Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
01/31/2011 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB3 | |
| SB1 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 3-FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
8:03:24 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 3. He reminded
committee members that [CSSB 3( ), version B was before the
committee.]
8:04:59 AM
CHRISTY HARVEY, Staff to Senator Bill Wielechowski, sponsor of
SB 3, said this is an important bill and a great investment both
for the short and long term effects for Alaska and Alaska
students.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked what the federal match currently is.
MS. HARVEY answered that currently there is a federal match of
about $32 million and the school outlay is about $58 million.
The remainder of that is partially made up by students who pay
for their meals. There is only about a $2.1 million shortfall
that the schools take out of their operating budgets, she
explained.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if there are any concerns about the federal
match going away.
MS. HARVEY answered no; not in the recent past. She explained
that this program usually seems to always have a fairly solid
federal base.
At ease from 8:07 a.m. to 8:09 a.m.
8:09:35 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked Ms. Harvey if she could explain the
difference between the original bill and version B.
MS. HARVEY answered that the original bill states that the
department would provide a base amount of 15 cents for lunch or
35 cents for breakfast. This language, she explained, implied
that a school did not have to do both. However, there was
concerned that this could be challenged or confused by some of
the different school departments. For this reason the language
was changed from "or" to "and" in the CS [page 1, line 8]. This
makes it clearer that schools can apply for both a lunch and
breakfast program.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked for confirmation that this is version B.
MS. HARVEY replied yes.
At ease from 8:11 a.m. to 8:14 a.m.
8:14:22 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER clarified with Ms. Harvey that the committee is
working with CSSB 3( ), version B.
MS. HARVEY replied yes. She reiterated that it was important for
schools to know that both funds could be received. For this
reason the current committee substitute reads: "15 cents for
lunch and 35 cents for breakfast" [page 1, line 8]. Whereas
version M reads: "15 cents for lunch or 35 cents for breakfast".
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if that was the way the fiscal note was
prepared.
MS. HARVEY answered yes.
8:15:46 AM
SENATOR STEVENS said that he understands some parents may not
have the financial stability to feed their children before
school and that the state must step in to take on that
responsibility. The problem, however, with regard to the success
of K-12 education in Alaska, is that many students arrive at
college unready to compete. He asked when breakfast is being
served and if it is affecting the educational day.
MS. HARVEY answered that it is her understanding that breakfast
is served before the school day begins. She added that she
believes this program is an enhancement to the education process
and not a distraction.
SENATOR STEVENS asked who supports this bill.
MS. HARVEY answered that all of the school boards, nurses, and
teachers that she has spoken to are in support of SB 3.
SENATOR STEVENS asked what Department of Education and Early
Development's (DEED) stance is.
MS. HARVEY replied that the department has taken a neutral
stance on the bill.
SENATOR STEVENS said he thinks DEED needs to comment. He said he
wants to know why the department is not taking a position on
this bill.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS agreed. He said that if this is such an
important issue, as people have been indicating, it seems the
department would take that position. DEED should at least give
an explanation as to why it has taken a neutral stance.
CO-CHAIR MEYER said that the state currently has a good federal
match if the state contributes the amount laid out in SB 3. His
explained that his concern is if that federal match is taken
away then the duty falls on the state.
8:20:25 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked why DEED is unwilling to take a stance on
the bill.
ELIZABETH NUDELMAN, Director, Division of School Finance,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), answered
that DEED does not have a position on the bill and are here for
technical assistance.
SENATOR STEVENS said this causes him concern and seems to imply
that if DEED is not supporting the bill then it is opposed to
it.
MS. NUDELMAN replied that she does not want the committee to
pick between the two stances for the department's position. She
reiterated that DEED can provide technical assistance and answer
any questions but the department does not have a position on the
bill.
SENATOR STEVENS said that he understands that DEED currently
does not have a commissioner; however, in order to deal with
many of these issues one is needed. He continued that it seems
unacceptable that DEED is unwilling to testify for or against a
bill that affects education so much.
MS. NUDELMAN replied that the department's commissioner will be
on staff this week and she hopes he will be able to speak with
the committee soon. She repeated that she can only give
technical assistance on the bill.
SENATOR STEVENS suggested that, if this is the case, the
committee should hold any issues on education until there is a
commissioner who is ready to speak on the issues that need to be
addressed.
SENATOR DAVIS asked what kind of technical assistance Ms.
Nudelman could provide to the committee.
MS. NUDELMAN answered that DEED prepared the fiscal note for SB
3 and she would be happy to go through it if the committee is
interested.
SENATOR DAVIS replied that this was not necessary. She suggested
that the acting commissioner testify before the committee.
CO-CHAIR MEYER agreed. He suggested that the acting commissioner
speak to the policy side of the bill.
8:25:48 AM
LES MORSE, Acting Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), said he can only add that this bill is
not in the governor's budget and is a policy decision left in
the hands of the legislature. He stressed that the argument is
not about whether food and nutrition is important or not, the
department is only staying neutral to how the means of that food
is provided.
8:27:39 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to report CSSB 3( ), version B from the
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 3(EDC) moved from the
Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| AARP Letter.pdf |
SEDC 1/31/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Druce Letter of Support.pdf |
SEDC 1/31/2011 8:00:00 AM |