Association of
Alaska School Boards
Legislative
Bulletin
A weekly digest
of activity by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for
AlaskaÕs School
Board Members. AASB Tel.
907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995.
Executive
Director, Carl Rose crose@aasb.org; Editor, John Greely. Review
past issues of
the Bulletin on the AASB Website at http://www.aasb.org. To
unsubscribe
send an email requesting the same to jgreely@aasb.org.
This bulletin
is distributed by email only. School districts should copy for
board members
not online.
February 24,
2006
--SHOWSTOPPER
ARRIVES IN JUNEAU
--MAT-SU SCHOOL
REPAIRS
--DEMOCRATS ON
EDUCATION
SHOWSTOPPER
ARRIVES IN JUNEAU
In the
entertainment business, the ÒshowstopperÓ is the act that is so
compelling the
applause that follows keeps the rest of the show from taking
stage. In politics, the showstopper can be an
issue so important that
everything else
gets put on hold. Consider HB 488 and SB 305, introduced
this week by
Governor Frank Murkowski. See his
news release here:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2211
The bills would
overhaul the stateÕs petroleum tax system, a move the
governor said
is necessary to capture a greater share of revenue from
Prudhoe Bay and
usher in a natural gas pipeline project from the same field
to the lower
48.
Legislative
hearings began immediately and took over both Finance Committee
rooms at the
Capitol Building. In the process,
work on many other issues
slowed or
stopped. Oil company officials were expected to present their
first
legislative testimony next week. Consultants hired by the legislature
follow on their
heels. Billions of dollars hang in
the balance.
In the
meantime, work on education issues may resume next week. The Senate
Health
Education and Social Services Committee planned to hear testimony on
Wednesday,
March 1, on SB 281, allowing school districts to operate
education
programs outside their boundaries.
See the full test of the bill
here:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0281A&session=24
<http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0281A&sessi
on=24>
The committee
also scheduled SB 162 for the same hearing. It would require
schools to
monitor and report on the physical health of students. See the
full text of
that bill here:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0162A&session=24
<http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0162A&sessi
on=24>
Completing the
triple play at HESS on Wednesday is SB 199, offering grants
to school
districts for serving nutritious lunches.
See the full text of
that bill here:
http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0199B&session=24
<http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/get_bill_text.asp?hsid=SB0199B&sessi
on=24>
On Thursday,
March 2, the Senate Finance Committee was scheduled to debate
three
supplemental budget bills requested by the governor to add some $293
million to this
yearÕs budget for unexpected expenses, including higher
energy costs of
municipalities and state agencies.
No money was requested
for school
districtsÕ higher energy costs.
MAT-SU SCHOOL
REPAIRS
The roof at
Susitna Valley High School is in need of repairs. Students are
attending
classes, but the school district is watching the snow load and
hoping for a
fix. Here is an update on the situation:
http://www.akrepublicans.org/huggins/24/news/hugg2006022301p.php
DEMOCRATS ON
EDUCATION
Minority
Democrats in both Houses have introduced a slew of education bills
this year and
last. Here is a release
summarizing the proposals:
http://www.akdemocrats.org/index.php?legpress_id=175
QUOTE OF THE
WEEK
ÒThese are two
historic events, ones that will define the stateÕs economy
for decades to
come.Ó
Gov. Frank
Murkowski announcing an agreement on a natural gas pipeline
contract with
major oil companies and his legislation to overhaul oil taxes.