Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/28/2001 10:10 AM House HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES
STANDING COMMITTEE
April 28, 2001
10:10 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Fred Dyson, Chair
Representative Peggy Wilson, Vice Chair
Representative John Coghill
Representative Gary Stevens
Representative Vic Kohring
Representative Sharon Cissna
Representative Reggie Joule
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 149(HES)
"An Act relating to reemployment of retired teachers, to
eligibility for major medical insurance coverage for
beneficiaries of the teachers' retirement system, and to teacher
certificates; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED HCS CSSSSB 149(HES) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS ACTION
BILL: SB 149
SHORT TITLE:TEACHER INCENTIVES
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) LEMAN
Jrn-Date Jrn-Page Action
03/19/01 0717 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
03/19/01 0717 (S) HES, FIN
03/30/01 0880 (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE
INTRODUCED-REFERRALS
03/30/01 0880 (S) HES, FIN
03/30/01 0880 (S) COSPONSOR(S): DAVIS
04/02/01 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/02/01 (S) Heard & Held
MINUTE(HES)
04/20/01 (S) HES AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
04/20/01 (S) Moved CS(HES) Out of
Committee
MINUTE(HES)
04/24/01 1235 (S) HES RPT CS 4DP NEW TITLE
04/24/01 1235 (S) DP: LEMAN, WILKEN, WARD,
DAVIS
04/24/01 1236 (S) FN1: (ADM)
04/24/01 1236 (S) FN2: ZERO(EED)
04/25/01 1257 (S) FIN RPT CS(HES) 9DP
04/25/01 1258 (S) DP: DONLEY, KELLY, GREEN,
AUSTERMAN,
04/25/01 1258 (S) HOFFMAN, OLSON, WILKEN,
LEMAN, WARD;
04/25/01 1258 (S) FN1: (ADM)
04/25/01 1258 (S) FN2: ZERO(EED)
04/25/01 (S) FIN AT 9:00 AM SENATE FINANCE
532
04/25/01 (S) Moved CS(FIN) Out of
Committee
04/26/01 1277 (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/26/01
04/26/01 1282 (S) READ THE SECOND TIME
04/26/01 1282 (S) HES CS ADOPTED UNAN CONSENT
04/26/01 1282 (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
UNAN CONSENT
04/26/01 1282 (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSSSB
149(HES)
04/26/01 1283 (S) PASSED Y20 N-
04/26/01 1283 (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS
PASSAGE
04/26/01 1289 (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)
04/26/01 1289 (S) VERSION: CSSSSB 149(HES)
04/26/01 (S) RLS AT 10:45 AM FAHRENKAMP
203
04/26/01 (S) MINUTE(RLS)
04/27/01 1263 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME -
REFERRALS
04/27/01 1263 (H) HES, FIN
04/27/01 1288 (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): WILSON,
STEVENS
04/28/01 (H) HES AT 10:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 516
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as sponsor of SB 149.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Deputy Commissioner of Education
Office of the Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development
801 10th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 149.
GUY BELL, Director
Division of Retirement & Benefits
Department of Administration
PO Box 110203
Juneau, Alaska 99811
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 149.
CYNTHIA MARTIN, Staff
to Representative Peggy Wilson
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 409
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions pertaining to Amendment
1 to SB 149.
MELISSA HILL
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 149.
DEBBIE OSSIANDER, Member
Anchorage School Board
PO Box 670772
Chugiak, Alaska 99567
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 149.
PAUL ROETMAN, Staff
to Senator Loren Leman
Alaska State Legislature
Capitol Building, Room 516
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on behalf of the sponsor, Senator
Loren Leman, on SB 149.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 01-52, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIR FRED DYSON called the House Health, Education and Social
Services Standing Committee meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.
Representatives Dyson, Wilson, Coghill, Stevens, Cissna, and
Joule were present at the call to order. Representative Kohring
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
SB 149-TEACHER INCENTIVES
[Contains discussion of HB 242]
Number 0052
CHAIR DYSON announced that the first order of business would be
CS FOR SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 149(HES), "An Act
relating to reemployment of retired teachers, to eligibility for
major medical insurance coverage for beneficiaries of the
teachers' retirement system, and to teacher certificates; and
providing for an effective date."
SENATOR LOREN LEMAN, Alaska State Legislature, came forth as
sponsor of SB 149. He stated that [the committee] will probably
hear testimony about the challenges that school districts have
had this year in filling "slots" for teachers. This bill will
make it easier to rehire retired teachers and provide incentives
that, he believes, will increase the pool of available
applicants. He stated that this started out as legislation that
reached farther and provided more incentives; however, to reduce
the fiscal note and increase the chances of passage, some of
those provisions were "stripped" out. He explained the three
remaining provisions: one is the simpler recognition of out-of-
state credentials, the second is an incentive for a retired
teacher to return to employment, and the third is improved
medical coverage. He noted that this received strong support in
the Senate.
CHAIR DYSON asked what has been the main criticism of the bill,
and who has opposed it.
SENATOR LEMAN responded that there has been no criticism of the
bill other than by some people who have said they would like the
bill to reach some of the areas that were initially included.
CHAIR DYSON stated that he understands there is a somewhat
similar bill - HB 242. He asked Senator Leman if he anticipates
that there will be a compromise between these bills.
SENATOR LEMAN remarked that he is not familiar with HB 242. He
said he has been told there is some overlap.
Number 0315
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked Senator Leman if he has seen the
amendment [the committee is proposing].
SENATOR LEMAN answered that he is aware of the amendment and has
no objection to it.
BRUCE JOHNSON, Deputy Commissioner of Education, Office of the
Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development
(EED), came forth and stated that the EED supports this concept
and thinks it will add to the tools allowing for school
districts to have the best-qualified people in front of
[Alaska's] children.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked Mr. Johnson [how he feels about the
amendment].
MR. JOHNSON responded that he had just received the amendment
and believes that this is attempting to provide a one-year
certificate to individuals who have held a certificate in Alaska
at one point in time, but have allowed it to lapse.
CHAIR DYSON asked Mr. Johnson if he sees that as being a
problem.
MR. JOHNSON answered no, that it appears to him that the person
would have to meet all the current requirements within that one
year, and would be fingerprinted ahead of time.
Number 0428
GUY BELL, Directory, Division of Retirement & Benefits,
Department of Administration, came forth in support of SB 149.
He stated that [the Division of Retirement & Benefits] does not
foresee any administrative problems. He noted that there is a
small fiscal note that would address education, ensure that
people know the choices being offered on their "retiree return
piece," and develop some educational materials.
CHAIR DYSON asked Mr. Bell if he sees any problem with the
amendment.
MR. BELL responded that [the Division of Retirement & Benefits]
is not involved with the issue associated with the amendment.
He added that HB 242 has equivalent sections to SB 149 relating
to teachers' retirement. House Bill 242 includes public
employees as well. He stated that there are very small
differences between the teacher provisions in SB 149 and in HB
242.
Number 0600
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON made a motion to adopt Amendment 1, 22-
LS0769\T.1, Cramer, 4/27/01, which read:
Page 1, line 14:
Delete "a new section"
Insert "new sections"
Page 3, following line 3:
Insert a new section to read:
"Sec. 14.20.017. Grace period for
issuance of regular teacher certificates to
previously certificated teachers. (a) The
department shall issue a teacher certificate
as described in AS 14.20.020, subject to
revocation, to a teacher who meets the
requirements of this section. To be eligible
for a revocable teacher certificate under this
section, a person shall
(1) have held a valid teacher
certificate issued under AS 14.20.020 that
expired more than 12 months before the teacher
applied for a certificate under this section;
(2) have paid the fee required by the
department under AS 14.20.020(c).
(b) A revocable teacher certificate issued
under this section is valid for one year, during
which the teacher shall complete any requirements
for the issuance of a regular teacher certificate
under AS 14.20.020 that the teacher has not
already met. The department shall expedite the
procedures required of teachers holding revocable
teacher certificates who are seeking
certification under AS 14.20.020.
(c) A teacher holding a revocable teacher
certificate under this section who previously
passed the competency examination designated by
the board under AS 14.20.020(i) is not required
to retake the examination before being eligible
for a regular certificate under AS 14.20.020. A
teacher holding a revocable teacher certificate
who did not previously take or pass the
competency examination shall take and pass the
examination within one year after the date the
revocable teacher certificate was issued. If the
teacher does not pass the examination, the
department shall immediately revoke the revocable
teacher certificate.
(d) A teacher holding a revocable teacher
certificate under this section may not receive a
teacher certificate issued under AS 14.20.020
until the teacher submits fingerprints to the
department to be used for a criminal history
background check and the teacher has been found
by the department to be suitable for employment
as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f).
(e) The revocable teacher certificate
issued under this section must contain the same
endorsements as those on the teacher's expired
teacher certificate.
(f) Employment on the basis of a revocable
teacher certificate issued under this section
shall be considered in determining whether a
teacher qualifies for tenure under AS 14.20.150.
(g) A revocable teacher certificate and any
endorsements issued under this section are valid
for one year and may not be renewed under this
section. The department may not issue a
provisional certificate or a temporary
certificate to a teacher who has held a teacher
certificate issued under this section."
There being no objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON explained that Amendment 1 addresses the
fact that there are teachers who may have let their
certification lapsed.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS asked if this bill primarily discusses
retired teachers, or if it includes other [employees].
CYNTHIA MARTIN, Staff to Representative Peggy Wilson, Alaska
State Legislature, came forth and replied that if (the
Department of Education and Early Development) would entertain a
larger discussion, it could pertain to administrators as well.
Number -742
MELISSA HILL testified via teleconference. She stated that she
has gathered some comments from some of the school districts at
the job fair [in Anchorage]. She read the following to the
committee:
Rich Carlson, assistant superintendent, Lower Yukon
[School District]: "The situation is that at this
point any ... chance that we can get the legislature
to pass what ... would benefit education would assist
us. The situation has passed a nervous state and is
critical, and it can only get worse. School districts
should be determining who is qualified, and not the
certification office. These roadblocks are hindering
us from certifying qualified teachers, and it does not
benefit our children."
Kim Langton, Superintendent, Iditarod [Area School
District]: "This is drastically worse than last year.
I met with a woman who had 29 years of experience in
special education and would make [$]8,000 more in
Texas."
Gary Baldwin (ph), Lower Kuskokwim [School District]:
"We need to be recognizing out-of-state certification.
We spend more money and time at the beginning of the
year trying to get good people emergency certificates;
some work as substitutes for up to three months with
no benefits only to qualify for an emergency
certificate."
Gary Lindman (ph), Personnel Director, North Slope
[Borough School District]: "Because of the national
(indisc.) it is critical that Alaska allows us to
build an incentive that would allow us to be more
competitive with the Lower 48. ... We still are going
to have to address the issue of salary to compete with
the Lower 48."
Todd Syverson, Assistant Superintendent, Kenai
[Peninsula Borough School District]: "Last year we
had 75 teachers fill in teaching waivers without
benefits in the process of receiving (indisc.)
certification."
CHAIR DYSON asked Ms. Hill if she has any negative comments.
MS. HILL stated, "We are in favor of SB 149. ... I think the
message coming from the people I am working with is that this
needs to go as soon as possible."
CHAIR DYSON asked Ms. Hill whom she represents.
MS. HILL answered that she represents the 53 school districts in
Alaska.
Number 0954
DEBBIE OSSIANDER, Member, Anchorage School Board [ASB],
testified via teleconference in support of SB 149. She stated
that this bill particularly addresses some legislative
priorities [the ASB] has had, and [the ASB] particularly
appreciates the temporary certificate and retirement provisions.
Number 1022
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON moved to report CSSSSB 149(HES), as
amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and
the accompanying fiscal notes.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS stated that he is not clear whether
people who have received a RIF (reduction in force) from the
system would be allowed to return.
PAUL ROETMAN, Staff to Senator Loren Leman, Alaska State
Legislature, came forth on behalf of the sponsor of SB 149, and
responded that teachers, principles, or administrators who have
been in a RIP (Retirement Incentive Program) are eligible for
this election under subsection 3(c).
Number 1085
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING objected [to the moving of the bill]. He
stated that he likes the concept of recognizing teachers'
credentials and the retirement-benefits election option that
would allow for retirement-benefit payments to be suspended.
However, he said he is concerned about increasing the benefits
because he is not sure that putting more money into the public
education system is necessarily going to equate to a better
system. He stated that in his district, the average salary-and-
benefit package is over $60,000 a year. He remarked that he
relates his arguments to the private sector and the fact that
there are some very happy teachers who are doing a very good job
in the private system. For example, at Anchorage Baptist Temple
there was a teacher he knew who was making about $1,500 a month
and was very happy. He added that he supports Representative
Stevens' legislation that puts more money into the foundation
formula under the condition that it is monies that are directed
toward offsetting the effects of inflation.
REPRESENTATIVE WILSON commented that she disagrees with
Representative Kohring. She said this is a real and critical
problem, and in the next few years it will be so massive that
[Alaska] is going to be in dire straits to find teachers. She
stated that teachers' pay will have to increase, because
[Alaska's] pay will not even come close to the Lower 48's.
Number 1275.
REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS stated that he does respect what
Representative Kohring has said, but [Alaska] is facing an
enormous problem in the near future. He said he knows people
who have retired after 20 years, moved to Oregon or Washington.
and are teaching down there. He stated that this allows for
people to take their retirement after 20 years and come back [to
Alaska] and teach, which will attract a large number of
professionals.
REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING removed his objection.
CHAIR DYSON announced that there being no further objection, HCS
CSSSSB 149(HES) was moved from the House Health, Education and
Social Services Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee meeting
was adjourned at 10:31 a.m.
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