Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
03/04/2021 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB18 | |
| HB62 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 62 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 4, 2021
3:02 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Chair
Representative Geran Tarr
Representative Andi Story
Representative Matt Claman
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative James Kaufman
Representative David Eastman
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 18
"An Act relating to national board certification for public
school teachers."
- HEARD & HELD
HOUSE BILL NO. 62
"An Act relating to solemnization of marriage."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 18
SHORT TITLE: TEACHERS: NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) KREISS-TOMKINS
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/8/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) STA, EDC
02/25/21 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/25/21 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/02/21 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
03/02/21 (H) Heard & Held
03/02/21 (H) MINUTE(STA)
03/04/21 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
BILL: HB 62
SHORT TITLE: MARRIAGE WITNESSES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CLAMAN
02/18/21 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/15/21
02/18/21 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/18/21 (H) STA, JUD
02/25/21 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
02/25/21 (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --
03/04/21 (H) STA AT 3:00 PM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
LISA PARADY, PhD, Executive Director
Alaska Council of School Administrators
Alaska Superintendents Association
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony in support of HB
18.
TOM KLAAMEYER, President
National Education Association - Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony pertaining to HB
18.
SOPHIE JONAS, Staff
Representative Matt Claman
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented a sectional analysis of HB 62, on
behalf of Representative Claman, prime sponsor.
CIAN MULHERN, Reverend
Celtic Ministries
Wasilla, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided invited testimony pertaining to HB
62.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:02:23 PM
CHAIR JONATHAN KREISS-TOMKINS called the House State Affairs
Standing Committee meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
Representatives Story, Vance, Claman, Tarr, Kaufman, and Kreiss-
Tomkins were present at the call to order. Representative
Eastman arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 18-TEACHERS: NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
3:04:55 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 18, "An Act relating to national board
certification for public school teachers."
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS reopened invited testimony.
3:05:40 PM
LISA PARADY, PhD, Executive Director, Alaska Council of School
Administrators (ACSA)/Alaska Superintendents Association (ASA),
testified in support of HB 18. She stated ASA's belief that
supporting national board certification for public school
teachers is important, adding that every Alaska student deserves
a qualified teacher and promoting national board certification
is an "excellent" pathway to achieving that goal. A primary
purpose of ACSA is to provide a collective voice for Alaska's
school superintendents, K-12 principals, school business
officials, and all school administrators who work hard to serve
students across Alaska. Furthermore, ACSA identified that
recruiting, retaining, and preparing qualified educators as a
top priority for Alaska schools. She said research demonstrates
that teacher quality is the most influential school-based factor
in student achievement, and national board certification
promotes teacher quality by encouraging teachers to reach the
highest available benchmarks in their field. She reported that
as of 2019, Alaska is ranked twenty-fifth in the nation for
percentage of teachers receiving national board certification
with 2.57 percent certified. She noted that ACSA supports the
ambitious goal set out in this legislation of 4 percent of
Alaska teachers receiving national board certification. She
relayed that certification costs $1,900 plus a registration fee
of $75 and typically takes three years to complete.
Certification is administered by the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) - a nonprofit
organization - who's mission is "to advance the quality of
teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards
for what accomplished teachers should know and ... do, and by
providing a national voluntary system certifying teachers who
meet these standards." She explained that candidates for
national board certification must complete four components:
content knowledge; differentiation and instruction; teaching
practice and learning environment; effective and reflective
practitioner. Teachers must submit all four components within
the first three years of their candidacy. She further noted
that there is a limited five-year window to achieve
certification.
3:09:15 PM
DR. PARADY relayed that by comparison, Alaska has 202 nationally
board certified teachers and 23 current candidates; Hawaii has
728 nationally board certified teachers and 239 current
candidates; and Washington has 11,521 nationally board certified
teachers and 1,600 candidates. She indicated that there are
different levels of incentives to support national board
certification. For example, in 1998, Washington's Office of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction offered to fund 50 percent
of the application fees for 35-40 candidates per year through a
grant program. Furthermore, in 1999, the Washington State
Legislature allocated $327,000 for 15 percent salary increases
for teachers with national board certification over the
following two years. She added that currently, teachers
achieving certification in Washington receive a salary
enhancement of $3,500 per year; national board certification
also fulfills the initial certification requirements for a
Washington state professional level certificate. She went on to
note that in many cases, teachers who hold national board
certification are recognized as leaders and take on enhanced
leadership roles, which is important for developing new teachers
who receive mentorship. Consequently, she indicated that
national board certification can improve new teacher quality and
retention. In closing, she stated increasing the share of
Alaska teachers with national board certification is an
important step along with comprehensively addressing teacher
recruitment and retention to improve Alaska schools for all
students. She said ACSA/ASA is proud to support this policy and
the goal of providing an effective teacher for all students.
She advised the committee to review the letter of support from
ASA [included in the committee packet].
3:12:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE EASTMAN questioned how a teacher maintains
national board certification and what it costs.
DR. PARADY shared her belief that there is no additional cost
once certification is obtained.
3:13:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY pointed out that national board
certification is potentially limited to teachers with adequate
income and available time. She emphasized the importance of
considering equity in regard to obtaining national board
certification. In reference to the incentives offered by
Washington state, she recalled speaking to a legislator who said
given another chance, the monetary incentive would have been
awarded to teachers who work in high-poverty schools due to the
shortage of teachers high-poverty areas. She asked if ACSA/ASA
has considered creating a scholarship fund for teachers seeking
their national board certification.
DR. PARADY said the Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) -
the largest provider of professional development for educators
in Alaska - is one of the organizations under the umbrella
association of ACSA. She explained that in ASDN working on the
Increasing Performance and Retention in Alaska's Rural Schools
(IPRARS) [grant] in partnership with Alaska Gateway School
District, Nenana School District, Northwest Arctic Borough
School District, and Yukon-Koyukuk School District to increase
the number of teachers with national board certification. The
program would support teachers' tuition and provide
collaborative and motivational processes via monthly meetings,
pooling of questions, and peer support. She said the idea is to
pilot the program to see if it increases the number of board-
certified teachers across Alaska; if successful, the program
could be replicated in other parts of the state. Although it's
not a scholarship, she said, ACSA is trying to support teachers
in achieving this rigorous certification.
3:18:26 PM
TOM KLAAMEYER, President, National Education Association -
Alaska (NEA-AK), thanked Chair Kreiss-Tomkins for introducing
this legislation and jumpstarting the conversation about
excellent educators. He provided a brief explanation of his
professional background, highlighting his 25 years of experience
as an educator in Anchorage. He said national board
certification is an advanced certification beyond Alaska
licensure that is considered it a "true mark of excellence" and
a teaching professional's highest credential. He relayed the
level of difficulty involved via a colleague's description as
"one of the most difficult things they've ever done - even more
so than earning their master's degree." One of the key
characteristics of the process, he said, is the intense scrutiny
that educators place on their own pedagogue through self-
analysis and meticulous analysis of their own work to improve
their classroom practices. He suggested that this legislation
could go a long way in addressing two difficulties that exist in
Alaska's professional education system: student achievement and
teacher retention. He indicated that across the nation, student
outcomes of nationally board certified teachers are greater than
those with state licensure. A 2017 study in Mississippi found
students of teachers with national board certification were more
likely to receive a proficient score on key literacy assessments
than their peers, specifically in kindergarten and third grade.
Additionally, a multi-year study in Washington suggested that
students of teachers with national board certification learned
the equivalent of an additional one and a half months' worth of
learning in the school year than students of other teachers.
Another study by Harvard University's Strategic Data Project
showed similar results in the Los Angeles County Unified School
District.
3:23:28 PM
MR. KLAAEMEYER went on to the address the teacher "traction" and
retention crisis in Alaska. According to the Institute of
Social and Economic Research (ISER), teacher turnover in Alaska
can reach 20-30 percent with "spike years" reaching even higher
in many rural districts. Other states, such as Florida, South
Carolina, and Ohio have demonstrated national board
certification as a proven tool in retaining excellent educators.
South Carolina, for example, demonstrated that teachers who hold
national board certification are three times more likely to stay
than teachers without that certification. Furthermore, he
pointed out that teachers with national board certification
become mentors for other teachers, especially those in their
early career, indicating that national certification impacts
students, other educators, and students of those educators,
creating system-wide improvement rather than isolated pockets of
excellence. Mr. Klaaemeyer informed the committee that NEA-AK
wholeheartedly supports efforts to increase the number of
teachers with national board certification in Alaska.
Nonetheless, he suggested creating a financial incentive program
that goes beyond recognizing certification by helping teachers
achieve that goal. He reported that national board
certification costs around $2,000 to apply for initial
certification and another $50-$60 plus $500 in fees for renewal
purposes every five years. Contrary to Dr. Parady's testimony,
he reported that Washington and Alabama provided an annual
incentive of up to $5,000 plus an additional $5,000 per year for
working in high-needs districts. He noted that the same
approach was taken in the Thirtieth Alaska Legislature in SB
188. He reported that Deleware pays a 12 percent premium on top
of a base salary for teachers with national board certification.
Additionally, there are at least 25 other states that offer a
financial remuneration for nationally board certified teachers
who have invested the time, money, and dedication required to
earn this distinction.
3:28:04 PM
MR. KLAAEMEYR highlighted NEA-AK's annual jumpstart program - an
intensive one-week institute for members that provides support
and guidance through the national board certification
application process. He reminded the committee that there are
currently 202 teachers with national board certification in
Alaska and 23 candidates who have applied. He recalled that
according to ISER, the cost associated with replacing a teacher
who leaves is $20,000 for recruitment and training. He
indicated that investing in educators by providing an annual
incentive would save the state money, help keep quality teachers
in Alaska, and increase outcomes for students in this state.
3:30:11 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR pointed out that teaching is not a highly
paid profession. She expressed concern that despite their
interest in national board certification, teachers might not be
able to afford it. She aspired for a situation in which any
interested educator would have access, regardless of his/her
ability to pay.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS noted that the bill was drafted from a
modest starting point given the state of the budget. He
emphasized his robust support for every incentive the state
could offer, adding that it would be in Alaska's interest to
have every educator on a path to self-improvement. He
approximated that reimbursing the fees for national board
certification would cost around $100,000 and went on to say it
would be an incredible return on investment for Alaska.
REPRESENTATIVE TARR agreed that with only 23 applicants, the
state could afford to support a class of that size.
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN questioned whether there is an actual
cost to the state that is not yet apparent. Furthermore, he
requested more data regarding the efficacy of national board
certification, such that the cause and effect is substantiated.
3:33:45 PM
MR. KLAAEMEYER offered to provide citations for the research
referenced in his testimony. In response to Representative
Tarr, he said some districts in Alaska are already providing an
annual bonus, although none terribly sizeable. He added that in
terms of paying for the national board certification itself,
most [incentives] tend to recognize that achievement through a
bonus, salary premium, or rebate for costs. He expressed
interest in taking a novel approach to assistance in the form of
upfront loans for those that can't afford it, which are then
forgiven after certification is earned.
3:35:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE expressed her concern about passing a law
that requires schools to post a sign. Instead, she suggested
looking at what local school districts are already doing and
incentivizing them to engage in the process and to support the
teachers they have. She also recommended grants, scholarships,
and solutions that don't look to the state to fill this need.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS asked Dr. Parady to comment on
Representative Vance's question from a district perspective.
3:37:15 PM
DR. PARADY acknowledged the importance of local support and
focusing on programs and initiatives that best support school
districts; further, she agreed that pursuing grants is a good
idea. Nonetheless, she said many states recognize that
[national board certification] is so rigorous that it's worth
investing in. She reiterated that the long-term results produce
increased student achievement; therefore, it's worth approaching
from multiple angles, including local incentivization and
support, as well as incentives directly related to obtaining
national board certification.
3:39:17 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony. After
ascertaining that no one wished to testify, he closed public
testimony. He announced that HB 18 was held over.
HB 62-MARRIAGE WITNESSES
3:40:15 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 62, "An Act relating to solemnization of
marriage."
3:40:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN, prime sponsor, introduced HB 62 by
paraphrasing the sponsor statement [included in the committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
At present, during the solemnization of marriage,
couples must assent to the marriage in the presence of
each other, the person solemnizing the marriage, and
at least two additional witnesses. Afterward, all
parties must sign the marriage certificates. House
Bill 62 would eliminate the requirements of any
additional witnesses at the marriage solemnization and
the signatures of these witnesses on marriage
certificates in an effort to help support Alaska's
destination wedding industry while preserving the
integrity of marriage solemnizations.
Alaska is one of 20 states that require two wedding
witnessesthe upper limit of wedding witness
requirements nationwide. Twenty-four states and the
District of Columbia do not require wedding witnesses
at all. Wedding witnesses played a more critical role
in past centuries when record keeping was less
automated. Witnesses could be contacted to verify the
wedding had taken place in the event that records were
damaged or missing. Today, however, the role of a
wedding witness is ceremonial. In Alaska, while the
person solemnizing the marriage must meet certain
criteria, no form of witness verification (proof of
identification, language comprehension, address
validation, etc.) is required. HB 62 would allow
Alaska to compete with states like Hawaii and Florida,
which require no wedding witnesses and lead the nation
in destination weddings.
Destination weddings are a growing business in Alaska,
especially as couples opt for small, intimate
ceremonies rather than large ones due to risks
associated with COVID-19. But the requirement of two
wedding witnesses makes Alaska a less attractive
location for many who travel from farther away or who
do not want the financial burden of a larger wedding.
Couples who come to the state without their own
witnesses are tasked with finding strangers to witness
their wedding. The burden of supplying these witnesses
often falls to those who work in Alaska's wedding
industry who ask friends and family to witness the
weddings of their out-of-town clients. Especially
during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard for out-of-
state couples to find two witnesses and couples may be
reluctant to have strangers as their wedding
witnesses. The additional witness requirement can also
place an increased financial burden on the couple. For
example, for a remote location wedding, such as a
glacier, the couple must pay extra seating costs to
transport the witnesses.
At present, destination weddings bring in an estimated
$1 million in revenue to Alaska in the form of roughly
500 destination weddings a year. This revenue figure
doesn't consider the fact that more than 90% of the
out-of-state couples who come to Alaska to get married
stay for days and weeks to explore our great state.
The resulting benefit to Alaska's tourism industry is
substantial.
3:44:12 PM
SOPHIE JONAS, Staff, Representative Matt Claman, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Claman, prime sponsor,
presented a sectional analysis of HB 62 [included in the
committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Section 1
AS 25.05.301. Form of solemnization.
Eliminates requirement of two witnesses at a marriage
solemnization ceremony.
Section 2
AS 25.05.321. Certificates.
Eliminates requirement of the signatures of two
witnesses on marriage certificates.
Section 3
AS 25.05.361. Unlawful solemnization of marriage.
Deletes language to conform with changes made in
section 1 of the bill.
Section 4
AS 25.05.041. Matters insufficient to render marriage
voidable.
Repeals subsections (a)(3) and (a)(5) to conform with
changes made in section 1 of the bill.
3:45:04 PM
MS. JONAS introduced a testimonial video, which was viewed by
the committee from 3:45 p.m. to 3:49 p.m.
3:49:10 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS recalled hearing this legislation two years
ago. He offered his belief that "it was great legislation, and
nothing has changed."
3:49:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KAUFMAN asked whether weddings are taking place
via Zoom. After receiving confirmation, he asked if the bill
would affect Zoom weddings.
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN stated that the bill would not affect
weddings attended via Zoom. Further, he shared his
understanding that the witness requirement could not be
satisfied by a Zoom witness and would still require a person to
be physically present. He questioned why Alaska is still
following a law from 1700s era England, during which time the
church was keeping records instead of the state. He reiterated
that people are attending weddings via Zoom, but this bill has
no impact on that.
3:51:06 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened invited testimony.
3:51:38 PM
CIAN MULHERN, Reverend, Celtic Ministries, informed the
committee that he is an ordained minister with 21 years of
experience performing weddings in other states, including those
with no witness requirement. He said this is a big problem in
Alaska, noting that over 90 percent of his clientele are coming
from other parts of the world and don't know anyone in the
state. He explained that couples become uneasy when they are
required to have a stranger attend their wedding as a witness,
especially during the exchange of vows. Furthermore, he
reported that witnesses are not being used to verify the
couples' identity - as the Bureau of Vital Statistics [Health
analytics & Vital Records Section, DHSS] is responsible for
checking IDs - nor to verify that the wedding took place and was
performed in the proper manner. He opined that the bill is
smart for the wedding industry in Alaska. He offered to address
the previous inquiry regarding Zoom weddings.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS welcomed his perspective on the subject of
Zoom weddings.
3:53:57 PM
MR. MULHERN said prior to COVID-19, no states allowed Zoom
weddings; however, two states, including New York, currently
allow people to marry via Zoom due to COVID-19. He opined that
the practice would not last a long, adding that it is not
significant to the witness requirement. Returning to
Representative Kaufman's question, he said, "no, you could not
perform a wedding on Zoom because the witnesses do have to be
present at the time of the wedding."
3:54:44 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced HB 62 was held over.
3:55:13 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 3:55
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 18 Letter of Support from ASA.pdf |
HSTA 3/4/2021 3:00:00 PM |
HB 18 |