Capitol Report April 1, 2022

April 1, 2022

The Legislature Wrestles With COVID-19 and the University of Alaska Senate Subcommittee Budget Close Out Takes a Step Forward

This week a COVID-19 breakout in the Capitol caused significant delays in progress for both the House and the Senate. As early as Monday, the House began to cancel floor sessions - a trend that lasted all week. The delay is notable as the House was originally scheduled to vote on the operating budget. While many legislators remain optimistic that the legislative session will wrap up by the constitutionally mandated 121-day deadline, delays in budget hearings could mean that legislators remain in Juneau past the deadline on May 19th. Meanwhile, in the Senate, some meetings were canceled, however, the Senate Finance Committee still held budget subcommittee close-outs.

mportantly, on Friday, April 1, the University of Alaska Senate Finance Subcommittee was closed out.  The relevant budget documents can be found here.  

We’re grateful for the work of Senator Hoffman, Senator Stedman and Senator Bishop. Communication has been really thorough and positive.    

Some key additions to the Senate Finance Subcommittee version of the budget include:

  • $9.5 million for fixed and operating cost increases
  • $2 million for Alternative Energy Research 
  • $1 million to support teacher practicums/student teaching pilot
  • $1 million to support health care clinicals - small pilot
  • $635,900 to continue the Alaska library Network and Imagination Library
  • $881,800 to have the correct Alaska Technical and Vocational Education Program funding available (FY22 supplemental funding)

The Senate Subcommittee close out is an important step, however, there is still much work to be done as the budget travels and needs approval from both floors of the Senate and House. 

Noteworthy: Any differences in the budget will likely be worked out in the conference committee at the end of session.

Bills on the Move

Even while both bodies slowed down,  some committees continued to hear bills. In House Education, lawmakers voted to move Senate Bill 36 out of committee. The bill, sponsored by Senator Gary Stevens would require the Board of Regents to prepare and provide the Legislature with a biennial report of our universities’ accreditation statuses. The bill will now be transmitted to House State Affairs.

The Senate Education Committee separately passed out Senate Bill 225 relating to teacher residency  programs, limited teacher certificates, teacher apprenticeship programs, and teacher retention. Since the bill was introduced in early March, the Senate Education Committee spent seven hearings on the subject. Superintendents and principals from both urban and rural communities testified on the immediate need to train and retain teachers. Every district that testified reported having numerous vacant teaching positions they were unable to fill. Many stated that improving teacher training programs, teacher licensure, and teacher benefits would be welcome tools in recruiting new teachers to their districts.

UA in the Capitol

The Alaska Council of School Administrators as well as the Alaska Association of Secondary School Principals were in Juneau for their annual legislative fly-in. UA State Relations Manager Sara Perman spoke to attendees about the university system’s focus on education-related legislation. She noted the importance of stabilizing the system’s budget as well as maintaining the Higher Education Investment Fund. Sara discussed the virtual and in-person middle college programs offered by all three universities, as well as dual credit CTE programs. Participants were also interested in the university system’s role in teacher training and retention efforts around the state.

Next Week’s Calendar

Monday, April 4

  • 1:00 p.m. - House Finance: House Bill 229: “Alaska Higher Education Investment Fund’

  • 3:15 p.m. - House Labor & Commerce: House Bill 108: “Concurrent Secondary & Trade School”

Wednesday, April 6

  • 1:00 p.m - Senate Finance: Senate Bill 162 : “Appropriations: Operating Budget/Loans/Funds”, & Senate Bill 163: “Appropriations: Mental Health Budget”, & “Appropriations: Infrastructure Bill” (Pending introduction & referral)

  • 3:30 p.m. - Senate Resources: Senate Bill 177: “Microreactors”

Thursday, April 7

  • 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Public testimony from Interior, Fairbanks, Copper River Valley & Offnets on Senate Bill 162 : “Appropriations: Operating Budget/Loans/Funds”, & Senate Bill 163: “Appropriations: Mental Health Budget”, & Senate Bill 164: “Appropriations: Capital, Reappropriations, Supplemental”

  • 1:00 p.m. - Senate Finance: Public testimony from Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Utqiaqvik, Unalaska, Dillingham & Offnets on Senate Bill 162 : “Appropriations: Operating Budget/Loans/Funds”, & Senate Bill 163: “Appropriations: Mental Health Budget”, & Senate Bill 164: “Appropriations: Capital, Reappropriations, Supplemental”

Friday, April 8

  • 9:00 a.m. - Senate Finance: Public testimony from Southeast, Prince William SOunds, Kodiak & Offnets on Senate Bill 162 : “Appropriations: Operating Budget/Loans/Funds”, & Senate Bill 163: “Appropriations: Mental Health Budget”, & Senate Bill 164: “Appropriations: Capital, Reappropriations, Supplemental”

  • 1:00 p.m. - Senate Finance: Public testimony from Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, & Matanuska Susitna Valley on Senate Bill 162 : “Appropriations: Operating Budget/Loans/Funds”, & Senate Bill 163: “Appropriations: Mental Health Budget”, & Senate Bill 164: “Appropriations: Capital, Reappropriations, Supplemental”

For more information, contact Director of State Relations for the University of Alaska System Chad Hutchison, cell 907-378-3946, email clhutchison@alaska.edu. You can also follow the University of Alaska Government Relations on our Twitter page.