03/27/2017 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

         SB 87-SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION ENERGY EFFICIENCY STD                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:57:25 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES announced  the  consideration  of SB  87.  She noted                                                              
there would  be public testimony  on the bill.  There were several                                                              
changes   to  the   bill;  to   add   an  architect   and  another                                                              
construction industry  member to the working  group, and to extend                                                              
the life  span of a building  from 30 years  to 50 years. However,                                                              
the new  CS is  not ready yet.  The intent  is to pass  SB 87  from                                                             
committee at the next meeting.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
7:58:02 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES opened and then closed public testimony on SB 87.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
7:58:49 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR ANNA  MACKINNON, Alaska  State Legislature,  sponsor of  SB
, thanked  the committee for  hearing the bill.  She noted it  is                                                             
a  work  in  progress   and  said  she  looks  forward  to  public                                                              
testimony as the bill moves through the process.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR HUGHES  expressed appreciation for  Senator MacKinnon's work                                                              
on the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:59:25 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony again.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:59:43 AM                                                                                                                    
CRAIG    FREDEEN,   Vice    Chair,   Association    for   Learning                                                              
Environments,  presented information  on SB 87.  He requested more                                                              
time  to  work  on  the   bill  with  the  sponsor.  He  said   the                                                             
association  has  suggestions for  ways  to improve  the  bill  and                                                             
help reduce operational  costs. He related  that they like that  an                                                             
architect  was added  to the  working  group. They  requested that                                                              
mechanical and  electrical engineers also  be added. They like  the                                                             
inclusion of AEA, Cold Climate Housing, DOTPF, and AHFC.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He said  the association would  provide a letter  to the committee                                                              
with   their  suggestions.   He   appreciated   the   addition   of                                                             
superintendents  to the  group.  However,  he said  they represent                                                              
all the facility  managers across the  state and he requested that                                                              
two facility  managers  replace the  two superintendents.  He said                                                              
he  would  submit the  rest  of  the items  in  writing.  He looks                                                              
forward  to   seeing  the   bill  progress  and   he  offered   the                                                             
association's services throughout the process.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:03:14 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES noted  there would  be additional  opportunities  for                                                             
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS  commented that  it  would be  hard  for existing                                                              
small schools  to share  their space.  He asked Mr.  Fredeen if  he                                                             
approves of sharing new construction facilities.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. FREDEEN  agreed with the  concept. He  understood that through                                                              
the DEED  process it  was already  available to  a certain extent.                                                              
He  referred  to the  discussion  about  co-location  at  the last                                                              
meeting, but  thought having separate  entrances was not mentioned                                                              
in  the bill.  He  suggested  having a  facility  across  from  the                                                             
school instead  of within the  school for safety  reasons. He said                                                              
technical  services can be  shared to  save money.  He pointed  out                                                             
that there is a lack of technical resources in the state.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:06:05 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  HUGHES   closed  public   testimony  and   held  SB  87   in                                                             
committee.