HJR 5-SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS PROGRAM  1:31:42 PM CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 Urging the United States Congress and the President of the United States to reinstate the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 and make the funding mechanism in the Act permanent. 1:32:03 PM TREVOR SHAW, Staff, Representative Jeremy Bynum, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of HJR 5, which urges Congress and the President of the United States to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000. This program was in place from 2000 - 2023 and provided $12.6 million to Alaskan communities in FY 2023. The program went through 8 reauthorizations prior to its expiration. He explained that the program requires congressional reauthorization and presidential approval. 1:33:10 PM CHAIR MERRICK opened public testimony on HJR 5. 1:33:31 PM ANJI GALLANOS, Superintendent, Kake City School District, Kake, Alaska, testified in support of HJR 5. She explained that Kake receives approximately $200,000 annually through the SRS program. This funding provides a critical portion of the State's required local contribution for education; the loss of SRS funding would significantly impact students and staff. She emphasized that SRS funding is essential in Kake (and in other small communities in Southeast Alaska). She explained that Kake is surrounded by federal land and has little to no local tax base. SRS funding offsets this imbalance and allows the school district to meet its obligations to students without sacrificing services. In addition, it enables the school district to provide educational stability and consistent staffing, programs and services for students. She stated that, in small rural communities, minor funding shifts can have major consequences. The SRS funding allows for greater budget predictability, which creates the stability needed for responsible planning. She reiterated that losing SRS funding would create substantial difficulties that would impact students and staff. 1:35:27 PM CHAIR MERRICK closed public testimony on HJR 5. 1:35:36 PM CHAIR MERRICK solicited the will of the committee. 1:35:40 PM SENATOR DUNBAR moved to report [HJR 5], work order 34-LS0420\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note(s) and authorize Legislative Legal Services to make conforming changes. 1:35:59 PM CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and HJR 5 was reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.