File name: JACBudgetHearings2014_20131213_071219.dcr Folder: C:\Documents and Settings\happropriations\My Documents\JAC Audio 2014 0 ~ 12/13/2013 7:59:09 AM ~ Start Recording 2 ~ 12/13/2013 7:59:11 AM ~ Friday Dec 12, 2013 010 - AGR- Dept of AGriculture 30 ~ 12/13/2013 7:59:39 AM ~ Chairman Harshman for the day 40 ~ 12/13/2013 7:59:49 AM ~ Harshman: welcome and introduction. 59 ~ 12/13/2013 8:00:08 AM ~ Fearneyhough, Director: introductions of Miyamoto and Cook, Finkenbinder, Uhden, Wichmann, Goodrich, Wittman, Other staff available for questions. Thanks. 2:24 ~ 12/13/2013 8:01:33 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Budget pg 11 std budget for administrative division . base = 2.697 For 15-16 looking at 3M. Pg 13 Exception requests - 100,000 for state office space throughout Wyoming. Gov denial. pg 14 IT upgrades. gov approval of 84992, deanial of 2950. Price differential from IT. pg 15 - Conferences 25000. Employee conference annually, agrifuture conference - agriculture, govt. Gov denial 5:06 ~ 12/13/2013 8:04:14 AM ~ Moniz: Elaborate 5:12 ~ 12/13/2013 8:04:21 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Agricfuture is a success, limit to about 150, regional conference in laramie, .... 6:41 ~ 12/13/2013 8:05:49 AM ~ Moniz: not approved, can you continue conference without this money? 6:54 ~ 12/13/2013 8:06:03 AM ~ Fearneyhough; Think so, money will help, will try to get sponsorship. other states host it possibly. 7:26 ~ 12/13/2013 8:06:35 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Administration div, continue; pg 18 No esdeption request. std 126000. 7:56 ~ 12/13/2013 8:07:05 AM ~ Harshman: Salaries identical moving across.. Have seen salary inc through reclassification.. Do you have any of that? 8:24 ~ 12/13/2013 8:07:32 AM ~ Fearneyhough: maybe 8:31 ~ 12/13/2013 8:07:39 AM ~ harshman: point them out 8:37 ~ 12/13/2013 8:07:46 AM ~ Fearneyhough - doesn't believe there are reclassificed but may have inc. salary for new hire. 8:56 ~ 12/13/2013 8:08:05 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 20 Brucellois, base 35000. team meetings a couple times a year. 9:16 ~ 12/13/2013 8:08:25 AM ~ Bebout: UW budget 200000 in their budget for brucellouis. 9:35 ~ 12/13/2013 8:08:44 AM ~ Fearneyhough: B Task force in our budget is strictly for meeting, not research. UW money is ersearch and other things. 10:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:09:16 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 22 Pesticide disposal program std 30000. No exception req pg 24 - wildlife disease research .. no excep requ 10:49 ~ 12/13/2013 8:09:57 AM ~ Bebout: last year 6250 eliminate pesticide program.? 11:01 ~ 12/13/2013 8:10:10 AM ~ Fearneyhough: did propose elimination of program, asked to zero it out. 30000 put back in by legislature. 11:26 ~ 12/13/2013 8:10:35 AM ~ Bebout: How much nex, did have a reduction 11:38 ~ 12/13/2013 8:10:47 AM ~ Fearneyhough: 30,000 yes had a reduction. Next unit sttd budget, no exc request. pg 27: livestock market reporting program. Ezc Request of 30000 for support of reporters at markets. Fed govt reduced involvement. INfo helps set mkt, helps people doing private treaties, successful program 13:24 ~ 12/13/2013 8:12:33 AM ~ Bebout: price of hay? 13:33 ~ 12/13/2013 8:12:42 AM ~ Fearneyhough: less than last year, no answer today. Pg 30 = organic handler program, no exc requ.. program no longer exists under USDA, in budget procedurallyb but no money requested. Pg 32 = tied to USDA. no money request, will be federal dollars, waiting on farm bill; pg 35 = consumer health services division. no exc req. 15:10 ~ 12/13/2013 8:14:18 AM ~ Bebout: Biggest budget cuts last year...when you come to those lets talk about them, where they were not biennialized. 0405. 0451, 1601 15:52 ~ 12/13/2013 8:15:01 AM ~ Fearneyhough: .....pg 40 = Technical services division. std = 4M. Exc req on pg 42 = weight kit stds, field testing equip, volume metric, mositure meter = 37000. pg 46 = analytic service division has 5 exc requests: pg 47 ER = water program instrumentation, lab equipment 642,000. tied to improving lab, and govs energy performance. inc. in volume of water testing to develop baseline. 18:32 ~ 12/13/2013 8:17:41 AM ~ Nicholas: more explanation of water tests, and where. 18:42 ~ 12/13/2013 8:17:50 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Doug Miyamoto 18:54 ~ 12/13/2013 8:18:03 AM ~ Miyamoto: Water sampling that analytic services divsion does is variable. base line water testing. Common is nitrates, organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, indusutreial developement, service water testing, solids like sediment, insecticides and pesticides. and ohter special. 20:04 ~ 12/13/2013 8:19:12 AM ~ Nicholas: local folks collect water, send to it, wher eis lab, does it cost them? 20:17 ~ 12/13/2013 8:19:26 AM ~ Miyamoto: video tells people how to collect, Call the lab, request a test kit which is mailed, give instructions verbally or in writing, mail sample back to lab and we process. 21:02 ~ 12/13/2013 8:20:11 AM ~ Nicholas: charge for service? 21:08 ~ 12/13/2013 8:20:17 AM ~ Miyamoto: Yes, we do charge - vaires by sample. 21:22 ~ 12/13/2013 8:20:31 AM ~ Perkins: INorganic water program same thing you talked about. 21:33 ~ 12/13/2013 8:20:41 AM ~ Miyamoto: can get back to you 22:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:21:16 AM ~ Perkins? 22:10 ~ 12/13/2013 8:21:19 AM ~ Bebout: ? Ficms begun in 99, not supported after 2004. What is it? AGency funds from conservation districts, unkown if continuing, do it for free or they don't ned help.? pg 46 22:58 ~ 12/13/2013 8:22:07 AM ~ Cook: Conservation districts receive $ from ag dept and they provide a budget to us for the lab, not sure at the time of budget prep. think it will continue, don't know. 23:31 ~ 12/13/2013 8:22:39 AM ~ bebout: 40000? offset? 23:38 ~ 12/13/2013 8:22:47 AM ~ Cook: $ does go into the dept. 23:47 ~ 12/13/2013 8:22:56 AM ~ Miyamoto: ICMS - mass spectometer, measures mineral concentrations, metals, gives concentrations. 24:18 ~ 12/13/2013 8:23:26 AM ~ Bebout: bought in 99, after 2014 not functional 24:29 ~ 12/13/2013 8:23:38 AM ~ Fearneyhough: won't be supported by software 24:44 ~ 12/13/2013 8:23:53 AM ~ Moniz: when people submit sample, how to make sure it is theirs and taken properly. 25:08 ~ 12/13/2013 8:24:17 AM ~ Miyamoto: Chain of custody forms and std operating procedures. Goes out with instructions. CAn recall oaoerwirj uf qyestuibs if validity. 26:03 ~ 12/13/2013 8:25:12 AM ~ Moniz: ex: Paviliohn. how to verify sample taken at certain location. 26:18 ~ 12/13/2013 8:25:27 AM ~ Miyamoto: WE are voluntary lab so we have not controls on wher sample is taken. We have no assurance of where sample came from. 26:43 ~ 12/13/2013 8:25:52 AM ~ Fearneyhough: In a situation like that, if we had a question we work with Conservation District, can have professionals of cons. district take sample, esp. if it is service water. different for well testing. 27:29 ~ 12/13/2013 8:26:37 AM ~ Burkhart: Ne mass spectrometer. Is it estimate or based on bids. 27:43 ~ 12/13/2013 8:26:52 AM ~ Cook: 4 piece of equipment, bids from companies. 28:06 ~ 12/13/2013 8:27:15 AM ~ Fearneyhough: exc req = 40,000 for analytic svc lab accredidation, ISO 1725 stds. rec for dinial by gov. Exc req = round up in insectiside unit, replaces device from 94. pg 49 exc requ for auto fiber system, gov denied . pg 50 exc req = fuel distillation unit for 32,000 to help meet goal of fuel quality testing ..rec by gov. 29:57 ~ 12/13/2013 8:29:06 AM ~ moniz: obligation? 30:10 ~ 12/13/2013 8:29:19 AM ~ Fearneyhough: has impact but can get work done in field. would make us more efficient, can do it with what we have. 30:45 ~ 12/13/2013 8:29:54 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 53 seed lab in park county. no exc requ. std = 878929. 31:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:30:15 AM ~ Bebout: revenue generated ...stil continue to work in that direction. 31:27 ~ 12/13/2013 8:30:36 AM ~ Fearneyhough: ..will continue to work at it, can make progress.. 31:45 ~ 12/13/2013 8:30:54 AM ~ Bebout: well run lab, facility maintenance, or did we buld it and give to park county. 32:12 ~ 12/13/2013 8:31:21 AM ~ Dr: ..it is the University's. WE rovide the O and M. 32:43 ~ 12/13/2013 8:31:52 AM ~ bebout: are employees ag or UW employees do we reimburse cost 32:56 ~ 12/13/2013 8:32:05 AM ~ Dr: they are UW employess and we reimburese. 33:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:32:16 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 55, protection division, no ezxc requ. std , no exc requ. 33:41 ~ 12/13/2013 8:32:49 AM ~ bebout: ground water, federal dollars, tangible results>? 33:57 ~ 12/13/2013 8:33:06 AM ~ Staff: Pesticides, ground water, ..work with DEQ, usgs, base line for counties, monitor watersheds. 34:28 ~ 12/13/2013 8:33:36 AM ~ Bebout: Plan for Wyoming, ? 34:58 ~ 12/13/2013 8:34:07 AM ~ Staff: yes 35:01 ~ 12/13/2013 8:34:10 AM ~ Bebout: ? 35:06 ~ 12/13/2013 8:34:14 AM ~ Staff: work with DE and others. Hank Uhden was the speaker. 35:23 ~ 12/13/2013 8:34:32 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 58 Rabies. no exc requ pg 60 = rodent and predator control, no exc request. pg 62 = grain warehouse program, no exc requ 36:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:35:16 AM ~ Bebout: object code 5010 -- flow through? 36:17 ~ 12/13/2013 8:35:25 AM ~ Cook : from license fees. 36:23 ~ 12/13/2013 8:35:32 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 65: animal mgt program, exc request, of 200,000 for wolf mgt - predatory side falls under ADMD and Ag dept. Funding is for a situation where wolves have to be removed froma an area... 37:22 ~ 12/13/2013 8:36:31 AM ~ Bebout: Have we had a wolf taken out of a trophy game area? 37:33 ~ 12/13/2013 8:36:42 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Yes we have, inthe predator area where they can be shot on site. have used funding from ADMA, takes helicopert. We have done that..Kemmerer, wil see more use of this funding. 38:11 ~ 12/13/2013 8:37:19 AM ~ bebout: dig out? shoot them remove carcass? 38:23 ~ 12/13/2013 8:37:31 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Federal trappers, difficult to get to the area so use helicopter. 38:39 ~ 12/13/2013 8:37:47 AM ~ Bebout: Report of woves, try to remove problem. 38:49 ~ 12/13/2013 8:37:58 AM ~ Fearneyhough: yes 38:53 ~ 12/13/2013 8:38:02 AM ~ Dockstader: Federal money? 39:09 ~ 12/13/2013 8:38:18 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Talbot and I coordinate. contracts with federal agencies to do that tracking. contracts with counties who are not tied into fed gov. Federal agency has manpower and equipment but not money so this fund has helped. 39:57 ~ 12/13/2013 8:39:06 AM ~ Harshman: spent in last biennium? 40:05 ~ 12/13/2013 8:39:14 AM ~ Fearneyhough: On this, somewhere between 20 and 30 thousand. Money came in late. specifric pulls, does revert if it is not used. 40:39 ~ 12/13/2013 8:39:47 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 69 consumer health services license - no ER 40:57 ~ 12/13/2013 8:40:06 AM ~ Bebout: Traditional food act bill, is it working? 41:18 ~ 12/13/2013 8:40:27 AM ~ Finkenbinder: It has gone fairly smoothly this past year, question now and then. respond in the way the act was intended. 42:15 ~ 12/13/2013 8:41:24 AM ~ Bebout: ..comment 42:26 ~ 12/13/2013 8:41:34 AM ~ Finkenbinder... 42:36 ~ 12/13/2013 8:41:45 AM ~ Bebout: remember bills 42:42 ~ 12/13/2013 8:41:51 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 71 spool and spa license - no ER 43:04 ~ 12/13/2013 8:42:13 AM ~ Bebout: resolve issue of rules? 43:14 ~ 12/13/2013 8:42:23 AM ~ Fearneyhough: working with gov office to resolve, no recent complaints but still issues 43:29 ~ 12/13/2013 8:42:38 AM ~ Bebout; Thermopolis 43:34 ~ 12/13/2013 8:42:43 AM ~ Fearneyhough: work with state parks, rules under AGR, rules with vendors, complex situation, natural occuring in water but not good for humans. Pg 73 = ..homeland security, NO ER . Pg 77 = ER in natural resource bughet. Pg 78 ER = mediation program. looking to replace fed funds with GF, salary and benefits, gov approval. support was denial of 40,000. mediation program has had requests to grow outside of AG dept, AG and Energy. Pg 80 ER = range assessment program 300000 to contineu program, monitoring rangeland for res protection and permit renewal 300,000 gov app. 46:16 ~ 12/13/2013 8:45:25 AM ~ bebout: Trying to help county commisioners ..BLM, polciy meetings? provide data and monitoring for discussions with BLM 46:52 ~ 12/13/2013 8:46:00 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Monitoring on ground, support those efforts. Original purpose to help with permit renewals. can also be utilitzed for waht you said. Staff involved in meeting, NEPA process. 47:47 ~ 12/13/2013 8:46:56 AM ~ Bebout: Tangible results, RMP? 47:57 ~ 12/13/2013 8:47:05 AM ~ Fearneyhough: We provide comment, tangible result is permit being approved. R and P process...have inserted language or held ground. 48:53 ~ 12/13/2013 8:48:02 AM ~ Bebout: Bill passed to provide conservation districts that special expertise 49:09 ~ 12/13/2013 8:48:18 AM ~ Wichmann: Tangible outcomes.. WE are seeing that. 2011 = 200,000. some projects are 3 years projects. Sheridan county big 6 Allotment. forest svc used info collected, decision upheld from NGO . Smith fork allotment in Kemmerer settlement agreement. .. 50:35 ~ 12/13/2013 8:49:44 AM ~ Bebout: Have to take them on every chance we can. Way7 to do it is with data. I support. ....Be tough as nails and keep doing it. 51:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:50:16 AM ~ Wichmann: projects develop a monitoring plan which sets groundwork for future monitoring by all, will se t data for the future. 51:40 ~ 12/13/2013 8:50:48 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 81 ..producer research funding applied research..not large scale or long term. 200,000 gov approval. started this program last session. 52:24 ~ 12/13/2013 8:51:33 AM ~ Moniz: utilization and results? 52:32 ~ 12/13/2013 8:51:41 AM ~ Fearneyhough: lots of interest, second round of RFD's, 52:56 ~ 12/13/2013 8:52:05 AM ~ Wichmann: First RFP in June of 2013, rec 14 applications, 4 projects approved. 2nd rmp rece 11 appliactions, jan board meeting will make decision. producer driven and applied research. UW is working well..so have aplications from researchers and producers. 54:18 ~ 12/13/2013 8:53:27 AM ~ Stubson: REsults distributed? 54:27 ~ 12/13/2013 8:53:35 AM ~ Wichman: Must outline outreach efforts in the apllication, one of ranking criteria, key to success is to get applied research on ground and we stress. 55:10 ~ 12/13/2013 8:54:19 AM ~ Moniz: copy of application and results.. 55:21 ~ 12/13/2013 8:54:30 AM ~ Wichmann: will get you a list, summary of projects. 55:30 ~ 12/13/2013 8:54:39 AM ~ Bebout: Interagency transfers of funds, water development of 675000. You provide something. explanin 55:58 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:06 AM ~ Fearneyhough: $ goes through us to conservation district, pass through 56:12 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:21 AM ~ Bebout 56:14 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:23 AM ~ Bebout: Why? 56:22 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:31 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Inherited the program.. been that way. 56:37 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:45 AM ~ Bbout: 56:40 ~ 12/13/2013 8:55:48 AM ~ Fearneyhough: some oversight with conservation districts. 56:51 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:00 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 84 - Emergency insect mgt program, no exc requ. 57:06 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:15 AM ~ bebout: took cuts? 57:11 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:19 AM ~ Fearneyhough: yes, 2014 = 2.5 M, reduction of 174900 57:30 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:38 AM ~ Bebout: just took one year reduction. 57:37 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:46 AM ~ Fearneyhough: correct. 57:43 ~ 12/13/2013 8:56:52 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 87 pesicide program, no esc request, orignial was 1.187 M, 306,000 reduction. Pg 87 -numbers on page 88. 880932. std before 1.187500 before reduction. 59:07 ~ 12/13/2013 8:58:16 AM ~ Nicholas: Reduction of funding ..impact? why was this one selected? 59:29 ~ 12/13/2013 8:58:38 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pesticide registration - 59:48 ~ 12/13/2013 8:58:56 AM ~ Uhden: dollars inc or dec based upon registrations,. 75 fee per product. funds held in this account, used for special mgt projects on competitive grant project. fees must match ibudget as appropriated, can only spend what we take in. impact neglible. 1:01:14 ~ 12/13/2013 9:00:23 AM ~ Bebout: Do you collect fees to offsett the 800000 and fees go to GF? 1:01:31 ~ 12/13/2013 9:00:40 AM ~ Bebout: yes, 1:01:36 ~ 12/13/2013 9:00:44 AM ~ Bebout; fees? 1:01:39 ~ 12/13/2013 9:00:48 AM ~ Cook: pg 87 est. of revnue..estimating 1.5M 1:01:53 ~ 12/13/2013 9:01:01 AM ~ Bebout: fees generated ..like mosquito control? where spent? 1:02:05 ~ 12/13/2013 9:01:14 AM ~ Uhden: lExample: russian olives, salt cedar, directeed at projects twher there is not another revenue stream. 1:02:44 ~ 12/13/2013 9:01:53 AM ~ Bebout: money to kill mosquitos? 1:02:52 ~ 12/13/2013 9:02:01 AM ~ Fearnyhough: emergency insect mgt. 1:03:02 ~ 12/13/2013 9:02:10 AM ~ nicholas: If you can only spend what you receive through fees, drop amount, that is not a budget reduction, it is a reduction of holding? 1:03:32 ~ 12/13/2013 9:02:41 AM ~ cook: it is a budget reduciton because funds not spent are returned to GF. 1:03:48 ~ 12/13/2013 9:02:57 AM ~ Harshman: money for GF./ 1:03:53 ~ 12/13/2013 9:03:02 AM ~ Moniz ? 1:04:10 ~ 12/13/2013 9:03:19 AM ~ Fearneyhough: In a different budget .. pg 99 1:04:25 ~ 12/13/2013 9:03:33 AM ~ Fearneyhough: tech svc and weed and pest on page 99. Tech on page 40 1:04:53 ~ 12/13/2013 9:04:02 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 90 State Fair = ER of 292000, gov approval of half. equipment replacement 1:05:58 ~ 12/13/2013 9:05:07 AM ~ Stubson: air compresor, soil compactor. owning vs leasing. 1:06:32 ~ 12/13/2013 9:05:41 AM ~ Fearneyhough: we do that on most equipment 1:06:42 ~ 12/13/2013 9:05:51 AM ~ Goodrich: Yes. Issues with equipment is availablility. Ex is compactor where we have availabiity issues. same as air compressor. Easier to have in house. 1:07:43 ~ 12/13/2013 9:06:52 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 95 Non-fair activities NO ER. pg 99 Weed and pest section NO ER. Page 103 predator mgt prog, funding is allocated out to county predator boards through grants. ER = 2M one time , req came from Gov office. Higher amount requested from local govts than we hve. 1:09:14 ~ 12/13/2013 9:08:23 AM ~ Fearneyhough: pg 107 wyo beef council NO ER; pg 11 wheat mkt commison NO ER; pg 114 Leaf ..NO ER; pg 117 LIfestock pavilion and show center, ER of 175000 to complete livestock and show center, finish it with a floor, Gov and SPC approval. 1:10:35 ~ 12/13/2013 9:09:44 AM ~ Bebout: Out of GF, Why instead of other funds? 1:10:57 ~ 12/13/2013 9:10:06 AM ~ Jones: Presented as a GF request. no discussion of other revenue sources, topic did not come up during SBC meeting either. capital request, one time funding. 1:11:58 ~ 12/13/2013 9:11:07 AM ~ Bebout: Don look into other funding. 1:12:11 ~ 12/13/2013 9:11:20 AM ~ Moniz: floor? 1:12:49 ~ 12/13/2013 9:11:57 AM ~ Fearneyhough: concrete floor, bring dirt in for show, then remove. 1:13:05 ~ 12/13/2013 9:12:13 AM ~ Bebout: Senator Hicks, 1:13:36 ~ 12/13/2013 9:12:44 AM ~ Senator Hicks: Handout 46, History, double or triple number of horses on wy rangeland. drought, BLM concur, not managing horses correctly. 10 year agreement. 2013. Consent decree expired. Interior did not appropriae any more money, as only in WY. Crisis situation with horses in many western states similar to Wyoming's siutation in 2002. Populations grow. Every horse herd at upper levels. BLM has not managed last 2 years. Last 6 months, ad hoc working group, working with ag people and AG's office. How to win in federal court. AG's office to pursue federal Wild Horse and Burro Act, or regulatory component for healthy management on rangeland. UW consultants. 3 components, establish conditon of rangeland, $100,000 to perform ecological site study; impact of wild horses on state's wildlife; Research for modal is not being followed. We need population based data. If we set baseline today and have exponential growth, legal issue is what hapends when we double or triple population. 75000 for poulaton monitoring. Collect data to put state in best defensible posion if and when we go back to court. One time expenditure..LT monitoring iwht local expertize. 1:24:21 ~ 12/13/2013 9:23:29 AM ~ harhman: where in budget? 1:24:27 ~ 12/13/2013 9:23:36 AM ~ Fearneyhough: seperate item. I would put it under Natural Resources. 1:25:22 ~ 12/13/2013 9:24:31 AM ~ Wallis: Consent decree expires this year. 3 years of reaserach is 3 years of 25% growth each year. Tehre is lots of data. Yakima reservaton in Washington. I am skeptical of idea that we need to delay 3 years when we need to get into court with data that is readily availbae and force the issue. 1:26:51 ~ 12/13/2013 9:26:00 AM ~ Hicks: some data does not exist or is very lmiited. Microhistorilogical data. Will determine plant species. example given. some detailed analysis does not exist. Not a lot of rangeland monitoring. not a lot of baseline data..some discussion of going to litigation right away.. do not want toset precedence. Problematic to wait 3 years but want a preponderance of evidence so we don't risk losing. go ni with absolutely defendable positon. 1:29:15 ~ 12/13/2013 9:28:24 AM ~ Wallis: Taylor Grazing Act similarity - horses, elk. 30 sections wiped out by hail last summer, 150 head of elk grazing ontheir 30 sections. huge problem, fits with rangeland assessment piece of DAR budget. 1:30:44 ~ 12/13/2013 9:29:53 AM ~ Bebout: Red Dessert - looking for cattle and antelope, very few of both, saw lots of wild horses. Worry about providing info tha supports having wild horses and no other grazing. We must be proactive. 50,000 horse in corrals being fed every day to the tune of 90 M $. 1:32:04 ~ 12/13/2013 9:31:12 AM ~ Hicks: Ag ccommunity impacted. Quantified info. livestock in pasture for 2 to 3 weeks. Horses 365 days per year. ...Design studies appropriately, collect the data, Even if you got rid of livestock, you would not solve the problem. Must manage the horses. How we do it is important. Ensure studies support solution. 1:34:21 ~ 12/13/2013 9:33:30 AM ~ bebout: Need legislators involved, select commitee or ag committee. 1:34:38 ~ 12/13/2013 9:33:47 AM ~ Burkhart: Clarification on base line data. Data exists today... 1:35:17 ~ 12/13/2013 9:34:26 AM ~ Hicks: In some cases that data exists but it is sporadic and spotty. Allotments not in good shape, wildhourse zones, no water development, impacts highly concentrated. Rangeland professionals....Process of ecological site development. Show plant communities that should be there....... 1:37:52 ~ 12/13/2013 9:37:01 AM ~ Dockstader: UW -tap into their resources? 1:38:14 ~ 12/13/2013 9:37:22 AM ~ Hicks: willing to help you work on that. , may be an option to go through their resources and reallocate.. 1:38:51 ~ 12/13/2013 9:37:59 AM ~ Moniz: Governor involved? 1:39:12 ~ 12/13/2013 9:38:20 AM ~ hicks: yes, did talk to gov. Hired another person in the policy office..Jessica Crowder, meeting with AG office. Gov collectively understands we need to go someplace, wanted more dialogue with AG office. Gov office will host a stateiwde meeting in Jan. 1:40:24 ~ 12/13/2013 9:39:32 AM ~ Nicholas: One page outline of AGR involvement. 1:40:36 ~ 12/13/2013 9:39:45 AM ~ Hastert: past budgets..protocoal to get a govs letter, is it necessary? 1:41:06 ~ 12/13/2013 9:40:15 AM ~ harshman: initiative on committee or if Gov has different idea.. 1:41:20 ~ 12/13/2013 9:40:28 AM ~ Fearneyhough: presentation complete. 1:41:34 ~ 12/13/2013 9:40:43 AM ~ Wallis: Result of bill passed last session in regards to AGR telling us resources,,,interstate shipping. 1:42:14 ~ 12/13/2013 9:41:23 AM ~ Fearneyhough: Presented to Joint AG committee this fall. work with University meat plant, about 3 M to get that meat plant up to code of fed gov. SAme costs for an dindiviual to get a plant to those stds as well. ..will get you info. 1:43:28 ~ 12/13/2013 9:42:37 AM ~ Harshman: thanks. Merry Christmas. 1:43:42 ~ 12/13/2013 9:42:51 AM ~ 1:43:49 ~ 12/13/2013 9:42:58 AM ~ Pause 1:43:49 ~ 12/13/2013 9:58:50 AM ~ Resume 1:44:05 ~ 12/13/2013 9:59:06 AM ~ 044 - INS - Insurance Department Tom Hirsig, Commissioner Linda Johnson, Chief Financial Examiner 1:44:37 ~ 12/13/2013 9:59:38 AM ~ Hirsig: Affordable Care Act will impact the agency with upcoming work load. How regulations will affect citizens. 2 additional positions. 1:46:23 ~ 12/13/2013 10:01:24 AM ~ Hirsig: Page 11, revenue. Self funded through insurance company assessments, fines, settlement suits. 1:47:55 ~ 12/13/2013 10:02:56 AM ~ Hastert: All types of insurance oversight. More than health? 1:48:12 ~ 12/13/2013 10:03:13 AM ~ Hirsig: All venues of insurance 1:48:24 ~ 12/13/2013 10:03:24 AM ~ Hastert: What percentage is health? 1:48:34 ~ 12/13/2013 10:03:35 AM ~ Hirsig: Life and health premiums 15-20% of total 1:49:22 ~ 12/13/2013 10:04:23 AM ~ Esquibel: 11,000 companies authorized to do business in WY, only 2 health care? 1:49:52 ~ 12/13/2013 10:04:53 AM ~ Hirsig: 2 participating in health exchange, 4 additional licensed. Not all licensed companies provide coverage in state. 1:50:40 ~ 12/13/2013 10:05:40 AM ~ Hastert: Agent filings expectation going down, not up? 1:53:55 ~ 12/13/2013 10:08:55 AM ~ Hirsig: Some have left due to health exchange, maintain or lose agents 1:54:15 ~ 12/13/2013 10:09:16 AM ~ Hirsig: page 11, first exception, software and hardware purchase, governor approved. Web redesign, governor approved. Telecommunications, activate voice mail; 1:56:24 ~ 12/13/2013 10:11:25 AM ~ Stubson: $3,000, on-going expense? 1:56:48 ~ 12/13/2013 10:11:49 AM ~ Hirsig: Yes, ongoing. 1:56:56 ~ 12/13/2013 10:11:57 AM ~ Nicholas: Any transfers to ETS during 2 past years? 1:57:14 ~ 12/13/2013 10:12:15 AM ~ Hirsig: No people transferring to ETS 1:57:26 ~ 12/13/2013 10:12:26 AM ~ Hirsig, Priority 4, analyst 2 position, extend for 2 years. 2015 regulations being released in 2014, research impacts to WY citizens. No good market sense, as in enough competition, for citizens. 2:00:38 ~ 12/13/2013 10:15:38 AM ~ Stubson: Cancelled health coverage policies. 2:00:59 ~ 12/13/2013 10:16:00 AM ~ Hirsig: Approximately 2500 individuals cancelled right now, however, another deadline on July 1. 2:02:18 ~ 12/13/2013 10:17:19 AM ~ Stubson: Those companies who have quit selling health insurance 2:02:39 ~ 12/13/2013 10:17:39 AM ~ Hirsig: Only 18 health companies, several have stopped selling insurance (4) in the state. 2:03:13 ~ 12/13/2013 10:18:13 AM ~ Hastert: How many were junk plans? 2:03:30 ~ 12/13/2013 10:18:30 AM ~ Hirsig: Met state regulations for medical coverage, not limited benefits, comprehensive medical plans. 2:04:04 ~ 12/13/2013 10:19:05 AM ~ Hastert: Most cancelled policies were junk plans, nationally. Why leave state? 2:04:31 ~ 12/13/2013 10:19:32 AM ~ Hirsig: Research done as to why. Development of new plans in all 50 states was cumbersome. 2:05:22 ~ 12/13/2013 10:20:22 AM ~ Dockstader: 12 remaining still selling? 2:05:37 ~ 12/13/2013 10:20:38 AM ~ Hirsig: Assuming so... 2:06:37 ~ 12/13/2013 10:21:38 AM ~ Esquibel: 2500 policies, any Blue Cross or WinHealth? 2:07:12 ~ 12/13/2013 10:22:13 AM ~ Hirsig? No 2:07:17 ~ 12/13/2013 10:22:18 AM ~ Esquibel: 6000-7000 signups on health exchange. Nicholas: rates? 2:09:07 ~ 12/13/2013 10:24:08 AM ~ Hirsig: Analyzed rates, most of healthy populations rates will go up, older and young females go down. 2:09:53 ~ 12/13/2013 10:24:54 AM ~ Bebout: Small groups under 50 employees? 2:10:16 ~ 12/13/2013 10:25:17 AM ~ Hirsig: Small companies in panic mode with impact of ACA 2:11:21 ~ 12/13/2013 10:26:22 AM ~ Bebout: Population affected by larger rates in insurance. 2:11:41 ~ 12/13/2013 10:26:42 AM ~ Hirsig: Always near top due to low pop 2:11:58 ~ 12/13/2013 10:26:58 AM ~ Hastert: Lower competition and population drives market associated with ACA. 2:13:06 ~ 12/13/2013 10:28:07 AM ~ Hirsig: Risk adjustment may be protected against unexpected. 2:15:27 ~ 12/13/2013 10:30:28 AM ~ Hirsig: ETS charges for storage; page 19, licensing board; appointed by governor, administer agent testing. page 22, health insurance pool. 2:17:24 ~ 12/13/2013 10:32:24 AM ~ Bebout: Sunset dating of 2015, law set rates, health insurance pool in trouble due to ACA? 2:18:07 ~ 12/13/2013 10:33:08 AM ~ Hirsig: Health insurance pool designed for those who couldn't obtain insurance any other place due to pre-existing conditons and disabled under 65 for medicare supplement. Might migrate out because can obtain other insurance due to affordable care act.Right now considered eligible health plan by federal government, but not sure after December 31, 2014. 2:22:21 ~ 12/13/2013 10:37:22 AM ~ Hirsig: Page 28, small employer group program. Allow high risk in group; basically a re-insurance group. Only 2 domestic companies used in last 2 years. Cannot seat any more in this high risk program. 2:24:59 ~ 12/13/2013 10:40:00 AM ~ Burkhart: Thanks for all hard work of agency letting public know about affordable health act. 2:26:56 ~ 12/13/2013 10:41:57 AM ~ 007 - MIL - Military Department 2:27:52 ~ 12/13/2013 10:42:53 AM ~ Pause 2:27:52 ~ 12/13/2013 10:45:22 AM ~ Resume 2:28:00 ~ 12/13/2013 10:45:30 AM ~ 007 MIL Military Department Major General Luke Reiner, Adjutant General Doug Shope, Deputy Director Colonel Guy Beaudoin, Construction Manager Larry Barttelbort, Veternas Commission Lt Colonel Chris Smith, Judge Advocate General Chief Bill Whipple, State Command Misty Malborg, Business Manager Major Holly Shenefeldt, Adjutant General Executive Officer Colonel Pat Moffet Reiner: In good shape, air guard busy this past summer. Federal budget issues will continue to negatively affect guard nationwide. Air Guard renovations progressing nicely. C-130 simulator upgrade ongoing. Camp Guernsey continues to be critical training center. 2:35:12 ~ 12/13/2013 10:52:43 AM ~ Stubson: 56,000 veterans in state. 2:35:29 ~ 12/13/2013 10:53:00 AM ~ Barttelbort: higher percentage of vets in wyoming because more of population serves. 2:36:17 ~ 12/13/2013 10:53:47 AM ~ Reiner: 225 employed overseas. 2:37:13 ~ 12/13/2013 10:54:43 AM ~ Hastert: High fire season 2:37:42 ~ 12/13/2013 10:55:12 AM ~ Reiner: No large fires outside Guernsey 2:38:11 ~ 12/13/2013 10:55:41 AM ~ Shope: page 4, $111,000 . page 7 recap of priority exception . Capital construction, ETS, governor approval of standard budget. $198,000 building; governor approved. 2:41:56 ~ 12/13/2013 10:59:27 AM ~ Meier: Usually charge from one agency to another (use of building by Homeland Security) 2:42:42 ~ 12/13/2013 11:00:13 AM ~ Shope: 20,000 sf lease, similar fee. state facility owned by military department and operated by them. Funds provided by general fund, general fund agencies both involved. 1/3 to 1/2 basement space. Page 11, Camp Guernsey Range maintenance. After 2009, those who graze land are charged fair market, plus moving cattle as needed for military training. Proceeds are deposted into general fund, request operational funds. $409,000 requested, governor denied. 2:48:06 ~ 12/13/2013 11:05:36 AM ~ Stubson: $208,000, use all for maintenance efforts, and does it meet needs? 2:48:39 ~ 12/13/2013 11:06:10 AM ~ Shope: Used to maintain fences and grass maintenance, water supply, road maintenance, hire range rider to ensure proper movement of cattle. Have added acreage 2:50:05 ~ 12/13/2013 11:07:36 AM ~ Shope: page 12, communications. ETS recommendations and governor approved. 2:50:57 ~ 12/13/2013 11:08:27 AM ~ Moniz: Plans with grazing maintenance, what to do? 2:51:20 ~ 12/13/2013 11:08:51 AM ~ Shope: Amount of impact, can be sustained or not; reduce grazing, or barter services 2:52:02 ~ 12/13/2013 11:09:32 AM ~ Shope: Proivde breakdown of costs on grazing lands maintenance. 2:52:35 ~ 12/13/2013 11:10:05 AM ~ Jones: Request appeared to be based on revenue, not need. 2:53:02 ~ 12/13/2013 11:10:32 AM ~ Shope: Page 15, educational assistance program. 100% tuition and fees in public college if eligible. governor approved. 2:54:10 ~ 12/13/2013 11:11:40 AM ~ Shope: page 17, SGLI Premium program, group life insurance coverage for $250,000 coverage. governor approval. 2:55:58 ~ 12/13/2013 11:13:28 AM ~ Meier; what kind of insurance? 2:56:13 ~ 12/13/2013 11:13:44 AM ~ Shope: Term life insurance, current biennium spent $608,000. 2:56:37 ~ 12/13/2013 11:14:07 AM ~ Meier: how long coverage? 2:58:32 ~ 12/13/2013 11:16:03 AM ~ Shope: Only reimburse active members, but increases have only impact budget minimally. $1.2M for biennium 2:59:27 ~ 12/13/2013 11:16:57 AM ~ Shope: Page 19, first responder program. Focused on career first responders, especially communities where first responders originated. 3:00:33 ~ 12/13/2013 11:18:03 AM ~ Shope: apge 22, air national guard, facility services; at airport; large crew of firefighters, civil engienering, and law enforcement. governor approval. Priority request to increase civil engineering maintenance costs. Need to match 75% federal funds, $25,000 general fund match approved. 3:03:03 ~ 12/13/2013 11:20:34 AM ~ Shope: Page 26, Star Base program, 5th grade students, math emphasis. Communications exception request of $1,000+ funds, governor approved. 3:03:52 ~ 12/13/2013 11:21:22 AM ~ Shope: Page 30, no longer used. 3:04:03 ~ 12/13/2013 11:21:34 AM ~ Shope: 42, building fund at Camp Guernsey, chargeable quarters. governor approved, exception request for computers and softward, $4,800. governor approved. 3:04:59 ~ 12/13/2013 11:22:30 AM ~ Shope: Page 37, army national guard. focuses on federal responsibilities to army facilities in state. governor approved. 3:05:28 ~ 12/13/2013 11:22:58 AM ~ Shope: Page 38, priority 8. interim study for long term mainteance for armory, current backlog of $4.8M, growing at $700,000 annually. 11 personnel located around state . Denied by governor 3:06:46 ~ 12/13/2013 11:24:16 AM ~ Hastert: $5,400 from general fund cover? 3:07:03 ~ 12/13/2013 11:24:34 AM ~ Shope: Retiree insurance supplement. 3:07:33 ~ 12/13/2013 11:25:04 AM ~ Hastert: why not approve 11 positions, federally funded 3:07:51 ~ 12/13/2013 11:25:22 AM ~ Jones: Keep personnel numbers flat. Maintenance issue disucussion $4.8M 3:09:36 ~ 12/13/2013 11:27:06 AM ~ Jones: Furloughs were issues on the stability of revenue sources 3:11:17 ~ 12/13/2013 11:28:48 AM ~ Reiner: Furlough DOD civilians, mainly mechanics; partially federal funded state civilians were able to use admin leave, later backfunded by federal government. 3:14:29 ~ 12/13/2013 11:31:59 AM ~ Hastert: If state authorizes 11 positions, how funded by federal government? 3:14:54 ~ 12/13/2013 11:32:25 AM ~ Reiner: federal government set aside, but not forwarded, money for 11 positions for maintenance of armories, 3:16:15 ~ 12/13/2013 11:33:45 AM ~ Moniz: Budget cuts affect 11 positons? 3:16:43 ~ 12/13/2013 11:34:13 AM ~ Reiner: No, 3:17:02 ~ 12/13/2013 11:34:32 AM ~ Meier: Just bodies? 3:17:26 ~ 12/13/2013 11:34:56 AM ~ Shope: Have tools and equipment, just bodies. 3:19:13 ~ 12/13/2013 11:36:43 AM ~ Hastert: Private contract, still federal authorization for monies. $4M of backlog of maintenance, growing $700,000 each year of deferred maintenance, need 11 people to perform maintenance. 3:22:15 ~ 12/13/2013 11:39:45 AM ~ Shope: Priority 12, $12,000, governor approved. 3:22:36 ~ 12/13/2013 11:40:06 AM ~ Shope, page 39, $9M is to give federal spending authority to spend on maintenance funds. Governor approved. 3:23:50 ~ 12/13/2013 11:41:21 AM ~ Shope: Page 45, Challenge Program. Increased in past years to 4-class per year. Students participating growing, governor approved. Exception for data needs $19,300 governor approved for federal and school foundtion funds. 3:25:13 ~ 12/13/2013 11:42:44 AM ~ Bebout: How many students through program? 3:25:27 ~ 12/13/2013 11:42:58 AM ~ Reiner: 140 past year. 3:25:56 ~ 12/13/2013 11:43:27 AM ~ Bebout: Spending $27,000/student in Challenge Program, $16,000 per student in School Foundaton Program, which is close to state average. 3:29:20 ~ 12/13/2013 11:46:51 AM ~ Stubson: Data collection if program is meeting its goals? 3:30:51 ~ 12/13/2013 11:48:21 AM ~ Reiner: Tracked closely for 1 year. Large percentage go onto secondary education, getting jobs. Trend to give high school diplomas, most still received GED> 3:32:33 ~ 12/13/2013 11:50:04 AM ~ Meier: testing for hathaway scholarship? 3:32:57 ~ 12/13/2013 11:50:27 AM ~ Reiner: Thought had to have diploma, not GED 3:33:30 ~ 12/13/2013 11:51:00 AM ~ Harshman: Eligible with GED 3:33:39 ~ 12/13/2013 11:51:09 AM ~ Esquibel: Better envionment that Boys or Girls Schools. 3:34:15 ~ 12/13/2013 11:51:46 AM ~ Richards: On sharepoint, challenge program $45,340/student. School foundation is $28,328/student. Comparison coming with other small districts. 3:35:16 ~ 12/13/2013 11:52:46 AM ~ Bebout: 900 series, global services? 3:36:30 ~ 12/13/2013 11:54:01 AM ~ Reiner: outside security force for Camp Guernsey 3:36:57 ~ 12/13/2013 11:54:27 AM ~ Shope: Coperative agreement for state to provide security for facility, cheap to perform via contractor 3:37:24 ~ 12/13/2013 11:54:54 AM ~ Bebout: Environmental, cultural resource investigations, $604,000 3:38:17 ~ 12/13/2013 11:55:47 AM ~ Shope: Every land action must be studied culturally and environmentally before federal government takes possession. 3:39:13 ~ 12/13/2013 11:56:43 AM ~ Beaudoin: Federally reimbursed, land action, cultural action on all BLM lands for training; state contracting 3:40:32 ~ 12/13/2013 11:58:02 AM ~ Beaudoin: Can be done initially, then performed supplementally and reviewed at a certain timeframe. 3:41:46 ~ 12/13/2013 11:59:16 AM ~ Wallis: Sawmill Canyon fee? 3:42:06 ~ 12/13/2013 11:59:36 AM ~ Shope: Costs paid as requested thru State Forester. Type 1 crews brought in from New Mexico. 3:43:22 ~ 12/13/2013 12:00:52 PM ~ Wallis: Fire in New Mexico? 3:43:32 ~ 12/13/2013 12:01:02 PM ~ Reiner: Get back 3:43:37 ~ 12/13/2013 12:01:07 PM ~ Shope: page 50, veteran servcies. $7500 to keep national guard retirees of current operations and financial counseling. governor approved. 3:44:27 ~ 12/13/2013 12:01:57 PM ~ Shope: page 52, veterans education program: state approving agency, federally funded, approve audit of school receiving and providing services to students who are receiving funds. governor approved. Excception: communications request of $1,800. governor approved Exception request administrative support of auditing school records, increased allotment of personnal and materials for audit, $30,000 federal funding authority; governor approved. 3:46:21 ~ 12/13/2013 12:03:51 PM ~ Shop: page 56, Veterans Commission. standard budget approval by governor. Exception request if $150,000 to contract its service organzations to provide services locally at local VA for all claims processed by state. Historically been one time funding. Make it permanent, governor approved. 3:48:19 ~ 12/13/2013 12:05:49 PM ~ Barttelbort: VA disability claims, VA goes via local service organization, such as VFW, to local VA. Pays 3 organizatons equally. 3:50:43 ~ 12/13/2013 12:08:13 PM ~ Shope: Request for software and communication services, $20,087, governor approved. 3:51:10 ~ 12/13/2013 12:08:41 PM ~ Shope: Page 61, veterans burial team, $50 per burial. governor approvedl 3:51:33 ~ 12/13/2013 12:09:03 PM ~ Stubson: Stipend per member? $54,000 request? 3:52:11 ~ 12/13/2013 12:09:42 PM ~ Barttelbort: Reflects projections using VA info on deaths. $1,080 biennium 3:53:28 ~ 12/13/2013 12:10:59 PM ~ Shope: Veterans museum, located at Natrona County airport. governor approval. Exception request for data services, $5,200, governor approval 3:55:19 ~ 12/13/2013 12:12:49 PM ~ Esquibel: Archiving how much? 3:55:30 ~ 12/13/2013 12:13:00 PM ~ Reiner: Large amounts of materials contributed. 3:56:01 ~ 12/13/2013 12:13:32 PM ~ Shope: page 68, Oregon Trail State Veteran Cemetary. governor approval 3:56:40 ~ 12/13/2013 12:14:10 PM ~ Esquibel: National cemetary status? 3:56:59 ~ 12/13/2013 12:14:29 PM ~ Barttelbort: VA reconsidered, in process of locating a national burial ground in Cheyenne. Breaking ground in 18 months, burials in 2 years. Newly resurfaced road and repaired bridge. 3:58:52 ~ 12/13/2013 12:16:22 PM ~ Shope: Page 73, military support civil authority. Provide training and coordinated tabletop for deployment within state. governor approved except $4800 travel money. Never has been used 3:59:56 ~ 12/13/2013 12:17:26 PM ~ Shope: page 75, avalanche support program, transferred to federal agency with better resources. budget net zero to civil air budget. 4:01:58 ~ 12/13/2013 12:19:28 PM ~ Shope: Page 82, capital construction for armory. 3 requests, 4:02:36 ~ 12/13/2013 12:20:06 PM ~ Reiner: $13.4M, federal spending authority; page 85 is request $31M federal spending authority at Camp Guernsey; 4:03:36 ~ 12/13/2013 12:21:06 PM ~ Meier: Complete level III 4:03:52 ~ 12/13/2013 12:21:22 PM ~ Reiner: $1M in state money 4:04:30 ~ 12/13/2013 12:22:00 PM ~ Reiner: $4.8M, half of general fund money, partly federal funds. Next 5 years, spend $500,000 annually general fund. 4:06:43 ~ 12/13/2013 12:24:14 PM ~ Shope: If federal authority in place, and other states not, may get additional federal monies. 4:07:47 ~ 12/13/2013 12:25:18 PM ~ Stop Recording