Legislature(2005 - 2006)

04/04/2005 02:55 PM House FIN


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                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                       April 4, 2005                                                                                            
                         2:55 P.M.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer called the House  Finance Committee meeting to                                                                   
order at 2:55:53 PM.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mike Chenault, Co-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Kevin Meyer, Co-Chair                                                                                            
Representative Bill Stoltze, Vice-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Eric Croft                                                                                                       
Representative Richard Foster                                                                                                   
Representative Mike Hawker                                                                                                      
Representative Jim Holm                                                                                                         
Representative Reggie Joule                                                                                                     
Representative Mike Kelly                                                                                                       
Representative Carl Moses                                                                                                       
Representative Bruce Weyhrauch                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
none                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Mark  Neuman; Representative  Woodie  Salmon;                                                                   
Representative  Bob Lynn;  Representative  John Coghill;  Ben                                                                   
Mulligan, Staff,  Representative Bill Stoltze;  Marie Darlin,                                                                   
Alaska  Association of  Retired  People  (AARP), Juneau;  Sam                                                                   
Trivette,  Alaska  Association   of  Retired  People  (AARP),                                                                   
Juneau; Paul La Bolle, Staff,  Representative Richard Foster;                                                                   
Nancy Manly, Staff, Representative  Bob Lynn; Anne Carpeneti,                                                                   
Assistant   Attorney General,  Legal Services Section-Juneau,                                                                   
Criminal   Division,   Department   of  Law;   Randy   Ruaro,                                                                   
Legislative  Review Section,  Department  of  Law;   Rynnieva                                                                   
Moss,  Staff,   Representative  John  Coghill;   Eddy  Jeans,                                                                   
Director,   Education   Support   Services,   Department   of                                                                   
Education    and    Early   Development;    Alyce    Houston,                                                                   
Corporational Supervisor,  Department of Commerce,  Community                                                                   
& Economic Development                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
John  Skidmore, Assistant  Attorney  General,  Department  of                                                                   
Law,   Anchorage;    Michelle   Logan,    Anchorage   Police                                                                    
Department, Property  Crimes Unit, Detective, Anchorage;  Jay                                                                   
Foley, Executive  Director, National  Identity Theft Center;                                                                    
Jim Smith, Galena  School District, Galena; Ralph Lindquist,                                                                    
Nenana  School  District;  Linda  Wilson,  Deputy  Director,                                                                    
Public  Defender   Agency,  Department   of  Administration,                                                                    
Anchorage;  Tip Steele,  Anchorage School  Board, Anchorage;                                                                    
Ken  Eggleston,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Nenana School                                                                    
District                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB 16     An Act relating to funding for school districts                                                                       
          operating  secondary school  boarding programs  and                                                                   
          to   funding  for  school   districts  from   which                                                                   
          boarding  students   come;  and  providing  for  an                                                                   
          effective date.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 16 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
HB 41     An Act relating to minimum periods of imprisonment                                                                    
          for  the  crime of  assault  in the  fourth  degree                                                                   
          committed  against an  employee  of an  elementary,                                                                   
          junior  high, or secondary  school who  was engaged                                                                   
          in the performance of  school duties at the time of                                                                   
          the assault.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
          CS HB 41 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with                                                                     
          a "no  recommendation" and with a new  zero note by                                                                   
          the Department  of Public  Safety, zero note  #1 by                                                                   
          the Department  of Administration, zero  note #2 by                                                                   
          the Department of Corrections,  and zero note #4 by                                                                   
          Department of Law.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 119    An  Act  extending  the  termination  date  of  the                                                                   
          Alaska  regional economic  assistance program;  and                                                                   
          providing for an effective date.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
          HB 119 was POSTPONED.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HB 131    An  Act increasing the  criminal classification  of                                                                   
          theft  of  an access  device  and of  obtaining  an                                                                   
          access   device  or  identification   documents  by                                                                   
          fraudulent    means;   increasing    the   criminal                                                                   
          classification for certain  cases of fraudulent use                                                                   
          of   an  access  device;   and  providing   for  an                                                                   
          effective date.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 131 was reported out of Committee with a "do                                                                       
          pass" recommendation  and with zero note  #1 by the                                                                   
          Department  of  Corrections, zero  note  #2 by  the                                                                   
          Department of  Law, zero note #3 by  the Department                                                                   
          of Public  Safety and indeterminate note  #4 by the                                                                   
          Department of Administration.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
HB 132    An  Act relating to  sentencing for certain  crimes                                                                   
          committed  against the  elderly; and providing  for                                                                   
          an effective date.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
          CS HB 132 (JUD) was reported out of Committee with                                                                    
          a "do  pass" recommendation and with a  new note by                                                                   
          the Alaska  Court System, a new fiscal  note by the                                                                   
          Department  of Administration, zero note  #1 by the                                                                   
          Department of  Law, zero note #2 by  the Department                                                                   
          of Public  Safety and indeterminate note  #3 by the                                                                   
          Department of Corrections.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HB 229    An  Act relating  to  the reinstatement  of  Native                                                                   
          corporations; and providing  for an effective date.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
          HB 229 was reported out of Committee with a "do                                                                       
          pass" recommendation  and with zero note  #1 by the                                                                   
          Department   of  Commerce,  Community   &  Economic                                                                   
          Development.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:56:09 PM                                                                                                                    
HOUSE BILL NO. 229                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act relating to the reinstatement of Native                                                                             
     corporations; and providing for an effective date.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
PAUL  LA   BOLLE,  STAFF,   REPRESENTATIVE  RICHARD   FOSTER,                                                                   
explained  that the legislation  had been  introduced  at the                                                                   
request of  regional Native  corporations in their  district.                                                                   
Corporations  have   been  involuntarily  dissolved   by  the                                                                   
commissioner  under  AS 10.06.633  and  failed  to apply  for                                                                   
reinstatement   during  the  grace   period  established   in                                                                   
statute.  The  legislation provides a one-time  window during                                                                   
which  the   Native  village  corporations,  who   have  been                                                                   
dissolved, can apply for reinstatement.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. La Bolle continued,  the  legislation is  needed  because                                                                   
the  corporations were  established under  the Alaska  Native                                                                   
Land Claims  Settlement and  legally own village  corporation                                                                   
assets.  A new corporation could  be created but it would not                                                                   
have the  same legal  standing as  the original  corporations                                                                   
nor could they legally own the  assets.  The bill would allow                                                                   
the corporation's  board of directors  to legally  change the                                                                   
corporation's  name  if  another corporation  had  taken  the                                                                   
previous name.                                                                                                                  
Mr.  La  Bolle  pointed out  that  the  proposed  legislation                                                                   
applies  to  Caswell  Native   Association,  Savoonga  Native                                                                   
Corporation,   Arviq  Incorporated   and  Oscarville   Native                                                                   
Corporation.                                                                                                                    
Representative Kelly asked what  would the consequences be if                                                                   
the legislation  did not pass.   Mr. La Bolle  explained that                                                                   
the corporation  would be dissolved,  the assets would  go to                                                                   
paying  off debt  and  any remaining  assets  would be  split                                                                   
between the shareholders.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly  asked  if  they  would  be  forced  to                                                                   
reapply.   Mr. La Bolle  explained that  it would not  be the                                                                   
same corporation.   They could  have the same name  but would                                                                   
not hold  the lands  or any  other assets  granted under  the                                                                   
Native  Lands Settlement  Act.   The lands  would be  divided                                                                   
between shareholders when the corporation was dissolved.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly  asked why they  would make a  choice to                                                                   
not reapply.   Mr. La Bolle  replied that the choice  was not                                                                   
made but had been overlooked.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly asked  the number  of corporations  the                                                                   
legislation  would apply to.   Mr. La  Bolle replied  that it                                                                   
would   relate   to   all   Native    village   corporations,                                                                   
specifically the four previously mentioned.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  inquired how many times the  bill had been                                                                   
heard.  Representative  Foster explained that  this was about                                                                   
the  fifth   time  it   had  been   introduced  for   various                                                                   
corporations  over the years.     The corporations  forget to                                                                   
file their returns.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:00:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Kelly inquired  if there was opposition to the                                                                   
legislation.  Mr. La Bolle replied  that all the corporations                                                                   
support it.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:01:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Weyhrauch  asked   to   make  a   conceptual                                                                   
amendment.   Co-Chair  Meyer requested  that  he "hold"  that                                                                   
idea until public testimony had been taken.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Chenault inquired  if  the requests  had been  made                                                                   
from large landholders.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ALYCE  HOUSTON,   CORPORATIONAL  SUPERVISOR,   DEPARTMENT  OF                                                                   
COMMERCE, COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT, said she did not                                                                   
know the  size of  the land holdings  as that information  is                                                                   
not reported  to her  section.   Co-Chair Chenault  commented                                                                   
that information must be available.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Holm questioned  if there  was a penalty  for                                                                   
not filing in a  timely manner.  Ms. Houston  said there was.                                                                   
The corporations  have been  involuntarily dissolved  for not                                                                   
filing  the reports  and  paying their  fees.   Often  times,                                                                   
because  of the  biannual pay  period, the  address that  was                                                                   
provided do not always get to  the ones that need to file the                                                                   
reports.    She noted  that  they  are allowed  to  reinstate                                                                   
within a  two-year period  and the  two-year period  that has                                                                   
passed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Mr. La Bolle  pointed out that  there is a $37.50  dollar fee                                                                   
for each year that  the corporation has not filed.   With the                                                                   
proposed  extension,  it  would  be a  $70  dollar  late  fee                                                                   
penalty.    Ms. Houston  corrected  that  the fees  had  been                                                                   
doubled  and  that  the  corporation  would  be  paying  $275                                                                   
dollars to reinstate.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:04:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Holm was  troubled by  the notion that  there                                                                   
are requirements  for other  corporations in  the State.   He                                                                   
questioned if the  legislation would be good policy.   Mr. La                                                                   
Bolle replied that  it is good policy because  the results of                                                                   
not passing the legislation would be worse.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Holm  inquired   why  there  are   different                                                                   
policies for different  corporate laws.  Ms.  Houston replied                                                                   
that the  Bureau of  Indian Affairs  (BIA) had contacted  her                                                                   
and there  seems to  be serious implications  if they  do not                                                                   
keep  their  original  lands from  the  Alaska  Native  Lands                                                                   
Settlement  Act.    Those corporations  need  to  keep  their                                                                   
original  date   of  incorporation   or  there  are   serious                                                                   
complications; whereas, any other  entity could reincorporate                                                                   
and  have  a  new  beginning date.    There  is  a  different                                                                   
implication for those land holdings.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:06:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Holm   understood   the  severity   of   the                                                                   
situation, however, he thought  there should be a policy that                                                                   
the corporations fulfill their legal obligations.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Chenault  mentioned the lands issue  and was curious                                                                   
if the  corporations would  loose their lands  & assets.   He                                                                   
asked where the  lands would go.  Ms. Huston did  not know if                                                                   
that had ever happened.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:08:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Joule  responded that  there  are two  levels                                                                   
being  discussed.   The  village  corporations  have  surface                                                                   
ownership and  the regional  corporations that encompass  the                                                                   
village have sub-surface  rights.  He admitted  the issue was                                                                   
complicated.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze  agreed  that the  legislation  needs  to                                                                   
pass.   He noted that  he did not want  to find out  what the                                                                   
consequences would be if it did not pass.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch recommended  that the  corporations                                                                   
be warned and then fined.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:10:34 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster  responded that there are  at least 230                                                                   
villages  throughout  Alaska  and  that  some  are  basically                                                                   
uninhabited.    He  understood  how mail  delivery  could  be                                                                   
"balled up".   He  stressed that  these are not  professional                                                                   
office  people.    Representative  Foster did  not  know  the                                                                   
easiest way to address the concern.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker interjected that  he was a  co-sponsor                                                                   
of the bill.   He pointed out that by the time  the last bill                                                                   
got to the floor  a couple years ago, it  passed unanimously.                                                                   
He  surmised that  passage of  the legislation  is "just  the                                                                   
right thing to do".                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Foster   MOVED  to  report  HB   229  out  of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal  note.  There being NO  OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB  229  was reported  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and with zero  note #1  by the Department  of                                                                   
Commerce, Community & Economic Development.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 131                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An Act  increasing the criminal classification  of theft                                                                   
     of an  access device and  of obtaining an  access device                                                                   
     or   identification  documents   by  fraudulent   means;                                                                   
     increasing  the  criminal   classification  for  certain                                                                   
     cases  of  fraudulent  use  of  an  access  device;  and                                                                   
     providing for an effective date.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 132                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act  relating  to  sentencing   for  certain  crimes                                                                   
     committed  against  the elderly;  and  providing for  an                                                                   
     effective date.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  stated  that HB  131  and  HB 132  would  be                                                                   
addressed together,  noting that they are  "nearly" companion                                                                   
bills.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE BILL  STOLTZE, SPONSOR, indicated that he  has                                                                   
had  been a  long-standing interest  in concerns  and issues                                                                    
for  seniors.   The Administration  approached him  to  carry                                                                   
some senior citizen  protection legislation.  He deferred  to                                                                   
Mr. Ruaro and Mr. Milligan for the details of the bills.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:15:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
RANDY RUARO, LEGISLATIVE REVIEW SECTION, DEPARTMENT OF LAW,                                                                     
offered to answer questions of the Committee.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
BEN MULLIGAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE, provided                                                                      
an overview of the legislation.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He stated  that identity theft  is on the increase  in Alaska                                                                   
and our  country as  a whole.   The Federal Trade  Commission                                                                   
(FTC) reported that  identity theft was up 33% in  2003.  The                                                                   
State of Alaska ranks second in  the number of complaints per                                                                   
100,000  people.   That  type of  theft  averages about  $500                                                                   
dollars;  however, it  does not take  into consideration  the                                                                   
countless  hours  a  victim  may   spend  tracking  down  and                                                                   
stopping the  imposter, as  well as time  and legal  costs to                                                                   
repair  credit ratings  and fight  collection  efforts.   The                                                                   
proposed changes  would bring  the penalties for  such crimes                                                                   
closer in line with federal criminal  law that provide for as                                                                   
much as 15 years in prison for similar circumstances.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The provisions of HB 131:                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     · Increase the penalty from a class A misdemeanor to a                                                                     
        class C felony for:                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
          1. Theft of an access device, such as a credit                                                                        
             card or bank account number.                                                                                       
          2. The crime of fraudulent use of an access device                                                                    
             if the value of the property or services                                                                           
             obtained is $50 or more.                                                                                           
          3. The crime of obtaining an access device or                                                                         
             identification document by fraudulent means.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Mulligan continued that the  population of older citizens                                                                   
in Alaska is  growing rapidly, as are the crimes  that affect                                                                   
them.   The  physical,  emotional,  and financial  impact  of                                                                   
crimes against  the person  and theft  and related  crimes on                                                                   
the elderly  can be devastating.   HB 132 would  increase the                                                                   
penalty one  level for  certain crimes  against a person  and                                                                   
for theft and  related crimes, if the perpetrator  acted with                                                                   
reckless disregard that the victim was an older citizen.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
The provisions of HB 132:                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     · Increase the penalties for crimes against the                                                                            
        elderly one  level.    For  example, assault  in  the                                                                   
        fourth degree,  a  class A  misdemeanor,  would be  a                                                                   
        class C  felony if  the  assault was  committed to  a                                                                   
        person 65 years of age or older.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:17:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN  SKIDMORE,  (TESTIFIED  VIA TELECONFERENCE),  ASSISTANT                                                                    
ATTORNEY  GENERAL, DEPARTMENT  OF LAW,  ANCHORAGE, testified                                                                    
in support for  both HB 131 and HB  132.  He spoke in length                                                                    
about the  problems associated  with identify  theft and  how                                                                   
that related to the  vulnerable senior population.  He  urged                                                                   
passage of the legislation and offered to answer questions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:19:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze   indicated  his  appreciation  for   Mr.                                                                   
Skidmore's work done on the bills.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:20:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MICHELLE  LOGAN, (TESTIFIED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE), ANCHORAGE                                                                    
POLICE   DEPARTMENT,   DETECTIVE,   PROPERTY   CRIMES  UNIT,                                                                    
ANCHORAGE, testified in  support for HB 131 and HB 132.   She                                                                   
noted an increase in  identify theft in the past three  years                                                                   
throughout  the  State.   She  claimed that  mostly  what  is                                                                   
happening is the misuse  of credit cards; the proposed  bills                                                                   
would  address that  theft type.   The  bill will  allow  law                                                                   
enforcement  to  better  combat  the ever-increasing  theft.                                                                    
She  pointed  out  that  forgery  is  now  taken  seriously,                                                                    
punished at  a C felony; whereas,  in the past, those crimes                                                                    
were classified as misdemeanors.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Logan  spoke to  current cases  and how  the legislation                                                                    
would affect  the crime  results if  the victim  was over  65                                                                   
years of  age.  She  stressed how much  more vulnerable  that                                                                   
population  group   is.    There   are  circumstances   where                                                                   
swindlers  look  and  talk like  worthy  people.    It  takes                                                                   
"intent" on  the criminal's part when  they are dealing  with                                                                   
the elderly.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:29:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JAY   FOLEY,  (TESTIFIED   VIA   TELECONFERENCE),  EXECUTIVE                                                                    
DIRECTOR,  NATIONAL  IDENTITY THEFT  RESOURCE  CENTER,  noted                                                                   
support  for   the  proposed  legislation.     There  was   a                                                                   
completed  study in  2003,  which charted  600 hours  as  the                                                                   
amount  of time  that  it could  take  to reclaim  a persons                                                                    
identify.   Many victims claim that  the imposter gets  away.                                                                   
HB 131  increases that  crime to  a felony,  which Mr.  Foley                                                                   
thought would be an  "excellent step".  He added that HB  132                                                                   
is also a good bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Foley  noted that  senior  citizens are  good targets  as                                                                   
they do not  use their credit cards  as much.  Additionally,                                                                    
sometimes faced  with memory  lapse and  disorientation.   He                                                                   
believed  that some  seniors are  afraid to  admit that  they                                                                   
are victims of fraud  and identify theft for fear of loosing                                                                    
their  ability  to   live  alone  and  the  stigma  that   is                                                                   
associated with that.  He urged passage of the legislation.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:33:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARIE DARLIN,  ALASKA ASSOCIATION  OF RETIRED PEOPLE  (AARP),                                                                   
JUNEAU, spoke in support of the  legislation.  She noted that                                                                   
AARP is an  organization that supports consumer  issues.  She                                                                   
urged that the Committee move the bills.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:34:57 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer agreed  that these are good and  timely bills.                                                                   
Vice-Chair  Stoltze thanked Ms.  Darlin for  her help  on the                                                                   
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:35:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SAM TRIVETTE,  ALASKA ASSOCIATION  OF RETIRED PEOPLE  (AARP),                                                                   
testified in  support of the  legislation.  He  stressed that                                                                   
the impact upon  victims is huge.  Often times,  when dealing                                                                   
with identity  theft, the person  is dealing with  someone in                                                                   
another state.  Changing the status  of the crime to a felony                                                                   
makes  it  much more  real.    He echoed  concerns  with  the                                                                   
devastation  and the  amount of  time that  it takes to  deal                                                                   
with these  crimes.  He did not  think that there would  be a                                                                   
dramatic fiscal impact with passage of the legislation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:37:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly suggested that  the best benefit  could                                                                   
be  public  education.   Mr.  Trivette  noted that  AARP  had                                                                   
sponsored statewide  seminars addressing these  concerns.  He                                                                   
agreed that more public education would be helpful.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:38:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer  asked about the  additional costs  moving the                                                                   
crime status from  a misdemeanor to a felony.   He questioned                                                                   
the  Public  Defender's  fiscal  note  and  inquired  if  the                                                                   
requested  two-thirds attorney  fee would be  made up  in the                                                                   
requested costs.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
LINDA   WILSON,  (TESTIFIED   VIA   TELECONFERENCE),   DEPUTY                                                                   
DIRECTOR,    PUBLIC    DEFENDER   AGENCY,    DEPARTMENT    OF                                                                   
ADMINISTRATION,  ANCHORAGE,  commented  on  the  fiscal  note                                                                   
request of $129  thousand dollars for HB 132  plus two thirds                                                                   
position for an attorney.  The  contract attorney would be an                                                                   
employee of the State but would not be full time.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  referenced  HB 131,  referencing  the                                                                   
indeterminate fiscal note.  Ms.  Wilson acknowledged that the                                                                   
Committee  could decide  what  is best;  however, the  Agency                                                                   
does not submit an indeterminate  note "lightly".  She stated                                                                   
that the  Public Defenders  office believe  there would  be a                                                                   
fiscal impact.   When the offense is raised to  a felony, the                                                                   
theft  of  a  credit card,  or  access  device,  which  could                                                                   
include  a single  check, raise  to a  felony, the  use of  a                                                                   
credit to $50 dollars.   The change would lower  it from $500                                                                   
dollars to $50  dollars.  She believed that there  would be a                                                                   
noticeable increase  in charges brought forward.   Ms. Wilson                                                                   
thought that there  would be a lot of younger  people charged                                                                   
with using fake  identification (ID).  There  are no specific                                                                   
numbers in the amount of theft  cases that can break it down.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:42:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  MOVED to report  HB 131 out  of Committee                                                                   
with  individual recommendations  and  with the  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HB  131  was reported  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation  and with zero  note #1  by the Department  of                                                                   
Corrections,  zero note  #2 by  the Department  of Law,  zero                                                                   
note #3 by the Department of Public  Safety and indeterminate                                                                   
note #4 by the Department of Administration.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  MOVED to  report CS HB  132 (JUD)  out of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS HB  132 (JUD)  was reported  out of  Committee with  a "do                                                                   
pass"  recommendation  and with  a  new  fiscal note  by  the                                                                   
Alaska Court System,  a new fiscal note by  the Department of                                                                   
Administration, zero  note #1 by the Department  of Law, zero                                                                   
note #2 by the Department of Public  Safety and indeterminate                                                                   
note #3 by the Department of Corrections.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
AT EASE:       3:44:37 PM                                                                                                     
RECONVENE:     3:46:45 PM                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 41                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     An Act relating  to minimum periods of  imprisonment for                                                                   
     the  crime of  assault in  the  fourth degree  committed                                                                   
     against an  employee of an  elementary, junior  high, or                                                                   
     secondary school  who was engaged in the  performance of                                                                   
     school duties at the time of the assault.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  MOVED to  ADOPT work draft  #24-LS0307\F,                                                                   
Luckhaupt,  3/22/05, as the  version of  the bill before  the                                                                   
Committee.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BOB LYNN,  SPONSOR,  pointed  out that  State                                                                   
Statute  provides  for  specific terms  of  imprisonment  for                                                                   
crimes committed  against certain  public employees,  such as                                                                   
peace  officers, firefighters,  etc., in  the performance  of                                                                   
their official duties.  He thought  that school employees who                                                                   
work  with children  deserve the  same level  of respect  and                                                                   
protection under the law.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HB  41  would   revise  sentencing  guidelines   so  that  an                                                                   
individual  convicted as  an  adult of  assault  on a  school                                                                   
employee  while on  school grounds,  on  a school  bus, at  a                                                                   
school-sponsored event, or in  the administrative office of a                                                                   
school district,  would receive  a mandatory minimum  term of                                                                   
imprisonment, which would be similar  to that imposed upon an                                                                   
individual  who  assaults  a  peace  officer,  fire  fighter,                                                                   
correctional   employee,   emergency    medical   technician,                                                                   
paramedic, ambulance attendance  or other emergency responder                                                                   
engaged in the performance of  official duties at the time of                                                                   
the offense.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lynn summarized  that schools must be safe for                                                                   
teachers  and other  school  employees, as  well  as for  the                                                                   
children.   The bill provides  a step toward that  safety and                                                                   
sends a  message to  anyone who  might consider assaulting  a                                                                   
school employee.  He urged support for HB 41.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:50:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNE CARPENETI, ASSISTANT   ATTORNEY  GENERAL, LEGAL SERVICES                                                                   
SECTION-JUNEAU,   CRIMINAL  DIVISION,   DEPARTMENT  OF   LAW,                                                                   
offered to  answer questions of  the Committee.   She advised                                                                   
that the Administration does supports the bill.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze asked  how  the legislation  compared  to                                                                   
previous  legislation  on  crimes   against  teachers.    Ms.                                                                   
Carpeneti responded  that HB 88  applied to felony  offenses.                                                                   
That  bill had  a waiver  for juveniles,  who were  16 or  17                                                                   
years  old  with  very  serious   weapon  offenses.    HB  41                                                                   
addresses  sentencing for  misdemeanors.   HB  88  and HB  41                                                                   
together do not conflict with one another.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  inquired  if   volunteer  parents  had  been                                                                   
addressed in  the legislation.   Representative  Lynn replied                                                                   
that  the  bill  includes  bus   drivers  but  not  volunteer                                                                   
parents.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:52:43 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Meyer   worried  that   calling   them   "contract                                                                   
employees" would  create legal ramifications  associated with                                                                   
retirement.    Ms.  Carpeneti   advised  that  the  committee                                                                   
substitute does  not call them contract employees  but rather                                                                   
contract bus drivers.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:53:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer  reiterated  his   concern  that  the  bill's                                                                   
language treated contracting employees  as if they were State                                                                   
employees.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:53:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly asked about  the existing language  for                                                                   
peace officers and school district employees.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Carpeneti  replied that peace  officers and  other people                                                                   
would  be  protected  under  D(1),   which  would  provide  a                                                                   
                                th                                                                                              
mandatory minimum  return for  4  degree assaults  that cause                                                                   
physical  injury or  put a  person  in fear.   That  language                                                                   
provides  a  mandatory  minimum  of 60-days.    Both  involve                                                                   
physical injury to the victim.   Paragraph (D) provides for a                                                                   
mandatory  minimum of  30-days  if the  victim  is placed  in                                                                   
fear.   The  new provision  for school  employees and  others                                                                   
covered under those provisions,  adopts a mandatory provision                                                                   
of  60-days.    There is  no  mandatory  minimum  for  school                                                                   
employees who are put in fear.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:55:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Hawker   discussed   that  there   are   two                                                                   
categories   of   employees    addressed.      He   mentioned                                                                   
similarities involving hate crime  legislation.  He commented                                                                   
that the legislation would be  singling out two categories of                                                                   
employees  who deserve  special consideration  and asked  why                                                                   
other employees such as court  system workers, do not receive                                                                   
special consideration.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lynn recommended  that could be the subject of                                                                   
another bill at a different time.   He indicated he wanted to                                                                   
limit this  legislation to only  school employees.   He added                                                                   
that an assault  against any teacher would be  the equivalent                                                                   
of an  assault against a parent  and that the  legislation is                                                                   
not  an assault  between two  private parties  but rather  an                                                                   
individual and the government.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker reiterated  concern regarding  why all                                                                   
public  employees  will  not   deserving  public  protection.                                                                   
Representative   Lynn  thought   that  teachers   are   in  a                                                                   
particularly vulnerable position.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:57:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker  inquired if the legislation  should be                                                                   
extended to  other situations involving youth  offenders such                                                                   
as Covenant  House employees.  Representative  Lynn responded                                                                   
that  a school  is  a  government institution;  whereas,  the                                                                   
other is a private entity.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer  clarified that  HB 41 resulted  from problems                                                                   
that occurred  at some schools.  Vice-Chair  Stoltze inquired                                                                   
if the  bill would apply to  private schools.   Ms. Carpeneti                                                                   
opined that it does.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  inquired about the current  penalties for                                                                   
assault  on school  employees.   Ms.  Carpeneti related  that                                                                   
many of these offenders have served serious sentences.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:01:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIP STEELE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE),  ANCHORAGE SCHOOL                                                                   
BOARD, ANCHORAGE, related that  the Anchorage School District                                                                   
does support HB  41.  He said that the bill  refers to adults                                                                   
and not students assaulting teachers.   He related an example                                                                   
of a  teacher being attacked  in front  of the students.   In                                                                   
the  example, the  courts  were supportive.    He hoped  that                                                                   
implementation of the legislation could keep schools safer.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:05:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer closed public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Kelly  referred  to  Representative  Hawker's                                                                   
previous statements  about hate crimes.  He  expressed doubts                                                                   
about the bill.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze  pointed  out  that a  person  could  not                                                                   
legally  carry a  concealed  weapon  into a  bar.   He  asked                                                                   
Representative  Lynn   about  testimony  from   other  school                                                                   
districts.     Representative   Hawker  termed  it   "putting                                                                   
sideboards up to protect our employees".   Vice-Chair Stoltze                                                                   
mentioned  that there  have  been a  number  of high  profile                                                                   
cases lately.   Representative  Lynn added  that it  makes no                                                                   
difference  if it is  an urban  or rural  school.  A  problem                                                                   
exists and it has become a national concern.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:09:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Weyhrauch  MOVED to adopt Amendment  1.  (Copy                                                                   
on  File).    Vice-Chair  Stoltze   objected  for  discussion                                                                   
purposes.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch explained  that the  bill does  not                                                                   
allow for  any mitigating  factors.   The amendment  allows a                                                                   
court  to determine  if any  of  the factors  in the  statues                                                                   
apply.   For example,  if duress was  involved, it  should be                                                                   
considered.   Additionally, he  believed that there  would be                                                                   
an indeterminate fiscal note rather than a zero.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer speculated  that  the occurrences  would  not                                                                   
happen often,  which is why  the note is  zero.  He  asked if                                                                   
there   were  examples   of   someone   hitting  a   teacher.                                                                   
Representative  Weyhrauch gave  an  example of  a person  who                                                                   
throws someone into  another person that hits a  teacher.  He                                                                   
emphasized  that mitigating  factors  must  be considered  in                                                                   
order to be consistent.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Meyer   asked  if   he  would  suggest   mitigating                                                                   
sentences for Peace Officers also.   Representative Weyhrauch                                                                   
replied  that it could  apply.   Co-Chair Meyer  acknowledged                                                                   
that the  amendment could  provide more  flexibility  for the                                                                   
judge.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:15:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Holm  voiced   concern  regarding   why  the                                                                   
Committee  was discussing  assault 4  rather than assault  3.                                                                   
He asked where that line rests.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Representative Lynn  commented that his intent  was to remove                                                                   
the  flexibility  from  the  judicial   system  and  make  it                                                                   
mandatory.   He added  that he would  be satisfied  with what                                                                   
the Committee decides.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Carpeneti explained  the difference  between assault  in                                                                   
     thrdth                                                                                                                     
the 4  degree  and in the 3   degree.  She noted that  the 4                                                                    
degree is  a Class  A misdemeanor.   Any assault  higher than                                                                   
that  is  a   felony.    The  bill  provides   a  legislative                                                                   
conclusion that  it is important  to have a safe  environment                                                                   
in schools,  more so  than in bars  and restaurants  and that                                                                   
teachers need to  be protected.  The bill applies  to assault                                                                   
    th                                                                                                                          
in 4 degree, where there is physical harm.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:20:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch  responded  that  could  create  an                                                                   
"interesting hierarchy".   He stated  that he is in  favor of                                                                   
the bill,  but stressed  that there  are situations  in which                                                                   
the court should  be able to mitigate.  He noted  that he was                                                                   
not opposed to  a 60-day minimum sentence but  that the judge                                                                   
needs mitigating ability.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:22:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Meyer  suggested that  the amendment would  not take                                                                   
away  from  the  intent  of the  bill.    Vice-Chair  Stoltze                                                                   
WITHDREW his OBJECTION.   There being NO  further OBJECTIONS,                                                                   
Amendment #1 was adopted.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:23:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Foster referenced  on the sentence  regarding                                                                   
assault  on a  school employee.   He  noted that  in Nome,  a                                                                   
Peace Officer killed  a member of the community  without good                                                                   
reason.  He worried about situations  in which the bill could                                                                   
be harmful to the non-guilty person.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Carpeneti  requested to  help draft  the amendment.   She                                                                   
noted  that  whenever  there are  sentencing  issues,  it  is                                                                   
important  to be  clear whose  burden  of proof  it will  be.                                                                   
Representative Weyhrauch understood  that the intent of proof                                                                   
would be on the defendant.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:26:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Meyer   acknowledged   the  concerns   voiced   by                                                                   
Representative Foster.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  thought  that everyone  would  be  in                                                                   
support  of  the  bill;  however,  warned  about  creating  a                                                                   
"privileged  class"  within  communities.     Co-Chair  Meyer                                                                   
agreed.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster  MOVED to report CS HB 41  (FIN) out of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS  HB 41  (FIN) was  reported out  of Committee  with a  "no                                                                   
recommendation" and  with a new  zero note by  the Department                                                                   
of  Public  Safety,  zero  note   #1  by  the  Department  of                                                                   
Administration,   zero   note  #2   by   the  Department   of                                                                   
Corrections, and zero note #4 by Department of Law.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:28:44 PM                                                                                                                    
HOUSE BILL NO. 16                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     An  Act   relating  to  funding  for   school  districts                                                                   
     operating  secondary  school  boarding programs  and  to                                                                   
     funding  for   school  districts  from   which  boarding                                                                   
     student's come; and providing for an effective date.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHN  COGHILL,  SPONSOR,  stated that  HB  16                                                                   
would put  into statute the  Department of Education  & Early                                                                   
Development  current practices.    The legislation  does  not                                                                   
create new programs; it only supports  existing programs that                                                                   
are successful.   The change is  a student would not  have to                                                                   
pass the  current standard for  qualification.   The standard                                                                   
is  that  the student  would  be  able  to have  high  school                                                                   
available  while leaving  their  school district.   The  bill                                                                   
provides students  a choice  regarding whether  they go  to a                                                                   
larger boarding school  that has more offerings  than what is                                                                   
available at their local schools.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Coghill  pointed out that the  legislation, by                                                                   
statute, reimburses  to full school year,  secondary boarding                                                                   
schools for the costs incurred  by the district operating the                                                                   
program.   At this  time, there  are three boarding  schools,                                                                   
which  would  qualify  for  reimbursement   for  a  per-pupil                                                                   
stipend plus one  round trip between the  student's community                                                                   
of residence  and  the school  during the school  year.   The                                                                   
legislation limits  the program  to boarding schools  already                                                                   
operating  since January  1, 2004,  and  those schools  would                                                                   
participate in a five-year pilot  project that the Department                                                                   
of  Education  & Early  Development  could evaluate  for  the                                                                   
Legislature.  He added that the  hold harmless section of the                                                                   
bill allows  the student's district  of residence to  count a                                                                   
student  for the Average  Daily Membership  (ADM) count  even                                                                   
though the student is attending  a secondary boarding school.                                                                   
It avoids the  possibility of paying twice,  the base student                                                                   
allocation for the same student.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:34:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Hawker  commented on the fiscal  impact of the                                                                   
legislation and questioned how those funds could be offset.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Coghill  acknowledged   that  he   had  been                                                                   
concerned  about that.   He noted  that he  was committed  to                                                                   
balancing the  budget, while finding legitimate  ways to fund                                                                   
government.  He  indicated that he did not know  a place from                                                                   
which to  transfer the funds,  reiterating that the  need for                                                                   
boarding schools is great.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Hawker   suggested  that   a   participatory                                                                   
investment  from   people  living  in  the   Rural  Education                                                                   
Attendance  Areas (REAA).   Representative Coghill  responded                                                                   
that was  a capital approach  and that  he would not  want to                                                                   
attach  the  bill  to  that.    He added  that  HB  16  is  a                                                                   
structural  process, looking  at how  boarding schools  do in                                                                   
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Coghill acknowledged  the  need for  downward                                                                   
pressure on State government growth.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:37:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker interjected that  he was referring  to                                                                   
Senator  Bundy's  REAA  head-tax.     Representative  Coghill                                                                   
misunderstood.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:37:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Stoltze referenced  Section  2  and was  confused                                                                   
about community pressure.   He worried about  a school losing                                                                   
their standing.   He  thought that  the legislation  might be                                                                   
restricting  options.   Representative  Coghill  stated  that                                                                   
there  are  reasons  why in  some  communities,  the  schools                                                                   
should  no longer  exist.   He  did not  want to  see that  a                                                                   
student leaves because  they could not get what  they needed.                                                                   
He struggled  with that, but  understood that there  would be                                                                   
no effect  on schools with between  10 & 20 students,  as the                                                                   
funding  level  would remain  the  same between  that  level.                                                                   
Only  when  there are  less  than  10  students, is  there  a                                                                   
potential  question.  He  wanted to  find a  way to hold  the                                                                   
school district harmless if that were the case.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Stoltze  worried about  pressure in small  schools                                                                   
on  the  child that  needed  or  wanted  to  board out.    He                                                                   
referenced the  Nenana Boarding  School commenting on  what a                                                                   
successful system that is.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:40:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch  inquired who  goes  to a  boarding                                                                   
school.    Representative  Coghill   pointed  out  that  many                                                                   
students  go  to a  boarding  school.    In many  cases,  the                                                                   
parents  pay into  the school  fund.   The  stipend does  not                                                                   
cover the  entire costs  of the boarding  costs.   In Nenana,                                                                   
they divide the cost between the  school and the parent.  The                                                                   
stipend  would cover  between  ½ and   a  1/3  of the  costs.                                                                   
There could be  some savings.  The students come  from a wide                                                                   
range of communities  in the State including  Anchorage.  The                                                                   
reasons  that  they are  there  range from  social  problems,                                                                   
parents wanting to  raise the level of education  or specific                                                                   
voc-tech options.  The Nenanna  students seem to be in a good                                                                   
college prep situation.   He reiterated that there  is a wide                                                                   
range of issues.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MARK NEUMAN  testified in  support of  HB 16.                                                                   
He  claimed  that  regional  learning  center  concepts  were                                                                   
important to future education  statewide.  It provides a safe                                                                   
haven  for  many students.    The  graduation rate  from  the                                                                   
boarding  schools is  tremendous and  many of these  students                                                                   
have gone  to college.   In  the boarding  school system  and                                                                   
regional learning  centers, the  student learns in  a college                                                                   
type atmosphere and end up doing well in college.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Neuman  pointed   out  that  there  are  many                                                                   
schools  that   have  marginal  attendance.     The  proposed                                                                   
legislation  offers a  way to  bring some  of those  students                                                                   
into  the   regional  learning   centers,  thus   making  the                                                                   
statewide  system better.   He added  that the hold  harmless                                                                   
clause does  protect some of  the smaller statewide  schools.                                                                   
Many students would  love to get into those  schools and that                                                                   
most of the students are from rural Alaska.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:47:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  WOODIE  SALMON testified  in  support of  the                                                                   
bill.   He noted that  he was a  result of a boarding  school                                                                   
education  program.    He  commented  that  boarding  schools                                                                   
provide  a  wonderful  choice   for  village  students.    He                                                                   
acknowledged the  sacrifices that  parents make in  order for                                                                   
their  children to  leave the  villages  and attend  boarding                                                                   
schools.    He  noted  opportunities  that  offer  vocational                                                                   
advantages.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Salmon indicated  that this  is not  a Native                                                                   
problem but rather  a State problem and that  Alaska needs to                                                                   
be proactive in educating our children.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:51:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RALPH  LINDQUIST,  (TESTIFIED   VIA  TELECONFERENCE),  NENANA                                                                   
SCHOOL  DISTRICT, testified  in support  of the  legislation.                                                                   
He  noted that  Nenana district  offers a  product, which  is                                                                   
very popular with the kids.  He  gave examples of children in                                                                   
the program that have succeeded  and pointed out that no kids                                                                   
opted  to leave  the school  for Christmas  break this  year.                                                                   
The bill would provide funding  for five years.  He addressed                                                                   
college  prep preparation  and begged  for support for  these                                                                   
kids and the programs.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
JIM  SMITH,  (TESTIFIED VIA  TELECONFERENCE),  GALENA  SCHOOL                                                                   
DISTRICT, GALENA,  spoke in support  of the legislation.   He                                                                   
stressed the success of their  program.  He offered to answer                                                                   
questions of the Committee.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
KEN     EGGLESTON,    (TESTIFIED     VIA     TELECONFERENCE),                                                                   
SUPERINTENDENT  OF SCHOOLS, NENANA,  spoke in support  of the                                                                   
legislation.     He  recounted successes  at  the Nenana  and                                                                   
Galena boarding  schools.   He observed  that the Nenana  and                                                                   
Galena  boarding schools  assist  each other  and  emphasized                                                                   
their need to offer vocational  and other popular programs to                                                                   
these students.  Mr. Eggleston  pointed  out that the  Nenana                                                                   
School  District is  working with  the Rasmussen  Foundation.                                                                   
He assured the Committee that  the programs are attempting to                                                                   
find ways to fund that does not  encumber more money from the                                                                   
State.  He urged passage of the legislation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB 16 was HELD in Committee for further consideration.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 5:01 P.M.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                

Document Name Date/Time Subjects