Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
04/02/2012 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Mat-su Borough School District | |
| SB170 | |
| HB352 | |
| HB369 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 369 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 170 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 352 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 369-STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS
9:47:33 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 369, "An Act relating to student participation in
sports."
9:47:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAN SADDLER, Alaska State Legislature, presented
HB 369, paraphrasing from a prepared statement, which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
There is significant research showing that students
who play high school sports simply do better: they're
healthier, they get better grades, they attend and
graduate at higher rates, they learn important life
lessons … the benefits go on and on.
So it's important to encourage all Alaska high-school
students to play sports, and to do so safely, whether
they're enrolled in traditional public schools, or in
the increasing range of innovative, alternative
educational programs, including home schools.
HB 369 has two main goals. The first, in Section 1,
is to strengthen provisions in last year's legislation
to protect student athletes against concussions. The
second, in section 2, is to clarify how students can
participate in high school athletics, if not enrolled
in a public school.
First, section one. HB 15, passed last year, requires
high school athletes who might have gotten a
concussion to be examined by a qualified medical
person, and declared "OK to play," before they could
rejoin the game. The model bill language underlying
this law required that provider had to be "certified"
to approve a student's return to the game. As Alaska
has no provisions for such certification, this
language is unnecessary, and HB 369 deletes from the
law.
9:49:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER continued to read from a prepared
statement, which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The bill also expands the laws anti-concussion
protections from covering not just games, but also
practices, which can be just as vigorous as games.
Second, section 2. Many Alaska families chose to
teach their children at home, or in other alternative
schools. (I have been quite impressed by the
dedication of parents, and the quality of education
they provide their children.) But different districts
have different rules on how such students can play in
sports at their local high school. And there can be
confusion within a district.
The issue came to a head in my district last year,
when a school employee mistakenly -- and negligently -
- cleared a home-schooled student to play on the
Chugiak High football team. When the error was
discovered, the team had to forfeit three games, and
their chance to compete in state championship
playoffs.
The team members showed a lot of class in accepting
this injustice, and then going on to win their last
several games of the season. But this unfortunate
episode pointed out the need for section 2:
Section 2 provides that a student enrolled in an
alternative education program, who is otherwise
eligible to play in his or her local high school, can
do so:
It respects local school districts by ensuring such
students meet district eligibility rules.
It requires students to document their eligibility:
by providing transcripts, proof of enrollment, proof
of medical fitness, and disciplinary records.
It prevents students from "team-shopping: They can
only play for the school they otherwise would have
attended, and they are barred from switching schools
within a year.
In conclusion: HB 369 is a good bill that will help
more young Alaskans enjoy the benefits of high school
athletics, and it helps make it safer for them to do
so.
9:51:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRUITT related some concern was previously
expressed about the documents required. He asked whether the
requirements would be a barrier.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER stated that currently student athletes
must verify their eligibility requirements - public and home
schooled students - and this bill would require parents and
students to present to the school complete records that would
impinge on the student's eligibility. He acknowledged that
although it may take some time, it is necessary to verify the
student's eligibility. He did not think it would be difficult
to administer at the school level.
9:52:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the eligibility section, and
asked what would occur when a student left the public school to
be home schooled if the reason for the departure was that his or
her grades were insufficient to participate in sports. He
related his understanding that there isn't any requirement for
home schooled students to show scores on an intermediate basis
until the high school graduation qualifying exam (HSGQE) in
grade 12. He asked whether this bill would provide a loophole
for those students.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER related his understanding that his
concern is that someone attending a public school without
sufficient grades would withdraw and enroll in sports at a
public school.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON agreed. He suggested that a home schooled
student would not be required to meet the same qualifications
for participation in the interscholastic activities.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reviewed the requirements. He stated
that the bill would require students to provide their academic
transcripts, which would indicate a withdraw notice and would
also show either a pass or fail for classes. He referred to
page 2, line 30, which would require a student so enrolled to be
on track to graduate. He was uncertain as to the documentation.
He further explained that the student must take five credits a
year as a freshman, sophomore or junior and at least four
credits as a senior. Seniors must also take the exit exam, but
he could not elaborate on how the student would document his or
her progress from week-to-week or month-to-month in order to
participate in interscholastic athletics.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to have further information on home
schooled student requirements and eligibility status.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER answered one parent will testify who is
familiar with the requirements.
9:55:15 AM
CHAIR DICK stated support for homeschool participation and
pointed out how these programs save state dollars. He asked
whether any additional costs would be incurred by the school
district for any homeschooled or alternative school students'
participation.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reviewed the costs that would be
involved. He offered that the Anchorage School District
requires students participating in sports to pay a student
activity fee to cover the costs. He pointed out that the
uniforms, footballs, locker room, and field are provided - and
have already been funded. He reported activity fees of $195 for
gymnastics, swimming, and diving; activity fees of $185 for flag
football, volleyball, and cross country; and activity fees of
$175 for tennis, cross country and other sports. He agreed
students must pay fees to participate and home schooled students
would be required to pay the fees.
9:57:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI referred to Section 2, of HB 369, and
asked whether a student who lives outside of an area could
participate in sports not offered by his or her school. He
elaborated that one reason to do so is that perhaps the
student's school doesn't offer hockey. He asked whether the
student would be eligible to play.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referred to page 2, line 23, which would
limit this to a student's home attendance area. He suggested it
might be possible to get a zone exemption. He stated that if
the local school didn't offer hockey the student would not be
able to play.
9:59:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON recalled the changes in the Alaska School
Activities Association's (ASAA) rules, and asked whether the
description in the bill includes the current ASAA regulations.
He pointed out that the ASAA regulations have been changed
within the last two years to allow participation in team sports
not offered in the student's primary school. He said he wanted
to avoid an unintended consequence of the bill having a more
restrictive rule than allowed by the ASAA.
10:00:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER referred to language on page 2, line 4,
and said proposed Section 2 would address his issue. Proposed
AS 14.30.365 (a), read, as follows:
A student who is enrolled full time in an alternative
education program that is located entirely in the
state and that does not offer interscholastic sports
is eligible to participate in any interscholastic
sports program available in the public school that the
student would be eligible, ....
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted the qualifier is that the
alternative education program does not offer the sport. He
deferred to ASAG to more fully address the question.
10:01:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to page 2, lines 15-17 of HB 369.
He asked whether paragraph (3) would limit participation if a
student participates in basketball at one school, but hockey is
offered at a different school. He asked whether the student
would be able to participate in hockey.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER deferred to the experts to answer.
10:02:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON referred to Section 1, and expressed
her concern for the removal of the word "certified." She said
it would be important to have verification that the person
making an assessment on an injury has training to assess a
student's health status after a possible concussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER responded that "qualified person" does
mean a health care provider who is licensed in the state. He
indicated that "certified" was removed since Alaska does not
have a certifying body in the state.
[HB 369 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 369 Version A 040212.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| HB 369 Version A Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| HB 369 Support Information Case for High School activities.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| HB 369 Version A Sectional Summary.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| HB 369 Version A Laws in other states.docx |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| HB 369 Version A Fiscal Note EED-TLS-3-30-12.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 369 |
| CS HB 352 Version M 033012.pdf |
HEDC 4/2/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 352 |