SB 56-AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY  4:25:44 PM CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 56 "An Act relating to the Alaska performance scholarship program." She noted that there was a committee substitute for the committee to consider. 4:26:00 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for SB 56, work order 33-LS0350\S, as the working document. 4:26:11 PM CHAIR TOBIN objected for purposes of discussion. 4:26:18 PM ALLIANA SALANGUIT, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, offered the following summary of changes from version B to version S for SB 56: Summary of Changes SB 56: AK PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP; ELIGIBILITY Version B to Version S, 5.1.2023  Section 4 Page 4, line 12 Insert language in the section regarding grade-point averages (GPAs) and test score requirements to read " grade point average or above, or the equivalent established under (g) of this section;" This is to ensure students who attend schools that do not award GPAs are still able to qualify for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. Section 7 Page 5, line 5 Insert a new subsection (g) directing the Department of Education and Early Development to establish regulations creating an equivalent rating for schools that do not award GPAs. NEW: Section 8 Page 5, line 20 Adds a conforming change regarding the changes made in section 4 and 7 by amending the definition of "grade-point average" in AS 14.43.849(2) to include "or the equivalent as established by the department regulation." NEW: Section 6 Page 5, line 1 Amends AS 14.43.825(c) to extend a student's eligibility to use the APS award by one semester for each semester an award recipient is enrolled part-time and still in good standing. Currently, if a student were to be in part-time status for a semester, they would only be eligible for half of their award that semester and forgo the remaining funds. This language allows for flexibility and ensures students are able to use their full award. 4:27:33 PM SENATOR DUNBAR said he appreciates the changes the committee suggested. 4:27:46 PM CHAIR TOBIN removed her objection; she found no further objection and the CS for SB 56, work order 33-LS0350\S, was adopted. CHAIR TOBIN noted that SB 56 had three fiscal notes. 4:28:17 PM At ease. 4:28:34 PM CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and asked Kerry Thomas to provide an overview of the three fiscal notes for SB 56. 4:28:56 PM KERRY THOMAS, Director, Program Operations, Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, Juneau, Alaska, reviewed the fiscal notes for SB 56. • The allocation for the Alaska Performance Scholarship Awards, OMB Component 2990, is zero. The department does not expect additional appropriations to be required to fund the changes to the scholarship program. • The allocation for Program Administration and Operations for the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, OMB component 2738, is $41.6 thousand. This is to allow the changes to be made to the system that administers the Alaska Performance Scholarship; to notify students and schools of the changes in the bill; and to promulgate regulations to implement the changes. • The allocation for Student and School Achievement for DEED's Education Support and Administrative Services, OMB component 2796, is $6 thousand. This is to promulgate the necessary regulations to implement the changes in SB 56. 4:30:49 PM CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 56. 4:31:07 PM LEM WHEELES, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of SB 56. He related his experience as an original UA Scholar in 1999. The scholarship was an incentive to attend school in Alaska and it kept him living in Alaska. He described the Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS) as a great way to encourage Alaska students to go to school in state. While looking at colleges with his oldest daughter, he's learned that many states provide their high school graduates who have a 3.0 GPA with a full tuition scholarship to their state school. He's pleased that SB 56 seeks to increase the amount of the APS and offer additional pathways for young Alaskans to earn this scholarship so they can pursue their education in state. But he did have one suggestion. His daughter is not eligible for the APS because she chose to focus on fine arts and student government in high school. She did not meet the four years of math and science track and the social studies/humanities track requires two years of a world language, which she didn't have time for because she was taking classes in fine arts and student government. He suggested that if the APS criteria were modified to allow either two years of fine arts or two years of world language, many students like his daughter would be encouraged to stay and attend school in state. He asked the committee to consider such an amendment for students pursuing a fine arts education. 4:33:25 PM CHAIR TOBIN closed public testimony on SB 56. 4:33:33 PM SENATOR DUNBAR stated that SB 56 is a tool to help young people achieve their educational dreams and goals in Alaska. 4:34:13 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked him to respond to the last testifier's suggestion about making the APS more inclusive. SENATOR DUNBAR replied it's a great idea and the next committee of referral might put an amendment forward. He added that his belief is that students should have the flexibility to take the courses they want. 4:36:03 PM At ease. 4:36:13 PM CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion. 4:36:22 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON moved to report the CS for SB 56, work order 33-LS0350\S, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:36:33 PM CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 56(EDC) was reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.