03/30/2004 03:06 PM House HES

HB 338-ENTRY INTO SCHOOL                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0050                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  338, "An  Act relating  to attendance  at public                                                               
school; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Number 0153                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL commented  that he will not  object to the                                                               
bill moving out  of committee; however, he told  the members that                                                               
he  does not  see the  necessity of  it since  the administrative                                                               
authority in school districts can make a determination already.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON said  that there are probably a  couple of districts                                                               
where this  change would  be very  meaningful, such  as districts                                                               
where there are a high number of people who are in the military.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  agreed with Chair Wilson's  point, adding                                                               
that he represents residents of Fort Wainwright.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 0278                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON  announce that Representative Cissna  has joined the                                                               
meeting.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Number 0288                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE WOLF pointed  out that this issue  could come back                                                               
to the legislature again requesting  that the date be rolled back                                                               
to September 15, September 30, or October 15.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL  replied that  he talked with  Eddie Jeans                                                               
on that very  issue.  Mr. Jeans [Finance  Manager, School Finance                                                               
and  Facilities  Section,  Department   of  Education  and  Early                                                               
Development]  explained to  him that  the school  year starts  on                                                               
July 1 and ends on June 30.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Number 0354                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  MAKINSTER, Staff  to Representative  Lesil McGuire,  Alaska                                                               
State   Legislature,  testified   on  behalf   of  Representative                                                               
McGuire,  sponsor of  HB  338, and  answered  questions from  the                                                               
committee.    He  told  the   members  that  he  spoke  with  the                                                               
Anchorage, Fairbanks,  and Juneau school districts  regarding the                                                               
movement  of  the  early  entry date  to  whatever  was  actually                                                               
established as  the first  day of school.   The  districts agreed                                                               
that it  would be better  to have a  concrete date rather  than a                                                               
rolling one.  He summarized that  it was the districts' wishes to                                                               
have one established date.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0396                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL moved  to report CSHB 338,  Version S, out                                                               
of   committee   with    individual   recommendations   and   the                                                               
accompanying  fiscal  notes.   There  being  no  objection,  CSHB
(HES)  was reported  out of  the House  Health, Education  and                                                               
Social Services Standing Committee.