SB 10-FREE/REDUCED TUITION FOR ESSENTIAL WORKER  8:08:53 AM CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the first order of business would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 10(FIN) am, "An Act establishing a grant program to provide to essential workers and laid-off workers the tuition and fees to attend certain postsecondary institutions." 8:09:32 AM SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, offered a brief introduction to CSSB 10(FIN) am. 8:10:35 AM L?KI TOBIN, Staff, Senator Tom Begich, Alaska State Legislature, staff for Senator Begich, prime sponsor, reviewed the fiscal note for CSSB 10(FIN) am and noted the program's operating budget will be attributed to the federal COVID relief funds. 8:12:13 AM SANA EFIRD, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Department of Education and Early Development, observed the original fiscal note pointed to general funds but this would change. To administer the grant program, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) assumed it would need one and a half full-time equivalent financial aid operations analysts to oversee and process the awards, at $187,500 for the first year. After initial set-up, for the next two years, only one half-time position is needed at $63,200. This cost does not represent new positions, but a realignment of duties to administer the program. She pointed out the attached companion fiscal note addresses funding for the Alaska Student Loan Corporation. The corporation's positions are currently funded by loan corporation receipts, but if the positions assume new duties associated with the grant program, the funding source switches to the funds supporting the grant program. Ms. Efird said the start-up of the grant program would use the current student aid application portal, needing a one- time cost to retool the portal, plus an additional annual maintenance cost for the next two years, of $10,000. Additionally, the fiscal note adds $6,000 for legal costs and $2,500,000 per fiscal year for grants. 8:16:54 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND moved to adopt Amendment 1 to CSSB 10(FIN)am, labeled 32-LS0127\N.A.1, Marx, 2/10/22, which read as follows: Page 1, line 10: Delete "2021" Insert "2022" Page 4, line 11: Delete "2025" Insert "2026" Page 4, line 12: Delete "2026" Insert "2027" 8:17:09 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS objected for the purpose of discussion. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND explained the amendment updates the deadlines contained in CSSB 10(FIN)am, as the original dates in the legislation had passed. 8:18:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE HOPKINS withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 8:18:35 AM CO-CHAIR STORY announced that CSSB 10(FIN), as amended, was held over.