Saturday, January 30, 2010

Jan. 30, 2010

The Second Session of the 26th Alaska State Legislature began on Jan. 19, 2010, and is off to a quick start. The committee hearing calendars are action-packed.

Operating budget: The UA Board of Regents FY11 operating and capital budgets was submitted to the Governor in November. Gov. Parnell's FY11 operating budget for the university, at $339 million in state appropriations, includes money for most of the university's fixed costs as well as $950,000 in new money for energy programs.



The House Finance Subcommittee on the UA Budget now consists of 'a committee of the whole'; the Senate Finance Committee has this arrangement as well. Representative Anna Fairclough chairs this subcommittee.

The first of many hearings by the House Finance Subcommittee on the UA budget this past week to set the stage for discussions. Regent Mary Hughes and President Hamilton addressed the members about the UA FY11 operating and capital budget request.

Capital Budget: The UA Board of Regents for many years has put maintenance as its first priority in the system's annual capital budgets. Gov. Sean Parnell announced a five-year, $100 million per year plan to improve public buildings and infrastructure, which would provide the UA system with $37.5 million per year.

Thanks to the efforts of many UAF Alumni, Fairbanks community leaders and organizations, UAF students, faculty and staff, the Life Sciences project is the regents' No. 1 new construction request for the FY11 budget cycle. The governor also announced his support for the Life Sciences Classroom and Lab Facility (SB 226), a statewide research and teaching facility on the UAF campus, and addressed it in his 'State of the State' address on January 20th. A similar bill was introduced by Sen. Thomas (SB 56) last session. The Senate Education Committee will be holding a hearing on this bill on February 10th.

Legislation: Here are some bills of interest to the university:
  • Governor's Performance Scholarship (HB 297 and SB 224)
    Legislators have begun to examine the Governor's new 'GPS' proposal to provide state-funded scholarships for academic achievement of Alaska's high school graduates. Expect to hear much discussion in Juneau this session on this subject.
  • UA Land Grant legislation - (HB 295 and SB 225)
    These bills address the resolution of the UA Land Grant issue.  The bill received a referral to four committees, and it had one hearing this past week.
  • Establish an advisory task force on higher education (SB 221)
    This legislation would establish a 13-member advisory task force to examine the many issues concerning 'college readiness'.
  • Also see: Upcoming legislative committee hearings calendar.

Friday, January 1, 2010

2010 Session Commences

A new legislative session has commenced and the next 90 days will fly by fast. Already the legislature has scheduled hearings, and many groups have been meeting with legislators and staff in Juneau.

A number of legislators have been appointed to House and Senate seats vacated for various reasons this past interim. Representative Coghill has replaced Senator Therriault in the Senate when he left to work with the Governor in oil and gas issues; Tammy Wilson (North Pole) was appointed to take Coghill's seat in the House; and Neal Foster was appointed to his (late) father's House seat.

This year, the university's FY11 operating budget was submitted to the Governor by the Board of Regents, and the governor chose to fund the 'fixed costs' as well as a few requests for CES and energy-related programs.

Issues to follow this year include the Governor's Performance Scholarship and needs-based scholarships, UA Land Grant, energy programs, and in particular, the Life Sciences Facility, the Regent's only new construction project request for FY11, as well as the deferred maintenance projects throughout the system.

Thank you for all you do to support the University of Alaska. Your active advocacy makes a difference in the legislative arena.