MINUTES SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE 6 May 1997 9:15 a.m. TAPES SFC-97, #144, Side 1 (000 - 590) Side 2 (590 - 221) CALL TO ORDER Senator Bert Sharp, Co-chairman, convened the meeting at approximately 9:15 a.m. PRESENT In addition to Co-chairman Sharp, Senators Pearce, Phillips, Torgerson and Adams were present when the meeting convened. Senators Parnell and Donley arrived thereafter respectively. ALSO ATTENDING: Representative Con Bunde; Shirley Holloway, Commissioner, Department of Education; John Cyr, President, NEA Alaska; aides to committee members and other legislators. SUMMARY INFORMATION CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 153(FIN) "An Act relating to the eligibility of aliens for state public assistance and medical assistance programs affected by federal welfare reform legislation; and providing for an effective date." Sponsor of the bill gave a brief explanation. Senator Adams advised that the bill was discussed in full in the welfare reform subcommittee. He moved HB 153 with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes and without objection it was reported out. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 146(FIN) "An Act relating to competency testing requirements for secondary students; and providing for an effective date." Co-chair Sharp called HB 146. Representative Con Bunde, sponsor of the bill was invited to join the committee and offered a brief explanation. He said achievement tests should be taken seriously. Students should not be passed socially. It should be required that all students be able to read by third grade. Senator Pearce said there should be competency exams before graduation as before. It should be an exam administered and graded by the school. Representative Bunde responded that the department would set the standards and administer the exams but the school would be responsible for grading them. Students would take the exam in ninth grade and it would not be a one-time test at the end of the senior year. In that manner students and parents would know their standing in classes. This was a proposed implementation to prevent last minute failure. Senator Phillips felt that when a student reaches the eighth grade they should be fairly well aware of their standing. Representative Bunde said unfortunately this was not the case and that the exam must be insisted upon. It was too bad since the teaching service was already paid for. Senator Torgerson asked if this was the same test as for GED. Representative Bunde said there was no relationship between the GED and the competency test. Senator Adams felt that if students were tested too early that would only set them up for failure. Representative Bunde felt that early testing was a start to correct the situation because as it stood students get their graduation diplomas whether they were functionally literate or not. Shirley Holloway, Commissioner, Department of Education was invited to join the committee. She said the department opposed the bill first off, and second the bill should have been heard in the Senate HES committee. She said one, parents had a right to know the standing of their child in class; two, schools should be responsible; and three, schools should provide prevention and mediation so students will be successful. There should be a comprehensive plan know to both parents and teachers and the system must be responsible for communicating the status of the child. Testing was a critical aspect of learning and the problem must be fixed if the child is not learning. In response to Senator Phillips she said she opposed the exit exam as set up in this bill. The present exam was set up to national norms and did not necessarily reflect what the student had been taught. In further response to Senator Parnell, Commissioner Holloway felt that developmental profiles should be a must for all 5 - 6 year olds and that the tests being used presently were not being used proficiently. Co-chair Sharp said that the schools were getting full money to educate students. Commissioner Holloway concurred but said they presently had no authority to do anything to failing students. Something must be done early for those students not achieving. Co-chair sharp asked if there were any recommendations for a remedy and Commissioner Holloway responded that a quality education plan had been submitted to the committee. Senator Adams moved amendment #1 and asked how this would address the afore-mentioned problems. Senator Parnell objected. Senator Adams said money spent how would save money later. By a vote of 3 - 4 (Donley, Parnell, Sharp, Pearce) amendment #1 failed. John Cyr, President NEA, Alaska was invited to join the committee. He said tests do little to ascertain the level of a specific student. There were no statewide standards and the bill should be in Senate HES and not Senate Finance Committee. Co-chair Sharp concurred. Senator Pearce felt children needed to be motivated. Senator Parnell moved CSHB 146(FIN) with individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes. Senator Adams objected. By a vote of 6 - 1 (Adams) the bill was reported out. Co-chair Sharp called SB 107. SENATE BILL NO. 107 "An Act making and amending capital and other appropriations and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." He noted that the DEC #1 amendment had been omitted from the new CS. It was to be added. Mike Greany, Director, Legislative Finance was advised to make the necessary corrections on page 4, line 28. He further noted a correction on page 58, which was a deletion from the back section of the bill. Senator Parnell moved to rescind FRONT #1. Senator Adams objected. The motion failed by a vote of 3 - 4 (Adams, Phillips, Donley, Pearce). Then Senator Parnell noted that there were errors on the spread sheets from the Department of Administration. After a short at ease he said that the department could figure out the correct amounts. Co-chair Sharp said the corrections could then be made in the House. Senator Pearce called the committee's attention to the Bethel Seawall which was added using AHFC funding. She said the correct amount should be $180,000. She moved page 45, line 22 to read $180,000 and without objection it was adopted. Senator Adams moved DOE #1 be returned to original language. Senator Donley objected. By a vote of 1 - 6 (Parnell, Phillips, Donley, Torgerson, Pearce, Sharp) the motion failed. Senator Pearce then moved to reconsider motion to rescind rescinded action on FRONT #1. After a brief at ease Senator Parnell moved to delete section 54, page 27, lines 23 - 26 and add the language to page 43, lines 22 and 23. Senator Phillips objected. He said the motion to reconsider motion by Senator Pearce was out of order. Co-chair Sharp ordered a new amendment be moved. Senator Phillips advised he would appeal the order of the chair. Senator Parnell moved to amend FRONT #38 to include an increase of $1. Without objection it was adopted. Senator Parnell moved amended FRONT #38 and it was adopted by a vote of 5 - 2 (Adams, Phillips). Senator Pearce then moved CSSB 107(FIN). Senator Adams objected. By a vote of 5 - 2 (Adams, Phillips) it was reported out. ADJOURNMENT Co-chair Sharp recessed until 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.