03/12/2010 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

        HB 350-PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING: LOCAL CONTRIBUTION                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON announced that the  final order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 350, "An  Act relating to the  local contribution                                                               
to public school funding; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
10:02:31 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MARY  FRANCIS,  Executive  Director,  Alaska  Council  of  School                                                               
Administrators  (ACSA), informed  the committee  the majority  of                                                               
school superintendents  present at a recent  ACSA meeting believe                                                               
HB 350  provides equity  and fairness.   Although at  some point,                                                               
local municipalities  may not want  to make up the  difference in                                                               
state funding, she  concluded this was a fairness  issue and ACSA                                                               
was in  support of the  change.   Ms. Francis related  the belief                                                               
that it was never intended that the  mill rate was to be based on                                                               
FY 99 in perpetuity.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:03:32 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SEATON stated that HB 350 was held over.