2007 Legislative Priorities

ADOPT LEG #07-08, which AMENDS LEG #78-18 to Priority 1

78-18: Rural Teacher Housing:  NEA-Alaska shall seek legislation to ensure that school districts are ultimately responsible for adequate housing for rural teachers which is:

a)      at least comparable to site administrative housing.

b)      maintained to ensure a healthy, safe and secure living environment.

c)      leased at costs not to exceed site administration housing.

d)      part of existing school utility systems when and where possible

e)      adequately and realistically portrayed to potential new teachers, and

f)        provided equitably in a non-discriminatory manner to all teachers who own a residence within the community.

In addition the legislation shall provide adequate funding for new construction, upgrading and maintenance and shall ensure that the money generated from rent shall be put back into a teacher housing improvement fund.  (Amended by 8-57, 80-87, 82-21, 22, 21, 85-41, 86-12, 89-107, 90-71, 91-97, 97-52, 98-CA, 99-CA, 00-CA, 01-78, 02-103, 05-11, 06-66
and 07-08)

(1989/1991/2000/2001/2002/2005/2006/2007 Legislative Priority) Priority 1

ADOPT LEG #07-40, which AMENDS LEG #06-68 to Priority 1

06-68: Retirement System to Attract and Retain Quality Public Employees:  NEA-Alaska, in the interest of attracting and retaining quality public employees, will direct its resources to guide the public and lobby the legislature to maintain a defined benefit retirement system. (Amended by 07-40) (2007 Legislative Priority) Priority 1

ADOPT LEG #07-28 as a Legislative Priority 1

07-28: Guaranteed Base Student Allocation:  NEA-Alaska shall seek legislation setting the Base Student Allocation (BSA) at no less than $5953 per student with automatic inflation-proofing of that amount for at least two years’ appropriations, guaranteeing districts at least that amount with which to plan budgets and programs. (2007 Legislative Priority)

Priority 1

ADOPT LEG #07-25 as a Legislative Priority 1

07-25: Opposition to the April 3, 2007 Advisory Vote: NEA-Alaska shall actively oppose the April 3, 2007 Alaska advisory vote that would direct the Legislature to put forward a constitutional amendment that would add discriminatory language to Alaska Constitution.

NEA-Alaska’s efforts will include working with other Alaskan groups, e.g., Alaskans Together and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), to help defeat the advisory vote and to inform Alaskan voters on the many positive aspects of treating all public employees equally.

Further, NEA-Alaska shall lobby to retrain existing state regulations that require equal benefits for public employees, and to achieve equal treatment for all public employees.

And further, NEA-Alaska will immediately lobby the Legislature to refuse to fund the governor’s request for $1.2 million to fund the April 2007 advisory vote. (2007 Legislative Priority) Priority 1