05/05/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB181 | |
| SB8 | |
| SB143 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 181 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 143 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE
May 5, 2025
3:43 p.m.
DRAFT
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Löki Tobin, Chair
Senator Gary Stevens, Vice Chair
Senator Jesse Bjorkman
Senator Jesse Kiehl
Senator Mike Cronk
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 181
"An Act relating to disclosure of information obtained by the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development to other state
agencies."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 8
"An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard
of hearing."
- MOVED CSSB 8(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 143
"An Act relating to the terms of office of municipal school
board members; and providing for an effective date."
- MOVED CSSB 143(EDC) OUT OF COMMITTEE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 181
SHORT TITLE: EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF TASK FORCE EVAL ALASKA SEAFOOD
INDUSTRY
04/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
04/22/25 (S) EDC, L&C
04/30/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/30/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
05/05/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 8
SHORT TITLE: EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HEARING IMPAIRED
SPONSOR(s): GRAY-JACKSON
01/22/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) EDC, FIN
04/09/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/09/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/25 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
04/30/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/30/25 (S) -- MEETING CANCELED --
05/05/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 143
SHORT TITLE: MUNICIPAL SCHOOL BOARD TERMS
SPONSOR(s): YUNDT
03/26/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
03/26/25 (S) EDC, CRA
04/09/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/09/25 (S) Heard & Held
04/09/25 (S) MINUTE(EDC)
05/05/25 (S) EDC AT 3:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
TIM LAMKIN, Staff
Senator Gary Stevens
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 181.
BRETT WATSON, Assistant Professor
Applied and Natural Resource Economics
Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 181.
DAN ROBINSON, Research Chief
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified by invitation on SB 181.
PALOMA HARBOUR, Director
Division of Employment and Training Services
Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the fiscal note for
SB 181.
MIKE MASON, Staff
Senator Löki Tobin
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an explanation of changes for SB
143, version A to version N.
ACTION NARRATIVE
3:43:08 PM
CHAIR TOBIN called the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting to order at 3:43 p.m. Present at the call to order were
Senators Bjorkman, Stevens, Kiehl, and Chair Tobin. Senator
Cronk arrived thereafter.
SB 181-EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION DISCLOSURE
3:45:12 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 181
"An Act relating to disclosure of information obtained by the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development to other state
agencies."
3:45:33 PM
SENATOR GARY STEVENS speaking as sponsor of SB 181 stated that
SB 181 is a data sharing bill recommended by the Joint
Legislative Taskforce that evaluated Alaska's seafood industry.
He noted that Senator Kiehl, Senator Bjorkman, and himself
served on the taskforce. He explained that the bill facilitates
collaboration between the University of Alaska and the
Department of Labor and Workforce Development to provide
economists, scientists, and policymakers with long-term, cross-
sector program outcome data. He emphasized that the bill helps
assess return on investment in education and workforce
development programs, supporting more targeted and efficient
resource allocation.
3:46:04 PM
SENATOR CRONK arrived at the meeting.
3:47:31 PM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that SB 181 is one of
several recommendations resulting from the Joint Legislative
Taskforce. He noted that experts who participated in the
taskforce hearings and support the passage of SB 181 are
available to provide testimony.
3:48:09 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced invited testimony on SB 181.
3:48:26 PM
BRETT WATSON, Assistant Professor, Applied and Natural Resource
Economics, Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER),
Anchorage, Alaska, testified by invitation on SB 181:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
For the Record, I am Dr Brett Watson, an economist at
the University of Alaska Anchorage's Institute of
Social and Economic ResearchISER.
I'm testifying in support of SB 181, which would
streamline data access for researchers working on
Alaska-specific policy issues.
As you know, Alaska's communities are unique
geographically, economically, and socially. But the
data we rely on to understand these communities is
often either too broad or not timely enough. Federal
sources like the US Census or the Bureau of Labor
Statistics struggle to give us reliable information in
our rural communities because their sample sizes are
just too small or their coverage too broad.
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce
Development, on the other hand, maintains data that is
more specific, more accurate, and more timely.
Researchers at ISER have used this data in the past
but the process is cumbersome. We have to send staff
to Juneau, negotiate custom agreements, and go through
multiple layers of legal and procurement approvals.
This takes time, money, and effort on both sidesand
it slows down our ability to respond to the needs of
the state.
SB 181 would fix that.
It allows the University and the Department of Labor
to collaborate more efficiently, removing hurdles
while still protecting data confidentiality. ISER has
a long track record of handling sensitive data
securely. All our researchers follow rigorous
Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols. With
improved access, we could more rapidly conduct
research that supports better decision-making.
I've included as part of my written submission a memo
more fully outlining how research collaboration might
work, and an example of how we leveraged a past
collaboration to understand the economic multiplier
effects of fishing in Alaska's coastal communities I
hope these will provide further evidence for the value
of action on this legislation.
SB 181 gives us a smart, cost-effective way to unlock
the value of existing data, improve research quality,
and support good policymaking.
I urge you to support the bill, and I thank you for
your time.
3:52:05 PM
DAN ROBINSON, Research Chief, Alaska Department of Labor and
Workforce Development, Juneau, Alaska, testified by invitation
on SB 181, stating the data referenced in SB 181 originates from
the Department of Labor and Workforce Development through state
unemployment insurance laws, with nearly all Alaska employers
submitting quarterly reports detailing worker Social Security
numbers, employment, and wages. He explained that although the
data is primarily used to operate the unemployment insurance
system, it is also highly valuable for research, and his group
the Research and Analysis Sectioncleans and matches the data
for statutorily required projects such as the annual nonresident
worker report. He noted that Alaska's data is particularly rich
due to the Permanent Fund Dividend and other factors, and while
other states offer microdata access more broadly to researchers,
Alaska's statutes are unusually restrictive. He added that
despite these limits, the data is already used for purposes like
verifying public assistance and enforcing child support. He
concluded that SB 181 would allow qualified researchers greater
access to support meaningful studies.
3:55:08 PM
PALOMA HARBOUR, Director, Division of Employment and Training
Services, Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Juneau,
Alaska, paraphrased the fiscal note summary for SB 181:
[Original punctuation provided.]
This legislation would allow the Department of Labor
and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to share information
with the University of Alaska (UA) for program
evaluation and improvement, educational outreach, or
public policy research. It requires a written
agreement between UA and DOLWD to ensure the data is
handled in compliance with state and federal
requirements.
UA will need to cover any costs associated with the
sharing of data because the federal grant that
supports the program under which this data is gathered
cannot be used for costs associated with disclosures.
Until DOLWD has entered into an agreement with UA on
the type of data to be shared and the frequency of
that sharing, DOLWD cannot say exactly how much this
will cost. Based on similar agreements with other
state agencies, this could cost from $1,300 to $46,500
The department has sufficient interagency receipt
authority in its budget to cover the cost of this new
agreement if it falls within that range.
3:56:59 PM
MR. LAMKIN thanked the committee for hearing SB 181.
3:57:09 PM
CHAIR TOBIN opened public testimony on SB 181; finding none, she
closed public testimony.
3:57:26 PM
CHAIR TOBIN held SB 181 in committee.
SB 8-EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HEARING IMPAIRED
3:57:43 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 8 "An
Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of
hearing."
CHAIR TOBIN stated the committee first heard the bill on April
9, 2025, and adopted a committee substitute, version N. She
noted SB 8 has a zero fiscal note.
3:58:01 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited the will of the committee.
3:58:08 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report CSSB 8, work order 34-LS0075\N,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:58:23 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 8(EDC) was reported from
the Senate Education Standing Committee.
SB 143-MUNICIPAL SCHOOL BOARD TERMS
3:58:39 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 143
"An Act relating to the terms of office of municipal school
board members; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR TOBIN stated this was the second bill hearing for SB 143.
SB 143 has a zero fiscal note.
3:59:12 PM
MIKE MASON, Staff, Senator Löki Tobin, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, provided an explanation of changes for SB 143,
version A to version N.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Senate Bill 143 Municipal School Board Terms
Explanation of Changes - Version A to Version N
Section 3 The phrase "approved by the voters" was
added to the sentence that begins on page 1, line 14.
As a result, a vote of the people would be required
before the governing body of a municipality can alter
the terms of office for school board members.
3:59:37 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
3:59:38 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 143, work order 34-LS0781\N, as the working document.
3:59:55 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 143 was adopted as the
working document.
4:00:09 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited the will of the committee.
4:00:17 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report CSSB 143, work order 34-
LS0781\N, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:00:31 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 143(EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
4:01:08 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Tobin adjourned the Senate Education Standing Committee
meeting at 4:01 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 181 Version A 04.22.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Sponsor Statement 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Sectional Analysis Version A 05.05.2025.PDF |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 Seafood |
| SB 181 Fiscal Note DOLWD-UI 04.25.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Research - ISER One-Pager 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Testimony - Brett Watson 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 8 Summary of Changes Version A to Version N 04.09.2025.PDF |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Version N 04.08.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Version A 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Sponsor Statement Version A 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Sectional Analysis Version A 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 04.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Research - Alaska Deaf Children Bill of Rights 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Research - ADN ASL Article 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Testimony - Alaska Deaf Council 04.08.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Testimony - Council on Disabilities and Special Education 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Testimony - Patty Trott 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 8 Research - AR 2025-104 04.29.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 8 |
| SB 143 Explanation of Changes Version A to Version N 04.30.3035.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |
| SB 143 Version N 04.29.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |
| SB 143 Version A 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |
| SB 143 Sponsor Statement Version A 04.03.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |
| SB 143 Sectional Analysis Version A 04.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |
| SB 143 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 04.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/9/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 143 |