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House Finance adopts collective-bargaining pay adjustments; two other amendments left for later action
Summary
House Finance Committee Co-chair Josephson presided as the panel on March 25 adopted salary adjustments tied to recently settled collective-bargaining agreements and deferred action on other language amendments.
House Finance Committee Co-chair Josephson presided over the March 25 meeting that adopted salary adjustments tied to recently concluded collective bargaining settlements and deferred action on several other language amendments.
Alexander Schroeder, staff to Co-chair Josephson, told the committee that Amendment 1 “includes an 11% cost of living adjustment for the Alaska Correctional Officers Association salary adjustments for a total of $14,393,500. It includes a salary adjustment for the Teachers Education Association of Mount Edgecumbe, total of $167,500. It includes a salary adjustment for United Academics members for a total of $3,176,600. The overall cost of the amendment is $17,737,600 UGF.” The committee adopted Amendment 1 without objection.
Schroeder also explained that a matching language amendment to the mental-health bill (Amendment 3) adds the same bargaining units to the list of units covered by the salary adjustments; the committee adopted Amendment 3 without objection. Lehi Painter of the Legislative Finance Division confirmed that the three contracts referenced in discussion were concluded this year and that the correctional officers’ contract was resolved through arbitration in January, which is why the governor’s original budget did not include the costs.
The committee did not act on Amendment 2, which included a package of subcommittee intent and conditional language items (including language related to the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation and Medicaid modeling). Representative Bynum withdrew his motion on Amendment 2 and the committee agreed to revisit it at a later meeting.
A fourth and more extensive package of language changes (Amendment 4) was moved and discussed at length but received no final vote during the March 25 session. That package includes a range of language and contingency provisions related to education funding, agency receipt authorities, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, pupil transportation, the Alaska Marine Highway System, and special “kicker” or surplus distribution language tied to state revenue triggers. Committee members debated many sections and sought legal and fiscal clarification; legislative counsel Megan Wallace and Legislative Finance Division staff provided procedural and technical guidance during the discussion.
Votes at a glance - Amendment 1 (collective-bargaining salary adjustments; total cost stated as $17,737,600 UGF): adopted without objection. - Amendment 2 (subcommittee intent/conditional language including Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation language and Medicaid modeling language): motion withdrawn; no final action; committee to revisit. - Amendment 3 (language to add bargaining units to HB 55 language section, mirroring Amendment 1): adopted without objection. - Amendment 4 (large chair’s language package to HB 53 with numerous appropriations and contingency provisions): moved and debated; no final vote on March 25.
The committee announced it will reconvene March 26 to continue taking up amendments to House Bills 53 (operating) and 55 (mental health).
