Legislature(2019 - 2020)BARNES 124

05/13/2019 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 24 LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Public Testimony --
+ HB 81 PROHIBIT PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 127 DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 127(L&C) Out of Committee
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
          HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                         
                          May 13, 2019                                                                                          
                           3:17 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Adam Wool, Chair                                                                                                 
Representative Andi Story                                                                                                       
Representative Zack Fields                                                                                                      
Representative Sara Hannan                                                                                                      
Representative Louise Stutes                                                                                                    
Representative Josh Revak                                                                                                       
Representative Dave Talerico                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 127                                                                                                              
"An Act relating to the  practice of dental hygiene; establishing                                                               
an  advanced practice  permit; prohibiting  unfair discrimination                                                               
under  group  health insurance  against  a  dental hygienist  who                                                               
holds   an  advanced   practice  permit;   relating  to   medical                                                               
assistance  for dental  hygiene  services; and  providing for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 127(L&C) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                               
"An  Act  relating  to  instruction  in  a  language  other  than                                                               
English; and relating to limited teacher certificates."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 81                                                                                                               
"An  Act  prohibiting  disposable   plastic  shopping  bags;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 127                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT                                                                              
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) SPOHNHOLZ                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
04/09/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
04/09/19       (H)       L&C, FIN                                                                                               
05/03/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/03/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/03/19       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/10/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/10/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/10/19       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/13/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB  24                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES                                                                            
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KREISS-TOMKINS                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       PREFILE RELEASED 1/7/19                                                                                
02/20/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/20/19       (H)       EDC, L&C                                                                                               
03/29/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/29/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/29/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
04/01/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
04/01/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/01/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
04/03/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
04/03/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/03/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
04/05/19       (H)       EDC RPT 5DP 2NR                                                                                        
04/05/19       (H)       DP: TUCK, ZULKOSKY, JOHNSON, STORY,                                                                    
                         DRUMMOND                                                                                               
04/05/19       (H)       NR: REVAK, HOPKINS                                                                                     
04/05/19       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
04/05/19       (H)       Moved HB 24 Out of Committee                                                                           
04/05/19       (H)       MINUTE(EDC)                                                                                            
04/24/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/24/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/24/19       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/03/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
05/03/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
05/03/19       (H)       MINUTE(L&C)                                                                                            
05/13/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB  81                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PROHIBIT PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS                                                                                       
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOSEPHSON                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
03/06/19       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/06/19       (H)       CRA, L&C                                                                                               
04/04/19       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/04/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/04/19       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
04/09/19       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/09/19       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
04/09/19       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
04/25/19       (H)       CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124                                                                              
04/25/19       (H)       Moved CSHB 81(CRA) Out of Committee                                                                    
04/25/19       (H)       MINUTE(CRA)                                                                                            
04/26/19       (H)       CRA RPT CS(CRA) 3DP 2NR                                                                                
04/26/19       (H)       DP: CLAMAN, HANNAN, DRUMMOND                                                                           
04/26/19       (H)       NR: KREISS-TOMKINS, THOMPSON                                                                           
05/13/19       (H)       L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY STRAUCH, Staff                                                                                                           
Representative Adam Wool                                                                                                        
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  On behalf of Representative Wool, presented                                                              
the committee substitute for HB 127 and answered questions.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE IVY SPOHNHOLZ                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during the hearing on HB 127 as                                                                
prime sponsor.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
DAVID NIELSON                                                                                                                   
Board of Dental Examiners                                                                                                       
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during the hearing on HB 127.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
EPHIMIA MOONIN-WILSON                                                                                                           
Chugachmiut Language Heritage Program                                                                                           
Port Graham, Alaska                                                                                                             
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during the hearing on HB 24.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CORDELIA KELLIE                                                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 24.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE GARDNER, Human Resources Executive Director                                                                           
Matsu Borough School District                                                                                                   
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 24.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MARK HIRATSUKA, Alaska Education Program Manager                                                                                
Chugachmiut Language Heritage Program                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 24.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS, Principal                                                                                            
Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School                                                                                      
Wasilla, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 24.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  As prime sponsor, answered questions during                                                              
the hearing on HB 24.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
JOHN SCANLON, Staff                                                                                                             
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins                                                                                          
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during the hearing on HB
24 on behalf of Representative Kreiss-Tomkins, prime sponsor.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SONDRA MEREDITH, Teacher Certification Administrator                                                                            
Educator and Excellence Division                                                                                                
Department of Education & Early Development                                                                                     
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during the hearing on HB 24.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANDY JOSEPHSON                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Introduced HB 81 as prime sponsor.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ELISE SORUM-BIRK, Staff                                                                                                         
Representative Andy Josephson                                                                                                   
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Provided a presentation entitled, "HB 81                                                                 
Plastic Bag Ban," and answered questions on behalf of                                                                           
Representative Josephson, prime sponsor.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:17:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ADAM WOOL  called the  House Labor  and Commerce  Standing                                                             
Committee meeting to order at  3:17 p.m.  Representatives Stutes,                                                               
Story, Fields, Revak,  Hannan, and Wool were present  at the call                                                               
to order.  Representative Talerico  arrived as the meeting was in                                                               
progress.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
          HB 127-DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:18:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  announced that the  first order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 127, "An Act  relating to the practice  of dental                                                               
hygiene;  establishing an  advanced practice  permit; prohibiting                                                               
unfair  discrimination under  group  health  insurance against  a                                                               
dental hygienist who holds an  advanced practice permit; relating                                                               
to medical assistance for dental  hygiene services; and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
[Before the  committee was a  proposed committee  substitute (CS)                                                               
for HB 127, Version 31-LS0836\M, Fisher, 5/11/19.]                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:18:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ASHLEY  STRAUCH, Staff,  Representative Adam  Wool, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, explained  [Version M]  makes the  following changes                                                               
to HB  127:  It reflects  what is currently in  statute under the                                                               
scope of  practice for dental  hygienists by allowing  a licensed                                                               
dental hygienist  with an advanced practice  permit to administer                                                               
local anesthesia  if certified by  the Board of  Dental Examiners                                                               
on page 2,  line 24.  Second,  on page 2, lines  28-29, Version M                                                               
adds  "delegate  dental  operations  and  services  to  a  dental                                                               
assistant  as  provided  in  AS  08.36.346."    This  allows  the                                                               
licensed dental  hygienists with  an advanced practice  permit to                                                               
delegate  a dental  assistant to  perform  services within  their                                                               
scope of  practice.   Third, on  page 4,  lines 26-27,  Version M                                                               
adds,  "except as  permitted under  an  advanced practice  permit                                                               
under AS 08.32.125,"  which allows the Board  of Dental Examiners                                                               
to suspend  or revoke the license  of a dental hygienist  with an                                                               
advanced  practice permit  if  they  perform clinical  procedures                                                               
outside  their   scope  of  practice   and  without   the  needed                                                               
supervision of a  licensed dentist.  Fourth, on page  4, line 31,                                                               
and  page 5,  lines 1-2,  it makes  a change  to AS  08.32.160 by                                                               
adding, "(10) permitted  a dental assistant employed  by a dental                                                               
hygienist or working under the  supervision of a dental hygienist                                                               
to perform a dental procedure in  violation of AS 08.32.110 or AS                                                               
08.36.346;".   This  allows  the  board to  suspend  or revoke  a                                                               
license  of a  dental  hygienist if  the  dental assistant  works                                                               
outside their  scope of practice  written in statute.   Fifth, on                                                               
page  5, lines  3-5,  it  adds, "(11)  falsified  or destroyed  a                                                               
patient or  facility record  or failed to  maintain a  patient or                                                               
facility  record for  at least  seven  years after  the date  the                                                               
record was created."   This requires a  licensed dental hygienist                                                               
with an advanced  practice permit to keep patient  records for at                                                               
least seven years.  Sixth, on  page, lines 6-12, there's an added                                                               
subsection (c) that allows an  assistant who's working within his                                                               
or her scope  of practice to be supervised by  a dental hygienist                                                               
with an  advanced practice permit.   Finally, the  seventh change                                                               
is on  page 6, line  18, and gives  the Department of  Health and                                                               
Social  Services the  ability to  adopt regulations  necessary to                                                               
implement changes made in the Act.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:24:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES  moved  to adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                               
substitute  (CS)   for  HB  127,  labeled   31-LS0836\M,  Fisher,                                                               
5/11/19,  as  the working  draft.    [There being  no  objection,                                                               
Version M was before the committee.]                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:25:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:25 to 3:39 p.m.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:29:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked who is  responsible if a dental  assistant does                                                               
something countered to statute in a typical dental office.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:29:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   IVY   SPOHNHOLZ,   Alaska   State   Legislature,                                                               
explained that in  an integrated dental office  where the dentist                                                               
has the license under which  everyone else is formally operating,                                                               
the  dentist is  the ultimate  arbiter of  responsibility and  is                                                               
responsible  for  both  the  dental   hygienist  and  the  dental                                                               
assistant.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:31:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVID NIELSON, Board of Dental Examiners, concurred.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:32:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  REPRESENTATIVE moved  to report  CSHB 127,                                                               
Version  LS0836\M,   Fisher,  5/11/19,  out  of   committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
Without objection, CSHB  127(L&C) was moved from  the House Labor                                                               
and Commerce Standing Committee.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:32:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
         HB  24-LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:32:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  announced that  the next order  of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 24, "An Act  relating to instruction in a language                                                               
other   than   English;   and   relating   to   limited   teacher                                                               
certificates."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:35:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL opened public testimony.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:35:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked if they  should offer amendments prior                                                               
to hearing public testimony so the public can comment on them.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL answered  no.   He said  the committee  will take  up                                                               
amendments after public testimony.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:35:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
EPHIMIA  MOONIN-WILSON,  Chugachmiut Language  Heritage  Program,                                                               
informed the  committee that she currently  teaches the Sugt'stun                                                               
language  to Pre-K12  students and  has been  doing so  for eight                                                               
years.  She shared her  educational background, which includes an                                                               
earning an  occupation endorsement  certificate (OEC)  in Alutiiq                                                               
studies.   She stated  that her goal  is to be  one of  the first                                                               
Sugt'stun certified teachers.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  asked  Ms.  Moonin-Wilson  if  she  is  currently  a                                                               
certified teacher.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON  said she  is not  fully certified  having only                                                               
received an OEC.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:37:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN  asked   Ms.  Moonin-Wilson  which  school                                                               
district she works for.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON  said she works  in the Kenai  Peninsula Bureau                                                               
School  District  (KPBSD);  however,   she  is  employed  through                                                               
Chugachmiut.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked if she  has considered earning a type                                                               
M certificate.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON said  yes; however, to do so she  would need to                                                               
be employed by the KPBSD.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN  asked  if  Chugachmiut  is  part  of  the                                                               
regional village corporation.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON answered yes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN asked  Ms.  Moonin-Wilson if  she had  any                                                               
interest in working for the KPBSD.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MOONIN-WILSON  confirmed her  interest  in  working for  the                                                               
KPBSD.  She  said she would like to earn  more credentials before                                                               
she enrolls.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  asked  Ms.  Moonin-Wilson  if  she  teaches  at  the                                                               
Language Heritage Program.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON answered yes.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES inquired  as to  what subject  Ms. Moonin-                                                               
Wilson teaches.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MOONIN-WILSON  stated  she teaches  the  Sugt'stun  language                                                               
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL noted  HB 24 concerns certification  for K-12 language                                                               
immersion  teachers.   He asked  if  Ms. Moonin-Wilson  currently                                                               
teaches K-12 or language immersion.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. MOONIN-WILSON said that's what she is working towards.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:42:19 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CORDELIA KELLIE said  she is representing herself  as a community                                                               
language  practitioner   and  thanked   the  committee   for  the                                                               
opportunity to  testify in support  of HB  24.  Through  years of                                                               
working in  (indisc.) language revitalization efforts  with adult                                                               
second  language learners,  many  have  concluded that  immersion                                                               
schools will  be the tool  that makes headway in  creating fluent                                                               
speakers  and returning  vibrancy to  indigenous languages.   She                                                               
said  HB  24  is  distinctive because  it  provides  a  mechanism                                                               
towards  putting teachers  in immersion  classrooms.   She  noted                                                               
that there has  been concern in years past about  the language in                                                               
this legislation regarding levels  of competency of those seeking                                                               
to teach content through a  non-English language; however, in her                                                               
community,  many   individuals  working  to   learn  [indigenous]                                                               
languages  have  degrees.     She  concluded  by   saying  HB  24                                                               
acknowledges the current position  of Alaska's communities - that                                                               
every   successive  Alaska   native  generation   is  a   growing                                                               
generation of  young people who are  acquiring cultural knowledge                                                               
of indigenous  ways, as well as  navigating Western institutions.                                                               
She stressed  the dire need for  immediate immersion instruction.                                                               
Nonetheless, she  said HB  24 creates  a pathway  towards getting                                                               
competent community members into immersion classrooms.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:46:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked Ms. Kellie if she has a teacher certification.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  KELLIE answered  no.   Despite  that, she  said  she has  an                                                               
English   degree  and   teaching  experience   through  community                                                               
programs.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked if Ms. Kellie has a college degree.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. KELLIE confirmed that.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL questioned  whether  the community  members that  she                                                               
mentioned are certified teachers.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  KELLIE  said  no.    She  explained  they  are  people  with                                                               
professional  and  academic  experience  who  are  also  learning                                                               
indigenous  language.   She  added that  if she  was  to set  her                                                               
intention on building  an immersion school, those  are the people                                                               
she would do it with.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:48:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked Ms.  Kellie which school district she                                                               
would be seeking work in.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. KELLIE said the Anchorage school district.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  asked Ms. Kellie  if she knows any  Type M                                                               
language teachers who are teaching  in Inupiaq, Yupik, or Tlingit                                                               
in the Anchorage school district.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. KELLIE said she is aware of their work.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked if Ms.  Kellie has considered earning                                                               
a Type M certificate.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. KELLIE  said she has  not considered  it because she  has not                                                               
directly selected education as a professional pathway.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said Type  M certificates as they currently                                                               
exist, don't require  any academic training.  She  said they were                                                               
created  for an  elder  who speaks  an  indigenous language  that                                                               
wouldn't have  to pass any  competency exams or verify  that they                                                               
have teacher  preparation or college  training.   The certificate                                                               
would allow  those individuals  to be hosted  by the  district to                                                               
teach language and culture in their language.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
3:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE  GARDNER,  Human  Resources Executive  Director,  Matsu                                                               
Borough School  District, voiced strong  support for HB 24.   She                                                               
said  the Matsu  community is  incredibly proud  of their  choice                                                               
options.    She  described Fronteras  Spanish  Immersion  Charter                                                               
School as  a robust  immersion program  that offers  an excellent                                                               
education rich in both language and  culture.  She noted that the                                                               
program relies on talented educators in  order to work as well as                                                               
it does.   The passage  of HB 24  as it's currently  written, she                                                               
said,  would  provide a  positive  impact  on their  program  and                                                               
allows  their current  staff to  be  employed as  teachers.   She                                                               
noted a primary concern with  the barrier of the basic competency                                                               
test which is only provided in English.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:54:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN   questioned  whether  the   teachers  Ms.                                                               
Gardner would  like to  employ would eventually  be able  to pass                                                               
the competency exam  in English.  She asked how  long of a window                                                               
they would need to do that.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. GARDNER  explained that some  of these individuals  have been                                                               
trying  to pass  all  the  competency exams  for  the past  three                                                               
years.  They  have been able to make progress  by focusing on one                                                               
at a time,  she said.  She expressed  concern with Representative                                                               
Hannan's  amendment [which  has  yet to  be  offered] because  it                                                               
provides  a  one-year window  with  a  one-year extension,  which                                                               
wouldn't be  enough time to  complete a teacher prep  program for                                                               
the individuals she is working with.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN clarified  that under  her amendment  they                                                               
would  have  two years  to  pass  the  competency exam,  not  the                                                               
teachers prep  program.  She  asked if three years  would achieve                                                               
that for most of her candidates.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. GARDNER  said 3 years would  probably not be long  enough for                                                               
everyone they are interested in employing.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:57:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARK  HIRATSUKA, Alaska  Education  Program Manager,  Chugachmiut                                                               
Language Heritage  Program, shared  his work experience  with the                                                               
committee as a  retired public educator with the  state of Alaska                                                               
for 34 years.   He noted that he was the  principal in Valdez and                                                               
Dillingham,  as well  as the  superintendent for  [indisc.].   He                                                               
explained that  he has spent  his lifetime working  with teachers                                                               
on  a  college career  pathway  plan  towards becoming  certified                                                               
teachers that qualify  for the Type C certification.   In Chugach                                                               
they run  a teacher training  program that focuses  on developing                                                               
fluency  in  the  Sugt'stun  language  because  it  is  close  to                                                               
extinction.  He  said ultimately, these are students  who want to                                                               
become fully  certified teachers within  the state of  Alaska and                                                               
teaching  in  their  own  communities.     He  said  that  as  an                                                               
administrator,  he  was  delighted  to  hear  about  the  Type  M                                                               
certification because people  who get their OEC  in Sugt'stun can                                                               
qualify for it.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:03:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  asked Mr.  Hiratsuka if he  has approached                                                               
his school  district about hosting  a Type M certificate  for one                                                               
of his current teachers.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HIRATSUKA offered  his understanding  that  they could  work                                                               
through  that  process  due to  the  MOA  [memorandum  agreement]                                                               
status with the school districts.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked for the definition of MOA status.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HIRATSUKA  said it  is  a  memorandum agreement  [MOA]  with                                                               
school  administration to  implement  a language  program with  a                                                               
language paid teacher in the program.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL sought to clarify whether  someone with an OEC needs a                                                               
Type M certificate to teach Native language in public schools.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. HIRATSUKA shared his belief  that paraprofessionals who teach                                                               
one-subject  areas, like  Sugt'stun,  can qualify  for  a Type  M                                                               
certificate.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:06:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN pointed out  that even without the training                                                               
they could qualify for a Type M.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. HIRATSUKA said yes.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked if a Type M is required to teach.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HIRATSUKA  said  they  are not  necessary  to  teach  single                                                               
subjects.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MR.   HIRATSUKA,  responding   to   a   follow-up  comment   from                                                               
Representative Wool,  said at  the Chugachmiut  Language Heritage                                                               
Program they run teacher core  program that requires success in a                                                               
4-year  college track  program that  provides  an endorsement  in                                                               
education.   He  noted that  once  someone is  qualified for  the                                                               
teaching program, they  will be qualified to use his  or her Type                                                               
C  certification in  a K-12  program  with the  benefit of  being                                                               
fluent Sugt'stun  speaking teachers in village  communities where                                                               
Sugt'stun is their heritage language.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  sought clarification  on whether these  teachers grew                                                               
up speaking the language or learned it in school.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR.  HIRATSUKA  said all  of  them  grew  up with  the  Sugt'stun                                                               
language in  their home, but  they were  non speakers.   He noted                                                               
that an OEC  in Sugt'stun requires becoming  a confident speaker.                                                               
He explained  that they want  to preserve the  Sugt'stun language                                                               
in   the  region   by  providing   language   teachers  who   are                                                               
(simultaneously) also  working on their teacher  certification in                                                               
hopes  that one  day they  will  become teachers  in the  Chugach                                                               
region.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:10:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER    SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS,   Principal,    Fronteras   Spanish                                                               
Immersion Charter School, stated that  the most difficult part of                                                               
a  quality language  program  is  staffing.   She  noted that  at                                                               
Fronteras  they don't  teach  Spanish -  they  teach in  Spanish,                                                               
which makes  a big difference  in what they need  in instructors.                                                               
She  discussed  the  difficulty their  Spanish-speaking  teachers                                                               
have  had with  passing  the  Praxis test  to  get their  teacher                                                               
certificate.   All  three teachers  passed two  out of  the three                                                               
competency exams because  they are only offered in  English.  She                                                               
explained  that  when  taking the  Praxis  as  a  second-language                                                               
learner,  all directions  and each  question  must be  translated                                                               
from English into  their native language.  Their  answers must be                                                               
written in  English as  well.   She noted that  the Praxis  has a                                                               
time limit,  with an option  of only 20 minutes  additional time.                                                               
She emphasized  that all three  teachers are fully  certified and                                                               
have  a range  of 4-13  years teaching  experience in  their home                                                               
countries.    Teachers   who  have  failed  to   pass  all  three                                                               
competency  exams have  lost their  certified  status along  with                                                               
losing their  medical insurance and  being reduced  to substitute                                                               
pay.   She  acknowledged  the concerns  about accountability  and                                                               
made assurances that all staff  member at Fronteras are evaluated                                                               
with their  district's evaluation  system.   She stated  that the                                                               
native speakers at Fronteras bring  a richness to the culture and                                                               
to every single unit of study.   Should this bill pass, she said,                                                               
it  will  allow schools  to  hire  native language  speakers  who                                                               
either don't yet  hold - or are  in the process of  obtaining - a                                                               
teachers certificate  and give  them a  different pathway  if the                                                               
competency test is  holding them up.  She reiterated  that she is                                                               
"very  much in  favor of  HB 24"  as a  pathway to  help Alaska's                                                               
schools have quality individuals leading their students.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked if Ms.  Schmidt-Hutchins considers  the English                                                               
[competency] test to be more difficult than "basic."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS  said, "absolutely," when someone  is taking                                                               
it in  a second language.   She added  that all the  teachers she                                                               
mentioned  have already  passed an  equivalent of  the competency                                                               
test in their countries.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked if the subjects  in English are also  taught by                                                               
the Spanish instructors at Fronteras.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS replied they  have a partner English teacher                                                               
who takes care of all English instruction.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL asked  if  a non-native  Spanish  speaker who  gained                                                               
proficiency  in  the  language  would  have  to  pass  a  Spanish                                                               
proficiency test to teach at Fronteras.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS  said if that  person is fully  certified in                                                               
the  state of  Alaska  he or  she would  be  interviewed for  the                                                               
position in Spanish.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL surmised that there  wouldn't be a proficiency test in                                                               
that case.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS  confirmed  that, adding  they  would  have                                                               
already  taken the  Praxis, which  is  required by  the state  of                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  asked  if the  [native  Spanish  speaking]  teachers                                                               
should  aspire  to become  proficient  in  English and  pass  the                                                               
English [competency] test.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS  said  it's  not  for  a  lack  of  effort,                                                               
practice,  or study.    She  explained that  it  is  an issue  of                                                               
vocabulary, especially when it comes to math.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked if these  instructors teach math in their native                                                               
language.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. SCHMIDT-HUTCHINS confirmed that.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
4:19:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL closed public testimony.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL asked  if a  non-Native speaker  could qualify  for a                                                               
Type M certification to teach in a Native language.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:20:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE    JONATHAN     KREISS-TOMKINS,    Alaska    State                                                               
Legislature,  prime sponsor  of HB  24, answered  yes that  could                                                               
happen if the school explicitly  approves that hire and the state                                                               
Board  of  Education approves  the  application  coming from  the                                                               
school board.   The individual  would also  have to meet  all the                                                               
regulations   that   the   board  promulgated   around   Type   M                                                               
certification.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL sought  clarification  on whether  there  would be  a                                                               
competency test.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS said potentially.   The state Board                                                               
of  Education   has  the   ability  to   promulgate  regulations;                                                               
therefore, in theory, they could  set competency minimums as they                                                               
see fit.   He added that he  would not be surprised  if that were                                                               
to occur.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  sought  clarification   on  OEC  and  the  different                                                               
[teacher] certifications that exist.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS  offered his understanding  that an                                                               
OEC isn't directly relevant to this legislation.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:26:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  moved to  adopt Amendment 1,  [labeled 31-                                                               
LS0290\A.2, Caouette, 4/9/19], which read:                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 1:                                                                                                            
          Delete "and"                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 2, following "certificates":                                                                                
          Insert "; and renaming the Alaska Native Language                                                                   
     Preservation and  Advisory Council  as the  Council for                                                                  
     Alaska Native Languages"                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Page 2, following line 21:                                                                                                 
     Insert new bill sections to read:                                                                                          
        "* Sec. 2. AS 44.33.520(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
          (a)  The Council for Alaska Native Languages                                                                      
     [ALASKA  NATIVE  LANGUAGE   PRESERVATION  AND  ADVISORY                                                                    
     COUNCIL]  is  established  in the  department  for  the                                                                    
     purpose   of   recommending    the   establishment   or                                                                    
     reorganization    of    programs   to    support    the                                                                    
     preservation,   restoration,   and  revitalization   of                                                                    
     Alaska Native languages.                                                                                                   
        * Sec. 3. The uncodified  law of the State of Alaska                                                                  
     is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                                                
          REVISOR'S INSTRUCTIONS. The revisor of statutes                                                                       
     is requested to change the                                                                                                 
               (1)  heading of art. 9 of AS 44.33 from                                                                          
       "Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory                                                                        
     Council" to "Council for Alaska Native Languages";                                                                         
               (2)  catch line of AS 44.33.520 from "Alaska                                                                     
     Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council" to                                                                      
     "Council for Alaska Native Languages.""                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained Amendment 1.   He said the Alaska                                                               
Native  Language  Preservation  and Advisory  Council  recommends                                                               
that its  own name be  changed to  the Council for  Alaska Native                                                               
Languages.  The reason for the  name change is that languages are                                                               
not being  preserved "as if  they are  in amber," they  should be                                                               
living things.   He noted  that he is introducing  this amendment                                                               
at the suggestion of the bill sponsor.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:27:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS  further noted that Amendment  1 is                                                               
a "rider"  on HB 24  and doesn't relate  to the substance  of the                                                               
bill.   The  native language  revitalization community  in Alaska                                                               
has wanted  to rename the  body that represents  their interests,                                                               
which  is  the  motivation  behind  this  amendment.    The  term                                                               
"preservation," he  said, is  like the language  is in  a museum,                                                               
whereas  their  goal  is  to   keep  these  languages  alive  and                                                               
revitalized.  For  this reason, they requested a  name change and                                                               
that's all Amendment 1 does.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:27:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN pointed out that  this council is housed by                                                               
the  Department of  Commerce,  Community  & Economic  Development                                                               
(DCCED).   She  asked if  the  department is  supportive of  this                                                               
change and whether the council is autonomous.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:28:15 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS said  in  his experience,  the council  is                                                               
autonomous.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS  said   Representative  Fields  is                                                               
accurate.   He  added that  [the  council] is  housed within  the                                                               
Division of Community and Regional  Affairs within the DCCED.  He                                                               
noted   that  the   resources  required   for  the   renaming  is                                                               
incidental.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:29:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOHN  SCANLON,  Staff,  Representative  Jonathan  Kreiss-Tomkins,                                                               
Alaska  State Legislature,  on behalf  of Representative  Kreiss-                                                               
Tomkins, prime sponsor, added that  in the latest council meeting                                                               
the members  voted in favor  of renaming themselves in  this way,                                                               
which was the impetus for this amendment.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:29:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked if there  has been a statute check to                                                               
make sure that's the only place it appears.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SCANLON  explained  that while  working  with  the  drafting                                                               
attorney at  legislative legal  he submitted  a request  that for                                                               
anywhere in statute where the  council is referred to its current                                                               
name that  it be  replaced with  the new  name.   Therefore, it's                                                               
been replaced everywhere in statute within this amendment.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:30:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY disclosed that  she is the appointed liaison                                                               
from the  House of Representatives to  the aforementioned council                                                               
[Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council].                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:31:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS opined  that the  council does  great work                                                               
and he is happy to support the name change.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL removed his objection to  Amendment 1.  There being no                                                               
further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:32:08 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN moved to adopt Amendment 2, [labeled 31-                                                                  
LS0290\A.7, Caouette, 5/13/19], which read:                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Page 1, line 4, through page 2, line 21:                                                                                   
          Delete all material and insert:                                                                                       
       "* Section 1. AS 14.20 is amended by adding a new                                                                    
     section to read:                                                                                                           
          Sec. 14.20.024. World language expert limited                                                                       
     teacher certificate.  (a) Notwithstanding AS 14.20.020,                                                                  
     a person may be issued  a world language expert limited                                                                    
     teacher  certificate, valid  only in  the instructional                                                                    
     language  in  which  the  person  has  expertise,  upon                                                                    
     compliance  with the  requirements of  this section.  A                                                                    
     world language  expert teacher may only  be employed to                                                                    
     teach  in   the  language  in  which   the  person  has                                                                    
     satisfied the education  or experience requirements set                                                                    
     out in (b)(1) of this section.                                                                                           
          (b)  To be eligible for a world language expert                                                                       
     limited teacher certificate, a person shall                                                                                
               (1)  hold at least a baccalaureate degree                                                                        
     from an  institution of higher education  accredited by                                                                    
     a   recognized   regional   or   national   accrediting                                                                    
     association or  approved by  the commissioner  and have                                                                    
     at least five years  of experience in the instructional                                                                    
     language in which the person will be teaching;                                                                             
               (2)  have submitted fingerprints and the                                                                         
     fees required by the Department  of Public Safety under                                                                    
     AS 12.62.160  for criminal  justice  information and  a                                                                    
     national   criminal  history   record   check  to   the                                                                    
     department;  the  department  must have  submitted  the                                                                    
     fingerprints  and  fees  to the  Department  of  Public                                                                    
     Safety  for a  report of  criminal justice  information                                                                    
     under AS 12.62  and a national criminal  history record                                                                    
     check under AS 12.62.400 and the  person must have been                                                                    
     found by  the department to be  suitable for employment                                                                    
     as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f);                                                                                        
               (3)  be currently enrolled in or have                                                                            
     completed   an   approved  post-baccalaureate   teacher                                                                    
     education   program   at    a   regionally   accredited                                                                    
     institution     meeting     the     requirements     of                                                                    
     AS 14.20.020(b)  that provides  for  completion of  the                                                                    
     regular  teacher   certificate  education  requirements                                                                    
     within  two years  after receipt  of  a world  language                                                                    
     expert limited teacher  certificate under this section;                                                                    
     and                                                                                                                        
               (4)  have completed three semester hours of                                                                      
     Alaska   studies   and    three   semester   hours   in                                                                    
     multicultural      education     or      cross-cultural                                                                    
     communications as described in AS 14.20.020(h).                                                                            
          (c)  A world language expert limited teacher                                                                          
     certificate is  valid for  one school  year and  may be                                                                    
     renewed for  one additional school year  upon a showing                                                                    
     of  substantial  progress   toward  completion  of  the                                                                    
     teacher  education  program  required under  (b)(3)  of                                                                    
     this   section   or   satisfactory  completion   of   a                                                                    
     competency examination.                                                                                                    
          (d)  A person employed as a world language expert                                                                     
     teacher   under   this    section   is   considered   a                                                                    
     certificated   employee   for  purposes   of   AS 14.25                                                                    
     (teachers'  retirement system).  Employment as  a world                                                                    
     language expert  teacher under  this section  counts as                                                                    
     employment  for  purposes  of  acquiring  tenure  under                                                                    
     AS 14.20.150;  however,   a  person  holding   a  world                                                                    
     language expert limited  teacher certificate under this                                                                    
     section  is not  entitled  to tenure  until the  person                                                                    
     receives a teacher certificate under AS 14.20.020.                                                                         
          (e)  The department shall adopt regulations                                                                           
     necessary to implement this section.                                                                                       
          (f)  In this section,                                                                                                 
               (1)  "world language" means a language other                                                                     
     than English;                                                                                                              
               (2)  "world language teacher" is a teacher                                                                       
     qualified to teach under (b) of this section."                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL objected for the purpose of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  explained that  Amendment 2  separates and                                                               
leaves the  Type M [certificate]  in the same section  of statute                                                               
it's  currently located  in and  keeps  it in  its current  form.                                                               
Therefore, native  language speakers may be  certificated with no                                                               
college background,  no competency  test, no  teacher preparation                                                               
program, and  with up to  a 5-year  certificate.  She  noted that                                                               
across  the state  there  are  65 teachers  working  with Type  M                                                               
certificates in those  scenarios.  An example of  this, she said,                                                               
is "the native  elder" who is fluent in the  language and allowed                                                               
to be a fully licensed teacher  in charge of language and culture                                                               
in the  subject area  that they  are certified  in under  Type M.                                                               
Amendment 2  leaves Type M intact  as it is currently  in statute                                                               
and  creates a  new section  under the  law "024,"  which affects                                                               
"the  world language  people."   She said  it requires  that they                                                               
have passed  at least  a bachelors  degree program,  completed or                                                               
are enrolled in  a teacher preparation program, and  creates a 2-                                                               
year window to  be licensed to take the competency  exam and pass                                                               
it before they are fully licensed teachers in Alaska.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REVAK  said he  would like to  hear from  the bill                                                               
sponsor.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS   said  he   respectfully  opposes                                                               
Amendment 2 and asked Mr. Scanlon to speak to the reasons why.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
4:35:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STUTES asked  Representative Hannan  to summarize                                                               
the current Type M certificate.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:35:52 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said  in the current law a  Type M requires                                                               
the sponsorship of a school district for a 5-year certification.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked what happens after 5 years.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN said  the  certification  must be  renewed                                                               
which  requires   the  school  district's  desire   to  host  the                                                               
individual again.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked what changes Amendment 2 makes.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  said it would  leave type  M as it  is and                                                               
create a new section where the  candidate must be on a pathway to                                                               
meeting the  three professional checks  to be a  licensed teacher                                                               
in Alaska: an academic degree,  teacher preparation, a competency                                                               
exam.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:37:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  pointed out  that there is  a limited  world language                                                               
Type W certificate,  which is for non-Native  languages and lists                                                               
many  of   the  requirements  that  Representative   Hannan  just                                                               
mentioned, including a modified competency exam.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN said  she was attempting to  place the Type                                                               
W regulations into statute, with  the addition of a 2-year window                                                               
to pass the competency test.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:39:01 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  noted that  she doesn't see  the advantage                                                               
to getting this particular license over  one of the many that are                                                               
already available.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN  explained that the  Type W was  allowed in                                                               
regulation  without  fitting  into statute  before  they  stopped                                                               
issuing them.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked if Type  W certification is currently                                                               
being issued.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN said  her understanding  is that  the DEED                                                               
[Department  of Education  & Early  Development] stopped  issuing                                                               
"Type W" because  they didn't have the statutory  authority to do                                                               
so.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:40:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SONDRA  MEREDITH, Teacher  Certification Administrator,  Educator                                                               
and  Excellence   Division,  Department  of  Education   &  Early                                                               
Development,  related the  limited  Type W  is  a relatively  new                                                               
option for  teachers of  world languages,  having only  passed to                                                               
regulation within the  past year and a half.   She noted that the                                                               
regulation  falls  under  two  statutes  for  its  authority:  AS                                                               
14.20.020  and AS  14.20.022.   She said  the department  will be                                                               
issuing more Type W when districts use that option.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL sought clarification  on the modified competency test.                                                               
He asked if it is an  English competency test that's easier for a                                                               
non-Native English speaker.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:41:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MEREDITH said  modified means  the individual  would take  a                                                               
content area exam  in their native language and a  portion of the                                                               
basic competency  in mathematics.   This  allows for  the reading                                                               
and  the  writing portions  to  be  done  in  his or  her  native                                                               
language.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked if type W satisfies the intent of Amendment 2.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEREDITH said she hasn't  examined the amendment enough to do                                                               
an  analysis of  it,  adding that  she would  need  more time  to                                                               
reflect before  she could say  whether it's an  exact replication                                                               
of the world language Type W that is currently in regulation.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:43:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HANNAN offered  one  requirement from  regulation                                                               
she did not include in Amendment 2, which is the districts' 2-                                                                  
year mentorship  for a Type W.   She asked if  the department has                                                               
the authority to proceed with Type  W and could meet the concerns                                                               
of the Fronteras program.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEREDITH  shared her understanding that  districts with world                                                               
language programs  are primarily concerned about  native language                                                               
speakers  that  have  the  skills,  language,  and  content  area                                                               
expertise  who  don't intend  on  doing  the teacher  preparation                                                               
program.  She said it's unclear if they are aware of the Type W.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked if Fronteras  staff having trouble  passing the                                                               
competency  exam could  take the  modified exam  in their  native                                                               
language.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MEREDITH confirmed that.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS  offered  his  understanding  that                                                               
Type  W  is  insufficient  in meeting  the  district's  needs  in                                                               
developing  immersion language  programs.   He  opined that  it's                                                               
better than nothing at all  and that the department developed the                                                               
regulations  in response  to the  interest in  immersion language                                                               
education;  however,   it  does  not  give   districts  the  same                                                               
flexibility that would exist under HB 24.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
4:48:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS  said  he  had  hoped  to  get  this  bill                                                               
reported out.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL emphasized that this  is the last committee meeting of                                                               
the year,  so even  if HB  24 were  to be  passed out  today it's                                                               
unclear  what  the future  holds.    He expressed  concern  about                                                               
rushing bills through.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
4:49:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO stated that  he appreciates people trying                                                               
to amend the  bill; however, he opined that  Amendment 2 destroys                                                               
the intent of  HB 24.  He remarked that  he's not concerned about                                                               
Spanish,  Chinese, or  Russian [language]  disappearing from  the                                                               
face of  the planet; however,  he is worried about  Yupik, Aleut,                                                               
and  other  dialects.   He  offered  his understanding  that  the                                                               
original intent of HB 24 was  to have the ability for people with                                                               
various backgrounds  come and work together  directly in Alaska's                                                               
schools  - particularly  in remote  locations where  some of  the                                                               
higher requirements can't be met.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL concurred.   He  offered is  belief that  the Type  M                                                               
certification   currently  in   statute  allows   for  indigenous                                                               
language teachers to  teach in a school  without certification or                                                               
a college degree.  He asked if that is true.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
4:51:33 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  MEREDITH explained  the difference  between current  statute                                                               
and  the  proposed  bill.    She  said  HB  24  would  allow  the                                                               
individual with the expertise in  language to also have a pathway                                                               
to teach  in other content areas  in his or her  native language,                                                               
which is not something currently available.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS further  clarified that  immersion                                                               
language  programs   are  not  allowed   under  current   Type  M                                                               
[certification].                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:53:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  REVAK  offered  his  understanding  that  various                                                               
subject  areas  cannot  be  taught   in  foreign  languages  with                                                               
[current]  Type  M  certification.   He  expressed  concern  that                                                               
Amendment  2  creates  further   barriers  to  entry  for  Native                                                               
speakers and immersion programs.   Consequently, he said he can't                                                               
support it.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
4:54:54 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS agreed  with  Representative Talerico  and                                                               
Representative  Revak's  sentiments.   He  reflected  on  letters                                                               
received  from school  districts  and the  Alaska Association  of                                                               
School Boards asking  for more flexibility regarding  hiring.  He                                                               
pointed  out that  Type  I and  Type M  are  the least  regulated                                                               
certificates and  are in  the area with  the most  innovating and                                                               
exciting  programs, which  means  school districts  want to  have                                                               
good  programs  to hire,  train  and  retain teachers,  including                                                               
those that  speak in  foreign languages.   He  said they  want to                                                               
teach  in good  pedagogy.   With that  in mind,  he said  he will                                                               
continue to oppose Amendment 2.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:58:02 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  sought clarification on  whether immersion                                                               
school instructors  teach subjects  other than the  language they                                                               
were hired to teach.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KREISS-TOMKINS said  at present,  yes.   However,                                                               
under HB 24, immersion schools  could have multiple subject areas                                                               
being taught in a foreign language.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KREISS-TOMKINS, responding  to a follow-up comment                                                               
from Representative Stutes, said HB 24  is "a bill that enables a                                                               
process for local control in districts  to be able to apply on an                                                               
individual  basis for  individuals that  they feel  are qualified                                                               
and on  a track to  become certificated or otherwise  can support                                                               
an immersion program.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  reiterated  representative  Hannan's  concern  about                                                               
tenure and that, after 3  years, these individuals could have the                                                               
same benefits and privileges as  a certified teacher who has gone                                                               
through  a more  rigorous background  and education.   He  argued                                                               
that Amendment 2  would give people a chance  while ensuring that                                                               
they   are  also   competent  in   English  and   taking  teacher                                                               
preparation courses if they have a college degree.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
5:03:18 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY disclosed  that her  daughter teaches  in a                                                               
Tlingit  and Haida  language immersion  preschool  program.   She                                                               
opined that  if local  languages are to  be preserved  the system                                                               
must  be flexible.   She  reminded the  committee that  there are                                                               
safeguards in the original language  of the bill, including board                                                               
certification.   She added that  the superintendent  and teachers                                                               
will be  making the recommendation  for instructional  skills and                                                               
subject matter  expertise.   She said  the idea  behind immersion                                                               
programs is  that the whole day  is taught in the  home language,                                                               
which is  how Alaska  will grow languages.   She  maintained that                                                               
this is  an opportunity for  the system  to be flexible  and save                                                               
local languages.   She argued that  time is of essence  and urged                                                               
members to vote down Amendment 2 and vote on the original bill.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL pointed  out that this bill hasn't  passed through the                                                               
Senate, so  even if it passed  the House it would  not become law                                                               
this year.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:07:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:08:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL turned attention back  to Amendment 2 and subsequently                                                               
removed his objection.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REVAK objected.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
A  roll call  vote was  taken.   Representatives Hannan  and Wool                                                               
voted in favor of Amendment  2.  Representatives Story, Talerico,                                                               
Fields,  and Revak  voted  against it.    Therefore, Amendment  2                                                               
failed by a vote of 2-4.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
5:09:36 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL announced that HB 24 was held over.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
5:09:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
               HB 81-PROHIBIT PLASTIC RETAIL BAGS                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
5:10:10 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL announced that the final order of business would be                                                                  
HOUSE BILL NO. 81, "An Act prohibiting disposable plastic                                                                       
shopping bags; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
5:11:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  ANDY JOSEPHSON,  Alaska State  Legislature, prime                                                               
sponsor, introduced HB  81.  He paraphrased parts  of the sponsor                                                               
statement [included in  the committee packet], which  read in its                                                               
entirety as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     Single-use   plastic   bags    are   harmful   to   our                                                                    
     environment,   our    wildlife,   and    our   economy.                                                                    
     Researchers have  shown that wildlife, such  as caribou                                                                    
     and  moose,  will eat  plastic  bags,  which cannot  be                                                                    
     digested  and   will  ultimately  kill  the   animal                                                                       
     typically   through   starvation.   There   have   been                                                                    
     countless cases  of birds dying from  ingesting plastic                                                                    
     fragments  found   on  beaches,   including  single-use                                                                    
     plastic  bags. Plastics  in the  ocean get  broken down                                                                    
     into microplastics,  which are  finding their  way into                                                                    
     our seafood, which  then finds its way  onto our plates                                                                    
        along with  whatever chemicals  are leaching  out of                                                                    
     the  plastic.   For  a   subsistence  state,   this  is                                                                    
     unacceptable.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Our  resources  should  not be  succumbing  to  plastic                                                                    
     pollution and  our residents should  not have  to worry                                                                    
     about  their   health  after  enjoying   a  subsistence                                                                    
     harvest.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Health and  well-being aside, plastic bag  pollution is                                                                    
     detrimental to  the aesthetic  of our  beautiful state.                                                                    
     It is  up to us as  a state to stop  needless pollution                                                                    
     and change  wasteful behavior. Alaskan  communities are                                                                    
     already stepping  up and taking control;  it's time the                                                                    
     state follows suit. HB 81 is an effort to reduce waste                                                                     
     and pollution and protect our renewable resources.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     HB 81  is also  a first  step Alaska can  take to  be a                                                                    
     responsible  global  environmental stakeholder  and  to                                                                    
     protect  already overstressed  marine ecosystem  of the                                                                    
     North Pacific.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
      I encourage you to support this legislation and urge                                                                      
     you to reach out to my office with any questions.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:13:45 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELISE  SORUM-BIRK, Staff,  Representative Andy  Josephson, Alaska                                                               
State Legislature,  on behalf of Representative  Josephson, prime                                                               
sponsor,  provided a  presentation entitled,  "HB 81  Plastic Bag                                                               
Ban."    Ms.  Sorum-Birk  reminded  the  committee  that  plastic                                                               
pollution is  detrimental to the  environment and wildlife.   She                                                               
informed the committee there is at  least one recorded death of a                                                               
northern fur seal in Alaska due  to entanglement in the loop of a                                                               
plastic  bag  handle  (slide  2).   She  said  plastic  bags  are                                                               
overuse-free and readily accessible;  light and easily carrier by                                                               
the wind  and water; and  the prevalent  type of litter,  both on                                                               
land and in the water.   Furthermore, they are easy to substitute                                                               
with a sturdy, reusable bag (slide 3).                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON  noted that  the  picture  on slide  3,                                                               
taken at Lake  Aleknagik, illustrates that plastic can  end up in                                                               
the most remote places.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK   turned  attention   to  plastic  bags   in  the                                                               
environment.   She stated that polyethylene  does not biodegrade.                                                               
Instead,  it photodegrades  breaking  into  ever smaller  pieces.                                                               
Many organisms  are at  risk for  entanglement and  ingestion and                                                               
fat-soluble  toxins are  linked  to  ingested plastic  particles.                                                               
These POPs,  she said,  accumulate in  animal tissues  and toxins                                                               
increase  in concentration  up the  food  chain (slide  4).   She                                                               
addressed  international policy  trends  regarding plastic  bags.                                                               
More than  40 countries  have a plastic  bag ban;  Bangladesh was                                                               
the  first  in 2002  and  Kenya  has  the  strictest ban  with  a                                                               
punishment of up to 4 years in prison and hefty fines (slide 6).                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:18:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL  asked  why  Europe hasn't  been  as  progressive  in                                                               
banning plastic bags.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK replied  many European  countries have  enacted a                                                               
plastic bag  ban or  fee.  Additionally,  the European  Union has                                                               
passed a resolution to ban all single-use plastics.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:19:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  recalled reading  that a  large percentage                                                               
of plastic  bag pollution came  from several global  watersheds -                                                               
of one which is  in China.  He asked if that  is accurate and how                                                               
recently China banned plastic bags.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK stated that China  and India have both enacted bag                                                               
bans,  as  well  as  many  pacific countries.    She  noted  that                                                               
enforcement has been an issue in both countries.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS asked  for the  percentage of  plastic bag                                                               
waste in  the Gulf of  Alaska that  is from local  sources versus                                                               
from China.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK said  it can be hard to track  the waste stream in                                                               
the Pacific.   She then turned attention to policy  trends in the                                                               
"lower 49" (slide 7).  In  Alaska, 17 communities no longer allow                                                               
plastic bags.   Denali Borough  and Homer are also  considering a                                                               
plastic  bag ban.   She  further described  ways in  which people                                                               
around the  state are attacking  this problem (slides 8-9).   One                                                               
motivation  behind  the  Matsu  ban  was  ruminant  ingestion  of                                                               
plastics.  Plastic bags were  being found in the digestive tracks                                                               
of caribou and moose and were  even the cause of death in several                                                               
cases (slide 10).                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK  summarized  the  sectional analysis  for  HB  81                                                               
[included in the committee packet] and read the following:                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1: Adds a new section AS 46.06                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
         AS 46.06.145(a) establishes a ban on retailers                                                                         
         providing "disposable plastic shopping bag" to                                                                         
     customers.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     AS 46.06.145(b) clarifies exceptions to the bag ban.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
      AS 46.06.145(c) establishes fines for retailers who                                                                       
     violate this section.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
      AS 46.06.145(d) provides definitions for "disposable                                                                      
      plastic shopping bag", "retail seller" and "reusable                                                                      
     bag."                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
5:27:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS  asked how much  we know on the  effects of                                                               
digesting the  photodegraded plastic particles in  salmon and the                                                               
prospective impacts on Alaska salmon fisheries.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK  replied  that   the  corresponding  research  is                                                               
ongoing.   She stated that there  is a high rate  of ingestion in                                                               
fish populations and  bird populations.  More than  50 percent of                                                               
seabirds are found with plastic in their digestive track.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS  questioned  whether  significant  plastic                                                               
pollution  makes  it  difficult  for the  endangered  Cook  Inlet                                                               
beluga population to recover.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
5:29:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK said other harmful  chemicals adhere to the pieces                                                               
of photodegraded plastic  in the ocean, which is  what causes the                                                               
toxicity in the food stream.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK  returned attention to the  sectional analysis and                                                               
related  that section  2 adds  an  effective date  of January  1,                                                               
2021.   This way retailers would  have enough time to  use up the                                                               
plastic bags they have already purchased.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPHSON  offered his belief that  Alaskan cities                                                               
can  no longer  tolerate the  visual impact  of plastic  bags and                                                               
their impact  on wildlife and  fish.   He added that  thinking of                                                               
the  ban  creates  some   inconvenience;  however,  people  would                                                               
adjust.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked if  communities like  Anchorage had  thought of                                                               
Hawaii's approach, in which  every "significant" municipality has                                                               
a ban.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON suggested  doing  something similar  to                                                               
the  smoke-free  workplace  ban   so  communities  could  a  have                                                               
conversation and the option to opt-out.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
5:33:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  suggested that a  ban on plastic bags  would increase                                                               
the use  of paper  bags leading to  a "carbon  dioxide situation"                                                               
due to cutting trees for the paper.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK  acknowledged  that   there  have  been  European                                                               
studies  that found  the production  of  a paper  bag takes  more                                                               
energy  and  a  higher  carbon   footprint.    Plastic  bags  are                                                               
prevalent  because of  those reasons  - they  are cheap,  easy to                                                               
produce,  and  ubiquitous.    However,   the  studies  failed  to                                                               
consider how wildlife in the  marine environment is affected and,                                                               
ultimately, it  is the  impact on the  environment caused  by the                                                               
plastic bag pollution  that is the reason behind this  bill.  She                                                               
pointed out  that the committee  could consider an acting  fee on                                                               
paper bags.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WOOL surmised  that  the impetus  for a  fee  would be  to                                                               
motivate  people  to  buy  a  permanent  cotton  bag  instead  of                                                               
continually being charged for paper [bags].                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK answered yes.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:36:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FIELDS expressed  appreciation  for hearing  this                                                               
bill.  He said given the  amount of money in Alaska's fishing and                                                               
guiding  industry,  he  didn't  realize this  was  an  issue  for                                                               
"terrestrial   creatures."      He   opined   that   taking   the                                                               
precautionary  principal  is  a  wise approach  and  offered  his                                                               
support  for the  passage of  HB  81.   He added  that there  are                                                               
currently  multiple  stresses  on Alaska's  fisheries,  including                                                               
temperature and rising  levels of acidity, which  makes it harder                                                               
for  species to  reproduce.   He said  he would  hate to  see the                                                               
cessation of the  Bristol Bay fishery given how much  money is at                                                               
stake.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
5:37:12 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REVAK expressed  concern about poly-reusable bags,                                                               
which  contain more  plastic, becoming  litter and  suggested the                                                               
use of biodegradable plastic.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK said the problem  with compostable plastic is that                                                               
it  takes  a certain  heat  level  to biodegrade;  therefore,  an                                                               
industrial composting facility is necessary.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REVAK  contended that  plastic bags  are suggested                                                               
to be  a more  environmentally friendly  solution to  paper bags.                                                               
He  indicated  that the  impact  could  be  litter that  is  more                                                               
durable from the reusable bags.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK explained  that they  defined "reusable  bags" as                                                               
sturdy  enough to  be  reused at  a  minimum of  75  times.   She                                                               
directed attention to page 2,  lines 23-30, emphasizing that they                                                               
must be made with plastic that is  at least four mils thick.  She                                                               
noted that such a bag would not degrade quickly.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE REVAK  reaffirmed that  it would take  even longer                                                               
for the reusable  bags to biodegrade and  could potentially cause                                                               
even more of a hazard and have counter effective results.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON argued  that the  current plastic  bags                                                               
travel whereas  the thicker  mil bags won't.   He  explained that                                                               
the thicker mil  will accumulate like normal garbage,  which is a                                                               
secondary concern.   He offered his belief that  plastic bags are                                                               
the poster  child because they  get stuck in trees,  for example,                                                               
for years.   He said its depressing and invokes  the feeling that                                                               
the state is disrespected.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
5:43:03 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TALERICO   noted  that   he  has  heard   a  very                                                               
aggressive stance that  this is a local issue from  people in his                                                               
district.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:44:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN pointed out that  much of Alaska remains an                                                               
unorganized borough  which the legislature is  the governing body                                                               
for; therefore, if the legislature does not act there is no ban.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TALERICO  replied  that tribal  governments  have                                                               
been   recognized   as  being   sovereign.      He  offered   his                                                               
understanding that they  would have the ability to  apply the ban                                                               
in many locations.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL  asked if  switching to  thicker [plastic]  bags would                                                               
sufficiently solve the problem.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS. SORUM-BIRK said 4 mils thick is substantial.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL asked  if the bill has requirements on  the types that                                                               
businesses can use.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:48:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON  said  it  would restrict  the  use  of                                                               
plastic bags for them as well.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SORUM-BIRK  said  in  the bill,  a  retail  seller  includes                                                               
market, grocery store, convenience  store, drug store, or similar                                                               
establishment; it  must be  located in  a permanent  building; it                                                               
must be selling consumer household supplies.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
5:49:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN asked if the  bill sponsor envisioned HB 24                                                               
incorporating restaurants.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOSEPHSON said  yes, contingent  on how  "similar                                                               
establishment" is defined.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR   WOOL  questioned   how  Anchorage   deals  with   smaller                                                               
businesses regarding their bag ban.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
5:51:51 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WOOL announced HB 81 was held over.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
5:52:28 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no  further business before the  committee, the House                                                               
Labor and  Commerce Standing Committee  meeting was  adjourned at                                                               
[5:52] p.m.                                                                                                                     

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 127.Bill CS Version M.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Sponsor.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Sectional.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Fiscal DHHS2.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Fiscal DHHS.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Fiscal DCCED.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Melissa Davis.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Alaska Dental HPSA.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup State by State.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support ADHA.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Alaska Primary Care Association.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Dental Hygiene Advanced Practice.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Jeff Kilgore.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Letters May 1.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 127.Backup Support Letters.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 127
HB 24.Bill version A.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Sponsor.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Sectional.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Fiscal Note DEED.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Updated Support Letters 4.24.19.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HL&C 2/17/2020 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Immersion Student Acheivement.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Support Letter ANLPAC.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Support Letter Leslie Harper.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Support Letter Margi Dashevsky.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Support Letters.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Backup Teacher Certificate Types.docx HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Amendment 1.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 24.Amendment 2.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 24
HB 81.Bill Version B.PDF HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Sponsor.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Sectional.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Fiscal.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Summary of Changes.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Opposition Donna Marsh .pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Opposition Letter.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Presentation.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support ADN.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Alcanna.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Letter AYEA.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Letter Bags of Change.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Letter Forbes.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Letter Haines.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Marine Debris in US.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Marine Debris.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support New York Times.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support NPR.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Peninsula Clarion.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support UN Ocean Conference.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81
HB 81.Backup Support Washington Post.pdf HL&C 5/13/2019 3:15:00 PM
HB 81