04/04/2023 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

         HB  69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:06:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK  announced the final  order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 69, "An  Act relating to the  reclassification of                                                               
first class cities  as second class cities; and  providing for an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:07:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MIKE CRONK,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor, presented  HB 69.  He  explained it had been  brought to                                                               
his attention  that the first  class city of Tanana,  Alaska, was                                                               
unable  to  transfer its  school  into  the Yukon-Koyukuk  School                                                               
District (YKSD), and in researching,  it became clear that Tanana                                                               
would have to be reclassified to legally transfer the school.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:08:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE STANCLIFF,  Staff, Representative  Mike Cronk,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, on  behalf of  Representative Cronk,  prime sponsor,                                                               
added that  HB 69 is a  "fairly simple piece of  legislation" and                                                               
is intended to  assist in the transfer of the  Tanana City School                                                               
District, which  would mean  savings to the  state, but  the real                                                               
motivation  is what  is  best for  the students  in  Tanana.   He                                                               
explained  that the  Local Boundary  Commission set  a population                                                               
threshold of  400 [for a  city to be  able to incorporate].   The                                                               
city  of Tanana's  population has  dropped to  243 people  - well                                                               
below the  threshold.   The bill would  provide such  a mechanism                                                               
giving  a first  class  city the  option  of automatically  being                                                               
reclassified  if their  population falls  below the  400 resident                                                               
threshold.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:11:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
VICE CHAIR  MCCABE asked if there  are any other cities  that are                                                               
in this situation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:11:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF responded that there  are four other communities in                                                               
the state  that are first  class cities  at this time  that could                                                               
make  the  request if  they  felt  under  duress, but  none  have                                                               
stepped forward  to do so.   He also noted there  is support from                                                               
the Tanana  City School District,  the mayor of Tanana,  and from                                                               
YKSD to make the transition happen.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:13:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT  observed  the 10-day  turnaround  time                                                               
possibly being  problematic, and she  asked if there would  be an                                                               
amendment to the 10 days, or a solution to the tight timeline.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. STANCLIFF  replied that if  a committee substitute for  HB 69                                                               
were drawn up,  it would include that.  He  also noted that after                                                               
hearing about  the bill, the  Local Boundary Commission  was able                                                               
to convene a meeting well within the 10-day limit.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  commented on Pelican, Alaska,  that the                                                               
mayor relayed the  community is not looking  at this [transition]                                                               
right now, but  would welcome having an easier  pathway than what                                                               
is currently available.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:15:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCCORMICK announced that HB 69 was held over.