Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
02/18/2020 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB137 | |
| SB177 | |
| HB109 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 137 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 177 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 169 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 109-MILITARY CHILDREN SCHOOL RESIDENCY WAIVER
4:03:12 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 109(EDC) am, "An Act
relating to residency requirements for public school enrollment
for certain children of active duty military and National Guard
members."
4:03:40 PM
REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE LEDOUX Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 109, stated that this bill allows
military families to enroll their school-age children in school
districts throughout the state once their parents have been
issued orders to relocate to Alaska. This is particularly
important to students in high school where classes required for
graduation fill rapidly. It is also important when enrolling a
student in a charter school, which is done through lotteries
well before the start of school. HB 109 also gives parents 10
days after their children have started school to prove residency
in the district. She noted that the Department of Defense (DoD)
was trying to get similar legislation passed in all 50 states.
4:06:13 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO asked what the enrollment timeline is in the
Anchorage School District for charter schools and language
immersion schools and how all districts would handle the first
round of lotteries when some of the applicants were not in the
state. She expressed interest in having one of the larger school
districts or an education association comment on the bill at the
next hearing.
CHAIR REVAK asked Ms. Teshner to respond to the question.
4:07:22 PM
HEIDI TESHNER, Director, Division of Finance and Support
Services, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED),
Juneau, Alaska, stated that she would work with the charter
school coordinator and provide that information to the
committee.
SENATOR COSTELLO distinguished between a charter and a lottery.
She expressed interest in the logistics of moving students on
and off the waitlists as schools go through the process of
putting a class together.
REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX opined that it would not be any more
difficult to contact families that are out of state than if they
were down the block because the communication would be via
telephone or email.
CHAIR REVAK said his concerns with the bill were quelled when he
read that the military families would not enroll their students
until their orders to relocate were issued.
4:09:48 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted that the packets have a May 14, 2019
letter from the Anchorage School District stating support for
the bill but it does not mention charter schools or the lottery
system.
He asked how the average daily membership numbers are calculated
and if this would have an impact on that calculation.
MS. TESHNER advised that the four-week count period ends the
fourth week in October. Those numbers fluctuate throughout the
year as students move in and out and between school districts
but the gains and losses tend to average out. All students
counted during the October count period would be counted in the
average daily membership (ADM) that is funded through the
foundation formula.
4:11:45 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if the student has to be in their seat in
the district by the last day in the count period in October to
be counted.
MS. TESHNER responded it is a membership so the student only has
to be enrolled during the count period.
SENATOR KAWASAKI asked if a student would be counted if they
were enrolled but not in the state on the last day of the count
period in October.
MS. TESHNER replied a student is counted if their enrollment
paperwork is on file with the district.
4:12:50 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI said he and Senator Coghill have a large
military contingent that will arrive in Fairbanks at an odd time
next year so it is important to know how that will impact the
average daily membership (ADM).
SENATOR COGHILL said he believes this is a good policy call and
many of the education questions will be addressed in the
Education Committee. He added that it is clear that a student
will be considered a resident when they apply and the family can
submit the proof of residency 10 days after they [start school].
He said the Education Committee may discuss a true-up count
during the year because villages and the military can have a
very large impact on schools.
CHAIR REVAK said it is a good point that the bill has a further
referral.
4:15:21 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO said she appreciates the intent of the
legislation but she believes the residency question should be
clarified because it could raise issues with the permanent fund
dividend.
CHAIR REVAK said his office was informed that this would not
affect any other agencies. He opined that the operative language
is that "a school district shall consider a student to be a
resident."
4:16:58 PM
At ease
4:18:41 PM
CHAIR REVAK reconvened the meeting and asked Ms. Tuck to discuss
the residency aspect of the bill.
4:18:48 PM
DENEEN TUCK, Staff, Representative Gabrielle LeDoux, Alaska
State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, explained that the residency
requirements for the permanent fund dividend would not affect SB
177 because the permanent fund rules are specific about when one
has to be in the state to qualify for a PFD. For example, the
school would count a student as a resident if they were here in
October but they could not qualify for a dividend until they had
lived in the state from January through December of the
following year. The requirement is a full calendar year.
4:19:44 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO suggested that a letter from the Permanent Fund
Dividend Division that supports what was said in committee
should travel with the bill.
SENATOR KAWASAKI reviewed the residency requirements for a PFD
in Title 43 and said he was comfortable with the residency issue
in the bill.
SENATOR WILSON said he would like to move to an average base
count for schools instead of a date count.
4:22:03 PM
MS. TUCK told Senator Coghill that she would give him the
information the House Education Committee discussed about the
ADM before the bill is heard in the Senate Education Committee.
CHAIR REVAK advised that a response from the Permanent Fund
Dividend Division was being distributed. Their perspective is
that the bill does not present a residency issue for the PFD.
4:22:59 PM
SENATOR COGHILL suggested the committee accept the offer from
the sponsor to provide information about the ADM.
4:23:19 PM
CHAIR REVAK asked the sponsor to send the ADM information to his
office.
He stated that he would hold HB 109 for future consideration.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 137 Parole-Board Sunset Audit 20-20116-19.pdf |
HFIN 3/19/2020 9:00:00 AM SFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 137 |
| SB 137 Sponsor Statement 2.6.2020.pdf |
SFIN 3/11/2020 9:00:00 AM SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SB 177- Sectional Analysis 2.17.20.pdf |
SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 177 |
| SB 177-Sponsor Statement 2.6.20.pdf |
SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
SB 177 |
| HB 109 Statement of Change version M to K 2.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
HB 109 |
| HB 109 Statement of Change version A to M 2.6.2020.pdf |
SSTA 2/18/2020 3:30:00 PM |
HB 109 |