Legislature(1997 - 1998)
05/06/1997 09:15 AM Senate FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
MINUTES
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
6 May 1997
9:15 a.m.
TAPES
SFC-97, #144, Side 1 (000 - 590)
Side 2 (590 - 221)
CALL TO ORDER
Senator Bert Sharp, Co-chairman, convened the meeting at
approximately 9:15 a.m.
PRESENT
In addition to Co-chairman Sharp, Senators Pearce, Phillips,
Torgerson and Adams were present when the meeting convened.
Senators Parnell and Donley arrived thereafter respectively.
ALSO ATTENDING: Representative Con Bunde; Shirley Holloway,
Commissioner, Department of Education; John Cyr, President,
NEA Alaska; aides to committee members and other
legislators.
SUMMARY INFORMATION
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 153(FIN)
"An Act relating to the eligibility of aliens for state
public assistance and medical assistance programs
affected by federal welfare reform legislation; and
providing for an effective date."
Sponsor of the bill gave a brief explanation. Senator Adams
advised that the bill was discussed in full in the welfare
reform subcommittee. He moved HB 153 with individual
recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes and without
objection it was reported out.
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 146(FIN)
"An Act relating to competency testing requirements for
secondary students; and providing for an effective
date."
Co-chair Sharp called HB 146. Representative Con Bunde,
sponsor of the bill was invited to join the committee and
offered a brief explanation. He said achievement tests
should be taken seriously. Students should not be passed
socially. It should be required that all students be able
to read by third grade.
Senator Pearce said there should be competency exams before
graduation as before. It should be an exam administered and
graded by the school. Representative Bunde responded that
the department would set the standards and administer the
exams but the school would be responsible for grading them.
Students would take the exam in ninth grade and it would not
be a one-time test at the end of the senior year. In that
manner students and parents would know their standing in
classes. This was a proposed implementation to prevent last
minute failure. Senator Phillips felt that when a student
reaches the eighth grade they should be fairly well aware of
their standing. Representative Bunde said unfortunately
this was not the case and that the exam must be insisted
upon. It was too bad since the teaching service was already
paid for.
Senator Torgerson asked if this was the same test as for
GED. Representative Bunde said there was no relationship
between the GED and the competency test. Senator Adams felt
that if students were tested too early that would only set
them up for failure. Representative Bunde felt that early
testing was a start to correct the situation because as it
stood students get their graduation diplomas whether they
were functionally literate or not.
Shirley Holloway, Commissioner, Department of Education was
invited to join the committee. She said the department
opposed the bill first off, and second the bill should have
been heard in the Senate HES committee. She said one,
parents had a right to know the standing of their child in
class; two, schools should be responsible; and three,
schools should provide prevention and mediation so students
will be successful. There should be a comprehensive plan
know to both parents and teachers and the system must be
responsible for communicating the status of the child.
Testing was a critical aspect of learning and the problem
must be fixed if the child is not learning. In response to
Senator Phillips she said she opposed the exit exam as set
up in this bill. The present exam was set up to national
norms and did not necessarily reflect what the student had
been taught. In further response to Senator Parnell,
Commissioner Holloway felt that developmental profiles
should be a must for all 5 - 6 year olds and that the tests
being used presently were not being used proficiently.
Co-chair Sharp said that the schools were getting full money
to educate students. Commissioner Holloway concurred but
said they presently had no authority to do anything to
failing students. Something must be done early for those
students not achieving. Co-chair sharp asked if there were
any recommendations for a remedy and Commissioner Holloway
responded that a quality education plan had been submitted
to the committee.
Senator Adams moved amendment #1 and asked how this would
address the afore-mentioned problems. Senator Parnell
objected. Senator Adams said money spent how would save
money later. By a vote of 3 - 4 (Donley, Parnell, Sharp,
Pearce) amendment #1 failed.
John Cyr, President NEA, Alaska was invited to join the
committee. He said tests do little to ascertain the level
of a specific student. There were no statewide standards
and the bill should be in Senate HES and not Senate Finance
Committee. Co-chair Sharp concurred. Senator Pearce felt
children needed to be motivated.
Senator Parnell moved CSHB 146(FIN) with individual
recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. Senator
Adams objected. By a vote of 6 - 1 (Adams) the bill was
reported out.
Co-chair Sharp called SB 107.
SENATE BILL NO. 107
"An Act making and amending capital and other
appropriations and to capitalize funds; and providing
for an effective date."
He noted that the DEC #1 amendment had been omitted from the
new CS. It was to be added. Mike Greany, Director,
Legislative Finance was advised to make the necessary
corrections on page 4, line 28. He further noted a
correction on page 58, which was a deletion from the back
section of the bill.
Senator Parnell moved to rescind FRONT #1. Senator Adams
objected. The motion failed by a vote of 3 - 4 (Adams,
Phillips, Donley, Pearce). Then Senator Parnell noted that
there were errors on the spread sheets from the Department
of Administration. After a short at ease he said that the
department could figure out the correct amounts. Co-chair
Sharp said the corrections could then be made in the House.
Senator Pearce called the committee's attention to the
Bethel Seawall which was added using AHFC funding. She said
the correct amount should be $180,000. She moved page 45,
line 22 to read $180,000 and without objection it was
adopted.
Senator Adams moved DOE #1 be returned to original language.
Senator Donley objected. By a vote of 1 - 6 (Parnell,
Phillips, Donley, Torgerson, Pearce, Sharp) the motion
failed.
Senator Pearce then moved to reconsider motion to rescind
rescinded action on FRONT #1. After a brief at ease Senator
Parnell moved to delete section 54, page 27, lines 23 - 26
and add the language to page 43, lines 22 and 23. Senator
Phillips objected. He said the motion to reconsider motion
by Senator Pearce was out of order. Co-chair Sharp ordered
a new amendment be moved. Senator Phillips advised he would
appeal the order of the chair.
Senator Parnell moved to amend FRONT #38 to include an
increase of $1. Without objection it was adopted. Senator
Parnell moved amended FRONT #38 and it was adopted by a vote
of 5 - 2 (Adams, Phillips). Senator Pearce then moved CSSB
107(FIN). Senator Adams objected. By a vote of 5 - 2
(Adams, Phillips) it was reported out.
ADJOURNMENT
Co-chair Sharp recessed until 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
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