Legislature(2019 - 2020)SENATE FINANCE 532

03/17/2020 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ HB 122 FUNTER BAY MARINE PARK: UNANGAN CEMETERY TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
**Please Note: All Public Testimony Will be via
Telephone Only. No In-Person Testimony.
From Juneau: 586-9085, Anchorage: 563-9085
Outside Juneau or Anchorage: 844-586-9085
Written Testimony Will be Accepted at:
[email protected]
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: TELECONFERENCED
+= SB 152 APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+= SB 30 COLLEGE CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 30(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 47 PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BD/PRACTICE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 47(FIN) Out of Committee
+= SB 55 TEMP. APPOINTMENTS TO COURT OF APPEALS TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSSB 55(2d JUD) Out of Committee
+= SB 137 EXTEND BOARD OF PAROLE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 137 Out of Committee
+= SB 150 INTENSIVE MGMT SURCHARGE/REPEAL TERM DATE TELECONFERENCED
Moved SB 150 Out of Committee
SENATE BILL NO. 30                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act establishing the middle college program for                                                                        
     public school students; and relating to the powers of                                                                      
     the University of Alaska."                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:30:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof relayed that  the committee had heard the                                                                    
bill on  March 6. There was  a CS and one  amendment for the                                                                    
committee's consideration.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JULI LUCKY, STAFF, SENATOR NATASHA  VON IMHOF, discussed the                                                                    
changes  to the  bill.  She informed  that proposed  changes                                                                    
were  also  discussed by  the  sponsor's  office during  the                                                                    
initial presentation of  the bill, and the  CS was developed                                                                    
by the sponsor for the consideration of the committee.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Lucky  addressed  an Explanation  of  Changes  document                                                                    
(copy on file):                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Adds  language   to  clarify  that  credits   shall  be                                                                    
     "applicable toward  pursuit of a degree  or certificate                                                                    
     at" the University of Alaska.  [P2, Lines 18-19 and P4,                                                                    
     Line 23]                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Replaces   the    requirement   that    all   districts                                                                    
     participate in the program with language requiring the                                                                     
     University of  Alaska to make the  program available to                                                                    
     district  s that  have eligible  students  who want  to                                                                    
     participate. [P2, Lines 20-22]                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky noted that the University had submitted an                                                                            
indeterminate fiscal note and would be submitting a new                                                                         
revised fiscal note as a result of the language changes.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky continued to address the proposed changes to the                                                                      
bill:                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Adds references  to parents to AS  14.30.780 (d), which                                                                    
     requires  districts to  provide  information about  the                                                                    
     Alaska Middle College Program. [P3, Lines 3-5]                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     Clarifies that  courses can be held  at other alternate                                                                    
     locations, not just high  schools. The requirements for                                                                    
     courses held  in other locations  did not  change. [P3,                                                                    
     lines 22-23]                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Allows a  student to take  up to 15  credits (increased                                                                    
     from 12) per semester. [P4, line 3]                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Changes effective date to July 1, 2021.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Removes  prohibition  against students  paying  tuition                                                                    
     and other costs.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Other technical  changes to  clarify intent  that don't                                                                    
     change the effect of the legislation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky  reiterated that the  changes would require  a new                                                                    
fiscal note,  which would  remain indeterminate.  The fiscal                                                                    
note from the Department  of Education and Early Development                                                                    
was a zero fiscal note and would still apply.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:34:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky addressed Conceptual Amendment 1 (copy on file):                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     INTENT OF  AMENDMENT: Require, as  part of  the program                                                                    
     information  provided to  students and  parents by  the                                                                    
     school district,  whether a failing  grade on  a course                                                                    
     offered through the Alaska  Middle College Program will                                                                    
   appear on the student's official college transcript.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Suggested Language:                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 3, line 16, following "program" Insert ",                                                                             
     including whether a failed course will appear on the                                                                       
     student's official college transcript"                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky explained  that the issue had come  up in previous                                                                    
meetings  regarding the  middle college  concept. There  had                                                                    
been   concern   that    students   would   understand   the                                                                    
implications of failing  a class in middle  college, and the                                                                    
amendment  would ensure  that  the information  be clear  to                                                                    
parents and students signing up for the program.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:35:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof noted that  the sponsor and his staff was                                                                    
present to offer perspective on the CS and the amendment.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:35:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY STEVENS,  SPONSOR, expressed  his appreciation                                                                    
to  the  committee.  He  thought   the  bill  was  extremely                                                                    
important for the University and the students of Alaska.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
TIM LAMKIN,  STAFF, SENATOR GARY STEVENS,  remarked that the                                                                    
CS  was the  result of  a fair  amount of  work between  the                                                                    
University and  school districts  over the  previous several                                                                    
months. The CS was agreeable to the sponsor.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Lamkin addressed  Conceptual  Amendment 1.  He did  not                                                                    
characterize  the amendment  as  "unfriendly." He  continued                                                                    
that the statute as written  was intended to be flexible and                                                                    
create a model for the  diverse demands and interests of the                                                                    
state's school districts. The  Memorandums of Agreement that                                                                    
were  in existence  provided  for  academic counseling,  and                                                                    
involvement  of teachers  and  parents  for identifying  the                                                                    
rigors of college level work  as well as the consequences of                                                                    
failure. He thought the amendment  could be unnecessary, but                                                                    
it was not unfriendly.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von  Imhof thought  the  amendment  was trying  to                                                                    
clarify  that  when  a  person  took  a  college  class  and                                                                    
received  a  grade,  the  grade  would  be  present  on  the                                                                    
transcript and would follow a  student throughout her or his                                                                    
academic  career.  She  thought  it was  important  for  the                                                                    
information to be shared.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:38:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Stevens understood Co-Chair  von Imhof's remarks. He                                                                    
mentioned  his  own  transcripts from  college.  He  thought                                                                    
there would  be a lot of  work for the students  in the high                                                                    
school before they would be  allowed to take a college-level                                                                    
course.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:38:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop  noted  that  Co-Chair  von  Imhof  was  the                                                                    
sponsor of the amendment.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von Imhof  stated that  the committee  would adopt                                                                    
the CS and then address the amendment.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop asked if Co-Chair  von Imhof had authored the                                                                    
amendment.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von  Imhof  stated  that  the  amendment  was  not                                                                    
authored by her personally.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop wanted  to have clarity on the  intent of the                                                                    
amendment.  He referenced  Senator  Stevens' comments  about                                                                    
his  transcript, and  thought  students  do better  academic                                                                    
work  as  time went  on.  He  asked  if  the intent  of  the                                                                    
amendment  was to  make clear  that  the college-level  work                                                                    
would be on a permanent transcript.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von  Imhof said "yes." She  suggested the committee                                                                    
adopt the CS, and then have  staff speak to the amendment in                                                                    
greater detail.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:40:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stedman  MOVED   to   ADOPT  proposed   committee                                                                    
substitute  for SB  30,  Work  Draft 31-LS0052\E  (Caouette,                                                                    
3/4/20). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:40:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky stated  that the concept behind  the amendment had                                                                    
been  brought up  in previous  hearings. She  explained that                                                                    
the  amendment  would add  to  the  notification to  parents                                                                    
whether  or not  the course  grade would  go on  a student's                                                                    
permanent transcript.  There had been a  concern in previous                                                                    
committees that  high school  students would  not understand                                                                    
the  implications  of  a  permanent  transcript.  There  was                                                                    
already  a   notification  requirement  in  the   bill.  The                                                                    
amendment  did not  require any  change other  than parental                                                                    
notification that  a course grade  would or would not  be on                                                                    
the student's permanent transcript.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky  continued to address the  proposed amendment. She                                                                    
explained  that  there would  be  a  lot of  counseling  for                                                                    
students participating  in the program. The  amendment would                                                                    
provide the  information before a student  made the decision                                                                    
to  be part  of the  program. She  continued that  whether a                                                                    
course appeared  or not on  a student's transcript  would be                                                                    
made clear in the MOU  between the University and the school                                                                    
districts.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:43:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Bishop thought the amendment  came down to informing                                                                    
students they were "in the big leagues."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Lucky   agreed  with  Senator  Bishop's   remarks.  She                                                                    
furthered   that  students   would  learn   the  information                                                                    
throughout the  process of deciding  to take the  class, but                                                                    
the   additional  written   information   proposed  by   the                                                                    
amendment would not present a burden.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:43:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Wilson  was  not  sure if  the  amendment  was  too                                                                    
specific. He  addressed number 6 on  page 3 of the  bill. He                                                                    
thought  the  bill  was  broad   enough.  He  discussed  the                                                                    
withdrawal  option at  universities.  He  was concerned  the                                                                    
amendment might be too prescriptive.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof  noted that the University  was online to                                                                    
give testimony and could address the amendment.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:44:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAUL   LAYER,  VICE   PRESIDENT,  ACADEMICS,   STUDENTS  AND                                                                    
RESEARCH,   UNIVERSITY  OF   ALASKA  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
relayed that the University of  Alaska (UA) advised students                                                                    
of  consequences to  a permanent  record, as  well as  dates                                                                    
such  as a  withdrawal  date. He  furthered that  University                                                                    
staff  worked  with  counselors and  teachers  in  the  high                                                                    
schools  to ensure  that students  were  aware of  important                                                                    
dates.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
[Senator Olson entered the meeting 9:45:50]                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof  asked if Mr. Layer could  comment on the                                                                    
proposed amendment.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Layer stated  that UA did not object to  the language in                                                                    
the amendment.  He reiterated that  the UA  already informed                                                                    
students and parents of the information.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:46:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Lucky  added the clarification that  the amendment would                                                                    
not change any contract  between the student and university,                                                                    
nor  the MOU  between  UA and  the  district. The  amendment                                                                    
would  simply  require  that the  information  sent  by  the                                                                    
district include the proposed language about transcripts.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman  commented that for parents  that had never                                                                    
been to college, the information may be new.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:47:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman MOVED  to  ADOPT  Conceptual Amendment  1.                                                                    
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof  noted that the fiscal note  for DEED was                                                                    
still accurate,  but the fiscal  note from UA would  need to                                                                    
be revised.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  MOVED  to  report  CSSB  30(FIN)  out  of                                                                    
Committee   with   individual    recommendations   and   the                                                                    
accompanying fiscal notes. There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                    
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 30(FIN) was REPORTED out  of committee with a "do pass"                                                                    
recommendation  and   with  one   forthcoming  indeterminate                                                                    
fiscal  note from  the University  and one  new zero  fiscal                                                                    
note   from   the   Department  of   Education   and   Early                                                                    
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 122 Sponsor Statement 1.28.2020.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
HB 122 Sectional Analysis Version U.A 1.28.2020.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
HB 122 Explanation of Changes V. U.A 1.28.2020.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SRES 2/5/2020 3:30:00 PM
HB 122
HB 122 Written Testimony Received By 2.17.2020.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
HB 122 Presentation by Rep. Hannan-Senate.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
SB 30 Work Draft v. E Amendment #1 SFIN 3.17.2020.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30 Work Draft v. E Explanation.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 30_Middle-Colleges_Bill-Text_Version E.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 30
SB 47 Work Draft v. G Explanation of Changes.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 47
SB 47 Work Draft v. G.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 47
HB 122 Funter Bay Boundary Maps.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
HB 122 Public Testimony Stoops.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 122
SB 152 Work Draft version U.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 152
SB 152 CS 0 walkthrough version U final.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
SB 152
HB 205 - SB 154 Knight Public Testimony.pdf SFIN 3/17/2020 9:00:00 AM
HB 205
SB 154