Association of Alaska School Boards
Legislative Bulletin
A weekly digest of activity by the Alaska Legislature and U.S. Congress for
AlaskaŐs School Board Members. AASB Tel. 907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995.
Executive Director, Carl Rose crose@aasb.org;
Editor, John Greely. Review past issues of the Bulletin on the AASB Website at http://www.aasb.org.
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June 9, 2006
--LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SPECIAL SESSION
--GOVERNOR SIGNS HB 16.
LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SPECIAL SESSION
The Alaska Legislature labored for 30 days in a special session on oil and gas
issues, but when the end came last night they couldnŐt quite agree on raising
taxes. SB 2001, instituting a net-profits petroleum tax, passed the
Senate 14 to 6 but failed in the House 13 to 25. Moments later, both
chambers adjourned the special session that began May 10th. Governor
Murkowski issued a statement saying he would meet with legislative leaders to
decide if and when a second special session should be called. Here is the
text of his statement today:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2432
For educators, the special session held significance on a couple of fronts
– the revenues promised in SB 2001 could help pay for many school
services in future years, and in the short term for at least three specific
school projects. Before adjourning the regular session a month ago,
legislators tied passage of an oil and gas tax bill to funding $73 million
worth of school replacements in New Stuyahok, Kongiganak and Noatak.
Funding for $182 million in deposits to the Power Cost Equalization
Endowment were also tied to the oil tax bill.
As it stands, the oil and gas tax modifications and the capital budget funding
those and many other projects remain in a kind of legislative limbo. SB
231, the capital budget, passed in the final moments of the regular session on
May 9th but has not yet been transmitted to the governor for his signature.
GOVERNOR SIGNS HB 16
A bill creating a funding source for district operated boarding schools in
three communities has been signed into law by Governor Murkowski. HB 16
provides $1.2 million for boarding schools in Nenana, Galena and Bethel.
Here is the governorŐs statement after signing the bill:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=2422
HB 16 was sponsored by Rep. John Coghill, R-Nenana.