Legislature(2003 - 2004)
04/22/2004 08:39 AM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 22, 2004
8:39 A.M.
TAPE HFC 04 - 94, Side A
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Williams called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 8:39 A.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bill Williams, Co-Chair
Representative Kevin Meyer, Vice-Chair
Representative Mike Chenault
Representative Eric Croft
Representative Hugh Fate
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Carl Moses
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Harris, Co-Chair
Representative Mike Hawker
Representative Bill Stoltze
ALSO PRESENT
Ryan Makinster, Staff to Representative McGuire
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Larry Wiget, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Anchorage
School District, Anchorage
SUMMARY
HB 512 An Act establishing the Hydrogen Energy
Partnership in the Department of Community and
Economic Development; requiring the commissioner
of community and economic development to seek
public and private funding for the partnership;
providing for the contingent repeal of an
effective date; and providing for an effective
date.
CS HB 512(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with
a "do pass" recommendation and with two fiscal
impact notes.
HB 338 An Act relating to attendance at public school;
and providing for an effective date.
HB 338 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 512
An Act establishing the Hydrogen Energy Partnership in
the Department of Community and Economic Development;
requiring the commissioner of community and economic
development to seek public and private funding for the
partnership; providing for the contingent repeal of an
effective date; and providing for an effective date.
Representative Foster MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1.
Representative Joule OBJECTED for purposes of discussion.
Amendment #1 reads:
Page 2, line 3, following "energy":
Insert ",hydropower, wind power, and tidal power"
Page 2, following line 21:
Insert a new paragraph to read:
"(6) the electric utility industry;"
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
Co-Chair Williams explained the changes in Amendment 1.
Representative Joule removed his objection. Amendment #1 was
adopted.
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 512(FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 512(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with two fiscal impact notes.
HOUSE BILL NO. 338
An Act relating to attendance at public school; and
providing for an effective date.
RYAN MAKINSTER, STAFF TO REPRESENTATIVE MCGUIRE, commented
that the bill accomplishes two small but significant changes
to the law. He explained that the minimum standard for
early entry is very high and would require most children to
be in the genius level to qualify. Under current statute,
the school board must hear a request for early entry, which
is inefficient when a school administrator could be
designated for the task. A school administrator would have
more experience in early education and possess the ability
to determine if a child is ready to enter school early. The
bill was requested by the Anchorage School District. The
date change from August 15 to September 1 would put Alaska
in line with 36 other states.
Representative Chenault asked how many children this bill
would affect. Mr. Makinster replied it would affect less
than one child in each classroom, or one for every three
kindergarten classes. It would not negatively affect
classroom size. Representative Chenault stated he was more
concerned with the cost, noting the indeterminate fiscal
note, and he asked the best estimate of the cost. He also
asked if it is the local or the state school board that
currently makes the decision.
Mr. Makinster replied that the legislation may cost a little
more this year but these children would be out of system
earlier and the cost of education would be higher later on.
Currently the local school board makes the determination and
a parent meets with either the school psychologist or a
private psychologist. The school districts request
appointment of an administrator so that the board would not
have to meet on these cases.
Representative Chenault asked whether the Anchorage School
District is planning to hire another administrator. Mr.
Makinster replied that it is not.
LARRY WIGET, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, ANCHORAGE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, spoke in support of the bill. The Anchorage
School Board believes that once it has adopted policy
standards, it should have the discretion to delegate the
responsibility for implementation to the District
administration. The District would not hire additional
administrators to deal with this task, and the Board would
still serve as a body of appeal. Mr. Wiget discussed the
provisions of the bill.
Vice-Chair Meyer asked why the date has been set at August
15. Mr. Wiget did not know but he thought it was arbitrary.
Vice-Chair Meyer asked if Anchorage makes exceptions for
children close to the August 15 date if they pass the tests.
Mr. Wiget said that the date is relatively firm but parents
assume the extra cost of testing and evaluating the child.
The bill would put Alaska more in line with the national
average.
In response to a question by Vice-Chair Meyer, Mr. Wiget
replied that Anchorage has all-day kindergarten classes.
HB 338 was heard and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 A.M.
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