Legislature(1997 - 1998)
03/02/1998 09:06 AM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 2, 1998
9:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Lyda Green
Senator Jerry Ward
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 11
Creating the Long-Term Care Task Force.
HEARD AND HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 252
"An Act relating to paternity establishment and child support;
relating to the crimes of criminal nonsupport and aiding the
nonpayment of child support; and amending Rule 37(b)(2)(D), Alaska
Rules of Civil Procedure; and providing for an effective date."
HEARD AND HELD
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 39
Relating to improving reading instruction in elementary and
secondary schools.
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SCR 11 - No previous Senate action.
SB 252 - No previous Senate action.
SJR 39 - No previous Senate action.
WITNESS REGISTER
Senator Bert Sharp
Alaska State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Sponsor of SCR 11
Mr. Floyd Heimbuch
OPAG
235 E 3rd Ave
Anchorage, AK 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Dulce Noble
Alzheimer's Association
240 E Tudor Road, Suite 110
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Florence Orr
2110 Dawnlight
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Frank Appel
6424 Hampton Drive
Anchorage, AK 99504
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Robert Hanson
6730 Lawlor
Anchorage, Alaska 99509
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Edward Barber Jr.
1060 Belmont Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99517
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Kay Branch
Bristol Bay Native Association
P.O. Box 310
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Bob Hufman
1018 Galena St.
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Merrill Hakala
140 Front Street
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Kathleen Dalton
P.O. Box 70681
Fairbanks, Alaska 99707
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Don Hoover
1029 Kodiak
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Mr. Frank McGilvary
504 Monroe
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Betty Hufman
1018 Galena St.
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Vera Gazaway
Older Persons Action Group (OPAG)
415 Willoughby Ave. #414
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Marie Darlin
National Assn. of Retired Federal Employees
415 Willoughby Ave. #506
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Laraine Derr
Alaska State Hospital Assn.
319 Seward Street, #11
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SCR 11
Ms. Barbara Miklos
Child Support Enforcement Division
550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 310
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
POSITION STATEMENT: Explained the provisions of SB 252
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 98-19, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN WILKEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:06 a.m. Present were
Senators Wilken, Ward and Green. CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced the
order of bills would SCR 11, SB 252 and SJR 39.
SCR 11 - LONG-TERM CARE TASK FORCE
SENATOR BERT SHARP, sponsor of SCR 11, gave the following overview
of the measure. As Alaska's senior citizen community continues to
increase in size, the state needs to plan for the long term care
and needs of these citizens. While most families desire to provide
home care for their elderly parents, the reality is that most will
live in a long term care facility sooner or later. Either way, the
cost of providing long term care is becoming insurmountable to the
state and to private citizens. In an effort to assure that
Alaska's senior citizens can plan and get the best care possible,
the Legislature established a working group in 1996 to analyze long
term care services available in the state and the projected costs
of such care. SCR 11 will create a long term care task force to
review the working group's findings and to develop equitable plans
for providing actuarially sound and affordable long term care
options for all senior citizens. He urged committee members to
support SCR 11 so that the dialogue to find the answers to the long
term care needs of senior citizens within the State of Alaska will
continue.
SENATOR WARD stated the task force will be comprised of four
majority members, two minority members, and six non-elected
members. He expressed concern that this task force will be making
recommendations to the Legislature, yet because of its make-up,
might not adequately reflect the views of the majority of the
Legislature. He asked Senator Sharp if he thought the composition
of the task force could be a problem.
SENATOR SHARP said he thinks this particular topic lends itself
more toward common ground than most. He explained the task force
is designed to determine options and their costs to individuals and
group plans, and not to dictate a specific course of action. The
task force will establish what the need for, and marketplace is,
for long term care. He thought representatives from the various
commissioners' offices will add expertise in their particular
fields and will not control the direction or the outcome of the
task force's work because the need is universal.
SENATOR WARD maintained that although the task force will be
working on a common goal, the resolution directs it to submit
proposed legislation. He repeated his concern that the task force
will have eight non-majority members.
Number 137
CHAIRMAN WILKEN noted he only had one copy of the work group's
report which he offered to pass around to committee members. He
then took testimony from participants on the teleconference
network.
BOB HUFMAN, a Fairbanks resident, testified in favor of SCR 11
because establishing an actuarially sound system of long term care
for senior citizens is an admirable goal. In checking over a
number of long term care policies offered by several underwriters,
he found they all fell short of what is truly required in the way
of benefit needs and costs. Judging from what is available on the
market today, the state could devise an adequate plan that may be
an attractive proposal to middle-aged people whose participation
would help balance out the payment schedule. The results of the
McDowell Group report show the tremendous impact the cost of
supporting residents in the Pioneer Homes will have on the state
budget as the rates rise to the full cost of care by the year 2003.
The cost of state monetary assistance will rise from $1,408,000 in
1997 to over $15,800,000 in 2003. That figure alone justifies
underwriting a long term care policy, either by the state alone or
in concert with a reputable company. Alaskans desperately need
assistance with this monumental problem. He urged formation of the
task force as soon as possible.
MERRILL HAKALA testified from Fairbanks and thanked Senator Sharp
for introducing SCR 11. She believes SCR 11 is very important to
senior citizens of the state because the cost of Pioneers' Homes is
increasing dramatically. Most seniors enter Pioneers' Homes with
a few dollars in the bank, but are wiped out once they enter long
term care. The dignity of senior citizens needs to be preserved.
FLOYD HEIMBUCH, Executive Director of the Older Persons Action
Group (OPAG), testified from Anchorage on his own behalf. He
stated the Anchorage Advisory Commission is undertaking a study on
this subject and it intends to produce a study without the bias
that a funding corporation or entity might build into it. He hoped
a new task force will be careful when determining the focus of the
plan and who is working on the plan. The following areas of
concern are basic to what senior citizens are thinking about:
mental health; access; finding an acceptable institution when one
needs help; physical activity; secure surroundings; financial
problems; at-home family care; and consumer protection. He
encouraged the task force to use the Alaska Commission on Aging's
information effort, OPAG's publication Voices, and senior center
newsletters to focus on what is available now, rather than on what
will be available after the plan is made. Mr. Heimbuch concluded
that people are living longer and we are using outdated concepts to
deal with their needs. He suggested looking at a plan that will
allow people to "bank" volunteer services, while they are able, to
be applied toward the cost of long term care in the future.
MS. DULCE NOBLE, Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Association,
spoke in support of SCR 11. The work group's studies resulted in an
analysis of the current long term care system. The group
determined the strengths of the current system and the challenges
that lie ahead. The creation of a task force is essential to
implement some of the group's recommendations. Because of
demographic trends, the number of seniors in need of help in 10 to
15 years will increase, and many caregivers will be feeling the
impact. The task force will need to create an infrastructure to
address these needs.
Number 276
KAY BRANCH, Bristol Bay Native Association (BBNA) Elderly Services
Manager, and a board member of the Alzheimer's Association, stated
she is familiar with the long term care needs of people in rural
areas and supports SCR 11. She believes it is important to take
the analysis that was recently completed and convert it into an
equitable plan. The costs of long term care are exceedingly high.
BBNA received money from the Division of Senior Services to conduct
its own research on the need for assisted living in the Dillingham
area. At present there are no nursing homes or assisted living
facilities. BBNA held seven community forums throughout the
region: the sizeable attendance at all meetings was indicative of
the strong concern people have about ensuring that their elders are
cared for in the best way possible. In those areas, people want
their elders to remain as close to home as possible. When families
cannot care for their elderly relatives at home they have to send
them to long term care facilities in Anchorage and Fairbanks. She
suggested that a rural Alaskan who is familiar with senior issues
be appointed to the task force if SCR 11 passes.
KATHLEEN DALTON testified on her own behalf from Fairbanks. She is
a conservator-guardian for an 82 year old woman who is in an
assisted living facility. She expressed concern that SCR 11 may be
redundant and she questioned where the funds for activities of the
task force will come from. In addition, she asked that no
commissioners or designees be appointed to the task force because
those people represent the bureaucracy and will provide no original
thinking. She suggested using people in those positions as
resources. She requested a copy of the McDowell Group report.
Number 350
DON HOOVER testified as a member of the Alaska Commission on Aging,
and on his own behalf, in support of SCR 11. He said SCR 11 does
not only apply to the elderly, but to people of all ages who need
long term care. Alaska rates second highest in the nation in the
increase in the number of senior citizens. Growth projections
indicate that the population of people 65 and older by the year
2015 will be 80,957. About one-third of those people will be in
the 80 to 85 year old age group; over 48 percent of those will have
Alzheimer's disease which requires long term care. He expressed
concern that SCR 11 requires the task force to complete its work
between legislative sessions which will not provide enough time.
FLORENCE ORR, representing the Igloo and Womens' Auxiliary of the
Pioneers in Anchorage, the National Association of Retired Federal
Employees, and the Anchorage Senior Center, testified from
Anchorage. Ms. Orr said as a person in her late 80's she is very
personally interested in SCR 11. Most of her contemporaries are
recognizing that they cannot get along alone anymore and some are
panicking about where to go.
FRANK APPEL, representing the Alzheimers Association Board,
testified in support of SCR 11 and made the following comments.
Because the elderly population is likely to increase enormously in
the next 20 years, it is important to build upon the analysis
completed by the working group. The state will likely experience
costs for those people with insufficient assets or income to pay
for long term care. The state needs to create a plan to provide
funding for effective, efficient, and equitable long term care.
FRANK McGILVARY thanked Senators Sharp and Duncan for introducing
SCR 11 and expressed support for the measure.
JOHN HANCHETT testified on his own behalf from Fairbanks in support
of SCR 11. He noted he is a member of the Alzheimers Association,
an insurance agent, and has taken care of seniors for 23 years, so
is familiar with this issue from a variety of perspectives. He
believes the long term care issue is a problem for the current
population of senior citizens but will be moreso for the next
generation. Besides coming up with alternatives, the task force
can give this issue the publicity and attention it needs to get the
public to react.
BOB HANSEN, testifying from Fairbanks, informed committee members
he has provided care for his aging mother for many years. He
stated the cost of residency in a Pioneer Home is becoming
outrageous and unaffordable for most people. Some seniors have had
to move out because of the cost. He believes that is a disgraceful
thing to do to pioneers.
ED BARBER JR., representing himself, testified from Anchorage and
made the following comments. There are many perceived, as well as
actual, problems involved in addressing the long term care of
senior citizens. He recommended greater emphasis be placed on the
membership of the task force so that there is more representation
by senior groups and less from the bureaucracy. He commended the
drafters of SCR 11 for including a sunset clause and noted his
support of the resolution.
Number 474
SENATOR LEMAN stated he appreciated the comments about appointing
more senior citizens to the task force. He said he thinks it is
important to get other input, but maybe in an ex-officio capacity.
BETTY HUFMAN testified from Fairbanks in support of SCR 11. She
believes this resolution will have an impact on all Alaskans
because a lot of young people are caring for elderly relatives.
Facilities are not only lacking but are also inadequate, and there
is a crying need for assisted living homes for people who do not
need full-scale nursing homes. She believes the committee should
consist of a broader cross-section of the population, and the time
limit should be extended.
MARIE DARLIN, representing the Alaska Federation of the National
Association of Retired Federal Employees (AFNARFE), stated at its
last convention, AFNARFE passed a resolution in support of SCR 11.
AFNARFE's constituency consists of seniors, and those who are not
yet seniors but are caring for parents and/or children in need of
long term care. AFNARFE is concerned that recommendations put
forth by the working group be acted upon and that policies and a
plan be established to meet the reported needs. She noted she will
give committee members copies of the Alaska Commission on Aging's
latest bulletin which contains updated information on the future
demographics of Alaska's senior population. AFNARFE is glad to see
this issue is going to get some attention.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN asked Ms. Darlin if she is familiar with a report
put out in the last year by a commission headed by Amos Alder. MS.
DARLIN was not aware of it. CHAIRMAN WILKEN said he was interested
to hear what people think of that report.
Number 542
VERA GAZAWAY, representing OPAG, stated OPAG has viewed long term
care as an inter-generational issue for the reasons previously
mentioned. OPAG believes more training and access for home
caregivers for people with long term illnesses needs to be provided
with state funds. For a number of years, OPAG has endorsed the
need for in-home health care and actually had training programs for
in-home health care but many of the trainees eventually went to
work for hospitals. Also, she noted there is a need for more
respite care. One day per week of respite care is a great help to
full-time caregivers.
LARRAINE DERR, representing the State Hospital and Nursing Home
Association, stated the number one goal of the long term care
committee is the formation of a long term care task force to
address long term care problems in the state. The committee has
been reviewing reports over the last few years and has realized
that little progress has been made in this area. The committee has
a task force appointment scheduled and is willing to offer its
support to the task force in SCR 11 in any way it can. The group
is definitely in favor of the resolution.
SENATOR LEMAN suggested holding the resolution until the next
meeting to restructure the make-up of the task force and update the
time-frame during which it will operate.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced SCR 11 will be held in committee until
the following Wednesday.
TAPE 98-19, SIDE B
The committee took a brief at-ease.
SB 252 - PATERNITY/CHILD SUPPORT/NONSUPPORT CRIMES
BARBARA MIKLOS, Director of the Child Support Enforcement Division
(CSED), explained that SB 252 was introduced solely to comply with
federal welfare reform requirements. The Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, commonly known as welfare
reform, passed in Congress in 1996. The intent of the Act is to
change the welfare system so that it is not viewed as a life long
income source, but rather as something temporarily available when
people are in need. When Congress passed the Act, it realized
people need tools to enable the reform to take place so a great
deal of focus was put on child support enforcement provisions. Some
of those provisions require legislative changes. SB 154, passed
last year, met many of the requirements. Some requirements were
put on hold until this year and in the meantime Congress passed
technical amendments to the Act. Congress has warned that if this
legislation is not enacted, the state could suffer financial
penalties in CSED funds and the welfare grant.
MS. MIKLOS described the provisions of the bill as follows. The
legislation requires all employers to report new hires within 20
days. Existing law only requires larger employers to report. That
provision expands the legislation but reduces the penalty for not
reporting from $1,000 to $25. SB 252 also gives the Courts
authority to revoke sports fishing and hunting licenses in criminal
cases or when a person is found in contempt of court. Only a judge
may revoke the license and only in those two cases. SB 252
requires social security numbers be placed on drivers' licenses and
on hunting and sport fishing licenses. MS. MIKLOS noted Dan Branch
of the Department of Law, who drafted SB 252, and Phil Petrie, the
Operations Manager of CSED, were available to answer questions.
Number 554
SENATOR WARD asked Ms. Miklos to expand on her comment that non-
compliance with the federal Act could result in financial penalties
to the State.
MS. MIKLOS explained the Act contains language that authorizes the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to
withhold all federal child support enforcement and welfare program
funding for non-compliance. The "could" is because the decision to
withhold is left to the discretion of the Secretary. She added the
State of Idaho has already received a letter advising it to hold a
hearing and take action within 60 days, or federal funds will be
withheld.
SENATOR WARD questioned whether committee members had a copy of
that letter and what specific conditions the State of Idaho has to
meet.
MS. MIKLOS offered to provide committee members with a copy of the
letter. She said the agency is requiring the State of Idaho to
pass the provisions of welfare reform but it does not specify which
provisions the State of Idaho is out of compliance with.
SENATOR WARD asked why the State of Idaho has received that
ultimatum and other states that are out of compliance have not.
MS. MIKLOS replied last year Idaho's Legislature passed a bill that
did not meet all of the requirements of the federal Act and
indicated it did not plan to do any more. She thought the reason
Alaska has not received similar correspondence is because the
Department of Health and Social Services believes Alaska intends to
pass legislation this year.
SENATOR LEMAN referred to a CSED question and answer document in
committee members' packets, and specifically to the question of
whether the use of social security numbers in CSED matters serves
enough of a compelling state interest to override a person's right
to privacy. Senator Leman read the following statement from the
document. "The Courts likely will find that any privacy concerns
are far outweighed by society's interest in effective child support
enforcement." He stated that while he agrees with that statement,
he is concerned that the Alaska Courts have handed down two
separate rulings in the past week that are very bizarre in the
application of the Right to Privacy clause as it links with Equal
Protection. He said he has very little confidence in what that
court might do in interpreting CSED's use of social security
numbers. He thought CSED would have a compelling state interest to
protect the right of the child but likewise, so would enhancing the
relationship of a child with a parent, but one judge did not agree.
He said it concerns him when the courts misinterpret what others
find to be common sense.
SENATOR WARD maintained the State of Idaho has taken the position
that it will go through the administrative hearing process first
and should lose no money until that process is complete. He noted
he spoke to a few people whose believe the federal government has
not articulated its position well enough for states to fully
understand the requirements.
Number 504
MS. MIKLOS indicated it is her understanding the State of Idaho is
working on legislation to meet the requirements, and that maybe
both things are occurring simultaneously. She noted the people she
spoke with in Idaho were hoping to get legislation through this
year.
SENATOR WARD asked if she spoke with legislators.
MS. MIKLOS answered she spoke with officials in the child support
division.
SENATOR WARD asked if the State of Idaho will be the first to have
an administrative hearing.
MS. MIKLOS was not sure. She added that most states have attempted
to comply.
SENATOR WARD pointed out the State of Idaho wants to have a hearing
for the purpose of clarification of the Act's requirements.
Number 492
CHAIRMAN WILKEN informed committee members an analysis, prepared by
the National Council of State Legislators, was in committee
packets. He asked Ms. Miklos to review the letter from the
Department of Health and Human Services.
MS. MIKLOS stated the letter says Alaska must comply according to
the welfare reform legislation. She read excerpts from the letter
as follows.
"Therefore, a determination that a state IV-D plan is
disapproved will result in immediate suspension of all federal
payments for the state's child support enforcement programs.
...Alaska received approximately $12.4 million in Title IV-D
funding for the administration of its child support program in
FY 97 and over $3.2 million in Title IV-D performance related
child support incentives.
In addition, in order to be eligible for a block grant for
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Act
requires the State to certify that it will operate a child
support enforcement program under the state plan approved
under part D. Therefore, TANF funding would also be
jeopardized if the State failed to enact the required child
support legislation on a timely basis. Alaska's federal
funding for IV-A was approximately $63 million."
MS. MIKLOS indicated the total amount of federal funds that could
be lost is $78 million.
SENATOR WARD questioned whether anyone from the Department of
Health and Human Services has notified CSED in writing that even $1
would be eliminated without a hearing.
MS. MIKLOS said no.
SENATOR WARD stated he does not like blackmail in any form, and he
is unsure of the process. He did not think the federal government
has adequately defined its mandates and it is approaching the
problem on a state-by-state basis.
SENATOR GREEN noted the NCSL analysis contains provisions that are
not mandated: one in Section 2, one in Sections 4 and 5, and
Sections 15 and 17. It also contains a repeal of the sunset clause
from last year which is the reason this measure had enough support
to pass the Senate. She said she would be hard pressed to support
this package.
SENATOR WARD thought the committee might need to look at a
different package or require an administrative hearing as the State
of Idaho has.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN stated that unless the HESS committee is willing
and able to rewrite this legislation, the bill should be moved to
the Judiciary Committee where its legal implications will be
analyzed.
SENATOR WARD thought the HESS committee would be passing on its
duty and right to request a hearing.
MS. MIKLOS said if members want to pass the bill on to the
Judiciary Committee, she would be glad to write a letter to Senator
Ward that explains exactly what is happening in Idaho to clarify
this issue.
Number 419
SENATOR GREEN stated she does not know what changes have been made
and what provisions might be implanted in the bill that might have
unintended implications. She noted she is not comfortable passing
this legislation on without a clear understanding of it.
SENATOR WARD pointed out he understands what SB 252 does, but does
not know that the State of Alaska is necessarily required by
federal law to comply. The mandate has been implied through
correspondence from the Department of Health and Social Services,
but the mandate is subject to an action, which is usually a case of
federal officials deciding precisely what the state must do.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN announced SB 252 would be held in committee to give
members more time to discuss the bill's implications with agency
staff.
SENATOR LEMAN asked Ms. Miklos to provide the committee with an
analysis of SB 252 that determines how much of its content was not
in last year's bill, and that compares the bill to the federal law.
MS. MIKLOS noted she already prepared that material and would
provide it to Senator Leman.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN informed committee members he was recently
contacted by an irate constituent about CSED's handling of his
case. Ms. Miklos intervened in the case and the problem was
resolved to everyone's satisfaction. He thanked Ms. Miklos and
stated she is off on the right foot as CSED's new director.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
SJR 39 - SUPPORT READING EXCELLENCE ACT
SENATOR ROBIN TAYLOR, sponsor of SJR 39, stated he is not alone in
his concern about the current level of reading skills and the level
those skills have dropped to over the last 20 years. He described
an article in Forbes magazine about Boeing as follows. Boeing
estimates it will lose over $2 billion because it was not able to
complete projects and meet contract deadlines last year. The cause
of the problem is that of the 12,000 new hires in its workforce,
about 8,000 needed remediation in reading and math. The same
article spoke about other major businesses across the United States
experiencing the similar problem of entry level workers' inability
to read. The purpose of SJR 39 is to notify Congress that Alaska
supports the Reading Excellence Act, or S 1596, sponsored by
Senator Paul Coverdell. The purpose of that Act is to teach every
child to read in the early childhood years as soon as they are
ready, or as soon as possible once they enter school, but not later
than the third grade. The Act then goes on to provide $212 million
for research, teaching, and individual grants for primary and
secondary reading instruction. Senator Taylor said he would like
to see Alaska be in a position to take advantage of that federal
money and begin a pilot program. Alaska's student enrollment is
less than many medium school districts elsewhere yet it is diverse.
Senator Taylor explained S 1596 also provides for tutorial
assistance, and 95 percent of the funds would go directly into
instruction to children. It also authorizes grants to parents for
tutorial assistance.
Number 202
SENATOR GREEN stated, as a former teacher, she is struck by the
notion that the Legislature is getting into somebody else's
business thereby demeaning the profession of teachers. She said
the Legislature must give assurance that it is striving for better
performance and is not out to demean the teaching profession.
Senator Green questioned whether the word "systematic" as contained
in S 1596, is in relation to phonics. She noted literacy experts
have been caught up on that word and she was unsure that any
legislator knows the full implication of the word when it comes to
an educational method of delivery. She asked Senator Taylor
whether S 1596 specifically refers to phonics.
SENATOR TAYLOR said it wouldn't dare because that word is so
frightening to the professional community. He repeated the goal is
that children learn to read. He maintained that over 30 years of
research shows that phonics is one of the best methods to use. He
noted the federal law will require that teachers use methods based
on replicable research, research that is objective and valid, and
that has had a peer review. He maintained that school districts
seem to try a new approach about every two or three years without
any follow-up; therefore no one knows which approach succeeded. S
1596 requires methods to be used that have been studied and for
which empirical evidence is available.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN noted that the words "phonics skills," rather than
"phonics," are referred to on page 4 in two places.
SENATOR WARD suggested adding "and all members of Congress" on line
17 after the word "Representative."
SENATOR TAYLOR agreed the resolution should go to all members of
Congress.
SENATOR GREEN suggested naming Paul Coverdell as a recipient in the
resolution.
SENATOR TAYLOR agreed his name should be added.
Number 202
SENATOR LEMAN stated he appreciates Senator Coverdell's promotion
of individual education accounts which will give parents the
flexibility to find the best educational opportunity for their
children. He stated he would like to include endorsement of that
type of approach to education in SJR 39 as he believes the two are
interrelated.
SENATOR TAYLOR commented SJR 39, especially in regard to the
provision allowing tutorial grants, will accommodate those families
who have one child out of several who has trouble reading who need
special help.
SENATOR LEMAN stated one of his concerns is that the Alaska
Legislature will be promoting a federal program that has a high
cost. He stated S 1596 requires that funds for teacher training
be spent on programs proven effective by scientific research. He
noted although he agrees with that concept, he offered a similar
amendment regarding sex education to a bill several years ago which
was defeated in the House. He agreed these programs should be
based on valid research.
Number 168
SENATOR TAYLOR commented that after listening to concerns that the
bill is an unfunded mandate, he drafted a sponsor substitute which
only requires that a nationally normed test be given to second
graders to find out how students are faring in Alaska. That
approach should determine how serious the problem is and should
provide direction for future legislative action. If the students'
scores are below the national average, the Legislature could
recommend the use of phonics instruction in the curriculum and
provide financial assistance to schools willing to use it to remove
the mandate concept. SENATOR TAYLOR maintained that spending money
on the problem in the lower grades will save money later on.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN commented that everyone agrees on the end result
Senator Taylor is trying to reach with SB 203, but everyone
involved needs to agree on the way to go so all can buy in on the
approach.
Number 084
SENATOR WARD asked for suggestions on language to amend SJR 39 to
include other members of Congress.
CHAIRMAN WILKEN questioned whether SJR 39 will impede the progress
of S 1596 by specifically referring to "phonics" on lines 8 and 10.
He suggested deleting that reference and addressing the phonics
issue in SB 203.
SENATOR TAYLOR suggested replacing the language on line 17 with the
following: "...Representative, and all of the members of Congress."
SENATOR WARD moved to amend line 17 as Senator Taylor suggested.
There being no objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR LEMAN moved to add Senator Coverdell's name after the names
of Alaska's Congressional delegation, in SJR 39. There being no
objection, the motion carried.
SENATOR WARD informed committee members he supports including the
word "phonics" in SJR 39.
BARBARA THOMPSON, Director of the Division of Teaching and Learning
Support for the Alaska Department of Education (DOE), testified.
DOE supports SJR 39 as it finds the illiteracy rate alarming and
believes a greater emphasis on reading needs to occur. DOE
supports phonics in the context of a balanced comprehensive reading
program.
SENATOR LEMAN commented that a weaker emphasis is now placed on
phonics in the earlier grades than he experienced as an elementary
grade student, and as a result, students experience more of a
struggle when it comes to spelling and the interrelationship of
letters to words.
TAPE 98-20, SIDE A
SENATOR WARD asked Ms. Thompson to articulate on DOE's position on
using the word "phonics" in SJR 39.
MS. THOMPSON replied DOE recognizes phonics as being a part of a
balanced and comprehensive program.
There being no further business to come before the committee,
CHAIRMAN WILKEN adjourned the meeting.
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