HJR 29-REAUTHORIZE SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT  1:06:19 PM CHAIR CLAMAN announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 29, Urging the United States Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self- Determination Act of 2000. [Before the committee was CSHJR 29(STA).] 1:06:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE RAUSCHER, Alaska State Legislature, advised that CSHJR 29 encourages the United States Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self- Determination Act of 2000 because that Act expired [January 1, 2017], which created budgetary shortfalls for the school districts around Alaska. This situation will continue if Congress fails to reauthorize this long-standing federal obligation to local governments. The Secure Rural Schools Program compensates more than 700 of the poorest communities nationwide, and 33 communities in Alaska for the timber harvesting revenue loss during the changes in the federal forest management policies. Historically, he explained, the school districts in Alaska have relied on a share of the receipts from the federal program to supplement local funding for education services and roads. 1:08:24 PM DERRELL BREESE, Staff, Representative George Rauscher, Alaska State Legislature, referred to the document titled "FFY16 SRS/NFR Payments Final (SFY17) - FFY17 SRS/NFR Payments (SFY18)" [contained within the committee packet] and noted references to the impacted Alaska communities and the amounts of money they received over the last two years. In particular, he said, the document depicts the FY16, "which is Alaska FY17" numbers, and he used the Municipality of Anchorage as an example. The Municipality of Anchorage received $62,762.77, and in FY17 "state FY18" it received $3,581.13 because the program had expired and it paid out the last bit of money "they had in there." He stressed that this money is important to the school districts around the state, and he then read the list of school districts impacted by the expired funding from the above- mentioned document. This legislation calls for the United States Congress to reenact this authorization so the money from the Federal Forestry Program can go to the school districts adjacent to the United States National Forests. 1:11:19 PM CHAIR CLAMAN opened public testimony on CSHJR 29. 1:11:52 PM PETER HOEPFNER, Member, Cordova School Board, stressed that the federal funds originating from the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000 are crucial to many school districts in Alaska. For example, he offered, the Cordova School District was to receive $500,860 in funding, but it did not receive the funding, and combined with the fiscal shortfalls, the city contribution to Cordova schools was reduced from the cap where it had been funded for decades. He remarked that combining this with the use of education flat funding, less dollars are going to the classrooms in Cordova. He offered appreciation for sending this message to the United States House of Representatives and Senate so the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000 funding obligation continues as planned. 1:12:54 PM ALLEN SORUM, Member, Valdez City School Board, advised that he is also on the Board of the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition. Nationally, he explained, there are two companion bills in Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Program (SRS), the "old Tenant Receipts Program." He offered that he had a chance to visit with the Alaska Congressional Delegation and they are all co-sponsors and supporters of the federal legislation. While, he remarked, he had been advised as to the importance of keeping this issue at the forefront of the United States Congress, unfortunately, it has been dragging on for several years. He pointed out that CSHJR 29 is similar to the legislation the legislature passed approximately six years ago, which was fairly non-partisan and the legislation enjoyed wide support. He encouraged the committee to pass CSHJR 29 and move it on to the next step because giving Congress a message about the need for this program is important for Alaska's schools. 1:14:25 PM CHAIR CLAMAN, after ascertaining no one wished to testify, closed public testimony on HJR 29. CHAIR CLAMAN asked whether any member is contemplating amendments to this legislation, or whether the committee would be comfortable moving CSHJR 29 out of committee. 1:14:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said he has a high comfort level in moving this legislation out of committee. 1:15:13 PM REPRESENTATIVE STUTES expressed appreciation for CSHJR 29 as it is critically important. There are three schools in her district that are affected, and it includes the Ouzinkie School, which was not listed. She expressed that the Ouzinkie School is exceedingly concerned about the loss of these dollars, as is Cordova and Yakutat, as well. The loss of this funding has a huge impact on rural schools and she expressed that she wants to move the legislation out of committee. 1:16:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD, testifying via teleconference, expressed support for CSHJR 29, but noted a desire for a minimum of two hearings per bill. REPRESENTATIVE KOPP offered full support of CSHJR 29. 1:16:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS moved to report CSHJR 29(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 29(STA) was reported out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.