Juneau -- The Legislature's attempt at implementing an education voucher system, through House Bill 5, was voted out of the House Health Education & Social Services Committee (HESS) and into the House Judiciary Committee. Tuesday's action by the HESS Committee was taken, following discussion about the constitutionality of the legislation, sponsored by Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla/Peters Creek).

HB 5 is now scheduled for a Judiciary hearing on Wednesday, March 3rd. If it's concluded by the committee that the bill does not pass constitutional muster, Kohring intends to proceed with his alternative plan, House Joint Resolution 6. HJR 6 would modify the state's constitution to clearly permit the use of state dollars to be spent for private and home schooling purposes, in the form of vouchers issued to parents.

"I'm determined to go as far with this process as I can," said Kohring. "This is a very important issue for me and many of my constituents, who want to improve educational opportunities through parental choice." Kohring noted that the focus of his legislation is two-fold: (1) to give parents the financial means to privately educate or home school their children, and (2) to create a competitive atmosphere in the education system between public and private schools. "If everyone has to compete for students, then the overall quality of education will improve," said Kohring.

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= Vic Kohring, 95 K