03/29/2010 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

         SB 209-STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS; REGULATIONS                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:04:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
SENATE BILL NO.  209, "An Act providing the  Alaska State Council                                                               
on the  Arts the authority  to adopt regulations relating  to its                                                               
statutory  powers  and duties;  and  providing  for an  effective                                                               
date."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:05:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHAEL  ROVITO,  Staff,  Senator   Linda  Menard,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, presented SB  209, noting that it  was the companion                                                               
bill  to HB  311, which  was heard  and reported  from the  House                                                               
Standing Committee  on Education.   He reminded the  committee SB
  would give  the Alaska  State Council  on the  Arts (AKSCA),                                                               
Department  of   Education  and  Early  Development   (EDD),  the                                                               
authority  to  adopt  regulations  pertaining  to  its  statutory                                                               
powers  and  authorities.    This  legislation  was  proposed  in                                                               
response  to  a request  by  AKSCA  and  was recommended  by  the                                                               
Department of  Law.  Mr.  Rovito further explained that  the bill                                                               
was  needed to  help AKSCA  write regulations  to streamline  its                                                               
grant process.  The bill passed  the Senate unanimously and has a                                                               
zero fiscal note attached.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:06:36 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE P.  WILSON recalled that  HB 311 provided  a legal                                                               
means for AKSCA to continue to fulfill its objectives.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROVITO said correct.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:06:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GARDNER called  attention to  page 1,  lines 7-8,                                                               
which read [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     (1) hold public and private hearings;                                                                                      
     (2)  enter into  contract,  within the  limit of  funds                                                                    
     available,   with   individuals,   organizations,   and                                                                    
     institutions  for services  furthering the  educational                                                                    
     objectives of the council's programs;                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GARDNER  asked  for further  information  on  the                                                               
above referenced paragraphs.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:07:26 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. ROVITO said he was unable to provide further information.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:07:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:08:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON  moved to  report SB 209,  26-LS1236\A, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being no objection, SB 209 was                                                               
reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.