Legislature(2023 - 2024)ADAMS 519

05/10/2024 01:30 PM House FINANCE

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Audio Topic
03:53:31 PM Start
03:55:29 PM HB400
08:12:58 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
-- Delayed to 3:30 PM --
+ SB 189 EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ SB 183 WORKERS' COMP BENEFITS GUARANTY FUND TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+ HB 400 CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROGRAMS; ALLOTMENTS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 205 AHFC AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE BUILDING TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 170 EXTND SR BENEFITS; REPEAL LONGEVITY BONUS TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 151 MISSING/MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE;REPORT TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
+= SB 259 COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
-- Public Testimony --
                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       May 10, 2024                                                                                             
                         3:53 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:53:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  called the House Finance  Committee meeting                                                                    
to order at 3:53 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Co-Chair                                                                                           
Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative DeLena Johnson, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Julie Coulombe                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Cronk                                                                                                       
Representative Alyse Galvin                                                                                                     
Representative Sara Hannan                                                                                                      
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
Representative Dan Ortiz                                                                                                        
Representative Will Stapp                                                                                                       
Representative Frank Tomaszewski                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Justin  Ruffridge,  Vice-Chair,  House  Labor  and  Commerce                                                                    
Committee,  Sponsor;  Deborah  Riddle,  Operations  Manager,                                                                    
Division of Innovation  and Education Excellence, Department                                                                    
of Education and Early Development.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Erica Jones,  Self, Anchorage;  Carol Simpson,  Self, Homer;                                                                    
Amanda Wraith, Self, Wasilla;  Lori Zulliger, Self, Wasilla;                                                                    
Scott  Gingrich, Self,  Anchorage;  Matthew Forester,  Self,                                                                    
Anchorage; Cherie Taylor, Self,  Soldotna; Eric Palin, Self,                                                                    
Big  Lake; Adele  Pribbenow,  Self,  Soldotna; Penny  Vadla,                                                                    
Self,  Soldotna;  Kelvin  Odegard,  Self,  Fairbanks;  Ellie                                                                    
Ostler,  Self, Anchor  Point; Dawn  Cogan, Self,  Fairbanks;                                                                    
Terri  Beach, Self,  Fairbanks; Brandy  Brant, Self,  Homer;                                                                    
Tracy Maxwell,  Self, Juneau; Jacintha Mezzeti,  Self, Eagle                                                                    
River; Faelyn  Simpson, Self,  Eagle River;  Shad Schoppert,                                                                    
Self,  Anchorage;  Ashley  Bauman,  Self,  Soldotna;  Andrea                                                                    
Flynn,  Self,  Soldotna;  Andrea Boeshart,  Self,  Soldotna;                                                                    
Alicia  Jensen,   Self,  Sterling;  Kimberly   Welch,  Self,                                                                    
Wasilla; Audrey Madsen, Self,  Wasilla; Hannah Murkin, Self,                                                                    
Anchorage.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 400    CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROGRAMS; ALLOTMENTS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          HB 400 was HEARD and HELD in committee for                                                                            
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SB 151    MISSING/MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE;REPORT                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          SB 151 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 170    EXTND SR BENEFITS; REPEAL LONGEVITY BONUS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          SB 170 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 183    WORKERS' COMP BENEFITS GUARANTY FUND                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
          SB 183 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 189    EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          SB 189 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 205    AHFC AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE BUILDING                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          SB 205 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SB 259    COMPENSATION FOR CERTAIN STATE EMPLOYEES                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
          SB 259 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster reviewed the meeting agenda.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 400                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to correspondence study programs;                                                                         
     relating to allotments for correspondence study                                                                            
     programs; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:55:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  invited Representative Justin  Ruffridge to                                                                    
the table and asked for a description of the bill.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
JUSTIN  RUFFRIDGE,  VICE-CHAIR,  HOUSE  LABOR  AND  COMMERCE                                                                    
COMMITTEE, SPONSOR,  thanked the  committee for  hearing the                                                                    
bill. He referenced the recent  court decision regarding the                                                                    
allotment  program for  correspondence  studies that  struck                                                                    
down  sections  of  statute   dealing  with  allotments  and                                                                    
individualized learning plans. The  bill sought to establish                                                                    
uncodified   law   of   a   board   regulated   version   of                                                                    
individualized learning  plans and  constitutional allotment                                                                    
programs  with a  sunset date  of  June 30,  2025. The  bill                                                                    
stated   that  individualized   learning   plans  would   be                                                                    
regulated  by the  State Board  of Education  and allotments                                                                    
would be regulated in accordance  with the provisions of the                                                                    
Alaska  Constitution dealing  with educational  spending and                                                                    
regulated  by  the  board;  the  bill  included  some  audit                                                                    
provisions to ensure it was accomplished.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:57:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DEBORAH RIDDLE,  OPERATIONS MANAGER, DIVISION  OF INNOVATION                                                                    
AND EDUCATION EXCELLENCE, DEPARTMENT  OF EDUCATION AND EARLY                                                                    
DEVELOPMENT, reviewed  the fiscal note OMB  component number                                                                    
2796.  The fiscal  note totaled  $6,000 for  the update  and                                                                    
development of regulations to support the legislation.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:58:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERICA  JONES, SELF,  ANCHORAGE (via  teleconference), shared                                                                    
that she  is a homeschool  parent and special  needs teacher                                                                    
with  the IDEA  program. She  spoke in  support of  the bill                                                                    
because it  gave the state  and the Department  of Education                                                                    
and  Early  Development (DEED)  the  time  to carefully  and                                                                    
methodically  review the  legal  concerns.  She stated  that                                                                    
education needed to be well  thought out and deliberate. She                                                                    
noted  there were  many concerns  with a  separate education                                                                    
bill,  SB 266.  She believed  the  Senate bill  rushed to  a                                                                    
solution  rather  than  taking  time  to  consider  possible                                                                    
consequences.  She had  strong concerns  with the  allotment                                                                    
carryover restrictions in the  Senate bill. She explained it                                                                    
would reduce students' abilities to  save a portion of funds                                                                    
from year  to year for  specialized curriculum. Much  of the                                                                    
curriculum for  special needs  students was  very expensive,                                                                    
but it  could be used  for multiple years for  each student.                                                                    
Saving  funds  from year  to  year  was  the only  way  many                                                                    
families  could  afford   the  specialized  curriculum.  She                                                                    
reiterated her support for HB 400.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
4:01:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROL SIMPSON,  SELF, HOMER (via  teleconference), testified                                                                    
in support  of the  bill. She had  seven adult  children she                                                                    
had  homeschooled. Over  the years  she had  appreciated the                                                                    
legislature's  support for  home  schooling  in general  and                                                                    
correspondence programs  in particular. She stated  the bill                                                                    
appropriately focused  on the issues the  judge had objected                                                                    
to. The bill  also included a sunset  clause, which provided                                                                    
for  more  time to  thoughtfully  assess  needs and  develop                                                                    
statutes and regulations in better  alignment with the state                                                                    
constitution,   while   protecting   the   continuation   of                                                                    
correspondence programs.  She did not support  SB 266, which                                                                    
included  provisions beyond  the immediate  need. The  House                                                                    
bill provided  relatively broad guidance to  the State Board                                                                    
of  Education and  relied on  the board  to create  specific                                                                    
guidelines for  implementation of the  legislature's intent.                                                                    
She  believed that  relying on  DEED to  carefully determine                                                                    
needed regulations while the legislature  was not in session                                                                    
provided for a more thoughtful  process and the inclusion of                                                                    
more  stakeholders. She  reiterated her  support for  HB 400                                                                    
and opposition to SB 266. She thanked the committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz   asked  for  verification   that  Ms.                                                                    
Simpson believed  the Senate bill  was too  prescriptive for                                                                    
reforms that  would need to be  made and the House  bill was                                                                    
more open-ended for DEED to work out.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Simpson   answered  that   the  Senate   bill  included                                                                    
additional provisions  beyond what the judge  addressed. She                                                                    
liked  that the  House  bill was  specific  to the  concerns                                                                    
expressed  by  the  judge.   Additionally,  because  HB  400                                                                    
included  a  sunset clause,  the  direction  was toward  the                                                                    
board  to   come  up  with   regulations.  She   noted  that                                                                    
originally SB  266 included  numerous old  regulations, much                                                                    
of  which  had  been  dropped; however,  it  still  included                                                                    
additional provisions.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:04:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AMANDA WRAITH, SELF,  WASILLA (via teleconference), provided                                                                    
a scenario  of a group  of Alaskan  adults who had  given up                                                                    
lucrative  careers   and  had   dedicated  their   lives  as                                                                    
volunteers for the  educational success of a  small group of                                                                    
Alaskan  students. She  stated that  the adults  studied the                                                                    
gifts and aptitudes of the  children from birth to customize                                                                    
a learning  strategy. She reported  that it was  working and                                                                    
the  kids were  successful. She  referenced chronic  teacher                                                                    
shortages,  overcrowded  classrooms, and  stressed  budgets.                                                                    
She  stated  there  were   nearly  30,000  Alaskan  students                                                                    
educated  at home  by independent  home  educators and  home                                                                    
educating partners  of the school  district. She  stated the                                                                    
volunteer educators  saved taxpayers and  districts hundreds                                                                    
of  millions  in  education  funding  and  teacher  salaries                                                                    
annually.   She  continued   to  address   the  benefit   of                                                                    
homeschool volunteer  teachers. The state had  offered often                                                                    
to provide  each student a  small percentage of  the funding                                                                    
for the  cost of  education. She  noted that  the homeschool                                                                    
students qualified for  only 90 percent of  the Base Student                                                                    
Allocation (BSA)  that went to their  districts each teacher                                                                    
was  allowed  less than  half  of  the money.  She  provided                                                                    
funding  comparisons  between  homeschooling and  brick  and                                                                    
mortar schools. She supported the allotment carryover.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:09:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LORI   ZULLIGER,   SELF,   WASILLA   (via   teleconference),                                                                    
supported  the  bill.  She  was  a  homeschool  parent.  She                                                                    
relayed  that it  was through  state support  by recognizing                                                                    
parent choice  and providing allotments that  her family had                                                                    
been able to make the  educational option for their daughter                                                                    
through the  IDEA program. She shared  information about her                                                                    
daughter's educational journey. She  supported HB 400, which                                                                    
put determining regulations  for correspondence programs and                                                                    
allotments  back  into  the  hands of  the  State  Board  of                                                                    
Education. The  bill dealt with the  constitutional issue of                                                                    
the  initial  [court] ruling.  She  asked  the committee  to                                                                    
consider  the parents  and  how they  may  best teach  their                                                                    
students, the students and how  they may be best served, and                                                                    
the   small  business   vendors  who   supply  services   to                                                                    
homeschooling  communities  in  the  state.  She  asked  the                                                                    
legislature  to tread  lightly when  regulating options  for                                                                    
families  homeschooling their  children. She  highlighted it                                                                    
was important  to remember that  the educational  system was                                                                    
in  place  to  give   each  student  the  least  restrictive                                                                    
environment in  which to learn  and thrive. She  thanked the                                                                    
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:12:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SCOTT GINGRICH,  SELF, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),  is a                                                                    
home  school  parent  with  five  kids  and  used  the  IDEA                                                                    
program. He stated homeschooling  and parent involvement was                                                                    
critical for  students' success and had  positive impacts on                                                                    
academic  performance,  student behavior,  self-esteem,  and                                                                    
motivation.  He  added   that  parental  involvement  helped                                                                    
strengthen the bond  between parents and schools.  He was in                                                                    
favor of the  bill. He liked allowing parents  the option to                                                                    
opt out of standardized tests.  He listed various tests used                                                                    
in  the  past  20  years.  He noted  that  parents  had  not                                                                    
received test  results for  an entire year,  and it  made it                                                                    
difficult for parents  to see value in the  tests. He stated                                                                    
that  the  allotment carryover  should  not  change, and  he                                                                    
liked that  about HB 400.  He did not support  the allotment                                                                    
provisions in SB  266. He outlined reasons.  He believed the                                                                    
allotment program  was constitutional  and there  should not                                                                    
be a  change to  the allotment  carryover. He  addressed the                                                                    
ILP [individualized  learning plan],  which he  believed was                                                                    
good teaching. He thanked the  committee for taking the time                                                                    
to listen.  He liked  the one-year sunset  in the  bill that                                                                    
allowed the  legislature time  to get  feedback and  do more                                                                    
research in order to make the best decision.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Galvin  thanked   Mr.   Gingrich  for   his                                                                    
testimony  and  shared  that  she   had  gone  through  IDEA                                                                    
beginning   in  1998.   She  remarked   that  he   had  been                                                                    
homeschooling  for 20  years and  she noted  there had  been                                                                    
changes during that  time. She had been  frustrated with the                                                                    
myriad of tests over the  years. She asked if Mr. Gingrich's                                                                    
kids were  currently participating in the  Alaska Reads Act,                                                                    
MAP testing, and others.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Gingrich responded that he  only had one student left at                                                                    
home and he was in the  later part of high school and beyond                                                                    
the testing ranges for the tests.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin stated  that the  allotment carryover                                                                    
was relatively new. She stated  that in years past there had                                                                    
been an allotment  for curriculum that aligned  with the ILP                                                                    
and had  to be  in accordance with  what a  licensed teacher                                                                    
advised.  She  discussed  what  had  been  included  in  the                                                                    
curriculum.  She asked  if Mr.  Gingrich  went through  that                                                                    
experience.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Gingrich affirmatively.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  stated   her  understanding  it  had                                                                    
changed.   She   asked   Mr.  Gingrich   to   describe   the                                                                    
differences.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Gingrich responded  that instead of being  rushed to use                                                                    
allotment  dollars, if  a parent  had a  budget, it  allowed                                                                    
them to make  better decisions with how money  was spent. He                                                                    
stated  that  curriculum  was getting  more  expensive,  and                                                                    
saving the  money for when  it was  needed to use  on things                                                                    
like  college  classes  was  an  opportunity  to  do  things                                                                    
gradually. He shared that his  oldest two kids ended up with                                                                    
30 college credits prior to  graduating from high school. He                                                                    
elaborated on his kids' experience.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin was  supportive of  enabling students                                                                    
in Alaska to  have concurrent classes. She thought  it was a                                                                    
wonderful opportunity  for high school students  if everyone                                                                    
could  afford it.  She referenced  Mr. Gingrich's  testimony                                                                    
about  saving money  and  using it  accordingly  at a  later                                                                    
time. She  noted that it had  not been possible in  the past                                                                    
and  the money  had just  been returned  to the  system. She                                                                    
asked about supplies. She asked if  a book went back to IDEA                                                                    
after a student had used it.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Gingrich answered that  homeschool families were allowed                                                                    
to save a  book to use for their other  kids. When they were                                                                    
finished with a book it was returned to IDEA to be reused.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  stated  her  understanding  families                                                                    
could save the book as long  as they wanted, and it was then                                                                    
returned to the system.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Gingrich replied  that if  a family  withdrew from  the                                                                    
program, they would have to return the book.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin asked  if  the same  was  true for  a                                                                    
computer.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Gingrich  responded that  families  had  the option  to                                                                    
purchase  at a  depreciated rate  depending on  how old  the                                                                    
computer was, or it could be returned.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin appreciated hearing the information.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:23:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MATTHEW  FORESTER,  SELF,  ANCHORAGE  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
shared that his family used  the IDEA homeschool program. He                                                                    
spoke in support of the current  version of the bill and was                                                                    
happy to  see the changes.  He wished the situation  was not                                                                    
happening because  he thought the system  currently in place                                                                    
worked well.  He was glad  the bill left  the responsibility                                                                    
to   the   State  Board   of   Education   to  address   the                                                                    
constitutional question  and he  liked the  sunset provision                                                                    
because Alaskans  deserved time  to evaluate the  issues and                                                                    
avoid unintended  consequences. He  did not support  SB 266.                                                                    
He shared information  about his family with  three kids who                                                                    
had  been   homeschooled  through   the  IDEA   program.  He                                                                    
appreciated the legislature trying to take quick action.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:26:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHERIE  TAYLOR, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via  teleconference), is  a                                                                    
homeschool  mom.  She  supported  the bill  that  no  longer                                                                    
included   provisions   unrelated  to   the   constitutional                                                                    
question. The bill required the  State Board of Education to                                                                    
address  the  constitutional  question  in  particular.  She                                                                    
supported   the  sunset   provision  of   one  year,   which                                                                    
acknowledged  that Alaskans  needed more  time to  weigh the                                                                    
issues  carefully  and  avoid unintended  consequences.  She                                                                    
strongly  opposed  SB 266.  She  stated  the bill  contained                                                                    
questions   that  were   unrelated  to   the  constitutional                                                                    
question.  She highlighted  that SB  266 was  not temporary.                                                                    
She   believed  the   language  would   have  intended   and                                                                    
unintended consequences  for homeschoolers and  schools. She                                                                    
stated that  more time was  needed than was left  in session                                                                    
to  fully  have  productive discussions  about  the  issues.                                                                    
Families  needed homeschooling  to continue  in the  current                                                                    
model with  the least disruption for  students and families.                                                                    
She  concluded that  HB 400,  version R  supported what  was                                                                    
needed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz stated that  several callers had talked                                                                    
about how  SB 266  had provisions that  were not  related to                                                                    
the court's  ruling that  the program  was unconstitutional.                                                                    
He  asked  for  some  examples of  measures  that  were  not                                                                    
related to the judge's ruling.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Taylor believed  the judge's ruling applied  to the part                                                                    
of the constitution specifying that  public funds should not                                                                    
be  used  for private  education.  She  stated that  SB  266                                                                    
addressed  items  that were  not  really  at play  including                                                                    
standardized  testing  for  all families  and  no  allotment                                                                    
carryover.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:29:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ERIC  PALIN, SELF,  BIG  LAKE  (via teleconference),  shared                                                                    
that he  is a homeschool  father of four  daughters enrolled                                                                    
with   the   IDEA  program.   He   stated   that  the   IDEA                                                                    
correspondence  school had  offered  incredible freedom  for                                                                    
his family.  He provided detail  about his family  and their                                                                    
experience    with    correspondence.   He    stated    that                                                                    
homeschooling worked at a fraction  of the cost of brick and                                                                    
mortar schools.  He relayed that  IDEA had always  been very                                                                    
careful to  follow the rules regarding  proper reimbursement                                                                    
for  educational expenses.  The bill  supported his  freedom                                                                    
and visions for his  children's academic success without the                                                                    
controls included in SB 266.  He strongly opposed the Senate                                                                    
bill  and  thought  it  was   inequitable  and  onerous.  He                                                                    
supported HB 400 version R  with its set one-year time limit                                                                    
in order  to allow for judicial  and legislative corrections                                                                    
when time was available. He  supported that HB 400 contained                                                                    
no mandatory testing requirements  for students and that the                                                                    
allotment  was  fully  maintained without  onerous  spending                                                                    
limits  and  restrictions for  the  fine  arts and  physical                                                                    
education. He continued to discuss  his reasons for opposing                                                                    
SB 266. He urged the committee to support HB 400.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin stated  that many  of the  testifiers                                                                    
were referencing SB  266 and much of the  testimony had been                                                                    
that there  should not be  required testing  associated with                                                                    
allotments. Yet,  she heard frequently there  was not enough                                                                    
accountability   associated  with   the   big  spending   on                                                                    
education.  She  asked  how   Mr.  Palin  would  respond  to                                                                    
individuals with the specific concern.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Palin shared  that he  had an  email conversation  with                                                                    
Senator Loki Tobin  about the topic the  previous week about                                                                    
the  specific issue.  He believed  the opposition  was to  a                                                                    
mandatory  requirement requiring  taking tests  in order  to                                                                    
get an allotment. He was happy to  do a test, but he did not                                                                    
want restrictions forced upon him.  There were other ways to                                                                    
determine if  a child  was doing well.  He stated  that ILPs                                                                    
were well defined, and families  had monthly feedback from a                                                                    
contact  teacher.  Families  also submitted  quarterly  work                                                                    
examples and students could get  additional support in areas                                                                    
they were struggling  with. He stated that  in all actuality                                                                    
he was the teacher and could track how his kids were doing.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin shared that she  had opted out for one                                                                    
of her children  because she did not  believe the particular                                                                    
test would be helpful. She  was considering how to answer to                                                                    
many Alaskans  seeing public dollars  spent to come  up with                                                                    
some accountability.  She reasoned  there may be  other ways                                                                    
to  check  off  that  box. She  asked  about  the  allotment                                                                    
carryover, which she  noted was relatively new  to the state                                                                    
in the  past 10 years.  She noted that  neighborhood schools                                                                    
were  not  afforded   the  opportunity,  but  correspondence                                                                    
schools  were. She  knew  the Senate  bill  had a  portfolio                                                                    
option instead of a testing requirement.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Palin answered that the cost  for a child in a brick and                                                                    
mortar school  compared to homeschooling was  about three to                                                                    
one. He  noted that funding associated  with the [allotment]                                                                    
rollover  was a  much smaller  sum at  $2,700 per  child per                                                                    
year under  the IDEA program.  He noted that the  funds were                                                                    
often completely consumed. He  stated that music lessons and                                                                    
PE consumed  much of  the funding. He  remarked that  it was                                                                    
not like people were rolling  over $5,000 per year. He noted                                                                    
that SB  266 contained  provisions that limited  spending on                                                                    
specific things like fine arts,  music, and PE to 15 percent                                                                    
of the  allotment per  year. He provided  an example  of the                                                                    
cost of music lessons. He supported HB 400, version R.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:41:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin  appreciated  Mr. Palin  sharing  his                                                                    
perspective. She  noted that the committee  had not received                                                                    
substantial public  testimony from the  neighborhood schools                                                                    
because testifiers had  been asked not to  talk about public                                                                    
education   funds  during   the   operating  budget   public                                                                    
testimony since  there had been separate  legislation on the                                                                    
topic.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Coulombe stated there  was a public testifier                                                                    
on the  line. She  requested to have  the question  asked in                                                                    
order to respect people's time.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Galvin stated  some  schools  had been  shut                                                                    
down and some had no music  classes. She was trying to think                                                                    
through policy for individual families  who deserve to teach                                                                    
their children at  home and so many others  who were dealing                                                                    
with other issues. She thanked Mr. Palin.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  stated that his issue  with the Senate                                                                    
version  of  the   bill  was  that  the   testing  was  only                                                                    
applicable   to   correspondence  school   kids.   Currently                                                                    
everyone  could opt  out  of testing,  but  the Senate  bill                                                                    
specified that  everyone but home school  students could opt                                                                    
out of testing.  He thought it created an  equity issue. His                                                                    
second issue with the Senate  bill pertained to the rollover                                                                    
provision.  He stated  that when  the legislature  allocated                                                                    
funds  to  school districts,  the  state  did not  take  the                                                                    
funding  back if  the districts  did  not spend  all of  the                                                                    
money.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr.   Palin  agreed.   He  stated   that  SB   266  included                                                                    
inequitable provisions.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:45:13 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:00:02 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  noted there  were 19  testifiers remaining.                                                                    
He had  a meeting at 5:30  p.m. He asked people  to keep the                                                                    
time in mind.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:01:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADELE PRIBBENOW,  SELF, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference),  is a                                                                    
homeschool  parent and  certified teacher  working with  the                                                                    
homeschool program.  She shared  that she had  been involved                                                                    
in homeschooling in Alaska since  1984. She believed HB 400,                                                                    
version R best addressed  the needs of Alaskan homeschoolers                                                                    
by following  the law,  while not putting  a sudden  kink in                                                                    
their homeschooling  journey. She  stated that  the one-year                                                                    
sunset date  acknowledged that Alaskans needed  more time to                                                                    
weigh  issues carefully  to  avoid unintended  consequences.                                                                    
She highlighted that SB 266  was not temporary and contained                                                                    
issues that  were unrelated to the  constitutional question.                                                                    
She thanked the committee.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:02:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PENNY  VADLA, SELF,  SOLDOTNA  (via teleconference),  shared                                                                    
that she  had worked  as a high  school and  college teacher                                                                    
beginning  in  1977  and  had   retired  in  2006.  She  was                                                                    
currently  in  her  sixth  term on  the  school  board.  She                                                                    
thanked  the  legislature  for   supporting  the  state  and                                                                    
students in  brick and mortar  schools and  homeschools. She                                                                    
reviewed the guidelines  in HB 400 and wanted  to ensure the                                                                    
guidelines   were   monitored.    She   supported   adopting                                                                    
regulations  and  standards  for  ILPs  with  formative  and                                                                    
summative   assessments.    She   thought    the   formative                                                                    
assessments  would  help   the  summative  assessments.  She                                                                    
supported an annual allotment with  oversight. She hoped the                                                                    
state  would ensure  the  funds were  not  used for  private                                                                    
schools  or   religious  purposes.   She  believed   in  the                                                                    
separation between  church and state. She  also supported SB
266 but needed  to review it again to  provide feedback. She                                                                    
had never  been a tester  and liked portfolios as  a measure                                                                    
of  success.  She stated  that  testing  took a  variety  of                                                                    
measures to  be successful.  She highlighted  the importance                                                                    
of band  participation and lessons were  very different from                                                                    
being in  band. She shared  that she paid for  private music                                                                    
lessons for  her son and daughter.  She did not want  to pit                                                                    
one type of  schooling with another, she  believed both were                                                                    
essential. She thanked the committee.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:05:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KELVIN ODEGARD,  SELF, FAIRBANKS (via teleconference),  is a                                                                    
homeschooling parent  and had  been a  homeschooled student.                                                                    
He supported  the bill that  seemed to address  the judicial                                                                    
issue   and  concerns   with  constitutionality   of  public                                                                    
education  funds  going  to  private  schools  or  religious                                                                    
schools. He liked that the  bill primarily relied on DEED to                                                                    
get into  the details given  the short timeline and  that it                                                                    
had  a sunset  date  that  would enable  more  time for  any                                                                    
issues  to be  addressed. He  shared that  the homeschooling                                                                    
program  used by  his family  had rigorous  standards around                                                                    
how things  were paid  for and  ensuring they  were returned                                                                    
when finished with them. He  appreciated that HB 400 did not                                                                    
get into  how programs were run  and that it focused  on the                                                                    
funding.  He  did  not  support  the  Senate  bill  that  he                                                                    
believed  tried  to  address   any  issue  ever  brought  up                                                                    
pertaining to  schooling. He understood there  were numerous                                                                    
issues with  brick and  mortar and  homeschools, but  he did                                                                    
not believe a bill should be trying to address everything.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:08:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELLIE  OSTLER,  SELF,  ANCHOR  POINT  (via  teleconference),                                                                    
shared that supported HB 400,  version R, which she believed                                                                    
was superior to SB 266 in  every way. She stated that one of                                                                    
the  biggest benefits  of homeschooling  was the  ability to                                                                    
create  an individualized  education for  children. She  had                                                                    
five  children who  were homeschooled  and paid  for private                                                                    
music instruction with their allotment.  She stated it would                                                                    
be a financial strain on her  family to have a percentage of                                                                    
the  allotment  for the  arts  reduced  as  in SB  266.  She                                                                    
remarked  that homeschooling  was less  costly to  the state                                                                    
than brick and mortar school  models. She noted that the BSA                                                                    
for  homeschoolers   was  reduced  twice  before   going  to                                                                    
students. She  shared that the  IDEA program  allowed $2,700                                                                    
per  child,  which included  art,  PE,  and curriculum  with                                                                    
oversight from a certified  guidance teacher. She elaborated                                                                    
that  she  had one  child  with  a learning  disability  who                                                                    
qualified for  an individualized  education plan  (IEP). Her                                                                    
daughter had achieved  a higher reading level  than they had                                                                    
been told  was possible. She stated  that many homeschoolers                                                                    
left public  schools because they  had failed  special needs                                                                    
students  abysmally. She  relayed  that rollover  allotments                                                                    
were important because some  families were purposely setting                                                                    
aside portions  of money  to pay  for opportunities  such as                                                                    
trade  classes  through   the  Alaska  Vocational  Technical                                                                    
Center  (AVTEC) and  college courses.  She  stated that  the                                                                    
people homeschooling their kids were  doing so at no cost to                                                                    
the state.  She emphasized  that children deserved  a strong                                                                    
familial  and educational  foundation, which  would build  a                                                                    
stronger Alaska. She thanked the committee.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
5:11:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAWN  COGAN, SELF,  FAIRBANKS  (via teleconference),  shared                                                                    
how  homeschooling  had  benefitted   her  family.  She  had                                                                    
enjoyed the freedom of choice  to teach her children at home                                                                    
for 18  years. She  detailed that her  family lived  an hour                                                                    
north of Fairbanks  and she had opted  to homeschool because                                                                    
transportation  to and  from school  was  not possible.  She                                                                    
relayed  that they  had faithfully  attended school  testing                                                                    
annually during that time. She  elaborated that when testing                                                                    
became a  choice, they had discontinued  their participation                                                                    
because the  results arrived  long after  the window  to use                                                                    
the   status  to   make  informed   decisions.  She   shared                                                                    
information about  assessment strategies she  had discovered                                                                    
that  worked  better  for  her  family.  She  stressed  that                                                                    
parents should have  the right to opt out  of state testing.                                                                    
She  relayed that  allotment carryover  accounts had  been a                                                                    
powerful resource  for students pursuing dual  enrollment at                                                                    
University   of   Alaska   campuses   and   pursuing   other                                                                    
educational opportunities.  She stated  that a  large amount                                                                    
of  the  money  was  kept  in  state  and  there  was  close                                                                    
management by  correspondence school programs  with policies                                                                    
in  place  to  manage  accountable use  of  the  funds.  Her                                                                    
daughter used the  funds to attend the  University of Alaska                                                                    
Fairbanks and graduated high school  with over 20 university                                                                    
credits.  She  shared  information about  her  daughter  and                                                                    
son's education  and lives. She  loved having  an individual                                                                    
learning plan  and she  respected the  state's constitution.                                                                    
She hoped lawmakers could reach  a decision that honored the                                                                    
state's constitution, while continuing  to allow families to                                                                    
utilize  state-funded allotments.  She  stated  that SB  266                                                                    
gave a good option  between testing and portfolios; however,                                                                    
it  made punitive  changes to  the feasibility  of providing                                                                    
homeschool children an  equitable and well-rounded education                                                                    
by  limiting  allotment  carryovers and  implementing  a  15                                                                    
percent  limit  on funds  allowed  for  art, music,  and  PE                                                                    
vendors.  She asked  the committee  to vote  yes on  HB 400,                                                                    
version R.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tomaszewski thanked Ms.  Cogan for calling in                                                                    
and for her commitment to the kids in Fairbanks.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:15:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TERRI  BEACH, SELF,  FAIRBANKS (via  teleconference), was  a                                                                    
former  homeschool   parent  and  remained  active   in  the                                                                    
homeschooling   community    in   Fairbanks.    She   shared                                                                    
information about  her children who had  excelled in school.                                                                    
She  stated  that  having an  adequate  allotment  with  the                                                                    
freedom  to  choose  quality curriculum  that  suited  their                                                                    
needs made a tremendous  difference. She stated that quality                                                                    
curriculum  tended to  get more  expensive  at higher  grade                                                                    
levels. She had  needed support in some areas  where she had                                                                    
not been the  strongest teacher. She relayed  that access to                                                                    
the allotment  rollover was very  important. She  noted that                                                                    
everyone  received the  rollover but  not everyone  used it.                                                                    
She shared that  when her kids graduated,  they had rollover                                                                    
money  that was  returned to  the school  district. She  was                                                                    
concerned about  the financial restrictions the  Senate bill                                                                    
put on PE. She explained that  her kids had been required to                                                                    
have three semesters of PE,  but the funds had been limited.                                                                    
She was  concerned about additional oversight  in the Senate                                                                    
bill. She supported HB 400, version R.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:19:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRANDY  BRANT,  SELF,  HOMER   (via  teleconference),  is  a                                                                    
homeschool mom of three children  currently through the IDEA                                                                    
program. She  supported HB 400,  version R. She  shared that                                                                    
her  three  children   were  neurodivergent  with  disorders                                                                    
including  dyslexia,  dysgraphia,   OCD,  and  anxiety.  The                                                                    
allotment provided  her family  the freedom to  find success                                                                    
in areas  that was not  necessarily brick and  mortar style.                                                                    
She believed HB 400 gave more  time to keep progressing in a                                                                    
way   that   protected    those   freedoms   and   respected                                                                    
constitutionality. She  had spent 12 years  leaning into the                                                                    
system  and   it  had   provided  support,   structure,  and                                                                    
accountability.   The  announcement   of   the  change   was                                                                    
unnerving. She  supported the timeframe  in the  bill, which                                                                    
provided  more time  for nuanced  conversations. She  stated                                                                    
that the  sunset clause allowed the  bill to come to  an end                                                                    
in a way that allowed things to move forward.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:21:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TRACY  MAXWELL,  SELF,  JUNEAU (via  teleconference),  is  a                                                                    
homeschool parent  of two  neurodivergent daughters  who had                                                                    
struggled in different academic  areas. She detailed that an                                                                    
individualized education taught them  to use their strengths                                                                    
and manage  their differences. She shared  information about                                                                    
her  daughters.   She  relayed   that  their   stories  were                                                                    
testaments to  the success  of homeschooling.  She supported                                                                    
HB  400,  version  R because  it  allowed  homeschooling  to                                                                    
continue  without disruption.  The bill  also gave  time for                                                                    
careful consideration of the issues  over the next year. She                                                                    
addressed questions about  accountability for homeschoolers.                                                                    
She  stressed  that  testing  did  not  indicate  a  child's                                                                    
success  or whether  she was  successful as  a teacher.  She                                                                    
emphasized that  her dyslexic daughter  would never  do well                                                                    
on a  test, but it  did not mean  she was not  learning. She                                                                    
believed it was  necessary to change the thinking  on how to                                                                    
hold schools accountable. She thanked the committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:23:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JACINTHA  MEZZETI, SELF,  EAGLE RIVER  (via teleconference),                                                                    
supported  HB  400, version  R.  She  stated that  the  bill                                                                    
canceled  itself  in July  2025,  which  she supported.  She                                                                    
liked  that the  bill would  prevent rushed  and potentially                                                                    
inadequate  legislation  and   any  unexpected  consequences                                                                    
would be provisional.  The bill required the  State Board of                                                                    
Education to address the  constitutional question, which she                                                                    
believed  was  appropriate.  She emphasized  that  the  bill                                                                    
preserved   many   time-tested  educational   correspondence                                                                    
program practices.  She did  not support  SB 266  because it                                                                    
was not temporary and tried  to answer questions larger than                                                                    
the  constitutional  challenge  at  hand.  She  thought  the                                                                    
language of  SB 266 seemed ignorant  that the correspondence                                                                    
program brought  educational dollars and  educational equity                                                                    
to  all  Alaskans including  Alaskans  in  Native and  rural                                                                    
villages whose  students had been  underserved prior  to the                                                                    
implementation of the programs. She thanked the committee.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:27:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FAELYN SIMPSON,  SELF, EAGLE RIVER (via  teleconference), is                                                                    
a homeschool  parent of three  children with  special needs.                                                                    
She supported HB  400, version R. She supported  that it did                                                                    
not make  many changes to the  allotment carryover, testing,                                                                    
or changes  in spending,  and that it  would sunset  in July                                                                    
2025. She  did not believe  there needed  to be any  rush to                                                                    
get permanent legislation in place.  She believed SB 266 had                                                                    
a number of  problems. She did not support  the no carryover                                                                    
and that  10 percent  of the  funds could  be spent  on art,                                                                    
math, and PE.  She stated her kids were very  active and her                                                                    
family likely  used around 50  percent of the funds  for art                                                                    
and PE classes.  She shared information about  the costs for                                                                    
some of the  classes, which were very  expensive. She listed                                                                    
the costs  of some of the  classes. She did not  support the                                                                    
permanence  of   the  Senate  bill.  She   noted  that  most                                                                    
homeschool families  were one income  families. She  did not                                                                    
want the allotments to change drastically.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:31:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SHAD SCHOPPERT, SELF,  ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke                                                                    
in favor  of HB  400, version  R. He and  his wife  had been                                                                    
homeschooling  their children  for  nine  years through  the                                                                    
Anchorage  School  District,   formerly  Family  Partnership                                                                    
Charter School.  He had been  on the advisory  committee for                                                                    
Family Partnership. He stated that  the bill provided a path                                                                    
for correspondence school kids  across the state to continue                                                                    
their  programs. The  bill allowed  parents  to continue  to                                                                    
define what was best for  their children's education and did                                                                    
not attempt to restrict  correspondence school families. The                                                                    
bill  allowed families  to  opt  in or  out  of testing  and                                                                    
enabled  families  to  reserve   funds  for  more  extensive                                                                    
courses. The  bill treated  correspondence schools  the same                                                                    
as  brick  and  mortar  schools with  respect  to  reporting                                                                    
requirements and  allowed for freedom  of choice  within the                                                                    
ILP.  The  bill  did   not  micromanage  how  correspondence                                                                    
families spent the  small amount of funds  they received. He                                                                    
continued to  review the benefits  of the bill.  He believed                                                                    
there  were  several   misconceptions  about  correspondence                                                                    
programs.  He stated  that educational  materials had  to be                                                                    
returned. Families  did not  merely receive  a check  to use                                                                    
however they  wanted; they had  to jump  through significant                                                                    
hoops and  reimbursement requirements.  He stated  that some                                                                    
may  challenge  correspondence  families because  they  used                                                                    
their funds  for unique  or special  things that  catered to                                                                    
their  children's  specific  needs. He  challenged  that  if                                                                    
money  were no  issue,  he thought  every  brick and  mortar                                                                    
school would  do the same  thing. He thought  statute should                                                                    
be broad like  HB 400, version R. He urged  the committee to                                                                    
support the bill.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
5:35:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  BAUMAN, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via  teleconference), is  a                                                                    
homeschool parent of  three children. She was  in support of                                                                    
HB  400 that  gave a  year  to figure  out how  to make  the                                                                    
situation work.  She shared that  she owned a toy  store and                                                                    
sold educational  items. She had heard  a substantial amount                                                                    
from the  homeschool community and  she found it  amazing to                                                                    
hear an  outpouring of what homeschooling  and the allotment                                                                    
meant  to people  and what  it provided  to the  children of                                                                    
Alaska.  She   wanted  to  ensure  homeschooling   would  be                                                                    
continued  through the  next  year. She  found  it scary  to                                                                    
think  that  if  funds  were   taken  away  that  homeschool                                                                    
families may not receive the  funds again in the future. She                                                                    
shared information  about her  children. She  explained that                                                                    
much of  the allotment for  one of  her kids went  to sports                                                                    
and  physical  activities.  She stated  that  to  completely                                                                    
regulate  what   every  child  did,  did   not  provide  the                                                                    
personalized ability to do what  was right for each kid. She                                                                    
emphasized that  homeschooling was not an  easy endeavor and                                                                    
was likely one of the hardest  things she had ever done. She                                                                    
reiterated her support for the bill.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:38:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA  FLYNN, SELF,  SOLDOTNA (via  teleconference), shared                                                                    
that she had homeschooled in  Alaska for three years and had                                                                    
been a  homeschooling parent for  ten years. She  noted that                                                                    
the other  states her  family had  lived in  did not  have a                                                                    
correspondence  program  or   allotment.  She  relayed  that                                                                    
having  the funds  to purchase  the tailored  curriculum her                                                                    
family needed  had been  a large  benefit. She  supported HB
400  that  would provide  more  time  to consider  what  the                                                                    
permanent future bill should entail.  She did not believe it                                                                    
was right to  punish all homeschooling families  for the few                                                                    
people spending the funds on  private education. She relayed                                                                    
that her  family used the  IDEA program, which  was strictly                                                                    
regulated. She noted  that no funds were  spent on religious                                                                    
items. The $400  families would be allowed to  spend on art,                                                                    
music, and  gym in  the Senate bill  was not  sufficient for                                                                    
her family. She remarked that  students in public school had                                                                    
freedom to  take art,  music, and PE.  She relayed  that her                                                                    
daughter  was getting  to the  age  of needing  to take  her                                                                    
driver's  exam and  was dyslexic  and  needed tutoring.  Her                                                                    
daughter was hoping to take  the Jump Start program when she                                                                    
was a junior and her family  had been trying to save some of                                                                    
the rollover  allotment for the purpose.  She reiterated her                                                                    
support for HB 400.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:40:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA  BOESHART,   SELF,  SOLDOTNA   (via  teleconference),                                                                    
shared  that she  is a  second generation  homeschooler. She                                                                    
supported HB 400, which she  believed seemed to best address                                                                    
the issue  at hand. She  thought there was overreach  in the                                                                    
Senate  bill. She  supported the  allotment rollover  in the                                                                    
House bill,  which had been  a great benefit to  her family.                                                                    
She shared detail about her  daughter's education. The funds                                                                    
had enabled  her daughter  to take  UAA college  credits and                                                                    
violin classes. She stated the  amount allowed by SB 266 was                                                                    
not  sufficient for  elective classes.  She  liked that  the                                                                    
House bill repealed itself within a  year and did not try to                                                                    
fix what was not broken.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:42:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALICIA  JENSEN, SELF,  STERLING (via  teleconference), is  a                                                                    
                            th                                                                                                  
homeschool  parent with  a 5   grader enrolled  in the  IDEA                                                                    
program. She  supported HB 400,  version R. She  stated that                                                                    
with the  sense of urgency  it made  the most sense  for the                                                                    
coming year and it repealed  itself in a year. Additionally,                                                                    
the bill  would safeguard constitutional spending.  The bill                                                                    
would allow the legislature and  court time to deal with the                                                                    
repercussions of  the ruling. She  believed the  Senate bill                                                                    
was  a broad  overreach that  was not  related to  the court                                                                    
ruling  and it  did not  expire. She  stated they  could not                                                                    
conflate the court  ruling regarding correspondence programs                                                                    
and allotment  spending with the  public school  budget. She                                                                    
shared  that   homeschool  parents  were  catering   to  the                                                                    
methodologies that worked for their  kids. She noted that AK                                                                    
STAR  testing used  completely different  language than  the                                                                    
curriculum she used at home.  She stated that DEED needed to                                                                    
focus on  fixing the brick  and mortar school system  and it                                                                    
did  not need  to be  weighed down  with holding  homeschool                                                                    
families  accountable  when  they   already  had  very  good                                                                    
systems in place that did so.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:46:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KIMBERLY WELCH,  SELF, WASILLA (via  teleconference), shared                                                                    
that she is a homeschool mom  of four children. She spoke in                                                                    
support of  HB 400, version  R, which she believed  made the                                                                    
most sense for  homeschoolers. She found Senate  Bill 266 to                                                                    
be  appalling and  a slap  in  the face  for any  homeschool                                                                    
family. She had several  children with learning disabilities                                                                    
who  did not  do  well  on tests.  She  emphasized that  the                                                                    
allotment provided in SB 266 for  music and gym was too low.                                                                    
She  was blessed  with  a musically  gifted  child, and  she                                                                    
could not  imagine taking the  opportunity away.  She shared                                                                    
information about her children's  education. She stated that                                                                    
the Senate bill came across  as greedy and money hungry. She                                                                    
supported that  HB 400 could  be revised and  revisited. She                                                                    
hoped the  committee would  look at  the future  of Alaskans                                                                    
and the  big picture and  would opt to  pass HB 400  and not                                                                    
the Senate bill.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:50:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AUDREY  MADSEN, SELF,  WASILLA  (via  teleconference), is  a                                                                    
homeschool parent of three kids  and was seeking a degree in                                                                    
education. She agreed that HB  400, version R was the better                                                                    
situation  for   homeschool  families.  She   supported  the                                                                    
expiration date  of the bill.  She shared that  her youngest                                                                    
child  had  been  in  a   public  school  special  education                                                                    
classes, but  unfortunately her family  had been  faced with                                                                    
letting his  knowledge drop or homeschooling  him to provide                                                                    
the education  he needed.  She stated her  son had  not been                                                                    
able to  get the  services he needed  in public  school. She                                                                    
shared information  about her son.  She shared that  her son                                                                    
had  grown  immensely   in  the  past  year   she  had  been                                                                    
homeschooling.  She  provided  information about  her  other                                                                    
kids.   She   relayed   that  homeschoolers   could   adjust                                                                    
curriculum  to  a  student's  level.  For  example,  it  was                                                                    
possible to  have one child  doing 3  or  4  grade  math and                                                                    
 thth                                                                                                                           
5  or  6  grade language arts. She  stressed the benefits of                                                                    
homeschooling.    She    relayed    that   in    terms    of                                                                    
extracurriculars,  the  allotment  only  went  so  far.  She                                                                    
highlighted that the  rollover could make a  difference of a                                                                    
few  extra  courses. She  discussed  parity  with brick  and                                                                    
mortar schools. She thanked the committee.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:53:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HANNAH MURKIN,  SELF, ANCHORAGE  (via teleconference),  is a                                                                    
homeschool  parent.   She  explained  that  when   a  family                                                                    
purchased  correspondence curriculum  supplies, things  that                                                                    
were  consumable were  not given  back to  the program.  She                                                                    
detailed that  families could keep things  like textbooks if                                                                    
they planned to use them for  another child or they could be                                                                    
returned to the program. She  discussed testing and was glad                                                                    
it was not a  part of HB 400. She shared  that her child had                                                                    
gone to a  brick and mortar school in  kindergarten, and the                                                                    
testing had  stressed her son  out so  much that he  was not                                                                    
really  able to  participate  in  standardized testing.  She                                                                    
                                 th                                                                                             
elaborated that her son  was in 4  grade and  she had him do                                                                    
the math  testing at  home, but it  had been  very stressful                                                                    
for him  because the test was  too long. She shared  that he                                                                    
had he  done well and had  scored above average, but  it was                                                                    
too long. She  supported HB 400, version R.  She thanked the                                                                    
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:57:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster CLOSED  public testimony.  He provided  the                                                                    
address for written testimony.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp   MOVED  to  REPORT  HB   400  out  of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz and Representative Josephson OBJECTED.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  spoke to his objection.  He stated                                                                    
there were  many sources  of concern. He  turned to  page 2,                                                                    
subsection (d),  lines 12  to 13,  which indicated  that the                                                                    
board  would decide  what the  state constitution  meant. He                                                                    
elaborated  that  the  board   would  contact  the  attorney                                                                    
general's  office and  the attorney  general's office  would                                                                    
say the  judge was wrong  and the attorney  general's office                                                                    
would tell the  board what was right. He did  not think that                                                                    
was  accurate. He  did not  think  what the  AG thought  was                                                                    
right was  accurate and he  did not think the  supreme court                                                                    
would deem  it to be accurate  either. He did not  think the                                                                    
subsection worked. He did not  know of any objections to the                                                                    
law that had  been passed by the legislature  prior to 2014.                                                                    
He wanted to  make sure it complied with  Article 7, Section                                                                    
1. He  stated that his  interpretation of the bill  was that                                                                    
it  required some  testing; however,  none of  the testimony                                                                    
had  been in  favor  of testing.  He  added that  testifiers                                                                    
thought SB 266 required testing, but  it had an option for a                                                                    
portfolio. He stated that he  and his staff had been working                                                                    
as  fast as  possible  to prepare  amendments. He  explained                                                                    
that moving the bill during  the current meeting did not fit                                                                    
in  the  example  of  what  the  chair  mentioned  two  days                                                                    
earlier. He requested time to consider amendments.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster wanted to come  back to determine what to do                                                                    
with   the  bill   and  possibly   hear  another   piece  of                                                                    
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:02:35 PM                                                                                                                    
RECESSED                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:25:09 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster relayed  that  the committee  had left  off                                                                    
with a motion  to move HB 400 from committee  followed by an                                                                    
objection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz  requested that  Representative  Stapp                                                                    
withdraw the  motion and  for the  bill to  be set  aside in                                                                    
order to move forward with other  bills on the agenda out of                                                                    
respect for people's time.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Tomaszewski  thought that out of  respect for                                                                    
the people present  and the time sensitivity  related to the                                                                    
lateness  in session  that any  amendments  that would  have                                                                    
been brought in  committee would likely be  brought again on                                                                    
the House floor. He thought  they should report the bill out                                                                    
if it was the will of the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin  thought it was the  previous day when                                                                    
Co-Chair Foster  had stated  there may  be some  bills where                                                                    
the will of the committee would  be to move the bill without                                                                    
any  amendments, but  there were  other bills  the committee                                                                    
would allow  for process.  She had  at least  one conceptual                                                                    
amendment.  She requested  an  opportunity  for the  process                                                                    
with HB  400. She  remarked that it  was an  important topic                                                                    
for many Alaskans.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:27:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative     Coulombe     reminded    members     that                                                                    
Representative Ruffridge and his  staff had been present for                                                                    
many days  and nights waiting  for their turn to  hear their                                                                    
bill.  She  apologized  to  others  waiting,  but  the  bill                                                                    
sponsor had been waiting for a long time as well.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp stated  it was  his intention  to move                                                                    
the  bill  from  committee.  He thought  other  members  had                                                                    
amendments ready.  He had no problem  withdrawing his motion                                                                    
to  move the  bill to  allow time  for amendments.  He would                                                                    
then make  another motion  to move  the bill  from committee                                                                    
after  amendments  were  completed.   He  would  rather  not                                                                    
postpone due to the time sensitivity.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  WITHDREW the  motion to move  the bill                                                                    
for the purpose of conceptual amendments.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster  stated  the  committee  would  begin  with                                                                    
amendments  from Representative  Josephson as  soon as  they                                                                    
were distributed.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
7:29:08 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:31:56 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson MOVED  conceptual Amendment 1 (copy                                                                    
on file):                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 12-13:                                                                                                       
     Delete all material.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, lines 12-13:                                                                                                       
     Insert:                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     "(d) The  Department shall write  regulations regarding                                                                    
     correspondence   programs    and   student   allotments                                                                    
     consistent with an appellate decision  on the Matter of                                                                    
     Alexander, et  al. v. State  of Alaska (on  appeal from                                                                    
     3AN-23-04309CI)"                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson explained  the  amendment. It  was                                                                    
his understanding that although  there was some objection by                                                                    
                                          th                                                                                    
the  administration early  on, on  June 25   there would  be                                                                    
oral  arguments on  the  subjects raised  in  the matter  of                                                                    
Alexander  v.  State  of  Alaska.  He  stated  that  he  had                                                                    
confirmed his  understanding with  the Alaska  Court System.                                                                    
He believed the  fact the [Alaska] supreme  court was taking                                                                    
the topic  up quickly  indicated that  the court  viewed the                                                                    
topic to  have such  public importance  that it  intended to                                                                    
rule swiftly.  He would  rather not  have a  special session                                                                    
because  it   would  be  costly  and   time  consuming.  The                                                                    
amendment would  delete lines 12  and 13 from the  bill. The                                                                    
impact  would be  that  the legislature  would  not ask  the                                                                    
State  Board of  Education to  ask the  attorney general  to                                                                    
come up with regulations  consistent with Article 7, Section                                                                    
1. He noted  it could take a couple of  months for the court                                                                    
to write  an opinion. He was  told that as soon  as the 28th                                                                    
     th                                                                                                                         
or 29   of  June, the  [state supreme]  court may  affirm or                                                                    
partially  affirm the  prior ruling  made by  Judge [Adolph]                                                                    
Zeman.  He   asked  why  the  legislature   would  want  the                                                                    
Department  of Education  and  Early  Development (DEED)  to                                                                    
write regulations based on its  interpretation of Article 7,                                                                    
Section 1 when  the supreme court was going to  give a fresh                                                                    
pronouncement on  a topic  it had not  issued an  opinion on                                                                    
since  the Sheldon  Jackson decision  in 1979.  He supported                                                                    
asking DEED  to write regulation consistent  with the future                                                                    
court decision.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
7:35:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  spoke in opposition to  the amendment.                                                                    
He stated  there were 22,000  homeschool families  that were                                                                    
looking to the legislature. He  noted it was per the judge's                                                                    
ruling that the  legislature had some sort  of statement. He                                                                    
thought the best thing the  legislature could do would be to                                                                    
get the process started for  the State Board of Education to                                                                    
begin  the regulatory  framework.  He reasoned  that in  the                                                                    
event there was  a subsequent ruling from  the supreme court                                                                    
(with a time uncertain), the  board would have already begun                                                                    
the process. He elaborated  that if the regulatory framework                                                                    
was dependent on  a process that the maker  of the amendment                                                                    
noted may not be until Labor  Day, he did not believe it was                                                                    
fair to homeschool families to wait that long.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin asked  Representative Josephson if the                                                                    
amendment would  mean that homeschool  would stop  until the                                                                    
process was done.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson  responded that the only  thing the                                                                    
amendment would  change was lines  12 through 13.  He stated                                                                    
his understanding that the stay  was currently in effect. He                                                                    
believed Representative  Galvin was asking if  the amendment                                                                    
would  lift the  stay. He  wondered whether  the legislature                                                                    
could overcome  a stay on  the same  topic by writing  a law                                                                    
when  there was  an  existing case  and  the courts  assumed                                                                    
jurisdiction. He did not know the answer.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:37:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hannan asked if  the amendment would preclude                                                                    
homeschooling   decisions    going   forward    before   the                                                                    
regulations were written.  She did not see it  that way. She                                                                    
detailed   that   the   bill  spelled   out   correspondence                                                                    
provisions  and   specified  that  the  board   would  write                                                                    
regulations.  She  highlighted  that the  board  process  of                                                                    
writing  regulation would  not  be done  by  June or  August                                                                    
because  there was  a process  DEED would  undergo including                                                                    
public  notice regulations.  She did  not think  the current                                                                    
provisions or the amendment would  result in a secure set of                                                                    
regulations by Labor Day.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hannan  viewed  the bill  as  giving  enough                                                                    
governance  to go  forward with  some  limited aspects.  She                                                                    
stated  that points  one through  four  gave some  direction                                                                    
about  how  to run  correspondence.  She  noted it  did  not                                                                    
address  all  of the  elements  existing  under the  current                                                                    
correspondence  law, but  she  interpreted  the language  to                                                                    
mean they  could move forward  with the four  things needed.                                                                    
She thought  that as the  bill was drafted that  having DEED                                                                    
write regulations  based on the constitution  did not change                                                                    
anything.  She  noted that  if  upheld,  the court  decision                                                                    
would  throw  it all  out.  Presumably,  the regulations  in                                                                    
place were written in line  with the constitution. She noted                                                                    
that the  court had found them  not to be [in  line with the                                                                    
constitution],  and whether  the supreme  court would  agree                                                                    
was  to be  determined.  She reasoned  that  if the  supreme                                                                    
court agreed with  Judge Zeman's decision, it  would be easy                                                                    
because "they've  already got  them if  they throw  it out."                                                                    
However,  if  the  supreme  court  gave  more  guidance  and                                                                    
direction, it  would narrow what  had to be done  because HB
400  lay  out  some   general  guiding  principles  for  the                                                                    
correspondence program to go forward.  She was in support of                                                                    
the conceptual amendment.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:40:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative    Ruffridge   understood    the   conceptual                                                                    
amendment offered  by Representative Josephson;  however, he                                                                    
believed  it  would  essentially  throw  into  question  the                                                                    
ability of the  State Board of Education  and the Department                                                                    
of  Law  to  draft  regulations consistent  with  the  state                                                                    
constitution. He was  not certain it was  a fair assessment.                                                                    
There were  currently a number  of current  regulations that                                                                    
were linked  back to AS 300  and AS 310. He  elaborated that                                                                    
with statutes being put into  question or struck down, there                                                                    
needed  to be  a statutory  or  legal framework  to tie  the                                                                    
regulations to. He  thought that the idea  that there needed                                                                    
to  be   a  massive  regulations  project   to  rewrite  new                                                                    
regulations   seemed  broad.   He   believed  the   existing                                                                    
regulations were clear  and detailed, but they  needed to be                                                                    
tied back  to a law that  allowed them to exist.  He did not                                                                    
think  the language  of the  amendment did  that in  a clear                                                                    
enough way.  He stated  the amendment  tied it  to something                                                                    
that  was  a  bit  of   a  moving  target.  He  opposed  the                                                                    
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Foster asked  Representative Josephson  to provide                                                                    
wrap up on the amendment.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson stated  that one  of the  problems                                                                    
with the bill  was asking DEED to write  regulations - which                                                                    
took time to  write at a minimum due to  the notice period -                                                                    
on  a law  that  was currently  being  challenged. The  only                                                                    
guidance he  knew of was  the Sheldon Jackson  decision from                                                                    
45 years  back. He believed  the amendment may help  avoid a                                                                    
special session. He  stated that the Board  of Education had                                                                    
been ordered to write  something legally consistent with the                                                                    
most  recent   decision  issued  by  the   court  which  was                                                                    
Alexander v.  State of Alaska.  Otherwise, there would  be a                                                                    
regulation written  short of  a review  of the  decision. He                                                                    
did not know  whether the regulation would  be changed again                                                                    
to be consistent  with the new law. The  amendment left open                                                                    
the question of  what the ruling would look  like. He argued                                                                    
that  if  the  conceptual  amendment passed,  it  should  be                                                                    
lawful, and a special session should not be needed.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
7:43:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED  the OBJECTION to conceptual                                                                    
Amendment 1.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Hannan, Ortiz, Josephson, Galvin                                                                                      
OPPOSED:  Stapp,  Tomaszewski,   Coulombe,  Cronk,  Johnson,                                                                    
Foster                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon was absent from the vote.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION to adopt conceptual Amendment 1 FAILED (4/6).                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:44:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson asked for the bill's effective date.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ruffridge  responded   that  there  was  not                                                                    
currently an effective date in  the bill. He believed it was                                                                    
a subject that needed to be taken up.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
7:45:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson MOVED  conceptual Amendment 2 (copy                                                                    
on file):                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, line 11 following "plan" insert:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     "A parent or guardian may not purchase services and                                                                        
     materials from a private or religious organization                                                                         
     with a student allotment."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson read  the amendment language above.                                                                    
He  explained that  the specific  statement was  one of  the                                                                    
things missing from the bill.  He noted the language was not                                                                    
that  different from  a  bill that  became  law around  2014                                                                    
sponsored by former Senator Mike  Dunleavy. He stated it was                                                                    
a  more  direct  statement  of   the  law  as  it  was  best                                                                    
understood. He  elaborated that without the  sentence in the                                                                    
bill, they  were back  where they  started, with  an illegal                                                                    
bill. He  explained that the  language had been  missed when                                                                    
regulations had been  written from the 2014  bill. He stated                                                                    
there was  no direction  to DEED  to monitor  compliance. He                                                                    
noted there was also another  issue about the bill not being                                                                    
effective for 90 days and there  was likely to be a decision                                                                    
before that time.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp adamantly  opposed  the amendment.  He                                                                    
clarified  that the  state  constitution  specified that  no                                                                    
funding shall  be used for  the direct benefit of  a private                                                                    
or religious educational  institution, whereas the amendment                                                                    
specified  that  a  parent  or  guardian  may  not  purchase                                                                    
services  and   materials  from   a  private   or  religious                                                                    
organization with  a student  allotment. He  interpreted the                                                                    
conceptual amendment  to mean  that a  person could  not use                                                                    
their allotment  for any services  purchased from  a private                                                                    
or  religious   organization.  He  pointed  out   that  most                                                                    
homeschool  families  used   their  allotments  to  purchase                                                                    
books, and  services (e.g., gymnastics,  individual learning                                                                    
plans), materials  (e.g., laptops) from private  vendors. He                                                                    
thought the  amendment spoke  to the crux  of the  issue. He                                                                    
did not  believe the state  specified that  school districts                                                                    
should be unable to use  their BSA funding for services from                                                                    
private organizations.  He did not know  why the legislature                                                                    
would want  to put  something in statute  that was  far more                                                                    
prescriptive than the state's constitution.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
7:48:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ortiz   MOVED  conceptual  Amendment   1  to                                                                    
conceptual Amendment 2. The  conceptual amendment would take                                                                    
a  direct  quotation from  the  constitution  that had  been                                                                    
cited by Representative Stapp.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Stapp  OBJECTED  because  the  language  was                                                                    
already in the constitution. He  did not think there was any                                                                    
reason to also define it in statute.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  asked for verification  that Representative                                                                    
Ortiz had made an official motion.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz agreed.  The amendment would substitute                                                                    
the language  currently in conceptual  Amendment 2  with the                                                                    
constitutional language cited by Representative Stapp.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ruffridge  explained   that  his  intent  in                                                                    
drafting the  underlying bill (on  page 2, lines  12 through                                                                    
13) was  to adopt  the language of  the constitution  as the                                                                    
basis  for  the drafting  of  regulations.  He thought  that                                                                    
directly inserting  language from the constitution  into the                                                                    
bill was unnecessary.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
7:50:57 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:52:07 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative    Josephson     referenced    Representative                                                                    
Ruffridge's description  of his  purpose for  subsection (d)                                                                    
of  the  bill. He  stated  that  the way  appeals  typically                                                                    
worked was  that the greater  burden was on  the petitioner,                                                                    
which  was the  State  of  Alaska in  the  current case.  He                                                                    
detailed that  the state was  currently losing the  case and                                                                    
it  wanted to  flip the  result  to say  that Judge  Zeman's                                                                    
ruling  was wrong.  He noted  that currently  the judge  was                                                                    
right.  He referenced  Representative Ruffridge's  statement                                                                    
that his  intent in  subsection (d) was  to have  DEED issue                                                                    
regulations  consistent with  the  constitution. He  pointed                                                                    
out that  DEED was part and  parcel of the state,  which was                                                                    
in  the losing  position of  the lawsuit.  He remarked  that                                                                    
DEED  was  independent  and  could  disagree  with  Attorney                                                                    
General Treg  Taylor, but  he found  it highly  unlikely. He                                                                    
asked  why   the  legislature  would  want   DEED  to  write                                                                    
something when it was in the losing posture in the case.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Ruffridge responded  that  he  wanted to  be                                                                    
cautious. He  clarified that  the bill did  not ask  DEED to                                                                    
write the  regulations. Typically, the regulations  would be                                                                    
written by the State Board  of Education, which was a little                                                                    
different. He  elaborated that the individuals  on the board                                                                    
were  appointed  by the  governor  and  worked as  volunteer                                                                    
citizens  of the  state, typically  with some  experience in                                                                    
education.  He surmised  the board  members' experience  was                                                                    
likely  more  extensive than  many  of  the members  of  the                                                                    
legislature. He  thought they were  best suited  to continue                                                                    
to draft regulations.  He would send the  regulations to the                                                                    
committee  that dealt  with correspondence  programs in  the                                                                    
state. He elaborated that the  board had written and adopted                                                                    
the regulations  for decades  and had  cleaned them  up here                                                                    
and there  and made  simple changes;  however, for  the most                                                                    
part,  the regulations  had functioned  relatively unchanged                                                                    
for a while. He did  not believe a large regulations project                                                                    
was needed. He  believed it would be a  simple adjustment in                                                                    
regulation  to  specify  that  a person  could  not  use  an                                                                    
allotment provided  for correspondence study to  pay tuition                                                                    
at a  private school.  He stated that  the language  was not                                                                    
currently in  regulation or statute,  which was  the problem                                                                    
highlighted in  the court  case. There was  a need  to state                                                                    
that individualized  learning plans should exist  and should                                                                    
be  funded  because they  were  part  of the  public  school                                                                    
system.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  asked Representative Ortiz to  provide wrap                                                                    
up on conceptual Amendment 1 to conceptual Amendment 2.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Ortiz  explained   that   he  offered   the                                                                    
amendment  in  good  faith  in  response  to  comments  from                                                                    
Representative   Stapp  that   he   believed  the   original                                                                    
amendment    was   too    prescriptive.   He    noted   that                                                                    
Representative  Stapp had  cited  the specific  part of  the                                                                    
[state]  constitution.  He  would  also be  nervous  if  the                                                                    
language was too prescriptive or  more prescriptive than the                                                                    
constitution.  He  stated   that  Representative  Stapp  had                                                                    
indicated  a preference  for the  language.  He stated  that                                                                    
including  the  language  in   statute  would  provide  more                                                                    
guidance  and  it would  remind  everyone  dealing with  the                                                                    
issue that language needed to  comply with the constitution.                                                                    
He saw no harm in that.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:56:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Josephson, Ortiz, Galvin, Hannan, Foster                                                                              
OPPOSED:  Cronk,  Stapp,   Coulombe,  Tomaszewski,  Johnson,                                                                    
Edgmon                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The  MOTION to  adopt conceptual  Amendment 1  to conceptual                                                                    
Amendment 2 FAILED (5/6).                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
7:58:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson  provided  wrap up  on  conceptual                                                                    
Amendment 2.  He stated that former  Senator Dunleavy's bill                                                                    
passed in  2014 was enrolled as  FCCS HB 278 and  created AS                                                                    
14.03.320.  He noted  that  the section  did  use the  words                                                                    
"private  or   religious  organization."  He   believed  the                                                                    
language  in  the  amendment  was  consistent  with  judge's                                                                    
decision that was being appealed.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Ortiz, Galvin, Josephson, Hannan, Edgmon                                                                              
OPPOSED:  Tomaszewski,  Coulombe,   Stapp,  Cronk,  Johnson,                                                                    
Foster                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION to adopt conceptual Amendment 2 FAILED (5/6).                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
7:59:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin MOVED conceptual  Amendment 3 (copy on                                                                    
file):                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     Increase the BSA by $680                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp OBJECTED.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative Galvin explained that she  had heard a lot of                                                                    
testimony in the meeting on  the importance of stability and                                                                    
maintaining  a  good  sense  of what  would  happen  in  the                                                                    
future. She  believed there was nothing  more important than                                                                    
having   predictable,   adequate,    stable   funding.   She                                                                    
highlighted  that  the  legislature had  increased  the  BSA                                                                    
funding by  $600 in the  base budget. She stated  that arts,                                                                    
PE,  and music  should be  available to  homeschool students                                                                    
and  neighborhood school  students as  well. She  understood                                                                    
that  many  districts  had  already  cut  those  items.  She                                                                    
described the amendment as a "lift all votes amendment."                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  did not  view the  amendment to  be in                                                                    
good  faith  or as  germane  to  the subject.  He  expressed                                                                    
irritation  it   had  been  offered.   He  MOVED   to  TABLE                                                                    
conceptual Amendment 3.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Cronk,   Stapp,  Tomaszewski,   Coulombe,  Edgmon,                                                                    
Johnson                                                                                                                         
OPPOSED: Hannan, Ortiz, Galvin, Josephson, Foster                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
The MOTION  PASSED (6/5). There being  NO further OBJECTION,                                                                    
conceptual Amendment 3 was TABLED.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  MOVED to  REPORT CSHB 400(FIN)  out of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ortiz  interjected that  he had  a conceptual                                                                    
amendment, but he would not offer it.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:02:08 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:02:31 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Foster  noted   that  Co-Chair   Johnson  had   a                                                                    
conceptual amendment.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson  MOVED to ADOPT  conceptual Amendment  4 to                                                                    
add an effective  date to the bill of July  1, 2024 (on page                                                                    
2, line 20).                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  asked for verification the  amendment would                                                                    
set an effective date of July 1, 2024.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Johnson agreed.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Foster  noted   that   the   language  to   allow                                                                    
Legislative Legal Services to  make technical and conforming                                                                    
changes to  the bill could also  be included in a  motion to                                                                    
move the bill from committee.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There  being  NO  OBJECTION,   conceptual  Amendment  4  was                                                                    
ADOPTED.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:03:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Stapp  MOVED to  REPORT CSHB 400(FIN)  out of                                                                    
committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson OBJECTED. He  relayed that prior to                                                                    
session   he  had   known   little   about  allotments   and                                                                    
correspondence  courses. He  now  knew  more and  understood                                                                    
their  value.  He  stated  that  currently  allotments  were                                                                    
suspended, but they  would return. He noted that  he had not                                                                    
done the  suspending. He added  that he was in  the minority                                                                    
and  his power  to  fix the  suspension  was restricted.  He                                                                    
stated that  the decision  had been  issued by  the superior                                                                    
court four  weeks back  and session was  five days  from the                                                                    
end. He  remarked that the  legislature had  recently pretty                                                                    
handily rejected  a senior member  of the board. It  was his                                                                    
sense that the  board would view the issue  outside the law.                                                                    
He believed the board  would philosophically follow what the                                                                    
attorney general  told them to  follow. He stressed  that it                                                                    
was not likely  what the supreme court would  order in about                                                                    
two months. He was concerned  that the legislature would ask                                                                    
the board  to write  the regulations  and the  supreme court                                                                    
would determine it was the wrong direction.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Josephson  commended   Co-Chair  Foster  for                                                                    
being unflappable  and fair. He provided  comments about the                                                                    
process. He  explained that when  he was given  an amendment                                                                    
deadline on  one piece of  legislation it created  hope that                                                                    
he would be given an  amendment deadline on another piece of                                                                    
legislation because  it was  the culture.  He noted  that he                                                                    
had not been  afforded that in the  current situation, which                                                                    
he found to be disappointing.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Josephson MAINTAINED the OBJECTION.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Edgmon  apologized to the committee  "for coming in                                                                    
to this a little bit  late." He understood the fundamentals,                                                                    
the  gravity, and  the nature  of the  issue. He  referenced                                                                    
Representative  Josephson's   point  and  asked   about  the                                                                    
downside  of  taking a  little  more  time to  consider  the                                                                    
issue. He stated  that House Finance Committee  was the last                                                                    
committee  prior  to going  to  the  House floor,  which  he                                                                    
referred to  as the wild  West. He considered  whether there                                                                    
was more contemplation that should  take place over what was                                                                    
in  the bill.  He understood  that Representative  Ruffridge                                                                    
knew the issue  well and had spent  a lot of time  on it. He                                                                    
thought there was a bit of  an asterisk to the issue because                                                                    
the higher  court was poised  to take action at  some point.                                                                    
He wondered  what would  happen if  the legislature  did not                                                                    
get it right  and something it put into law  did not comport                                                                    
with   what  the   higher  court   decided.  He   noted  the                                                                    
legislature did  not have any  way to change that  course in                                                                    
the  next  five   days.  He  felt  rushed   in  the  current                                                                    
situation.  He remarked  that sometimes  in  the building  a                                                                    
person worked off  of intuition and he  highlighted that the                                                                    
legislature  currently did  not  have all  of  the facts  at                                                                    
hand. He stated  that a person could respond  that the issue                                                                    
was  cut and  dry  and "this  is  what we  need  to do."  He                                                                    
questioned whether it was cut  and dry. He currently thought                                                                    
he would be a no vote on moving the bill from committee.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Foster  called for an  at ease. [Note:  the meeting                                                                    
never reconvened.]                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:08:36 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:12:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB189 Additional Documents - ACoA 2023 Senior Snapshot 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Additional Documents - ACoA Legislative Priorities 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Additional Documents - ACoA Roster 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Additional Documents - Sunset Review of ACoA 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Public Testimony Rec'd by 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Sectional Analysis ver A 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB189 Sponsor Statement 4.26.24.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 189
SB 183 Letter of Support Fairbanks CofC.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183
SB 183 Sectional Analysis Version A.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183
SB 183 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183
SB 183 Supporting Doc AWCB_Resolution 23-01.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183
SB 183 Supporting Doc Letter to Claimant.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183
SB 183 Supporting Doc Overview and History of WCBG Fund.pdf HFIN 5/10/2024 1:30:00 PM
SB 183