SB 221-LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON HIGHER ED  8:03:38 AM CO-CHAIR MEYER announced consideration of SB 221 "An Act establishing an advisory task force on higher education in the legislative branch of government," sponsored by Senate President Gary Stevens. 8:04:23 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS) to SB 221, labeled 26-LS1309\P, as the working document of the committee. There being no objection, version P was before the committee. SENATOR STEVENS introduced his aide, Tim Lamkin, to go through the changes that were made in the committee substitute. 8:05:04 AM TIM LAMKIN, staff to Senator Stevens, said he has highlighted the changes on members' copies of the CS for clarification. They broadened the scope of the bill to focus not only on higher education, but on career-readiness with a focus on vocational or technical training. That change is reflected in the new title by the insertion of the words "and career readiness" on page 1, line 1 and on lines 7, 8 and 10. The number of members on the task force was increased to 18 on line 11; page 2, line 3 specifies that one member appointed by the governor will represent vocational, technical or apprenticeship programs; lines 5 through 8 provide for two student members, one secondary and one postsecondary representative; line 12 adds the executive director of the Alaska Association of School Administrators (AASA), and line 16 adds the president of the Alaska Federation of Natives or the president's designee. MR. LAMKIN continued; line 26 in the CS includes the phrase "at least," referring to faculty experienced in education remediation and making it clear that one or more of these three members must reside outside of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. Page 3, lines 13 and 14, and page 4, lines 4 and 5, 8 and 9, place added emphasis on those who may choose not go to college with the inclusion of the phrase "and postsecondary vocational or technical training programs" after the phrase "colleges, universities." 8:08:37 AM CO-CHAIR MEYER said he appreciates the changes. SENATOR THOMAS agreed. CO-CHAIR MEYER presumed that the larger size of the task force could necessitate a change to the fiscal note. 8:09:30 AM TIM LAMKIN said each agency will pay its own way, so the fiscal note will not change. CO-CHAIR MEYER advised that he would entertain a motion to move the bill. 8:10:03 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to report committee substitute (CS) for SB 221, labeled 26-LS1309\P, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 221(EDC) moved from committee.