Legislature(2011 - 2012)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/16/2011 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB43 | |
| SB83 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 43 | ||
| = | SB 83 | ||
SB 43-ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIPS
8:01:27 AM
CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 43. [CSSB 43,
version M, was before the committee.]
8:01:56 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 43, labeled 27-GS1893\D as the working document.
CO-CHAIR MEYER objected for the purposes of discussion.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS said version D is a culmination of the work done
by the administration, the legislature from both this session
and last, and two legislative task forces. He explained that
most of the changes have already been discussed by the
committee.
8:03:41 AM
MURRAY RICHMOND, Staff to Senator Joe Thomas, explained the
changes to version D begin on page 3, line 30. The change would
make both colleges and universities and certified career and
technical programs subject to an advisory program and would
require them to make credits and courses available in order to
issue a degree or certificate in a customary time period.
Page 4, line 12 deleted the word "customary" and replaced it
with "a period of time customary".
He noted that because all institutions will be required to have
some kind of counseling, the part on "personal challenges" was
removed. This means that while academic and career advising is
mandatory at any participating institution psychological
counseling does not need to be provided. He explained that this
was done because some career and technical institutions may not
have the resources to provide this.
He explained that most of the other changes in version D refined
the language of how the funds work. He referred to the funding
diagram [included in the document packet] which shows the basic
breakdown of where the funds for the program come from and where
they go.
Page 5, lines 15-21, included language that sharpens-up where
the funds go. Subsection (1) [lines 15-17] included the two
types of awards that are subject to this funding and subsections
(2), (3) and (4) [lines 18-21] discussed where these funds go.
Page 5, line 28 deleted "awarded by" and replaced it with
"available"; and deleted "available" and replaced it with
"awarded" on line 29.
He explained that the previous CS, version M, had repealed the
Alaska Capital Income Fund. However, it was brought to light
that there may be issues with the single subject title in
repealing a fund that is supposed to establish a scholarship.
Page 7, lines 16-20 changed the language so that, rather than
repealing the income fund, the money would go directly to the
Alaska Performance Scholarship Investment Fund.
Page 8, lines 25-27 sharpened the language on where the Amerada
Hess Fund money can be distributed. It also made the money an
appropriation, rather than a deposit, which would go to the
investment fund.
Page 14, lines 24-25, changed the date of the money transfer
from the Alaska Capital Income Fund to the Alaska Performance
Scholarship Investment Fund to occur before the end of the
fiscal year, rather the beginning of a new one.
Subsection (b) [of Section 24 on pages 14-15] included
transition language that gives the Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education (ACPE) the ability to makes awards to
students during the first two years of the program, based on an
annual average and monthly average.
Page 15, line 28 changed the effective date for subsection (2)
and (3) on page 4 [lines 9-13] to July 1, 2012.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked for confirmation that he worked with Jerry
Burnett [Deputy Commissioner for the Treasury Division,
Department of Revenue] in creating the funding diagram included
in the committee members' packet.
MR. RICHMOND replied yes.
8:11:55 AM
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), introduced himself.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked him to make some brief comments on the
ability for rural schools to have access to the curriculum
required for qualifying for this scholarship.
MR. MORSE replied that the department is doing two things.
First, for more than a year, it has been looking at what the
districts currently offer (which is what's in state regulation)
in comparison to the curriculum requirements necessary for the
Alaska Performance Scholarship eligibility. Second, the
department has been looking at the capacity of correspondence
schools in individual districts and on a statewide level. They
are also looking into a statewide virtual school that will offer
correspondence courses. He said the department is moving forward
to make sure that these offerings exist and are available to all
students.
CO-CHAIR THOMAS commented that this is not a simple task.
SENATOR FRENCH asked for more information on the correspondence
course offerings: what content is included, who designs the
curriculum, and what the success rate is in regards to students
finishing a course on time.
MR. MORSE answered that he could not speak to the success rate
of students finishing correspondence courses on time. In regards
to the content and curriculum of these courses, he explained
that there are about 14 school districts that offer
correspondence education to anyone in the state, which includes
both remedial and advanced courses. Last year DEED brought on an
additional correspondence school that runs a statewide program.
There are also numerous programs within individual districts.
The courses are developed independently, using commercial text
books to supplement the course or there are particular
curriculums that parents can purchase for students. The district
is responsible for making sure these courses align with state
standards. He assured the committee that within all of those
programs there are advanced level courses available.
CO-CHAIR MEYER asked if the bill, as it has been re-crafted by
the committee, is workable for the administration.
MR. MORSE answered that he thinks DEED can make this piece of
legislation work.
CO-CHAIR MEYER explained that the committee is finished with its
work on the scholarship program and are putting the final
touches on it.
SENATOR FRENCH asked for confirmation that the amendment
proposed by Senator Stevens was included in version D.
CO-CHAIR MEYER replied yes. He added that there are also three
fiscal notes included with version D, which have not changed.
8:20:14 AM
CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to report CSSB 43( ), version D, from the
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s). There being no objections, CSSB 43(EDC) moved from the
Senate Education Standing Committee. [The assumption was that
Co-Chair Meyer removed his objection.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB83-EED-ACPE-2-11-11 Teacher Board Certification Incentives.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| CSSB 43 Work Draft 2-16-11.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
SB 43 |
| Meeting Packet 2-16-11.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |
|
| Funding Mechanism Diagram.pdf |
SEDC 2/16/2011 8:00:00 AM |