SJR 9-CONST.AM: APPROP. BILL FOR PUBL EDUCATION  9:22:11 AM CHAIR STEVENS reconvened the meeting and announced the consideration of SJR 9. He asked the sponsor if she had additional comments. 9:22:21 AM SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, speaking as prime sponsor of SJR 9, said the original testimony highlighted that it creates havoc for school districts to pass education funding later in the session. She summarized that last session the legislature forward funded education with $50 million, which districts appreciated. Another issue in testimony was that Alaska needs certainty for the economy and that extends to the education community. She opined that forward funding will benefit students because their teachers will be there for the long haul and administrators won't be required to issue pink slips to teachers every year. She explained that it is preferable to address forward funding education with a constitutional amendment, not a statute change, because one legislature is not allowed to encumber another. 9:24:25 AM SENATOR BIRCH said he appreciates the intent and is comfortable with forward funding but is concerned about compelling the legislature to commit such significant financial resources by the 45th day of the session. Education is just one of a myriad of vital issues the legislature needs to balance. He summarized that he supports the intent but is concerned about how this might impact the budget process. 9:26:18 AM SENATOR HUGHES said she too appreciates the intent because it is a real problem for school districts but she also shares Senator Birch's concern. She offered an outside the box suggestion to convene the legislature in October or November, take a Christmas break, and return in January. 9:26:51 AM CHAIR STEVENS commented that the suggestion is outside the box, but he appreciates the thought. 9:27:09 AM ELWIN BLACKWELL, School Finance Manager, School Finance and Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) said the fiscal notes associated with SJR 9 are zero. There is no expectation that this would impact DEED's budget processes and procedures. But it would require the governor's office to submit a separate, K-12 education budget for public schools to be presented to the legislature. 9:28:24 AM CHAIR STEVENS opened public testimony. 9:28:29 AM JUDY ELEDGE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, stated opposition to the constitutional amendment proposed in SJR 9. She argued that constitutional amendments must only be used for great policy changes, not as a budget process. As a retired educator who has received pink slips in the past, she said she agrees that change is needed, but not as proposed in SJR 9. Rather, the pink slip issue can be corrected by changing the budget deadline in AS 14.14.060 from May 1 to June 1. She opined that constitutionally mandating that K-12 education be funded first is unfair and it reduces the power of appropriation for the legislature. She expressed concern about unintended consequences if education gets a bigger piece of the budget pie early on and suggested the committee consider creative solutions such as a three-year pilot program of forward funding if all districts agree to keep their funding at the same level. 9:31:06 AM DAVID BOYLE, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, described SJR 9 as a solution for a problem caused by the legislature and local taxing entities. He said AS 14.14.060 requires school districts to submit their budget for the following school year by May 1, but the legislature's budget work is not done timely. He said this is a process issue and a calendar issue that can be corrected by changing the date in the statute from May 1 to sometime in June. He posited that constitutional amendments should not be used for budget process issues. If this resolution were to pass, K-12 education would be first in line for funding and would not compete on an equal basis with public safety, transportation, and health and social services. He concluded that putting K-12 funding in the Alaska constitution will not improve student achievement or ensure that public funds are spent wisely. 9:36:45 AM CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony. He noted that SJR 9 had referrals to Judiciary and Finance and solicited a motion. 9:37:09 AM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report SJR 9, Version S, from committee with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, SJR 9 moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee. 9:37:18 AM At ease 9:38:53 AM CHAIR STEVENS reconvened the committee. SENATOR COSTELLO expressed appreciation to the individuals who called in to testify.