Legislature(1993 - 1994)
03/31/1994 03:00 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
March 31, 1994
3:00 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Rep. Cynthia Toohey, Co-Chair
Rep. Con Bunde, Co-Chair
Rep. Gary Davis, Vice Chair
Rep. Al Vezey
Rep. Pete Kott
Rep. Harley Olberg
Rep. Bettye Davis
Rep. Irene Nicholia
Rep. Tom Brice
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Rep. Terry Martin
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HB 210: "An Act relating to employment of chief school
administrators."
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
SB 225: "An Act relating to credits against certain
insurance taxes for contributions to certain
educational institutions; and providing for an
effective date."
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
HB 354: "An Act relating to identification required upon
enrollment in a public school."
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE
WITNESS REGISTER
DON RENFROE, Superintendent
Dillingham City School District
P.O. Box 170
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Phone: (907) 842-5223
Position Statement: Testified in opposition to HB 210
(spoke via teleconference)
STEPHEN T. McPHETRES, Executive Director
Alaska Council of School Administrators
326 Fourth St., Ste. 404
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1101
Phone: (907) 586-9702
Position Statement: Testified in opposition to HB 210
CAROL CARROL, Legislative Aide
Sen. Jay Kerttula
Alaska State Legislature
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: (907) 465-6600
Position Statement: Testified in support of SB 225
AL ALVAREZ, Vice-President
University Relations
Alaska Pacific University
4101 University Dr.
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
Phone: (907) 564-8347
Position Statement: Testified in support of SB 225
SHEILA PETERSON, Special Assistant to
Commissioner Covey
Department of Education
801 10th St., Ste. 200
Juneau, Alaska 99801
Phone: (907) 586-1083
Position Statement: Testified in support of HB 354
LIEUTENANT DENNIS CASANOVAS, Commander
Statewide Criminal Investigation Unit
5700 E. Tudor Rd.
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
Phone: (907) 269-5757
Position Statement: Testified in support of HB 354
(spoke via offnet)
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: HB 210
SHORT TITLE: HIRING OF CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) MARTIN,Kott
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
03/10/93 590 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/10/93 590 (H) HES, FINANCE
03/12/93 629 (H) COSPONSOR(S): KOTT
03/22/93 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/22/93 (H) MINUTE(HES)
03/22/93 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/01/93 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/01/93 (H) MINUTE(HES)
04/02/93 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
04/02/93 (H) MINUTE(HES)
03/30/94 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: SB 225
SHORT TITLE: INSURANCE TAX CREDIT:GIFTS TO COLLEGES
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) KERTTULA,Halford,Phillips,Taylor,
Salo,Sharp,Pearce,Duncan,Zharoff,Frank
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/03/94 2452 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/3/94
01/10/94 2452 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/10/94 2452 (S) HES, JUD, FIN
01/31/94 (S) HES AT 01:30 PM BUTROVICH
ROOM 205
02/02/94 (S) HES AT 01:30 PM BUTROVICH
ROOM 205
02/02/94 (S) MINUTE(HES)
02/04/94 2697 (S) HES RPT CS 2DP 3NR
SAME TITLE
02/04/94 2698 (S) FISCAL NOTE TO SB & CS
PUBLISHED (DCED)
02/04/94 2698 (S) ZERO FN TO SB & CS PUBLISHED
(REV)
02/04/94 (S) HES AT 01:30 PM BUTROVICH
ROOM 205
02/04/94 (S) MINUTE(HES)
02/23/94 (S) JUD AT 01:30 PM BELTZ RM 211
02/28/94 2989 (S) JUD RPT 2DP 2NR (HES)CS
02/28/94 2989 (S) PREVIOUS FN (DCED)
02/28/94 2989 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FN (REV)
03/12/94 (S) FIN AT 10:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
ROOM 518
03/14/94 3183 (S) FIN RPT 5DP 2NR (HES)CS SAME
TITLE
03/14/94 3184 (S) PREVIOUS FN (DCED)
03/14/94 3184 (S) PREVIOUS ZERO FN (REV)
03/14/94 (S) RLS AT 00:00 AM FAHRENKAMP
ROOM 203
03/14/94 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
03/15/94 3213 (S) RULES RPT 4CAL 1NR 3/15/94
03/15/94 3214 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
03/15/94 3214 (S) HES CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
03/15/94 3214 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
03/15/94 3214 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME
CSSB 225(HES)
03/15/94 3214 (S) COSPONSOR(S):HALFORD,PHILLIPS,
03/15/94 3214 (S) TAYLOR, SALO, SHARP, PEARCE,
DUNCAN,
03/15/94 3214 (S) ZHAROFF, FRANK
03/15/94 3215 (S) PASSED Y15 N3 E1 A1
03/15/94 3215 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE SAME AS PASSAGE
03/15/94 3215 (S) Kelly NOTICE OF RECONSID-
ERATION
03/16/94 3247 (S) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD
READING
03/16/94 3247 (S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y16
N2 E1 A1
03/16/94 3247 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE SAME AS PASSAGE
03/16/94 3251 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
03/18/94 2861 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
03/18/94 2861 (H) HES, FINANCE
03/31/94 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HB 354
SHORT TITLE: I.D. REQUIRED TO ENROLL CHILD IN SCHOOL
SPONSOR(S): HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
JRN-DATE JRN-PG ACTION
01/10/94 2020 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME/REFERRAL(S)
01/10/94 2020 (H) HES, JUDICIARY
03/07/94 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
03/07/94 (H) MINUTE(HES)
03/30/94 (H) HES AT 03:00 PM CAPITOL 106
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 94-63, SIDE A
Number 000
CHAIR BUNDE called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m., noted
members present and announced the calendar. He brought HB
210 to the table.
HB 210 - HIRING OF CHIEF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
CHAIR BUNDE indicated that if it was the desire of the
committee, he would like to move HB 210 out of committee
that day. He asked REP. TERRY MARTIN to address the bill.
Number 045
REP. TERRY MARTIN, Prime Sponsor of HB 210, stated that the
intent of the bill would repeal a law that demands that each
school district will have a superintendent. He felt that
the smaller independent school districts are straddled with
an unnecessary administrative burden. He said the bill
would give these districts the opportunity to combine three
or four school districts together with only one
superintendent. He asserted the legislation would be a
tremendous cost saving measure and conveyed a situation
where a superintendent's salary was reduced by $22,000 as he
only had 192 students and was earning $85,000 annually.
Number 099
REP. TOOHEY asked if that superintendent was also teaching.
REP. MARTIN said no. He further indicated that
superintendents receive many other benefits; i.e., up to
$750,000 in life insurance coverage, housing allowances or
free housing, and car allowance ranging up to $900 per
month. He indicated that the added benefits directly take
away from the average daily membership (ADM).
Number 133
REP. G. DAVIS asked Rep. Martin to expound further on the
insurance as to what it relates to.
REP. MARTIN explained that contracts vary for the
superintendents, and they can negotiate for what they want.
Packages of insurance can range anywhere from $50,000 to
$750,000.
REP. G. DAVIS asked if he was speaking of life insurance.
REP. MARTIN replied yes and said they also have health
benefits and annuities.
REP. G. DAVIS referred to the car allowance and observed
that each school district has the right to negotiate each
contract differently.
REP. MARTIN indicated that some salaries as high as $91,000
do not include the car allowance which can be as much as
$800. He said housing expenses can total $6000 per year.
He asserted that the money would be better spent in the
classroom.
CHAIR BUNDE directed the committee's attention to an
amendment submitted by Rep. Martin which would increase the
size of a district from 500 to 1000.
REP. MARTIN stated that the amendment would help to
facilitate the combining of school districts. The Prince of
Whales Island has three school districts with slightly over
1000 students total. He said there should be one
superintendent with staff instead of three superintendents,
each with their own staff.
CHAIR BUNDE said he supported combining school districts.
He made a motion to adopt Amendment 1 for discussion
purposes. He then asked Rep. Martin to explain specific
savings regarding the increase from 500 to 1000 students.
Number 247
REP. MARTIN explained that he raised the number because
there are 17 school districts in Southeast alone. He
asserted that at least five or six of those districts could
combine into three. He indicated that Yukon Koyukuk and
Nenana want to combine districts, and they have over 1200
students.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the figure could be left at 500 and
still leave the option of combining.
REP. MARTIN said 1000 was recommended and said he was being
ultra-conservative. He asserted that at 1000 it would be
more likely that districts will join together.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the figure was left at 500 could the
districts still combine.
REP. MARTIN said, "Then they'd have to."
CHAIR BUNDE said, "Well, they don't have to, if it said they
may if they have five hundred or more."
REP. MARTIN explained in that case they would combine all
four of the school districts.
Number 324
REP. KOTT clarified that the amendment was dated 4/1/93.
CHAIR BUNDE concurred.
REP. VEZEY said he did not understand the last sentence of
the amendment.
REP. MARTIN clarified that a school district may combine
with another school district and have one chief executive
officer. They can combine their efforts to meet the
guidelines for at least one chief administrator per 1000
students.
REP. VEZEY said he was still confused.
CHAIR BUNDE explained that if a district does not have 1000
ADM, they may employ a school administrator if the district
shares with another district that also does not meet the
minimum. The average combined daily membership would then
meet the ADM as required by the amendment.
REP. VEZEY said that is not what the amendment says.
CHAIR BUNDE asked Rep. Vezey's interpretation of the
language is.
Number 397
REP. VEZEY offered that a district that doesn't meet the
requirements can share an administrator with another
district if the district meets the requirements.
CHAIR BUNDE said, "If the combined average daily membership
of the districts meet the 1000 requirement, two districts of
500 could go together or three districts of 350."
REP. VEZEY said he understood.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if there were any objections to Amendment
1.
REP. G. DAVIS objected.
CHAIR BUNDE asked Rep. G. Davis to speak to his objection.
REP. G. DAVIS explained that there are many problems that
school boards and school districts across the state are
trying to manage. He felt that the legislation was
micromanagement. He said he would not consider any
amendments to the original bill until he heard further
testimony.
Number 470
CHAIR BUNDE called for the vote. Reps. Bunde, Kott, and
Olberg voted Yea and Reps. Toohey and G. Davis voted Nay.
The amendment was not adopted.
REP. TOOHEY said she would have like to have held the vote
until further testimony could be heard.
CHAIR BUNDE asserted that he did not want to hear testimony
first and then change the bill. He indicated that HB 210 as
amended was before the committee. He asked for
teleconference testimony.
Number 498
DON RENFROE, Superintendent, Dillingham City School
District, testified via teleconference in opposition to HB
210. He stated the bill shouldn't even be before the
committee.
REP. MARTIN asked which committee should address the
legislation.
MR. RENFROE asserted that the proposal should be a local
decision, not the legislature's. He indicated that
currently districts have the option of combining or
combining other services. He felt that a district should
not be forced to make the decision. He felt it would be
very difficult for a superintendent to serve on two
different school boards with two different educational
plans. He further indicated that in small districts
superintendents generally do not have staff. He explained
that there generally is a superintendent, a secretary, an
accountant, and perhaps a principle that serves more than
one school. Mr. Renfroe asserted that superintendents wear
many hats and they are curriculum directors, personnel
directors, public relations directors, and contract
negotiators.
Number 609
CHAIR BUNDE asked if Mr. Renfroe was a superintendent.
MR. RENFROE identified himself as being the superintendent
for the Dillingham City School District. He further
indicated that the Anchorage School Board chose to hire 62
nurses. He said the salaries of those nurses would pay for
all superintendents' salaries in districts with 1000 or less
ADM in the state. He said he does not fault the Anchorage
School District for hiring those nurses and said Dillingham
would hire a nurse if they could. He said the smaller
districts should be able to hire a chief executive officer
if they so choose.
CHAIR BUNDE asserted that it is appropriate that HB 210 or
any legislation that concerns education and state financing
should come before the House HESS Committee.
Number 665
REP. VEZEY asked Mr. Renfroe if he was opposed to the bill
because it prohibits a district from hiring a superintendent
or would he support it if it removed the requirement that a
school district must hire a superintendent. He then
indicated that current law requires a school district to
hire a superintendent and the proposal would prohibit small
districts from doing so. He said it could be optional.
MR. RENFROE said he does not think a school district can
operate without a superintendent or a chief executive
officer under the present laws of the state. He felt
districts should have the option of sharing a superintendent
if they so choose. He asserted that a school board cannot
administer to a district. There must be someone to carry
out policy.
Number 714
REP. MARTIN indicated that Mr. Renfroe has half the amount
of children in the Dillingham City School District than he
does in Mountain View Elementary School, just one of eight
elementary schools in his area. He asserted that Mountain
View Elementary would not want a superintendent for their
school but would want more teachers. He suggested that
local school districts can choose to combine with another
nearby district and use the excess money for instruction.
He then indicated that the administrative payroll for the
Dillingham City School District is $464,000.
MR. RENFROE said until someone defines how that figure is
arrived at, he was unsure how it could be used as a
comparison. He asserted that his central office consists of
himself and his secretary. He said he reported principles
in his report and asserted that most school districts did
not.
CHAIR BUNDE asked Mr. McPhetres to testify.
Number 773
STEPHEN T. MCPHETRES, Executive Director, Alaska Council of
School Administrators, testified in Juneau in opposition to
HB 210. He stated that the proposed legislation does not
reflect any cost savings for the state. He indicated that
in current statute 14.14.130(d) it does not prohibit two or
more school districts from sharing services of a chief
school administrator. He felt there was no reason to change
current law. He further indicated that local school board
members are elected officials who are empowered to carry out
policy and the operations of the districts. He felt part of
their responsibility was to hire a chief school
administrator and to negotiate a reasonable salary and
benefits just as they do with teachers and their salaries
and benefits.
MR. McPHETRES reiterated that superintendents wear many
hats. He stated that current statute already allows for
what is being proposed in HB 210. He said the school boards
should have the responsibility as elected officials to carry
out their role in the operation of school districts. He
felt the legislation was unnecessary.
Number 836
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the state would be saved the cost of
one superintendents' salary if for example Dillingham City
School District combined with Lake and Peninsula School
District.
MR. McPHETRES asserted that the state would not incur any
savings as the money would still go to the district. The
school board would then decide how to spend the money.
CHAIR BUNDE observed that funding education in Alaska is a
challenge and asserted that it costs more to educate a first
grader in the Lake and Peninsula School District than it
does to send a student to Harvard University. He suggested
that if administrative overhead could be reduced, perhaps
the foundation formula could be changed. He argued that
taxpayers and educators are tired of spending exorbitant
amounts of money in the Bush.
MR. McPHETRES referred to statements made by Rep. G. Davis
and said that the state has to "look at the big picture."
Number 879
REP. TOOHEY said that changing the make-up of the school
district was not going to change the amount of funding. She
maintained that it is up to the school district to either
hire or fire a superintendent and according to current
statute they can do that.
REP. MARTIN said it was his intention that a school district
not be straddled with the mandate that requires that a
superintendent be hired.
Number 900
REP. TOOHEY asked if, under current statute, a chief school
administrator has to be hired.
MR. McPHETRES said yes.
REP. TOOHEY asked if the superintendent could also be a
teacher.
MR. McPHETRES said yes.
REP. MARTIN reiterated that the district is burdened with
having to have a superintendent of schools. He explained
that Aleutians East Borough Schools finally combined with
Aleutian Region Schools. He said together the school board
has more flexibility as to how they're going to spend the
money.
Number 944
MR. McPHETRES said that flexibility is available to all
school districts at this time.
REP. MARTIN asserted that currently that flexibility is very
limited.
REP. G. DAVIS explained that one way to satisfy the concerns
of the general public and legislators is to reduce the wages
of the chief administrative officer. He said what needs to
be addressed is what percentage of cost goes to
administration. He felt that changing the name to chief
school administrator would accomplish nothing. He asserted
that the districts already have the option to combine
districts and who to hire and what duties will be fulfilled.
He reiterated that the legislation is micromanagement. He
felt that if the state reduces the foundation formula,
school districts will find ways to make cuts, and it will be
the responsibility of the school board to either lay off
teachers or reduce administrative costs. He argued that the
state will continue to reduce ADM until districts and school
boards become more responsible.
CHAIR BUNDE said, "I would like to observe that if we take
the hypothetical case that I had mentioned, and we saved
$300,000 in administrative costs, they buy that much more in
teachers, and then we find that we have a teacher pupil
ratio of five or six to one. Then we find it much easier to
change the ADM or the basic formula and say, `Wait a minute,
you have way more teaching staff than any other part of the
state. It's time that you become more economical.' At this
point, it is very difficult to ask them to be more
economical."
REP. MARTIN maintained that the proposal would give local
districts more freedom. He reminded the committee that
every year single site school districts fight for more and
more money. He said the bill directly relates to those
areas, which he feels receive more than enough money for
ADM. He reiterated that administrative costs need to be
reduced and referred to contracts that include $750,000 life
insurance coverage. He indicated that administrative
salaries are much more than that of teachers.
REP. TOOHEY said decisions regarding contracts are up to the
districts, not the legislature.
Number 047
REP. MARTIN asserted that the state straddles the smaller
districts with having to have a superintendent. He said
current law says that districts can combine, but they don't.
CHAIR BUNDE disagreed with Rep. Toohey. He said school
districts are spending state money and the state has an
oversight responsibility.
REP. TOOHEY asked if there should be stipulations in the
bill that say a district will not pay more than a certain
amount for an administrator, they will not have car
allowance, and will not have life insurance. She asked if
the legislation would tell them how to manage their school
districts.
REP. MARTIN said the legislation would say that schools
would not have to have a superintendent.
CHAIR BUNDE said, "I would just observe, Rep. Martin, after
last night's House session, the single site problem may not
exist any more."
REP. MARTIN said, "Then they'd be glad to get rid of all
these superintendents."
Number 067
CHAIR BUNDE asked for further questions for Mr. McPhetres.
He closed public testimony and opened the committee to
discussion.
REP. TOOHEY asserted that the bill is not needed.
REP. MARTIN maintained that the legislation is needed so
that some of the smaller districts will no longer be
straddled with expensive administrative costs. He said the
excess money could be spent on many other things.
CHAIR BUNDE, hearing no further discussion, asked the
pleasure of the committee.
REP. VEZEY made a motion to pass HB 210 as amended out of
committee.
REP. TOOHEY objected.
CHAIR BUNDE called for the vote. Reps. Bunde, Vezey, and
Kott voted Yea and Reps. Toohey and G. Davis voted Nay.
Chair Bunde declared that HB 210 as amended was so moved.
He then brought SB 225 to the table.
SB 225 - INSURANCE TAX CREDIT: GIFTS TO COLLEGES
CAROL CARROL, Legislative Aide to Sen. Jay Kerttula, Prime
Sponsor of SB 225, stated that presently there is a tax
credit available to most of the industry tax payers in
Alaska regarding gifts to colleges. She indicated that the
one industry that does not have the ability to take the tax
credit is the insurance industry. She maintained that the
situation was an oversight when the bill was enacted in
1991. The legislation would extend that tax credit to
insurance companies. She indicated that the bill provides
that authorized insurance companies may take as a tax credit
50% of the first $100,000. She said the industry must be
willing to donate an amount of money that they will not get
credit for. She explained that Sen. Kerttula believes it is
a good idea to support higher education. She then noted
that WENDY REDMAN was on teleconference to answer questions.
CHAIR BUNDE further noted that there were also people in
Juneau waiting to testify.
REP. TOOHEY asked when the idea for the bill was conceived.
MS. CARROL said she was unsure, but it was revised in 1991.
She deferred to WENDY REDMAN.
CHAIR BUNDE indicated that due to technical difficulties,
the committee was unable to hear teleconference testimony at
that time. He asked for further testimony.
Number 097
AL ALVAREZ, Vice-President, University Relations, Alaska
Pacific University (APU), testified in Juneau in support of
SB 225. He stated that a few years ago legislation was
passed to allow credit on a portion of a gift to an
institution of higher education within Alaska. He declared
that the current legislation has been quite beneficial and
indicated that the APU is very dependent on private gifts
and grants for its support. He reiterated that the
insurance industry was overlooked when the current law was
written. He said it wasn't until APU approached local
insurance companies for gifts to the university that it was
discovered that insurance companies pay a premium tax under
another section of the code. He urged the committee's
support of SB 225.
Number 205
CHAIR BUNDE asked if WENDY REDMAN was available for
teleconference testimony. He was then informed that MS.
REDMAN had to catch a plane from Fairbanks and could no
longer wait to testify. He then asked for further
testimony. Hearing none, he closed public testimony and
asked the pleasure of the committee.
REP. KOTT made a motion to pass SB 225 out of committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note.
CHAIR BUNDE, hearing no objections, declared that SB 225 was
so moved. He then brought HB 354 to the table. He
indicated that LIEUTENANT CASANOVAS was available to answer
questions via teleconference.
HB 354 - I.D. REQUIRED TO ENROLL CHILD IN SCHOOL
Number 276
REP. CYNTHIA TOOHEY addressed HB 354. She stated that the
bill adds a new subsection to AS 14.30.710 that will require
a person who initially enrolls a child in school to provide
a birth certificate or other proof of identity to the school
not more than 30 days after enrollment. The school will
notify the missing persons information clearinghouse if a
child is enrolled under a name other than what is indicated
on at least one of the child's identifying documents. She
further explained that law enforcement would be notified and
requested to determine whether the child has been reported
missing if a person fails to produce proof of identity and
any previous school records. The school will use a form
that contains written notice informing the person enrolling
the child that enrollment under a false name is a criminal
offense and that failure to comply is a violation. She
asserted that passage of the bill could possibly help in
locating exploited and missing children and it would be
consistent with at least seven other states that require
birth certificates upon enrollment.
REP. TOOHEY indicated that there was a committee substitute
(CS). She said the original bill as written requires the
parents to produce any prior school records, which is not
common practice. A school will send records forward to the
next school, the records are not given to the parent. She
indicated that the CS rectifies that issue.
CHAIR BUNDE asked SHEILA PETERSON to come forward to answer
questions.
SHEILA PETERSON, Special Assistant to Commissioner Covey,
Department of Education (DOE), testified in support of HB
354. She stated that the DOE is appreciative of the hard
work that the HESS Committee staff has offered to the
crafting of the CS. She said the CS provides a mechanism to
help the Public Safety Division identify missing children.
She indicated that one of the sections in the CS addresses a
situation where a child is using two last names, citing that
the birth certificate may be in the biological father's
name, but the child currently is using the step-father's
last name. She said the CS requires that at least one
identifying document must have the name the child is
currently using.
Number 388
REP. TOOHEY made a motion to adopt the CS for HB 354.
CHAIR BUNDE, hearing no objections, stated that the CS for
HB 354 was so moved. He then asked LIEUTENANT CASANOVAS to
testify.
Number 490
LIEUTENANT DENNIS CASANOVAS, Commander, Statewide Criminal
Investigation Unit, said he would be available for
questions.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if Lt. Casanovas was in favor of the bill.
LT. CASANOVAS maintained that it was very possible that the
bill would assist in identifying missing children and
reuniting them with their rightful parents.
CHAIR BUNDE asked for questions.
REP. VEZEY said he failed to see the benefits of the bill as
he felt that the children are in a safe environment at
school. He thought the legislation would just create a
tremendous amount of paperwork.
CHAIR BUNDE responded that a child may be very young,
kindergarten age, and it is very likely that a parent has
kidnapped the child. He also indicated that some children
have been abducted as early as three years old and are not
inclined to protest.
Number 460
REP. TOOHEY asserted that there would not be extra paper
work because children need proof of identification and shot
records anyway. She said the main thrust of the bill is to
detect if there has been a kidnapping.
CHAIR BUNDE observed that parents have been known to falsify
children's birth records to enable them to enroll their
children in all-day kindergarten because it is cheaper than
daycare.
REP. KOTT asked Ms. Peterson if schools in Alaska have
problems obtaining records from schools in other states.
MS. PETERSON said to her knowledge there is no problem. She
indicated that statutes require a school that is receiving a
transfer student to request within 14 days the records of
the child from the previous school. She further indicated
that if a child transfers to an Alaskan school from an
Alaskan school, the transcripts must be submitted within 10
days after receiving the request.
Number 522
REP. KOTT asked how the requesting of a birth certificate
could assist in ascertaining whether or not a child has been
kidnapped.
CHAIR BUNDE observed that when the child is first enrolled
in school, a birth certificate is needed as identification.
Then once that proof of identification has been certified,
the record would follow the child to the next school. He
further explained that if records are coming from out-of-
state, it can take a very long time to receive them and
sometimes they are lost. He indicated that there have been
cases in Alaska where a noncustodial parent has moved to
rural Alaska with the child.
MS. PETERSON clarified that if a person enrolls a child as
Johnny Smith, and that is not his name or the name that he
was enrolled under in the previous school, and the school
was unable to obtain the records by request, it would be
assumed that the current school would follow up and
ascertain as to whether Johnny Smith is really Johnny Smith.
She explained that the school would then contact the missing
persons clearinghouse.
Number 591
CHAIR BUNDE asked if the process would be most useful when
the child first enters school and establishes a positive
identity. Then the record of positive identity would follow
the child.
MS. PETERSON said yes.
CHAIR BUNDE asked if a child must establish positive
identity every time there is a change of schools.
MS. PETERSON indicated that a child would need identifying
documents or a birth certificate if the child has not
previously been enrolled in school.
REP. VEZEY said the legislation only applies to people who
have not previously been enrolled in public school.
CHAIR BUNDE indicated that a youth might register for the
first time in high school because they were in a private
school previously. He asked for further questions. He
closed public testimony and asked for further discussion.
REP. G. DAVIS made a motion to pass HB 354 out of committee
with individual recommendations and accompany zero fiscal
note.
CHAIR BUNDE asked for objections.
REP. VEZEY objected.
CHAIR BUNDE called for the vote. Reps. G. Davis, Kott,
Toohey, and Bunde voted Yea and Rep. Vezey voted Nay. Chair
Bunde announced that HB 354 was so moved.
Seeing no further business before the committee, CHAIR BUNDE
adjourned the meeting at 4:07 p.m.
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