Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/02/2014 08:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB216 | |
| HB162 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| * | SB 216 | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| = | HB 162 | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
April 2, 2014
8:00 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Stevens, Chair
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Vice Chair
Senator Bert Stedman
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 216
"An Act relating to sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness
and prevention efforts in public schools; establishing a task
force in the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault;
and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 162(EDC) AM
"An Act relating to tenure of public school teachers; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 216
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
SPONSOR(s): RULES
03/28/14 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/28/14 (S) EDC, FIN
03/31/14 (S) EDC WAIVED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE,RULE
23
04/02/14 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: HB 162
SHORT TITLE: TEACHER TENURE
SPONSOR(s): T.WILSON
03/11/13 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/11/13 (H) EDC
03/22/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/22/13 (H) Heard & Held
03/22/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/27/13 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
03/27/13 (H) Moved CSHB 162(EDC) Out of Committee
03/27/13 (H) MINUTE(EDC)
03/28/13 (H) EDC RPT CS(EDC) 3DP 4NR
03/28/13 (H) DP: SADDLER, P.WILSON, GATTIS
03/28/13 (H) NR: LEDOUX, DRUMMOND, REINBOLD, SEATON
04/04/13 (H) AM NO 3 TABLED Y28 N8 E4
04/04/13 (H) PASSAGE OF BILL NOT IN ORDER MOTION
WITHDRAWN
04/04/13 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
04/04/13 (H) VERSION: CSHB 162(EDC) AM
04/05/13 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/05/13 (S) EDC
03/31/14 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/31/14 (S) Heard & Held
03/31/14 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/02/14 (S) EDC AT 8:00 AM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
AMY SALTZMAN, Staff
Senator Lesil McGuire
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 216 on behalf of the sponsor.
SENATOR LESIL MCGUIRE
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SB 216.
LAUREE MORTON, Executive Director
Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Department of Public Safety
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information related to SB 216.
JESSICA LAMASTER, Executive Director
Haven House
Homer, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 216.
FLORA RODDY, Member
Education Support Staff Association
Fairbanks North Star School District
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 216.
CAREN ROBINSON, Executive Director
Alaska Women's Lobby
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SB 216.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions related to HB 162.
DIANE HIRSHBERG, Director
Center for Alaska Education Policy Research
Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
University of Alaska-Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to HB 162.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:00:49 AM
CHAIR GARY STEVENS called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Gardner, Stedman, Huggins, Dunleavy, and
Chair Stevens.
SB 216-SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS
8:01:21 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of SB 216. He noted
that version N was before the committee.
SENATOR DUNLEAVY moved to adopt the CS for SB 216, labeled 28-
LS1617\N, as the working document before the committee.
CHAIR STEVENS objected for discussion purposes.
AMY SALTZMAN, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented SB 216 on behalf of the
sponsor. She said the only change in version N is the removal of
the task force. She read the sponsor statement:
SB 216, or Erin's Law, addresses a devastating
epidemic of child abuse. It will help to empower our
communities by educating children, parents, and
teachers, and give them the opportunity to speak out.
This bill does this by requiring school districts to
develop age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault
awareness and prevention from age kindergarten through
twelfth grade. This bill is part of a national effort
that has been spearheaded by Erin Merryn, an advocate
and sexual abuse survivor. She has made it her mission
to enact this legislation in all fifty states. To
date, there are versions of Erin's Law that have been
enacted in eight states. Twenty-five states, including
Alaska, are considering a version of the bill.
MS. SALTZMAN related that Erin Merryn, sponsor of the bill,
recently visited Alaska. She noted testimony by Ms. Merryn
available to the committee. She shared statistics, noting the
devastating problem of sex abuse in Alaska.
8:04:41 AM
SENATOR LESIL MCGUIRE, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 216, introduce a video of the writer of the bill,
Erin Merryn. In the video, Ms. Merryn shared her personal story
and the reasons she has brought forth the bill. She listed the
reasons that she made it her mission to ensure that all states
have a law that requires school districts to develop age-
appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention
from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
8:10:56 AM
She said that kids are not taught about the people they know and
trust that can hurt them. She referred to the Jerry Sandusky
story. She shared statistics about the survivors of sexual
abuse. She said she has made it her life mission to make her
voice heard and turn her experience into a positive situation.
She maintained that sexual abuse is a national epidemic. She
shared that she found her voice when she discovered her sister
was also being abused.
She related that there are 26 states that are considering this
legislation. She said that health teachers, counselors, and
psychologists in schools can provide this curriculum as they
have been doing in Anchorage for 15 years. She hoped the law
will end the horror of child abuse. She urged support for the
bill.
8:15:50 AM
CHAIR STEVENS thanked the sponsor.
SENATOR MCGUIRE said Ms. Merryn is a remarkable person and a
survivor. She emphasized that educating young people does work.
She listed several components of the curriculum. She said Alaska
leads the nation in child abuse. Under Title 18, educators are
already trained in domestic violence awareness and sexual
assault and it is appropriate to train teachers in this subject.
8:18:48 AM
SENATOR MCGUIRE spoke of other training programs for other
subjects in school curriculum, but the lack of training about
sexual abuse. She described a case in Illinois where after the
"swimsuit" lesson was taught, six kids told the health teacher
that they had been the victims of sexual abuse. She said the
consequences of sexual abuse leads to drug abuse, incarceration,
and other problems. She stressed that we need to do all that we
can to prevent sexual abuse from happening. She encouraged
legislators to pass the bill.
8:22:21 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked why Alaska leads the nation.
SENATOR MCGUIRE related that northern climates lead the nation
in sex abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, and suicide rates.
Also, isolation, which Alaska has, makes it easy for
perpetrators. High levels of drug and alcohol addictions lead to
a higher rate of sexual abuse and assault. She noted some of the
solutions to these problems are found in the healing of
addictions, providing hope for economic opportunities, having
safe houses, and adopting prevention curriculum.
8:25:51 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS questioned whether treatment is effective for
sex abusers.
SENATOR MCGUIRE said the recidivism rate of child sexual assault
is very high - above 80 percent. Oregon has had some success
with a containment program using electronic monitors and lie
detector tests. Recidivism rates are lower with younger people,
but still not good. By the time perpetrators are caught, the
odds that they have assaulted many more children is very high.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if those who abuse were abused.
SENATOR MCGUIRE said she has read a lot of literature on this
subject. She concurred that this is almost always the case. The
cycle of abuse repeats itself, which highlights why intervention
is needed early on. Abusers become perpetrators and the cycle
repeats, especially in Alaska with alcohol addiction and abuse.
8:30:46 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the gender factor.
SENATOR MCGUIRE said overwhelmingly it is males who are the
perpetrators. Seldom do women abuse. Males are the perpetrators
against both young women and young men. She voiced appreciation
for the leadership of legislators to help break the cycle of
violence.
8:33:05 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked how parents can help promote this message.
SENATOR MCGUIRE commented that some parents are not involved in
their child's education and lives. She said parents need to be
part of the conversation. She suggested age-appropriate PSA's.
She said she is open to adding more ideas for involving parents
on page 2, line 5.
8:36:44 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS noted that some parents prefer that their
children not be exposed to sexual abuse prevention.
SENATOR MCGUIRE understood that parents are allowed to opt out
of sex education and the bill's curriculum would fall under that
category.
CHAIR STEVENS pointed out that a parent could be the
perpetrator.
SENATOR MCGUIRE agreed it is a complex issue. She said PSA's
might work. She noted it is a crime of silence, as Ms. Merryn
stated.
8:39:43 AM
SENATOR GARDNER talked about how kids are put in the position of
protecting their family. It is not unusual for parents to also
be victims. She noted denial is generational. Allowing parents
to opt out might impact a child's ability to hear an important
lesson. She opined that the lessons could be taught delicately.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he supports the bill, but some people are
not delicate. He said he is sensitive to parental prerogative.
CHAIR STEVENS wished to work more on parental involvement and
parental rights.
8:42:42 AM
LAUREE MORTON, Executive Director, Council on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault, Department of Public Safety, Juneau, Alaska,
presented information related to SB 216. She shared that the
Council helps to develop curricula for these topics. She shared
information about an initiative that started last year through
the Governor's Choose Respect Initiative, where the Network on
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and the Council went out
into the state and held focus groups of parents. They asked how
they could support parents in having conversations with their
children and create a safer space for them. She handed out a
brochure with a campaign slogan of "Talk Now, Talk Often" to
help parents get familiar with what is going on in their kids'
lives. The questions in the brochure get the conversation going.
Future questions will be more sensitive in nature. She
emphasized that there are parents who are interested in helping
their children cope with unsafe situations. She noted a website
with the same name.
MS. MORTON mentioned a conference in Anchorage that provided
various educational programs to parents and teachers. She said
the current law says "encourages" such programs; Erin's Law will
"require" them. She said the department stands ready to assist
school districts with skills development for teaching the
curriculum. She understood that cost is a concern to districts.
She offered that on the Office of Children's Services website
there is curriculum called "Reporting Child Abuse in Alaska," a
lesson for mandated reporters of child abuse.
MS. MORTON related that for the past six months, a workgroup
made up of the Council, the Network, DEED, DHSS, the Association
of Alaska School Boards, and other community representatives has
been looking at K-5 curriculum. The goal is to come up with two
to three choices of best practices for the state. There are
evidence-based curricula available nationally. She said the
"Fourth R" - relationships - is the name of a Canadian,
evidence-based curriculum for students in grades 7 - 9 that has
been adapted for use in Alaska schools. Over 53 schools have
sent teachers for this training. Selected schools are being
evaluated for this project and this summer the findings will be
available. She concluded that the Council has been very
thoughtful about encouraging districts in implementing
curricula.
8:50:20 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked who are mandated reporters.
MS. MORTON said that there is a list under Title 47 that
includes teachers, health care professionals, victim service
providers, police officers, and others. She offered to provide
that information.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about bullying.
MS. MORTON agreed it is a serious problem. There are peer
educators who are good mentors to younger students. "Coaching
Boys into Men" promotes respectful treatment of women and girls.
There are PSA's that address high school dating violence and
bullying behavior.
8:53:20 AM
SENATOR GARDNER said when she visited schools she asked if they
were in compliance with the newly mandated suicide prevention
training and what strategies they were using to deal with
bullying. The schools said they were working with the Social and
Emotional Learning (SEL) program that focuses on helping kids
identify their own emotional state and to understand other's
emotional states. She read the list of who is mandated to report
under AS 47.17.020.
8:55:33 AM
JESSICA LAMASTER, Executive Director, Haven House, Homer,
Alaska, testified in support of SB 216. She said she is a member
of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,
chair of the Alaska Children's Alliance, and a mother of a
toddler. She said she has interviewed hundreds of sexually
abused children and it is their voices that compel her to
testify in support of the bill. She related that some children
do not have safe adults in their lives or they do not know how
to talk about their abuse. Erin's Law will reduce the stigma of
talking about sexual abuse and teach children that it is ok to
tell, that adults care and will protect them.
CHAIR STEVENS thanked her for her work. He said he is surprised
that some children have no one safe to talk to.
SENATOR GARDNER said she knows of children who come into state
custody and the adults in their family cannot think of a safe
person to take care of them.
8:59:19 AM
FLORA RODDY, Member, Education Support Staff Association,
Fairbanks North Star School District, Fairbanks, Alaska,
testified in support of SB 216. She said she is also a member of
NEA and NEA-Alaska, which supports the bill. She shared a
personal story of abuse. She said this legislation is important
because it touches many lives. "All children need to know how to
find someone they can trust to tell and make this stop."
CHAIR STEVENS appreciated Ms. Roddy's testimony.
CAREN ROBINSON, Executive Director, Alaska Women's Lobby,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of SB 216. She related that
many Lobby members helped to develop some of the early programs
designed to use in schools. She spoke highly of the support of
the Governor and Lauree Morton, as well as the Council on
Domestic Violence staff's ability to help carry out this policy.
She provided history of Alaska's efforts to combat domestic
violence and sexual assault and shared how far Alaska has come.
She recalled past efforts to stop domestic violence through
education and by developing a curriculum to address it. She
shared a three-pronged approach; teacher training, parent
training, children training. She highlighted strong education
programs in Bethel, Kenai, Fairbanks, and Juneau.
She told stories of discovering who the perpetrators were; the
director of a youth program in Juneau, the assistant attorney
general, the president of the school board, the director of Big
Brothers, Big Sisters, ministers, and family members, as well as
the lead sexual assault investigator. Since then, the statute of
limitations law has been eliminated as it pertains to child
sexual assault.
She reported that today physicians ask children if they are safe
at home, teachers are required to report, many children learn
about good touch and bad touch, reports of domestic violence
result in arrests, offenders are locked up, shelters exist, and
people are telling their stories. The Governor and others have
responded and victims are not alone in the state any more. She
stressed that it is time to put a curriculum in all schools and
have systems in place to prosecute cases that come to light.
9:08:43 AM
CHAIR STEVENS thanked Ms. Robinson. He inquired if good
reporting yields high rates of abuse.
MS. ROBINSON commented that there is a strong reporting system
in Alaska now. The Council and its executive director are
strong. She related that the Council was set up under Governor
Hammond and Terry Miller. It was supposed to be made up of five
members with commissioners at the table. She opined that experts
and commissioners need to sit at the table. There is a strong
shelter network with 21 programs. This issue has been brought to
the forefront by domestic violence programs.
9:12:25 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS stated that society is an observer of this
problem, noting the recidivism rate is 80 percent. He said
Governor Parnell has made this issue a cornerstone of his
administration. He requested stronger support for his goals.
He asked Ms. Robinson to name two priorities surrounding this
problem.
MS. ROBINSON agreed that the Governor has been a strong leader
in this issue, as well as have past governors. She referred to
working with then-Senator Parnell to help pass the 1996 Domestic
Violence Laws. She stressed the importance of taking this issue
seriously and funding support systems; there must be support
services in place. She shared a personal story. She encouraged
bringing the victims to the table and allowing them to have
their say.
9:16:59 AM
SENATOR HUGGINS stated his belief in capital punishment. He
submitted that sexual abusers have "taken a life". He spoke of
the cycle of abuse. He suggested that sexual abuse is worse than
taking a life.
MS. ROBINSON suggested that, "We have to get to our boys early."
She said it is important to have programs in school to get young
men into counseling. She shared a personal story about abuse in
her family. It is important to make sure young boys learn to
make better choices.
SENATOR GARDNER commented about a possible repercussion of
capital punishment; a child could be told, "If you tell,
something very bad will happen." She questioned what would
happen if daddy is the perpetrator. She said it involves
complicated emotions and the abuse is not the entire person. She
maintained that the consequences should be swift and complete,
but execution is not the answer.
MS. ROBINSON shared a story and concluded that when the
perpetrator gets out of jail, access to young boys must stop.
9:22:37 AM
CHAIR STEVENS closed public testimony. He said he wants to hear
from school districts, deal with the fiscal note, and take up
the amendments in a new committee substitute.
CHAIR STEVENS held SB 216 in committee.
HB 162-TEACHER TENURE
9:23:33 AM
CHAIR STEVENS announced the consideration of HB 162.
LES MORSE, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED), Juneau, Alaska, answered questions
related to HB 162.
SENATOR GARDNER asked if the department has a position on the
bill.
MR. MORSE said the department does not have a stance on the bill
because tenure does not affect the department. It does affect
teachers and districts.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if tenure is portable after a teacher
moves to a new district.
MR. MORSE said there is a two-year waiting time after moving to
a new district.
SENATOR HUGGINS asked about the psychology of that provision.
MR. MORSE explained that the statute provides that the teacher
must meet the performance standards of the new school district.
Local boards can check to see that these are met.
9:28:04 AM
CHAIR STEVENS asked if the bill affects that 2-year tenure
provision.
MR. MORSE said the provision is currently in statute.
CHAIR STEVENS noted Representative Wilson suggested that tenure
should be up to the district.
9:28:57 AM
DIANE HIRSHBERG, Director, Center for Alaska Education Policy
Research, Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER),
University of Alaska-Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska, provided
information related to HB 162. She referred to a survey about
whether tenure would affect teachers' perception about their
jobs. She described the parameters of the survey, which had
close to 1,600 responses. For rural first-year teachers, 155 out
of 558, or 19 percent, said tenure rules would impact their
decision to stay or go. Another 39 percent said "maybe." She
assumed many of those teachers don't understand the impact of
tenure rules. She pointed out that teacher turnover rates are
very high in rural districts.
She related that when surveying teachers in the five urban
districts, of 890 teachers, 16 percent said tenure rules would
affect their views, and 22 percent said they were not familiar
with the proposal. Of 109 first year teachers, 20 percent said
it would affect their views, 30 percent said they did not know
enough, and 18 percent said "maybe." She concluded that the 20
percent was significant in there is currently not a turnover
problem in urban districts.
She opined that measuring the quality of teachers needs to be
done in partnership with the university and with districts
without making teachers more anxious. She said many teachers
left the profession when the teacher evaluation video taping
system was initiated. She emphasized that changes do affect how
teachers view whether or not they will stay on the job.
She questioned if teacher support should be part of the bill,
such as strengthening professional development.
9:34:52 AM
CHAIR STEVENS thanked Dr. Hirshberg. He noted public testimony
would be continued at a later date.
CHAIR STEVENS held HB 162 in committee.
9:35:39 AM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair
Stevens adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee at
9:35 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01_SB216_SponsorStatement.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 02_SB216_BillText_VersionU_03282014.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 03_SB216_BillText_VersionN_03312014.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 04_SB216_FiscalNote1_DEED_TLS.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 05_SB216_Sectional.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 06_SB216_Testimony of Erin Merryn.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 07_SB216_Erin's Law Map.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 08_SB216_Leg Research OCS Statistics.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 09_SB216_PreventionCoalition.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 10_SB216_Child Sexual Abuse in the Bering Strait Region.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 11_SB216_5 STEPS BOOKLET.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 12_SB216_NBER-Does Child Maltreatment Lead to Crime.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
SB 216 |
| 13_SB216_HB233_Letters of Support.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2014 8:00:00 AM |
HB 233 SB 216 |