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: Increase Education Funding
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by
An Act increasing the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education; and providing for an effective date.
Version: CS HB 233 (FIN)
Contact: Jean Ellis, 465-3824
Action: 05-03-04: (S)FIN » (S)RLS
House Bill 233 moved out of the House on Monday. Sponsored by Rep. Peggy Wilson, HB 233 increases the base student allocation in the state foundation formula. The increase will assist state local schools districts to meet, or, exceed the public's expectations and demands. HB 233 moves to the House Finance Committee. Amended to add $419 dollars per student to the foundation formula. Adds $84.5 million dollars for education.
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| House Bill 233 : Increases the base student allocation in the state foundation formula. Will assist state local school districts to meet, or exceed the public's expectations and demands. Adds $407 dollars per student to the foundation formula, an increase of $82 million dollars for education. |
: OCC Licensing: Terms Of Board & Cont. Educ
Passed House!
Sponsored by
An Act relating to the terms of members of boards and commissions that regulate businesses and professions and to the duties of the members of the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors.
Version: SCS CS HB 252 (JUD)
Contact: Heath Hilyard, 465-2995
Action: 05-09-04: Passed the Senate
HB 252 modifies the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors' existing term limit statute so that serving a partial term of less than two years would not represent a full term on the AELS Board; however, serving a partial term of two or more years would count as a full 4-year term. HB 252 also provides the AELS Board statutory authority to develop mandatory continuing education programs for the professions it serves. Amended to establish a continuing eductation program and standards for that program.
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| House Bill 252 : Modifies the State Board of Registration for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors' existing term limit statute so that serving a partial term of less than two years would not represent a full term on the AELS Board; however, serving a partial term of two or more years would count as a full 4-year term. Provides the AELS Board statutory authority to develop mandatory continuing education programs for the professions it serves. Establishes a continuing education program and standards for that program. |
: University Employee Research Contacts
Signed into Law! Chapter 22 SLA 04
Sponsored by
An Act relating to contracts between the University of Alaska and its employees involving research or other development of intellectual property and to the authority of the president of the University of Alaska regarding employee contracts for development of intellectual property.
Version: HB 282
Contact: Jim Pound, 465-4976
Action: 04-01-04: (S)Floor » Governor
HB 282 will give the President of the University of Alaska authority to enter into contracts with employees involved in research and development of intellectual property. These contracts would allow both the employee and the University to benefit from businesses associated with that development.
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| | | House Bill 282 : Gives the President of the University of Alaska authority to enter into contracts with employees involved in research and development of intellectual property. These contracts allow both the employee and the University to benefit from businesses associated with that development. |
: Entry Into School
Passed Legislature!
Sponsored by
An Act relating to attendance at public school; and providing for an effective date.
Version: CS HB 338 (HESS)
Contact: Heath Hilyard, 465-2995
Action: 05-11-04: Passed the Senate
HB 338 accomplishes two simple, but necessary, statutory changes that govern the entry age for attendance into public school and the process by which local school districts may allow early entry applicants to be accepted (1) adjusts the date certain, from August 15th to September 1st, by which a child must have attained the age of five for standard entry in kindergarten, (2) allows school boards to delegate the authority to admit younger students to their chief school administrator, thus relieving the boards from this minor administrative burden more appropriately left to career education professionals. CS defines school age.
| | | House Bill 338 : Accomplishes two simple, but necessary, statutory changes that govern the entry age for attendance into public school and the process by which local school districts may allow early entry applicants to be accepted. One, it adjusts the date certain, from August 15th to September 1st, by which a child must have attained the age of five for standard entry in kindergarten. Two, it allows school boards to delegate the authority to admit younger students to their chief school administrator, thus relieving the boards from this minor administrative burden more appropriately left to education professionals. Defines school age. |
: School Performance Designation/Report
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by
An Act relating to reports on school and school district performance; and relating to accountability of public schools and school districts; and providing for an effective date.
Version: CS HB 405 (EDU)
Contact: Cody Rice, 465-3743
Action: 05-02-04: (S)STA » (S)HES
House Bill 405 holds districts and public schools accountable but does not increase their administrative burden. Although this bill retains the requirement that a school not meeting adequate performance must draft a school improvement plan, the bill removes from statute the detailed descriptions of a school improvement plan.
| | | House Bill 405 : Holds districts and public schools accountable, but does not increase their administrative burden. Although this bill retains the requirement that a school not meeting adequate performance must draft a school improvement plan, the bill removes from statute the detailed descriptions of a school improvement plan. |
: AVTEC Administration
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by the
Requested by
An Act relating to the administration of the Alaska Vocational Technical Center; and providing for an effective date.
Version: HB 489
Contact: Mike Tibbles, 465-4021
Action: 05-10-04: Passed the Senate
Allows the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to administer and set rates for AVTEC's programs and services, this was not provided for in the transfer of AVTET to the department, from the Department of Education.
| | | House Bill 489 : Allows the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to administer and set rates for Alaska Vocational Technical Center's programs and services. This authority was not provided for in the transfer of AVTEC to the department, from the Department of Education. |
: University Student Practicum Liability/Wages
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by the
An Act exempting a person who allows a student of the University of Alaska to gain practical work experience with the person while participating in a practicum from vicarious liability as an employer, and exempting the student participating in a practicum from the Alaska Wage and Hour Act and workers' compensation coverage.
Version: CS HB 539 (L&C)
Contact: Vanessa Tondini, 465-4990
Action: 04-29-04: Passed the House
HB 539 provides the same employment liability for university intern programs that already exist in statute for high schools throughout the state.
| | | House Bill 539 : Provides the same employment liability for university intern programs that already exist in statute for high schools throughout the state. |
: STEP Program Continuance
Passed Legislature! Await Transmit to Gov.
Sponsored by the
An Act repealing the termination of the state training and employment program; and providing for an effective date.
Version: HB 559 Am
Contact: Tom Wright, 465-3424
Action: 05-10-04: Passed the Senate
House Bill 559 reauthorizes the State Training and Employment Program (STEP), which was established by the Legislature in 1989.
| | | House Bill 559 : Reauthorizes the State Training and Employment Program (STEP), which was established by the Legislature in 1989. |
: Criminal Background Checks/Teachers
Signed Into Law! Chapter 79 SLA 04
Sponsored by
An Act relating to criminal history records and background checks; allowing persons to teach in the public schools for up to five months without a teaching certificate if the person has applied for a certificate and the application has not been acted upon by the Department of Education and Early Development due to a delay in receiving criminal history records; allowing teacher certification for certain persons based on a criminal history background check without fingerprints; and providing for an effective date.
Version: CS SB 179 (FIN)
Contact: Zach Warwick, 465-4797
Action: 06/17/04: Signed Into Law
The Governor signed June 17, 2004. SB 179 allows teachers to receive a name-based background check, for purposes of a teaching certificate, if their fingerprints are illegible or nonexistent. Conforms Alaska statute to federal law to avoid jeopardizing Alaska’s ability to get federal background checks on anyone in the state. It also gives the Department of Education the ability to grant an applicant a sixty-day extension on top of the three-month application period in the situation that their prints are backlogged and not processed in time.
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| Senate Bill 179 : Allows teachers to receive a name-based background check, for purposes of a teaching certificate, if their fingerprints are illegible or nonexistent. Gives the Department of Education and Early Development the ability to grant a 60-day extension following the 3-month application period if an applicant's prints are backlogged and not processed in time. Conforms Alaska statute to federal law to avoid jeopardizing Alaska's ability to get federal background checks on anyone in the state. |
: Length Of School Term
Signed Into Law! Chapter 35 SLA 04
Sponsored by
An Act relating to the required number of days in a school year.
Version: CS SB 239 (HES) Am
Contact: Wes Keller, 465-4729
Action: 06-03-04: Signed Into Law
SB 239 allows a school district to use a school term different than the 180 days in current law, if approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development.
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| Senate Bill 239 : Allows a school district to use a school term different than the 180 days in current law, if approved by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development. |
:Approp:Capital/Supplemental/Reapprop/CBR
Transmitted to Governor
Sponsored by
An Act making, amending, and repealing appropriations, including capital appropriations, supplemental appropriations, reappropriations, and appropriations to capitalize funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec. 17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date.
Version: FCCS SB 283 (corrected)
Contact: Tim Grussendorf, 465-2829
Action: 06-25-04: Transmitted to Governor
A House and Senate Conference Committee approved a compromise budget package Monday evening (05/10/04) that increases K-12 education funding by $82 million, the largest single increase to education in the State's history, and provides for capital needs. Portions of the bill are contingent on a three-quarters vote of the Legislature to approve using money from the Constitutional Budget Reserve to make up possible shortfalls in the FY 04 and 05 operating budgets, and restore money to be transferred into the CBR at the end of the 2004 and 2005 fiscal years under a constitutional provision requiring that general fund sub-accounts be swept into the Budget Reserve at the end of each fiscal year.
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| | | Senate Bill 283 : Increases funding for public K-12 education by $82 million, including $33.9 million for the public employees' and teachers' retirement systems. Increases funding for the University of Alaska by $15.8 million, including $5.8 million for the retirement systems. Includes the $1.6 billion capital budget, using less than $200 million in State money to maximize more than $1.4 billion in federal monies. Includes $5.8 million for the Department of Education's top 11 major maintenance projects, $1 million for the Yuut Elitnauriviat People's Learning Center in Bethel and $2 million for further erosion control in Shishmaref. |
: Extending The Special Ed Service Agency
Signed Into Law! Chapter 27 SLA 04
Sponsored by
An Act extending the termination date of the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date.
Version: SB 289
Contact: Jacqueline Tupou, 465-6600
Action: 05-05-04: Signed into Law
Signed into law May 5. SB 289 unanimously passed the House April 14. It extends the Special Education Service Agency for another nine years. SESA assists schools and infant learning programs to serve children with severe disabilities.
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[PDF - 1 Page -
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| Senate Bill 289 : Extends the Special Education Service Agency (SESA) for another nine years, assisting schools and infant learning programs to serve children with severe disabilities. |
: National Forest Income Program/DCED Regs
Signed Into Law! Chapter 150 SLA 04
Sponsored by
An Act relating to the national forest income program in the Department of Community and Economic Development and to the authority of the department to adopt regulations; and providing for an effective date.
Version: HCS CSSSSB 328 (CRA)
Contact: Dick Coose, 465-3873
Action: 07-03-04: Signed Into Law
SB 328 makes statutory changes required for the Department of Community and Economic Development to disburse National Forest Receipts in accordance with the federal act providing these funds. National Forest Receipts are distributed to the State for schools and roads within the boundary of the national forest in which they are collected. Amended in committee to define the student “average daily membership” for the purpose of distributing forest receipts within unorganized boroughs.
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[PDF - 1 Page -
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| Senate Bill 328 : Changes the way the State disburses federal timber receipts to communities within the Tongass National Forest. These monies fund schools, roads and other special projects within the communities of Southeast Alaska. |
: Physician Interns And Residents
Signed Into Law! Chapter 73 SLA 04
Sponsored by the
An Act relating to residency and internship permits issued by the State Medical Board; and providing for an effective date.
Version: SB 373
Contact: Jason Hooley, 465-3762
Action: 06-16-04: Signed Into Law
SB 373 passed the Senate May 3 by a vote of 38 to 1. It extends residency and internship permits issued by the State Medical Board for residents participating in the Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WAMI) Family Practice Residency program from 18 months to 36 months.
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[PDF - 1 Page -
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| Senate Bill 373 : Extends residency and internship permits issued by the State Medical Board for residents participating in the Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WAMI) Family Practice Residency program from 18 months to 36 months. |
: Take Permanent Fund Dividend For University Fees
Signed Into Law! Chapter 43 SLA 04
Sponsored by the
An Act relating to default on tuition, fees, and other charges of the University of Alaska and to claims on permanent fund dividends for tuition, fees, and other charges of the University of Alaska that are in default.
Version: CS SB 393 (FIN)
Contact: Darwin Peterson, 465-1881
Action: 06-04-04: Signed Into Law
SB 393 gives the University of Alaska the ability to collect outstanding debt by garnishing a person's permanent fund check in a manner similar to the collection process used by the Alaska Student Loan Corporation on defaulted loans.
| | | Senate Bill 393 : Gives the University of Alaska the ability to collect outstanding debt by garnishing a person's permanent fund check. Provides the University with one additional avenue to collect revenue that has previously been un-collectable and written off as bad debt. Allows the University to collect an estimated $400,000 of debt that is over 180 days old. Given the number of Alaska resident students, $800,000 of the $1 million owed to the University could be collected from students receiving a PFD. |
: Federal Funding For Education
Transmitted to Gov.
Sponsored by the
Relating to urging the United States Congress to compensate the State of Alaska for the effect of federal land ownership on the state\'s ability to fund public education.
Version: CS SJR 31 (STA)
Contact: Tom Maher, 465-4920
Action: 06-25-04: Transmitted to Governor
SJR 31 unanimously passed the House May 5. It urges the United States Congress to appropriate just compensation to the State of Alaska for the effect of federal land ownership on the state's ability to fund public education.
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| Senate Joint Resolution 31 : Urges the United States Congress to appropriate just compensation to the State of Alaska for the effect of federal land ownership on the state's ability to fund public education. |
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The Legislature returned to Juneau this winter, poised to make education funding a top priority in our state. Both the House and the Senate recognized that our schools were in need of increased funding, and that the future of this state depends on schools producing well-educated, productive students.
