Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/10/2024 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB178 | |
| SB221 | |
| SB158 | |
| SB143 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 221 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 158 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 143 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 178 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 158-SCHOOL GRANTS AND BOND DEBT REIMBURSEMENT
3:39:00 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 158
"An Act relating to funding for school construction and major
maintenance; relating to school bond debt reimbursement; and
providing for an effective date."
CHAIR TOBIN stated that Senator Myers sponsor of SB 158 worked
with the Department of Education and her office to create a
committee substitute.
3:39:30 PM
MICHAEL MASON, Staff, Senator Löki Tobin, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the summary of changes for
SB 158, version S:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 158 School Grants and Bond Debt Reimbursement
Summary of Changes: Version B to Version S
Section 1 AS 14.11.014(d)
This section is amended with clarifying language
explicitly stating that the two projects from the
major maintenance list will be the top two projects
that the Alaska Department of Education & Early
Development (DEED) ranks on the list for each
district, and not just two projects that are ranked.
Clarifying language is also added to indicate that
districts may apply for reimbursement for one project
on DEED's school construction list and the top two
projects on DEED's major maintenance list for each
district.
New language is also added which would expand the list
of funded eligible projects further down the list if a
project in the top 20 is funded by a grant. As an
example, if four projects in the top 20 projects on
the list are funded by grants then projects 1-24 on
the list excluding the grant funded projects would be
eligible.
Section 3 AS 14.11.100(h)
This section corrects errors in AS 14.11.100(h), which
limited certain types of construction. This subsection
should have been amended in conjunction with adding
prior reimbursement program approvals in subsection
(a). This change was made at the recommendation of the
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Section 4 AS 14.11.100(i)
This section is added to make conforming changes in
alignment with section three recognizing the
additional sections included in AS 14.11.100(h).
Section 5 AS 14.11.100(s)
This section is amended to add clarifying language
that the DEED commissioner may not approve an
application for bond debt reimbursement made by a
municipality for more than one school construction
project listed on the department's ranking of school
construction project priorities under the department
review of grant applications, and for more than two
major maintenance projects listed on the department's
ranking of major maintenance project priorities under
the department review of grant applications; except
that the commissioner may approve an application for
bond debt reimbursement made by a municipality for all
the major maintenance projects of the municipality
that are ranked within the top 20 projects on the
department's list of major maintenance project
priorities excluding projects funded by grants.
Section 6 AS 14.11.102(c)
This section is amended to add clarifying language
that the DEED commissioner may not allocate funds to a
municipality for a school bond debt reimbursement
project made by a municipality for more than one
school construction project listed on the department's
ranking of school construction project priorities
under the department review of grant applications, and
for more than two major maintenance projects listed on
the department's ranking of major maintenance project
priorities under the department review of grant
applications; except that the commissioner may approve
an application for bond debt reimbursement made by a
municipality for all the major maintenance projects of
the municipality that are ranked within the top 20
projects on the department's list of major maintenance
project priorities excluding projects funded by
grants.
Section 7 AS 14.11.100(a)(19)
This section repeals 14.11.100(a)(19) which outlines a
classification of projects that would no longer be
available for reimbursement should this bill pass.
This change was made at the recommendation of the
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
Bill sections eight to ten have been reordered and
renumbered accordingly.
3:44:08 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked for clarification on the text of SB 158,
version S. He specifically wanted to know whether "except
projects that are funded by grants or by a grant" includes state
general fund grants for major maintenance projects in Regional
Educational Attendance Areas (REAAs).
3:44:40 PM
MR. MASON responded that he did not believe state general fund
grants were included, however the sponsor of SB 158 could
respond if he is incorrect.
3:45:09 PM
SENATOR MYERS deferred the question.
3:45:20 PM
At ease
3:45:39 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.
3:45:52 PM
SENATOR KIEHL asked if the language "exclusive of projects
funded by grants" includes the general fund spending on major
maintenance projects in Regional Educational Attendance Areas
(REAAs).
3:46:14 PM
LORI WEED, School Finance Manager, School Finance and
Facilities, Department of Education, Juneau, Alaska, replied
yes, that grants would include general funds allocated to the
major maintenance grants list, inclusive of general funds or
REAA funds allocated for that purpose.
SENATOR KIEHL thanked those involved in making this change,
stating that it creates a structure incentivizing progress down
the major maintenance list for school projects. He opined that
it maintains the fiscal restraint intended by the bill sponsor,
avoiding an "open checkbook" situation for taxpayers. He
expressed appreciation for the balance achieved, considering it
an improvement.
3:47:17 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated she wanted to make a comment.
Representing Anchorage, she felt it was important to contact the
Anchorage School District to ensure there were no issues with
the SB 158. For the record, she noted that she reached out to
Jim Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of the Anchorage School
District, and connected him with Senator Meyer, with whom he had
an extensive conversation regarding SB 158.
3:47:58 PM
SENATOR MYERS confirmed that he had spoken with Mr. Anderson and
addressed the concern that the SB 158 was aimed at addressing a
Fairbanks-specific issue. He stated that once he clarified that
the purpose of SB 158 was to place the school debt program on a
more sustainable footing, Mr. Anderson understood and withdrew
many of his initial concerns.
3:48:47 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
3:48:48 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 158, work order 33-LS0897\S, as the working document.
3:48:59 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no further objection and CSSB 158 was adopted
as the working document.
3:49:15 PM
CHAIR TOBIN asked Mr. Mann to add clarity to some of the changes
to SB 158
3:49:26 PM
DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Robert Myers, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided clarification on changes
made to SB 158, Sections 1, 5, and 6. He explained that the
changes in SB 158, version S, were intended as clarifications to
align it more closely with its original purpose. Discussions
with the department revealed some oversights in the initial
language, such as referencing "two projects" instead of
specifying "the top two projects," which was the original
intent. Additionally, the word "or" was changed to "and" to
ensure that either one project from the construction list or the
top two could be selected. Previously, the use of "or" would
have been limiting which was not the original intent of the
legislation.
3:50:20 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 158 in committee.