Legislature(1999 - 2000)
01/27/2000 03:33 PM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SJR 26-CONST. AM: EDUCATION FUND
MS. LORETTA BROWN presented SJR 26 for Senator Ward, the sponsor.
SJR 26 proposes amendments to the Alaska Constitution related to
education. This legislation offers a common sense approach to
funding and improving Alaska's educational system. SJR 26
establishes a land trust to fund education and allows for the
funding of private, as well as public, schools by establishing a
voucher system that favors school choice. The goals of the voucher
system are to enhance educational opportunities and to promote more
competition and quality in the delivery of educational services.
MS. BROWN explained that SJR 26 creates an endowment trust to
ensure adequate future funding for education. It will provide for
the use of revenues from the land trust to pay the operational
costs of education from kindergarten through the university level.
The trust would be entitled to 100 percent of any income derived
from land sales, leases, contracts, licenses or other uses for the
granted land. Not only would SJR 26 ensure the financial future of
Alaska's schools and provide for school choice, but it will create
new jobs and stimulate economic development as resources of the
trust are developed.
Number 725
MR. LARRY WIGET, Executive Director of Public Affairs for the
Anchorage School District and the Anchorage School Board (ASB),
urged policy makers to oppose efforts to use public tax dollars to
finance private home school vouchers. The ASB urges policy makers
to work with local communities to ensure that the State's public
schools provide world class educational opportunities. The ASB
believes taxpayer funded vouchers for private or home school
tuition and fees drain resources from public school classrooms and
diminish revenues for public schools. The ASB has not discussed
the endowment that the bill proposes to create.
CHAIRMAN WARD stated that it is not his intention to pass the bill
out at this time. He modeled SJR 26 on the Steve Cowper Endowment
Trust Fund concept, which uses a five million acre entitlement from
the State of Alaska to fund K-University programs.
Number 885
MR. WIGET said that it has been a while since the ASB has looked at
endowment issues. He will take SJR 26 back to the ASB for further
discussion.
SENATOR ELTON said that people are interested in an endowment
approach but committee members have different views on how it
should be started. SJR 26 ensures that the endowment is not just
for public schools; it is for private schools as well. The bill
provides for both public and private elementary and secondary
schools, yet only a public university. He asked why the endowment
will not fund private universities as well.
Number 1009
CHAIRMAN WARD stated that it seems like the University of Alaska
needs the most support. His intent is to give choices to parents.
SENATOR ELTON and CHAIRMAN WARD briefly discussed using endowment
funds for both public and private school use. Chairman Ward was in
favor of the idea, Senator Elton was not.
Number 1128
SENATOR PHILLIPS requested that Chairman Ward consider private
universities also.
CHAIRMAN WARD said he was looking at the issue purely from a
financial standpoint because the University has asked for land
grants to provide a steady revenue stream. Chairman Ward announced
he would hold SJR 26 in committee.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN WARD adjourned the meeting at 3:53 p.m.
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