03/15/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

                                                                                                                                
          SB 47-STIPEND FOR STATEWIDE BOARDING SCHOOL                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
8:01:55 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the  only order of business would be                                                               
SB 47. He  said it was the  second hearing on the  bill. He noted                                                               
public  testimony  would  be  taken.  [SSSB  47  was  before  the                                                               
committee.]                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DUNLEAVY moved  to  adopt  work draft  CS  for SSSB  47,                                                               
labeled 28-LS0408\P, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
RYNNIEVA MOSS,  staff, Senator  John Coghill,  sponsor of  SB 47,                                                               
offered to answer questions related to the bill.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STEVENS  opened  public testimony.  No  one  appeared  for                                                               
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:03:26 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GARDNER said  she likes the bill and the  direction it is                                                               
taking. However, she  said she did not like that  the state picks                                                               
up  the cost  of room  and board  and travel  for children  whose                                                               
parents can afford to pay those  costs. She said if the bill were                                                               
to  be changed  to exclude  those  who could  pay, more  children                                                               
could be served. She related  that the Legislative Affairs Agency                                                               
reported  that it  would  be unconstitutional  to  do so.  Travel                                                               
costs and  room and board are  part of the state's  obligation to                                                               
provide an education.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS noted it was a good point.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOSS  reported that the  sponsor has had the  same discussion                                                               
in the past when he dealt with HB  16 in trying to find a way for                                                               
parents to contribute to the cause.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS removed his objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report CSSSSB 47(EDC) from committee                                                                  
with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note.                                                                   
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:05:37 AM                                                                                                                    
At ease from 8:05 to 8:07 a.m.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:07:04 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS brought up concerns about the Alaska High School                                                                  
Graduation Qualifying Exam and noted that the committee would                                                                   
hold a hearing at a future date.