Legislature(2017 - 2018)GRUENBERG 120
03/09/2018 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR29 | |
| HB219 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HJR 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 219 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 29-REAUTHORIZE SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT
1:06:19 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29, Urging the United States Congress
to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-
Determination Act of 2000. [Before the committee was CSHJR
29(STA).]
1:06:51 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature,
advised that CSHJR 29 encourages the United States Congress to
reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-
Determination Act of 2000 because that Act expired [January 1,
2017], which created budgetary shortfalls for the school
districts around Alaska. This situation will continue if
Congress fails to reauthorize this long-standing federal
obligation to local governments. The Secure Rural Schools
Program compensates more than 700 of the poorest communities
nationwide, and 33 communities in Alaska for the timber
harvesting revenue loss during the changes in the federal forest
management policies. Historically, he explained, the school
districts in Alaska have relied on a share of the receipts from
the federal program to supplement local funding for education
services and roads.
1:08:24 PM
DERRELL BREESE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska
State Legislature, referred to the document titled "FFY16
SRS/NFR Payments Final (SFY17) - FFY17 SRS/NFR Payments (SFY18)"
[contained within the committee packet] and noted references to
the impacted Alaska communities and the amounts of money they
received over the last two years. In particular, he said, the
document depicts the FY16, "which is Alaska FY17" numbers, and
he used the Municipality of Anchorage as an example. The
Municipality of Anchorage received $62,762.77, and in FY17
"state FY18" it received $3,581.13 because the program had
expired and it paid out the last bit of money "they had in
there." He stressed that this money is important to the school
districts around the state, and he then read the list of school
districts impacted by the expired funding from the above-
mentioned document. This legislation calls for the United
States Congress to reenact this authorization so the money from
the Federal Forestry Program can go to the school districts
adjacent to the United States National Forests.
1:11:19 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on CSHJR 29.
1:11:52 PM
PETER HOEPFNER, Member, Cordova School Board, stressed that the
federal funds originating from the Secure Rural Schools and
Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000 are crucial to many
school districts in Alaska. For example, he offered, the
Cordova School District was to receive $500,860 in funding, but
it did not receive the funding, and combined with the fiscal
shortfalls, the city contribution to Cordova schools was reduced
from the cap where it had been funded for decades. He remarked
that combining this with the use of education flat funding, less
dollars are going to the classrooms in Cordova. He offered
appreciation for sending this message to the United States House
of Representatives and Senate so the Secure Rural Schools and
Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000 funding obligation
continues as planned.
1:12:54 PM
ALLEN SORUM, Member, Valdez City School Board, advised that he
is also on the Board of the National Forest Counties and Schools
Coalition. Nationally, he explained, there are two companion
bills in Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools
Program (SRS), the "old Tenant Receipts Program." He offered
that he had a chance to visit with the Alaska Congressional
Delegation and they are all co-sponsors and supporters of the
federal legislation. While, he remarked, he had been advised as
to the importance of keeping this issue at the forefront of the
United States Congress, unfortunately, it has been dragging on
for several years. He pointed out that CSHJR 29 is similar to
the legislation the legislature passed approximately six years
ago, which was fairly non-partisan and the legislation enjoyed
wide support. He encouraged the committee to pass CSHJR 29 and
move it on to the next step because giving Congress a message
about the need for this program is important for Alaska's
schools.
1:14:25 PM
CHAIR CLAMAN, after ascertaining no one wished to testify,
closed public testimony on HJR 29.
CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether any member is contemplating
amendments to this legislation, or whether the committee would
be comfortable moving CSHJR 29 out of committee.
1:14:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he has a high comfort level
in moving this legislation out of committee.
1:15:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES expressed appreciation for CSHJR 29 as it
is critically important. There are three schools in her
district that are affected, and it includes the Ouzinkie School,
which was not listed. She expressed that the Ouzinkie School is
exceedingly concerned about the loss of these dollars, as is
Cordova and Yakutat, as well. The loss of this funding has a
huge impact on rural schools and she expressed that she wants to
move the legislation out of committee.
1:16:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD, testifying via teleconference,
expressed support for CSHJR 29, but noted a desire for a minimum
of two hearings per bill.
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP offered full support of CSHJR 29.
1:16:49 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS moved to report CSHJR 29(STA) out
of committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR
29(STA) was reported out of the House Judiciary Standing
Committee.