HOUSE BILL NO. 10 "An Act relating to the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska." 3:15:49 PM STUART RELAY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, noted that Representative Carrick had been called to another meeting. CADENCE CONNER, INTERN, REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, provided an overview of the bill. She read from prepared remarks. Mr. Stuart offered to review the sectional analysis. Representative Hannan noted that the seat was a two-year seat. She asked if full appointments were six-year terms. Mr. Stuart answered that the Board of Regents had an eight- year term. Representative Hannan asked if there was a reason the sponsor had chosen a two-year term. Mr. Stuart answered that previous versions of the bill had included a faculty member as a four-year seat. 3:20:17 PM Representative Johnson asked if there would be other hearings on the bill. Co-Chair Foster stated it was an introductory hearing and the bill would be held. Representative Johnson stated there were currently 11 members and the bill would increase the board to 12. She asked about the even or odd numbers in relation to voting . She asked if the member would be voting member. REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY CARRICK, SPONSOR, answered that the bill would require 7 members for a quorum and would require a majority of the membership to pass a motion. Mr. Relay replied that the bill would require 7 members for a quorum and would require a majority of the membership to pass a motion. Co-Chair Foster asked for verification that none of the seats were currently designated. Representative Carrick answered in the affirmative, besides the student seat, which was also designated in the provision. 3:24:00 PM Representative Galvin wondered whether there were 11 full time faculty members. She also asked whether there was support of other faculty and students for the addition. Ms. Conner replied that there was a letter of support from student leaders. Representative Galvin asked if the student was a voting member. Representative Carrick answered that there were six university systems with a faculty regent in other states, and she stated that the student regent was a fully voting member. Representative Johnson stated she had some concern about executive sessions. Representative Carrick believed it was a valid concern that had arisen in prior hearings on the legislation. 3:27:44 PM Representative Hannan served as a student regent in the UA system. Representative Tomaszewski could see why the student regent would be a two-year term. He asked about the requirements for the other 10 existing regent positions. Mr. Relay responded that they would follow up with the information. Representative Carrick replied that she did not believe there were any other requirements. The regents were appointed by the governor. She would follow up. Representative Allard asked if there was currently an honorarium member. Representative Carrick replied in the negative. Representative Allard asked about support from the faculty. Ms. Conner answered that they were currently waiting on the letter of support. Representative Allard thought there was a problem having an even number of board members. She asked why adding a faculty member would be beneficial. 3:30:52 PM Representative Carrick replied there were several impetuses for having a faculty regent. She clarified that it was not meant to indicate a student regent was not doing a good job. Representative Allard thought the student perspective was the best. She asked if having a faculty member would be in conflict of interest with union contracts. She thought it was problematic and the regents needed neutral members. Representative Carrick answered that the legislature approved the funding for union contracts. Representative Allard stated there would still be conflict of interest. Representative Carrick stated it went back to the ability to recuse themselves from voting on motions related to salaries and contracts. 3:33:46 PM Representative Carrick noted that the invited testifier was no longer online. Representative Allard stated that faculty alliance already existed. She asked if there was already a board advocating for the faculty. Representative Carrick answered that it was the advocacy group. Representative Allard stated there was a faculty alliance that already existed. She did not think it was necessary to add another regent. Representative Tomaszewski asked who made up the list of nominees forwarded to the governor. Representative Carrick answered that the student regent had to fill out an application and had to have support from their student government. 3:36:57 PM Representative Stapp asked about the equal number of members. Representative Carrick noted they could talk offline. Co-Chair Foster asked for a review of the fiscal note. CHAD HUTCHISON, DIRECTOR, STATE RELATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA (via teleconference), reviewed the OMB component 730 fiscal note that travel costs averaged about $1,000 per member. Representative Tomaszewski assumed the Board of Regents currently had a $44,000 appropriation for travel. Mr. Hutchison replied that the current amount was approximately $36,000, and that typically only nine members traveled. Co-Chair Foster asked Representative Carrick for any closing comments. Representative Carrick thanked the committee. HB 10 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration.