Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106
04/15/2015 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB102 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 15, 2015
8:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Wes Keller, Chair
Representative Liz Vazquez, Vice Chair
Representative Paul Seaton
Representative David Talerico
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Jim Colver
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 102
"An Act providing for funding of educational services for
students in residential psychiatric treatment centers."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 102
SHORT TITLE: RESIDENTIAL PSYCH CTR; EDUC. STDRS/FUNDS
SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION
02/11/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/11/15 (H) EDC, FIN
03/20/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/20/15 (H) Heard & Held
03/20/15 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/08/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/08/15 (H) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 4/10/15>
04/10/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/10/15 (H) Heard & Held
04/10/15 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
04/13/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
04/13/15 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard
04/15/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
No witnesses to record
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:03:08 AM
CHAIR WES KELLER called the House Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. Representatives Seaton, Vazquez,
Talerico, and Keller were present at the call to order.
Representatives Drummond and Kreiss-Tomkins arrived as the
meeting was in progress.
HB 102-RESIDENTIAL PSYCH CTR; EDUC. STDRS/FUNDS
8:03:26 AM
CHAIR KELLER announced that the only order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 102, "An Act providing for funding of educational
services for students in residential psychiatric treatment
centers."
CHAIR KELLER advised that a meeting took place between the
residential psychiatric treatment facility (RPTC) and the
Anchorage School District wherein the department monitored the
meeting. The bottom line, he explained, is that the Anchorage
School District indicated it realizes the efforts necessary to
collaborate and communicate between RPTC and the Anchorage
School District, and somewhat with the legislature. He advised
that the committee will not proceed further this year with CSHB
102, and will set it aside. He then appointed a subcommittee to
include: Representative Vazquez as chair, and Representatives
Talerico and Drummond as members, and he will ask Commissioner
Mike Hanley to attend also. He asked that the subcommittee come
back with a broad recommendation to the committee as a whole,
and from his perspective it is ideal if it is locally driven.
In other words, he said, see that the students are
satisfactorily taken care of in all of the school districts. He
advised that the bill is also in the Senate, and communication
or solicitation of the Senate's help would be appropriate.
8:06:37 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked the progress of the bill on the
Senate side and asked whether it had been heard in the Senate
Education Standing Committee.
CHAIR KELLER responded that he does not know the answer as he
has been occupied with the House of Representatives.
REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked the bill number on the Senate side.
CHAIR KELLER answered that it has not yet been heard in the
Senate, and he does not know the bill number.
CHAIR KELLER stated there are people waiting online to answer
questions but he is not taking testimony on the bill unless it
becomes clear something had been missed.
8:07:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to North Star Behavioral Health
System's response, dated 4/13/15, and said he appreciates it and
its acceptance of the proposal for an amendment for an Alaska
teaching certificate. He referred to question number 3, of the
letter, and advised it has not been resolved. He pointed out
that the amount of money for each student is at question, and
asked why that may be effected by the child's home district in
that despite where the student originates, it would still
require a set amount for educational purposes at the RPTC. He
related that the educational costs for the student are not
seemingly tied to the physical characteristics of the school the
student originated.
8:10:22 AM
CHAIR KELLER added that the committee does not want to get into
a long debate as it will be calling up testimony, but the
primary issue being struggled with is the premise, and an
important element for these students, is to work with their home
district upon return. He said even though the students are
enrolled in the Anchorage School District, there is an eye in
keeping the students connected. He pointed out that the more
rural the situation, the more unique the challenge for
coordinating each child's IEP follow-through. He related that
he appreciates Representative Seaton's question and the
subcommittee will deal with it.
8:11:44 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:11 a.m. to 8:13 a.m.
8:13:50 AM
CHAIR KELLER (technical difficulties) noted that there has been
growing interest (technical difficulties) that the committee
must be looking at and evaluating whether or not the (technical
difficulties) are legitimate and whether there is a better means
to define (technical difficulties). He said the subcommittee
could also consider this component and offer the committee as a
whole guidance on the appropriateness of redefining these
boundaries. In the event Representative Drummond is unable to
attend the subcommittee, he appointed Representative Kreiss-
Tomkins, and asked for a response.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND recalled an observation by the previous
governor regarding the Prince of Wales Island being served by
four or five school districts with 1,000 students on the entire
island. She opined that to have four separate school districts
and four separate administrations did not make sense. She
pondered that this subject may be a suitable for the committee
as a whole to study.
CHAIR KELLER said the subcommittee has the option and access to
drafters to come up with ideas and recommendations and agreed it
will be a subject for the committee as a whole and he will not
hurry it, although, working on the issue leading into it would
be helpful.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND advised she is interested in serving on
the subcommittee.
CHAIR KELLER appointed Representative Kreiss-Tomkins as an
alternate on the subcommittee.
8:17:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether the subcommittee would
require just committee work or would travel would be involved in
that she was uncertain how the subcommittee could judge the
effectiveness of the school districts' boundaries without an
idea of what that involves.
CHAIR KELLER indicated that it is currently undetermined, but in
the event there is a need for travel, he will present it to the
leadership.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND recalled, as a school board member, of
previous boundary changes in middle schools and high schools
within the Anchorage School District that required several years
of contentious intense work to make the changes. She related
that change is always difficult.
CHAIR KELLER remarked that the subcommittee will address the
topic and consider the need and possibilities.
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND acknowledged that new schools are
subject to similar issues.
CHAIR KELLER recapped that he is asking the subcommittee to work
on possibilities for consolidation or altering school district
boundaries and to offer the committee its recommendations.
[The House Education Standing Committee treated CSHB 102 as held
in committee.]
8:20:19 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:20 a.m.
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