SB 56-AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
4:25:44 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 56
"An Act relating to the Alaska performance scholarship program."
She noted that there was a committee substitute for the
committee to consider.
4:26:00 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the committee substitute
(CS) for SB 56, work order 33-LS0350\S, as the working document.
4:26:11 PM
CHAIR TOBIN objected for purposes of discussion.
4:26:18 PM
ALLIANA SALANGUIT, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered the following summary of
changes from version B to version S for SB 56:
Summary of Changes
SB 56: AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY
Version B to Version S, 5.1.2023
Section 4
Page 4, line 12
Insert language in the section regarding grade-point
averages (GPAs) and test score requirements to read "
grade point average or above, or the equivalent
established under (g) of this section;" This is to
ensure students who attend schools that do not award
GPAs are still able to qualify for the Alaska
Performance Scholarship.
Section 7
Page 5, line 5
Insert a new subsection (g) directing the Department
of Education and Early Development to establish
regulations creating an equivalent rating for schools
that do not award GPAs.
NEW: Section 8 Page 5, line 20 Adds a conforming
change regarding the changes made in section 4 and 7
by amending the definition of "grade-point average" in
AS 14.43.849(2) to include "or the equivalent as
established by the department regulation."
NEW: Section 6
Page 5, line 1
Amends AS 14.43.825(c) to extend a student's
eligibility to use the APS award by one semester for
each semester an award recipient is enrolled part-time
and still in good standing. Currently, if a student
were to be in part-time status for a semester, they
would only be eligible for half of their award that
semester and forgo the remaining funds. This language
allows for flexibility and ensures students are able
to use their full award.
4:27:33 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR said he appreciates the changes the committee
suggested.
4:27:46 PM
CHAIR TOBIN removed her objection; she found no further
objection and the CS for SB 56, work order 33-LS0350\S, was
adopted.
CHAIR TOBIN noted that SB 56 had three fiscal notes.
4:28:17 PM
At ease.
4:28:34 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and asked Kerry Thomas to
provide an overview of the three fiscal notes for SB 56.
4:28:56 PM
KERRY THOMAS, Director, Program Operations, Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fiscal
notes for SB 56.
• The allocation for the Alaska Performance Scholarship
Awards, OMB Component 2990, is zero. The department does
not expect additional appropriations to be required to fund
the changes to the scholarship program.
• The allocation for Program Administration and Operations
for the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, OMB
component 2738, is $41.6 thousand. This is to allow the
changes to be made to the system that administers the
Alaska Performance Scholarship; to notify students and
schools of the changes in the bill; and to promulgate
regulations to implement the changes.
• The allocation for Student and School Achievement for
DEED's Education Support and Administrative Services, OMB
component 2796, is $6 thousand. This is to promulgate the
necessary regulations to implement the changes in SB 56.
4:30:49 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 56.
4:31:07 PM
LEM WHEELES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 56. He related his experience as an original UA
Scholar in 1999. The scholarship was an incentive to attend
school in Alaska and it kept him living in Alaska. He described
the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) as a great way to
encourage Alaska students to go to school in state. While
looking at colleges with his oldest daughter, he's learned that
many states provide their high school graduates who have a 3.0
GPA with a full tuition scholarship to their state school. He's
pleased that SB 56 seeks to increase the amount of the APS and
offer additional pathways for young Alaskans to earn this
scholarship so they can pursue their education in state. But he
did have one suggestion.
His daughter is not eligible for the APS because she chose to
focus on fine arts and student government in high school. She
did not meet the four years of math and science track and the
social studies/humanities track requires two years of a world
language, which she didn't have time for because she was taking
classes in fine arts and student government. He suggested that
if the APS criteria were modified to allow either two years of
fine arts or two years of world language, many students like his
daughter would be encouraged to stay and attend school in state.
He asked the committee to consider such an amendment for
students pursuing a fine arts education.
4:33:25 PM
CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 56.
4:33:33 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that SB 56 is a tool to help young people
achieve their educational dreams and goals in Alaska.
4:34:13 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked him to respond to the last
testifier's suggestion about making the APS more inclusive.
SENATOR DUNBAR replied it's a great idea and the next committee
of referral might put an amendment forward. He added that his
belief is that students should have the flexibility to take the
courses they want.
4:36:03 PM
At ease.
4:36:13 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion.
4:36:22 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report the CS for SB 56, work
order 33-LS0350\S, from committee with individual
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).
4:36:33 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 56(EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.