HB 76-GOV COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES/SPECIAL ED  1:45:32 PM SENATOR STEDMAN announced the consideration of HB 76. 1:45:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE CHARISSE MILLETT, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of HB 76, noted that she is a member the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education and is representing them today. She related that HB 76 removes the word "gifted" from the Council's enabling statutes. Since 1978, the Council has advocated for housing, employment, independent living, health, transportation, and community inclusion for Alaskans with disabilities. She explained that, previously, "gifted" were included in the statues. Since then, legislation has been enacted that will allow gifted students to be empowered and supported within their school districts. None of the new legislation included the Council's participation or oversight. Also, the Council receives no funding and has no resources to address gifted education; they are strictly federally funded for the purpose of assisting disabled Alaskans. HB 76 aims to reconcile the Council-enabling statutes with the mission to best reflect the valuable service the Council provides, and clean up confusing language. This bill will support the current Council and also provide a clear road map for future councils and their memberships. REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT noted the only additional changes to the Alaska statutes included in this bill are updates to citations to the U.S. Code to reflect a rewrite law relating to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. She noted that several committee members have advocated for disability legislation. 1:48:06 PM GRACE ABBOTT, Staff, Representative Charisse Millet, Alaska State Legislature, presented the sectional analysis of HB 76 on behalf of the sponsor. She explained that Section 1 removes "gifted" from the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education's enabling statue. Section 2 further clarifies that process and updates references to reflect current U.S. Code. She shared that the U.S. Code citations are: 42 U.S.C 15025 - referring to state councils on developmental disabilities and designated state agencies, 42 U.S.C 15024 - referring to state plan prescribing programs, 20 U.S.C 1471-1428 - referring to national activities to improve education of children with disabilities, and 42 U.S.C. 15001 - 15083 - referring to programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. 1:49:44 PM SENATOR STOLTZE commented favorably on the Council. He asked what process was used to make the change and what priority it was given. MS. ABBOTT said the process was that the Council's legislative committee took the task on, as an important priority, to clean up their mission statement and provide guidance for future councils. The Council voted to maintain this issue as a priority for the last, and current, legislative sessions. 1:51:07 PM SENATOR STEDMAN opened public testimony and, seeing no testifiers, closed it again. SENATOR STEDMAN held HB 76 in committee.