Session: State Capitol, Room 427 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2828 Fax: (907) 465-4779 Interim: 35477 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 101 B Soldotna, AK 99669 Phone: (907) 260-3041 Fax: (907) 260-3044 345 W. Sterling Highway, Suite 102 Homer, AK 99603 Phone: (907) 235-0690 Fax: (907) 235-4008

Senate Continues Voc-Ed Support

(JUNEAU) - Adult vocational education programs across the state will continue to receive support under a bill passed by the Senate today.

Senate Bill 137, sponsored by Sen. John Torgerson (R-Kasilof), extends the first year allocation provisions of a program enacted in the 21st Alaska Legislature. Funds are again provided to three publicly operated institutions: University of Alaska will receive $3 million, the Alaska Vocational and Technical Center will receive $1 million and the Kotzebue Technical Center will receive $500,000.

"A review of the use of last years funds shows how necessary they were," said Sen. John Torgerson (R-Kasilof), sponsor of the bill. "The Alaska Vocational and Technical Center, for example, used the money they received to replace welding equipment from the 1970's. Now their students can train on the same equipment they will find in the industry when they graduate."

The University of Alaska Fairbanks serves rural Alaska via branch campuses in Bristol Bay, Chukchi, Interior Aleutians, Kuskokwim, Northwest and Tanana Valley. University of Alaska Southeast serves Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka. The University of Alaska Anchorage serves the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak, Matanuska-Susitna and Prince William Sound.

"These institutions provide technical and vocational education for both urban and rural residents," said Torgerson. "With this funding we are making a valuable investment in our state's most important resource - Alaskans."

SB 137 passed the Senate with a vote of 15-4 and now goes to the House for consideration.

# # #

Attachments:

• Sponsor Statement for SB 137
  
• Print Friendly Version
  requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 1 page(s) - 96 K

| Sen. Torgerson's Page |

| Top | Home | Site Search | Breaking News | Legislators | Bills |
| Committees | E-Newsletter | Surveys | Research | Help |

The Official Web Site of the House and Senate Legislative Majorities
for the 22nd Alaska State Legislature
To Report Technical Problems or Contact Webmasters