ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE  February 2, 2009 8:02 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Kim Elton, Chair Senator Bettye Davis, Vice Chair Senator Charlie Huggins Senator Donald Olson MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Gary Stevens COMMITTEE CALENDAR  SENATE BILL NO. 57 "An Act relating to charter school funding." MOVED SB 57 OUT OF COMMITTEE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: SB 57 SHORT TITLE: CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) THOMAS 01/21/09 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/16/09 01/21/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/21/09 (S) EDC, FIN 01/29/09 (S) EDC AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 01/29/09 (S) Heard & Held 01/29/09 (S) MINUTE(EDC) 02/02/09 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 211 WITNESS REGISTER SENATOR THOMAS Alaska State Legislature Juneau, AK POSITION STATEMENT: As sponsor, answered questions about the SB 57 funding calculations. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:02:31 AM CHAIR ELTON called the meeting to order at 8:02:31 AM. Present at the call to order were Senators Huggins, Olson, Elton and Davis. SB 57-CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING  8:03:26 AM CHAIR ELTON announced the consideration of SB 57. He asked Brenda Taylor of the Juneau Community Charter School to introduce the three students in attendance. They are: Clem Taylor-Roth, Abigail Taylor-Roth and Madeline Handley from Juneau, AK. 8:04:04 AM SENATOR OLSON asked Senator Thomashow he arrived at the 1.18 percentage calculation. SENATOR THOMAS, sponsor of SB 57, answered that it was an arbitrary number arrived at through discussion and compromise. SENATOR OLSON asked if he is sure that will be an adequate amount. SENATOR THOMAS said no doubt the schools would like a larger number, but they tried to get 1.27 through last year and were unable to do so. SENATOR HUGGINS asked if Senator Olson would be working on a broader scope of issues including facilities, as it appears to him there are other major issues facing charter schools. 8:07:33 AM SENATOR OLSON responded that doubtless there are other issues, but he wanted to get this matter taken care of first. CHAIR ELTON commented that Senator Thomas has been stellar in his support of education for the past couple of years. SENATOR DAVIS moved to report SB 57, Version E, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, SB 57 moved from committee. 8:10:22 AM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Elton adjourned the meeting at 8:10:22 AM.