02/25/2022 09:00 AM House EDUCATION

            HB 272-INCREASE BASE STUDENT ALLOCATION                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:06:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND announced  that  the first  order of  business                                                               
would  be HOUSE  BILL NO.  272,  "An Act  relating to  education;                                                               
increasing  the base  student allocation;  and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:06:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  STORY moved  to report  HB  272 out  of committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:06:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  STORY,  as  prime  sponsor, summarized  HB  272.    She                                                               
reminded  the committee  that the  funding for  the base  student                                                               
allocation  (BSA) has  been flat  for the  past six  years.   She                                                               
pointed  out  the drop  in  per-student  funding.   She  reminded                                                               
members  that school  district representatives  have reported  to                                                               
the  committee  concerning the  rise  in  fuel prices  and  other                                                               
costs.   She said  that the  result has  been cuts  in education,                                                               
including   teacher  staffing,   technological  services,   pre-K                                                               
programs,  and  transportation.   She  stated  that the  proposed                                                               
legislation   would   increase   BSA   to   $6,153   per   pupil.                                                               
Additionally,  there would  be  an increase  the  second year  of                                                               
$6,280  per pupil.    The bill  would set  the  intention of  the                                                               
legislature to increase BSA a  year in advance, which would allow                                                               
schools to  focus on  student achievement, not  what needs  to be                                                               
cut.    She reminded  the  committee  that the  federal  COVID-19                                                               
relief funds  are meant  to address effects  of the  pandemic and                                                               
not  meant  to  replace  state  dollars.   She  argued  that  the                                                               
proposed  legislation would  help to  maintain and  fund Alaska's                                                               
public schools.   She  asked fellow  committee members  for their                                                               
support.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:09:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 9:09 a.m. to 9:11 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:11:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND removed her objection.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:11:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CRONK objected.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:11:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 9:11 a.m. to 9:12 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:12:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote was  taken.   Representatives Story,  Hopkins,                                                               
Zulkosky, and  Drummond voted in favor  of the motion to  move HB
  out of  committee  with individual  recommendations and  the                                                               
attached fiscal notes.  Representatives  Cronk, Gillham, and Prax                                                               
voted against  it.   Therefore, HB  272 was  reported out  of the                                                               
House Education Standing Committee by a vote of 4-3.