Senators Joe Paskvan, Dennis Egan, and Gary Stevens during the closeout hearing of the Senate Finance DEED Subcommittee, March 20, 2012
This blog contains highlights from the Alaska Education Update. The update is issued daily during session and contains detailed summaries of education issues under consideration by the Alaska State Legislature. If there is a hearing on a Monday, a report will, with few exceptions, be released by Tuesday morning. There is also a weekly edition of the update. During interim, reports are issued only when there has been action. Interim action may include hearings, bill signings, the release of the Governor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, and other items that may be of interest to the education community.

To subscribe to full reports, contact Shana Crondahl at (907) 500-7069 or akedupdate@gci.net. To subscribe to blog posts, submit your email:

Monday, April 18, 2011

SB 84 Passes the Legislature on Monday, April 18, 2011

SB 84 – Vocational Education/Basic Funding/Tax Credits
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2084&session=27

The senate concurred with the changes made by the house by a vote of 19 yeas, 1 absent. SB 84 is awaiting transmittal to the governor.

SB 84 includes:
• $500,000 per year for three years for a theme-based pilot program development for the Iditarod School District
• A doubling of the residential boarding home stipends for FY 12 and FY 13 for the Nenana, Galena, and Lower Kuskokwim School Districts
• A vocational education factor of 1.01 (estimated to be $11,731,500 for FY 12) in the foundation formula to assist districts in providing vocational and technical instruction for students enrolled in 9th – 12th grade
• A sunset extension for certain corporate tax credits for educational contributions

SB 84 does not include a BSA increase.

Sen. French said he is a reluctant “yes” vote. He thinks the senate did a great job on the version of SB 84 that they passed. The bill came back from the house with just the vocational education component. That’s disappointing, given the strong financial situation of the state. He hopes next year they are a little more bold in funding education.

Sen. Huggins said it pleases him that they have come to a compromise on the bill. He hopes they can continue that.

Special Session Agenda

Governor Parnell called for a special session starting Monday, April 18, with ten bills on the agenda:

1. HB 108 – Operating Budget http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20108&session=27  

2. HB 109 – Mental Health Budget http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20109&session=27  

3. SB 46 – Capital Budget http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2046&session=27  

4. SB 76 – Supplemental Budget http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2076&session=27  

5. HB 104 – Performance Scholarships http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20104&session=27  

6. SB 42 – Power Project; Alaska Energy Authority http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2042&session=27  

7. HB 106 – Coastal Management Program http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20106&session=27  

8. SB 84 – Vocational Education & Basic Funding/Tax Credits http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=SB%20%2084&session=27  

9. HB 24 – Extend Regulatory Commission of Alaska Sunset http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20%2024&session=27  

10. HB 126 – Board Extensions: Nurse/Dentist/Barber http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill.asp?bill=HB%20126&session=27