00Enrolled HCR 13                                                                                                         
01 Establishing and relating to the Education Funding District Cost Factor Commission.                                     
02                                         _______________                                                                 
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
04      WHEREAS, under art. VII, sec. 1, Constitution of the State of Alaska, a system of                                
05 public schools is required to be established and maintained; and                                                        
06      WHEREAS the cost of providing adequate public education for children living in the                               
07 state varies significantly among geographic areas of the state; and                                                     
08      WHEREAS accurately measuring relative cost differences is integral to equitable                                  
09 funding for education across geographic areas; and                                                                      
10      WHEREAS the cost differentials have been a recurring policy issue since the current                              
11 funding formula was adopted in 1998; and                                                                                
12      WHEREAS the findings of economic analyses conducted in 1983 - 1985,  1999,                                       
13 2002, and 2004 have raised questions and controversy within the Alaska State Legislature;                               
14 and                                                                                                                     
15      WHEREAS previous determinations of cost differentials have been static and,                                      
16 consequently, have become outdated;                                                                                     
17      BE IT RESOLVED by the Alaska State Legislature that the Education Funding                                        

01 District Cost Factor Commission is established on January 20, 2009, for the purpose of                                  
02 examining school district cost differentials and creating a valid and durable model that can be                         
03 updated to accurately reflect the costs of providing education; and be it                                               
04      FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may enter into contracts for research                                       
05 services, consulting services, or expert advice to assist the commission in creating a valid and                        
06 durable model; and be it                                                                                                
07      FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission consists of 11 members as follows:                                          
08           (1)  five shall be from the senate appointed by the president of the senate;                                  
09           (2)  five shall be from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of                              
10 the house of representatives; and                                                                                       
11           (3)  one shall be appointed by the governor; and be it                                                        
12      FURTHER RESOLVED that the president of the senate and the speaker of the house                                   
13 of representatives shall jointly appoint the chair and vice-chair of the commission; and be it                          
14      FURTHER RESOLVED that a commission member is subject to reappointment or                                         
15 replacement if either the president of the senate or speaker of the house of representatives is                         
16 replaced and the member was appointed by the former president or speaker; and be it                                     
17      FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission may submit a preliminary report of its                                      
18 findings and a draft model to the governor and the legislature before September 30, 2010; and                           
19 be it                                                                                                                   
20      FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a report of its findings                                       
21 and proposed legislative changes to the governor and the legislature by September 30, 2010,                             
22 and may make any additional reports it considers advisable; and be it                                                   
23      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Education Funding District Cost Factor                                                 
24 Commission is terminated on April 1, 2011.