Latest news with #SenateBill129
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alaska education funding boost nears vote of full House amid affordability concerns
Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks Thursday, May 2, 2024, on Senate Bill 129. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) A key House panel unexpectedly advanced a major rewrite of Alaska's per-student funding formula for public schools on Thursday. Without objection, the House Finance Committee advanced House Bill 69 to a vote of the full House without discussing amendments or hearing public testimony. If HB 69 were to become law, the state would be expected to provide $325 million more next year for public schools, with additional increases in 2027 and 2028. Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, made the motion to advance the bill, saying that there's no point in debating it when there's no money to pay for it. 'There is no way that the state can make that type of promise to pay for a service without ending the PFD program and imposing new taxes,' he said afterward, referring to the Permanent Fund dividend. The bill would phase in the increase over three years, with an estimated $644 million per year in additional public school funding by the 2027-2028 school year, according to figures from the Legislative Finance Division, which analyzes the budget for lawmakers. Even without that increase, current state revenue and expense forecasts predict a significant deficit in the coming years. 'I don't have the money. I don't see how I can support the bill without having the money. I'm interested to hear what the majority's proposals are to be able to fund the bill, but I will absolutely bite,' Stapp said during Thursday's finance committee meeting. 'I know this is a big priority for you guys. So Mr. Co-Chair, with the permission of the committee, I'm going to go ahead and see if I can move the bill.' The action came after a brief discussion of HB 69 but before any public testimony, breaking the Legislature's usual precedent. After the vote, Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said there are always questions in the Legislature about how to pay for priorities. 'I think in this fiscal year, we're looking at a lot of things with that same question. We always, in the end, make it work right, just to all come together,' he said. 'I always posit the cost of doing nothing — what's that cost?' Asked how the state intends to pay for HB 69, Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage and co-chair of the House Finance Committee, said he believes it's possible to afford a public school funding increase if the Permanent Fund dividend is cut to $1,000 and if legislators pass some small tax bills, like one proposed by Sen. Robert Yundt, R-Wasilla. Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, I-Sitka and the author of HB 69, said school districts have been asked for years to balance their books despite inflation and no increases in funding from the state. 'We have some hard decisions to make,' she said when asked how the state would pay for her bill. 'We have a more flexible budget than school districts have. We also have the ability to raise money. So collectively, we have hard decisions. But we can't lose sight of the fact that we owe our children the best education they can get, in our constitution.' Over the last several weeks, the House Education Committee has heard emotional testimony from students and school officials grappling with budget shortfalls and school closures around the state, and urging a boost to school funding. The Alaska House is closely divided between a 19-member Republican minority, including Stapp, and a 21-member multipartisan majority that includes two Republicans, five independents and 14 Democrats. Changes to the state's public school funding formula have been the No. 1 priority of the majority since its creation after last year's elections. On Wednesday, members of the Republican minority caucus voted against sending HB 69 to the finance committee via a procedural motion. At the time, they said more discussion was needed and that members of the House majority were acting too hastily. 'I wish we'd had some more debate about the merits of the bill and expectations and outcomes. That was my only concern. We didn't have more opportunity to talk about expectations and outcomes of such a bill passing, and that really didn't happen,' said Rep. Rebecca Schwanke, R-Glennallen. Twenty-four hours later, it was the minority's turn to act quickly as Stapp urged the bill forward. He said afterward that the proposal is so unrealistic that it's not worth talking about. 'I honestly don't know how this bill is even remotely going to be funded, because no tax proposals have been coming out by the folks who want to pay for the bill,' he said. 'So I'm interested to see how they're going to tell the voters of the state and really the educators and the teachers, how they're going to fund it. They didn't do that on the committee.' Rep. Jeremy Bynum, R-Ketchikan and a member of the finance committee, said he was surprised by Stapp's move, but he wanted to see policy changes, and at the end of the day, HB 69 was about funding, not policy. Members of the minority could have fought the majority in an attempt to include policy items, but 'it's better to send it over to the Senate, and they can fix it,' Bynum said. Shortly before Stapp's action, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on social media that he does not support the bill in its present form but does support separate, ongoing negotiations between his office and members of the Legislature. 'This fast-track standalone bill does not have my support. The education negotiations between the two bodies and my office do,' he said. Josephson voiced support during the committee meeting for those ongoing negotiations, 'so that we can get to a yes, and it's a win-win,' he said. Scheduling the bill for a floor vote will be in the hands of Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak and chair of the House Rules Committee. Twenty-one votes are needed to pass a bill in the House, and the House majority has 21 members, but Rep. Maxine Dibert, D-Fairbanks, has been hospitalized with a respiratory illness and has not been cleared for a return to work. Outside her office on Thursday afternoon, reporters asked Stutes whether she could say when it will come up for a vote. 'No, no,' she said — then walked away. Later, she provided a written statement. 'I'm happy to see House Bill 69 pass the House Finance Committee. Education funding is a critical issue to Alaskans, the House Majority Coalition, and educators across the state. It is a priority to get this legislation on the House floor,' she said. 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Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Baker, Mastriano team up on state veterans home advisory oversight
Feb. 6—WILKES-BARRE — Sen. Lisa Baker this week said Pennsylvania has a long and proud history of serving veterans and their families. "One important way is by providing quality care to veterans and their spouses in six extended care facilities throughout the state that offer personal, skilled and dementia care," said Baker, R-Lehman Township. The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 129 — sponsored by Sen. Baker and Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-District 33. The bill would enhance the oversight at Pennsylvania's six state veterans' homes through their advisory councils as follows: —Provide that the advisory councils are to advise the state adjutant general on resident care, management, operations and compliance of facilities to ensure high-quality health care and well-being of resident veterans. —Revamp the current advisory councils to include 15 members — including a family member of a current or past resident. Nominees would be veterans from the surrounding communities. —Require the department to provide a subject matter expert to be available for each of the advisory council's meetings. —Stipulate that advisory councils comply with open meeting requirements. —Require the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to provide an Annual Report to the General Assembly. Baker said her particular interest in this legislation comes from many years of service as the Senate appointee to the oversight council at the Gino Merli Veterans' Center in Scranton. "From this position, it's evident to see the connection of care between the center's staff, its leadership, and the many volunteers working to care for residents," Baker said. "Senate Bill 129 has very simple goals — to build upon the existing advisory council model, bringing new and different voices to the table to improve resident care and help make each facility the best it can be." Mastriano, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, said state veterans homes deliver an incredible service — providing care to veterans and their families when they need it the most. "Yet, it is important that we do our utmost that this standard of care at our veterans homes does not diminish," Mastriano said. " This measure would help ensure just that." Baker said Pennsylvania's six veterans' homes are important in the state's continuum of care for our veterans and their families. "Having current residents select individuals, including at least one family member of a current or past resident, ensures a personal voice is shared," Baker said. "A loved one brings a helpful and unique perspective to the advisory council." During her remarks on the Senate floor, Baker said Gino Merli's nephew, Chet, has long had a keen interest in the facility, and he has wanted to be part of the continuing to uphold the legacy of this Medal of Honor recipient for which the center is named. "Chet suggested creating a designated appointment for a family member of a current or former resident," Baker said. "I echoed this idea and legislation followed." Through this lens, Baker said a different perspective can be found. "Perhaps it is speaking for a resident no longer capable of communicating or hearing directly from family members of other residents about challenges or concerns," Baker said. "The personal connection is different, and I argue invaluable, to proving the best care for a population deserving that of us." Senate Bill 129 now heads to the House of Representatives for its consideration. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As ACLU of Alabama celebrates 60th anniversary, group fights to stop anti-DEI law from taking effect statewide
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — As the ACLU of Alabama celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, the group has announced a slate of projects they will take on this year, including fighting against a law that that unravels diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the state. Earlier this month, the organization announced that they had filed a federal lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 129, which prevents public universities across the state from dedicating funding to DEI programs. The law went into effect in October. 'What that means is that DEI offices have had to close at our public universities,' said Alison Mollman, legal director of the ACLU of Alabama. 'But, even more troubling, is that we've seen restrictions on what student groups have access to funding for.' Alabama State Superintendent releases statement regarding ICE and federal funding As an example, Mollman said groups like Alabama NAACP chapters wouldn't have the same access to funding for events like Black History Month, while white groups were not held to the same standard. On Jan. 30, the group, alongside the Legal Defense Fund, filed a preliminary injunction requesting that the court pauses the implementation of SB129. 'In their motion, the plaintiffs argue that the law, Alabama Senate Bill 129 (SB129), has imposed severe viewpoint restrictions on professors and students in public Alabama universities, including classroom discussions and university programs, since it took effect in October 2024,' the ACLU of Alabama wrote in a press release. 'The plaintiffs further argue that it is difficult—if not impossible—to ascertain what exactly is or is not prohibited by SB129 due its vague and confusing language, which further chills their speech.' Mollman said the lawsuit's ultimate aims is to have a federal court declare SB129 as unconstitutional. 'What that would mean is that our plaintiffs and students across the state who have student groups that are based on identity or are based on certain viewpoints wouldn't have that restricted as they are now under SB 129,' she said. 'And it would allow our professors across the state to return to teaching the curriculum and history that's been appropriate for years.' Applications for senior housing development in Birmingham open Feb. 13 The organization, which was founded in 1965, recently announced its 2025 Legislative Agenda, including: Fighting for criminal legal reform Defending the right to vote Ensuring reproductive justice Protecting First Amendment rights The ACLU of Alabama will be hosting a community teach-in on Feb. 15 in Montgomery. Mollman said the free event would be aimed toward educating the public on how the Legislature function, what bills they could expect to be introduced in the next session and how the ACLU will work to fight against certain bills. 'It's one of our priorities to make sure that the public is aware and educated about what's happening,' she said. 'We'll have other community events throughout the spring where folks can choose to tap in on the work that we're doing and learn how they can fight back against laws that harm them and to support laws that are going to make our lives better.' More information on the work being done by the ACLU of Alabama can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
