Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
01/30/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB56 | |
| HB26 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 30, 2024
1:37 p.m.
1:37:05 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:37 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Click Bishop
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel; Senator Forrest Dunbar, Sponsor;
Representative Justin Ruffridge; James Holzenberg, Staff to
Senator Forrest Dunbar; Sana Efird, Executive Director,
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education; Kerry Thomas,
Director of Program Operations, Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education; Representative Andi Story,
Sponsor; Miranda Kaagwéil Worl, Staff for Representative
Andi Story; Xunei Lance Twitchell, Chair, Alaska Native
Language Preservation and Advisory Council; Representative
Maxine Dibert.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Dr. Paul Layer, Vice President of Academics, Students, and
Research, University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Dr. Walkie
Charles, Member, Alaska Native Language Preservation and
Advisory Council and Director, Alaska Native Language
Center; Bernadette Yaayuk Alvanna-Stimpfle, Vice Chair,
Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council;
Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Self, Fairbanks.
SUMMARY
HB 26 OFFICIAL LANG; COUNCIL FOR AK NATIVE LANG
HB 26 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SB 56 AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
SB 56 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 56
"An Act relating to the Alaska performance scholarship
program."
1:37:42 PM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that it was the first hearing for SB
56.
1:38:04 PM
SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR, SPONSOR, explained that SB 56 would
make improvements to the Alaska Performance Scholarship
(APS). He mentioned the difficulty of recruiting young
people to the state, and he believed the program was a tool
that could be used to keep young people in the state. He
explained that the APS was a merit-based scholarship for
high-performing Alaskan students to use at post-secondary
Alaskan institutions. Currently to qualify for the APS,
students must graduate from an Alaskan high school with a
minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA), receive a minimum
qualifying score on an approved college/career entrance
exam, and take specific courses. Award amounts vary based
on GPA and college/career entrance exam score.
Senator Dunbar cited that APS had shown a sharp decline in
usage in recent years. He cited the APS Outcomes Report
(copy on file) that indicated greater awareness of
placement exams, inclination towards better grades, and
increased graduate school attendance. He continued that
participants consistently demonstrated increased rates of
Alaska residency and involvement in Alaskas workforce. He
cited that 73 percent of students surveyed in 2023
indicated that APS played a role in attending an in-state
school.
Senator Dunbar relayed that his staff would address a
Sectional Analysis and specified that there were three
primary categories of challenges that the bill sought to
address. He highlighted a notification issue and contended
that students were notified of the award too late in the
[college] decision-making process. He cited that the APS
had not kept up with inflation and had become a less
powerful tool as the years had progressed. He mentioned a
variety of barriers to eligibility. He referenced a number
of changes made in the House Education Committee.
1:41:33 PM
JAMES HOLZENBERG, STAFF TO SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR, read
from a Sectional Analysis (copy on file):
Section 2: Adds language to AS 14.43.820(g) defining
"career cluster" as a group of jobs and industries
that are related by skills or products and renumbering
the subsection accordingly.
Section 3: Adds the following new subsections to AS
14.43.820:
• AS 14.43.820 (h) requiring districts to inform
students in 9th or 10th grade about the Alaska
Performance Scholarship.
• AS 14.43.820 (i)(j)(k) requiring students be
notified of their APS eligibility progress by December
31st of their junior year. Award recipients must be
notified of their award and level by August 15th of
each year. Any communications with students regarding
the APS must include information about the ability to
increase the scholarship amount outlined in AS
14.43.825(g)-(i).
• AS 14.43.820 (l)(m) establishing that an applicant
must be enrolled in any remaining course requirements,
must have a qualifying GPA, and once graduating from
high school, be enrolled in a qualifying postsecondary
institution to receive the award. The applicant's GPA
upon graduation will be used to conclude the final
award amount. The award would be revoked if
requirements were ultimately not met.
Section 4: Amends AS 14.43.25(a) by increasing all
award levels and allowing for a GPA or an equivalent
rating established by the Department of Education and
Early Development or minimum score on a college
entrance examination to qualify. The qualifying GPA or
minimum score and new award level are as follows:
• Level 1: 3.5 GPA/equivalent rating or above or a
very high minimum score, $7,000 (increased from
$4,755)
• Level 2: 3.0 GPA/equivalent rating or above or a
high minimum score, $5,250 (increased from $3,566)
• Level 3: 2.5 GPA/equivalent rating or above or a
moderately high score, $3,500 (increased from $2,378)
Section 5: Amends AS 14.43.25(b) by increasing the
number of years a student can use the scholarship
after graduating high school from six to eight years.
Section 6: Adds language to AS 14.43.25(c) extending
an award recipient's eligibility to use the
scholarship by one semester for each semester they are
enrolled in part-time status. They are still required
to remain in good standing. Currently, a part-time
student will only receive half of the award for that
semester and forego the remaining funds. This language
ensures recipients receive their full award regardless
of full or part-time enrollment.
Section 7: Adds two new subsections (g) and (h) to AS
14.43.825.
Subsection (g) directs the Department of Education and
Early Development to establish regulations creating a
GPA equivalent rating for schools that do not award
grades on the traditional 4.0/5.0 grading scale.
Subsection (h) requires postsecondary institutions to
review award recipients' grade point averages each
time they complete two semesters. If a recipient's
postsecondary institution grade point average
qualifies for a higher-level award as outlined in AS
14.43.25(a), their award amount will be adjusted
accordingly.
Section 8: Adds a conforming change to the definition
of "grade-point average" in AS 14.43.849(2) to include
the equivalent rating established by Department
regulations for schools that do not use the
traditional 4.0 or 5.0 grading scale.
1:45:15 PM
Senator Wilson wondered how the ninth and tenth graders
were notified of the scholarship.
Senator Dunbar deferred to the invited testifiers.
Senator Dunbar stressed that the award amount had not
changed since 2011, even though there had been significant
inflation since then.
Co-Chair Olson asked if the APS was available for graduate
students.
Mr. Holzenberg answered affirmatively.
Co-Chair Olson asked if the APS was only for Alaska
schools.
Senator Dunbar replied that the scholarship was intended
for instate schools.
1:47:55 PM
SANA EFIRD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, cited a survey of the program and
anecdotal information that provided a number of reasons for
why Alaskans were not using the scholarship. She referenced
barriers that were address in the bill, including the
standardized test requirement, late award notification,
program awareness, and the eroding value of the reward. She
elaborated on the barriers to APS use. She explained that
from 2018 on, there had been some instability in funding of
APS.
1:54:04 PM
Senator Wilson asked how ACPE planned to notify the ninth
and tenth graders.
Ms. Efird relayed that the bill outlined that the school
district would be responsible for notifying students.
Senator Wilson wondered if the information was in a
newsletter. He was concerned about consistency in how
students would be notified of the APS opportunity.
Ms. Efird agreed with Senator Wilson.
Senator Merrick cited the barrier of lack of accessibility
to testing in rural Alaska. She asked whether testing was
available online.
Ms. Efird answered that the tests were not available
online.
Senator Wilson asked if there was a cap to how many
students were awarded the APS. He asked about competition.
Ms. Efird relayed that there was not currently a cap on the
number of students that could receive the award.
Ms. Efird felt that the step-up bill provision would
address equity.
2:01:36 PM
Co-Chair Olson asked about potential penalties if a student
was in scholastic trouble.
Ms. Efird stressed that the APS was an academic
scholarship.
2:02:20 PM
Co-Chair Olson asked if students from private schools were
eligible for the APS.
Ms. Efird answered "yes," and thought her staff could
address the question relating to private schools.
2:03:53 PM
KERRY THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM OPERATIONS, ALASKA
COMMISSION ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, replied that private
school students were eligible for the scholarship, but had
a separate process.
2:05:50 PM
Senator Kiehl asked about the average APS award.
Ms. Efird deferred to Ms. Thomas.
Ms. Thomas asked for time to provide that answer.
Senator Kiehl recalled that in 2012 when the bill passed,
there had been guesswork about determining that more than
half of Alaskan students would be eligible.
Ms. Thomas noted that the average award amount was $3,005.
2:11:12 PM
DR. PAUL LAYER, VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMICS, STUDENTS, AND
RESEARCH, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference asserted that the APS worked for students.
He discussed eligibility of students and mentioned, and
discussed the testing requirement. He noted that all three
of the University of Alaska schools had dropped the
standardized test for admissions, as had many other schools
in the United States.
2:17:11 PM
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 26(TRB)
"An Act relating to the official languages of the
State of Alaska; renaming the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council as the Council for
Alaska Native Languages; and relating to the Council
for Alaska Native Languages."
2:17:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY, SPONSOR, discussed the bill.
Since the bill was heard in Senate State Affairs the
previous year, the council had updated its recommendations
in a report.
2:22:31 PM
MIRANDA KAAGWÉIL WORL, STAFF FOR REPRESENTATIVE ANDI STORY,
addressed a Sectional Analysis (copy on file):
Section 1: Amends AS 44.12.310(a) to add Cup'ig and
Weta
(Ts'etsa'ut) as official languages of Alaska,
and divide Tanana into the Benhti Kokhwt'ana Kenaga'
(Lower Tanana) and Sahcheeg xut'een xneege' (Middle
Tanana) languages.
Section 2: Amends AS 44.33.520(a) to simplify the name
of the Council from "Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council" to "Council for
Alaska Native Languages."
Section 3: Amends AS 44.33.520(c) by changing voting
members from "five" to "seven.
Section 4: Provides the Governor appoint the
additional two voting members, under Sec. 3, as soon
as practicable after the effective date.
2:23:48 PM
XUNEI LANCE TWITCHELL, CHAIR, ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGE
PRESERVATION AND ADVISORY COUNCIL, emphasized that Alaska
Native languages were currently not a priority of the
state. He encouraged the governor to look to the Interior
of Alaska and people working in the Dine' language field.
He addressed the provision that proposed a name change to
the council.
2:29:52 PM
Co-Chair Olson wondered how the funding would work when
other funding was needed for other funding.
Mr. Twitchell suggested looking at what could happen with
state advocacy. He pondered how to get the governor's
office and legislature, and emphasized building a stronger
partnership He pondered the percentage of the budget that
was going to the council and considered the amount to be
embarrassing.
2:33:14 PM
Co-Chair Olson queried the successes of the council.
Mr. Twitchell thanked Co-Chair Olson for years of support.
Two of the elders on the council had led efforts to support
the languages. He mentioned "language nests" and used the
example of the Tlingit language, where there were
preschools that had language immersion nests.
2:35:17 PM
Senator Wilson looked at AS 44.12.320, and asked for more
detail.
2:36:40 PM
AT EASE
2:37:57 PM
RECONVENED
Representative Story offered to get back to the committee
at a later time with a thorough answer.
2:38:26 PM
DR. WALKIE CHARLES, MEMBER, ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGE
PRESERVATION AND ADVISORY COUNCIL AND DIRECTOR, ALASKA
NATIVE LANGUAGE CENTER (via teleconference), shared that he
had been taken from his home and placed in the Wrangell
Institute. He spoke on further history with the council.
2:42:53 PM
BERNADETTE YAAYUK ALVANNA-STIMPFLE, VICE CHAIR, ALASKA
NATIVE LANGUAGE PRESERVATION AND ADVISORY COUNCIL (via
teleconference), addressed the proposed council name
change. She discussed adding additional languages, and
asserted that all Alaska Native languages were as important
as the English language.
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.
2:48:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, spoke in support of HB 26.
She relayed that her Koyukon Athabaskan name was
Neelthdinlo, and shared that her name meant "strong
runner." She recounted hearing the Koyukon language in her
home growing up. Her father came from Kokrines and her
mother came from Rampart.
2:50:04 PM
PRINCESS DAAZHRAII JOHNSON, SELF, FAIRBANKS (via
teleconference), testified in favor of the bill. She gave
an introduction in Gwichin. She shared that her name was
given to her by her late grandmother. She thanked the
committee for hearing her testimony and for its work. She
underscored the concepts of healing and reconciliation. She
supported simplification of the council name and expansion
of membership, as well as inclusion of an additional three
languages.
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.
Representative Story mentioned that the bill packet
contained a summary of recommendation (copy on file).
Co-Chair Olson discussed committee business.
CSHB 26(TRB) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
2:55:31 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 56 Research - APS Student Insights Infographic 2023 04.24.2023.pdf |
SEDC 5/1/2023 3:30:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Research - APS At-A-Glance 2023 04.24.2023.pdf |
SEDC 4/24/2023 3:30:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Summary of Changes Version A to Version S 05.01.2023.pdf |
SEDC 5/1/2023 3:30:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Testimony - USUAA Student Government 04.14.2023.pdf |
SEDC 4/24/2023 3:30:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Testimony - University of Alaska 04.19.2023.pdf |
SEDC 4/24/2023 3:30:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Sponsor Statement, version S.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 Sectional Analysis, vers. S.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| HB 26 Sponsor Statement 03.01.23.pdf |
HTRB 3/8/2023 3:00:00 PM SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB026 Summary of Changes 05.03.23.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/4/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB026 Letter of Support-Alaska Regional Coalition 04.27.23.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB026 Additional Documents-ANLPAC 2022 Summary of Recommendations 05.03.23.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB026 Additional Documents-Alaskas 23 Indigenous Languages 05.03.23.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| SB 56 LFD Higher Ed MultiYearAllocationSummary.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| SB 56 ACPE Resolution of Support HB 148 and SB 56.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 148 SB 56 |
| SB 56 APS Outcomes Report 2024.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 56 |
| HB026 Sectional Analysis 05.03.23.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM SSTA 5/6/2023 3:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |
| HB 26 Sectional Analysis 01.30.24.pdf |
SFIN 1/30/2024 1:30:00 PM |
HB 26 |