04/12/2013 01:30 PM House FINANCE

CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 47(FIN)                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to boarding schools operated by                                                                           
     school districts; and providing for an effective                                                                           
     date."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:54:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANIEL   GEORGE,   STAFF,   REPRESENTATIVE   BILL   STOLTZE,                                                                    
discussed the change appearing in  a CS to CSSSSB 47(FIN) on                                                                    
page 2, lines 11-15:                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     (A) for the Southeast Region (Region I), $820                                                                              
          [$410];                                                                                                               
     (B) for the Southcentral Region (Region II), $800                                                                          
          [$400];                                                                                                               
     (C) for the Interior Region (Region III), $968                                                                             
          [$484];                                                                                                               
     (D) for the Southwest Region (Region IV), $1,006                                                                           
          [$503];                                                                                                               
     (E) for the Northern Remote Region (Region V), $1,184                                                                      
          [$592].                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr. George  relayed that the  totals represented  a doubling                                                                    
of the prior  amount [for a per-pupil  monthly stipend (page                                                                    
2, line 8)].  He noted that a prior version  of the bill had                                                                    
included a tripling  of the existing amount.  He deferred to                                                                    
the bill sponsor for additional information.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYNNEIVA  MOSS, STAFF,  SENATOR  JOHN COGHILL,  communicated                                                                    
that the  change in  the CS  reflected a  compromise between                                                                    
the  sponsor and  Co-Chair Stoltze.  The sponsor  understood                                                                    
that it was a financially tight  year and that it may not be                                                                    
the  year   to  expand   boarding  schools.   She  expressed                                                                    
enthusiasm  and  faith in  the  boarding  school system  and                                                                    
relayed the sponsor's  belief that it would  be an important                                                                    
part  of Alaska's  educational system.  She stated  that the                                                                    
sponsor would  work over the  summer on an  educational plan                                                                    
that  would include  the expansion  of  the boarding  school                                                                    
program,  expanding financing  options  for boarding  school                                                                    
facilities,  and helping  with school  maintenance in  rural                                                                    
areas. She elaborated that the  original bill had multiplied                                                                    
the  existing stipend  by three;  the  existing stipend  had                                                                    
been  placed in  statute  in 2005.  She  expounded that  the                                                                    
stipend  had  been  increased  by two  times  in  2011.  She                                                                    
pointed  to  a  fiscal  note  that  reflected  an  increase;                                                                    
however, the  note was  based on  the stipend  sunsetting on                                                                    
July 1, 2013.  She explained that the fiscal  note showed an                                                                    
increase that did not really exist  if compared to FY 12 and                                                                    
FY 13.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Costello  MOVED   to  ADOPT   the  proposed                                                                    
committee  substitute for  CSSSSB 47(FIN),  Work Draft,  28-                                                                    
LS0408\E (Mischel,  4/12/13}. There  being NO  OBJECTION, it                                                                    
was so ordered.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Moss reiterated that the  sponsor had great faith in the                                                                    
boarding  school  system  and was  encouraged  by  inquiries                                                                    
about rural  Alaska magnet schools and  other opportunities.                                                                    
She pointed  to the  success rate  of children  who attended                                                                    
boarding schools.  She relayed  that the sponsor  would like                                                                    
to see an increased opportunity for the children.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Edgmon appreciated the  sponsor's work on the                                                                    
bill. He  referred to  an amendment he  had not  offered and                                                                    
expressed  disappointment that  elementary students  had not                                                                    
been included in  the stipend program; he  surmised that the                                                                    
issue would be worked on.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Moss replied in the affirmative.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Edgmon  looked forward to seeing  the bill on                                                                    
the House floor.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Neuman agreed.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Costello  discussed the fiscal note  from the                                                                    
Department of Education and Early  Development in the annual                                                                    
amount of $1,660,700 in FY 14 through FY 19.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Edgmon MOVED  to REPORT  HCS CSSSSB  47(FIN)                                                                    
out  of committee  with individual  recommendations and  the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal  note. There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HCS CSSSSB 47(FIN) was REPORTED  out of committee with a "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendation and  with one  new fiscal  impact note                                                                    
from the Department of Education and Early Development.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:01:47 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:02:16 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED