Legislature(2001 - 2002)
2002-04-26 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3181 SB 11 The following, which was advanced to third reading from the April 25, 2002, calendar (page 3142), was read the third time: CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 11(FIN) "An Act relating to required school attendance; and providing for an effective date." Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that CSSB 11(FIN) be returned to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 1 was offered by Representative Coghill: 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3182 Page 1, line 7, following "section.": Insert "If the parent or guardian of a child who is six years of age and is enrolled in first grade at a public school determines, within 60 days after the child is enrolled, that the best interests of the child are not being served by enrollment in the first grade, the child may be withdrawn from school, and the provisions of (a) and (b) of this section do not apply to the child until the child is seven years of age." Representative Coghill moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 1 be adopted. Objection was heard and withdrawn. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Representative Kapsner moved and asked unanimous consent that CSSB 11(FIN) am H be returned to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 2. Representative Coghill objected. The question being: "Shall CSSB 11(FIN) am H be returned to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 2?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 11(FIN) am H Third Reading Return to Second for Amendment No. 2 YEAS: 27 NAYS: 10 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Berkowitz, Bunde, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Foster, Green, Guess, Halcro, Hayes, Hudson, James, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kookesh, Lancaster, McGuire, Morgan, Moses, Murkowski, Porter, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker, Wilson Nays: Chenault, Coghill, Dyson, Harris, Kohring, Kott, Masek, Meyer, Mulder, Rokeberg Excused: Fate, Ogan, Williams And so, CSSB 11(FIN) am H was returned to second reading. 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3183 Representative James moved and asked unanimous consent that the House rescind previous action in returning to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 2. Representative Berkowitz objected. Representative James moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw the motion to rescind previous action in returning to second reading for the specific purpose of considering Amendment No. 2. Objection was heard and withdrawn. There being no further objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 2 was offered by Representative Kapsner: Page 1, line 1, following "attendance" (title amendment): Insert "and relating to a curriculum for Alaska history" Page 1, following line 2: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: FINDINGS AND INTENT. (a) The legislature finds that (1) an education rich in history and government is vital to the development of a representative democracy and a civil society; knowledge of a person's own state history and government is fundamental to informed and effective participation in state and local affairs; (2) Alaska's human history is at least 10,000 years old and reflects the diversity of Native, European, American, and Asian cultures; the study of Alaska history should be as rich as Alaska's origins and evolution as a political community, and it should take into consideration the ancient, historic, and modern interactions of Native, European, American, and Asian cultures, economies, governments, and values; every student graduating from an Alaska secondary school should do so with a demonstrable understanding of Alaska's rich and unique history; (3) the face of Alaska is changing demographically, economically, and socially; the speed of change makes it imperative for Alaska's citizens and leaders to have a sound understanding of the state's history; 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3184 (4) a knowledge of history provides a context for understanding where Alaskans came from and what Alaskans value about the diversity and richness of the state; that knowledge can help Alaskans make decisions individually and collectively that will protect and enhance what Alaskans value both now and into the future; (5) a civics component to an Alaska history curriculum, including how Alaska's economy and Alaska's form of government developed, is crucial to understanding how to deal with today's issues, including urban and rural cooperation and the state's fiscal challenges; (6) an educated Alaska populace with a full appreciation for the history of Alaska will make better decisions for the good of all Alaska citizens, both rural and urban; (7) an understanding of Alaska's history will help Alaska avoid mistakes of the past and will contribute to a prosperous, successful future for all Alaskans; (8) Alaska schools are positioned to transmit knowledge of Alaska history to the majority of people who will inhabit Alaska in coming generations; (9) 22 other states currently require by statute the teaching of state history; (10) over the past decade, a number of instructional resources have become available and could be used to teach courses on Alaska and Alaska Native history. (b) It is the intent of this Act (1) to ensure that every future Alaska high school graduate receive instruction in Alaska history through a locally adopted curriculum that meets the state social studies standards; (2) that Alaska school districts should receive the instructional support needed to put an Alaska history curriculum in place and to prepare teachers to maximize the effect of the curriculum; (3) to encourage public and private involvement and support for implementation of an Alaska history curriculum; (4) to provide for a broad based Alaska history curriculum that includes study of the state's geography, resource development, economics, government, anthropology, art, Native history, and cultural relationships. 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3185 * Sec. 2. AS 14.03.255(a) is amended to read: (a) A charter school operates as a school in the local school district except that the charter school (1) is exempt from the local school district's textbook, program, curriculum, and scheduling requirements; (2) is exempt from AS 14.14.130(c); the principal of the charter school shall be selected by the academic policy committee and shall select, appoint, or otherwise supervise employees of the charter school; and (3) operates under the charter school's annual program budget as set out in the contract between the local school board and the charter school under (c) of this section. A local school board may exempt a charter school from other local school district requirements if the exemption is set out in the contract. A charter school is subject to secondary school competency testing as provided in AS 14.03.075 and other competency tests required by the department. A charter school is subject to Alaska history education requirements under AS 14.30.440." Page 1, line 3: Delete "Section 1." Insert "Sec. 3." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Page 1, following line 7: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 4. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: Article 6A. Alaska History Education. Sec. 14.30.440. Alaska history education. (a) Each governing body shall provide a standards-based Alaska history education curriculum within grades 9 through 12. The curriculum must include study components that are intended to examine the dynamic culture of the state, including a Native studies component. The curriculum shall be implemented as a part of regular classroom studies and must require that each student complete the curriculum with a passing grade as a requirement for graduation. (b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a governing body may waive completion of the curriculum described under (a) of this section as a requirement for graduation for a student who transfers 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3186 into the district from another state or country after completion of the student's junior year. (c) In this section, (1) "curriculum" means a course of study that, by the completion of the 12th grade, is the equivalent of at least one semester; (2) "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990. * Sec. 5. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: APPLICABILITY. Sections 1, 2, 4, and 5 of this Act apply to students who begin the ninth grade on or after July 1, 2003." Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Representative Kapsner moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 2 be adopted. Representative Coghill objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 2 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 11(FIN) am H Second Reading Amendment No. 2 YEAS: 29 NAYS: 8 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Berkowitz, Bunde, Cissna, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Dyson, Foster, Green, Guess, Halcro, Hayes, Hudson, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kookesh, Kott, Lancaster, McGuire, Morgan, Moses, Mulder, Murkowski, Porter, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker, Wilson Nays: Chenault, Coghill, Harris, James, Kohring, Masek, Meyer, Rokeberg Excused: Fate, Ogan, Williams And so, Amendment No. 2 was adopted and the new title follows: 2002-04-26 House Journal Page 3187 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 11(FIN) am H "An Act relating to required school attendance and relating to a curriculum for Alaska history; and providing for an effective date." (pending authorization by a concurrent resolution) The question being: "Shall CSSB 11(FIN) am H pass the House?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 11(FIN) am H Third Reading Final Passage YEAS: 35 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 3 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Berkowitz, Bunde, Chenault, Cissna, Coghill, Crawford, Croft, Davies, Dyson, Foster, Green, Guess, Halcro, Harris, Hayes, Hudson, James, Joule, Kapsner, Kerttula, Kookesh, Kott, Lancaster, McGuire, Meyer, Morgan, Moses, Mulder, Murkowski, Porter, Rokeberg, Scalzi, Stevens, Whitaker, Wilson Nays: Kohring, Masek Excused: Fate, Ogan, Williams And so, CSSB 11(FIN) am H passed the House. Representative James moved and asked unanimous consent that the roll call on the passage of the bill be considered the roll call on the effective date clause. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Representative Masek gave notice of reconsideration of the vote on CSSB 11(FIN) am H.