs the budget, everything is still in play.

Many thanks to all UA supporters who actively participated in advocating for the University of Alaska. Whether you provided public testimony on budget initiatives, wrote letters, sent emails or met with legislators and staff, the collective actions of all encouraged legislators to include many operating budget increments and capital budget funding for the coming fiscal year. Thank you for supporting your university!