Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/27/2009 01:15 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB133 | |
| SB101 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 27 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 133 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 101 | ||
SB 101-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
1:44:34 PM
CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 101.
TOM OBERMEYER, staff to Senator Davis, said SB 101 is the "Act
relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in the
public schools." This bill addresses specifically the Youth Risk
Behavior Survey (YRBS) that is administered in schools
throughout the state and the nation. Alaska is one of three or
four states that require active consent, which means that
schools have to send notice of the test to parents and obtain
signed permission from them to administer the survey. The change
in this bill is simply from active to passive consent so the
survey can be administered without [written] parental consent
two or more weeks after the required notification has been sent
to parents. Parents are given the opportunity to review the
survey if they wish; if they decide not to allow their children
to take the survey, they must complete a denial of permission
form in writing and provide it to the teacher or principal.
Another safeguard is included in this bill for students sitting
for the survey who find that they do not want to answer some or
all of the questions. Section 3, page 2 allows students to
refuse to answer specific questions or it refuse to participate
in the survey at the time it is given.
The purpose of this is to ensure that the state has adequate
information for the Health and Social Services and the school
districts about matters related to the significant causes of
mortality and morbidity during youth and adulthood in Alaska.
The survey includes questions about such things as tobacco,
alcohol, drug abuse, sexual behavior, diet and nutrition, and
exercise.
CHAIR DAVIS asked Mr. Obermeyer to explain why this change to
passive permission is important.
1:47:36 PM
MR. OBERMEYER explained that the state must have 60 percent
participation by students in the YRBS for the data to be
validated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alaska has failed to achieve that participation level in 3 out
of the last four surveys administered in the past 10 years. The
primary reason appears to be fact that Alaska requires active
parental consent. In the interests of the health and education
of youth in this state, the sponsors decided this change was
necessary and would still provide sufficient opportunity for
parents and/or students to opt out of the survey.
CHAIR DAVIS noted that this bill has been supported by almost
all of the non-profit organizations that use this data as well
as by the school districts; it was heard and passed out of the
Education Committee and Senator Davis said she is ready to move
it out of this committee as well.
1:49:38 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 101 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, it was so moved.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|