04/14/2010 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Relating to a Joint Legislative Higher Education                                                                           
     Scholarship Funding Task Force.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:49:06 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman stated  today was  the resolution's  first                                                                    
hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GARY STEVENS explained  that full educational reform                                                                    
is an important  piece of legislation. He  stated that fifty                                                                    
percent of  high school students require  remedial education                                                                    
upon  college  entry.  Several other  states  are  currently                                                                    
working on reform. One major  complication is financial aid.                                                                    
Tuition costs  increase steadily.  The task  force resulting                                                                    
from  this legislation  is intended  to complement  existing                                                                    
legislation  regarding curriculum  reform and  postsecondary                                                                    
financial aid.  The job  of the task  force is  to recommend                                                                    
the best  approach to improving our  educational system with                                                                    
financial assistance.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman mentioned one  fiscal note for $70 thousand                                                                    
to cover travel costs for task force members.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman  MOVED to  report SCR  19 out  of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SCR  19 was  REPORTED  out  of Committee  with  a "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and with one new  fiscal impact note from the                                                                    
Legislative Affairs Agency.