2006-01-13                     House Journal                      Page 2272
HB 367                                                                                            
HOUSE BILL NO. 367 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                       
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act making appropriations for state aid to public schools,                                 
     centralized correspondence study, and transportation of pupils;                                
     and providing for an effective date."                                                          
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                      
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 11, 2006, follows:                                  
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Harris:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                          
transmitting a bill making special appropriations for the support of K-                             
12 public education in the state for fiscal year 2007.                                              
                                                                                                    
This bill contains an increase of $90.2 million that is contingent upon                             
passage of this legislation, which will increase the base student                                   
allocation by $433 from $4,919 to $5,352.                                                           
                                                                                                    

2006-01-13                     House Journal                      Page 2273
Upon approval, this will mean a 33 percent increase in education                                    
funding during the four years of this administration.                                               
                                                                                                    
But even more important is that we are seeing results from this                                     
increased investment.  The number of schools meeting the Adequate                                   
Yearly Progress requirement of the No Child Left Behind law has                                     
increased to 59 percent from 42 percent in 2003.  We have seen the                                  
achievement gap narrow between Native and non-Native students.                                      
                                                                                                    
I urge early and favorable action on this measure.                                                  
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely yours,                                                    
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Frank H. Murkowski                                                  
                                Governor"