Coming up week of February 16-21, 2010
The
legislature is heading into finishing up the first month of session,
with two months to go as of Feb. 19. This report is a review of the
week of Feb. 8-12, and an overview of this current week of Feb. 15-21
as it relates to university issues.
FY11 Operating/Capital Budgets:
This past week, all three UA Chancellors testified before the House Finance Subcommittee on the UA budget, each talking about the partnerships, cooperation and continuity between the three major academic units. The Co-Chairs of House Finance wanted to know if the university was one entity, or three, and also asked the group to explain the organizational structure of the university, as it is different from that of a state agency. The Subcommittee is comprised of all the members of the full committee, although not all members were present. Note the House Finance Subcommittee will continue to meet on Tuesday mornings until they close out the University FY11 operating budget.
Note the current plan is for the House to complete their operating budget deliberations before March 15th, and the Senate plans to finish their subcommittee hearings by March 22nd or so, giving the body time to override any vetoes by the governor before adjourning on April 19th.
The three chancellors also testified before the new UA Boosters Caucus, again talking about the coordination between the university campuses, and each talked about some of the specifics of their respective units. The UA Boosters Caucus was formed this past December to provide support on matters pertaining to the University. This ad-hoc group has four co-chairs, including Senators Ellis and Thomas, and Representatives Dahlstrom and Fairclough. They intend to meet four times during session, and the first meeting was devoted to talking to the Chancellors about their respective campuses. They will also be meeting with the Student Governance Coalition on February 22, and plan a meeting with the Board of Regents, as well as one with members of the public prior to adjournment.
Another budget bill of note is the Governor's deferred maintenance bill (HB 325 and SB 253), which would provide 'early' funding of a $100 million list of capital projects aimed at public buildings and infrastructures. Included in these bills is $37.5 million for the University's deferred maintenance projects, figured on a percentage of total university buildings in relationship to all state buildings.
Note: Be prepared to participate in the House Finance Committee's statewide FY11 operating budget teleconference, due to come up possibly as early as the last week in February. These times will be posted on our website when we learn of the hearing. This is one of two times in the legislative session where the public is asked to comment on the various aspects of the state operating budget, and although a time allotment of 2 minutes is posted, the more individuals that testify from every area of the state, the better. Stay tuned!
Legislation:
Life Sciences: SB 56, an appropriation bill for the Life Sciences Facility, was heard in the Senate Education Committee and moved out to the next committee of referral, the Senate Finance Committee – Senators Thomas, Stevens, and Davis each signed 'do pass' on the committee report.
Engineering: Also heard and passed out was SB 206, a $100 million appropriation bill to fund both an engineering facility on the UAA campus and the UAF campus. This bill also received the same referral to Senate Finance, and Senators Thomas, Meyer, Stevens and Davis signed 'do pass'.
These bills will now sit in the Senate Finance Committee until such time as the Co-Chairs decide to hold hearings on the FY11 capital budget.
UA Lands Bills: One version of the UA Lands bill (HB 295) was also moved to the next committee of referral after being amended in the House Education Committee. The Committee Substitute deleted a portion of the land listed in the original version of the bill. This bill still has three committees to pass through before a House Floor hearing.
Education Tax Credits: SB 236, the education tax credit legislation, has been introduced on the Senate side. Currently, the law allows for an education tax credit of 50% of the first $100,000 given to an educational institution in the state, and 10% from $100,000 to $200,000. This bill would give a 50% tax credit for contributions over $200,000.
Governor's Performance Scholarship: SB 224 has had several hearings in the Senate Education Committee, and a committee substitute is in the works to consider a needs-based scholarship program as well. The committee is hearing the bill again this week.
Other items of interest:
Note the Board of Regents will be meeting in Fairbanks this week on Feb. 17-18, and will take public testimony on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 9 to 10 a.m. in person only. They will also be deliberating over their selection choices for the next university president, and will narrow the choices down to between 2-4 candidates. The remaining candidates will then meet with the Fairbanks community on March 1, the Anchorage community on March 2 and in Juneau on March 3. A full schedule and candidate names will be posted on the Regents' website when the names and times become available. (See: www.alaska.edu/bor/)
This week February 15 - 21:
Juneau Meetings:
Feb. 21 – 24 Coalition of Student Leaders meet in Juneau
Feb. 23 – Annual UAF Alumni Ice Cream Social – House Speaker's Chambers
FY11 Operating/Capital Budgets:
This past week, all three UA Chancellors testified before the House Finance Subcommittee on the UA budget, each talking about the partnerships, cooperation and continuity between the three major academic units. The Co-Chairs of House Finance wanted to know if the university was one entity, or three, and also asked the group to explain the organizational structure of the university, as it is different from that of a state agency. The Subcommittee is comprised of all the members of the full committee, although not all members were present. Note the House Finance Subcommittee will continue to meet on Tuesday mornings until they close out the University FY11 operating budget.
Note the current plan is for the House to complete their operating budget deliberations before March 15th, and the Senate plans to finish their subcommittee hearings by March 22nd or so, giving the body time to override any vetoes by the governor before adjourning on April 19th.
The three chancellors also testified before the new UA Boosters Caucus, again talking about the coordination between the university campuses, and each talked about some of the specifics of their respective units. The UA Boosters Caucus was formed this past December to provide support on matters pertaining to the University. This ad-hoc group has four co-chairs, including Senators Ellis and Thomas, and Representatives Dahlstrom and Fairclough. They intend to meet four times during session, and the first meeting was devoted to talking to the Chancellors about their respective campuses. They will also be meeting with the Student Governance Coalition on February 22, and plan a meeting with the Board of Regents, as well as one with members of the public prior to adjournment.
Another budget bill of note is the Governor's deferred maintenance bill (HB 325 and SB 253), which would provide 'early' funding of a $100 million list of capital projects aimed at public buildings and infrastructures. Included in these bills is $37.5 million for the University's deferred maintenance projects, figured on a percentage of total university buildings in relationship to all state buildings.
Note: Be prepared to participate in the House Finance Committee's statewide FY11 operating budget teleconference, due to come up possibly as early as the last week in February. These times will be posted on our website when we learn of the hearing. This is one of two times in the legislative session where the public is asked to comment on the various aspects of the state operating budget, and although a time allotment of 2 minutes is posted, the more individuals that testify from every area of the state, the better. Stay tuned!
Legislation:
Life Sciences: SB 56, an appropriation bill for the Life Sciences Facility, was heard in the Senate Education Committee and moved out to the next committee of referral, the Senate Finance Committee – Senators Thomas, Stevens, and Davis each signed 'do pass' on the committee report.
Engineering: Also heard and passed out was SB 206, a $100 million appropriation bill to fund both an engineering facility on the UAA campus and the UAF campus. This bill also received the same referral to Senate Finance, and Senators Thomas, Meyer, Stevens and Davis signed 'do pass'.
These bills will now sit in the Senate Finance Committee until such time as the Co-Chairs decide to hold hearings on the FY11 capital budget.
UA Lands Bills: One version of the UA Lands bill (HB 295) was also moved to the next committee of referral after being amended in the House Education Committee. The Committee Substitute deleted a portion of the land listed in the original version of the bill. This bill still has three committees to pass through before a House Floor hearing.
Education Tax Credits: SB 236, the education tax credit legislation, has been introduced on the Senate side. Currently, the law allows for an education tax credit of 50% of the first $100,000 given to an educational institution in the state, and 10% from $100,000 to $200,000. This bill would give a 50% tax credit for contributions over $200,000.
Governor's Performance Scholarship: SB 224 has had several hearings in the Senate Education Committee, and a committee substitute is in the works to consider a needs-based scholarship program as well. The committee is hearing the bill again this week.
Other items of interest:
Note the Board of Regents will be meeting in Fairbanks this week on Feb. 17-18, and will take public testimony on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 9 to 10 a.m. in person only. They will also be deliberating over their selection choices for the next university president, and will narrow the choices down to between 2-4 candidates. The remaining candidates will then meet with the Fairbanks community on March 1, the Anchorage community on March 2 and in Juneau on March 3. A full schedule and candidate names will be posted on the Regents' website when the names and times become available. (See: www.alaska.edu/bor/)
This week February 15 - 21:
Juneau Meetings:
Feb. 21 – 24 Coalition of Student Leaders meet in Juneau
Feb. 23 – Annual UAF Alumni Ice Cream Social – House Speaker's Chambers
No comments:
Post a Comment