HOUSE BILL NO. 350 "An Act relating to school bond debt reimbursement; and providing for an effective date." 3:53:06 PM Co-Chair Merrick relayed that the committee previously heard the bill on April 27, 2022. Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony. PENNY VADLA, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, KENAI PENINSULA SCHOOL DISTRICT, SOLDOTNA (via teleconference), spoke in support of the legislation. She related that the Kenai was a very large district that encompassed 42 schools and 17 communities. She spoke to the deferred maintenance needs in many areas of the district. She indicated that the bill supported all districts in the state, and she hoped the bill offered a 60 percent reimbursement rate for repairs and 70 percent for school construction. The cost shifting due to the moratorium impacted communities and schools by interrupting programs and halting services provided to all the districts communities. She spoke of the difficulty to obtain small bonds for schools in one community that did not have a broad base of constituents like larger municipalities. The district was spread out over a large area. She commented that the district attempted to address all its maintenance needs, but it was difficult to stay ahead of repairs lacking state support. She believed that keeping schools well maintained and safe helped provide a quality education for the states students. The scenario she described required the support of a school bond debt reimbursement program. She believed that it was important to spread awareness about the level of deferred maintenance need. She applauded Representative Drummond for the bill. She requested that the moratorium was removed on school bond debt reimbursement. Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony. 3:58:37 PM Co-Chair Merrick relayed the amendment deadline of noon the following day. HB 350 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. 3:59:07 PM AT EASE 4:00:49 PM RECONVENED