03/31/1993 01:47 PM Senate HES

 CHAIRMAN RIEGER introduced  SB 160  (MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP LOANS)              
 as the next order of business, noting that testimony would be                 
 taken over the teleconference network from the Sitka site.                    
                                                                               
 Number 332                                                                    
                                                                               
 KATHLEEN NILES, Admissions Clerk, University of Alaska                        
 Southeast-Sitka, related that she has already received 138                    
 requests for the next Law Enforcement Certificate Program,                    
 however, they are limited to accepting 30 of those applicants.                
 In 1992 there were 20 students that attended the class and 14                 
 of them required financial aid.  She said the change in the                   
 eligibility requirements for receiving a Michael Murphy                       
 memorial scholarship loan would be a way to help these people                 
 who are interested in entering the law enforcement field.                     
                                                                               
 Number 347                                                                    
                                                                               
 JOE AMBROSE, staff to Senator Robin Taylor, explained the                     
 legislation would modify the eligibility requirements for the                 
 Michael Murphy Scholarship to include certificate programs.                   
 Current wording of AS 14.43.300 limits the awarding of                        
 scholarship loans to students who pursue a degree program in                  
 law enforcement, law, probations and parole, or penology or                   
 closely related fields.  This language prevents students in                   
 certificate programs, such as the Law Enforcement Certificate                 
 Program offered at the Sitka campus, UAS, from eligibility.                   
                                                                               
 Concluding, Mr. Ambrose said SB 160 would potentially benefit                 
 Alaska students attending an Alaska school with an eye toward                 
 employment in Alaska.                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 370                                                                    
                                                                               
 ELAINE SUNDE, Director of the Sitka campus of the University                  
 of Alaska Southeast in Sitka, said the Law Enforcement                        
 Certificate Program is done in partnership with the Alaska                    
 Public Safety Academy.  The students come in from throughout                  
 the state and are in residence for about 17 weeks.  These                     
 individuals are funding their own education as opposed to the                 
 municipalities doing it for them.  The opportunity to offer                   
 them some funding would be an incentive for them to remain in                 
 the state, she said.                                                          
                                                                               
 Number 385                                                                    
                                                                               
 WENDY REDMAN, representing the University of Alaska and                       
 testifying in Juneau, stated it was a pleasure to testify in                  
 support of a bill which has no downside to any constituency.                  
 It is a bill that will expand opportunities for their students                
 to be able to get financial aid, which does not come from the                 
 state, to enter into certificate or degree programs.  She                     
 explained that the money that goes into the Michael Murphy                    
 memorial scholarship is all private donations.  She urged                     
 passage of SB 160.                                                            
                                                                               
 Number 395                                                                    
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony on SB 160, the Chair stated                  
 he would entertain a motion on the bill.                                      
                                                                               
 SENATOR MILLER moved that SB 160, along with the accompanying                 
 zero fiscal note, be passed out of committee with individual                  
 recommendations.  Hearing no objection, it was so ordered.