Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532
02/15/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB56 | |
| SB141 | |
| SB24 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 56 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
February 15, 2024
1:38 p.m.
1:38:42 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Olson called the Senate Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:38 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair
Senator Click Bishop
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Kelly Merrick [via teleconference]
Senator David Wilson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair
ALSO PRESENT
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Sponsor; James Holzenberg, Staff
for Senator Dunbar; Sana Efird, Executive Director, Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education; Sam Greely, Staff to
Senator Hoffman; Ken Alper, Staff to Senator Olson; Senator
Elvi Gray-Jackson, Sponsor; Besse Odom, Staff to Senator
Gray-Jackson.
SUMMARY
SB 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
CSSB 24(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with
four "do pass" recommendations and with one
forthcoming fiscal impact note from the
Department of Education and Early Development.
SB 56 AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
CSSB 56(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with
three "do pass" recommendations and with one no
recommendation recommendation, and with four new
fiscal impact notes from the Department of
Education and Early Development.
SB 141 NAMING RAYMOND & ESTHER CONQUEST BRIDGE
CSSB 141(TRA) was REPORTED out of committee with
four "do pass" recommendations, and with one
previously published fiscal impact note: FN
1(DOT).
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda.
SENATE BILL NO. 56
"An Act relating to the Alaska performance scholarship
program."
1:39:24 PM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the committee had heard the
bill on January 30, 2024, and had taken public testimony.
There had been no amendments submitted. He invited the
sponsor to comment.
1:39:45 PM
SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR, SPONSOR, relayed that the bill
would do three primary things, including changing some of
the qualifications to receive the Alaska Performance
Scholarship (APS) including expanding for more career and
technical education. The bill would move forward the
notification deadline in order to let students know of the
award earlier. The bill would increase the scholarship to
account for inflation. He recounted hearing testimony that
indicated that 43 percent of UA students were food
insecure. He thought the bill would help promote food
security for some students.
1:41:13 PM
JAMES HOLZENBERG, STAFF FOR SENATOR DUNBAR, introduced
himself and noted that he was not a recipient of APS. He
had peers that had received the scholarship, and he thought
the award had affected his peers ability to stay in the
state.
1:42:24 PM
SANA EFIRD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA COMMISSION ON
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, introduced herself and relayed
that she was available to answer any questions posed by the
committee. She recounted that the commission had passed a
resolution in support of the bill the previous year.
Co-Chair Olson asked if the bill was tailored to help
students that were disinclined to go on to higher
education.
Ms. Efird affirmed that the intention of the bill was to
encourage students to go on to higher education. She noted
that the original purpose of the APS program was to
encourage and promote Alaska students into a postsecondary
pathway from high school. She asserted that ACPE felt very
strongly that the changes in the bill would be an
improvement in the program and would remove some of the
barriers. She cited the ultimate goal of having students
retained in the state and living productive lives.
Senator Kiehl MOVED to report CSSB 56(EDC) out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 56(EDC) was REPORTED out of committee with three "do
pass" recommendations and with one no recommendation
recommendation, and with four new fiscal impact notes from
the Department of Education and Early Development.
1:45:03 PM
AT EASE
1:47:10 PM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 141
"An Act naming the Raymond and Esther Conquest
Bridge."
1:47:14 PM
Co-Chair Olson recounted that the committee first heard SB
141 on February 7, at which time it had taken public
testimony. No amendments had been submitted.
1:47:40 PM
SAM GREELY, STAFF TO SENATOR HOFFMAN, thanked the committee
for hearing the bill.
Co-Chair Hoffman MOVED to report CSSB 141(TRA) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being no There being NO
OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 141(TRA) was REPORTED out of committee with four "do
pass" recommendations, and with one previously published
fiscal impact note: FN 1(DOT).
1:48:35 PM
AT EASE
1:49:55 PM
RECONVENED
SENATE BILL NO. 24
"An Act relating to mental health education; and
providing for an effective date."
1:49:58 PM
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the committee first heard SB 24
on February 7, and had taken public testimony. There was a
Committee Substitute (CS) to consider.
Senator Kiehl MOVED to ADOPT proposed committee substitute
for SB 24, Work Draft 33-LS0232\S (Marx/Bergerud, 2/14/24).
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.
1:50:37 PM
KEN ALPER, STAFF TO SENATOR OLSON, commented that the only
change in the CS was to the effective date, which was
modified from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024. He noted that
there was a forthcoming change to the fiscal note to
reflect the modified effective date, and also to clarify
that the funding source for the costs in curriculum
development would be general fund-mental health rather than
unrestricted general funds. He anticipated that the updated
fiscal note would be available in approximately one hour.
Co-Chair Olson WITHDREW his objection. There being NO
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
1:51:42 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, SPONSOR, expressed thanks to the
committee. She was pleased at receiving a letter of support
from the Anchorage School
District board members and superintendent. She mentioned a
group of students from Sitka, who had offered testimony
related to mental health in the Senate Education Committee.
Co-Chair Olson mentioned the Golovin School District and
agreed that there needed to be additional support for
mental health.
1:53:49 PM
BESSE ODOM, STAFF TO SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON, did not have
additional comments to offer.
Co-Chair Olson asked if Ms. Odom was in favor of the bill.
Ms. Odom emphasized her support for the bill.
Senator Kiehl MOVED to report CSSB 24(FIN) out of Committee
with individual recommendations and the forthcoming fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSSB 24(FIN) was REPORTED out of committee with four "do
pass" recommendations and with one forthcoming fiscal
impact note from the Department of Education and Early
Development.
1:54:46 PM
AT EASE
1:56:09 PM
RECONVENED
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda for the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
1:56:35 PM
The meeting was adjourned at 1:56 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 24 - Letter of Support ASD.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 - Letter of Support Gwyneth Eggleston.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 EED SSA 011524.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 CS in SFin summary of changes 2-15-24.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 work draft version varsion S.pdf |
SFIN 2/15/2024 1:30:00 PM |
SB 24 |