00              CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 13(FIN)                                                             
01 Establishing and relating to the Education Funding District Cost Factor Commission.                                     
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS, under art. VII, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, a system of                               
04 public schools is required to be established and maintained; and                                                        
05       WHEREAS the cost of providing adequate public education for children living in the                              
06 state varies significantly among geographic areas of the state; and                                                     
07       WHEREAS accurately measuring relative cost differences is integral to equitable                                 
08 funding for education across geographic areas; and                                                                      
09       WHEREAS the cost differentials have been a recurring policy issue since the current                             
10 funding formula was adopted in 1998; and                                                                                
11       WHEREAS the findings of economic analyses conducted in 2002 and 2004 have                                       
12 raised questions and controversy within the Alaska State Legislature; and                                               
13       WHEREAS previous determinations of cost differentials have been static and,                                     
14 consequently, have become outdated;                                                                                     
15       BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Education Funding                                       
16 District Cost Factor Commission is established for the purpose of examining school district                             
01 cost differentials and creating a valid and durable model that can be updated to accurately                             
02 reflect the costs of providing education; and be it                                                                     
03       FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may enter into contracts for research                                      
04 services, consulting services, or expert advice to assist the commission in creating a valid and                        
05 durable model; and be it                                                                                                
06       FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission consists of 11 members as follows:                                         
07            (1)  five shall be from the senate appointed by the president of the senate;                                 
08            (2)  five shall be from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of                             
09 the house of representatives; and                                                                                       
10            (3)  one shall be appointed by the governor; and be it                                                       
11       FURTHER RESOLVED that the president of the senate and the speaker of the house                                  
12 of representatives shall jointly appoint the chair and vice-chair of the commission; and be it                          
13       FURTHER RESOLVED that a commission member is subject to reappointment or                                        
14 replacement if either the president of the senate or speaker of the house of representatives is                         
15 replaced and the member was appointed by the former president or speaker; a member may                                  
16 continue to serve even if the member is no longer a state legislator; and be it                                         
17       FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a report of its findings                                      
18 and proposed legislative changes to the governor and the legislature by September 30, 2009,                             
19 and may make any additional reports it considers advisable; and be it                                                   
20       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Education Funding District Cost Factor                                                
21 Commission is terminated on April 1, 2011.