Legislature(1997 - 1998)
02/11/1997 10:15 AM House MLV
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SJR 7 - AK NAT'L GUARD YOUTH CORPS CHALLENGE PROG Number 268 JERRY BURNETT, Staff to Senator Randy Phillips, Sponsor of SJR 7 came forward to testify. This legislation was introduced to send a strong message of support for the National Guard Youth Corps Program to the U.S. Congress. Mr. Burnett stated that the committee heard from the General information regarding the need for continued funding of this program which ends in September of this year. The committee also heard about the program from Mr. Pederson and felt as though there was not much he could add to the testimony already presented. MR. BURNETT explained that the governor's budget for FY 98, includes a $250,000 increment for state support at the recommendation of the Governor's Cabinet on Youth and Justice. The Senator has discussed the fact that some other states are contributing state money to similar programs. This shows a good faith effort as the state solicits more funds from the federal government. Some states have budgeted this year to participate as high as a dollar to dollar match. He didn't know if there was an average of participation throughout the states. GENERAL LESTENKOF added that the state's participation as a pilot project is normally an exception rather than the rule. Mississippi is one state that matches dollar for dollar and there are four others that participate with lesser amounts than a match. Number 348 REPRESENTATIVE PETE KOTT asked how many other states participate in similar programs and whether or not Alaska was competing for the $20 million. MR. BENNETT said he believed there were 21 other states. GENERAL LESTENKOF added that there were a total of 21 states which participate in this program. Fifteen run a peer challenge program like Alaska. The $20 million he spoke about that the defense department has put in as a place holder until authorization comes through is only about half of the amount which is needed nationally. They feel that $47 million is required to support 15 states. Number 413 ALICIA PORTE-THOMAS testified by teleconference from Anchorage on SJR 7. She stated that she was a strong supporter of the Youth Corps. She graduated from the last class and she's currently in the Alaska National Guard Youth Air Guard. In April she'll be attending boot camp and currently works for the Youth Corps. She joined the Youth Corps because the school system was not working for her and decided to join rather than drop out. She graduated from the program with honors and was Corps Commander while attending. She strongly urged the committee's support. Number 550 ED EARNHART testified by teleconference from Anchorage on SJR 7. He is on the Advisory Council for the Youth Corps and he's very concerned that they do what they can to get support for this program. He was also concerned about the slimmed down federal monies mentioned and felt as though Alaska should designate even more money than the Governor has, to show support in Washington, D.C. Number 709 REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER moved and asked unanimous consent to move SJR 7 out of committee with individual recommendations and accompanying zero fiscal note. Hearing no objection, SJR 7 was moved out of the House Special Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. Number 740 REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked about how funding for the Youth Corps might be faced with troubles from the House on the national level and asked what federal committees would review these budgets. GENERAL LESTENKOF stated that the committees in the House would be the National Security Full Committee and the Appropriating Committee to the National Defense Committee. Also, there is the Arms Services Committee in the Senate, the Appropriations Committee in the Senate and the Defense Subcommittee in the Senate. He noted that from all indications it seemed the Senate supports this program, but there may be some resistance from the House. Number 792 CHAIR MASEK asked if there was anything they could do to aid in the QDR review to let the committee know. She said she'd like to do whatever they could to aid in a favorable review for Alaska. REPRESENTATIVE MULDER added that it would be significant to demonstrate some willingness on the state's part to participate in financing for this Youth Corps program. He noted that the budgets would be difficult this year, especially within Military and Veteran's Affairs, but it would seem logical that since they're providing education to the participants within this program to fund some of this amount from the Department of Education. He said this seemed logical to him because if they don't fund this program through the Department of Education or somewhere, he'd have to fund them in the Department of Corrections Department somewhere down the line. Number 853 REPRESENTATIVE RYAN added that this could be a joint effort, take a little bit from Corrections and some from Education, make everybody happy. He noted that these were cheap dollars invested when considering what's to be funded down the line.
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