House Finance passes Mount Edgecombe funding bill, advances mail theft measure

The House Finance Committee voted Tuesday to pass Senate Bill 146, which allows Rural Education Attendance Area funds to support Mount Edgecombe High School operations. The committee adopted a revised version of the bill that removes language about teacher housing funding. Representative Robyn Niayuq Frier, the bill's sponsor, said the changes were made to address concerns after a similar measure was vetoed last year. "We worked with the Governor's legislative liaison, their office to find out what would make it more veto proof," Frier said. The bill faced questions about potential constitutional issues related to the Kasayulie v. State settlement, which established REAA funding for rural schools. Legislative Legal Services attorney Marie Marks said her office flags such concerns but noted that talking with interested parties "would definitely reduce the risk of this becoming a legal issue in the future." Tim Gruesendorf from Senator Lyman Hoffman's office said the original plaintiffs in the Kasayulie case support including Mount Edgecombe in REAA funding because many students from rural regions attend the school. The committee passed the bill with individual recommendations after no public testimony was offered. The committee also held its first hearing on House Bill 77, which would make mail theft a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $50,000. Representative Ashley Carrick introduced the bill, citing rising mail theft affecting 74,000 Alaskans over three months. Anchorage Police Detective Tiffany Lohman testified that current law ties officers' hands because mail theft cases rarely meet federal prosecution thresholds. "Mail theft is becoming an increasingly prevalent crime, and HB 77 is essential to protect both individuals and Alaskan businesses," she said. Committee members questioned whether making all mail theft a felony was appropriate, noting it would treat stealing a $50 Amazon package more harshly than stealing the same item from a store. Department of Law attorney Casey Schroeder said prosecutors would use discretion in charging decisions. Fairbanks resident Don Duncan testified about ongoing mail theft, including stolen checks and his PFD, saying prosecutors refused to pursue his case despite video evidence. The committee will hold another hearing on the mail theft bill to address questions about fiscal impacts and felony consequences.