Senate panel advances education bill with energy relief, loan program

The Alaska Senate Finance Committee approved a comprehensive education bill Monday that provides energy cost relief to school districts and expands teacher student loan repayment programs.

The committee voted to advance House Bill 28. The bill addresses rising energy costs and teacher retention in Alaska schools. The broader package also includes pupil transportation funding and authorization for an adequacy study. The measure now moves to the Senate Rules Committee.

The committee adopted an amendment requiring school districts to make reasonable efforts not to increase energy consumption year to year. Senator James Kaufman introduced the amendment. He said it would insert accountability into the energy relief program.

Kaufman said the amendment requires school districts to make reasonable efforts not to increase energy consumption year to year.

Senator Kiel raised concerns about inadvertently including fuel price spikes in the review. Kaufman later clarified that the amendment focuses on consumption rather than cost. He noted he had initially misspoken about the metric.

The committee also adopted an amendment from Senator Mike Cronk. The amendment addresses school board operations and eligibility. It allows regional school board members to substitute teach under emergency circumstances for limited durations.

Cronk said the amendment would allow members of regional school boards to substitute teach under emergency circumstances for a time-limited duration.

The same amendment bars individuals convicted of certain crimes from serving on school boards. The provision creates parity with existing restrictions that prevent such individuals from working in schools as teachers or staff.

Cronk taught for 25 years before entering the legislature. He withdrew one amendment and declined to offer another during the hearing. The withdrawn amendment would have increased funding for residential schools by tying stipends to the base student allocation formula. The amendment would have cost an estimated $8,744,000 per year. Cronk withdrew it due to timing concerns in the budget process.

Kaufman also withdrew an amendment that would have set a July 1, 2032 sunset date on the energy relief program. Senate Finance Committee Chair Lyman Hoffman objected to the sunset provision. He argued the program should continue until the legislature acts on an upcoming adequacy study.

Hoffman said the program should stay in place knowing the committee has a report coming. He said the report will address not only the energy relief portion of the bill, but the 5 percent provision.

Kaufman moved to advance the bill from committee with attached fiscal notes and individual recommendations. The motion passed without objection.

The bill originated in the House. Representative Andi Story sponsored the teacher loan repayment provisions. Story testified that the program would help fill teacher vacancies by offering employer-sponsored student loan repayment. Other states have used the tool for recruitment and retention.

Senator Loki Tobin highlighted the bill's provisions for pupil transportation resources and the adequacy study in closing comments. She called the package evidence-based education reform. She said it would help districts experiencing increased energy costs and market volatility.