HB 180-MILITARY YOUTH ACADEMY                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:00:48 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 180.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TAMMIE  WILSON, sponsor  of HB  180, said  this is                                                               
the  only program  that she  is aware  of that  works to  put the                                                               
students back into  their community with a mentor  to ensure they                                                               
finish  high  school or  help  them  go  into the  military.  She                                                               
stressed the importance of funding a successful program.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STEVENS  asked  about  the   results  seen  from  tracking                                                               
graduates of the Academy.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:02:38 AM                                                                                                                    
MCHUGH   PIERRE,  Deputy   Commissioner,  Alaska   Department  of                                                               
Military & Veterans Affairs, noted  that a cadet is tracked after                                                               
graduation for one  year and then the success of  that student is                                                               
determined. Cadets are  required to check in a minimum  of once a                                                               
month for a  year. He noted there  is a 95 to  97 percent success                                                               
rate. Graduates are placed in jobs of  30 hours or more, or go to                                                               
college and take  12 or more credits, or are  in the military. He                                                               
said the bill will allow the Academy to go to the next level.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS  commented that  it is nice  to hear  how graduates                                                               
are doing.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARDNER asked  about the  student-to-adult ratio  at the                                                               
Academy.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. PIERRE replied  that the ratio was 25 students  to 1 teacher;                                                               
however  there are  90 employees.  There are  202 cadets,  so the                                                               
ratio  is 2.2  students to  every  adult. He  explained that  the                                                               
training was very "hands on."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:05:36 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNLEAVY spoke  highly of the program and  said it should                                                               
be expanded. He stated he  believes in multiple education models.                                                               
He  stressed  that  the students  deserved  the  opportunity  for                                                               
success.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STEVENS   asked  if   expansion  of   the  program   is  a                                                               
possibility.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  PIERRE  said  yes.  He  added that  HB  180  would  allow  a                                                               
discussion about  expansion. The way  the budget works  now would                                                               
not make expansion possible.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if expansion might occur in Fairbanks.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. PIERRE  answered yes. Expansion  was considered  in 2005-2006                                                               
for Galena  and for Fairbanks.  There were National  Guard Bureau                                                               
facility  requirements that  did  not allow  that  to happen.  He                                                               
pointed out that  there might be space at Eielson  Air Force Base                                                               
in the future, if the need arises.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER asked what the male-female ratio is.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. PIERRE said it is roughly 70 males to 30 females.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:09:14 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GARDNER  noted her experience  as a guardian ad  litem of                                                               
children in state  custody. She recalled that  several parents of                                                               
these children enrolled in the Academy and were very successful.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:10:11 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DUNLEAVY moved  to  report HB  180  from committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations  and  attached  fiscal  notes.  There                                                               
being  no  objection,  HB  180   was  reported  from  the  Senate                                                               
Education Committee.