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Action necessary:
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Send an e-mail to your representative and
senator supporting a Base Student Allocation of $5,953
Calendar:
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April
17 - House Judiciary - HJR 9 / Constitutional amendment on
benefits--1:00 PM
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April
18 - Senate Finance - SB 53 / Capitol Budget--9:00 AM
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April
19 - House Finance - Public Employees/Teachers and Judges
benefits--1:30 PM
HAPPENINGS IN JUNEAU
Yes
it is Friday the thirteenth but NEA-Alaska is not expecting
a horror show to emerge. Committee work has been fast and
furious this week with issues centering on the budget and
the gas line. Last night NEA-Alaska and APEA/AFT hosted a
joint legislative reception for lawmakers in Juneau. Both
the NEA-Alaska and the APEA/AFT Boards are in Juneau for
meetings and to visit lawmakers.
NEA-Alaska has been working collaboratively with APEA/AFT as
well as ASEA on issues in Juneau. By hosting a joint
reception we also respect the time of the legislators who
are getting very busy heading into the final month. In
spite of both Senate Finance and Senate Judiciary committees
being in session into the evening we still enjoyed the
attendance of 16 lawmakers and many staff liaison’s there to
represent their Senator or Representative.
Thanks to APEA/AFT for their co-sponsorship and to all that
attended!
SENATE FINANCE – SB 61 – Supplemental Appropriations
The
Senate Finance Committee passed a committee substitute that
puts
$1
Billion
dollars into the Public Education Fund. This is a good
place to put excess revenues. NEA-Alaska applauds this
effort and looks forward to real increases to K-12 education
to achieve adequate funding. SB 61 will likely be on the
Senate Floor early next week.
SB
61 also appropriates $415,000 for the work done to date on a
potential lawsuit against Mercer consulting. This work
needs to continue as it could trim the unfunded liability
significantly.
RETIREMENT LEGISLATION
The
Senate Finance committee has been busy working on the budget
this week and will likely produce a committee substitute for
SB 125 (cost share of retirement liability) at some point
next week. SB 123 (retirement plan fix-it legislation)
passed the Senate last week and is scheduled for a hearing
in House Finance on Thursday, April 19 (See Calendar). To
view either bill please go to
www.legis.state.ak.us/basis
Here you can enter “SB 123 or SB 125” in the bill root box
and you can get information such as the entire text of the
bills.
The next LCS will be published on Tuesday, April 17th. If
you know anyone who wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative
Update, please send us an e-mail with their home e-mail
address if possible, and we’ll add them to the growing list
of K-12 education advocates!
Bill Bjork, NEA-Alaska
President
Lydia Garcia, Interim Executive Director
John Alcantra, Government Relations
RETURN TO JUNEAU
NEA-Alaska joined with about half of the legislature on the
flight from Anchorage to Juneau last night. Many lawmakers
had a four day weekend and now they head in to the final
five week push of the legislative session. The regular
session will end on May 16th. The NEA-Alaska Board of
Directors will meet in Juneau this week (Thursday –
Saturday) and will be meeting with legislators to discuss
the priorities of NEA-Alaska. The NEA-Alaska lobby team
continues to be present in the capitol and remains focused
on our NEA-Alaska priority issues.
SENATE FINANCE
—
THE BUDGET
The
Senate Finance Committee began its public hearings on HB 95
(the state budget for FY 08). There has been little
discussion on the Base Student Allocation but we will expect
that issue to be brought forward over the next few weeks.
It appears to be another usual session where education
funding levels will be set in the last week. Stay tuned!
On
Thursday, Senate Finance is scheduled to hear SB 61. This
bill contains a little over $8 million for the State to
continue to address the potential lawsuit against Mercer.
This should happen as it could trim the unfunded liability
significantly.
RETIREMENT LEGISLATION
The
Senate Finance committee was scheduled to hear SB 125 (cost
share of retirement liability) tomorrow but they have
postponed that hearing to a later time. SB 123 passed the
Senate last week and is waiting for a hearing in House
Finance. To view either bill please go to
www.legis.state.ak.us/basis
Here you can enter
“SB 123 or SB 125” in the bill root box and you can get
information such as the entire text of the bills.
The next LCS
will be published on Thursday, April 12th. If you know
anyone who wishes to receive the LCS/Legislative Update,
please send us an e-mail with their home e-mail address if
possible, and we’ll add them to the growing list of K-12
education advocates!
Bill Bjork, NEA-Alaska
President
Lydia Garcia, Interim Executive Director
John Alcantra, Government Relations
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