Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/08/2025 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR5 | |
| SB129 | |
| SB111 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 5 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 129 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 5-SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS PROGRAM
1:31:42 PM
CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 5 Urging the United States Congress and the
President of the United States to reinstate the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 and make
the funding mechanism in the Act permanent.
1:32:03 PM
TREVOR SHAW, Staff, Representative Jeremy Bynum, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of HJR 5,
which urges Congress and the President of the United States to
reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000. This program was in place from 2000 -
2023 and provided $12.6 million to Alaskan communities in FY
2023. The program went through 8 reauthorizations prior to its
expiration. He explained that the program requires congressional
reauthorization and presidential approval.
1:33:10 PM
CHAIR MERRICK opened public testimony on HJR 5.
1:33:31 PM
ANJI GALLANOS, Superintendent, Kake City School District, Kake,
Alaska, testified in support of HJR 5. She explained that Kake
receives approximately $200,000 annually through the SRS
program. This funding provides a critical portion of the State's
required local contribution for education; the loss of SRS
funding would significantly impact students and staff. She
emphasized that SRS funding is essential in Kake (and in other
small communities in Southeast Alaska). She explained that Kake
is surrounded by federal land and has little to no local tax
base. SRS funding offsets this imbalance and allows the school
district to meet its obligations to students without sacrificing
services. In addition, it enables the school district to provide
educational stability and consistent staffing, programs and
services for students. She stated that, in small rural
communities, minor funding shifts can have major consequences.
The SRS funding allows for greater budget predictability, which
creates the stability needed for responsible planning. She
reiterated that losing SRS funding would create substantial
difficulties that would impact students and staff.
1:35:27 PM
CHAIR MERRICK closed public testimony on HJR 5.
1:35:36 PM
CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee.
1:35:40 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report [HJR 5], work order 34-LS0420\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note(s) and authorize Legislative Legal Services to make
conforming changes.
1:35:59 PM
CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and HJR 5 was reported from the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.