Legislature(1999 - 2000)
01/27/2000 03:33 PM Senate STA
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
January 27, 2000
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Jerry Ward, Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Randy Phillips
Senator Kim Elton
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Gary Wilken
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 196
"An Act relating to selection of members of the planning commission
for a first or second class borough."
-MOVED SB 196 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 26
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska
relating to education.
-HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 196 - No previous Senate Action
SJR 26 - No previous Senate Action
WITNESS REGISTER
Dale Bagley
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor
144 Binkley St.
Soldotna, AK 99664
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SB 196
Larry Wiget
Executive Director of Public Affairs
Anchorage School District
4600 Debarr
Anchorage, AK 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposes SJR 26
Loretta Brown
Chief of Staff to Senator Ward
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Commented on SJR 26
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-01, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WARD called the Senate State Affairs Committee to order at
3:33 p.m. Present were Senators Ward, Phillips, Elton, and Green.
The first order of business to come before the committee was SB
196.
SB 196-MUNICIPAL PLANNING COMMISSION
Number 085
MR. DALE BAGLEY, Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor, explained that
sometimes the planning commission tends to be an extension of the
mayor. SB 196 allows a municipality to choose to elect planning
commission members rather than have them be appointed by the mayor.
The commission members would then become responsible for their
actions.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if giving this option to municipalities will
make for better government.
MR. BAGLEY stated that is correct.
SENATOR ELTON asked why legislation was chosen as a solution since
the appointment process can be changed by ordinance.
MR. BAGLEY said Title 29 allows for appointed commissioners only,
therefore it needs to be amended to allow for elected or appointed
positions.
SENATOR ELTON stated that commissioners can be appointed by the
assembly without any changes to State law.
MR. BAGLEY said currently, the mayor's appointments are confirmed
by the assembly, usually without any controversy.
Number 285
SENATOR ELTON asked if any analysis or research has been done on
the additional cost to a municipality or borough. He expressed
concern that very few people may want to campaign for that office
which will make the elective process a more expensive way for a
municipality to fill those seats.
MR. BAGLEY stated that he had not done a cost analysis, but the
election should be part of a normal municipal election.
Municipalities have service area boards, hospital service area
boards, senior service area boards, and so on. He expects more
interest in the planning commission board and the advisory board
seats.
CHAIRMAN WARD asked if elected positions are optional or
mandatory.
MR. BAGLEY said it will be within the rights of the municipality to
choose.
SENATOR GREEN moved SB 196 from committee with individual
recommendations.
SENATOR ELTON objected and explained that the legislature needs to
expand the ability of local governments to make these kinds of
choices themselves. He said he needs to hear the desires of other
municipal officials. He noted he spoke with Alaska Municipal
League and was told that this has never been a problem before.
SENATOR ELTON maintained his objection. The motion carried with
Senators Green, Phillips, and Ward voting "Yea," and Senator Elton
voting "Nay."
SJR 26-CONST. AM: EDUCATION FUND
MS. LORETTA BROWN presented SJR 26 for Senator Ward, the sponsor.
SJR 26 proposes amendments to the Alaska Constitution related to
education. This legislation offers a common sense approach to
funding and improving Alaska's educational system. SJR 26
establishes a land trust to fund education and allows for the
funding of private, as well as public, schools by establishing a
voucher system that favors school choice. The goals of the voucher
system are to enhance educational opportunities and to promote more
competition and quality in the delivery of educational services.
MS. BROWN explained that SJR 26 creates an endowment trust to
ensure adequate future funding for education. It will provide for
the use of revenues from the land trust to pay the operational
costs of education from kindergarten through the university level.
The trust would be entitled to 100 percent of any income derived
from land sales, leases, contracts, licenses or other uses for the
granted land. Not only would SJR 26 ensure the financial future of
Alaska's schools and provide for school choice, but it will create
new jobs and stimulate economic development as resources of the
trust are developed.
Number 725
MR. LARRY WIGET, Executive Director of Public Affairs for the
Anchorage School District and the Anchorage School Board (ASB),
urged policy makers to oppose efforts to use public tax dollars to
finance private home school vouchers. The ASB urges policy makers
to work with local communities to ensure that the State's public
schools provide world class educational opportunities. The ASB
believes taxpayer funded vouchers for private or home school
tuition and fees drain resources from public school classrooms and
diminish revenues for public schools. The ASB has not discussed
the endowment that the bill proposes to create.
CHAIRMAN WARD stated that it is not his intention to pass the bill
out at this time. He modeled SJR 26 on the Steve Cowper Endowment
Trust Fund concept, which uses a five million acre entitlement from
the State of Alaska to fund K-University programs.
Number 885
MR. WIGET said that it has been a while since the ASB has looked at
endowment issues. He will take SJR 26 back to the ASB for further
discussion.
SENATOR ELTON said that people are interested in an endowment
approach but committee members have different views on how it
should be started. SJR 26 ensures that the endowment is not just
for public schools; it is for private schools as well. The bill
provides for both public and private elementary and secondary
schools, yet only a public university. He asked why the endowment
will not fund private universities as well.
Number 1009
CHAIRMAN WARD stated that it seems like the University of Alaska
needs the most support. His intent is to give choices to parents.
SENATOR ELTON and CHAIRMAN WARD briefly discussed using endowment
funds for both public and private school use. Chairman Ward was in
favor of the idea, Senator Elton was not.
Number 1128
SENATOR PHILLIPS requested that Chairman Ward consider private
universities also.
CHAIRMAN WARD said he was looking at the issue purely from a
financial standpoint because the University has asked for land
grants to provide a steady revenue stream. Chairman Ward announced
he would hold SJR 26 in committee.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN WARD adjourned the meeting at 3:53 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|