ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE  April 14, 2017 8:31 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Senator Gary Stevens, Chair Senator John Coghill Senator Tom Begich Senator Shelley Hughes MEMBERS ABSENT  Senator Cathy Giessel COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 86 "An Act relating to nonrenewal of occupational licenses for default on a student loan." - MOVED HB 86 OUT OF COMMITTEE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 135(EDC) AM "An Act relating to school district participation in the school construction grant program." - MOVED CSHB 135(EDC) AM OUT OF COMMITTEE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 64(EDC) "An Act relating to the establishment of the Task Force on Reading Proficiency and Reading Instruction for All Students and on the Effects of Dyslexia on Some Students." - HEARD & HELD HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8 AM Expressing the strong support of the Alaska State Legislature for the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center; and urging the University of Alaska to find a solution to keep the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center operating as a stable resource in the state. - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 86 SHORT TITLE: STUDENT LOAN DEFAULT/OCC. LICENSE RENEWAL SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CLAMAN 01/27/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/27/17 (H) EDC, L&C 03/01/17 (H) EDC RPT 7DP 03/01/17 (H) DP: TALERICO, PARISH, KOPP, SPOHNHOLZ, JOHNSTON, FANSLER, DRUMMOND 03/01/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/01/17 (H) Moved HB 86 Out of Committee 03/01/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/22/17 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/22/17 (H) Heard & Held 03/22/17 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/24/17 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124 03/24/17 (H) Moved HB 86 Out of Committee 03/24/17 (H) MINUTE(L&C) 03/27/17 (H) L&C RPT 6DP 1NR 03/27/17 (H) DP: SULLIVAN-LEONARD, STUTES, WOOL, JOSEPHSON, BIRCH, KITO 03/27/17 (H) NR: KNOPP 03/29/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/29/17 (H) VERSION: HB 86 03/31/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/31/17 (S) EDC, L&C 04/12/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 04/12/17 (S) Heard & Held 04/12/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC) 04/14/17 (S) EDC AT 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HB 135 SHORT TITLE: SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) WESTLAKE 02/20/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/20/17 (H) EDC 03/10/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/10/17 (H) Heard & Held 03/10/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/20/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/20/17 (H) Moved CSHB 135(EDC) Out of Committee 03/20/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/22/17 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 5DP 2NR 03/22/17 (H) DP: PARISH, SPOHNHOLZ, JOHNSTON, FANSLER, DRUMMOND 03/22/17 (H) NR: TALERICO, KOPP 04/05/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/05/17 (H) VERSION: CSHB 135(EDC) AM 04/06/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/06/17 (S) EDC, FIN 04/12/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 04/12/17 (S) Heard & Held 04/12/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC) 04/14/17 (S) EDC AT 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HB 64 SHORT TITLE: READING PROFICIENCY TASK FORCE; DYSLEXIA SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DRUMMOND 01/20/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 01/20/17 (H) EDC 01/30/17 (H) EDC AT 9:00 AM CAPITOL 106 01/30/17 (H) Heard & Held 01/30/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/10/17 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 7DP 03/10/17 (H) DP: TALERICO, PARISH, SPOHNHOLZ, KOPP, JOHNSTON, FANSLER, DRUMMOND 03/10/17 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/10/17 (H) Moved CSHB 64(EDC) Out of Committee 03/10/17 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 03/24/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 03/24/17 (H) VERSION: CSHB 64(EDC) 03/27/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/27/17 (S) EDC 04/03/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 04/03/17 (S) Heard & Held 04/03/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC) 04/12/17 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BUTROVICH 205 04/12/17 (S) Heard & Held 04/12/17 (S) MINUTE(EDC) 04/14/17 (S) EDC AT 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205 BILL: HCR 8 SHORT TITLE: KODIAK SEAFOOD & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER SPONSOR(s): FISHERIES 03/01/17 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 03/01/17 (H) FSH 03/14/17 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/14/17 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED -- 03/28/17 (H) FSH AT 10:00 AM GRUENBERG 120 03/28/17 (H) Moved HCR 8 Out of Committee 03/28/17 (H) MINUTE(FSH) 03/29/17 (H) FSH RPT 4DP 1NR 03/29/17 (H) DP: TARR, FANSLER, KREISS-TOMKINS, STUTES 03/29/17 (H) NR: NEUMAN 04/07/17 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) 04/07/17 (H) VERSION: HCR 8 AM 04/10/17 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 04/10/17 (S) EDC, L&C 04/14/17 (S) EDC AT 8:30 AM BUTROVICH 205 WITNESS REGISTER REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 86. OWEN PHILLIPS, Staff Representative Matt Claman Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed HB 86 on behalf of the sponsor. REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of HB 135. JESSE LOGAN, Staff Representative Dean Westlake Alaska State Legislature Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Reviewed HB 135 on behalf of the sponsor. MIKE NEVARRE, Mayor Kenai Peninsula Borough Kenai, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HB 135. MICHAEL JOHNSON, Commissioner Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) Juneau, Alaska POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on HB 64. ACTION NARRATIVE 8:31:58 AM CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:31 a.m. Present at the call to order were Senators Hughes, Coghill, Begich, and Chair Stevens. HB 86-STUDENT LOAN DEFAULT/OCC. LICENSE RENEWAL  8:33:08 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 86. He noted it was the second hearing on the bill and he intended to move the bill. 8:33:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE MATT CLAMAN, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor, stated that HB 86 takes the authority away from the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) to block the renewal of occupational licenses as a consequence of someone who is in default on their student loan. 8:33:40 AM OWEN PHILLIPS, Staff, Representative Matt Claman, Alaska State Legislature, reviewed HB 86 on behalf of the sponsor. The bill will revoke ACPE's authority to use nonrenewal of occupational license as an incentive to ensure payment of student loans in instances of default. Current statute states that ACPE has the authority to provide notice to a licensing authority of a non- renewal of a license. If ACPE posts such notice, a licensing entity may not reduce that license during the next renewal cycle. He noted that Ms. Butler from ACPE stated that this practice was not effective in collecting outstanding loans and that they have more success with wage garnishment and payment plans. Passing HB 86 will allow occupational licensees to continue to work to earn an income and pay back their loans. He urged the committee's support. 8:35:07 AM CHAIR STEVENS understood that ACPE does not object to HB 86. MR. PHILLIPS said they support the bill. CHAIR STEVENS opened and closed public testimony on HB 86, and solicited a motion. 8:35:44 AM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report HB 86, version A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR STEVENS announced that seeing objection, HB 86 moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee. 8:35:52 AM At ease HB 135-SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM  8:37:13 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 135. 8:37:29 AM REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 135, introduced Mr. Logan. 8:37:46 AM JESSE LOGAN, Staff, Representative Dean Westlake, Alaska State Legislature, reviewed HB 135. He explained that the bill extends the time that a school district can raise a percentage match on their construction grant loan fund. It does two specific things; it extends the current three-year time limit for identifying and securing a match to five years, and it allows the Commissioner of Education to grant an additional three-year extension if there is just cause. Sometimes, school districts, for reasons outside of their control, need more time to find funding for their share. The goal is to have a project completed. 8:39:06 AM REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE said this situation happens more frequently than they had realized, especially in rural Alaska. 8:39:32 AM CHAIR STEVENS opened public testimony on HB 135. 8:39:55 AM MIKE NEVARRE, Mayor, Kenai Peninsula Borough, testified in support of HB 135. He provided example of a school near Homer that really needs the bill. They have been trying to find ways to meet the unique needs of their school in a cost-effective way. They are working on finding funding for a 35 percent match and need more time. CHAIR STEVENS appreciated his comments. 8:42:41 AM SENATOR BEGICH said the extension of time provides more flexibility to find a cost-effective solution. MR. NEVARRE said correct. 8:43:12 AM CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony on HB 135 and asked the will of the committee. 8:43:23 AM SENATOR COGHILL moved to report the CS for HB 135(EDC)am from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR STEVENS announced that without objection, CSHB 135(EDC)am moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee. 8:43:30 AM At ease HB 64-READING PROFICIENCY TASK FORCE; DYSLEXIA    8:44:40 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 64, version J. He said this is the third hearing on the bill. He talked with the sponsor about the Alaska Education Challenge (AEC) and how it applies to the bill. He asked Commissioner Johnson to address this issue. 8:45:29 AM MICHAEL JOHNSON, Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), testified on HB 64. He discussed the AEC and areas where it would be appropriate to include the topics of HB 64. He pointed out that DEED is also developing the state plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which will include reading strategies. CHAIR STEVENS commented that should elements of HB 64 not be covered in the AEC, the committee would consider HB 64 next session. He encouraged the people interested in the bill to go ahead with developing a task force that would complement the AEC. 8:47:48 AM CHAIR STEVENS held HB 64 in committee. HCR 8-KODIAK SEAFOOD & MARINE SCIENCE CENTER  8:47:56 AM CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HCR 8. He noted the committee's intent to seek a waiver to move HCR 8 on to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. CHAIR STEVENS held HCR 8 in committee. 8:48:02 AM There being no further business to come before the committee, Chair Stevens adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee at 8:48 a.m.