Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/05/2013 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB82 | |
| HB87 | |
| SB6 | |
| SB91 | |
| HB180 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | HB 87 | ||
SB 91-HAZING
8:44:36 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 91.
8:44:52 AM
SENATOR ANNA FAIRCLOUGH, sponsor of SB 91, related that the bill
raises the issue of hazing in Alaska. She noted in 2007 she
requested school districts and Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED) to provide numbers about bullying and
harassment in schools. She emphasized that the numbers are
large. She said she wished to see hazing defined as a crime and
as an option for kids to report to their teachers. She said
hazing creates physical and emotional harm.
She spoke of the connection between suicide and bullying and
hazing. She said the bill attempts to say hazing is wrong and
hurtful and people will be held accountable.
8:47:26 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked where the line is drawn between hazing
versus normal actions.
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH replied that initiations are ways people are
accepted into groups or teams. Hazing is an initiation gone
wrong.
She explained Section 1 of SB 91 outlines the definition of
hazing. She said you commit a crime if you "knowingly engage in
an act or it causes a situation that subjects a student to risk
of physical injury for the purposes of initiation into an
affiliation or organization operating in connection with an
elementary, junior high, secondary, or post-secondary school."
She said it does not apply to things in the military that makes
one a better team member. She added that people are "at risk"
when they experience emotional harm or degrading or
disrespectful behavior.
8:49:11 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said she wished to co-sponsor the bill. She also
addressed the difficulty of determining where the line should be
drawn. She noted that hazing might also take place within
athletic teams, clubs, and private leagues.
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH agreed and offered to work with the
committee, as well as with the Senate Judiciary Committee about
those concerns. She emphasized that hazing depends on whether a
student is willingly participating in an action. She noted the
need for regulations to be written to protect students from not
being labeled as criminals if their actions do not constitute
hazing.
8:51:08 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked for examples of hazing.
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH replied that public testimony will provide
examples. She recalled a personal experience.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), testified in support of SB 91. He said
the bill adds to a definition around work that the department
already does. He noted the department submitted a zero fiscal
note. He related that the department currently provides training
and e-modules to train staff on the issue of bullying. He said
information about hazing could be added.
8:53:22 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked if the department would provide training for
districts.
MR. MORSE said the department currently provides training tools
and assistance with policies.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the difference between bullying and
hazing.
MR. MORSE replied that hazing is a form of bullying. He opined
that the statute would provide a clear definition which would
assist the department with training materials.
8:55:25 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS agreed that hazing was a subset of bullying. He
wondered if educators really need additional training. He
questioned how bullying crimes could be expunged later on.
8:57:23 AM
MR. MORSE said there are rules for juveniles who have committed
criminal offenses. He said he could not speak to the issue.
SENATOR GARDNER also agreed that hazing is a subset of bullying.
She asked if hazing is generally a part of an initiation by a
team.
MR. MORSE replied that was a good way of characterizing it. He
stressed the importance of staff having the training to deal
with these issues. He said more important is how to train
students in what is right and wrong.
SENATOR HUGGINS suggested that hazing could happen on the school
bus or in other informal environments.
9:00:53 AM
GARY MATHEWS, Director, Alaska School Activities Association,
testified in support of SB 91. He addressed hazing issues
related to school activities, most of which are never exposed to
the public. He said hazing is a national problem.
He noted he was concerned at first about the definition of
hazing found on page 4. The terms "normal and customary" are not
clear. He suggested the first two lines of Section 4 provide
some clarification.
He opined that an educational campaign would be in order to
instruct students about the implications of hazing.
9:04:24 AM
RYAN ULSEP, Principal, Juneau Douglas High School, testified in
support of SB 91. He agreed that hazing is a national issue. He
applauded the sponsor and the committee for addressing the issue
of hazing because it will help schools stop it. He said Juneau's
policy specifically mentions hazing. He pointed out that hazing
is significantly underreported and difficult to enforce. He said
many initiation behaviors can be considered as hazing.
He concluded that SB 91 provides schools with additional support
to deal with hazing.
9:07:25 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked what Mr. Ulsep would do as a principal to
help students understand the definition and consequences of
hazing.
MR. ULSEP replied that the school needs to education students
about why hazing is wrong. He said any time a person is making
another person do something they do not want to do, it is
hazing. He stressed that the community must be educated, also.
SENATOR GARDNER agreed. She said it is difficult for one person
to go against a group's behavior. She recalled one of her
children's coaches who encouraged members of the team to choose
three things that they would give up for the entirety of the
season. This gave the team a support system and a chance to
practice "going against the grain."
MR. ULSEP agreed.
9:10:05 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS said he supports the ideas behind SB 91. He
asked Mr. Ulsep how long he has been a principal.
MR. ULSEP said he has been an administrator for eight years and
a teacher prior to that, as well as a football and track coach.
He pointed out that hazing is not done just by teams and is
often not reported.
SENATOR HUGGINS requested examples of hazing.
MR. ULSEP replied that paddling is an example of hazing.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if paddling is a crime.
MR. ULSEP specified that paddling by a group of students on one
kid is a crime and a form of bullying. He hoped SB 91 helps
schools send a message that hazing is wrong. He said any action
of a sexual nature is hazing, as well as forcing kids to shave
their heads if they don't want to have it done.
9:14:54 AM
NORM POLLARD, Dean of Students, Alfred University, Alfred, New
York, presented information related to SB 91. He spoke of his
experience as a counselor and a researcher of national studies
on hazing of NCAA athletes and high school students. He spoke of
his involvement in hazing prevention and working with victims of
hazing.
9:16:24 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked for comments about the differences in
thinking of today's generation versus yesterday's regarding
initiation and hazing.
MR. POLLARD noted the fundamental difference between bullying
and hazing is that bullying is where individuals are targeted to
be picked on and humiliated, whereas with hazing, the individual
wishes to join a group. When that person is subjected to hazing,
the issue is about power and control and ends up having tragic
consequences. He agreed it is difficult to draw the line between
what is and is not a crime. He said hazing is typically done in
private.
9:19:51 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said she visited Mr. Pollard's website,
hazingprevention.com., which provided guidelines to determine
what hazing is and is not. She called them good guidelines.
MR. POLLARD agreed. He noted previous testimony by Mr. Matthews
from Alaska School Activities Association and said that
organization is an excellent source for information related to
hazing, as is the national organization.
9:21:01 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about school jurisdiction as it relates to
hazing.
MR. POLLARD explained that hazing occurs outside of school and
athletics. He listed places it can occur. He said he hoped by
schools adopting some of these measures, students can be
educated about hazing, even when it takes place outside of the
school's authority.
9:23:20 AM
CHAIR STEVENS held SB 91 in committee.
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH thanked the committee for hearing the bill.
She gave an example of hazing in Southeast Alaska.
9:24:14 AM
CHAIR STEVENS said that public testimony would continue at a
later date.