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**New Legislation introduced**
SB 146 UNIVERSITY: TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS COST - SB 146 The Textbook Cost Transparency act provides students with vital information about their textbook and course materials while they are registering for classes, allowing them to make informed choices and financially plan. The goal of this legislation is to provide students with as much information regarding cost as early as possible in the registration process clearly defined definitions integrated into the University of Alaska’s shared online course catalog (UAOnline). By allowing students to see which classes come at “Zero-cost” or “low-cost” they will be able to make more informed finical decisions more easily.
SB 150 TRUCK DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY - SB 150 establishes the second Monday of September of each year as Truck Driver Appreciation Day in alignment with the National Truck Driver Appreciation week. This bill was created in response to the growing shortages of truck drivers in this country. Truck drivers serve a critical role in keeping our shelves stocked and our community’s feed which is why it’s important that we as a state recognizes them for the work they do. This bill is also designed to align with the National Truck Driver appreciation week.
SB 168 DONATIONS/GIFTS FOR DOT&PF SIGNAGE - SB 168 provides receipt authority to the Department of Transportation that it needs to be able to collect donations for signage. It does not require these costs to be paid by outside groups, but instead helps to codify a process that will not use state funds.
SB 170 MARINE HIGHWAY CORPORATION - SB 170 sponsored by the Senate Transportation Committee would transition the AMHS into a public corporation for the purposes of stabilizing the management structure, foster greater alignment between management and labor, limit exposure to political influence, and stabilize the finances of the system. While each public corporation is unique in its purpose and powers as defined in statutes, as a public corporation AMHS could develop long-term vision, foster stability and accountability, and develop fleet and business operations in a strategic and efficient manner.
SJR 19 CONST. AM: APPROP LIMIT - SJR 19 is a proposed amendment to the constitution that establishes and defines annual appropriation limits on state government. During the third special session my office submitted SJR 301 as a companion to Representative Kaufman's HJR 301 and worked with the recommendations of the Alaska Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group which advocated that the legislature evaluate state spending limit reform.
SJR 19 is an exact copy of the version of SJR 301 that was amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee to be based instead on a five-year average of individual personal income in the state minus the PFD and the income of state and local employees. The resolution also provides exceptions for certain large scale capitol projects in the future. SJR 19 is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and we look forward to a hearing soon.
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