HB 69-RECLASSIFICATION OF FIRST CLASS CITIES  8:02:02 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 69, "An Act relating to the reclassification of first class cities as second class cities; and providing for an effective date." 8:02:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE CRONK, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced HB 69. He pointed out that the first-class city of Tanana has been unable to transfer its school to the Yukon-Koyukuk rural education attendance area. He stated that this is because a first-class city would need to be reclassified to legally transfer. From the annual report from the local boundary commission, he pointed out that a minimum population of 400 residents is required to form a first-class city; however, there is not a mechanism for automatic reclassification if a city's population drops. He stated that the proposed legislation would be the first step in allowing the Tanana school to be transferred to the Yukon-Koyukuk School District. He referenced past legislation which had been required to allow the transfer of a different small school into another school district. He concluded that without this legislation the Tanana school cannot be transferred. 8:03:57 AM DAVE STANCLIFF, Staff, Representative Mike Cronk, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of the prime sponsor, Representative Cronk, presented the sectional analysis [copy included in the committee packet], which read as follows: Section 1: City Population Eligibility: Establishes a threshold of "less than" 400 persons, as verified by the latest US Census, for automatically reclassifying a first- class city that requests such action. Local Boundary Commission Timeframe: Once requested, a timeframe of 10 days is established for the Local Boundary Commission to notify the requesting city council that they are officially eligible for reclassification. City decision timeframe: After the council receives official notification by the Local Boundary Commission, the city has 30 days to reject the automatic reclassification. City reconsideration timeframe: If the city council opts to reject the automatic reclassification for one year from the date. Section 2: Establishes immediate effective date. 8:05:09 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that HB 69 was held over.