Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/20/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB69 | |
| HB9 | |
| HB10 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 69 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES
8:02:40 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the first 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."
8:02:55 AM
MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor,
explained HB 69 would allow a first class city to reclassify to
a second class city if the community chooses so. The purpose
would be to allow the transfer of Tanana into the Yukon-Koyukuk
School District.
8:03:33 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE opened public testimony on HB 69. After
ascertaining there was no one who wished to testify, he closed
public testimony.
8:04:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed appreciation for hearing from the
superintendent "in that area," and knowing there have been
thorough discussions on working around the parameters. She
stated the bill is "the right thing to do."
8:04:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX pointed out that he did not see the fiscal
note from the Department of Education.
8:05:03 AM
DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Cronk, prime sponsor of
HB 69, responded to Representative Prax, and explained the sheet
from the Yukon-Koyukuk School District notes the savings that
would be achieved by combining the school districts; there would
be a negative fiscal impact.
8:07:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT commented she is troubled by the lack
of input and would prefer to hear from more than just the
superintendent, and since this is about "absorbing one district
into another," she would like to hear from the local community.
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK responded that two years ago, the community
of Tanana reached out. He explained the majority of the people
of Tanana feel that [combining the school districts] is the best
path forward. He further explained the school boards have been
working together on a contract, and the Yukon-Koyukuk School
District had already been functioning as a lead the past few
years.
8:09:21 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD asked for clarification that this legislation is
an option, and at the end of the day, the city gets to make the
decision.
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK confirmed that is correct, the people of
Tanana decide whether they want to be reclassified. If that
happened, then they would have the option through the Local
Boundary Commission.
MR. STANCLIFF noted there is a letter from the mayor and a
resolution from the council in the committee packet.
8:10:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked if reclassification may lead to
future communities having the same pathway - and if so - which
communities might be next.
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK replied that the bill is specifically for
Tanana.
MR. STANCLIFF expanded on the answer and explained four other
communities had been identified that are under the 400 limit,
and if they got into "some sort of a bind," the option would be
available for those communities. He noted they would also have
to work with the Local Boundary Commission, as Tanana would do.
8:11:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX brought up the city of Nenana going through
bankruptcy, which required other agencies to "pick up the tab."
He reiterated we [the legislature] need to think about this very
carefully.
8:12:20 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD moved to report HB 69 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note.
8:12:56 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:12 a.m. to 8:13 a.m.
8:13:59 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced there being no objection, HB 69 was
reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.