Legislature(2021 - 2022)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/29/2021 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB32 | |
| SB36 | |
| SB20 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 32 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 36 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 20 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SENATE BILL NO. 32
"An Act establishing the Alaska middle college program
for public school students; and relating to the powers
of the University of Alaska."
9:23:10 AM
Co-Chair Bishop relayed that it was the second hearing for
SB 32, and the committee had taken public testimony on
March 22, 2021. He stated the intent to adopt a Committee
Substitute (CS), consider an amendment, review fiscal
notes, and look to the will of the committee.
Senator Wielechowski MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee
substitute for SB 32, Work Draft 32-LS0307\B (Klein,
3/23/21).
Co-Chair Bishop OBJECTED for discussion.
9:23:58 AM
ERIN SHINE, STAFF, SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, discussed the
proposed CS. She read from an Explanation of Changes
Document:
Page 1, Line 2 Updates title for effective date
Page 2, Lines 20-23 Deletes previous proposed
14.30.780(b) language and inserts language that the
Alaska Middle College Program shall be made available
to each school district by the University of Alaska if
a school district elects to participate.
Page 4, Lines 20-21 Clarifies that the University of
Alaska shall enter into agreements for a school
district that elects to participate.
Page 4, Line 26 Provides an effective date of July 1,
2022.
Ms. Shine conveyed that she had contacted the Legislative
Legal Department after the previous hearing on the bill to
get clarification regarding some public testimony that
indicated that the bill required school districts to
participate in the middle college program. The legal staff
indicated that language in Version A of the bill iterated
that if a student was eligible and interested, a school
district would be required to try and enter into an
agreement with the Alaska Middle College. She had spoken
with the sponsor and the sponsor's staff, who indicated the
result was not the intent of the version of the bill under
consideration. The CS tried to remedy the matter and
ensured that the program was required for the university to
offer but did not require school districts to participate.
Co-Chair Bishop WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
9:25:58 AM
AT EASE
9:26:37 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 1, 32-LS0307\B.1
(Klein, 3/27/21):
Page 3, line 1, following "district":
Insert "that elects to participate in the
program"
Co-Chair Bishop OJBECTED for discussion.
Ms. Shine explained that Amendment 1 made one more
clarifying change to the CS. After the CS was drafted, the
committee had realized that there was one more section that
would require something from every school district. The
change conformed to other sections and clarified that
school districts that were participating in the program
would have to notify students and parents of the
opportunity if a student was eligible to participate.
Senator Wielechowski wanted legislative understanding of
how election of participation occurred. He asked if a
school board would need to pass something or if a
superintendent could take some action.
Ms. Shine was unsure of how a school would elect to
participate in the program. She thought there was invited
testimony that could address the question.
Senator Wielechowski thought it was important to get more
legislative understanding of the issue.
Co-Chair Bishop invited the sponsor and his staff to speak
to the amendment.
9:29:06 AM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS, SPONSOR, thought it was a simple
procedure to elect to participate in the program. He
thought there were many ways for a district to elect to
participate, and the decision would usually involve action
by the superintendent or school board. He did not think the
matter needed further definition.
Co-Chair Bishop WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered. Amendment 1 was
ADOPTED.
Senator Stevens explained that the intent of the bill was
to help students throughout the state to get college
credits while in high school. He cited an equity issue and
noted that many larger districts already had the
opportunity while many smaller districts did not. He
appreciated the amendment changing the language from
"shall" to "may." He knew the University had explicitly
stated that it would make the program available to any
district that wanted it. Additionally, larger districts had
gone out of their way to ensure that extremely small
districts could access the program through the larger
district. He thought the program was a real advantage for
students.
Senator Wilson discussed fiscal note 1 from the Department
of Education and Early Development, OMB Component 2796. He
specified that FY 22 showed a zero cost, and out-year costs
were all zero. The department stated there was no fiscal
impact from the bill.
Senator Wilson discussed fiscal note 2 from the University,
OMB Component 730. He specified that FY 22 showed a zero
cost, and out-year costs were all zero. He read from the
analysis on page 2 of the fiscal note:
The university's existing middle college programs are
designed to be cost neutral to UA in that the tuition
provided by the students through their school
districts is sufficient to cover the university's
costs to run the program.
9:32:45 AM
AT EASE
9:32:51 AM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Stedman MOVED to report CSSB 32(FIN) out of
Committee as amended with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes.
CSSB 32(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee as amended with
a "do pass" recommendation and with two previously
published zero fiscal notes: FN 1(EED) and FN 2 (UA).
9:33:11 AM
AT EASE
9:34:23 AM
RECONVENED