Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
01/29/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HCR14 | |
| HJR29 | |
| HB324 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 324 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 29-FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION 3:12:44 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29, Urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to fulfill the federal obligation to provide adequate funding for special education in public schools. 3:13:49 PM JESSE CROSS-CALL, Staff to Senator Johnny Ellis, Alaska State Legislature, presented HJR 29 on behalf of Senator Ellis, who is a member of the Joint Legislature Education Funding Task Force. He informed the committee that there is a gap in federal funding for intensive needs students. In 1975, Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that authorized the federal government to fund up to 40 percent of the average pupil expenditure for special education; however, the federal government is currently contributing 16 percent of the cost. The resolution requests that the federal government provide the maximum amount authorized by IDEA. Mr. Cross-Call concluded that this increase would free funds that local school districts could apply to all students. 3:15:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked whether the amount the federal government sends to Alaska is lower because it was a flat rate and costs have increased, or merely due to a lower allocation of funds. MR. CROSS-CALL explained that the amount should be based on the average amount spent on students with special needs. 3:16:05 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that the federal government has never funded this program at the 40 percent level. 3:16:17 PM CHAIR WILSON asked whether the 40 percent funding level is in federal statute. MR. CROSS-CALL replied yes. REPRESENTATIVE ROSES reminded the committee that the state does not always fund programs at the intended level, either. He said that he was supportive of this resolution, as were the other members of the JLEFTF. 3:17:19 PM CHAIR WILSON closed testimony. 3:17:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked whether the state criteria that defines special needs differs from that of the federal government. 3:17:55 PM EDDY JEANS, Director, School Finance and Facilities Section, Department of Education and Early Development (EED), stated that the resolution deals with IDEA, which is the federal statute that applies to all special education students, not only to intensive needs students. The definition of intensive needs is a state component within Alaska's funding formula. He pointed out that the resolution requests the federal government to pay what is authorized under IDEA. 3:18:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER re-stated her question about the state definition of special needs children. MR. JEANS responded that the EED has adopted the federal definitions in state regulations for the purposes of IDEA. He clarified that intensive needs is a state category. 3:19:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES asked for confirmation that the federal government has never funded at the 40 percent level. MR. JEANS said that was correct, to best of his knowledge. 3:19:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to report HJR 29 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
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