Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/26/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB79 | |
| SB80 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
March 26, 2015
3:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Mike Dunleavy, Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins, Vice Chair
Senator Cathy Giessel
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 79
"An Act relating to reemployment of persons who retire under the
defined benefit plan of the teachers' retirement system."
- HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 80
"An Act relating to the duties of the Department of Education
and Early Development; relating to educational standards and
assessments; relating to an educational standards and
assessments review committee; and providing for an effective
date."
- HEARD AND HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 79
SHORT TITLE: REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS & ADMIN
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNLEAVY
03/18/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/18/15 (S) EDC, CRA
03/26/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
BILL: SB 80
SHORT TITLE: ED. STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS/FED FUNDS
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) DUNLEAVY
03/18/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/18/15 (S) EDC, FIN
03/26/15 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:30:11 PM
CHAIR MIKE DUNLEAVY called the Senate Education Standing
Committee meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Huggins, Giessel, Gardner, and Chair
Dunleavy. He said he would introduce SB 79 and SB 80 today.
SB 79-REEMPLOYMENT OF RETIRED TEACHERS & ADMIN
3:31:18 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 79. He said in
years past there have been retiree hire bills. The bill is a
tool for districts if they feel the need to expand their pool of
qualified educators. As sponsor, he read the sponsor statement:
Currently Alaska is experiencing a shortage of
qualified educators, especially in hard to fill areas
of the state. This situation is compounded by the
drastic reduction in state revenue due to low oil
prices. Senate Bill 79 expands the pool of
experienced, qualified educators available to school
districts.
This legislation will allow school districts to
reemploy educators who are currently retired for at
least three months. This bill will not require any
school district to reemploy any particular retired
individual. It will only give the district an option
to do so. Under SB 79, a school district may offer a
contract to a retired educator for a part-time or
full-time positon at a lower cost to the district.
Educators reemployed under this provision continue to
receive retirement benefits during the period of
reemployment. SB 79 provides one more tool for school
districts struggling from a shortage of qualified
educators, as well as a significant decrease in
funding. I hope that you will give it your support.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said SB 79 is a straightforward bill. Staff
worked with departments others associated with education to put
the bill together, looked at what was done in the past, and at
federal and state laws. The goal is to try to get as many tools
as possible for districts in preparation for what may be a long
downturn in state revenues.
He recognized the presence of Senator Stevens.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY stated that SB 79 allows school districts to
determine their needs.
3:34:36 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked why this concept couldn't be opened to
others in state service besides educators.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY commented that his focus is in education.
SENATOR GARDNER said at one time she would not have supported
such a bill, but has been persuaded that it is valuable for
schools.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY described his experience with teacher turnover in
rural and urban Alaska and the success of the mentor program. He
suggested the pool of teachers could be enlarged with
experienced educators.
3:37:14 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said it is worth the discussion. He found that
teachers become better the longer they teach. He asked about the
insurance benefits for these retirees. He assumed there would be
no cost to the state because the teachers are retirees. He asked
if part-time teachers would earned retirement benefits or just a
negotiated salary.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said the model is the mentor project where the
teachers were retired and only received compensation from a paid
contract.
SENATOR STEVENS recalled long discussions in other occupations
regarding double dipping.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said he is open to suggestions. His goal is to
get a larger pool of teachers, especially during a prolonged
downturn in revenue, at the request of school districts.
3:39:56 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS recalled the same discussion in the Department
of Fish and Game. He thought it could potentially be abused,
especially under retirement incentive programs.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said that was not the intent.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 79 in committee.
SB 80-ED. STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS/FED FUNDS
3:42:32 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 80. As sponsor,
he read the sponsor statement:
SB 80 establishes an active role in public education
for the legislature by requiring the legislature to
give final approval of statewide educational standards
and standardized assessments. Public education is a
primary governmental function and the legislature is
the ultimate authority in Alaska for public education.
This authority is outlined in the Alaska Constitution
and has been emphasized in recent court cases. Article
7 of the Alaska Constitution, titled Health,
Education, and Welfare requires in part that, "The
legislature shall by general law establish and
maintain a system of public schools open to all
children of the State…." In the recent Moore vs. State
of Alaska case, it was stated "…this Court returns
once again to the language of the Alaska Constitution,
which places the responsibility 'to maintain a system
of public schools open to all children of the state'
squarely upon the legislature -not upon the Department
of Education and Early Development and not upon local
school districts."
In light of growing concerns surrounding the adoption
of a new set of standards and assessments, and with
more accountability being demanded by the public, it
is crucial that the adopted standards and assessments
our state mandates be selected through a process that
directly involves the public and the legislature.
SB 80 requires state adopted standards and assessments
to be:
- reviewed at least once every five years by a
committee composed of no less than 50% of parents with
school age children
- reviewed starting in 2015 with a report and request
for approval during the 2016 legislative session
- approved by the legislature
SB 80 also prevents the Department of Education and
Early Development from accepting grants which have
associated standards and mandates (such as
assessments), unless approved by the legislature.
The legislature needs to step up its responsibility
for public education. I request your support for SB
80.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said there is a strong executive form of
government in Alaska. Years ago, the legislature ceded its
authority to the Department of Education and Early Development
(DEED) to select and adopt standards and assessments and to take
on grants. Curriculum, by law, has been reserved to school
districts. The issues of Common Core and the Alaska Standards
involved DEED, and the legislature did not have to approve them
or their related assessments. He provided the history of the
state's grant involvement from 1965 on. Today, the legislature
does not have to approve the department's acceptance of grants.
3:47:10 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY stated that SB 80 is an opportunity to have a
larger discussion that includes the legislature. Currently, the
legislature only appropriates funds. He said he is not
indicating that the department is not doing its job. It appears
that the federal government is becoming more active in state
education and the bill allows the legislature to be part of the
process.
He related that No Child Left Behind was passed by Congress in
2001. Secretary of State Arnie Duncan, some would say,
unilaterally changed that law without an act of Congress. Along
with the changes and the money comes the mandates without the
legislature having a say. He concluded that SB 80 allows the
legislature to be a part of the process.
He noted there may be several changes in the bill.
3:50:12 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS said he supports the idea.
SENATOR STEVENS said the bill is quite different from the
current system, but he is willing to listen to the discussion.
He opined that school boards play a key role in the process and
he wants to depend on their opinion. He questioned what would
happened if all departments undertake this procedure. He noted,
having served in the legislature for 15 years, there have been
chairs and members of the Education Committee that didn't know
the first thing about education. He stated that the bill is
transferring a lot of power to the Education Committee and its
chair.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY said he looks forward to the discussion. He noted
he has looked into the involvement of school boards and would be
sharing that information. Legislative Legal reminded the sponsor
that the legislature is responsible for education, not school
boards. He said he wants to have presentations by the State
School Board. He concluded that he fears mandates associated
with federal grants and it is worth exploring that issue. He
said it might make a difference if the State School Board was
elected.
[CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 80 in committee.]
3:54:07 PM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Chair
Dunleavy adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee at
3:54 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 79 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 79 |
| SB 79 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 79 |
| SB 79 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 79 |
| SB 80 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 80 |
| SB 80 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 80 |
| SB 80 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 3/26/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 80 |