Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/26/2019 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB52 | |
| SJR9 | |
| HB12 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 52 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SJR 9 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 9-CONST.AM: APPROP. BILL FOR PUBL EDUCATION
2:14:43 PM
CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting. She announced that the next
order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9,
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska
relating to an appropriation bill funding public education for
grades kindergarten through 12.
2:15:01 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for SJR 9, work order 31-LS0561\E, Caouette,
4/25/19, as the working document.
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes.
2:15:25 PM
REGINA LARGENT, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, reviewed the "Explanation of Changes in
Committee Substitute for CSSJR 9 Version S to E."
Title Changes: The following has been added to or
removed from the title in order to conform to changes
and added provisions;
? REMOVED: relating to an appropriation bill funding
of public education grades kindergarten through 12
? ADDED: relating forward funding of public education
grades kindergarten through 12
MS. LARGENT presented the sectional analysis for SJR 9.
Section 1: The proposed separate appropriation bill in
Version S is removed, thereby leaving Article IX, sec.
12, Constitution of the State of Alaska unchanged.
2:16:32 PM
MS. LARGENT turned to Section 2.
Section 2: Adds a new subsection to Article IX, sec.
12, Constitution of the State of Alaska to require
continued forward funding of public education grades
kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) with a mechanism
for enactment should education forward funding for FY
2022 in the FY 2021 operating budget take effect as
well as a separate mechanism for enactment if the
education forward funding for FY 2022 in the FY 2021
operating budget does not occur. The section includes
a release valve in the event of extreme budgetary
constraints in the transition year, but the effective
date for the constitutional amendment may not be later
than January 1, 20263 .
MS. LARGENT explained that Section 2 would add a new subsection
to the Constitution of the State of Alaska to continue forward-
funding of public education grades K-12 with a separate
mechanism for enactment if education forward-funding for FY 22
in the FY 21 operating budget take effect. She said this section
contains a release valve in the event of extreme budgetary
constraints in the transition year, but the effective date for
the constitutional amendment may not be later than January 1,
2026.
2:17:41 PM
CHAIR HUGHES remarked on the transition language. She stated
that last year the legislature forward-funded [public education]
and is doing so this year. The legislature would like to forward
fund [public education] next year. However, if something were to
occur such as a 9.9 magnitude earthquake, oil prices dropped to
$20 per barrel, or some unforeseen thing occurred the transition
language provides a release valve. She explained that if the
legislature forward funded public education for next year, in
the FY 22 operating budget, this would just "go into stone and
continue on if it were passed by the voters." If something dire
occurred and the legislature did not forward fund education next
year, she said that the relief valve provision on page 2, line
12, would apply. She reiterated that if the legislature did
forward fund education, the constitutional amendment would go
into effect and every year from there on out would be forward
funded, but the effective date for the constitutional amendment
may not be later than January 1, 2026.
2:19:04 PM
CHAIR HUGHES explained that this would also allow the
legislature to save for that second year. She said that is one
of the things that might be a little confusing for the voters.
She said she hopes that it is the will of the committee to move
this resolution. She would hope that next year during the normal
budget process forward-funding [of public education] would be in
place, which would allow in the next committee of referral for
this language to be removed and the language would be simplified
for the voters.
She said she appreciates that the sponsor highlighted the pink
slip. She highlighted that the state has always had a problem
recruiting and retaining teachers in Alaska, in particular in
the rural areas. She emphasized that fewer people are going into
the teaching profession, that enrollment in teaching colleges is
down by 35 percent. Teacher turnover not only affects teachers,
but also students. It harms the education process for students.
She stressed that this would bring stability since it would
allow the education funding as a part of the whole. Since it
would be a year ahead, it would help to understand the revenue
projections, savings, and other department obligations and
needs.
CHAIR HUGHES highlighted that the other great thing is that once
this is in place, the districts will know that the funding will
not be tinkered with and the districts will know the funding
more than a year in advance. She said that this would provide
stability and allow school districts to do advance planning.
2:21:55 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked whether the sponsor could also respond.
2:22:07 PM
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, stated
that she came forward with a constitutional amendment to address
a problem. She related that the legislature funds education
every year and either fully funds the BSA [base student
allocation] or funds the BSA and adds additional funding with
little variation. The issue is that the legislative funding
process is done well past the time when school districts must
submit their budgets to local governments for approval. Over the
years, the impression she has is that it causes districts to
undergo significant turmoil, including releasing teachers at a
time when teacher recruitment and retention is at a crisis
level. Further, many rural communities lose their teachers every
single year and that results in instability for students. This
also erodes the effectiveness of teachers and research has shown
that effective and committed principals and teachers in the
classrooms and are the number one indicator of student results.
2:24:31 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO said that this resolution was originally
introduced to have funding done early in the legislative
session. The committee has come back with a different approach,
which is to forward fund public education, which she supports.
She offered her belief that this would address the situation
adequately or even more so than the original resolution.
2:24:50 PM
CHAIR HUGHES remarked that this resolution is time appropriate.
2:25:22 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report the committee substitute (CS)
for SJR 9, work order 31-LS0561\E, from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
2:25:56 PM
At-ease.
2:26:15 PM
CHAIR HUGHES reconvened the meeting and removed her objection.
She asked Senator Micciche to restate the motion.
2:26:38 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report the committee substitute (CS)
for SJR 9, work order 31-LS0561\E, from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, the CSSJR 9(JUD) was reported from the
Senate Judiciary Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| CSHB 12(JUD) Version G.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
HB 12 |
| SB052 SUPPORTING DOC - REQ FOR INFO - KIEHL 04.24.19.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 52 |
| SB052 SUPPORTING DOC - ABC REPT FORM EXAMPLE.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 52 |
| SB052 SUPPORTING DOC - ENFORCEMENT REPT.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 52 |
| Memorandum from Legal Services 4/25/2019.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 9 |
| Memorandum from Legal Services 4/24/2019.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 9 |
| CSSJR 9 Ver E.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 9 |
| CSSJR 9 Explanation of Changes from Version S to E.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SJR 9 |
| CSSB 52(L&C) Amendments for S.JUD.pdf |
SJUD 4/26/2019 1:30:00 PM |
SB 52 |