03/17/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION

              SB 64-SCHOOL BOND DEBT REIMBURSEMENT                                                                          
3:32:29 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNLEAVY  announced the  consideration of  SB 64.  He noted                                                               
that public testimony was still open.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
LAURA  PIERRE,  Staff,  Senator   Anna  MacKinnon,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, noted a forthcoming amendment to SB 64.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY continued public testimony.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
DR.   MARK  MILLER,   Superintendent,  Juneau   School  District,                                                               
testified against  SB 64. He maintained  that SB 64 is  unfair to                                                               
everyone but Anchorage  and he asked the committee  move the date                                                               
up  so  that  all  districts  could  benefit  and  analyze  their                                                               
budgets.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:35:57 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:36:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNLEAVY  announced the  arrival  of  Senator Stevens  and                                                               
opened public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DR.  DEENA   PARAMO,  Superintendent,  Mat-Su   School  District,                                                               
testified in favor  of SB 64. She described the  school bond debt                                                               
reimbursement  program, a  great  example of  a highly  effective                                                               
state  government program  working  for its  people. She  related                                                               
that  the Mat-Su  District benefitted  from a  bond package  that                                                               
built six  new educational facilities.  The program is part  of a                                                               
sound facility maintenance strategy  that extends the useful life                                                               
of  facilities.   She  appreciated  that  the   program  will  be                                                               
reinstated after five years.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
She  described the  Mat-Su District  as  unique because  it is  a                                                               
growing district. There are currently  80 modular units in place.                                                               
She  said she  cannot support  the discontinuance  of the  School                                                               
Bond Debt  Reimbursement Program altogether. However,  the School                                                               
Board  and   administration  understand  the   immense  financial                                                               
challenges  facing  the state  and  the  district is  willing  to                                                               
tighten its belt.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS voiced  appreciation for  the administration  in                                                               
Mat-Su.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:40:34 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS offered Conceptual Amendment 1.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNLEAVY objected.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS said  the amendment  would change  the effective                                                               
date  from   May  1,  2015,   to  January  1,  2015,   making  it                                                               
retroactive.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARDNER  spoke of the  Anchorage School District  and her                                                               
reasons for  supporting the  amendment. She  noted she  has never                                                               
voted against school  bonds, but she hoped the  funds saved would                                                               
go to  classrooms. Referring  to a  previous testimony,  she said                                                               
"we are already out of apples."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNLEAVY  withdrew his objection. There  being no further                                                               
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS  moved  to  report,  SB  64,  as  amended,  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note. There  being no objection,  CSSB 64(EDC) was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Education Standing Committee.