03/15/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION

                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
              SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         March 15, 2013                                                                                         
                           8:01 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair                                                                                                     
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair                                                                                               
Senator Bert Stedman                                                                                                            
Senator Berta Gardner                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Charlie Huggins                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 47                                                                                       
"An Act relating to boarding schools operated by school                                                                         
districts; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSSSSB 47(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SB 47                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: STIPEND FOR STATEWIDE BOARDING SCHOOL                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) COGHILL                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
02/08/13       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/08/13       (S)       FIN                                                                                                    
02/22/13       (S)       SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS                                                                
02/22/13       (S)       EDC, FIN                                                                                               
03/13/13       (S)       EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
03/13/13       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/13/13       (S)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
03/15/13       (S)       EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
RYNNIEVA MOSS, staff                                                                                                            
Senator John Coghill                                                                                                            
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT: Offered to answer questions related to SB 47                                                              
on behalf of the sponsor.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:01:25 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  GARY   STEVENS  called   the  Senate   Education  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting  to order at 8:01  a.m. Present at the  call to                                                               
order  were  Senators  Dunleavy,   Stedman,  Gardner,  and  Chair                                                               
Stevens.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
          SB 47-STIPEND FOR STATEWIDE BOARDING SCHOOL                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
8:01:55 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS announced that the  only order of business would be                                                               
SB 47. He  said it was the  second hearing on the  bill. He noted                                                               
public  testimony  would  be  taken.  [SSSB  47  was  before  the                                                               
committee.]                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DUNLEAVY moved  to  adopt  work draft  CS  for SSSB  47,                                                               
labeled 28-LS0408\P, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
RYNNIEVA MOSS,  staff, Senator  John Coghill,  sponsor of  SB 47,                                                               
offered to answer questions related to the bill.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  STEVENS  opened  public testimony.  No  one  appeared  for                                                               
public testimony.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:03:26 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GARDNER said  she likes the bill and the  direction it is                                                               
taking. However, she  said she did not like that  the state picks                                                               
up  the cost  of room  and board  and travel  for children  whose                                                               
parents can afford to pay those  costs. She said if the bill were                                                               
to  be changed  to exclude  those  who could  pay, more  children                                                               
could be served. She related  that the Legislative Affairs Agency                                                               
reported  that it  would  be unconstitutional  to  do so.  Travel                                                               
costs and  room and board are  part of the state's  obligation to                                                               
provide an education.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS noted it was a good point.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOSS  reported that the  sponsor has had the  same discussion                                                               
in the past when he dealt with HB  16 in trying to find a way for                                                               
parents to contribute to the cause.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS removed his objection.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to report CSSSSB 47(EDC) from committee                                                                  
with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note.                                                                   
There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:05:37 AM                                                                                                                    
At ease from 8:05 to 8:07 a.m.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:07:04 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS brought up concerns about the Alaska High School                                                                  
Graduation Qualifying Exam and noted that the committee would                                                                   
hold a hearing at a future date.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:07:47 AM                                                                                                                    
There being no further business to come before the committee,                                                                   
Chair Stevens adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee                                                                 
at 8:07 a.m.