Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

02/20/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION


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Audio Topic
08:00:36 AM Start
08:00:53 AM SB40
08:12:57 AM Presentation: Center for Alaska Education Policy Research-university of Alaska-anchorage
08:41:41 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Presentation: Center for Alaska Education Policy TELECONFERENCED
Research, UAA
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
= SB 40 APPROP: UNIV. ENGINEERING BUILDINGS
Moved SB 40 Out of Committee
           SB 40-APPROP: UNIV. ENGINEERING BUILDINGS                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:00:53 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS  announced that the  first order of  business would                                                               
be SB  40, which makes appropriations  for engineering facilities                                                               
at the University  of Alaska - Anchorage and  Fairbanks. He noted                                                               
it was the second hearing of SB  40 and his intention was to move                                                               
the bill out of committee.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS  [moved to adopt  SB 40, labeled  28-LS0083\A, as                                                               
the working document.]                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:02:07 AM                                                                                                                    
MATTHEW  MOSER, Staff,  Senator Johnny  Ellis, offered  to answer                                                               
questions related to SB 40 on behalf of the sponsor.                                                                            
SENATOR  HUGGINS asked  how many  students were  enrolled in  the                                                               
engineering programs in Anchorage and Fairbanks (UAA) and (UAF).                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  MOSER  replied that  1,137  students  are enrolled  at  both                                                               
campuses. He suggested Kit Duke  might have the breakdown between                                                               
the two campuses.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARDNER stated  that present  enrollment of  engineering                                                               
students is nearly 1,200 students at the University of Alaska.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:04:12 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGGINS  said the  question remained  about how  many are                                                               
enrolled in UAF.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS said  that information will be  provided before the                                                               
meeting ends. He asked if  there was any public testimony. Seeing                                                               
none, he closed public testimony.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:05:04 AM                                                                                                                    
At ease                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:08:08 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS brought the committee back to order.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. MOSER  related that 60  percent of  undergraduate engineering                                                               
students attend  UAF and 40  percent attend  UAA; 682 at  UAF and                                                               
454 at UAA.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS  stated  support  for  the  development  of  the                                                               
engineering program. He cautioned about future deficit spending.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNLEAVY  noted that university projects  total over $300                                                               
million. He  said there  would be further  discussion of  cost in                                                               
the Senate Finance  Committee. He agreed it will  be difficult to                                                               
fund every request.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:09:50 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS stated  that this is the  Education Committee whose                                                               
goal it is to determine what  is good for the students of Alaska.                                                               
He said SB  40 represents a good project; however,  whether it is                                                               
affordable is another question.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS commented  on declining  oil production  and the                                                               
efforts to turn that around.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:11:00 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS removed his objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:11:18 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGGINS  moved  to  report SB  40  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations. There being  no objection, the motion                                                               
carried.                                                                                                                        

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