Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/06/1998 09:00 AM Senate HES
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SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 6, 1998
9:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Jerry Ward
Senator Johnny Ellis
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
Relating to declaring March 1998 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
MOVED SCR 21 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19
Relating to the use of prototype designs in public school
construction projects.
MOVED CSSCR 199(HES)am OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 241
"An Act relating to a tax credit program for postsecondary colleges
or universities; and providing for an effective date."
MOVED SB 241 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 237
"An Act extending the termination date of the Council on Domestic
Violence and Sexual Assault."
SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SCR 21 - No previous Senate committee action.
SCR 19 - See HESS minutes dated 1/28/98 and 2/4/98.
SB 241 - See HESS minutes dated 2/4/98.
SB 237 - No previous committee action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Elmer Rasmussen
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 241.
Don Dapcevich
Executive Director
Advisory Board on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
P.O. Box 110608
Juneau, Alaska 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 21
Michael Morgan
Facilities Manager
Department of Education
801 W. 10th Street, Suite 200
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1894
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SCR 19
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 98-9, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WILKEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:07 a.m. Present were
Senators Wilken, Leman, Ward, and Green. The first order of
business was SCR 21. CHAIRMAN WILKEN noted the committee is
awaiting an amendment to SCR 14 which will be heard next Wednesday.
SCR 21 - SOBRIETY AWARENESS MONTH
SENATOR WARD, sponsor of SCR 21, explained the measure designates
the month of March as sobriety awareness month. The resolution is
meant to encourage sobriety as a solution and to honor it as a way
of life. SCR 21 brings attention to those who choose sobriety as
a lifestyle, rather than to the diseases of alcoholism and drug
abuse. The Alaska Federation of Natives passed a resolution
supporting SCR 21 at its meeting the previous evening.
MR. DON DAPCEVICH, Executive Director of the Alaska Advisory Board
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, testified in support of SCR 21. He
thanked Senator Ward for introducing this measure, and pointed out
so much time is spent concentrating on the negative consequences of
substance abuse and alcoholism in Alaska, that very little time has
been focussed on people who choose to live their lives free from
those negative consequences. SCR 21 provides the opportunity to
celebrate people who choose to live healthy, productive lives. He
thought SCR 21 might encourage people who have never used or had
alcohol or substance abuse problems to step forward and talk about
that choice, especially with youth.
SENATOR WARD thanked Mr. Dapcevich for his work in this field, and
added sobriety is not something to be honored only during the month
of March.
SENATOR WARD moved SCR 21 out of committee with individual
recommendations. There being no discussion or objection, the
motion carried.
SCR 19 - PROTOTYPE SCHOOL DESIGN
SENATOR GREEN moved to adopt CSSCR 19(HES), version F, with the
handwritten phrase on page 2, line 16, as the working document of
the committee. There being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN explained the changes made in version F as follows:
- on page 2, line 16, "K-6" was changed to "elementary" to be
consistent with other definitions in statute;
-on page 2, line 16, "bond reimbursement and grant review
committee" was added with the intent that DOE and the
committee work together (that intent also applies to the
resolve clause beginning on line 20);
-on page 2, line 22, the words "designs and" were added for
the purpose of clarification.
SENATOR LEMAN said that although he does not disagree with
incorporating the bond reimbursement and grant review committee
into the process, the reference to that committee on line 16
detracts from the concept of DOE consulting with the design
professionals and then with the committee. Senator Leman indicated
that the phrase is redundant because line 22 says the same thing.
He suggested removing the reference to the bond reimbursement and
grant review committee on page 2, line 16.
Number 166
MR. MORGAN stated that regardless of whether it is included in both
places, DOE will consult with the bond reimbursement and grant
review committee.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN suggested combining the first part of the line 14
resolve clause with the last part of the resolve clause beginning
on line 20 to accomplish their goal. SENATOR LEMAN suggested
removing the phrase "the bond reimbursement and grant review
committee" on line 16 because it is already on line 22.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN stated the statutes ask the bond reimbursement and
grant review committee to work on prototype schools. The DOE has
authority to issue money. The intent is to blend those two
activities. MR. MORGAN thought the resolve clause beginning on
line 20 fully captures that intent, particularly when combined with
the statutory language that lays out the committee's duties.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to delete, from line 16, the handwritten words
"the bond reimbursement and grant review committee," along with any
other handwritten punctuation. There being no objection, the
motion carried.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked what words were deleted on line 15 after the
word "Education." SHEILA PETERSON, committee aide, answered the
phrase "the bond reimbursement and grant review committee" was
deleted.
MR. MORGAN expressed concern about the March 1 deadline in the
resolution. CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Mr. Morgan to suggest an
acceptable date. MR. MORGAN suggested April 2 so that a second
meeting of the bond reimbursement and grant review committee could
be scheduled in March, if necessary. MR. MORGAN said if the
deadline pertains to the incentives only, and not the prototype
designs, DOE could have recommendations prepared by mid-March.
SENATOR GREEN moved to change the March 1, 1998 date on line 30,
page 2, to March 15, 1998. There being no objection, the motion
carried.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN commented on a discussion that occurred in a House
committee yesterday about the definition of "elementary." MR.
MORGAN explained there is a definition in DOE regulations that
pertains to facilities. Because of the space guidelines,
elementary is defined as K-6, secondary is defined as 7-12, and
there is no definition of middle school. Middle schools, for space
and construction purposes, are considered the partial amount of
whatever grades are in elementary and secondary combined. He noted
he did not comment on the fact that the original version of SCR 19
contained K-6 because it made no difference. During the House
committee discussion yesterday, the range of possibilities was
raised. He has not had a chance to determine how many elementary
schools are on the list but plans to do so in the next few days.
Mr. Morgan commented that as this topic is explored, he intends to
look into what other schools will fit, in addition to elementary
schools because DOE receives many requests from small communities
for K-12 schools.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Mr. Morgan to provide the committee with a
copy of the regulation containing the definitions.
SENATOR GREEN stated the Anchorage School District was interested
in revising the definitions because the definitions impact funding
for the various units.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN thought what drives the definition is not a statute
or regulation, but the program that a particular place needs, and
it could be called almost anything. MR. MORGAN agreed and said
that the current definition gives districts maximum flexibility.
Number 324
SENATOR LEMAN repeated his apprehension about directing DOE to
develop prototype designs, and said he would prefer that DOE be the
repository of designs, outline specifications and standard details
that could be used by designers. He expressed concern that DOE
will be unable to develop sufficient numbers of designs for the
different conditions in Alaska.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN pointed out this is a major undertaking and is not
something that can be thrown together by March 15, 1998, but if it
is done correctly, it can benefit all. Yesterday, during the
discussion in the House, there was discussion about the State
imposing school designs upon communities. He emphasized that is
not the intent of the resolution. The goal is to provide a school
that districts will want and embrace, knowing the school will be
good for the program the district is trying to put forth in its
individual communities.
SENATOR WARD moved CSSCR 19(HES), as amended on line 31, from
committee with individual recommendations. There being no
objection, the motion carried.
Number 241
SB 241 - POSTSECONDARY SCHOOL TAX CREDIT
CHAIRMAN WILKEN stated he reviewed SB 140, relating to tax credits
for contributions to education, after Senator Ellis commented on
it, and his recollections were correct. SB 140 has a $2 million
fiscal note, and raises concerns about how one would direct money
to a particular school. He thought trying to combine SB 241 and SB
140 would slow down Senator Leman's efforts, therefore he planned
to hold SB 140 at this time.
SENATOR LEMAN said he had no problem addressing the other issue as
it has validity, but agreed with Chairman Wilken's assessment that
incorporating SB 140 would create a much larger issue than the
narrow issue addressed in SB 241. He noted he would like to see a
version of both bills pass as they both benefit education and offer
various choices to students and parents, but he agreed with
Chairman Wilken's conclusion.
SENATOR ELLIS informed committee members Mr. Rasmussen would like
both bills to pass, because they would benefit his philanthropy
efforts toward the Alaska Bible College and the University of
Alaska. Senator Ellis hoped the committee would consider
expanding this whole concept. He asked Senator Leman if he gave
any consideration to a two-tiered system of tax credits when
drafting the bill. SENATOR LEMAN thought the Legislature should
revisit the tax credit legislation, however he thought current
recipients of the program might be concerned.
Number 415
SENATOR ELLIS expressed concern that at some point in the future
the argument that general fund obligations to the University of
Alaska, Sheldon Jackson College, and Alaska Pacific University
should be reduced will gain credibility and be used as an excuse to
cut public funds for higher education for both private and public
institutions, because of the tax advantages granted by the
Legislature.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN said he served on the Mapco Alaska Advisory Board
for a number of years. That board passed out money Mapco wanted to
donate in the State. Mapco Alaska has been a major benefactor of
the University and has benefited from the tax credits. Concern
about the same argument expressed by Senator Ellis surfaced in
Fairbanks. He said it is not his intent to lower general fund
obligations to the University just because legislation enhances
Alaska's educational institutions' ability to get private
donations.
SENATOR LEMAN stated that was not his intent either; his intent was
to encourage philanthropy. He emphasized he did not want to get
into a long discourse on tax credits and changing that structure in
SB 241, because that will be a lengthy process that should and can
be done in the future.
SENATOR LEMAN moved SB 241 out of committee with individual
recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced that next Wednesday, February 11, SCR 14
will be before the committee and the State Independent Living
Council will giving a presentation. He adjourned the meeting at
9:38 a.m.
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