Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/29/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB71 | |
| HB105 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 71-SCHOOL DISTRICT ONLINE CHECKBOOK
8:02:26 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 71, "An Act relating to education; and
relating to a school district online checkbook."
8:03:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, read
the sponsor statement for HB 71 [included in committee packet],
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
The School Districts around Alaska spend millions of
dollars each year without a clear understanding of
where the money goes. We believe it goes to everything
from office supplies, to teacher salaries,
administrative workers and hopefully the kids in the
classroom. A tool like an online checkbook will help
the Governor and Legislature understand where the
deficit is, and where funding is needed. Public
accountability helps ensure that funds are spent
wisely, and the public is entitled to understand where
the funding goes also.
The intent of the online checkbook is to create a
free, searchable website that provides Alaskans with
easy access to detailed and comprehensive information
on School District spending. This will encourage
better understanding of district needs and,
ultimately, help ensure that funding is directed to
where it should be.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER noted the sectional analysis had already
been presented at a prior hearing.
8:05:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked Representative Rauscher whether he had
checked with the school districts to find out if they have
expectations of how much they will have to spend to accomplish
this proposal, and whether the districts think it would be an
improvement.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER confirmed that he had. He also noted
that the public would like to understand where the money is
specifically spent so they can ask the right questions.
8:09:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked Representative Rauscher whether
he had checked with single sight districts that dont maintain a
website or considered the financial burden of this proposal.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER replied he had not. He noted that he
could not distinguish specific districts within the 54 where it
might be a financial burden.
8:10:22 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE noted that larger school districts budgets
were available to the public on an online platform. He
questioned who may be seeking detailed "line by line" checkbook
data.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER explained that for some interested
people, it is very hard to get the information, and sometimes
schools can be evasive in providing the exact information being
sought. He said the public may receive a more generalized
number.
8:14:27 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE asked Representative Rauscher whether he had
personal experiences with people that struggled to obtain
particular information. He stated that he wanted to be certain
that people could use the checkbook to find information they are
"missing out on."
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER offered to forward an email, blacking
out the person's name, so Representative Ruffridge could see
"what their problem was."
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE indicated that he was interested.
8:16:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY addressed cybersecurity, and the
possibility of names on the checkbook being a security threat to
vendors. She also noted the "tremendous expense" for some
districts that do not even have an online presence.
8:17:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY opined that people should be able to see,
in detail, where money is going without having to go through a
lot of hassle to get the information. He expressed his support
for HB 71.
8:19:13 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD stated that she supported transparency and gave
a personal example of being a parent having a hard time
obtaining information. She shared her belief that any member of
the public should see how public dollars are being spent. She
confirmed her support for HB 71.
8:20:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER explained that he sponsored an online
checkbook bill two years ago, and during that time, no one was
worried about any kind of security issues regarding the checks
that were written. He stated that it should not be thought of
as a security breach.
8:22:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved to adopt Amendment 1 to HB 71,
labeled 33-LS0435/A.2\Marx 3/23/23, which read:
Page 1, line 1:
Delete "and"
Page 1, line 1, following "checkbook":
Insert "; and relating to the review of a school
district budget by a legislator"
Page 1, following line 10:
Insert new bill sections to read:
"* Sec. 2. AS 14.17 is amended by adding a new
section to read:
Sec. 14.17.925. Legislator review of school
district budget. (a) The superintendent of a school
district shall meet with a legislator who represents
the house or senate district in which the school
district is located to review the budget of the school
district if requested by the legislator. The meeting
must be held at a place located in the school
district, unless the superintendent and the legislator
agree otherwise.
(b) In this section, "school district" has the
meaning given to "district" in AS 14.17.990.
* Sec. 3. AS 24.05 is amended by adding a new
section to read:
Article 6. Review of School District Budget.
Sec. 24.05.220. Duty to review school district
budget. (a) At least once a year, each legislator
shall meet with the superintendent of a school
district located within the legislator's house
district or senate district to review the school
district budget. The meeting must be held at a place
located in the school district, unless the
superintendent and the legislator agree otherwise.
(b) In this section, "school district" has the
meaning given to "district" in AS 14.17.990."
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT spoke to Amendment 1. She explained
that since school districts are funded publicly, the information
about how the money is spent is publicly available. She said
the proposed amendment would put an obligation on legislators to
spend one day in their home school district to explore the
budget with the districts superintendent.
8:23:58 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD asked whether the bill sponsor considered
Amendment 1 to be a friendly amendment.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER opined that Amendment 1 would be a heavy
burden on some legislators, which, compounded with senators
districts, would become even bigger. He stated that he did not
find Amendment 1 to be a "friendly amendment."
8:26:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT drew attention to page 1, line 21 of
Amendment 1, which stated "a" school district. She explained
she has 22 communities in 12 school districts and did not want
to put a burden on anyone; however, she stressed that it would
be "a" school district, meaning one district. Further, she
pointed out that every legislator is in a community that has a
district office.
8:26:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for clarification about line 14 of
Amendment 1, which stated, "unless the superintendent and the
legislator agree otherwise". She asked whether that meant that
they could agree to have a phone conversation.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT confirmed that is correct, it does not
have to be in person.
8:27:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY opined that he would rule the proposed
amendment as out of order, as it has nothing to do with the
bill.
8:27:57 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:27 a.m. to 8:44 a.m.
8:44:13 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD asked Representative Prax whether he maintained
his objection.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX maintained his objection. He shared his
belief that it is a good idea for legislators to pay attention
to their districts; however, he disagreed with the requirement
that a superintendent must meet with a legislator. He explained
that it is not [the legislature's] primary responsibility to
look at each school district, and said it was not a good idea to
put it in statute.
8:46:43 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY questioned the penalty for not meeting with
the superintendent.
8:46:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT replied it would be the same penalty as
the legislature not finishing session in 90 days.
8:47:09 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD observed that the proposed amendment requires a
legislator to review the budget, which has nothing to do with
the online checkbook; therefore, she stated she would not
support Amendment 1.
8:47:54 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:47 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
8:50:35 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Himschoot, and
Story voted in favor of Amendment 1. Representatives Prax,
McKay, Allard, and Ruffridge voted against it. Therefore,
Amendment 1 failed by a vote of 2-4.
8:51:21 AM
The committee took a brief at-ease at 8:51 a.m.
8:51:53 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on HB 71.
8:52:36 AM
SARAH MONTALBANO, Education Policy Analyst, Alaska Policy Forum,
testified in support of HB 71, and gave a brief description of
the forum. She stated that transparency helps residents
understand their government and hold it accountable, and
explained that it is often difficult and expensive for the
public to obtain financial information about their government.
Transparency requirements do not have to be burdensome to
districts, she said, but the statute should list minimum data
requirements that must be provided. Other states and school
districts nationwide have recognized the value of providing
checkbooks online, she said. She opined that Alaska would do
well to follow suit.
8:54:48, AM
HERMAN MORGAN, representing self, testified during the hearing
on HB 71. He opined that rural districts were being failed and
urged the legislature to fix the education system.
8:58:13 AM
CASSEE OLIN, Administrative Services Director, Juneau School
District, testified during the hearing on HB 71. She expressed
concern that the const for school districts would be hard to
estimate; additionally, she expressed concern that smaller
school districts with only one business manager would be
affected. Lastly, she expressed concern about cybersecurity.
She stated that she lacked clarity as to how the checkbook would
be set up. She offered to remain available for any questions.
9:00:59 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD closed public testimony on HB 71.
9:01:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked Representative Rauscher what level of
detail is in the checkbook and requested an example of one that
had been done for school districts.
REPRESENTATIVE RAUSCHER gave examples of the type of entries
that might be shown in the checkbook.
9:02:08 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that HB 71 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment #1.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
Amendment #1 - HB71 |
| HB0071A.PDF |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 71 |
| HB 71 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 71 |
| HB 71 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 71 |
| HB 71 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 71 |
| HB105- House Education Hearing Request 3-8-2023.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105-Fiscal Note.PDF |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB0105A.PDF |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HEDC 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |