HB 135-SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:37:13 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 135.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:37:29 AM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN  WESTLAKE, Alaska State  Legislature, sponsor                                                               
of HB 135, introduced Mr. Logan.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:37:46 AM                                                                                                                    
JESSE LOGAN,  Staff, Representative  Dean Westlake,  Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, reviewed HB 135. He  explained that the bill extends                                                               
the time that  a school district can raise a  percentage match on                                                               
their construction grant loan fund.  It does two specific things;                                                               
it extends the current three-year  time limit for identifying and                                                               
securing a  match to five  years, and it allows  the Commissioner                                                               
of  Education  to grant  an  additional  three-year extension  if                                                               
there  is just  cause. Sometimes,  school districts,  for reasons                                                               
outside  of their  control, need  more time  to find  funding for                                                               
their share. The goal is to have a project completed.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:39:06 AM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE   WESTLAKE  said   this  situation   happens  more                                                               
frequently than they had realized, especially in rural Alaska.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:39:32 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS opened public testimony on HB 135.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:39:55 AM                                                                                                                    
MIKE  NEVARRE,  Mayor,  Kenai  Peninsula  Borough,  testified  in                                                               
support of  HB 135. He  provided example  of a school  near Homer                                                               
that really  needs the bill. They  have been trying to  find ways                                                               
to  meet the  unique needs  of their  school in  a cost-effective                                                               
way. They are  working on finding funding for a  35 percent match                                                               
and need more time.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS appreciated his comments.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:42:41 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  BEGICH   said  the  extension  of   time  provides  more                                                               
flexibility to find a cost-effective solution.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. NEVARRE said correct.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:43:12 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR STEVENS  closed public  testimony on HB  135 and  asked the                                                               
will of the committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:43:23 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL  moved to  report the CS  for HB  135(EDC)am from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s).                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR STEVENS  announced that without objection,  CSHB 135(EDC)am                                                               
moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee.