Juneau -- The Alaska Senate Tuesday passed House Bill 445, sponsored by the House Finance Committee.

HB 445 authorizes a pilot program designed to implement design efficiency, firm price proposals, and prompt, timely completion of school construction projects in rural Alaska. The bill also addresses the need for developing a meaningful maintenance plan for new facilities and training for maintenance workers. The school construction and planned maintenance pilot program will be established and implemented by the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).

"HB 445 calls for collaboration between community and local school districts, DEED priorities, and State of Alaska public financing methodologies with private sector development techniques," said Representative Eldon Mulder (R-Anchorage), Co-Chair of the House Finance Committee. "This collaboration should enable the State to meet community needs more quickly, inexpensively, and reliably."

HB 445 is designed to assist the DEED in obtaining the best value for the State in terms of containment of cost overruns and a guarantee of a firm fixed price, firm fixed delivery schedules with developer guarantees, local hire programs, post-construction maintenance plans, and utilization of existing planning and design elements.

"The intent of HB 445 is, and always has been, to provide Alaskans with the best value for every dollar the State spends," Mulder said. "HB 445 has received broad support from the construction industry, labor, and design and engineering entities."

HB 445 passed the Senate 11-8. Notice of reconsideration was filed.

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