HB 297-POSTSECONDARY SCHOLARSHIPS  9:07:16 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 297, "An Act establishing the governor's performance scholarship program and relating to the program; establishing the governor's performance scholarship fund and relating to the fund; relating to student records; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date." 9:08:39 AM CHAIR SEATON stated his intent to have the amendments to HB 297 moved before the committee and tabled, in order to facilitate having them posted on the committee website for public access. Comments could also be posted, however, for purposes of clarity he would like to keep the postings to actual amendments that are before the committee. He acknowledged that other committee members have amendments which are still in the process of being drafted, and stated that there will be an opportunity to have them brought in a timely manner for similar action and purpose. 9:10:55 AM CHAIR SEATON offered Amendment 3, labeled 26-GH2771\A.9, Mishel, 2/16/10, which read [original punctuation provided]: Page 6, lines 3 - 4: Delete "university or college in this state" Insert "postsecondary institution as described in AS 14.43.835" Page 6, line 8: Delete "university or college" Insert "postsecondary institution" Page 7, line 5, following "maximum awards": Insert "and allowable uses" Page 7, line 12, following "achievement;": Insert "for purposes of this paragraph, a student's academic achievement must be determined by the student's high school grade-point average and score on an examination described in AS 14.43.820(b)(3);" Page 7, lines 16 - 18: Delete all material and insert: "(3) subject to (e) of this section, a student who qualifies for a merit-based academic scholarship may apply the award to the costs of attending a qualified career and technical school program as described in AS 14.43.835(a)(2);" Page 7, lines 27, following "courses": Insert ", or for up to two calendar years of attendance at a qualified career and technical school" 9:11:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ objected for discussion. CHAIR SEATON stated that the amendment allows a student who has an academic scholarship to apply it to the school of their choice, including vocational training institutions. CHAIR SEATON, without further objection, announced Amendment 3 was tabled. 9:12:12 AM CHAIR SEATON offered conceptual Amendment 4, labeled 26GH2771\A.1, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Amendment to Page 5, line 22 & 23  Sec. 14.43.820. Eligibility for an academic  scholarship.   (a) Subject to appropriation, the commission shall award a merit-based academic scholarship to an applicant who meets the eligibility criteria for the award under the program. b) The programmatic standards for eligibility for an award of a merit-based academic scholarship under the program include the following: (1) the four-year core academic curriculum which may include a virtual curriculum that the student must have completed in high school; the core [23] 24 academic curriculum must include 9:12:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ objected for discussion. CHAIR SEATON said the amendment provides language to include virtual curriculum. CHAIR SEATON, without further objection, announced Amendment 4 was tabled. 9:13:15 AM CHAIR SEATON offered Amendment 5, labeled 26-GH2771\A.3, which read [original punctuation provided]: Amendment to Page 23, line 16 *Sec. 7. AS 37.14 is amended by adding new sections to read: Article 8A. Governor's Performance Scholarship  Fund.  Sec. 37.14.750. Governor's performance  scholarship fund established. (a) The governor's performance scholarship fund is established as a fund of the state. The fund consists of (1) appropriations to the fund; (2) donations to the fund; and (3) income earned on investments of fund assests. (b) The commissioner of revenue shall manage the fund with the goal that the purchasing power of the fund will not diminish over time without regard to additional contributions that may be made to the fund. The commissioner shall invest the assets of the fund in a manner likely to yield at least a five percent real rate of return over time. (c) donations to the fund from private sources  shall be considered for the education tax credit as  per AS 43.20.014  [(c)](d) Nothing in this section crates a dedicated fund. 9:13:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ objected for discussion. CHAIR SEATON explained that the amendment inserts language to allow private donations to be considered for the education tax credit. CHAIR SEATON, without objection, announced Amendment 5 was tabled. 9:14:09 AM CHAIR SEATON offered Amendment 6, labeled 26-GH2771\A.4, which read [original punctuation provided]: Amendment to Page 10, line 23 Sec. 14.43.850. Report to the legislature. (a) To the extent permitted under law, the department, commission, University of Alaska, Department of Revenue, and Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall share data necessary to prepare public reports regarding the governor's performance scholarship program. (b) No more than 10 days after the start of each year's legislative session, the department, commission, University of Alaska, Department of Revenue, and Department of Labor and Workforce Development shall present an annual report to the public, the governor, and the legislature containing information of public interest regarding the governor's performance scholarship program, including (1) the number of applicants and number and types of scholarships awarded; (2) dollar amount of scholarships awarded in past years and expected dollar amounts for the next year; and (3) data and trends in the data regarding the goals identified in AS 14.43.810. (4) data shall be included and available via a  specific web page linkable on the State of Alaska's  home page  REPRESENTATIVE MUNOZ objected for discussion. CHAIR SEATON indicated that the amendment inserts language to have scholarship data available on a web page linked to the State of Alaska's home page. CHAIR SEATON, without further objection, announced Amendment 6 was tabled. 9:14:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON moved conceptual Amendment 7, labeled as a memo From: Adam Berg, Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 7:19 AM, To: Louie Flora, which read [original punctuation provided]: Page 4, following line 16, Add: "(9) increasing participation from Alaska high school students in Alaska post-secondary institutions. CHAIR SEATON objected for discussion. REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON said the intent of the amendment is to state in statute that part of the objectives of the GPS program is to direct Alaskan students to Alaskan post secondary institutions. CHAIR SEATON, without further objection, announced Conceptual Amendment 3 was tabled. 9:15:46 AM CHAIR SEATON stated that an additional amendment is being drafted to provide language ensuring that a rigorous curriculum will be available in every school in Alaska. 9:16:37 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that HB 297 would be held for further consideration.