HB 24-LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:01:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  DRUMMOND announced  that  the first  order of  business                                                               
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 24,  "An Act relating to instruction in a                                                               
language  other than  English; and  relating  to limited  teacher                                                               
certificates."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:02:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed  her appreciation for HB  24.  She                                                               
said she thinks the proposed  legislation would benefit immersion                                                               
language programs  such as those  offered through  the University                                                               
of  Alaska -  Southeast, in  Juneau.   She indicated  that HB  24                                                               
exemplifies the flexibility that Alaska  needs.  She said this is                                                               
one of  the ways  in which  the Department  of Education  & Early                                                               
Development (DEED)  and the Alaska  Board of Education  and Early                                                               
Development  can   work  to  preserve  and   revitalize  Alaska's                                                               
languages.   She said  she supports  HB 24.   She noted  that her                                                               
daughter has gone through the  language programs and is currently                                                               
working in a Tlingit immersion pre-school program.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:04:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY moved to report  HB 24 out of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being  no objection, HB  24 was  reported out of  the House                                                               
Education Standing Committee.