Protecting Your Rights: Serving West Anchorage

June 21, 2023

Budget Update

The largest veto by the governor to the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget reduced funding for public education by over $87 million. This halves the historic $175 million increase in education funding passed by the legislature in response to calls for greater support from our schools and families across Alaska.

Below is a summary of the governor's vetoes:

Education

• Education Funding defunded — $87,443,000
• School Major Maintenance Grant Fund defunded — $10,433,500
• Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program eliminated — $5,000,000
• Head Start Program defunded — $3,500,000
• University of Alaska capital projects in Anchorage, Fairbanks & Southeast defunded — $35,000,000

Public Safety

• Recidivism Reduction Grants for Reentry Housing defunded — $750,000
• State of Alaska Police Policy Manual Project as requested by the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police eliminated — $550,000
• Alaska Fire Standards Council defunded — $250,000

Public Health

• Home and Place-Based Childcare Incentives eliminated — $250,000
• Crisis Now Continuum of Care Grants eliminated — $167,000

Statewide Services

• Rural Public Radio Broadcast Funding eliminated — $1,000,000
• Alaska Marine Highway System backstop funding defunded — $10,000,000
• Alaska State Parks Management of Chugach State Park defunded — $336,000
• Alaska Legal Services defunded — $140,000
• Administrative Services Agency Recruitment Challenges Funding defunded — $375,000
• Developing Alaska's Workforce Programs defunded — $1,275,000

Click here to see a full list of vetoes

Click here for all other budget documents

For our full breakdown of the FY24 budget, as passed by the legislature, read our budget newsletter here.

Legislation Highlight: Senate Bill 57

This session, the legislature passed SB 57, legislation which will expand adult home care services. Specifically, SB 57 allows licensing and insuring for assisted living services for elderly adults and adult foster children in a home-like environment. This change is a step forward to ensure that Alaskans can receive the care they need in the environment that they prefer.

Community Information

→ Public Comment Period: State Board of Education & Early Development proposed regulation changes

The State Board of Education and Early Development has proposed regulation changes dealing with school district interscholastic activities. The proposed change to Alaska Administrative Code is:

"4 AAC 06.115(b)(5) is proposed to be changed as follows: to require nonprofit associations that administer and promote interscholastic activities in Alaska to ensure fairness, safety, and equal opportunity for female students in high school athletics by limiting participation in separate high school athletics teams for female students in competitive or contact sports to females who were assigned female at birth."

I do not support regulatory changes that hurt or target members of our community unjustly, nor do I support legislation that infringes on rights protected by the Alaska Constitution. We recognize the personal importance of this issue for many families in our community and will stay involved and informed moving forward.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

When: June 21 - July 21 at 4:30pm

Submit comments:

• via phone at (907) 465-2806;
• via email at deed.commissioner@alaska.gov;
• via DEED's online page;
• via mail to the Commissioner’s Office, Department of Education and Early Development, Attn: Regulations Review, PO Box 110500, Juneau, Alaska 99811-0500.

PROPOSED ACTION HEARING

When: 8:45am - 9:45am, July 26

Where: via Zoom, click here to access the meeting or call (253) 215-8782 and dial *9.

→ SNAP Market Match

This summer, the below participating markets are matching SNAP customer dollars to double the dollars customers using SNAP can spend. For more information about the program, including how to use SNAP benefits at participating markets, click here.

Community Events

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

Live After Five Summer Concert Series

Hosted by Anchorage Downtown Partnership in collaboration with Alaska Airlines and Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse, celebrate your Thursdays this summer with music, a beer garden, food, and the chance to win one free round-trip ticket on Alaska Airlines. View the Facebook event for more details.

When: Thursdays starting at 5:30 PM

Where: Town Square Park, 544 W 5th Avenue

ANC Market Social

Anchorage Downtown Partnership is hosting a weekly outdoor market and street fair this summer. Expect live music, local vendor booths, a beer garden and more. View the Facebook event for more details.

When: Sundays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM until September 3

Where: E Street between 5th and 6th Avenue

Sen. Matt Claman

CONTACT INFORMATION

(907) 465-4919

Sen.Matt.Claman@akleg.gov

State Capitol Bldg. Rm 429

Juneau, Alaska 99801

https://www.alaskasenate.org/matt-claman/