05/03/2006 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

          SB 288-SEPTEMBER AS EDUCATION SAVINGS MONTH                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
3:53:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   GENE  THERRIAULT   announced  SB   288  to   be  up   for                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTIAN GOU-LENDHARDT,  Staff to  Senator Ellis,  introduced SB
  for  the  sponsor  and  discussed  the  information  he  had                                                               
distributed. First  was a  recent US New  & World  Report article                                                               
about college  affordability and the  second was the page  on the                                                               
National   Report  Card   evaluation  giving   Alaska  an   F  in                                                               
affordability for 2004.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He  explained  that  SB 288  identifies  September  as  education                                                               
savings   month  and   establishes  a   framework  for   schools,                                                               
communities and interested groups  to hold activities to increase                                                               
awareness of financing for college education.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:56:18 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR THERRIAULT  noted the zero  fiscal note and asked  the will                                                               
of the committee.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WAGONER  took exception  to the  report saying  he didn't                                                               
know  of a  state that  does more  than Alaska  when it  comes to                                                               
helping postsecondary students.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THERRIAULT asked who compiles the report card information.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  GOU-LENDHARDT   replied  the   National  Council   of  State                                                               
Legislatures set up the group that compiles the report card.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CHARLIE  HUGGINS commented that  October might be  a more                                                               
appropriate month since that's the  month that the Permanent Fund                                                               
Dividend comes out.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT noted  that other  Alaska  governors have  used                                                               
September.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELTON motioned  to  report SB  288  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s)  from committee  with  individual recommendations.  There                                                               
being no objection, it was so ordered.