Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/05/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB82 | |
| HB87 | |
| SB6 | |
| SB91 | |
| HB180 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | HB 87 | ||
SB 6-FUNDING FOR SCHOOL MEALS
8:23:59 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 6, version A.
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, sponsor of SB 6, noted that the
fiscal note for SB 6 was inaccurate. There is a sunset date of
2015, therefore the fiscal cost after that date is zero.
SENATOR GARDNER inquired if there are students on the military
base that qualify for free and reduced lunches.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI replied that are.
8:25:43 AM
MIKE COONS, representing himself, testified in opposition to SB
6. He said the program receives no federal funding. He protested
against entitlement programs.
8:29:44 AM
DEAN HAMBURG, Chair, Alaska School Nutrition Association,
testified in support of SB 6. He described the legislation as
having meaningful support for Alaska's school children. He
shared statistics about the number of families that qualify for
free or reduced meals. He listed the educational benefits of
nutritious meals provided by SB 6.
8:33:13 AM
LEDONNE DRUCE, Vice President, NEA Alaska, testified in support
of SB 6. She related that a similar bill was before the
legislature last year. She shared a story about parents who
cannot or do not provide appropriate nutrition for their
children. She said that data from Florida shows that the higher
the poverty rate, the lower the test scores in school districts.
8:36:05 AM
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY asked Senator Wielechowski to address the
fiscal note.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI answered that the current fiscal note is
$2.3 million. He noted the bill has a sunset date of 2015, so
there would be no cost after that date.
CHAIR STEVENS clarified that the fiscal note currently shows a
sunset date of 2019. The fiscal note is for $2.334 million.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI addressed the issue of federal support for
the free and reduced price school breakfast and lunch program.
He corrected that is was passed by Congress in 1946 and was
introduced by President Truman. The purpose was stated as being
for national security because kids were not receiving proper
nourishment. He said that the state contributes nothing to the
program currently and the federal government contributes $35
million. Local contributions total $15 million. The state
contributes nothing.
He agreed that parents should feed their kids. Unfortunately,
many children are not fed adequately. He noted there are many
Title I schools in his district. He recalled many stories about
children who only received good nutrition in school.
He stated that studies clearly show that kids who are hungry do
worse in school, are less likely to attend school, graduate, and
get a job, and are more likely to commit crime.
8:40:13 AM
At ease
8:41:43 AM
CHAIR STEVENS called the meeting back to order.
SENATOR HUGGINS moved to strike the dates 2016-2019 from the
fiscal note. There being no objection, it was so ordered.
SENATOR GARDNER commented that the program could be simply
extended within the language of the bill.
CHAIR STEVENS agreed. He said it was his intention to move the
bill from committee and on to the Senate Finance Committee.
8:43:09 AM
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report SB 6, version A, from committee
with individual recommendations and the attached [amended]
fiscal note.
CHAIR STEVENS announced that without objection, SB 6 was
reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.