Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/10/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB17 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 66 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 17-STEVENS/INOUYE UNIVERSITY EXCHANGE PROG.
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SB 17. She said the
committee will wait until the next meeting to hear SB 66. She
spoke of the remarkable friendship between Senator Stevens and
Senator Inouye of Hawaii. She hoped the bill would provide an
opportunity for the younger generation to learn about their
friendship.
8:02:34 AM
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB
17, thanked the committee for hearing her bill. She read from
the following sponsor statement:
As recently as yesterday in the news, the decades-long
alliance between the late Senators Daniel Inouye of
Hawaii and Ted Stevens was mentioned. "The two men
struck up a bond, both representing then-young states
in the 1960s and formed a powerful alliance,
particularly on the Appropriations Committee where
they protected federal aid to our states via
earmarks."
This bill puts in statute an exchange between the
University of Alaska and the University of Hawaii to
commemorate that friendship. The details would be
worked out by the Universities, but the concept is
that students would apply and a UA student would spend
time at the University of Hawaii and vice versa.
The similarities between Senators Stevens and Inouye
are many. They both served in WWII. Senator Inouye
lost his right arm serving with the 442nd Regiment in
Italy and received the Medal of Honor. Senator Stevens
flew in the Airforce with the Flying Tigers in China.
They worked together as ranking members of the Senate
Commerce Committee and they co-sponsored legislation
in 1996 to re-write the nation's telephone laws,
making it fair for residents in their states to pay
the same rates the Lower 48 pays. They sat next to
each other on the Defense Appropriations Committee and
served for four decades.
The similarities between Alaska and Hawaii are
significant. They are the only two non-contiguous
states in the nation, both have thriving tourism
industries, healthy military presence, and Native
populations that play a significant role in the
cultural fabric of both states. Also, both are in the
Pacific Rim and share economic, political, social,
cultural, and educational connections. Senator Inouye
stood with Stevens for almost every ANWR vote taken in
Congress.
She shared a caption in a photo of Senator Inouye and
Senator Stevens. "Senator Daniel Inouye, who served
with Ted Stevens for four decades, called the
Republican his brother and said their friendship was a
very special one." Ted Stevens was one of the most
powerful figures in Alaska's history and is considered
a hero from the greatest generation, an Alaskan icon.
The bill aims to keep alive Senator Stevens' largest
legacy, a simple friendship. All politics is about
relationships and in this both Senator Stevens and
Senator Inouye set the standard. She referred to an
article in members' packets titled the "The Stevens -
Inouye Friendship." Senator Stevens' daughter Lily
wrote, "In the midst of this season of firmly divided
politics, here is a reminder of how two people from
different political perspectives, and even
personalities, can come together. Thank you, Charlie,
for the musing on their great friendship. There will
never be two like them again, but I hope we can find
our way back to this model of friendship, service, and
leadership."
8:06:51 AM
JULIANA MELIN, Staff, Senator Mia Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, read the following from sectional analysis:
Senate Bill 17 adds new language in Title 14. Section
14.40.105 creates an opportunity for a reciprocal
agreement to be made between the University of Alaska
and the University of Hawaii to establish a student
exchange program commemorating the bipartisan
friendship between Senator Ted Stevens and Senator
Daniel K. Inouye. This commemoration is accomplished
by providing educational services and opportunities
for students who are pursuing a baccalaureate degree
in political science at either the University of
Hawaii or the University of Alaska.
8:08:48 AM
SENATOR COGHILL asked what the Hawaiian delegation thinks of the
bill.
MS. MELIN related that they have been working with the Hawaiian
delegation, the Daniel K. Inouye Institute, and University of
Hawaiian University members. She added that Saichi Oba from UA
has also been working with UH on the bill.
8:09:25 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL noted it was an open-ended bill. She asked if
there is a fiscal note.
MS. MELIN said there is an indeterminate fiscal note in members'
packets. She said Mr. Baker from UA would address it.
8:10:11 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if any student exchanges between UA and HA
takes place now.
MS. MELIN said there are currently established exchanges in
place.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked why this exchange is being put into state
law.
8:10:56 AM
SENATOR COSTELLO said the bill elevates it to the level of
legislative support for the university's ability to have this
type of exchange. The statute encourages communication such as
existed in this friendship. Without the statute the exchange may
not happen.
SENATOR GIESSEL reiterated that it is open-ended and raises
concern.
8:12:11 AM
SENATOR STEVENS appreciated the bill. He noted that the East
West Center at UH has had an extensive relationship with Alaska
students over the years. This particular bill speaks to
political science which he deemed important. He spoke in support
of the bill.
CHAIR HUGHES thought there could be a large cost to the exchange
if it were one-sided. She asked how it could be a balanced
exchange.
SENATOR COSTELLO replied that she has met with the president of
UA and they decided to leave the exchange open-ended so that
various forms could exist as the program expands. It can be as
small or as large as the university would like to see. She said
she sits on the Civics Task Force and has seen that there are
many ways to fashion an exchange.
8:15:09 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked where Senator Costello got the original idea.
SENATOR COSTELLO related a story about an experience during a
leadership meeting where she discussed the importance of the
Stevens/Inouye friendship. She thought it important to
memorialize this friendship.
8:16:49 AM
SENATOR COGHILL asked if tuition would be aligned.
MS. MELIN said some programs align tuition, but the details can
be worked out between the universities.
SENATOR STEVENS noted that the exchange program is for those
seeking a baccalaureate degree. He inquired if there was any
consideration for graduate program students.
MS. MELIN said it could be considered.
8:17:55 AM
SENATOR BEGICH spoke in support of the bill and the positive
emphasis on political science. He assumed the primary purpose of
the bill is to emphasize a collaborative relationship in
politics and modeling good behavior.
SENATOR COSTELLO envisioned that students would have to apply
and in that process, would have to look into the senators'
relationship, which would help keep the history alive and
provide opportunities to further positive elements of politics.
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony.
8:19:45 AM
SAICHI OBA, Associate Vice President for Students, University of
Alaska, testified in support of SB 17. He said that exchange
programs, in general, provide benefits to students and
institutions. SB 17 helps leverage the long-time friendship and
working relationship of both Senators. He said UA has extensive
experience in both national and international exchanges. He
shared that he is originally from Hawaii and thought Senator
Stevens would be pleased with this legislation.
He described how current student exchanges work. The university
belongs to a consortium that allows UA students to attend
exchanges with all fifty states. They would pattern the Stevens-
Inouye Exchange after those the university currently has. Most
exchanges are for one year, but can be as short as one semester.
He explained that the national student exchange allows out-of-
state students to pay in-state tuition so that UA will have the
same benefit when they go out on exchange. He said they have
reached out to the University of Hawaii regarding this exchange,
but have not heard back yet. There is a small team that is
looking at the requirements of this proposed legislation.
8:24:04 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked if UH is interested.
MR. OBA said UA has not heard back from them yet.
SENATOR STEVENS asked about past exchanges with Hawaii.
MR. OBA said the national student exchange is in place with UH
and the numbers are not overly dramatic. It has been a part of
the UA system since the 90's.
SENATOR STEVENS agreed that reciprocity is a good way to do
exchanges so there is no outlay of monies.
8:25:54 AM
CHAIR HUGHES asked whether exchange numbers must be balanced.
MR. OBA said the exchange could be set up in several ways. It
could be on a one-to-one basis or open-ended. Those are details
that would need to be worked out.
8:27:17 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked for clarification whether a lot of
students are doing an exchange.
MR. OBA said he does not have exact numbers; maybe 50 are on an
exchange in a given year. He called that very little. He offered
to provide those numbers.
SENATOR GIESSEL wanted specific numbers related to Hawaii. She
provided an example of an out-of-state student wishing to go on
an exchange.
8:29:32 AM
MR. OBA thought it was a detail that had to be worked out.
CHAIR HUGHES asked how student residence is considered
currently.
MR. OBA explained that if the student has been in Alaska for a
year in-state tuition would be allowed.
SENATOR STEVENS thought there should be an opportunity for
graduate students to be a part of the exchange.
8:30:54 AM
MR. OBA was not aware of graduate student going on national
exchange due to the specific requirements of masters programs. A
graduate exchange is not impossible to offer and could be looked
at.
8:31:53 AM
MILES BAKER, Associate Vice President, Government Relations,
University of Alaska, explained the fiscal note for SB 17. He
noted the fiscal note was indeterminate because there are a lot
of details to work out, but the university expects any cost
associated with the bill to be minimal because staff are already
in place.
CHAIR HUGHES commented that no new staff are planned and tuition
would basically cover costs. The university doesn't expect to be
approaching the legislature in a few years for funding.
MR. BAKER said correct.
8:33:29 AM
TIM MCKEEVER, Chairman of the Board, Ted Stevens Foundation,
testified in support of SB 17. He commented on the importance of
the Senate Commerce Committee to both Senator Stevens and
Senator Inouye since they represented non-contiguous states and
worked together on issues of concern. He listed many of their
common interests, such as national defense and Pacific Rim
resources, across party lines.
He concluded that the Foundation supports the bill because it
recognizes their contributions, but also because they worked
together. Given today's political system, cooperation should be
noted and encouraged. He hoped the program could include
students in other fields besides political science, as well. He
said Senator Inouye's Foundation also supports the bill.
8:39:22 AM
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the Foundation might provide financial
support.
MR. MCKEEVER thought that was a possibility and they would be
interested in doing so. The cost does not appear to be
substantial.
SENATOR STEVENS thought the bigger issue is that the
relationship between the two Senators be documented and
recorded.
MR. MCKEEVER agreed and said they are working on that.
8:41:58 AM
SENATOR BEGICH suggested that if the bill becomes law, one of
the requirements could be to include an aspect of the Senators'
relationship in the application essay.
CHAIR HUGHES agreed. It would provide opportunity to research
and preserve their legacy.
CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony and held SB 17 in
committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 66 - Supporting Document - Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation Letter.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2017 8:00:00 AM |
SB 66 |
| SB 17 - Supporting Document- Ted Stevens Foundation.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2017 8:00:00 AM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 - Legislation-Ver. J.PDF |
SEDC 3/10/2017 8:00:00 AM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2017 8:00:00 AM |
SB 17 |
| SB 17 - Fiscal Note - UA-SYSBRA-3-10-17.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2017 8:00:00 AM |
SB 17 |