Legislature(1995 - 1996)
02/22/1995 09:06 AM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
February 22, 1995
9:06 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Lyda Green, Chairman
Senator Loren Leman, Vice-Chairman
Senator Mike Miller
Senator Judy Salo
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentation by the Alaska Native Health Board.
SENATE BILL NO. 59
"An Act authorizing the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary
Education to adopt regulations necessary to determine and set an
interest rate applicable to a student loan for which money is
disbursed on or after July 1, 1995, and regulations necessary to
implement certain loan default sanctions and consolidation of loan
provisions beginning July 1, 1995; and providing for an effective
date."
SENATE BILL NO. 88
"An Act establishing a pilot program for charter schools; and
providing for an effective date."
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 59 - See Health, Education & Social Services minutes dated
2/15/95.
SB 88 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Joseph Dexter
Nortod Sound Health Corporation
Alaska Native Health Board
P.O. Box 966
Nome, Alaska 99762
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed capital project appropriations of
the ANHB.
Anne Walker
Alaska Native Health Board
1348 Rudakof Circle, Suite 206
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the public policy priorities of the
ANHB.
Sally Smith
Alaska Native Health Board
President, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
P.O. Box 490
Dillingham, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed appropriations for health programs
and services of the ANHB.
Robert Clark
Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
P.O. Box 130
Dillingham, Alaska 99576
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the situation in the rural health
clinics.
Julieanne Hayes, Executive Director
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions about SB 59.
Senator Sharp
State Capitol
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1182
POSITION STATEMENT: Prime sponsor of SB 88.
Carl Rose, Executive Director
Alaska Association of School Boards
316 W. 11th Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 88.
Willie Anderson
National Education Association of Alaska
114 Second Street
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported SB 88 in general, but pointed out
some concerns.
Vivian Johnson
Box 2236
Bethel, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Indicated support for SB 88 in her discussion
of SB 88 as an opportunity.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 95-8, SIDE A
Number 001
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the Senate Health, Education and Social
Services (HESS) Committee to order at 9:06 a.m. and introduced the
Alaska Native Health Board as the first item on the agenda.
JOSEPH DEXTER, Chairman of the Norton Sound Health Corporation and
Chairman of the Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB) and
Representative on the National Indian Health Board, introduced
members of the Alaska Native Health Board. Members present
included: Sophia Chase, Esther Ronne, Cheryl Edenshaw, Eileen
Kozevnikoff, Joan Domnick, Myra Heaps, Evelyn Beeter, Eileen Ewan,
Morgan Solomm, Vivian Johnson, Mark Wuitschick, Evan Hobson, and
Cindy Thomas.
ANNE WALKER, Alaska Native Health Board, discussed their first
priority, public policy, in the booklet entitled "Alaska Native
Health Board State Legislative Priorities For Fiscal Year 1996."
She explained that those in the Native health care delivery system
review the community health model as well as the medical model in
order to provide the best medical services in the most cost
efficient manner. The public health infrastructure must not be
destroyed with decreasing revenues and budget restraints. She
noted the current outbreak of tuberculosis which is addressed in
the state constitution.
Ms. Walker spoke to the concerns of the board regarding health
education. Health education promotes health and disease
prevention; it is the most cost effective venue in health services.
She noted the board's support of an increase in taxes on alcohol
and tobacco due to their concerns about children becoming addicts.
She also stated support for HB 182 and urged the Senate to review
that legislation.
Number 143
SALLY SMITH explained that particulary in the bush, the dental
profession lacks adequate staff. Often, a community cannot hire a
dental hygenist and the dental assistants have been trained to
assist a dentist; this needs to be legalized in order to bill for
this service. She urged the introduction of a companion bill to
HB 182.
JOSEPH DEXTER continued with the board's next priority, capital
project appropriations. Rural village water and sanitation
facilities have been a top priority for the ANHB. He noted that
the Indian Health Service approximates that the total cost to meet
the basic needs in every rural community would be close to $1
billion. He thanked the legislature for their past commitment and
funding and would urge that the legislature continue their
commitment to the construction of water and sanitation facilities
in rural Alaska.
Mr. Dexter expressed the need for help in the costly aspects of the
operation and maintenance of rural water and sanitation facilities.
He noted the success of the Remote Maintenance Worker program, the
Rural Utility Business Advisors, and operator training programs.
These programs are cost effective and should be expanded. The ANHB
recommends that the legislature provide the $500,000 contribution
for operations and maintenance capacity-building in rural Alaska in
order that these areas receive the support of the Department of
Environmental Conservation.
Mr. Dexter explained the need for the replacement and renovation of
village health clinics. Many of the clinics are too small to meet
the present needs. There are still clinics without running water
or sewage disposal. He emphasized the ANHB's desire to have piped
water and sewage disposal in every village health clinic by the
year 2002. He requested that the legislature renew the special
$500,000 appropriation to the Department of Environmental
Conservation in order to support sanitation to additional clinics
in the fiscal year 1996.
Number 252
SALLY SMITH directed the committee's attention to page 9 of their
booklet, Appropriations for Health Programs and Services. She
recounted the legislature's past with regard to waivers for
Medicaid reimbursment of home and community-based care. She
emphasized the need for continued support of home and community-
based services for the elderly and the disabled. Ms. Smith added
that health promotion and disease prevention offer the best cost
benefit, especially since nine of ten Alaska Native deaths can be
attributed to lifestyle and behavior-related choices. She
continued by addressing the needs in the area of mental health and
substance abuse services. The down-sizing of the Alaska
Psychiatric Institute creates an even more urgent need for funding
of the bush mental health centers. She pointed out that local
providers make a difference in the long-term.
SENATOR SALO asked if most of the village health clinics are
totally out-patient facilities. ANNE WALKER said that they are
only out-patient services unless the patient needs to be stablized
due to inclement weather. Hospitals cannot be supported in every
village.
SENATOR LEMAN asked if that service would be provided in Bethel.
ANNE WALKER said that the Bethel hospital does provide major
medical care except for major surgeries and high risk OB patients.
Number 301
ROBERT CLARK, Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation, clarified that
often the weather and the short runways in the bush pose problems
for Medivacs. Federal Aviation Association regulations become
involved when there is inclement weather. Most rural communities
cannot afford air ambulances. He suggested that some of the
regulations should be reviewed. Mr. Clark reiterated the need to
update the village health clinics and urged the state to match
federal funding in order to enhance the priorities of the ANHB.
SENATOR LEMAN pointed out that changing regulations would not be
under the purview of the legislature. ROBERT CLARK said that he
intended to refer to the statutes.
JOSEPH DEXTER commented that the Budget Request Units are cost
effective; administrative costs are reduced. He boasted that the
ANHB does provide good services in a cost effective manner. The
ANHB will continue to come before the legislature to request help
in achieving their priorities until their needs are met.
ANNE WALKER stated that ANHB would be willing to take budget cuts
so long as the cuts were equal across the entire provider
community.
CHAIRMAN GREEN commented that community-based services are the most
efficeint, cost effective and desireable form of service. Chairman
Green thanked everyone for the presentation and called an at ease
at 9:33 a.m.
SHES - 2/22/95
SB 59 REGULATIONS FOR STUDENT LOANS
Number 379
CHAIRMAN GREEN called the committee back to order at 9:36 a.m. and
introduced SB 59 as the next order of business before the
committee. Chairman Green inquired as to the will of the
committee.
SENATOR LEMAN expressed the need to hear from the Commission.
JULIEANNE HAYES, Executive Assistant of the Alaska Commission on
Postsecondary Education, stated that SB 59 is a transition bill
which would allow the Commission on Postsecondary Education to set
an interest rate. This language was not present in last year's
legislation, HB 506. Without the authority to set regulations the
commission would not be able to issue loans as of July 1995. She
reviewed the sections of SB 59 and pointed out the various
regulations they would allow such as default procedures and
consolidation of loans. She explained that the truth lending law
does not allow the issuance of loans without a specified interest
rate and without the timely passage of SB 59, the commission will
be unable to issue loans.
CHAIRMAN GREEN clarified that SB 59 would correct an oversight in
the previous legislation; an immediate effective date is necessary.
Ms. Hayes agreed.
SENATOR LEMAN moved that SB 59 be moved out of committee with
individual recommendations. Without objection, it was so ordered.
SHES - 2/22/95
SB 88 PILOT PROGRAM FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
Number 416
CHAIRMAN GREEN introduced SB 88 as the next order of business
before the committee.
SENATOR SHARP, prime sponsor, said that SB 88 addresses the
consideration of the charter school concept. He noted previous
legislation, SB 60 and SB 61, which attempted to address charter
schools along with various other educational issues. SB 88 is a
single issue piece of legislation. He pointed out that SB 88 would
allow creativity with few limitations on setting up and operating
charter schools. He reviewed the sectional analysis of SB 88. He
hoped that this legislature could develop legislation encouraging
charter schools to challenge students.
SENATOR SALO asked if SB 88 included the committee amendments to
last year's legislation regarding charter schools. SENATOR SHARP
said that he basically used the last version of SB 61.
Number 496
SENATOR SALO felt that a lot of work had been put into last year's
legislation, however, more could be done. She asked where the
charter school would be located; would this be a program within an
existing school or another facility entirely? SENATOR SHARP could
foresee various possibilities. He felt that in the current
economy, existing facilities would be used. This legislation is
based on the Wisconsin Charter School Law which uses an existing
school within a district. He noted that facilities not owned by
the school district would not be eliminated from consideration.
CHAIRMAN GREEN pointed out that oftentimes, charter schools had
resulted in an attempt to save a school in danger of being phased
out. She said that the Birchwood School in Anchorage and the ABC
School in the Northern Lights District were examples of quasi
charter schools; these schools used existing facilities.
SENATOR SALO explained that part of the opposition to this bill is
encompassed in Chairman Green's previous statement. Many believe
that programs such as charter schools can be achieved in the
current system.
SENATOR SHARP noted that the scope of his background in education
was his service in the past two sessions on the HESS committee.
Number 544
SENATOR LEMAN stated that one of his goals was to offer educational
opportunities to all children in Alaska. He disagreed with the
Anchorage School District's policy. All school programs should be
available to all students even those that receive home schooling or
attend private schools. Such programs as a chemistry lab would not
be appropriate to have in a home school setting. He hoped to
ensure the ability for students to participate in any available
program.
SENATOR SHARP felt that SB 88 incorporates a lot of freedom for the
school board. This bill would allow a school district the ability
to offer facilities in the district to be utilized by a charter
school. There is ample room to explore all the options.
Number 578
CARL ROSE, Executive Director of the Association of Alaska School
Boards (AASB), supported SB 88. He noted the association's
previous work on this legislation in an omnibus effort. He stated
that a school board's ability to examine the needs of those it
serves is impaired by their frame of reference. Regulations,
statutes, funding constraints, negotiated agreements, and board
policies impact the school board. SB 88 allows interested groups
to offer proposals to the school board. He envisioned much
opportunity for improvement within SB 88. After conducting a
survey, Mr. Rose discovered that 85 percent of their membership are
in rural communities. The rural communities do not expect charter
schools to be part of their future.
TAPE 95-8, SIDE B
Number 595
Mr. Rose noted that the areas of Anchorage, Fairbanks, Mat-Su,
Kenai, and Juneau are interested in charter schools; the more
populated areas would be most interested in charter schools. In
terms of funding charter schools, there needs to be a clarification
of the administrative costs. He informed the committee that other
proposals had created charter schools as a funding site unto
themselves. He reiterated Senator Salo's concerns regarding the
facilities for charter schools. SB 88 seems to be geared towards
magnet schools due to the increased cost of operating an off site
facility. He commented on possible prerequisites in order to
handle admission of charter schools. In conclusion, SB 88 would
positively address certain areas of community interest and the
association supports charter schools.
SENATOR SALO asked if the AASB supported this two years ago. CARL
ROSE stated that AASB supported the concept, but not the
legislation. SB 88 seems to address most of the concerns the AASB
had with the legislation of two years ago.
SENATOR SALO expressed the need to take time with SB 88 in order to
survey possible scenarios in a charter school situation. She asked
if Mr. Rose believed that SB 88 would allow freedom from negotiated
agreements which he had mentioned as an obstacle school board's
face. CARL ROSE directed the committee's attention to Section 5
subsection (b) which addresses that fear.
SENATOR SALO asked how easy would it be for a charter school to
become a voucher system. She expressed her belief that a voucher
system would be detrimental to public education. There is a group
of parents in Anchorage working on opening a private school. If
such a group was interested in a charter school and public funding
was matched with private funds, the results could be a wonderful
school and delivery system. She pointed out that there is already
discussion regarding federal disparity in the formula; in-state
disparity could also be a consideration.
CARL ROSE understood Senator Salo's concern with disparity issues
with regard to equality and equal protection. He stated that
students in public schools are afforded certain opportunities that
others cannot take advantage of. In smaller schools without access
to Star Schools, there is no opportunity to take advanced
mathematics or foreign languages as is the case in some areas in
Skagway. A student could excell in one school system while being
barred from certain courses with prerequisites which are not
available. He felt that creating a charter school that would not
be accessible to all would be justified in its original charter.
When a charter school is proposed the board would review the
benefits. Mr. Rose explained that charter schools and vouchers
were tied together in the past eventhough, charter schools are
different.
Number 499
WILLIE ANDERSON, National Education Association for Alaska (NEA-
AK), supported SB 88 in general, but recognized some areas of
concern. He noted that NEA-AK had also worked with Senator Sharp
on this legislation. The funding of charter schools was noted as
a concern. He explained that charter schools would pull students
out of the general population of the school system which could
result in smaller classes. Smaller classes would create the
possibility of higher enrollment in the main school causing less of
an opportunity for a quality education for those students in the
main school. Another problem could come in the area of enrollment.
Mr. Anderson emphasized the need for open enrollment; there should
be equal opportunity to participate in any program receiving public
funding.
Mr. Anderson pointed out that SB 88 merely implies that charter
schools would be required to follow all applicable laws and
regulations. He expressed the need to clarify this issue. Also
there should be clarification as to how charter schools differ from
what currently exists. He thought that SB 88 could be providing a
new vantage point in which to look at the educational process. He
said that NEA-AK supported creative thinking to the extent that
every student has equal access, the presence of an adequate funding
source, and a facility for these programs. Many of the current
educational facilities are overcrowded. SB 88 could enhance public
schools and NEA-AK would support that endeavor.
Number 453
SENATOR SALO commented that the issues of the availability of
facilities and funding for charter schools are closely linked.
SB 88 addresses the administrative costs of charter schools, but
does not deal with the costs of operating a facility separate from
a school facility already being utilized. WILLIE ANDERSON agreed
with Senator Salo and specified that SB 88 should have an
additional funding mechanism to address the operational concerns of
using a separate facility.
CHAIRMAN GREEN inquired as to the position of NEA-AK regarding
SB 88. WILLIE ANDERSON reiterated that NEA-AK supports SB 88 with
the reservations previously indicated.
SENATOR LEMAN asked Mr. Anderson of his thoughts regarding the need
for equal access to educational programs for all students. WILLIE
ANDERSON stated that NEA-AK does not officially oppose private
school students utilizing public school facilities. NEA-AK would
encourage students interested in programs offered by public schools
to enroll in the public school. Mr. Anderson mentioned the option
of part-time enrollment. Every student has the opportunity to
attend public schools and utilize their programs, the ability to
chose certain portions of the program would be left to the
discretion of the local board of education.
Number 415
VIVIAN JOHNSON, Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation member and
hospital administrator at the Bethel hospital, stated that her
testimony represented her thoughts not any group with which she was
affiliated. She informed the committee of her varied educational
background and noted that when she attended a state run high school
it did not provide the necessary challenge for her. She agreed
that equal access should be a concern. There is a need to ensure
educational opportunities. She felt that students are challenged
no matter their location.
Ms. Johnson, speaking from the perspective of a professional
teacher, noted that everyone learns in different ways. There are
also numerous theories of practice for education. She envisioned
charter schools in her future although, previous statements
indicated that rural areas would not be interested in charter
schools. She commented that, as a professional teacher, teaching
in a charter school seems very attractive to her. She asked what
the geographic balance referred to in SB 88.
Number 336
CHAIRMAN GREEN clarified that the intent of the language was to
ensure that one district did not utilize all thirty of the possible
charter schools. The numbers are arbitrary without any scientific
calculations; there was no bias intended. VIVIAN JOHNSON expressed
the need to clarify that language because the language suggests an
inbalance in the geographic areas.
VIVIAN JOHNSON emphasized that SB 88 would offer tremendous
opportunities for teachers. She pointed out that access at the
state level is important and should not be ignored no matter your
region. She offered her assistance with these issues.
SENATOR LEMAN restated Ms. Johnson's feelings that the School of
Excellence could raise the standards for everyone however, others
feel threatened by such a school. VIVIAN JOHNSON noted that
everyone reacts to change differently. Charter schools would be a
drastic philosophical change in the state's policy. She concluded
that SB 88 creates an important opportunity.
CHAIRMAN GREEN said that the committee would continue to consider
SB 88 and hoped to hear from other interested individuals. She
noted the committee's next meeting would be on Monday,
February 27th.
There being no further business before the committee, the meeting
adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
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