Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/03/2023 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB113 | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB97 | |
| SB110 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 113 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 97 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 110 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 113-REAA FUND: MT. EDGECUMBE, TEACHER HOUSING
3:33:53 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 113
"An Act relating to the regional educational attendance area and
small municipal school district fund; relating to Mt. Edgecumbe
High School; and relating to teacher housing."
3:34:12 PM
TIM GRUSSENDORF, Staff, Senator Lyman Hoffman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, said SB 113 proposes equalizing
construction and maintenance funding opportunities for Mt.
Edgecumbe High School and making changes to all maintenance
grants for rural teacher housing. He said the discussion on
these changes arose during a Senate Finance Committee meeting
where the Department of Education discussed major maintenance,
deferred maintenance, and construction projects. He said the
issue of who brings forward projects to be funded by the
legislature was raised during the discussion because, currently,
Mt. Edgecumbe must rely on the executive branch to request
funding directly from the legislature. Mt. Edgecumbe cannot
submit requests for projects to be put on the major maintenance
list as other school districts can. He compared this to the
legislature's responsibility to advocate for the unorganized
borough. He noted that the legislature does not often
collectively prioritize unorganized areas due to the many other
issues they have to address. Similarly, Mt. Edgecumbe is a place
that sometimes falls through the cracks despite people looking
out for it. SB 113 would address these issues and provide more
equitable funding opportunities.
3:36:40 PM
MR. GRUSSENDORF read the following sectional analysis for SB
113:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 113: related to REAA fund, Mt. Edgecumbe High
School, and Teacher Housing
Section 1: amends language to AS 14.11.025(A) that
provides the Department of Education and Early
Development the authority to make disbursements from
the REAA fund to provide grants.
Adds Mt. Edgecumbe to the eligibility list for school
construction and major maintenance grants.
Adds projects for housing that is located and owned by
the state, or a regional education attendance area, or
a small municipal school district, and that is
provided to teachers working in the educational
attendance area or the small municipal school
district.
Section 2: amends language to AS 14.11.030(a) that
adds Mt. Edgecumbe High School to the eligibility list
for school construction and major maintenance
projects; and adds teacher housing to the eligibility
list for major maintenance for funding from the REAA
fund.
Section 3: deletes language that the unobligated and
unexpended cash balance of the fund may not exceed
$70,000,000.
3:37:53 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said he knows there is a tremendous need for
rural housing in Alaska. He asked about the use of funding.
3:38:11 PM
MR. GRUSSENDORF replied that the funding would primarily address
the major maintenance issues of existing teacher housing, not
the construction of new housing. The foremost purpose of the
fund is school construction. Maintenance would be secondary if
there were money remaining. School construction is the fund's
purpose, but the department would place maintenance and teacher
housing on equal footing if sufficient money remained.
3:38:52 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said the concept is excellent, and he appreciates
the optimism in Section 3. He asked whether the department would
rank Mt. Edgecumbe projects alongside REAA projects on the
priority list.
MR. GRUSSENDORF replied that was his understanding.
SENATOR KIEHL asked whether the department would need
instruction on when to apply. He opined that it is a bit weird
because different sections of the department run Mt. Edgecumbe
and the list.
MR. GRUSSENDORF replied that he did not know the answer to the
question.
3:39:55 PM
CHAIR TOBIN suggested asking department staff the question when
they testify on the fiscal notes.
3:40:03 PM
SENATOR KIEHL said AHFC retains the ability to assist with
teacher housing. He echoed the Senate Steven's recognition of
Alaska's substantial unmet rural housing needs, emphasizing the
importance of construction and maintenance. He stated that the
language on page 2, line 12, remained unchanged. He asked about
the sponsor's preferences for prioritizing major maintenance and
teacher housing alongside school maintenance projects.
MR. GRUSSENDORF stated that in past discussions, members of the
Senate Finance Committee expressed their preference to rank
teacher housing maintenance projects alongside major maintenance
needs. If warranted, a project could rise to first on the
maintenance list.
3:41:38 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said he would like to hear from the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED) about the two
positions listed in the fiscal notes.
3:41:53 PM
CHAIR TOBIN invited the DEED representatives to review the
fiscal notes for SB 113.
3:42:17 PM
LACEY SANDERS, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, said the fiscal note
for SB 113, OMB 2737, addressed School Finance and Facilities.
DEED would need two new permanent full-time positions: School
Finance Specialist II and Building Management Specialist. She
said DEED lacks expertise in teacher housing and dwelling, and
the Capital Improvement Project process would expand to include
Mt. Edgecumbe High School, necessitating hiring knowledgeable
individuals. These individuals would travel twice a year, either
to rural locations throughout the state or Mt. Edgecumbe High
School. The fiscal note encompasses one-time setup and annual
rate costs for the new positions. Additionally, it allocates
$6,000 as a placeholder for legal expenses associated with
revising and establishing regulations. SB 113 would entail
extensive regulatory modification to encompass teacher housing
and the addition of Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
3:44:23 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said he finds the positions to be excessive. He
questioned the purpose and cost of the positions by asking
exactly what the individuals in these roles are overseeing, how
much money is involved, and why it costs nearly $300,000 for two
people to perform the work.
3:44:57 PM
HEIDI TESHNER, Acting Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, replied that Mt.
Edgecumbe High School lacks staff members capable of handling
their applications in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
process. While Mt. Edgecumbe has some facilities maintenance
personnel, they focus on day-to-day tasks. This new position
would oversee all ongoing and future projects. She said she did
not recall the exact number of current projects. She emphasized
that this role would be full-time, managing all projects at Mt.
Edgecumbe High School, and the additional person would provide
expertise related to teacher housing and dwellings, particularly
in terms of necessary specifications.
3:45:56 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked if both positions would advocate for Mt.
Edgecumbe projects and evaluate ranking compared to projects
from other locations.
ACTING COMMISSIONER TESHNER responded by explaining that the
proposed position would not have the responsibility of ranking
projects; instead, the individual would focus on submitting
applications for Mount Edgecumbe. She said an existing three-
person team handles the ranking of all projects that are
submitted. She clarified that the new position could not be
involved in the ranking process due to the department's
inability to apply for a district. Therefore, a neutral
individual would be needed to help Mt. Edgecumbe apply.
3:46:55 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 113; finding none, she
closed public testimony.
3:47:15 PM
At ease.
3:47:27 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.
3:47:34 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report SB 113, work order 33-LS0449\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:47:46 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and SB 113 was reported from the
Senate Education Standing Committee.