CSSB 301(FIN) AM: "An Act relating to postsecondary education; and providing for an effective date."
00CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 301(FIN) am 01 "An Act relating to postsecondary education; and providing for an effective 02 date." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 08.02.025(a) is amended to read: 05 (a) A person licensed under this title shall comply with the student loan 06 repayment provisions under AS 14.43 that are applicable to the person. 07 Notwithstanding another provision of law, a license issued to a person under this title 08 may not be renewed if the licensee [BORROWER] and the department 09 [DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT] have 10 received notice from the Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON 11 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] that the licensee is in default on a student loan 12 provided to the licensee. This action may be taken no sooner than 60 days after the 13 Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY 14 EDUCATION] has notified the licensee [BORROWER] of the default status of the
01 loan as provided under AS 14.43.120(i). If a licensee's [AN] appeal of a 02 determination of default status is pending [ON BEHALF OF THE LICENSEE], the 03 Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY 04 EDUCATION] shall notify the department and the department [RENEWAL] may not 05 deny renewal [BE DENIED] under this section until and unless the [APPEAL HAS 06 BEEN CONCLUDED AND THE] default status has been affirmed on appeal. The 07 denial [DENIAL] of renewal of a license shall continue until the department 08 [DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT] receives 09 notice from the Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON 10 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] that the licensee is no longer in default on the 11 student loan. 12 * Sec. 2. AS 14.42.100 is amended to read: 13 Sec. 14.42.100. CREATION OF ALASKA STUDENT LOAN 14 CORPORATION. The [THERE IS CREATED THE] Alaska Student Loan 15 Corporation is created as [. THE CORPORATION IS] a public corporation and 16 government instrumentality within the Department of Revenue [EDUCATION] but 17 having a legal existence independent of and separate from the state. The corporation 18 may not be terminated as long as it has outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations 19 [OUTSTANDING]. Upon termination of the corporation, its rights and property pass 20 to the state. 21 * Sec. 3. AS 14.42.120 is repealed and reenacted to read: 22 Sec. 14.42.120. CORPORATION GOVERNING BODY. (a) The corporation 23 shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of the members of the Alaska 24 Commission on Postsecondary Education under AS 14.48.035. The governor's 25 appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the governor for four-year staggered terms. 26 (b) Two members of the legislature shall serve as ex officio nonvoting 27 members of the board of directors. The two ex officio nonvoting members 28 shall include one member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate 29 and one member of the house appointed by the speaker of the house of 30 representatives. 31 (c) A full-time postsecondary student shall serve as a nonvoting member of the
01 board of directors. The governor shall appoint the student member from a list of 02 nominees within 60 days after it is submitted. The list must consist of the names of 03 two nominees from each four-year public or nonprofit college or university campus in 04 the state that has representative student government. The nominees shall be selected 05 from a student election held on each campus. Elections under this subsection shall be 06 held concurrently with student regent elections required under AS 14.40.150(b) and 07 conducted under rules established by the Office of the Governor. The term of office 08 of the student member is two years beginning June 1 of the year in which the 09 appointment is made. Membership on the corporation is immediately forfeited by a 10 student member who ceases to be a full-time student. Within 60 days after a vacancy 11 occurs, the governor shall appoint a successor from those students appearing on the list 12 of nominees to serve for the unexpired term of the original appointee. In this 13 subsection, "campus" means a portion of the college or university designated as a 14 "campus" by the board of the college or university. 15 (d) A governing body member, trustee, official, or employee of a public, 16 private, or proprietary institution of postsecondary or higher education in the state may 17 not be appointed to membership on the corporation as representative of the general 18 public for the purpose of (a) of this section. 19 (e) Members of the board serve without compensation, but the voting members 20 who are not state employees and the student member are entitled to per diem and 21 travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions under AS 39.20.180. 22 (f) Each year, the board shall elect a chair from among its voting membership. 23 A majority of the voting members constitute a quorum for organizing the board, 24 conducting board business, and exercising the powers of the corporation. 25 * Sec. 4. AS 14.42.160 is repealed and reenacted to read: 26 Sec. 14.42.160. EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND STAFF; ADMINISTRATION. 27 (a) The corporation may appoint an executive director as the corporation's executive 28 officer. The executive officer is a member of the exempt service under AS 39.25.110, 29 serves at the pleasure of the corporation, and receives compensation fixed by the 30 corporation. The executive officer appoints persons to the staff positions authorized 31 by the corporation, and staff compensation is fixed by the corporation. Each employee
01 of the corporation shall participate as a member of the public employees' retirement 02 system (AS 39.35). 03 (b) The corporation is not a division in the Department of Revenue. The 04 corporation, members of the corporation, the executive officer, and staff are in the 05 Department of Revenue for administrative support services only, and they are not 06 subject to the direction of the commissioner of revenue. 07 (c) Subject to review by the corporation, the executive director shall administer 08 the student loan and grant programs under AS 14.43. 09 * Sec. 5. AS 14.42 is amended by adding a new section to read: 10 Sec. 14.42.180. LEGAL COUNSEL. The attorney general is legal counsel for 11 the corporation. The attorney general shall advise the corporation in legal matters 12 arising in the discharge of its duties and represent the corporation in actions to which 13 it is a party. If, in the opinion of the corporation, the public interest is not adequately 14 represented by counsel in a proceeding, the attorney general, upon request of the 15 corporation, shall represent the public interest. 16 * Sec. 6. AS 14.42 is amended by adding a new section to read: 17 Sec. 14.42.195. FUNCTIONS OF THE CORPORATION. (a) The corporation 18 shall administer the student loan fund under AS 14.42.210 and the student loan and 19 grant programs under AS 14.43. 20 (b) The corporation may adopt regulations under AS 44.62 (Administrative 21 Procedure Act) to carry out the purposes of AS 14.43. 22 (c) The corporation may enter into agreements with government or 23 postsecondary education officials of this state or other states to provide postsecondary 24 educational services and programs to residents of this state pursuing a medical 25 education; an agreement with another state must be limited to services and programs 26 that are unavailable in this state. 27 * Sec. 7. AS 14.42.200(10) is amended to read: 28 (10) gather information on student loans available to residents of 29 Alaska and disseminate the information to reasonably assure that qualified residents 30 are aware of financial resources available to those attending or desiring to attend 31 institutions for which loans may be made under AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.325 [AS
01 14.43.090 - 14.43.325], 14.43.600 - 14.43.700, or 14.43.710 - 14.43.790; 02 * Sec. 8. AS 14.42.210(a) is amended to read: 03 (a) The student loan fund is established in the corporation. The student loan 04 fund is a trust fund to be used to carry out the purposes of AS 14.42.100 - 14.42.390, 05 AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.325 [AS 14.43.090 - 14.43.325], 14.43.600 - 14.43.700, and 06 14.43.710 - 14.43.790. The fund consists of money or assets appropriated or 07 transferred to the corporation for the fund and money or assets deposited in it by the 08 corporation. The corporation may establish separate accounts in the fund and shall 09 establish separate accounts for the teacher scholarship revolving loan account 10 under AS 14.43.620 and the family education loan account under AS 14.43.720. 11 * Sec. 9. AS 14.42.210(b) is amended to read: 12 (b) Money and other assets of the student loan fund may be used to secure 13 bonds of the corporation, invested in student loans and investments under 14 AS 37.10.071, and used to make [PURCHASE] loans approved under AS 14.43.090 - 15 14.43.325, 14.43.600 - 14.43.700, or 14.43.710 - 14.43.790. 16 * Sec. 10. AS 14.43.100 is amended to read: 17 Sec. 14.43.100. APPLICATIONS. (a) Applications shall be submitted to the 18 executive director of the corporation [COMMISSION]. 19 (b) A person whose loan application is not approved by the executive director 20 of the corporation [COMMISSION] may appeal to the corporation [COMMISSION] 21 and the corporation [COMMISSION] shall consider the application. 22 * Sec. 11. AS 14.43.110, as amended by sec. 1, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 23 Sec. 14.43.110. STUDENT LOANS. (a) In a school year, the corporation 24 [COMMISSION] may make a loan not to exceed 25 (1) $8,500 to a full-time undergraduate student or $4,500 [$5,000] to 26 a half-time undergraduate student attending a college or university if the full- or half- 27 time student is otherwise eligible under AS 14.43.125; 28 (2) $9,500 to a full-time graduate student or $5,000 [$4,500] to a 29 half-time graduate student attending a college or university if the full- or half-time 30 graduate student is otherwise eligible under AS 14.43.125; 31 (3) $5,500 to a full-time student or $2,000 to a half-time student if the
01 full- or half-time student is attending a career education program [THAT IS AT 02 LEAST SIX WEEKS IN LENGTH] and is otherwise eligible under AS 14.43.125. 03 (b) The corporation [COMMISSION] may make a loan for a summer term, 04 even if the total loan for the school year exceeds the limit imposed under (a) of this 05 section if the loan for the summer term is counted against the limit imposed under (a) 06 of this section for the following school year. 07 (c) The corporation [COMMISSION] shall adopt regulations establishing a 08 minimum amount for which a loan may be made. 09 * Sec. 12. AS 14.43.120(b), as amended by sec. 3, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 10 (b) Scholarship loans may only be used to attend a 11 (1) career education program operating on a sound fiscal basis that has 12 (A) operated for two years before the borrower attends; and 13 (B) submitted an executed program participation agreement as 14 required by the corporation [COMMISSION]; or 15 (2) a college or university that 16 (A) has operated for at least two years before the borrower 17 attends; 18 (B) is accredited by a national or regional accreditation 19 association recognized by the Council on Recognition of Postsecondary 20 Accreditation or is approved by the corporation [COMMISSION]; 21 (C) if the loans are federally insured, is approved by the United 22 States Secretary of Education; 23 (D) is a degree granting institution; and 24 (E) has submitted an executed program participation agreement 25 as required by the corporation [COMMISSION]. 26 * Sec. 13. AS 14.43.120(c), as amended by sec. 4, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 27 (c) To maintain a loan awarded to a full-time student, the student must 28 continue to be enrolled as a full-time student in good standing in a career education 29 program, college, or university that meets the requirements under (b) of this section. 30 To maintain a loan awarded to a half-time student, the student must continue to be 31 enrolled as a half-time student in good standing in (1) a career education program,
01 college, or university in the state that meets the requirements under (b) of this section, 02 or (2) a career education program, college, or university that meets the requirements 03 under (b) of this section, and be physically present in this [THE] state while attending 04 the career education program, college, or university. The corporation 05 [COMMISSION] shall adopt regulations defining "good standing" for purposes of this 06 subsection. 07 * Sec. 14. AS 14.43.120(d), as amended by sec. 4, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 08 (d) Scholarship loans may not be made to a student 09 (1) for more than a total of $42,500 for undergraduate study; 10 (2) for more than a total of $47,500 for graduate study; 11 (3) for more than a combined total of $60,000 for undergraduate and 12 graduate study; 13 (4) to attend an institution, if the total amount of scholarship loans 14 made to students to attend that institution exceeds $100,000 and the default rate on 15 those loans is (A) greater than 20 percent but less than 25 percent, and the institution 16 is unable to reduce its default rate within 24 months after the rate determination; or 17 (B) equal to or greater than 25 percent for two consecutive calendar years; for 18 purposes of this paragraph, the default rate shall annually be determined by the 19 corporation [COMMISSION] from loans required to be repaid under (g) of this 20 section on or after July 1, 1996; if a scholarship loan is refused based on the 21 provisions of this paragraph and, under a subsequent default rate determination [,] an 22 institution's default rate does not exceed the limits established under this paragraph, 23 the corporation [COMMISSION] may not refuse to issue a scholarship loan to attend 24 that institution based on the provisions of this paragraph. 25 * Sec. 15. AS 14.43.120(f) is amended to read: 26 (f) Interest on a loan made under AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 27 14.43.160] is equal to the interest rate 28 (1) paid in each year on bonds issued by the corporation [ALASKA 29 STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION] under AS 14.42.220; and 30 (2) necessary to pay the administrative cost of the student loan program 31 that is represented by the loan.
01 * Sec. 16. AS 14.43.120(g), as amended by sec. 6, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 02 (g) A borrower's obligation to commence repayment of the principal and 03 interest on the loan begins six months after the borrower is no longer enrolled under 04 (c) of this section. The borrower shall repay the total amount owed in periodic 05 installments of at least $50 a month over a period of not more than 15 years from the 06 commencement of the repayment obligation. If the corporation [COMMISSION] and 07 the borrower agree to a different repayment schedule, the borrower shall repay the loan 08 in accordance with the agreement. A borrower may make payments earlier than 09 required by this subsection or the agreement. 10 * Sec. 17. AS 14.43.120(i), as amended by sec. 8, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 11 (i) If a loan is in default, the corporation [COMMISSION] 12 (1) shall notify the borrower that [, IF THE BORROWER HAS AN 13 OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE ISSUED UNDER AS 08, THE LICENSE MAY NOT 14 BE RENEWED UNDER AS 08.02.025 AND THAT] repayment of the remaining 15 balance is accelerated and due and that, if the borrower has an occupational license 16 issued under AS 08, the license may not be renewed under AS 08.02.025, by 17 mailing the borrower a notice at the most recent address provided to the commission 18 by the borrower; 19 (2) may take the borrower's permanent fund dividend under 20 AS 43.23.065(b)(3) to satisfy the balance due on a defaulted loan; and 21 (3) shall provide notice of the default to the Department of Commerce 22 and Economic Development, if the loan recipient is licensed under AS 08. 23 * Sec. 18. AS 14.43.120(m), as amended by sec. 11, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 24 (m) In case of hardship, the corporation [COMMISSION] may extend 25 repayment of a loan for an additional period of up to five years. 26 * Sec. 19. AS 14.43.120(r) is amended to read: 27 (r) The rate of interest, time of payment of an installment of principal or 28 interest, or other loan terms [OF A SCHOLARSHIP LOAN] may be modified if 29 required to establish or maintain tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. 103 (Internal 30 Revenue Code of 1986), as amended, for the interest on bonds issued by the 31 corporation [ALASKA STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION].
01 * Sec. 20. AS 14.43.120(t), as amended by sec. 13, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 02 (t) Payment of interest under (l) of this section and forgiveness under (s) of 03 this section are subject to appropriation by the legislature. Money obtained from the 04 sale of bonds by the corporation [STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION] under 05 AS 14.42.220 may not be appropriated for the payment of interest or the forgiveness 06 of loans. 07 * Sec. 21. AS 14.43.120(u), as amended by sec. 14, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 08 (u) The corporation [COMMISSION] by regulation shall set a loan 09 origination fee, not to exceed five percent of the total [SCHOLARSHIP] loan amount, 10 to be assessed upon a [SCHOLARSHIP] loan that is funded from the student loan fund 11 of the corporation [ALASKA STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION]. The loan 12 origination fee shall be deducted at the time the loan is disbursed. Subject to 13 appropriation, the loan origination fees shall be deposited into an origination fee 14 account within the student loan fund of the corporation [ALASKA STUDENT LOAN 15 CORPORATION], and subsequently used by the corporation to offset losses incurred 16 as a result of death, disability, default, or bankruptcy of the borrower. 17 * Sec. 22. AS 14.43.120(v) is amended to read: 18 (v) In determining a rate of interest under (f)(2) of this section, 19 (1) the corporation [COMMISSION] shall use a method that ensures 20 that the rate of interest is as low as possible without precluding the ability of the 21 corporation [COMMISSION] to administer loans made under AS 14.43.100 - 22 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 14.43.160]; and 23 (2) the total amount charged for administrative costs of the student loan 24 program may not exceed two and one-half percent above the amount determined under 25 (f)(1) of this section. 26 * Sec. 23. AS 14.43.122(a) is amended to read: 27 (a) The corporation [COMMISSION] may offer the option of consolidating 28 into a single loan 29 (1) multiple loans made to a borrower who has received more than 30 one loan under this chapter [THE OPTION OF CONSOLIDATING THE MULTIPLE 31 LOANS INTO A SINGLE LOAN]; or
01 (2) [TO CONSOLIDATE] loans made to married borrowers if the 02 married borrowers agree to be jointly and severally liable for repayment of the 03 consolidated loan [,] regardless of the borrowers' future marital status or the death of 04 one of the borrowers. 05 * Sec. 24. AS 14.43.125(a), as amended by sec. 15, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 06 (a) A person may apply for and obtain a student [SCHOLARSHIP] loan if the 07 person 08 (1) is 09 (A) enrolled as a full-time student in a career education, 10 associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree program; 11 (B) enrolled as a half-time student in a career education, 12 associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree program 13 (i) in the state; or 14 (ii) out of the state and is physically present in this state 15 while attending that program; or 16 (C) a graduate of a high school or the equivalent, or scheduled 17 for graduation from a high school within six months, with sufficient credits to 18 be admitted to a career education program or to an accredited college or 19 university; 20 (2) is not delinquent or in default on a previously awarded student 21 [SCHOLARSHIP] loan; and 22 (3) is a resident of the state at the time of application for the loan; for 23 purposes of this section, a person qualifies as a resident of the state if at the time of 24 application for the loan the person 25 (A) has been physically present in the state for at least one year 26 immediately before the time of application for the loan; 27 (B) is dependent on a parent or guardian for care, the parent or 28 guardian has been present in the state for at least one year immediately before 29 the time of application for the loan, and the person has been present in the state 30 for at least one year of the immediately preceding five years, except that the 31 corporation [COMMISSION] may by a two-thirds vote, acting upon a written
01 appeal by the person, grant an exemption to the requirement that the person has 02 been present in the state for one year of the immediately preceding five years; 03 (C) has been physically present in the state for at least one year 04 immediately before the applicant was absent from the state and the absence is 05 due solely to 06 (i) serving an initial period of up to three years on active 07 duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States; 08 (ii) serving for up to three years as a full-time volunteer 09 under the Peace Corps Act; 10 (iii) serving for up to three years as a full-time volunteer 11 under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973; 12 (iv) required medical care for the applicant or the 13 applicant's immediate family; 14 (v) being a person who otherwise qualifies as a resident 15 and is accompanying a spouse who qualifies as a resident under (i) - 16 (iv) of this paragraph; 17 (vi) an absence allowed under (D)(i)-(iv) of this 18 paragraph; or 19 (D) is a dependent of a parent or guardian who has been 20 physically present in the state for at least one year immediately before the 21 parent or guardian was absent from the state and the absence is due solely to 22 (i) participating in a foreign exchange student program 23 recognized by the corporation [COMMISSION]; 24 (ii) attending a school as a full-time student; 25 (iii) full-time employment by the state; 26 (iv) being a member of or employed full-time by the 27 state's congressional delegation; 28 (v) being a person who otherwise qualifies as a resident 29 and is accompanying a spouse who qualifies as a resident under (i) - 30 (iv) of this paragraph; 31 (4) does not have a past due child support obligation established by
01 court order or by the child support enforcement division under AS 25.27.160 - 02 25.27.220 at the time of application; and 03 (5) has not, within the previous five years, had a [SCHOLARSHIP] 04 loan discharged or written off by the corporation or the former Alaska Commission 05 on Postsecondary Education [COMMISSION] for any reason. 06 * Sec. 25. AS 14.43.125(c), as amended by sec. 16, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 07 (c) A person may not be awarded a scholarship loan under AS 14.43.100 - 08 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 14.43.160] if that person receives a teacher scholarship loan 09 under AS 14.43.600 - 14.43.700 for the same period of attendance. 10 * Sec. 26. AS 14.43.150(a) is amended to read: 11 (a) In a court proceeding regarding a defaulted loan under this chapter in 12 which the court has entered judgment in favor of the corporation or the former 13 Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education [COMMISSION], the court may, 14 on its own motion or motion of the corporation [COMMISSION], after notice and an 15 opportunity for hearing, order the loan recipient to assign to the corporation 16 [COMMISSION] that portion of salary or wages due the loan recipient currently and 17 in the future in an amount sufficient to pay the amount ordered by the court to be 18 repaid [TO THE COMMISSION]. 19 * Sec. 27. AS 14.43.160 is amended to read: 20 Sec. 14.43.160. DEFINITIONS. In AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160, [AS 14.43.090 21 - 14.43.160] 22 (1) "career education" means a course or program in vocational- 23 technical training or education approved by the corporation that is a half-time program at 24 least 12 weeks in length or a full-time program at least six weeks in length 25 [COMMISSION]; 26 (2) "federally insured" means a loan covered by the provisions of the 27 Guaranteed Student Loan Program of Title IV, Part B, of the Higher Education Act of 28 1965 (P.L. 89-329), as amended; 29 (3) "full-time student" means an undergraduate or career education 30 student who is enrolled and is in regular attendance at classes for at least 12 semester 31 hours of credit or the equivalent during the semester or a graduate student who is
01 enrolled and is in regular attendance at classes for at least nine semester hours of credit 02 or the equivalent; any combination of semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, 03 aggregating to the requisite number of semester hours and undertaken during a 04 semester at two or more public or private institutions of higher education constitutes 05 full-time student status; 06 (4) "half-time student" means an undergraduate, graduate, or career 07 education student who during the semester is enrolled and is in regular attendance at 08 classes at one or more public or private institutions of higher education for at least a 09 total of six semester credit hours or an equivalent of six semester credit hours, and 10 includes a career education student enrolled and in regular attendance in classes for at 11 least 15 hours a week; 12 (5) "school year" means the period from September 1 of one year 13 through August 31 of the following year; 14 (6) "summer term" means the period from June 1 - August 31. 15 * Sec. 28. AS 14.43.255(a) is amended to read: 16 (a) There is created a memorial scholarship revolving loan fund to be 17 administered by the corporation. The fund shall be used to provide educational 18 scholarship loans to students selected under AS 14.43.250 - 14.43.325. Repayments 19 [UNLESS THE INSTRUMENT EVIDENCING THE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 20 LOAN HAS BEEN SOLD OR ASSIGNED TO THE ALASKA STUDENT LOAN 21 CORPORATION, REPAYMENTS] of a loan shall be deposited into the memorial 22 scholarship revolving loan fund and shall be used to make new loans. 23 * Sec. 29. AS 14.43.300(g), as amended by sec. 18, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 24 (g) The corporation [COMMISSION] by regulation shall set a loan 25 origination fee, not to exceed five percent of the total memorial scholarship loan 26 amount, to be assessed upon a memorial scholarship loan. The loan origination fee 27 shall be deducted at the time the loan amount is disbursed. Subject to appropriation, 28 the loan origination fee shall be deposited into a origination fee account within the 29 memorial scholarship revolving loan fund, and subsequently transferred by the 30 corporation [COMMISSION] to the appropriate memorial scholarship accounts within 31 the memorial scholarship revolving loan fund to offset losses incurred due to loan debt
01 cancellation as a result of death, disability, default, or bankruptcy of the borrower 02 [STUDENT]. 03 * Sec. 30. AS 14.43.305(i) is amended to read: 04 (i) To the extent they are not in conflict with terms and conditions under 05 AS 14.43.250 - 14.43.325, the terms and conditions of a memorial scholarship loan 06 made under AS 14.43.250(b)(5) are the same as the terms and conditions for a 07 scholarship loan under AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 14.43.160], except 08 that the interest on the loan is equal to five percent. 09 * Sec. 31. AS 14.43.320(b) is amended to read: 10 (b) To the extent that they are not in conflict with the provisions of 11 AS 14.43.250 - 14.43.325, the provisions of AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 12 14.43.160] relating to scholarship loans are applicable to loans made under 13 AS 14.43.250 - 14.43.325. 14 * Sec. 32. AS 14.43.405(b) is amended to read: 15 (b) To the extent that they are not in conflict with the provisions of 16 AS 14.43.400 - 14.43.405, the provisions of AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 17 14.43.160] relating to student financial aid are applicable to the grants made under 18 AS 14.43.400 - 14.43.500. 19 * Sec. 33. AS 14.43.410 is amended to read: 20 Sec. 14.43.410. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. The funds appropriated for the 21 educational incentive grant program shall be allocated to eligible students in 22 accordance with the provisions of the federal state student incentive grant program and 23 regulations adopted under AS 14.42.200 and AS 14.43.405 [AS 14.43.105 AND 24 14.43.405]. 25 * Sec. 34. AS 14.43.415 is amended to read: 26 Sec. 14.43.415. ELIGIBILITY; PRIORITY. (a) A student may apply for an 27 educational incentive grant if the student 28 (1) is a resident of Alaska; 29 (2) is [EITHER] 30 (A) enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in a degree 31 program in an accredited postsecondary educational institution; or
01 (B) eligible to be admitted to an accredited postsecondary 02 educational institution; and 03 (3) establishes financial need in accordance with standards for 04 determining financial need adopted by the corporation [COMMISSION] under 20 05 U.S.C. 1070c-2. 06 (b) The corporation [COMMISSION] shall adopt regulations to [, BY 07 REGULATION,] establish a system of priority in the selection of recipients of grants 08 under AS 14.43.400 - 14.43.500 under which students from "low income" families or 09 whose incomes are considered "low income" shall be given preference in the award 10 of the educational incentive grants. 11 * Sec. 35. AS 14.43.620(a) is amended to read: 12 (a) The [THERE IS CREATED A] teacher scholarship revolving loan account 13 is created within the student loan fund (AS 14.42.210). The account [FUND] shall 14 be used to make scholarship loans to students selected under AS 14.43.600 - 15 14.43.700. Repayments [UNLESS THE INSTRUMENT EVIDENCING THE 16 TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP LOAN HAS BEEN SOLD OR ASSIGNED TO THE 17 ALASKA STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION, REPAYMENTS] of principal and 18 interest on a teacher scholarship loan shall be paid into the teacher scholarship 19 revolving loan account [FUND] and shall be used to make new teacher scholarship 20 loans. If estimated funds available are inadequate to fully fund estimated teacher 21 scholarship loans for any fiscal year, additional funding from the general fund may be 22 requested and appropriated for that year. 23 * Sec. 36. AS 14.43.630(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) [THE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP LOAN PROGRAM SHALL BE 25 ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMISSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 26 REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSION.] The corporation 27 [COMMISSION] shall 28 (1) annually allocate the [LOAN AWARDS] available [FOR] teacher 29 scholarship loans awards [ANNUALLY] to local school boards giving a preference 30 to rural school districts; and 31 (2) [DEVELOP AND] distribute to the local school boards an
01 application form for teacher scholarship loans; [THE FORM MUST INCLUDE A 02 REQUIREMENT THAT] the applicant must provide [SUPPLY] a high school 03 academic transcript and a statement of intent to enter a teaching career at the 04 elementary or secondary school level in the state. 05 * Sec. 37. AS 14.43.650(a) is amended to read: 06 (a) To be eligible for a teacher scholarship loan, a student must 07 (1) be a graduate of a public or private high school in the state [,] with 08 sufficient credits to be admitted to an accredited college or university; 09 (2) be enrolled in or show evidence of intent to enroll in a degree 10 program directed at a teaching career at the elementary or secondary school level; 11 (3) meet the conditions set by the student's local school board with 12 respect to the district's requirements for teachers in particular subject areas; 13 (4) submit to the local school board an application on a form provided 14 by the corporation [COMMISSION] under AS 14.43.630(a)(2); an application may 15 be submitted six months before graduation from high school; and 16 (5) not have a past due child support obligation established by court 17 order or by the child support enforcement division under AS 25.27.160 - 25.27.220 at 18 the time of application. 19 * Sec. 38. AS 14.43.650(c), as amended by sec. 20, ch. 5, SLA 1996, is amended to read: 20 (c) A student may not be awarded a teacher scholarship loan under 21 AS 14.43.600 - 14.43.700 if the student receives a student [SCHOLARSHIP] loan 22 under AS 14.43.100 - 14.43.160 [AS 14.43.090 - 14.43.160] for the same period of 23 attendance. 24 * Sec. 39. AS 14.43.720(a) is amended to read: 25 (a) The family education loan account is created within the student 26 [SCHOLARSHIP REVOLVING] loan fund (AS 14.42.210 [AS 14.43.090]). The 27 account shall be used to make family education loans to families selected under 28 AS 14.43.710 - 14.43.790, to pay the costs of collecting family education loans that 29 are in default if those costs are not recovered from the family, and to pay the costs of 30 administering the account. Repayments [UNLESS THE INSTRUMENT 31 EVIDENCING THE FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN HAS BEEN SOLD OR
01 ASSIGNED TO THE ALASKA STUDENT LOAN CORPORATION, 02 REPAYMENTS] of principal and interest on family education loans shall be paid into 03 the family education loan account. If estimated funds available from family education 04 loan repayments are inadequate to fully fund estimated family education loans in a 05 fiscal year, additional funding from the general fund may be requested and 06 appropriated for that year. 07 * Sec. 40. AS 14.43.740(d) is amended to read: 08 (d) A borrower's obligation to commence repayment [REPAYMENT] of 09 the principal and interest on a family education loan [MADE UNDER AS 14.43.710 - 10 14.43.790] begins on the first of the month immediately following loan disbursement. 11 The loan may be cancelled without prejudice at any time before actual disbursement. 12 The borrower shall repay [LOAN SHALL PROVIDE FOR REPAYMENT OF] the 13 total amount owed in periodic installments over a period of [IN] not more than 10 14 years from the commencement of the repayment obligation. If the corporation 15 [COMMISSION] and the borrower agree to a different repayment schedule, the 16 borrower shall repay the loan in accordance with the agreement. The borrower may 17 make payments earlier than required by this section or the agreement. 18 * Sec. 41. AS 14.43.990 is repealed and reenacted to read: 19 Sec. 14.43.990. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "corporation" means the Alaska 20 Student Loan Corporation. 21 * Sec. 42. AS 14.44.035 is amended to read: 22 Sec. 14.44.035. ADMINISTRATION. The Alaska Student Loan Corporation 23 [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] shall administer the state's 24 participation in the Western Regional Higher Education Compact. 25 * Sec. 43. AS 14.48 is amended by adding a new section to read: 26 Sec. 14.48.035. ALASKA COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY 27 EDUCATION. (a) The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education is created 28 in the department consisting of the commissioner of revenue, the commissioner of 29 administration, a person representing the department appointed by the governor, and 30 four public members appointed by the governor. The public members are subject to 31 confirmation by the legislature and serve at the pleasure of the governor for four-year
01 staggered terms. 02 (b) Members of the commission serve without compensation, but the members 03 who are not state employees are entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized 04 for boards and commissions under AS 39. 05 20.180. 06 (c) The commission shall elect a chair from among its membership at its 07 annual meeting each year. A majority of the members constitute a quorum for 08 organizing the commission, conducting its business, and exercising the powers of the 09 commission. 10 (d) The employees of the department shall serve as staff to the commission. 11 * Sec. 44. AS 14.48.040 is amended to read: 12 Sec. 14.48.040. COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER CHAPTER. The Alaska 13 Commission on Postsecondary Education shall administer this chapter [AND MAY 14 HIRE NECESSARY PERSONNEL]. The commission may obtain from departments, 15 commissions, and other state agencies information and assistance needed to carry out 16 the provisions of this chapter. 17 * Sec. 45. AS 14.48.050 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 18 (b) The commission has the following advisory functions to the governing 19 boards of higher education institutions in this state, the governor, the legislature, and 20 other appropriate state and federal officials: 21 (1) coordinate the development or the start of comprehensive plans for 22 the orderly systematic growth of public and private postsecondary education, including 23 community colleges and occupational education, and submit recommendations on the 24 need for, and location of, new facilities and programs; and 25 (2) advise as to the functions and purposes of the public and private 26 colleges and universities in the state and counsel as to the programs appropriate to 27 each. 28 (c) The commission may 29 (1) require the institutions of public and private higher education and 30 other institutions of postsecondary education in the state to submit data on costs, 31 selection and retention of students, enrollments, plant capacities and use, and other
01 matters pertinent to effective planning and coordination, and shall furnish information 02 concerning these matters to the governor, the legislature, and other state and federal 03 agencies as requested; 04 (2) establish task forces, committees, or subcommittees, not necessarily 05 consisting of commission members or employees, to advise and assist the commission 06 in carrying out its functions assigned by this chapter and federal statute; the 07 commission may contract with, or use, existing institutions of higher education or other 08 individuals or organizations to make studies, conduct surveys, submit 09 recommendations, or otherwise contribute to the work of the commission. 10 * Sec. 46. AS 14.48.090 is repealed and reenacted to read: 11 Sec. 14.48.090. FEES. The commission shall adopt regulations that establish 12 the amount and manner of payment of fees for applications, authorizations, permits, 13 and renewals under this chapter. 14 * Sec. 47. AS 14.48.120 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 15 (d) In addition to the sanctions imposed under (a) of this section, the 16 commission may assess a civil fine, not to exceed $5,000, for costs of investigating 17 and adjudicating a matter under this chapter. 18 * Sec. 48. AS 39.05.100(a) is amended to read: 19 (a) A person appointed to a board or commission of the state government shall 20 be and have been before the last general election, (1) a registered voter in the state, 21 if the appointment is made at large or (2) a registered voter from the judicial district, 22 if the appointment is made from a specific judicial district. The student member of 23 the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska appointed under AS 14.40.150(b), 24 the student member of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON 25 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] appointed under AS 14.42.120 [AS 14.42.015(e)], 26 and a member of the Alaska Human Relations Commission appointed under 27 AS 44.19.600, are exempt from the requirement of this subsection if the member was 28 not old enough to be a registered voter in the last general election. 29 * Sec. 49. AS 39.25.110(11) is amended to read: 30 (11) the officers and employees of the following boards, commissions, 31 and authorities:
01 (A) [REPEALED 02 (B)] Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation; 03 (B) [(C)] Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority; 04 (C) [(D)] Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission; 05 (D) [(E)] Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION 06 ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION]; 07 (E) [(F)] Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation; 08 * Sec. 50. AS 39.50.200(b)(32) is amended to read: 09 (32) Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (AS 14.48.035) 10 [(AS 14.42.015)]; 11 * Sec. 51. AS 39.50.200(b) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 12 (56) Alaska Student Loan Corporation (AS 14.42.100). 13 * Sec. 52. AS 43.23.067(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) AS 09.38 does not apply to permanent fund dividends taken under 15 AS 14.43.120(i). Notwithstanding AS 09.35, the Alaska Student Loan Corporation 16 may take a permanent fund dividend [EXECUTION ON A CLAIM] under 17 AS 14.43.120(i) [IS ACCOMPLISHED] by delivering a certified claim to the 18 department containing the following information: 19 (1) the name and social security number of the individual whose 20 dividend is being claimed; 21 (2) the amount the individual owes on the scholarship loan; and 22 (3) a statement that 23 (A) a [THE] debt for at least the amount claimed has not 24 been contested, or, if contested, that the issue has been resolved in favor of the 25 Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY 26 EDUCATION]; and 27 (B) if the debt has been contested and resolved in favor of the 28 Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY 29 EDUCATION], no appeal is pending, the time limit for filing an appeal has 30 expired, or the appeal has been resolved in favor of the commission. 31 * Sec. 53. AS 43.23.067(b) is amended to read:
01 (b) The Alaska Student Loan Corporation [COMMISSION ON 02 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] shall notify the individual of a claim under (a) 03 of this section. The notice shall be sent to the address provided in the individual's 04 permanent fund dividend application and must provide the following information: 05 (1) the amount of the claim; and 06 (2) notice that the amount of the permanent fund dividend that does not 07 exceed the amount of the claim shall be paid to the Alaska Student Loan 08 Corporation [COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION] unless the 09 commission releases the claim or the individual requests a hearing within 30 days after 10 the date the notice is sent by the commission. 11 * Sec. 54. AS 14.42.010, 14.42.015, 14.42.020, 14.42.025, 14.42.030, 14.42.035, 14.42.040, 12 14.42.045, 14.42.050, 14.42.055, 14.42.170, 14.42.200(18), 14.42.210(c); AS 14.43.090, 13 14.43.105, 14.43.255(c), 14.43.320(a), 14.43.405(a), 14.43.620(b), and 14.43.720(b) are 14 repealed. 15 * Sec. 55. TRANSITIONAL PROVISION: TEMPORARY FEE SCHEDULE FOR 16 CERTAIN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL 17 INSTITUTIONS AND AGENTS. Until a new fee schedule is adopted by regulation to 18 implement the changes made by sec. 46 of this Act, the commission may charge the fees set 19 out in the following schedule for an authorization to operate an institution in this state and for 20 an agent's permit related to activities for postsecondary educational institutions: 21 (1) authorization to operate $100; 22 (2) renewal of authorization to operate $100; 23 (3) an agent's permit $ 50; 24 (4) renewal of an agent's permit $ 50. 25 * Sec. 56. TRANSITION. (a) The terms of the members of the Alaska Commission on 26 Postsecondary Education terminate on the effective date of sec. 1 of this Act. The governor 27 may appoint to the Alaska Student Loan Corporation a person who has served on the Alaska 28 Commission on Postsecondary Education and who meets the qualifications of AS 14.42.120, 29 as repealed and reenacted by this Act. The terms of public persons initially appointed to the 30 Alaska Student Loan Corporation must be set as provided in AS 39.05.055. 31 (b) Litigation, hearings, investigations, and other proceedings pending under a law
01 amended or repealed by this Act, or in connection with functions transferred by this Act, 02 continue in effect and may be continued and completed notwithstanding a transfer or 03 amendment or repeal provided for in this Act. 04 (c) Regulations adopted by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education under 05 authority of AS 14.43 remain in effect until regulations adopted by the Alaska Student Loan 06 Corporation under that chapter, as amended by this Act, take effect. The Alaska Student Loan 07 Corporation may implement and enforce commission regulations until the regulations of the 08 corporation take effect. Notwithstanding sec. 58 of this Act, the Alaska Student Loan 09 Corporation may immediately proceed to adopt regulations necessary to implement the 10 changes made by this Act to AS 14.43. The regulations take effect under AS 44.62 11 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before the effective date of sec. 1 of this Act. 12 (d) Regulations adopted under the authority of AS 14.48 by the Alaska Commission 13 on Postsecondary Education, as constituted before July 1, 1996, remain in effect. 14 Notwithstanding sec. 58 of this Act, the commission may immediately proceed to adopt 15 regulations necessary to implement the changes made by this Act to AS 14.48. The 16 regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but not before the 17 effective date of sec. 1 of this Act. 18 (e) Contracts, rights, liabilities, notes, or other obligations created by or under a 19 section of AS 14.43 amended or repealed by this Act, and in effect on June 30, 1996, remain 20 in effect notwithstanding this Act, with all contracts, rights, liabilities, notes, or other 21 obligations created by or under a section of AS 14.43 amended or repealed by this Act 22 becoming contracts, rights, liabilities, notes, or other obligations of the Alaska Student Loan 23 Corporation. 24 (f) Records, equipment, appropriations, and other property of agencies of the state 25 whose functions are transferred under this Act shall be transferred to implement the provisions 26 of this Act. 27 (g) An individual who is an employee of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary 28 Education on June 30, 1996, becomes an employee of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation 29 on July 1, 1996. 30 (h) Employees of the Alaska Student Loan Corporation who were, on June 30, 1996, 31 employees of the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, are no longer eligible to
01 accrue credited service under AS 14.25. 02 * Sec. 57. Section 56(c) and (d) take effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 03 * Sec. 58. Except as provided in sec. 57 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 1996.