Association of Alaska School Boards

Legislative Bulletin

A weekly digest of activity by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for Alaska’s 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. (Note, the AASB office will be closed tomorrow so this week’s bulletin is moving a day early).

April 5, 2007

--AFTER LONG WEEKEND SENATE DIVES INTO BUDGET

--HOUSE APPROVES SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR 90-DAY SESSION

--BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO LOOSEN NCLB RULES

--EDUCATION BILLS SCHEDULED FOR HEARINGS NEXT WEEK

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AFTER LONG WEEKEND, SENATE DIVES INTO BUDGET

A four-day Easter recess will be followed by four days of scheduled hearings on the state budget in the Senate Finance Committee. The first two days, next Tuesday and Wednesday, will be devoted to public testimony on HB 95 and HB 96. Although the bills leave most major education issues for decisions later, the $3.5 billion budget is a must-pass bill, and its passage by the Senate will signal that the final negotiations can begin to bring the 2007 session to a close by May 16.

Like the House, the Senate has set aside specific times for the public to weigh in with testimony on HB 95 and 96 via the Legislative Information Office network or by telephone. Here is the schedule for next week in the Finance Committee:

Tuesday, April 10

Public Testimony Schedule

2:30-3:30 p.m. Juneau

3:30-5:00 p.m. Sitka, Wrangell, Homer, Petersburg, Dillingham, Cordova.

5:00-6:30 p.m. Fairbanks

Wednesday, April 11

1:00-2:00 p.m. Bethel, Kotzebue, Barrow, Nome, Delta Junction, off-nets

2:30-4:00 p.m. Anchorage

5:00-6:30 p.m. Kenai, Valdez, Kodiak, Ketchikan, Seward, Mat-Su, Glennallen, Tok

The Senate version of the operating budget (HB 95) differs in several respects from the House version passed last week. The Senate has tentatively included $48 million to implement a revenue sharing program for local governments, an appropriation axed by the House. For a closer look at the Senate budget proposal, see this link to the Division of Legislative Finance report:

http://www.legfin.state.ak.us/BudgetReports/Operating/FY08/SenateCS/DisplayReports.php

HOUSE APPROVES SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR 90-DAY SESSION

The Alaska House on Tuesday unanimously approved making changes in the Legislature’s timetable to accommodate a tighter legislative schedule next year, when a 90-day session limit takes effect. See full story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/04/special.ed.rules.ap/index.html

BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO LOOSEN NCLB RULES

The Bush Administration wants to loosen the rules so that many more disabled children can take tests that are simpler than those required by the president’s signature No Child Left Behind law. See full story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/04/04/special.ed.rules.ap/index.html

EDUCATION BILLS UP FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS NEXT WEEK

Friday, April 13, Senate Special Committee on Education

8:00 a.m. SCR 5 Civics Education/Citizens Advisory Task Force