Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
03/26/2013 01:00 PM House MILITARY & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB180 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS
March 26, 2013
1:22 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair
Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Co-Chair
Representative Pete Higgins
Representative Shelley Hughes
Representative Lora Reinbold
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 180
"An Act relating to the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy; and
providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HB 180 OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 180
SHORT TITLE: MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) T.WILSON
03/20/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/20/13 (H) MLV
03/26/13 (H) MLV AT 1:00 PM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke as the sponsor of HB 180.
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner/Adjutant General
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 180 and answered
questions.
MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS KATKUS, Commissioner/Adjutant General
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 180 and answered
questions.
CLYDE T. (TOM) BURTON, Division Director
Alaska Military Youth Academy
Department of Military & Veterans' Affairs (DMVA)
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 180 and answered
questions.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:22:53 PM
CO-CHAIR NEAL FOSTER called the House Special Committee on
Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting to order at 1:22 p.m.
Representatives LeDoux, Gruenberg, Saddler, Reinbold, Hughes,
and Foster were present at the call to order. Representative
Higgins arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 180-MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY
1:23:32 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 180, "An Act relating to the Alaska Challenge
Youth Academy; and providing for an effective date."
1:23:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE WILSON, Alaska State Legislature,
paraphrased from the sponsor statement, which read [original
punctuation provided]:
The Alaska Military Youth Academy has seen
unparalleled success in serving Alaska's at-risk
youth. A military-style 24-hour school, the AMYA
serves only high school drop-outs between the ages of
16 and 19.
In almost 20 years of operation, the AMYA has
graduated more than 4,000 cadets. Like any program
the AMYA started out small and has grown to graduating
about 300 cadets each year.
The funding formula that currently serves the AMYA is
outdated and must be changed. It was designed to
protect a fledgling program from the budget cuts
associated with $9-barrel oil prices. The AMYA has
weathered the storm and proven itself as a successful
program that can stand on its own merits.
With this proven track record, it is time to move the
Academy to a direct appropriation based on the number
of cadets that graduate.
1:25:40 PM
MCHUGH PIERRE, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the
Commissioner/Adjutant General, Department of Military &
Veterans' Affairs (DMVA), expressed DMVA's support of HB 180 and
stated that this step is necessary to take the program to the
next level of excellence.
1:26:32 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER opened public testimony.
1:26:56 PM
MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS KATKUS, Commissioner/Adjutant, DMVA,
informed the committee the Alaska Military Youth Academy
("Academy") reaches about 300 youth per year out of the
approximately 3,000 at-risk youth who drop out of the school
systems. This is a very effective program with proven
statistics showing a 20-year record of success. He said at this
point the Academy is seeking to close the gap between the number
of students who enroll and who graduate. To accomplish this,
the funding formula should be driven by results-based direct
appropriation with the objective to graduate the maximum number
of students possible. Major General Katkus said the current
formula is misguided.
1:28:49 PM
CLYDE T. (TOM) BURTON, Division Director, Alaska Military Youth
Academy, DMVA, explained that the focus of the Academy is on the
quality of its service to students, parents, communities, and
the state. He said the Academy provides direct support for key
programs such as the Choose Respect campaign, and students come
for many reasons, only one of which is academic. Most important
is to provide students with an opportunity to change their lives
and proceed to a successful future. The mission of the Academy
is to improve the situation of the youth in Alaska.
1:29:50 PM
[CO-CHAIR FOSTER passed the gavel to CO-CHAIR LEDOUX.]
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES stated her support for the program. She
asked whether the legislation will allow the Academy to grow and
reach more than 10 percent of at-risk students.
MR. BURTON said the Academy has the ability to grow
incrementally; ultimately, structural limits will be reached,
but at this time, the camp is "sized correctly." At 10 percent
of Alaska's drop-out population, the Academy has had more of an
impact than has any other state. Although the exact estimate is
unknown, he opined the Academy can raise its effective rate to
15 percent or 20 percent.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES asked whether students are ever turned
away.
MR. BURTON said the Academy does not turn anyone away, which is
different from other programs which "screen for success." The
Academy's philosophy is to provide all that is possible for
students in eight core components that include life skills, job
skills, academics, and physical fitness, in order to build a
sound body and mind.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS added that the National Guard is involved
in this program because 20 years ago the number of at-risk youth
and drop-outs was seen as a security risk to the nation.
Therefore, the U.S. Department of Defense (USDOD) put resources
towards addressing that problem. Through a direct
appropriation, communities and government will also become
involved, and the program could expand with more recruitment and
a different emphasis. He advised that a new system of funding,
in response to DMVA's justification for funds and articulation
of goals and objectives, is the correct way to secure the right
amount of support and funding, instead of by a formula "on
autopilot."
1:34:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES asked whether a direct appropriation would
result in benefits such as additional access to federal funding.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS said currently, receiving federal funds
offsets state funds, thus if federal funds are received state
monies have to be returned to the Department of Education and
Early Development (EED). This happens late in the year and
there is no incentive to seek additional funding. Under a
direct appropriation, DMVA can seek additional funding and
grants to grow the program without being penalized.
MR. BURTON agreed. For example, an increase in the graduation
rate led to increased federal funds, but the funds went to EED
and were not a net gain to the Academy.
1:36:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the proportion of federal to
state funds allotted to the Academy.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS said Alaska provides approximately 70
percent and the federal government provides approximately 30
percent, which is "reversed" when compared to other states.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked whether DMVA is concerned about
abandoning a fixed, reliable, formula in the face of looming
state and federal budget challenges.
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS opined all funding sources whether fixed,
formula, or direct appropriation, are not secure at this time.
However, the best way to face funding challenges is for the
leadership of the Academy to articulate its needs. In further
response to Representative Saddler, he said it is possible the
Academy will receive more funding through direct appropriation
because it supports many of the governor's programs and
additional investments in the program will result in big
payoffs.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER expressed his support for the program.
1:39:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG noted HB 180 changes the name of the
Academy to the Alaska Military Youth Academy. He said there is
a technical issue in that the bill will not just affect funding
but will involve the establishment of the Academy. He opined
the "catch line" should "be amended to reflect what's going on
in the bill."
MAJOR GENERAL KATKUS deferred to the sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG, after further reflection on this
issue, asked the committee to disregard his comments regarding
the "catch line" because the entire statute is being repealed.
1:42:16 PM
[CO-CHAIR LEDOUX passed the gavel to CO-CHAIR FOSTER.]
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG then pointed out that repealing a
statute in the middle of the fiscal year and establishing a
different regime - with an effective date of January 1 - may
cause a problem for continued funding.
MR. PIERRE said he and the sponsor worked carefully to address
the funding transition from one year to the next. Legislative
Legal Services, Legislative Affairs Agency, and the Department
of Law determined the January 1 date was appropriate, because
there was no rush to make the change. Instead, the goal was how
to best move the Academy division forward, thus the Base Student
Allocation (BSA) formula funding will continue in July, and this
fall the new budget process will begin with a "general match
plan" and justification for a direct appropriation that will go
into effect July 1, 2014, Fiscal Year 2015 (FY 15). In further
response to Representative Gruenberg, he explained that DMVA
will receive funds in July 2013, for the next year.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked about the impact on the Academy's
ability to receive federal funds during the federal fiscal year.
MR. PIERRE assured the committee there will not be a negative
impact due to the timing, but the Academy will be in a position
to receive federal funds if they become available.
1:46:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated that according to documents
provided in the committee packet, the Academy was formed in
1994, but AS 14.30.740 was not enacted until 2002. He asked for
the statutory framework that was utilized between 1994 and 2002.
MR. PIERRE said funding was through direct appropriation. There
was match funding, but the fledgling program at that time was
unable to produce satisfactory results; however, the environment
and needs of the Academy have changed and direct appropriation
is needed now.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG asked whether there was regulation or
statutory authority prior to 2002.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON acknowledged the legislature was giving
money to the Academy without authority, which led to its
placement in statute. One additional reason for this change, in
addition to the fact the Academy is successful, is to ensure the
Academy has the funds it truly needs rather than estimates for
each year.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG surmised the Academy began in 1994 with
no authority, the funding program was put in statute in 2002,
and now the Academy is established in Section 2 of HB 180. He
expressed his strong support of the program and suggested it
should be established permanently in law by an amendment to page
2, line [4], that replaces the word "may" with the word "shall"
in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON said her understanding is that the
Academy has already been established. Furthermore, because
there is a companion bill, she is more comfortable with the
language as written.
1:50:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG cautioned that without other
legislation, a future administration could abolish the Academy.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON maintained her preference for the
language in the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the reason behind the name
change.
MR. PIERRE responded that the sponsor and leadership at DMVA
sought to establish the name throughout statute and that the
Academy is commonly known as the Alaska Military Youth Academy.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER has heard the Academy referred to as the
Youth Corps.
MR. PIERRE noted DMVA seeks to avoid confusion with Job Corps
and Youth Academy or the Academy is distinct from that.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES inquired as to the amount of funding
acquired by the Academy this year.
MR. PIERRE estimated total funding for the Academy was $9.3
million.
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES pointed out that if HB 180 passes, funding
for the Academy will be reduced from the EED budget and she
stressed that should not be construed as a cut to funding for
education.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON will ask EED to reflect that change.
MR. PIERRE clarified the amount is roughly $6 million.
1:55:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD stated that she has heard wonderful
testimony regarding the Academy.
REPRESENTATIVE HIGGINS recalled meeting with Mr. Pierre and
appreciated his confidence in the program. He has known youths
who have done well at the Academy.
MR. PIERRE attributed the Academy's success and that of DMVA to
the leadership of General Katkus and the governor.
1:57:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES asked how many graduates go into the
military or on to college.
MR. BURTON said after the most recent graduation of 144
students, 33 went into the military. The Academy reaches almost
100 percent placement, which means graduates return to high
school, go on to college, find a full-time job, or join the
military. Other successes are in physical fitness and respect
for family.
REPRESENTATIVE T. WILSON added that students return to their
community with a support team to follow their progress.
2:01:08 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 2:01 p.m. to 2:02 p.m.
2:03:04 PM
CO-CHAIR FOSTER, after ascertaining no one else wished to
testify, closed public testimony.
2:03:14 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER moved to report HB 180 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 180 was reported from the
House Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
2:03:48 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs meeting was
adjourned at 2:03 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 180A.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB180 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB180-DMVA-AMYA-03-22-13.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB180-EED-K12-3-21-13.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180-Amendment 1.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 Sponsor Statement - for merge.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 Support Letter 2.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |
| HB 180 Support Letter.pdf |
HMLV 3/26/2013 1:00:00 PM |
HB 180 |