Protecting Your Rights: Serving Sand Lake, Spenard and Turnagain

March 6, 2020

In this issue:

• Operating Budget Passes House

• COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

• Adding a Second Verse to the Alaska Flag Song Video

• Community Events

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, we considered amendments to the FY21 operating budget, House Bill 205, on the House Floor. Following work on the amendments, we approved the operating budget, which now goes to the Senate. I am pleased we are working together to complete our work in a timely fashion.

Operating Budget Passes House

On Tuesday, the House passed the FY21 operating budget. The operating budget that passed calls for $4.45 billion in state funds (Undesignated General Funds or "UGF") in spending on essential programs and services. The total operating budget is $9.8 billion, which includes both state and federal funds. Alaska’s Constitution requires lawmakers to ensure our people are safe, healthy, and educated.

Our budget fulfills those mandates and makes new investments in troopers, VPSOs, prosecutors, and courts; adequately funds Medicaid and Pioneer Homes; and provides teachers and students with additional resources. As the House Majority Coalition advocated last year, the governor’s budget this year restores: $128.3 million for Medicaid; $7.5 million for Adult Public Assistance; and $5 million for Pioneer Homes.

The budget also funds:

$11 million for the Alaska Marine Highway System (allowing AMHS to receive $7.4 million Designated General Funds or "DGF" in ticket sales);
$10.6 million investment in students with special needs;
$7.6 million to address Alaska’s growing prison population and for mental health and rehab services that will help inmates succeed when they get out of jail;
$6.3 million to hire 36 Alaska State Trooper positions;
$1.7 million to help increase the court system’s productivity;
$1.6 million for criminal prosecutors;
$1 million to process evidence quickly;
$1 million to invest in the Village Public Safety Officer program;
$180,000 to the Department of Environmental Conservation dairy program to strengthen Alaska’s small businesses.
$1 million to protect Alaska Public Radio from making drastic service reductions that would harm rural communities.

The House operating budget did not include a dividend amount because we will address that appropriation in a different bill this session. This year, the legislature has separated the debate over the level of support for essential services including public safety, public education, and infrastructure from the debate over the size of this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend. The House Majority Coalition is committed to protecting the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve and not use that essential savings for either government services or a larger dividend.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update

On Wednesday, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Commissioner Adam Crum and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink held a special briefing to address the current COVID-19 outbreak that originated out of Wuhan, China. COVID-19 is spreading in the United States, with cases reported as close as Washington state and an increasing number of cases reported across the East Coast.

So far, four Alaskans have been tested for COVID-19, and none of those tests have yielded a positive result. Dr. Zink explained that, although there are no current cases of COVID-19 in Alaska, "it is highly likely that we will soon see a case." The Dunleavy Administration and DHSS have been preparing Alaska for the onset of the virus, and have the following recommendations in place:

Follow all normal health precautions – wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, disinfect surfaces regularly, avoid contact with sick people, stay home if you’re sick, sneeze into your elbow, and get your flu shot.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue – promptly contact your healthcare provider to inquire about getting tested.
Develop personal contingency plans for cases in Alaska and participate in community mitigation efforts – social distancing, rerouting air travel, etc.
Build a home preparedness kit. Visit ready.gov for guidance.
Continue to monitor travel advisories for areas currently experiencing widespread outbreaks and reconsider all non-essential air travel to these areas.

In the event that the COVID-19 outbreak reaches Alaska, the Dunleavy Administration asked the legislature for an additional $4 million in state funds and $9 million in federal receipt authority to support our statewide response to COVID-19.

We've learned three things from the news reports and the briefing from Alaska's Chief Medical Officer:

Stay informed with reliable information
Stay calm, stay kind, and work with each other
Wash your hands

Adding a Second Verse to the Alaska Flag Song

On February 27, local Juneau students surprised the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee with a rap about Representative Andi Story's HB 193, which would add a second verse to the Alaska Flag Song. Watch the video below.

Community Events

Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

Tour of Anchorage

The Tour of Anchorage is one of the few point-to-point cross-country ski marathons in North America. There are 4 race events: 25k freestyle, 25k classic, 40k freestyle, and 50k freestyle. In each, participants range from elite ski racers to recreational skiers challenging themselves to finish.

When: Sunday, March 8 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

For more information and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page or the event website.