Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/22/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB10 | |
| SB80 | |
| SB6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 10-FREE/REDUCED TUITION FOR ESSENTIAL WORKER
9:05:30 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 10 "An Act establishing a grant
program to provide to essential workers the tuition and fees to
attend a state-supported postsecondary educational institution."
He solicited for a motion to adopt the committee substitute
(CS).
9:05:42 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt the work draft CS for SB 10, work
order 32-LS0127\G, as the working document.
9:05:58 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion.
9:06:08 AM
ED KING, Staff, Senator Roger Holland, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, explained the changes in the committee
substitute for SB 10:
Change #1:
On page 1, line 8 of version A, the word
"undergraduate" is deleted to account for trade
school students. Graduate school is still
disallowed by subsection (a) paragraph (8).
MR. KING said change #2 is a substantial change that expands the
eligible pool to include anyone who was laid off due to the
pandemic.
Change #2:
Subsection (a) paragraph (2) is adjusted to allow
any worker that was laid off to be eligible for a
grant.
Version A:
(2) was employed as an essential worker in the state
when the federal government declared a public health
emergency on January 31, 2020, and
(A) maintains employment as an essential worker
for the duration of the public health emergency; or
(B) was temporarily or permanently laid off;
Version G:
(2) was,
(A) employed as an essential worker in the state
when the federal government declared a public health
emergency on January 31, 2020; or
(B) temporarily or permanently laid off in the
state as a direct consequence of the public health
emergency declared by the federal government on
January 31, 2020;
MR. KING deferred to the sponsor to speak to change #3.
SENATOR BEGICH asked his staff to explain change #3.
9:07:49 AM
At ease
9:08:09 AM
LOKI TOBIN, Staff, Senator Tom Begich, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, said that this change disqualifies someone from
receiving additional funding once the person has completed a
program.
Change #3:
Inserts a paragraph (4) under subsection (b),
which disqualifies a student from additional
funding once they complete the curriculum,
degree, or program for which they received a
grant for the previous term.
SENATOR BEGICH added that someone cannot use four years to get
two different degrees. It is only the opportunity for one
degree.
MR. KING said #4 changes the definition of essential workers.
Instead of being an enumerated list, the definition will be
developed as described below.
Change #4:
A new subsection is added under section 1
(subsection (e) of version G), which directs the
commission on Postsecondary Education to consult
with HSS and use the Alaska Essential Services
and Critical Workforce Infrastructure Order to
define an "essential worker." The definition of
"essential worker" in version A (on page 3, lines
6-17) was deleted.
Change #5:
The words "or private" are deleted from the
definitions of "half-time" and "full-time"
student (page 3, lines 22 and 26 of version A),
as only state-supported institutions are
authorized by this bill (page 1, line 8).
Change #6:
Changes to a hard repeal date of December 31,
2025 (previously set to expire at the end of the
federal declaration).
9:10:08 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. He asked if there was
further objection.
SENATOR HUGHES asked why this program does not allow the funds
to be used at a private institution when it is allowed in the
student loan program.
SENATOR BEGICH replied the primary reason is that the student
loan program is a loan program that is designed to be paid back
and this is a grant program. It would violate the constitution
to provide the money with no element to pay it back. His office
initially intended to have this apply to all institutions but
Legislative Legal said that would not be possible because of the
constitutional prohibition on using public money for a private
institution.
SENATOR HUGHES said that does make sense, but she still has a
problem with those essential workers who worked the entire time
during the declaration period vs. the restaurant worker who did
not get laid off. The essential workers are eligible for the
grant whereas the restaurant workers who might be able to pull
themselves up to a better state if given this opportunity are
not eligible. She said that is a problem but she would be part
of the quorum to move the bill from committee.
CHAIR HOLLAND asked if there was further objection to adopting
version G. Finding no further objection, version G was adopted.
SENATOR BEGICH advised that his office made an error in the
report date on page 4, line 11, and requested the committee
change it to December 31, 2026. As it reads now, the report will
be produced the day after the grant program ends, which would
not provide time to calculate things like whether people
completed their degrees.
9:14:43 AM
At ease
9:14:51 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion.
9:15:27 AM
SENATOR BEGICH moved conceptual Amendment [1].
Page 4, line 11:
Delete "January 1, 2025."
Insert: "December 31, 2026."
9:15:48 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection and conceptual Amendment [1]
was adopted.
SENATOR BEGICH thanked the chair for hearing the bill.
SENATOR HUGHES asked if the bill title should be adjusted in the
next committee of referral since the committee substitute allows
a nonessential worker who was temporarily unemployed or
permanently laid off to participate. She added that she believes
all workers are critical and essential. She would be more apt to
vote for the bill if subparagraph (A) on page 1 were removed.
She said her individual recommendation on the committee report
will be to amend the bill as she described.
CHAIR HOLLAND asked Sana Efird if she had any comment as invited
testimony.
9:18:00 AM
SANA EFIRD, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education, Juneau, Alaska, said she was asked to
be available to answer questions on the fiscal notes.
9:18:42 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND found no questions, comments, or amendments and he
solicited a motion.
9:18:56 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to report the work draft committee
substitute (CS) for SB 10, work order 32-LS0127\G as amended,
from the committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection, CSSB (10)EDC as amended was
reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CSSB6 ver. B.pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 6 |
| SB 80 version B.pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB 10 Committee Substitute (SEDC).pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 10 |
| SB 80 Explanation of Changes in version B.pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB 6 Explanation of Changes in version B.pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 6 |
| SB 10 Explanation of Changes in version G.pdf |
SEDC 3/22/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 10 |