Legislature(2003 - 2004)
05/07/2003 02:08 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 174
An Act relating to the state centralized correspondence
study program, to funding for educational programs that
occur primarily outside school facilities, and to the
duties of school boards of borough and city school
districts and regional educational attendance areas;
and providing for an effective date.
Co-Chair Williams MOVED to ADOPT CS HB 174 (STA). There
being NO OBJECTION it was ADOPTED.
Co-Chair Williams MOVED Amendment #1 (23-GH1126\H.1 Ford):
Page 2, following line 2:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"*Sec. 3 AS 14.08.111(1) is amended to read:
(1) provide during the school term of teach
year, an educational program for each
school age child who is enrolled in or a
resident of the district;"
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly:
Page 3, line 9:
Delete "5 and 6"
Insert "6 and 7"
Page 3, line 10
Delete "sec. 8"
Insert "sec. 9"
EDDY JEANS, MANAGER, SCHOOL FINANCE AND FACILITIES SECTION,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT discussed
changes proposed by Amendment #1. He stated that the
amendment pertains to existing statute, and that the
language mirrors section 3 of the proposed bill. He noted
that there were two provisions in statute which addressed
school boards, in AS 14.14.090 and 14.08.111 pertaining to
Regional Education Attendance Areas (REAA). He pointed out
that the amendment ensured that all districts offering
statewide correspondence programs must accept all students
in an open enrollment process. He noted that some districts
put caps on the number of students allowed, and the
amendment would remove the caps and require programs to have
open enrollment.
Representative Whitaker asked to which section of the bill
the amendment pertained. Mr. Jeans clarified that the
changes were made to the reference of statute: section 3
refers to 14.14.090, which applies to duties of any school
board, and that the amendment pertained to AS 14.08.111,
which was specific to the duties of REAA school boards.
Vice-Chair Meyer expressed his support of the amendment and
asked if the Administration supported the Committee
Substitute. Mr. Jeans pointed out that although the
Administration would prefer the original bill, they
understood the Committee's choice to adopt the State Affairs
Substitute. In response to a question by Vice-Chair Meyer,
he noted that the Department had on contract personnel to
implement a closure plan for the school and desired to move
forward with the process.
Vice-Chair Meyer asked if the state lost money by continuing
the program for the year. He pointed out that the major
cost savings came from closing the summer school program.
Mr. Jeans confirmed that this was the primary costs savings,
but raised the concern that they did not know how many
students would now enroll for the school year given the
prospect that the school would eventually close.
Vice-Chair Meyer pointed out that by delaying for a year it
gave the opportunity for other schools to pick up programs
not currently offered.
There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment #1 was ADOPTED.
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSHB 174 (FIN) out of
Committee with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 174 (FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and two previously published fiscal
impact notes: #2 from Department of Education and Early
Development (K12) and #3 from Department of Education and
Early Development (Alyeska).
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