04/27/1995 01:30 PM House FIN

  HOUSE BILL 172                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
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       "An   Act   relating  to   kindergarten   programs  and                 
       compulsory education; to  identification required  upon                 
       enrollment in  a public  school; to  those grades  that                 
       constitute  elementary,  junior, and  secondary school;                 
       and providing for an effective date."                                   
                                                                               
  BOB EVANS, REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ANCHORAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT,                 
  ANCHORAGE,  spoke  in  support  of  HB  172.   The  proposed                 
  legislation  would add a new statute that anyone enrolling a                 
  child in a  public school shall, not more than 30 days after                 
  enrollment,  provide to  the  public school  a  copy of  the                 
  child's  birth  certificate or  other  proof of  the child's                 
  identity if the child has not  previously been enrolled in a                 
  public school.  He added that enacting the legislation would                 
  add middle school to the  definition of secondary school and                 
  would allow for the sixth grade to  be included as a part of                 
  junior high or middle school.                                                
                                                                               
  Representative Parnell asked  if money would be added to the                 
  foundation  formula  in   order  to  execute   the  proposed                 
  legislation.  Mr. Evans noted that costs  would not increase                 
  in any way.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Representative Martin asked if the legislation would make it                 
  mandatory for the  school districts.   Mr. Evans  understood                 
  that  the  bill  would  provide   the  school  districts  to                 
  incorporate kindergarten as part of  the program.  Although,                 
  he added that  it would  not mandate that  all schools  must                 
  have one.  Representative Parnell  pointed out that the bill                 
  indicates that each school district shall offer kindergarten                 
  services.                                                                    
                                                                               
  DUANE  GUILEY,  DIRECTOR,   SCHOOL  FINANCE,  DEPARTMENT  OF                 
  EDUCATION,  responded  to   Representative  Terry   Martin's                 
  concern  on increased  costs  to the  school districts.   He                 
  stated that based on the analysis provided by the Department                 
  of  Education,  the bill  would  carry a  zero  fiscal note.                 
  There would be no  increased costs to the State based on the                 
  passage  of  the  legislation.   No  new  children  would be                 
  required to attend  public schools and  it does not  mandate                 
  each school district to offer kindergarten services.                         
                                                                               
  Mr.  Guiley  pointed out  currently  State statute  does not                 
  speak to  a minimum  day for  kindergarten.   The bill  will                 
  establish in statute  the minimum  day for kindergarten  and                 
  would  clear  up  any ambiguity  although  does  not require                 
  kindergarten where it does not already exist.                                
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder  MOVED  to  report   HB  172  out  of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal note.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
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  HB  172   was  reported   out  of   Committee  with   a  "no                 
  recommendation" and with a fiscal note by  the Department of                 
  Education dated 4/18/95.