2019-05-16                     House Journal                      Page 1089
HB 1001                                                                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 1001 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                                                  
the Governor, entitled:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act making appropriations for public education and                                                                     
     transportation of students; repealing appropriations; and providing                                                        
     for an effective date."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
The Governor's transmittal letter dated May 16 follows:                                                                         

2019-05-16                     House Journal                      Page 1090
"Dear Speaker Edgmon:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill to appropriate money to fund                                                             
education for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020).                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Attorney General Kevin G. Clarkson issued a formal Attorney General                                                             
Opinion on May 8, 2019 concluding that the appropriation in last                                                                
year's HB 287 that attempted to appropriate future revenues for                                                                 
education in FY 2020 is unconstitutional. Despite this opinion, neither                                                         
the operating nor the capital budgets have included any funding for FY                                                          
2020 education by the legislature.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Education is one of the most important obligations of the State, and it                                                         
is vital that we have constitutionally valid funding to send out to                                                             
school districts come July 1. As it stands right now, that does not exist,                                                      
and we cannot rely on an unconstitutional appropriation. This bill                                                              
provides the appropriation necessary to ensure the State can legally                                                            
distribute funds for education.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Michael J. Dunleavy                                                                                                             
Governor"