04/04/2023 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

         HB  69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:06:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK  announced the final  order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 69, "An  Act relating to the  reclassification of                                                               
first class cities  as second class cities; and  providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:07:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MIKE CRONK,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented  HB 69.  He  explained it had been  brought to                                                               
his attention  that the first  class city of Tanana,  Alaska, was                                                               
unable  to  transfer its  school  into  the Yukon-Koyukuk  School                                                               
District  (YKSD).   From research,  it became  clear that  Tanana                                                               
would have to be reclassified to legally transfer the school.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:08:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of  Representative Cronk,  prime sponsor,                                                               
added that  HB 69 is a  "fairly simple piece of  legislation" and                                                               
is intended to  assist in the transfer of the  Tanana City School                                                               
District, which would mean savings to  the state.  He stated that                                                               
the real motivation  is what is best for the  students in Tanana.                                                               
He  explained  that  the  Local Boundary  Commission  has  set  a                                                               
population  threshold of  400 [for  a city  to be  incorporated];                                                               
however, Tanana's population has dropped  to 243 people, which is                                                               
well below  the threshold.   If a  first class  city's population                                                               
falls  below the  400-resident threshold,  he said,  the proposed                                                               
bill would provide the option for it to be reclassified.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:11:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE  questioned whether there are  other cities                                                               
in this situation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:11:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF  responded that  there are  four other  first class                                                               
cities in the  state which could make the  request; however, none                                                               
have stepped  forward to do so.   He noted that  there is support                                                               
to  make  this transition  happen  from  the Tanana  City  School                                                               
District, the mayor of Tanana, and YKSD.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:13:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT  observed  the 10-day  turnaround  time                                                               
could possibly  be problematic, and  she asked if there  would be                                                               
an amendment to the 10 days,  or some other solution to the tight                                                               
timeline.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF  replied that if  a committee substitute for  HB 69                                                               
were drawn up,  it could include this.  He  also noted that after                                                               
hearing about  the bill, the  Local Boundary Commission  was able                                                               
to convene a meeting well within the 10-day limit.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT commented  that the  mayor of  Pelican,                                                               
Alaska, has  related that  the community is  not looking  at this                                                               
[transition] right  now, but  it would  welcome having  an easier                                                               
pathway than what is currently available.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:15:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that HB 69 was held over.