Legislature(2021 - 2022)
2022-05-17 Senate Journal
Full Journal pdf2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2831 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB282 (continued) (Continued from Previous Page) Fish & Game Governor Health Labor & Workforce Dev. Law Military & Veterans Affairs Natural Resources Public Safety Transportation & Public Facilities Judiciary Legislature Fund Capitalization Language and Other Appropriations operating/supplemental items 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2832 Messages from the House Concur Messages SB 95 Message dated May 16 was read stating the House passed and returned for consideration CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 95(STA) "An Act relating to the right of first refusal of a volunteer search and rescue group with respect to obsolete or surplus state property" with the following amendment(s): HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 95(STA) Senator Hughes moved the Senate concur in the House amendment(s). The question being: "Shall the Senate concur in the House amendment(s)?" The roll was taken with the following result: HCS CSSB 95(STA) Shall the Senate Concur in the House Amendment to CSSB 95(STA)? YEAS: 17 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 2 Yeas: Begich, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Bishop, Stedman and so, the Senate concurred in the House amendment(s), thus adopting HOUSE CS FOR CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 95(STA) "An Act relating to the right of first refusal of a volunteer search and rescue group with respect to obsolete or surplus state property." The Secretary was requested to notify the House. The bill was referred to the Secretary for enrollment. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2833 Standing Committee Reports HB 64 The Resources Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 64(FSH) "An Act relating to regional fishery development associations; and relating to developing fishery management assessments." Signing no recommendation: Senator Revak, Chair; Senators Kawasaki, Micciche, Kiehl. Signing do pass: Senator Stevens. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Fish and Game Fiscal Note No. 4, indeterminate, Department of Fish and Game Fiscal Note No. 5, indeterminate, Department of Revenue The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. Consideration of the Calendar Senate Bills in Second Reading SB 140 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(JUD) am "An Act relating to school athletics, recreation, athletic teams, and sports" was before the Senate. Senator von Imhof called the Senate, then lifted the call. The presence of Senators Bishop, Stedman was noted. Senator von Imhof moved and asked unanimous consent to table CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(JUD) am. Senator Hughes objected. The question being: "Shall CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(JUD) am be tabled?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2834 CSSB 140(JUD) am Second Reading Lay on the Table? YEAS: 11 NAYS: 8 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Revak, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski Nays: Costello, Holland, Hughes, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Shower, Wilson Excused: Reinbold and so, CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(JUD) am was tabled. The presence of Senator Reinbold was noted. Second Reading of House Bills HB 62 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) am "An Act relating to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to solemnization of marriage; and relating to consent to marriage" was read the second time. Senator Holland, Chair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the Judiciary Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 2748. Senator Begich objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) was read the third time. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) "An Act relating to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to solemnization of marriage; and relating to consent to marriage" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2835 SCS CSHB 62(JUD) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 20 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Reinbold, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson and so, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 114 HOUSE BILL NO. 114 am "An Act relating to the education loan program and Alaska supplemental education loan program; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. Senator Bishop, Cochair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the Finance Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 2756. Senator Begich objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) "An Act relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" was adopted. Senators Holland, Olson, Begich offered Amendment No. 1 : Page 1, line 1, following "Act": Insert "relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium;" 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2836 Page 1, following line 4: 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: SHORT TITLE. This Act may be known as the Alaska Reads Act. * Sec. 2. AS 14.03.040 is amended to read: Sec. 14.03.040. Day in session. Each day within the school term is a day in session except Saturdays, Sundays, and days designated as holidays by or according to AS 14.03.050. A school board may approve Saturdays as a day in session. The day in session in every school shall be at least four hours long, exclusive of intermissions, for the first, second, and third grades and five hours, exclusive of intermissions, for [ALL OTHER] grades four through 12. The commissioner may approve a shorter day in session for any grade. The period of the day in session shall be devoted to the instruction of pupils or to study periods for the pupils. * Sec. 3. AS 14.03.060(e) is amended to read: (e) In addition to the grades enumerated in (a) of this section, an elementary school consists of an early education [A PRE- ELEMENTARY] program approved or supervised by the department under AS 14.07.020(a)(8), including a program operated by a head start agency [THE DEPARTMENT] as a head start program under 42 U.S.C. 9831 - 9852c [AS 14.38.010, OR LOCATED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR FEDERAL FUNDING PURPOSES. EXCEPT FOR A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY WHO IS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION OR RELATED SERVICES UNDER AS 14.30.180 - 14.30.350, PRE-ELEMENTARY STUDENTS MAY NOT BE COUNTED IN A SCHOOL'S AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP UNDER AS 14.17]. * Sec. 4. AS 14.03.060(e), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act, is amended to read: (e) In addition to the grades enumerated in (a) of this section, an elementary school consists of an early education program [APPROVED OR] supervised by the department under AS 14.07.020(a)(8), including a program operated by a head start agency as a head start program under 42 U.S.C. 9831 - 9852c. * Sec. 5. AS 14.03.072(a) is amended to read: (a) Each school district shall annually provide to parents and guardians of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2837 in a public school in the state current information on the importance of [EARLY] literacy and early reading, including (1) culturally responsive intervention strategies and reading intervention services provided under AS 14.30.765; (2) home reading [LITERACY] plans; (3) grade progression [RETENTION] standards and policies for the elementary school attended; (4) strategies and resources to help children learn to read; (5) a list of resources and organizations that specialize in improving adult literacy. * Sec. 6. AS 14.03.072(a), as amended by sec. 5 of this Act, is amended to read: (a) Each school district shall annually provide to parents and guardians of students enrolled in kindergarten through grade three in a public school in the state current information on the importance of literacy and early reading, including (1) culturally responsive intervention strategies [AND READING INTERVENTION SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER AS 14.30.765]; (2) home reading plans; (3) grade progression standards and policies for the elementary school attended; (4) strategies and resources to help children learn to read; (5) a list of resources and organizations that specialize in improving adult literacy. * Sec. 7. AS 14.03.078(a) is amended to read: (a) The department shall provide to the legislature and school districts by February 15 of each year by electronic means an annual report regarding the progress of each school and school district toward high academic performance by all students. The report required under this section must include (1) information described under AS 14.03.120 [AS 14.03.120(d)]; (2) progress of the department (A) toward implementing the school accountability provisions of AS 14.03.123; and (B) in assisting high schools to become accredited; (3) a description of the resources provided to each school and school district for coordinated school improvement activities and staff training in each school and school district; 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2838 (4) each school district's and each school's progress in aligning curriculum with state education performance standards; (5) a description of the efforts by the department to assist a public school or district that receives a low performance designation under AS 14.03.123; (6) a description of intervention efforts by each school district and school for students who are not meeting state performance standards; [AND] (7) the number and percentage of turnover in certificated personnel and superintendents; (8) a summary of the categories of certificated administrative employees employed by each school district that includes the ratio of (A) the number of certificated administrative employees in each category employed by each school district compared to the number of students enrolled in the school district on October 1 of the previous year; (B) the total number of certificated administrative employees employed by each school district compared to the total number of teachers employed by the school district on October 1 of the previous year; and (C) the total number of teachers employed by each school district compared to the total number of students enrolled in the school district on October 1 of the previous year; (9) the progress made to implement the reading intervention programs established under AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.780, including data on how school districts are using in- service days for culturally responsive professional development in reading instruction; and (10) the effectiveness and participation rates of the parents as teachers program established under AS 14.03.420, including measures of efficiency and effectiveness that demonstrate the effects of the program on school readiness. * Sec. 8. AS 14.03.078(a), as amended by sec. 7 of this Act, is amended to read: (a) The department shall provide to the legislature and school districts by February 15 of each year by electronic means an annual report regarding the progress of each school and school 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2839 district toward high academic performance by all students. The report required under this section must include (1) information described under AS 14.03.120; (2) progress of the department (A) toward implementing the school accountability provisions of AS 14.03.123; and (B) in assisting high schools to become accredited; (3) a description of the resources provided to each school and school district for coordinated school improvement activities and staff training in each school and school district; (4) each school district's and each school's progress in aligning curriculum with state education performance standards; (5) a description of the efforts by the department to assist a public school or district that receives a low performance designation under AS 14.03.123; (6) a description of intervention efforts by each school district and school for students who are not meeting state performance standards; (7) the number and percentage of turnover in certificated personnel and superintendents; and (8) a summary of the categories of certificated administrative employees employed by each school district that includes the ratio of (A) the number of certificated administrative employees in each category employed by each school district compared to the number of students enrolled in the school district on October 1 of the previous year; (B) the total number of certificated administrative employees employed by each school district compared to the total number of teachers employed by the school district on October 1 of the previous year; and (C) the total number of teachers employed by each school district compared to the total number of students enrolled in the school district on October 1 of the previous year [; (9) THE PROGRESS MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE READING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED UNDER AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.780, INCLUDING DATA ON HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE USING IN-SERVICE DAYS FOR CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROFESSIONAL 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2840 DEVELOPMENT IN READING INSTRUCTION; AND (10) THE EFFECTIVENESS AND PARTICIPATION RATES OF THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER AS 14.03.420, INCLUDING MEASURES OF EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTS OF THE PROGRAM ON SCHOOL READINESS]. * Sec. 9. AS 14.03.078 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (c) Each school district shall make available to the public the portion of the report under (a)(8) of this section that pertains to the school district by posting the information in a prominent location on the school district's or local community's Internet website or by another easily accessible method. (d) In this section, "administrative employee" means an employee who does not provide direct classroom instruction for students as a regular part of the employee's job. * Sec. 10. AS 14.03.080(c) is amended to read: (c) A child under school age who is at least four years of age at the beginning of the school year may be admitted to a public school in the school district of which the child is a resident at the discretion of the governing body of the school district if the child meets minimum standards prescribed by the board evidencing that the child has the mental, physical, and emotional capacity to perform satisfactorily for the educational program being offered. A district's educational program must prescribe that, except for students in an early education program, under school age students advance through the curriculum or grade level by the following school year. A governing body may delegate the authority granted under this subsection to the chief school administrator of the school district. * Sec. 11. AS 14.03.080(c), as amended by sec. 10 of this Act, is amended to read: (c) A child under school age [WHO IS AT LEAST FOUR YEARS OF AGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR] may be admitted to a public school in the school district of which the child is a resident at the discretion of the governing body of the school district if the child meets minimum standards prescribed by the board evidencing that the child has the mental, 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2841 physical, and emotional capacity to perform satisfactorily for the educational program being offered. A district's educational program must prescribe that [, EXCEPT FOR STUDENTS IN AN EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM,] under school age students advance through the curriculum or grade level by the following school year. A governing body may delegate the authority granted under this subsection to the chief school administrator of the school district. * Sec. 12. AS 14.03.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (g) A child who is five years of age on or before September 1 following the beginning of the school year, and who is under school age, may enter a public school kindergarten. * Sec. 13. AS 14.03.120 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (h) To the extent allowable under state and federal privacy laws, each district shall annually report to the department information from the previous school year regarding (1) the number of students and teaching staff assigned to each classroom in grades kindergarten through three; (2) the number and percentage of students (A) in grades kindergarten through three who demonstrated improvement on expected grade-level skills on the statewide screening tool; (B) in grades kindergarten through three who performed below expected grade-level skills on the statewide screening tool, by grade; (C) in grades kindergarten through three who did not progress to the next grade and the reasons the students did not progress; (D) in grade three who demonstrated sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four based on the statewide screening tool; (E) in grade three who progressed to grade four based on a waiver under AS 14.30.765(f); (F) in grade three who demonstrated sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four based on an alternative standardized reading screening; (G) in grade three who demonstrated sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four based on a student 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2842 reading portfolio; (3) the performance on the statewide screening tool of students in a grade above grade three who did not progress to grade four or who progressed to grade four based on a waiver under AS 14.30.765(f). (i) To the extent allowable under state and federal privacy laws, the department shall post on the department's Internet website and make available for download the information reported under this section. The department shall post the information in a single downloadable comma-separated values file or a similar single downloadable file that allows data storage in tabular format. The file must include the comprehensive information about each public school reported under (d) and (e) of this section in a single list that may be sorted and compared. (j) If the department receives the information required to be reported under this section from multiple sources, the department shall consolidate the information. Nothing in this section requires a district to provide duplicate information to the department in separate documents. * Sec. 14. AS 14.03 is amended by adding new sections to read: Article 4. Early Education. Sec. 14.03.410. Early education programs; grants. (a) The department shall provide training and assistance to develop and improve district-wide early education programs that comply with standards adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(a)(5). (b) The department may award a grant to provide funding for a three-year period for the development or improvement of a district-wide early education program to a district that has not received a grant under this section, applies in a format prescribed by the department, provides the information required under (g) of this section, and is eligible for a grant as specified under (c) of this section. Unless the legislature appropriates another amount, total grant funding awarded to districts under this subsection may not exceed $3,000,000 in a fiscal year. (c) The department shall rank the performance of each district in the state in accordance with the accountability system and performance designations required under AS 14.03.123. When approving grants under (b) of this section, the department shall prioritize eligible districts with lower performance, based on the department's ranking of districts under this subsection. A 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2843 district is eligible for a grant if the department determines an insufficient number of children in the district attend high quality child care programs, including head start programs, early education programs provided by a local government, and early education programs provided by child development agencies, that (1) meet or exceed the standards adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(a)(5); and (2) would continue operating after development of a district early education program. (d) If the department does not approve the early education program of a district awarded a grant under (b) of this section by the end of the district's three-year grant period, the department may provide a one-year remediation grant to allow the district one additional fiscal year to meet the early education program standards adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(a)(5). If the district is unable to meet the early education program standards at the end of that fiscal year, the department may, in the discretion of the commissioner, provide an additional remediation grant to allow the district not more than one additional fiscal year to meet the standards. Nothing in this section prohibits a district from using its own funds to continue the remediation process. (e) A student in an early education program may not be counted in a district's ADM under AS 14.17.500 unless the department has approved the program. (f) A grant under this section is subject to appropriation, but may not supplant other early education funding available to districts. (g) Before applying for a grant under (b) of this section, a district shall, to avoid duplicate programs and facilitate resource sharing to improve early education within the district, consult with each local and tribal head start program within the district's boundaries. An application submitted under (b) of this section must include documentation establishing that the district consulted with each local and tribal head start program within the district. (h) In this section, (1) "ADM" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990; (2) "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990; (3) "early education program" means a program, the primary function of which is educational, for children who are four and five years of age and who have not attended a public 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2844 school kindergarten. Sec. 14.03.420. Parents as teachers program. (a) The department shall design and implement a statewide parents as teachers program for the benefit of children who are under five years of age. The program must provide a system of early childhood education that (1) is evidence-based; (2) involves parents; (3) is consistent with available research and best practices for high quality early childhood education; (4) incorporates guidelines adopted by the department for early learning that (A) enhance school readiness; (B) increase parent understanding of child development and developmental milestones; (C) reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect; (D) increase identification of health problems and developmental delays through regular screenings; (E) improve child health indicators, including immunization rates; and (F) increase parental involvement; and (5) provides for effective and efficient coordination with or expansion of early education programs operating in the state, to the extent permitted by law. (b) A school district shall, to the extent space is needed and available, provide for the use of a room in a school at no charge to support the program established under this section. (c) The department shall develop and enter into local partnerships to implement the program established under this section. * Sec. 15. AS 14.07.020(a) is amended to read: (a) The department shall (1) exercise general supervision over the public schools of the state except the University of Alaska; (2) study the conditions and needs of the public schools of the state, adopt or recommend plans, administer and evaluate grants to improve school performance awarded under AS 14.03.125, and adopt regulations for the improvement of the public schools; the department may consult with the University of Alaska to develop secondary education requirements to improve 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2845 student achievement in college preparatory courses; (3) provide advisory and consultative services to all public school governing bodies and personnel; (4) prescribe by regulation a minimum course of study for the public schools; the regulations must provide that, if a course in American Sign Language is given, the course shall be given credit as a course in a foreign language; (5) establish, in coordination with the Department of Health and Social Services, a program for the continuing education of children who are held in juvenile detention facilities or juvenile treatment facilities, as those terms are defined in AS 47.12.990, in the state during the period of detention or treatment; (6) accredit those public schools that meet accreditation standards prescribed by regulation by the department; these regulations shall be adopted by the department and presented to the legislature during the first 10 days of any regular session, and become effective 45 days after presentation or at the end of the session, whichever is earlier, unless disapproved by a resolution concurred in by a majority of the members of each house; (7) prescribe by regulation, after consultation with the state fire marshal and the state sanitarian, standards that will ensure healthful and safe conditions in the public and private schools of the state, including a requirement of physical examinations and immunizations in pre-elementary schools; the standards for private schools may not be more stringent than those for public schools; (8) exercise general supervision over early education programs [PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS] that receive direct state or federal funding, including early education programs provided by a school district for students four and five years of age, approve an early education program provided by a school district that complies with the standards adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(a)(5), and revoke approval of an early education program if the program does not comply with the standards adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(a)(5); (9) exercise general supervision over elementary and secondary correspondence study programs offered by municipal school districts or regional educational attendance areas; the department may also offer and make available to any Alaskan 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2846 through a centralized office a correspondence study program; (10) accredit private schools that request accreditation and that meet accreditation standards prescribed by regulation by the department; nothing in this paragraph authorizes the department to require religious or other private schools to be licensed; (11) review plans for construction of new public elementary and secondary schools and for additions to and major rehabilitation of existing public elementary and secondary schools and, in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, determine and approve the extent of eligibility for state aid of a school construction or major maintenance project; for the purposes of this paragraph, "plans" include educational specifications, schematic designs, projected energy consumption and costs, and final contract documents; (12) provide educational opportunities in the areas of vocational education and training, and basic education to individuals over 16 years of age who are no longer attending school; the department may consult with businesses and labor unions to develop a program to prepare students for apprenticeships or internships that will lead to employment opportunities; (13) administer the grants awarded under AS 14.11; (14) establish, in coordination with the Department of Public Safety, a school bus driver training course; (15) require the reporting of information relating to school disciplinary and safety programs under AS 14.33.120 and of incidents of disruptive or violent behavior; (16) establish by regulation criteria, based on low student performance, under which the department may intervene in a school district to improve instructional practices, as described in AS 14.07.030(a)(14) or (15); the regulations must include (A) a notice provision that alerts the district to the deficiencies and the instructional practice changes proposed by the department; (B) an end date for departmental intervention, as described in AS 14.07.030(a)(14)(A) and (B) and (15), after the district demonstrates three consecutive years of improvement consisting of not less than two percent increases in student proficiency on standards-based assessments in 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2847 language arts and mathematics, as provided in AS 14.03.123(f)(1)(A); and (C) a process for districts to petition the department for continuing or discontinuing the department's intervention; (17) notify the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education before intervening in a school district under AS 14.07.030(a)(14) or redirecting public school funding under AS 14.07.030(a)(15); (18) establish a reading program to provide direct support for and intervention in the reading intervention programs of participating schools as described in AS 14.30.765 and 14.30.770; (19) annually convene, either in person or electronically, a panel to review and comment on the effectiveness of the programs created by the department and the regulations adopted by the board to implement AS 14.03.410, 14.03.420, AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.770, and 14.30.800; the panel (A) shall provide recommendations and guidance to the board, the department, and the legislature on how to integrate early education and reading programs created under this title with tribal compacting or programs focused on cultural education within the department; (B) shall discuss support for reading in Alaska Native languages and other non-English languages; (C) must collectively represent the regions of the state and include teachers of grades kindergarten through three, school administrators, parents of students in grades kindergarten through three, stakeholders from indigenous language immersion programs, representatives from early education stakeholder groups, and researchers of best practices for improving literacy performance, including best practices for instruction of indigenous students and students whose first language is not English. * Sec. 16. AS 14.07.020(a), as amended by sec. 15 of this Act,is amended to read: (a) The department shall (1) exercise general supervision over the public schools of the state except the University of Alaska; (2) study the conditions and needs of the public schools 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2848 of the state, adopt or recommend plans, administer and evaluate grants to improve school performance awarded under AS 14.03.125, and adopt regulations for the improvement of the public schools; the department may consult with the University of Alaska to develop secondary education requirements to improve student achievement in college preparatory courses; (3) provide advisory and consultative services to all public school governing bodies and personnel; (4) prescribe by regulation a minimum course of study for the public schools; the regulations must provide that, if a course in American Sign Language is given, the course shall be given credit as a course in a foreign language; (5) establish, in coordination with the Department of Health and Social Services, a program for the continuing education of children who are held in juvenile detention facilities or juvenile treatment facilities, as those terms are defined in AS 47.12.990, in the state during the period of detention or treatment; (6) accredit those public schools that meet accreditation standards prescribed by regulation by the department; these regulations shall be adopted by the department and presented to the legislature during the first 10 days of any regular session, and become effective 45 days after presentation or at the end of the session, whichever is earlier, unless disapproved by a resolution concurred in by a majority of the members of each house; (7) prescribe by regulation, after consultation with the state fire marshal and the state sanitarian, standards that will ensure healthful and safe conditions in the public and private schools of the state, including a requirement of physical examinations and immunizations in pre-elementary schools; the standards for private schools may not be more stringent than those for public schools; (8) exercise general supervision over early education programs that receive direct state or federal funding, including early education programs provided by a school district for students four and five years of age [, APPROVE AN EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT COMPLIES WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD UNDER AS 14.07.165(a)(5), AND REVOKE APPROVAL OF AN EARLY EDUCATION 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2849 PROGRAM IF THE PROGRAM DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD UNDER AS 14.07.165(a)(5)]; (9) exercise general supervision over elementary and secondary correspondence study programs offered by municipal school districts or regional educational attendance areas; the department may also offer and make available to any Alaskan through a centralized office a correspondence study program; (10) accredit private schools that request accreditation and that meet accreditation standards prescribed by regulation by the department; nothing in this paragraph authorizes the department to require religious or other private schools to be licensed; (11) review plans for construction of new public elementary and secondary schools and for additions to and major rehabilitation of existing public elementary and secondary schools and, in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, determine and approve the extent of eligibility for state aid of a school construction or major maintenance project; for the purposes of this paragraph, "plans" include educational specifications, schematic designs, projected energy consumption and costs, and final contract documents; (12) provide educational opportunities in the areas of vocational education and training, and basic education to individuals over 16 years of age who are no longer attending school; the department may consult with businesses and labor unions to develop a program to prepare students for apprenticeships or internships that will lead to employment opportunities; (13) administer the grants awarded under AS 14.11; (14) establish, in coordination with the Department of Public Safety, a school bus driver training course; (15) require the reporting of information relating to school disciplinary and safety programs under AS 14.33.120 and of incidents of disruptive or violent behavior; (16) establish by regulation criteria, based on low student performance, under which the department may intervene in a school district to improve instructional practices, as described in AS 14.07.030(a)(14) or (15); the regulations must include (A) a notice provision that alerts the district to the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2850 deficiencies and the instructional practice changes proposed by the department; (B) an end date for departmental intervention, as described in AS 14.07.030(a)(14)(A) and (B) and (15), after the district demonstrates three consecutive years of improvement consisting of not less than two percent increases in student proficiency on standards-based assessments in language arts and mathematics, as provided in AS 14.03.123(f)(1)(A); and (C) a process for districts to petition the department for continuing or discontinuing the department's intervention; (17) notify the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education before intervening in a school district under AS 14.07.030(a)(14) or redirecting public school funding under AS 14.07.030(a)(15) [; (18) ESTABLISH A READING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT FOR AND INTERVENTION IN THE READING INTERVENTION PROGRAMS OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AS DESCRIBED IN AS 14.30.765 AND 14.30.770; (19) ANNUALLY CONVENE, EITHER IN PERSON OR ELECTRONICALLY, A PANEL TO REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAMS CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD TO IMPLEMENT AS 14.03.410, 14.03.420, AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.770, AND 14.30.800; THE PANEL (A) SHALL PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDANCE TO THE BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE LEGISLATURE ON HOW TO INTEGRATE EARLY EDUCATION AND READING PROGRAMS CREATED UNDER THIS TITLE WITH TRIBAL COMPACTING OR PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CULTURAL EDUCATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT; (B) SHALL DISCUSS SUPPORT FOR READING IN ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGES AND OTHER NON- ENGLISH LANGUAGES; (C) MUST COLLECTIVELY REPRESENT THE REGIONS OF THE STATE AND INCLUDE TEACHERS OF GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THREE, 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2851 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THREE, STAKEHOLDERS FROM INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAMS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM EARLY EDUCATION STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND RESEARCHERS OF BEST PRACTICES FOR IMPROVING LITERACY PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES FOR INSTRUCTION OF INDIGENOUS STUDENTS AND STUDENTS WHOSE FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH]. * Sec. 17. AS 14.07.020(c) is amended to read: (c) In this section, "early education program" ["PRE- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL"] means a program [SCHOOL] for children ages three through five years if the program's [SCHOOL'S] primary function is educational. * Sec. 18. AS 14.07.030(a) is amended to read: (a) The department may (1) establish, maintain, govern, operate, discontinue, and combine area, regional, and special schools; (2) enter into contractual agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or with a school district to share boarding costs of secondary school students; (3) provide for citizenship night schools when and where expedient; (4) provide for the sale or other disposition of abandoned or obsolete buildings and other state-owned school property; (5) prescribe a classification for items of expense of school districts; (6) acquire and transfer personal property, acquire real property, and transfer real property to federal agencies, state agencies, or to political subdivisions; (7) enter into contractual agreements with school districts to provide more efficient or economical education services; reasonable fees may be charged by the department to cover the costs of providing services under an agreement, including costs for professional services, reproduction or printing, and mailing and distribution of educational materials; (8) provide for the issuance of elementary and secondary diplomas to persons not in school who have completed the equivalent of an 8th or 12th grade education, respectively, in 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2852 accordance with standards established by the department; (9) apply for, accept, and spend endowments, grants, and other private money available to the state for educational purposes in accordance with AS 37.07 (Executive Budget Act); (10) set student tuition and fees for educational and extracurricular programs and services provided and schools operated by the department under the provisions of (1) of this section and AS 14.07.020(a)(9), (11), and (12); (11) charge fees to cover the costs of care and handling with respect to the acquisition, warehousing, distribution, or transfer of donated foods; (12) establish and collect fees for the rental of school facilities and for other programs and services provided by the schools; (13) develop a model curriculum and provide technical assistance for early childhood education programs; (14) notwithstanding any other provision of this title, intervene in a school district to improve instructional practices under standards established by the department in regulation, including directing the (A) employees identified by the department to exercise supervisory authority for instructional practices in the district or in a specified school; (B) use of appropriations under this title for distribution to a district; (15) notwithstanding any other provision of this title, redirect public school funding under AS 14.17 appropriated for distribution to a school district, after providing notice to the district and an opportunity for the district to respond, [WHEN] (A) when necessary to contract for services to improve instructional practices in the district; [OR] (B) when the district has failed to take an action required by the department to improve instructional practices in the district; if funding is redirected under this subparagraph, the department shall provide the redirected funding to the district when the department has determined that the required action is satisfactorily completed; or (C) in accordance with AS 14.07.070, when the district has failed to comply with the school laws of the state or with the regulations adopted by the department. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2853 * Sec. 19. AS 14.07.050 is amended to read: Sec. 14.07.050. Selection of textbooks. Textbooks for use in the public schools of the state, including a district offered statewide correspondence study program, shall be selected by district boards for district schools. Nothing in this section precludes (1) a correspondence study student, or the parent or guardian of a correspondence study student, from privately obtaining or using textbooks or curriculum material not provided by the school district; (2) the department from selecting and purchasing supplementary reading textbooks and materials for school districts to support reading intervention services provided under AS 14.30.765 and 14.30.770. * Sec. 20. AS 14.07.050, as amended by sec. 19 of this Act, is amended to read: Sec. 14.07.050. Selection of textbooks. Textbooks for use in the public schools of the state, including a district offered statewide correspondence study program, shall be selected by district boards for district schools. Nothing in this section precludes [(1)] a correspondence study student, or the parent or guardian of a correspondence study student, from privately obtaining or using textbooks or curriculum material not provided by the school district [; (2) THE DEPARTMENT FROM SELECTING AND PURCHASING SUPPLEMENTARY READING TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT READING INTERVENTION SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER AS 14.30.765 AND 14.30.770]. * Sec. 21. AS 14.07.165(a) is amended to read: (a) The board shall adopt (1) statewide goals and require each governing body to adopt written goals that are consistent with local needs; (2) regulations regarding the application for and award of grants under AS 14.03.125; (3) regulations implementing provisions of AS 14.11.014(b); (4) regulations requiring approval by the board before a charter school, state boarding school, or a public school may 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2854 provide domiciliary services; (5) regulations establishing standards for an early education program provided by a school district for children who are four and five years of age; the regulations must include (A) standards for a locally designed, evidence- based program that meets Head Start Program Performance Standards and other federal standards required for early education programs to receive federal funding; (B) a requirement that a teacher in charge of a program hold a valid teacher certificate issued under AS 14.20 and (i) have satisfactorily completed a minimum of six credit hours in early childhood education or completes the minimum credit hours within two years of the date the teacher's employment with the early education program begins; or (ii) have two or more years of experience teaching kindergarten or another early education program and have completed additional coursework related to reading instruction, as required by the department; (C) developmentally appropriate objectives for children four and five years of age rather than academic standards appropriate for older children; the objectives must allow school districts to adapt the content of an early education program to be culturally responsive to local communities; (D) accommodations for the needs of all early education children and their families regardless of socioeconomic circumstances; and (E) standards for day in session requirements appropriate for children four and five years of age; (6) regulations establishing standards for day in session requirements appropriate for kindergarten students [REPEALED]. * Sec. 22. AS 14.07.168 is amended to read: Sec. 14.07.168. Report to the legislature. Not later than the 30th legislative day of each regular session of the legislature, the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2855 board shall prepare and present in person to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education an annual report that describes the efforts of the board to develop, maintain, and continuously improve a comprehensive quality public education system, as provided for under the bylaws of the board. The report must include (1) a summary of the resolves and rationales provided in support of policy decisions made under AS 14.03.015; (2) program and curriculum changes made, discussed, or recommended in meetings held under AS 14.07.125; (3) additional information relevant to efforts made to improve and maintain the public education system; (4) a summary of implementation and utilization of the consortium established under AS 14.30.800, including a review of consortium effectiveness and the participation rates of districts, teachers, and students. * Sec. 23. AS 14.07.168, as amended by sec. 22 of this Act, is amended to read: Sec. 14.07.168. Report to the legislature. Not later than the 30th legislative day of each regular session of the legislature, the board shall prepare and present in person to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education an annual report that describes the efforts of the board to develop, maintain, and continuously improve a comprehensive quality public education system, as provided for under the bylaws of the board. The report must include (1) a summary of the resolves and rationales provided in support of policy decisions made under AS 14.03.015; (2) program and curriculum changes made, discussed, or recommended in meetings held under AS 14.07.125; (3) additional information relevant to efforts made to improve and maintain the public education system [; (4) A SUMMARY OF IMPLEMENTATION AND UTILIZATION OF THE CONSORTIUM ESTABLISHED UNDER AS 14.30.800, INCLUDING A REVIEW OF CONSORTIUM EFFECTIVENESS AND THE PARTICIPATION RATES OF DISTRICTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS]. * Sec. 24. AS 14.07.180(a) is amended to read: (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2856 shall establish standards and a procedure for the review, ranking, and approval of mathematics and English and language arts curricula for school districts to use in each grade level as provided in this section. The board may include curricula delivered through virtual education in the standards and procedure established under this subsection. Standards established for the review, ranking, and approval of language arts curricula for early education programs and grades kindergarten through three must be based on phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension. * Sec. 25. AS 14.14.115(a) is amended to read: (a) To encourage cooperative arrangements between school districts and between school districts and private businesses, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies to provide more efficient or economical administrative or educational services, a school district may receive a one-time cooperative arrangement grant from the department of up to $100,000. The department shall ensure that grant funds provided to districts under this section do not provide direct benefit to private educational institutions. * Sec. 26. AS 14.17.470 is amended to read: Sec. 14.17.470. Base student allocation. The base student allocation is $5,960 [$5,930]. * Sec. 27. AS 14.17.500 is amended by adding new subsections to read: (d) Except as provided in (e) - (g) of this section, a student in a district-wide early education program provided by a school district and approved by the department under AS 14.07.020(a)(8) is counted as one-half of a full-time equivalent student. (e) A school district may not include in a school's ADM students who are four and five years of age if the students are enrolled in an early education program that receives state or federal funding other than funding under this chapter. (f) A school district may not include in a school's ADM students who are four and five years of age if inclusion of the students would result in an increase of total state aid attributable to district-wide early education programs approved under AS 14.03.410 of more than $3,000,000 from the previous fiscal year. The department shall prioritize the funding of district-wide 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2857 early education programs, giving priority to school districts with lower performance, based on the department's ranking of districts under AS 14.03.410(c). When the number of students in a district- wide early education program will result in an increase of total state aid attributable to district-wide early education programs approved under AS 14.03.410 of more than $3,000,000 from the previous fiscal year, the department may identify the amount, up to $3,000,000, available for the district's district-wide early education program. (g) For purposes of AS 14.09.010, a student in a district-wide early education program provided by a school district and approved by the department under AS 14.07.020(a)(8) is counted as a full-time equivalent student. * Sec. 28. AS 14.17.500(d), enacted by sec. 27 of this Act, is amended to read: (d) A school district may not include in the school's ADM [EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN (e) - (g) OF THIS SECTION,] a student in a district-wide early education program provided by the [A SCHOOL] district [AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER AS 14.07.020(a)(8) IS COUNTED AS ONE-HALF OF A FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENT]. * Sec. 29. AS 14.17.905(a) is amended to read: (a) For purposes of this chapter, the determination of the number of schools in a district is subject to the following: (1) a community with an ADM of at least 10, but not more than 100, shall be counted as one school; (2) a community with an ADM of at least 101, but not more than 425, shall be counted as (A) one elementary school, which includes those students in grades kindergarten through six and, except as provided in AS 14.17.500, in an early education program provided by a school district and approved by the department under AS 14.07.020(a)(8); and (B) one secondary school, which includes students in grades seven through 12; (3) in a community with an ADM of greater than 425, each facility that is administered as a separate school shall be counted as one school, except that each alternative school with an ADM of less than 175 shall be counted as a part of the school in the district with the highest ADM. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2858 * Sec. 30. AS 14.17.905(a), as amended by sec. 29 of this Act, is amended to read: (a) For purposes of this chapter, the determination of the number of schools in a district is subject to the following: (1) a community with an ADM of at least 10, but not more than 100, shall be counted as one school; (2) a community with an ADM of at least 101, but not more than 425, shall be counted as (A) one elementary school, which includes those students in grades kindergarten through six [AND, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN AS 14.17.500, IN AN EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER AS 14.07.020(a)(8)]; and (B) one secondary school, which includes students in grades seven through 12; (3) in a community with an ADM of greater than 425, each facility that is administered as a separate school shall be counted as one school, except that each alternative school with an ADM of less than 175 shall be counted as a part of the school in the district with the highest ADM. * Sec. 31. AS 14.20.015(c) is amended to read: (c) The preliminary teacher certificate issued under this section must contain the same endorsements as those on the current valid teacher certificate issued by the other state. However, before teaching students in grades kindergarten through three, a teacher certificated under this section must complete coursework, training, or testing requirements, and demonstrate proficiency as determined by the department, in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension approved by the board in regulation. A teacher may apply coursework, training, or testing requirements completed under this subsection toward continuing education requirements established by the board in regulation. * Sec. 32. AS 14.20.015(c), as amended by sec. 31 of this Act, is amended to read: (c) The preliminary teacher certificate issued under this section must contain the same endorsements as those on the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2859 current valid teacher certificate issued by the other state. [HOWEVER, BEFORE TEACHING STUDENTS IN GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THREE, A TEACHER CERTIFICATED UNDER THIS SECTION MUST COMPLETE COURSEWORK, TRAINING, OR TESTING REQUIREMENTS IN PHONEMIC AWARENESS, PHONICS, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT, READING FLUENCY, ORAL LANGUAGE SKILLS, AND READING COMPREHENSION APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN REGULATION. A TEACHER MAY APPLY COURSEWORK, TRAINING, OR TESTING REQUIREMENTS COMPLETED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION TOWARD CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD IN REGULATION.] * Sec. 33. AS 14.20.020(i) is amended to read: (i) A [BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 1998, A] person is not eligible for an initial regular teacher certificate unless the person has taken and successfully completed a competency examination or examinations designated, at the time the person took the test, by the board. The board shall review nationally recognized examinations that are designed to test the competency of new teachers and shall designate those examinations that it finds adequately test the skills and abilities of new teachers. For each examination designated under this subsection, the board shall establish the minimum acceptable level of performance, including a passing score. The board shall reevaluate the passing score for a competency examination at least once every five years and shall review each examination designated by the board at least once every three years. The board shall prioritize the review of those examinations for which the minimum passing score deviates the most from the mean passing score adopted by other jurisdictions. When reevaluating a passing score for a competency examination, the board shall consider the historical effect of the established passing score, the potential effect of changing the passing score, and the passing score currently used for the examination by other jurisdictions. The board may allow a teacher who passed a comparable competency examination required by another jurisdiction to use a score from the other jurisdiction to satisfy the competency examination requirements under this subsection. The board shall adopt regulations to implement this 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2860 subsection. A regulation that changes the passing score on a competency examination takes effect on the date that is one year after the date the board adopts the regulation, or a later date prescribed by the board. In this subsection, "competency examination" includes a basic competency examination with components in reading, writing, and mathematics and a subject area examination that is specific to the subject area in which the teacher will be teaching. * Sec. 34. AS 14.20.020 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (l) Before teaching students in grades kindergarten through three, a teacher certificated under this section must complete coursework, training, or testing requirements in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension approved by the board in regulation. A teacher may apply coursework, training, or testing requirements completed under this subsection toward continuing education requirements established by the board in regulation. * Sec. 35. AS 14.30 is amended by adding new sections to read: Article 15. Reading Intervention. Sec. 14.30.760. Statewide screening and support. (a) To implement the district reading intervention services established under AS 14.30.765, the department shall (1) adopt a statewide screening tool to administer to students in grades kindergarten through three to identify students with reading deficiencies, including students with characteristics of dyslexia; the screening tool must evaluate (A) phonemic awareness, letter naming fluency, letter sound fluency, and letter word sound fluency of students in kindergarten; (B) letter word sound fluency and oral reading fluency of students in grade one; (C) vocabulary and oral reading fluency of students in grades two and three; (2) support teachers of grades kindergarten through three by (A) administering the statewide screening tool three times each school year, once in the fall, once in the winter, and once in the spring, to all students in grades kindergarten 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2861 through three, with the exception of students who demonstrate sufficient reading skills on the first screening of the school year; (B) providing methods to monitor student progress; (C) providing targeted instruction based on student needs as determined by the results of the screening tool; and (D) providing additional assistance as determined by the department; (3) provide training to school district staff related to using the results of the statewide screening tool and understanding evidence-based reading interventions, including explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension; (4) require that districts identify the early education programs attended by students and report to the department the average score on each performance screening tool by students in grades kindergarten through three who (A) attended a state-approved early education program; (B) attended a Head Start program; (C) attended a private early education program; (D) did not attend an early education program; (5) establish a process that allows the commissioner to waive, upon request, use of the statewide screening tool required under this subsection by a school district if the school district has adopted an evidence-based reading screening tool and the screening tool is approved by the department; (6) review, approve, and assist districts developing alternative standardized reading screening tools in any language for use by school districts. (b) In adopting a statewide screening tool under (a)(1) of this section, the department shall consider the following factors: (1) the amount of time needed to administer the screening with the intention of minimizing effects on instructional time; (2) the time frame for reporting screening results to teachers, administrators, and parents or guardians; (3) the integration of the screening with student instruction and department support; 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2862 (4) recommendations from a task force, working group, or committee created by law and charged with studying issues related to reading proficiency and reading deficiencies; and (5) whether the screening tool is culturally responsive. Sec. 14.30.765. Reading intervention services and strategies; progression. (a) Each school district shall offer intensive reading intervention services to students in grades kindergarten through three who exhibit a reading deficiency to assist students in achieving reading proficiency at or above grade level by the end of grade three. The district shall provide the intensive reading intervention services in addition to the core reading instruction that is provided to all students in the general education classroom. The intensive reading intervention services must, to the extent practicable, (1) be provided by a district reading teacher, or paraprofessional under the supervision of a reading teacher, to all students in grades kindergarten through three who are determined to have a reading deficiency based on the statewide screening tool adopted under AS 14.30.760(a)(1); (2) provide explicit and systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension, as necessary; (3) use evidence-based reading intervention methods that have shown proven results in accelerating student reading achievement within a single school year; (4) include instruction with detailed explanations, extensive opportunities for guided practice, and opportunities for error correction and feedback; (5) incorporate daily targeted small group reading instruction based on student needs, either in person or online; (6) monitor the reading progress of each student's reading skills throughout the school year and adjust instruction according to student needs; (7) be implemented during regular school hours through any available method, including in person or through online delivery by teachers or specialty reading coaches; (8) be implemented outside of regular school hours, as directed in the student's individual reading improvement plan under (b) of this section, for a student who scores at the lowest 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2863 achievement level on the statewide screening tool; (9) be reviewed based on a department-approved response to intervention or multi-tiered system support models, addressing additional support and services needed to remedy identified needs; and (10) support reading intervention at home by parents or guardians by offering a list of adult literacy resources and organizations, providing opportunities for parent or guardian participation in training workshops, and encouraging regular parent or guardian-guided home reading activities. (b) In addition to the reading intervention services provided under (a) of this section, a school district shall provide an individual reading improvement plan for each student in grades kindergarten through three who is determined to have a reading deficiency based on the statewide screening tool. An individual reading improvement plan developed under this section must (1) be implemented not later than 30 days after identification of the reading deficiency; (2) be created by the student's reading teacher in consultation with the school principal, the student's parent or guardian, and other pertinent district staff; (3) describe the evidence-based reading intervention services the student will receive to achieve and demonstrate sufficient reading skills; (4) provide reading intervention services outside of regular school hours for a student who scores at the lowest achievement level on the statewide screening tool consistent with (a)(8) of this section; (5) include a process for monitoring progress and adjusting the plan based on student needs; (6) provide to the student's parent or guardian at least 10 reading progress updates each school year; (7) be culturally responsive; and (8) support the student reading at home with a parent or guardian by offering a list of adult literacy resources and organizations, providing opportunities for parent or guardian participation in training workshops, and encouraging regular parent or guardian-guided home reading activities. (c) If at any time during the school year a student in grades kindergarten through three demonstrates a reading deficiency, the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2864 district or school shall notify the student's parent or guardian. The initial notification must (1) be provided to the student's parent or guardian not later than 15 days after identification of the reading deficiency; (2) state that the district identified the student as having a reading deficiency and that a reading improvement plan will be developed under (b) of this section; (3) describe current services that the district is providing to the student; (4) describe the proposed evidence-based reading intervention and supplemental instructional services and supports that the district will provide to the student to improve the identified area of reading deficiency; (5) explain that the district or school will inform the parent or guardian orally or in writing, as selected by the parent or guardian, of the student's progress toward grade level reading as outlined in the student's individual reading improvement plan; (6) identify strategies for the parent or guardian to use at home to help the student succeed in reading; (7) explain that if the student has a reading deficiency at the end of the school year and is in grades kindergarten through two, the student's progression may be delayed unless the student has previously not progressed to the next grade; (8) explain that a student in grade three should demonstrate sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four under (e) of this section, unless the student receives a waiver under (f) of this section or has previously not progressed to the next grade; (9) explain the process and deadline to request a waiver under (f) of this section; and (10) identify mid-year progression as an option for students who do not progress to the next grade. (d) If it is determined, based on a statewide screening administered in the spring, that a student in grades kindergarten through two has a reading deficiency, the student's teacher and other pertinent district staff shall notify and attempt to meet with the student's parent or guardian to explain that the student will not be able to maintain adequate academic progress at the next grade level. School staff shall work with the parent or guardian to schedule a date, time, and place for the meeting, to be held not 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2865 later than 45 days before the end of the school year. Following that meeting, the parent or guardian shall determine whether the student will progress to the next grade. If no parent or guardian attends the meeting or if the parent or guardian does not determine whether the student will progress to the next grade, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall, after considering the student's best interest and whether the student has previously not progressed to the next grade, determine whether the student will progress to the next grade. (e) A student in grade three should demonstrate sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four. A student demonstrates sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four by (1) scoring at grade level or higher on the statewide screening tool or on the statewide summative assessment; (2) achieving an acceptable score on an alternative standardized reading screening as determined and approved by the department; or (3) demonstrating mastery of reading standards through a student reading portfolio based on criteria established by the department. (f) If it is determined, based on a statewide screening administered in the spring, that a student in grade three has a reading deficiency, and the student does not demonstrate sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four under (e) of this section, the student's teacher and other pertinent district staff shall notify and attempt to meet with the student's parent or guardian to explain that the student is not prepared to progress to grade four. School staff shall work with the parent or guardian to schedule a date, time, and place for the meeting, to be held not later than 45 days before the end of the school year. Following that meeting, the parent or guardian may decide that the student will not progress to grade four or decide to progress the student to grade four by signing a waiver developed by the department acknowledging that the student is not prepared and agreeing that the student will participate in an additional 20 hours of individual reading improvement plan intervention services during the summer before the student enters grade four. If no parent or guardian attends the meeting or if the parent or guardian does not determine whether the student will progress to the next grade, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall, after considering the student's 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2866 best interests and whether the student has previously not progressed to the next grade, determine whether the student will progress to grade four. (g) A superintendent or superintendent's designee may exempt a student from delayed progression when progression is in the student's best interests. When determining if progression is in a student's best interests, the superintendent or superintendent's designee shall consider whether (1) the student has received intensive reading intervention services for two or more years and still demonstrates a reading deficiency; (2) the student's primary language is a language other than English; and (3) the student has a disability and has an individualized education plan under AS 14.30.278 or a plan under 29 U.S.C. 794. (h) If no parent or guardian attends the meeting, and a superintendent or superintendent's designee decides that a student in grades kindergarten through three will not progress to the next grade under (d) or (f) of this section, the district or school in which the student is enrolled shall provide immediate oral and written notification to the student's parent or guardian. The written notification must explain that the parent or guardian may reschedule the meeting provided under (d) or (f) of this section and that during a meeting (1) for a student in grades kindergarten through two, the parent or guardian may decide to progress the student; and (2) for a student in grade three, the parent or guardian may decide to progress the student to grade four by signing a waiver under (f) of this section. (i) For a student who does not progress to the next grade under (d) or (f) of this section, or who progresses to the next grade with a waiver under (f) of this section, the district in which the student is enrolled shall (1) review the student's individual reading improvement plan; (2) provide intensive reading intervention services to improve the area of reading deficiency using effective instructional strategies to accelerate student progress; (3) provide additional services and support to improve the student's identified area of reading deficiency, including 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2867 (A) a transitional instructional setting that is designed to produce learning gains; (B) supplemental tutoring offered by a person with specialized reading training; (C) an increase in time dedicated to the reading instruction methods described in (a)(3) - (5) of this section, including more extensive opportunities for guided practice and error correction and feedback; (4) develop a plan for reading at home outlined in an agreement with the student's parent or guardian, including parent or guardian participation in training workshops and regular parent or guardian-guided home reading activities. (j) For a student who does not progress to grade one, grade two, or grade three under (d) of this section, the district in which the student is enrolled shall, upon request by the student's parent or guardian, develop a plan for the student's mid-year progression. (k) A school district shall adopt a policy providing for mid- year progression of a student who does not progress to grade four under (f) of this section if the student (1) demonstrates sufficient reading skills to progress to grade four on the fall or winter statewide screening; and (2) meets additional requirements determined by the district, including satisfactory achievement in other subject areas. (l) A district shall, for the remainder of the academic year, and, if necessary, for additional school years, continue to implement an individual reading improvement plan for a student promoted mid-year under (j) or (k) of this section. (m) Unless a parent or guardian decides that a student will not progress to the next grade under (d) or (f) of this section, a district or school may not delay the student's progression under this section if the student previously did not progress to the next grade. (n) In this section, "reading teacher" means a teacher who (1) holds a valid teacher certificate under AS 14.20; (2) has demonstrated effectiveness in instructing students to read at or above grade level as measured by student reading performance data and in teacher performance evaluations; and (3) meets the requirements established by the state Board of Education and Early Development in regulation. Sec. 14.30.770. Department reading program. (a) The 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2868 department shall establish a reading program to provide direct support for and intervention in intensive reading intervention services annually in the lowest-performing 25 percent of schools serving students in grades kindergarten through three as determined under AS 14.03.123. The department shall determine how many schools may be adequately served by the department's reading specialists and select schools from the lowest-performing 25 percent of schools to participate in the reading program. A school participating in the reading program that remains in the lowest-performing 25 percent of schools as determined under AS 14.03.123 may apply to participate in the reading program again in the following school year. State funding provided to participating schools for implementation of the reading program is in addition to the amount of funding provided under AS 14.17. In conducting the program, the department shall (1) use the accountability system established in AS 14.03.123 to identify low performing schools; (2) establish an application process for school districts to apply to participate in the program; (3) select low performing schools from the schools that apply to participate in the program; (4) employ and assign reading specialists to direct the implementation of the intensive reading intervention services established under AS 14.30.765 by (A) modeling effective instructional strategies for teachers by working regularly with students as a class, in small groups, or individually; (B) coaching and mentoring teachers and staff in reading instruction with an emphasis on prioritizing time in a manner that has the greatest positive effects on student achievement; (C) training teachers in data analysis and using data to differentiate instruction; (D) leading and supporting reading leadership teams; and (E) reporting on school and student performance to the department; (5) establish a reporting process for each reading specialist to submit updates to the department on implementation of the program; 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2869 (6) work with reading specialists to create specific improvement goals for each school selected, including measures of interim progress; (7) select and purchase additional reading material for each school selected to supplement the intensive reading intervention services; (8) pay travel and associated costs for a reading specialist to attend relevant training sessions identified by or hosted by the department; (9) periodically review staff development programs for their effectiveness in developing reading skills and, after consultation with school districts and experts, recommend to the board for approval staff development programs that (A) have been proven to assess and accelerate student progress toward reaching reading competency; (B) provide explicit and systematic skill development in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension; (C) are evidence-based and reliable; (D) provide initial and ongoing analysis of student progress toward reaching reading competency; and (E) include texts on core academic content to assist students in maintaining or meeting grade-appropriate proficiency in academic subjects in addition to reading. (b) A school selected to participate in the reading program established under this section shall (1) ensure that a reading specialist assigned to the school is not required to perform functions that divert from the duties the department has assigned to the reading specialist; (2) coordinate with the reading specialist or specialists to redesign the school's daily schedule to dedicate time to reading program activities, including intensive reading intervention services identified in a written agreement between the school and the department; (3) present on the reading program established under this section and the intensive reading intervention services established under AS 14.30.765 at a public meeting; the presentation must include (A) the data the department used to identify the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2870 school as eligible for the reading program; (B) a detailed overview of the reading program and intensive reading intervention services; (C) a timeline for implementing the intensive reading intervention services and meeting reading improvement goals; and (D) the implications of the program for students, families, and educators; (4) provide notice of the public meeting required under (3) of this subsection to the parent or guardian of each student at least seven days before the date of the meeting; (5) present an annual update on the school's implementation of the reading program and intensive reading intervention services at a public meeting with notice provided to the parent or guardian of each student at least seven days before the date of the meeting; (6) create partnerships between the school, the families of students, and the community that focus on promoting reading and increasing the amount of time that students spend reading. (c) The department shall publish on the department's Internet website and make available to the public (1) a completed application from each school selected to participate in the reading program; and (2) the reading program and intensive reading intervention services implemented by each school selected to participate. (d) The department may employ a person as a reading specialist under this section if the person (1) holds a valid teacher certificate issued under AS 14.20; (2) has completed an approved graduate program at an approved institution of higher education and (A) has completed a supervised practicum or internship as a reading specialist; or (B) has at least three years of full-time, demonstrated classroom teaching experience where reading instruction was a primary responsibility; (3) is knowledgeable about and demonstrates competency in reading instruction, including (A) an understanding of phonemic awareness, 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2871 phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension; (B) knowledge of and experience in implementing effective reading instruction strategies and intervention methods; (C) experience in designing and implementing a school-wide response to intervention program or multi-tiered system support model; (D) an understanding of and experience in reading screenings and data analyses that inform instruction; (E) knowledge of dyslexia and other learning disorders that affect reading achievement; (F) knowledge of and an ability to effectively articulate the methods, issues, and resources involved in support of student instruction to a wide variety of audiences, including staff, parents, and students whose primary language is other than English; and (4) meets other reading instruction coursework requirements established by the department in regulation, including coursework in indigenous language learning and culturally responsive education established in regulation by the department in collaboration with indigenous language stakeholders. Sec. 14.30.775. Regulation. The department shall, by regulation, define "dyslexia" for the purposes of AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.780. The department shall consider the meaning of "dyslexia" given by the International Dyslexia Association when adopting the definition by regulation. Sec. 14.30.780. Definitions. In AS 14.30.760 - 14.30.780, (1) "district" has the meaning given in AS 14.17.990; (2) "evidence-based reading intervention" means an intervention based on reliable, trustworthy, and valid evidence that has a demonstrated record of success in adequately increasing a student's reading competency in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, oral language skills, and reading comprehension. * Sec. 36. AS 14.30 is amended by adding a new section to read: Article 16. Virtual Education. Sec. 14.30.800. Virtual education consortium. (a) The department shall, in cooperation with school districts, establish a 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2872 virtual education consortium for the purpose of making virtual education and professional development resources available to students and teachers in the state. The department shall establish standards for consortium resources. The consortium shall create and maintain a database of virtual education courses for students, training in virtual instruction for teachers, and professional development courses for teachers of students throughout the state if the coursework curriculum meets the state standards established by the department. The database must be accessible to all school districts that participate in the consortium. (b) For teachers delivering or facilitating virtual coursework to students through the consortium database, the consortium shall provide training and professional development on virtual instruction methods and the differences between virtual instruction and instruction offered in a classroom. A teacher may not provide instruction through a course for students that is in the database unless (1) the teacher has completed the training or professional development provided by the consortium; or (2) the consortium determines that the teacher's previous experience has prepared the teacher to provide virtual instruction and the teacher demonstrates the skills necessary to provide virtual instruction. (c) The consortium shall employ a reading specialist available to school districts to provide virtual intensive reading intervention services. The duties of the reading specialist include (1) modeling effective instructional strategies for teachers by working regularly with students as a class, in small groups, or individually; (2) coaching and mentoring teachers and staff in reading instruction with an emphasis on prioritizing time in a manner that has the greatest positive effects on student achievement; (3) training teachers in data analysis and using data to differentiate instruction; (4) leading and supporting reading leadership teams; and (5) reporting on school and student performance to the department. (d) The department may require a school district that participates in the consortium to pay a fee to the consortium. If the department requires a fee, the department shall establish the fee in 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2873 regulations, based on a recommendation made by the consortium, and may adjust the fee annually as necessary. The fees must approximately equal the consortium's prorated administrative costs related to reviewing and approving courses and maintaining the database. (e) A school district that provides a course included in the database may charge a fee to the school district in which a student who takes the course is enrolled. The department shall establish the fee in regulations. (f) The consortium may require, as a condition of participation, that school districts that provide courses or have students participating in courses included in the database under (a) of this section adopt the same school term and class schedule for all or part of a school day. The school term must meet the requirements of AS 14.03.030. (g) In this section, "virtual education" or "virtual instruction" means instruction delivered through telecommunications or another digital or electronic method." Page 1, line 5: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 37" Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 3, following line 13: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 43. AS 14.60.010 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: (9) "culturally responsive" means showing respect for and recognition of the traditions, beliefs, languages, values, and practices of the local culture that has historically been present in the geographic area being served; (10) "parent" or "guardian" includes a natural, adoptive, and foster parent, stepparent, legal guardian, relative, and other adult person with whom a student has resided and who has acted as a parent in providing for the student or has been responsible for the student's welfare for a continuous period. * Sec. 44. AS 47.17.290(12) is amended to read: (12) "organization" means a group or entity that provides 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2874 care and supervision for compensation to a child not related to the caregiver, and includes a child care facility, pre-elementary school, early education program, head start center, child foster home, residential child care facility, recreation program, children's camp, and children's club; * Sec. 45. AS 14.03.080(d) and 14.03.290(4) are repealed. * Sec. 46. AS 14.03.120(h), 14.03.410, 14.03.420; AS 14.17.500(e), 14.17.500(f), 14.17.500(g); AS 14.20.020(l); AS 14.30.760, 14.30.765, 14.30.770, 14.30.775, 14.30.780, and 14.30.800 are repealed. * Sec. 47. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: VIRTUAL EDUCATION AVAILABILITY DEADLINE. The Department of Education and Early Development shall make available virtual education courses and professional development resources under sec. 36 of this Act on or before July 1, 2024. * Sec. 48. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: APPLICABILITY. Section 34 of this Act applies, (1) on the effective date of sec. 34 of this Act, to teachers who begin teaching students in grades kindergarten through three on and after the effective date of sec. 34 of this Act; (2) on July 1, 2024, to teachers who began teaching students in grades kindergarten through three before the effective date of sec. 34 of this Act. * Sec. 49. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE. Not later than the thirtieth day of the First Regular Session of the Thirty-Eighth Alaska State Legislature, the Department of Education and Early Development shall prepare and present to the legislative committees having jurisdiction over education a report evaluating the virtual education consortium established under AS 14.30.800 and the following programs established under this Act: the early education program, the parents as teachers program, the reading intervention program, and the department reading program. The report must include (1) data analysis conducted by an independent contractor evaluating the success of each program, including (A) statistics measuring the effectiveness of each program in accomplishing the program mission; 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2875 (B) the cost-effectiveness of each program; (C) trends in reading screening scores by each group of students listed in AS 14.30.760(a)(4) as the students progress through grade eight; (2) recommendations from the panels convened under AS 14.07.020(a)(19); and (3) recommendations from the Department of Education and Early Development addressing whether to extend, expand, contract, or repeal each program. * Sec. 50. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: TRANSITION. The number of district-wide early education programs that the department approves under AS 14.03.410 in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, may not result in more than $3,000,000 of total state aid attributable to early education programs. In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, the number of district-wide early education programs that the department approves may not result in an increase from the prior fiscal year of more than $3,000,000 of total state aid attributable to early education programs. * Sec. 51. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: TRANSITION: REGULATIONS. The Department of Education and Early Development and the state Board of Education and Early Development may adopt regulations necessary to implement the changes made by secs. 1 - 36 and 43 - 50 of this Act. The regulations take effect under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act), but a regulation may not take effect before the effective date of the relevant provision of this Act implemented by the regulation." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 3, line 16: Delete "Section 6" Insert "Section 42" Page 3, line 17: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 53. Section 51 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 54. Sections 37 - 42 and 52 of this Act take effect July 1, 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2876 2022. * Sec. 55. Sections 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 16, 20, 23, 28, 30, 32, and 46 of this Act take effect June 30, 2034. * Sec. 56. Except as provided in secs. 53 - 55 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2023." HB 114 Senator Holland moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 1. Senator Reinbold objected, then withdrew her objection. There being no further objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. Senators Wilson, Begich moved and asked unanimous consent to abstain from voting due to a conflict of interest. Objections were heard, and Senators Wilson, Begich were required to vote. SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S "An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S "An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2877 relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS HB 114 (FIN) am S Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Absent: Reinbold and so, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered. SCR 24 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to take up SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 114, relating to the education loan program and Alaska supplemental education loan program, which had been held on the Secretary's desk (page 2763). Without objection, the resolution was before the Senate on final passage. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2878 The question being: "Shall SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 114, relating to the education loan program and Alaska supplemental education loan program, pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 24 Final Passage YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Absent: Reinbold and so, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 127 HOUSE BILL NO. 127 "An Act relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority" was read the second time. Senator Bishop, Cochair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the Finance Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 2756. Senator Begich objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 127(FIN) "An Act relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority; authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date" was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 127(FIN) was read the third time. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2879 The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 127(FIN) "An Act relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority; authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS HB 127(FIN) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 16 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 3 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Revak, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Shower Absent: Olson, Reinbold, Stedman and so, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 127(FIN) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. SCR 22 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to take up SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 127, relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority, which had been held on the Secretary's desk (page 2762). Without objection, the resolution was before the Senate on final passage. The question being: "Shall SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 127, relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority, pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2880 SCR 22 Final Passage YEAS: 17 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 3 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Revak, Shower, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Absent: Olson, Reinbold, Stedman and so, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 265 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) "An Act relating to telehealth; relating to the practice of medicine and the practice of nursing; relating to medical assistance coverage for services provided by telehealth; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. Senator Bishop, Cochair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the Finance Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 2758. Senator Begich objected, then withdrew his objection. There being no further objection, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be considered engrossed, advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) was read the third time. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent Senator Reinbold be excused from a call of the Senate today. Without objection, Senator Reinbold was excused. #END 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2881 HB 265 The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) "An Act relating to telehealth; relating to the practice of medicine and the practice of nursing; relating to medical assistance coverage for services provided by telehealth; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS CSHB 265(FIN) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 17 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 2 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Shower, Stedman, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Revak, Stevens and so, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 349 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 349(RES) "An Act relating to the establishment of oil and gas drilling units, spacing, and patterns" was read the second time. President Micciche stated CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 349(RES) will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. President Micciche stated in accordance with Rule 43(b), Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules, engrossment may be waived on all bills and resolutions transmitted to the House this legislative day. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2882 Third Reading of House Bills HB 133 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 133(L&C) "An Act relating to the Alaska savings program for eligible individuals; relating to education savings programs; relating to the Education Trust of Alaska; relating to the Alaska advance college tuition savings fund; relating to the Alaska education savings program for children; and relating to the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 133(L&C) "An Act relating to the Alaska savings program for eligible individuals; relating to education savings programs; relating to the Education Trust of Alaska; relating to the Alaska advance college tuition savings fund; relating to the Alaska education savings program for children; and relating to the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 133(L&C) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 18 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Stevens and so, CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 133(L&C) passed the Senate. HB 148 HOUSE BILL NO. 148 am "An Act relating to the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HOUSE BILL NO. 148 am "An Act relating to the Alaska Coordinate System of 2022" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2883 HB 148 HB 148 am Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold and so, HOUSE BILL NO. 148 am passed the Senate, was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. HB 168 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 168(FIN) "An Act requiring the Department of Health to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senator Gray-Jackson moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as a cross sponsor on the bill. Without objection, it was so ordered. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 168(FIN) "An Act requiring the Department of Health to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS HB 168(FIN) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 18 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Stevens 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2884 and so, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 168(FIN) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. SCR 19 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to take up SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 168, requiring the state to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits, which had been held on the Secretary's desk (page 2708). Without objection, the resolution was before the Senate on final passage. The question being: "Shall SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 168, requiring the state to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits, pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCR 19 Final Passage YEAS: 18 NAYS: 1 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Shower Excused: Reinbold and so, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2885 Reconsideration of House Bills HB 114 Senator Olson gave notice of reconsideration on SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S "An Act relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" and moved and asked unanimous consent it be taken up. Without objection, the bill was before the Senate on reconsideration. Senator Olson moved the bill be returned to second reading for the purpose of a specific amendment, that being Amendment No. 2. Without objection, the bill was returned to second reading. Senators Olson, Bishop offered Amendment No. 2 : Page 1, line 1, following "Act": Insert "relating to facilities constituting a school;" Page 1, following line 4: Insert new bill section to read: "Section 1. AS 14.17.905(c) is amended to read: (c) Notwithstanding (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, in a community with an ADM of greater than 425 that has only one facility administered as a school, excluding charter schools, for students in grades kindergarten through 12, the number of schools for the community shall be counted under (a)(2) of this section." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2886 Senator Olson moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 2. Without objection, Amendment No. 2 was adopted. SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S was automatically in third reading on reconsideration. The question to be reconsidered: "Shall SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S "An Act relating to facilities constituting a school; relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: SCS HB 114(FIN) am S Third Reading - On Reconsideration Effective Date(s) YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold and so, SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S passed the Senate on reconsideration. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2887 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on reconsideration be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 307 HOUSE BILL NO. 307 "An Act relating to the financing and issuance of bonds for a liquefied natural gas production system and natural gas distribution system; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. Senators Kawasaki, Bishop, Stedman, Myers, Revak moved and asked unanimous consent to be shown as cross sponsors on the bill. Without objection, it was so ordered. The question being: "Shall HOUSE BILL NO. 307 "An Act relating to the financing and issuance of bonds for a liquefied natural gas production system and natural gas distribution system; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 307 Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 19 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold and so, HOUSE BILL NO. 307 passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2888 HB 347 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 347(RES) "An Act relating to the confidentiality of certain state records relating to animals; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 347(RES) "An Act relating to the confidentiality of certain state records relating to animals; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 347(RES) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 17 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 2 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Revak, Shower, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Olson, Stedman and so, CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 347(RES) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. HB 363 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 363(FIN) "An Act establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board; and providing for an effective date" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 363(FIN) "An Act establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board; and providing for an effective date" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2889 SCS CSHB 363(FIN) Third Reading - Final Passage Effective Date(s) YEAS: 16 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Revak, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Myers, Shower Excused: Reinbold Absent: Olson and so, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 363(FIN) passed the Senate. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the vote on the passage of the bill be considered the vote on the effective date clause(s). Without objection, it was so ordered and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. SCR 20 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to take up SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 363, establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; and establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board, which had been held on the Secretary's desk (page 2722). Without objection, the resolution was before the Senate on final passage. The question being: "Shall SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 363, establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; and establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board, pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2890 SCR 20 Final Passage YEAS: 18 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Olson and so, SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20 passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 402 HOUSE BILL NO. 402 "An Act relating to identification requirements for contractors and home inspectors" was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HOUSE BILL NO. 402 "An Act relating to identification requirements for contractors and home inspectors" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 402 Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 18 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Hoffman, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Olson and so, HOUSE BILL NO. 402 passed the Senate, was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2891 Special Order of Business Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the following Citation Calendar be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was so ordered. Citation Calendar Honoring - Kevin Meyer Senator(s) Micciche Honoring - Dr. Priscilla Valentine Representative(s) Story, Hannan Senator(s) Kiehl In Memoriam - Michael A. Martin Representative(s) Fields, LeBon Senator(s) Begich Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Citation Calendar be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. Recess Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess to a call of the Chair. Without objection, the Senate recessed at 12:14 p.m. After Recess The Senate reconvened at 8:58 p.m. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to adopt the first supplemental calendar. There being no objection, the first supplemental calendar was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate return to Reports of Standing Committees. Without objection, the Senate returned to: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2892 Standing Committee Reports HB 19 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC) "An Act relating to instruction in a language other than English; and establishing limited language immersion teacher certificates." Signing do pass: Senator Bishop, Cochair; Senators Wielechowski, Olson, von Imhof. Signing no recommendation: Senator Stedman, Cochair; Senators Hoffman, Wilson. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 2, Department of Education and Early Development The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. HB 111 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 111(FIN) "An Act relating to the practice of dental hygiene; relating to advanced practice permits for dental hygienists; relating to dental assistants; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against a dental hygienist who holds an advanced practice permit; relating to medical assistance for dental hygiene services; and providing for an effective date" and recommended the adoption of the Labor and Commerce Senate Committee Substitute offered on page 2165. Signing do pass: Senator Bishop, Cochair; Senators Hoffman, Wielechowski, von Imhof, Wilson. Signing no recommendation: Senator Stedman, Cochair; Senator Olson. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Fiscal Note No. 4, Department of Health and Social Services/Department of Health The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2893 HB 157 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 157(FIN) "An Act requiring the disclosure of the identity of certain persons, groups, and nongroup entities that expend money in support of or in opposition to an application filed for a state referendum or recall election; relating to the location of offices for the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the locations at which certain statements and reports filed with the commission are made available; relating to the duties of the Alaska Public Offices Commission; clarifying the limits on making, accepting, and reporting certain cash campaign contributions; relating to campaign finance reporting by certain groups; increasing the time the Alaska Public Offices Commission has to respond to a request for an advisory opinion; repealing a reporting requirement for certain contributions; relating to contribution limits and recall campaigns; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 157(FIN) "An Act requiring the disclosure of the identity of certain persons, groups, and nongroup entities that expend money in support of or in opposition to an application filed for a state referendum or recall election; relating to political contributions; relating to the location of offices for the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the locations at which certain statements and reports filed with the commission are made available; clarifying the limits on making, accepting, and reporting certain cash campaign contributions; relating to campaign finance reporting by certain groups; changing the date a legislator is required to report certain campaign contributions and expenditures; increasing the time the Alaska Public Offices Commission has to respond to a request for an advisory opinion; relating to penalties assessed for campaign finance violations; relating to complaints alleging campaign finance violations; repealing a reporting requirement for certain contributions; relating to contribution limits and recall campaigns; relating to campaign signs on private property; relating to the reporting of 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2894 financial and business interests by municipal officers, former municipal officers, and candidates for municipal office; relating to reporting of contributions made after the date of the election by a candidate for the legislature; and providing for an effective date." (Title Change SCR forthcoming) Signing no recommendation: Senators Stedman, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Hoffman, Olson, von Imhof. Signing do pass: Senator Wielechowski. Signing do not pass: Senator Wilson. Fiscal information forthcoming. The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. HB 226 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am(efd fld) "An Act relating to the compensation of certain employees of the executive branch, judicial branch, and University of Alaska; relating to the compensation of certain employees of the legislative branch; and increasing the salaries of certain attorneys and administrative law judges employed by the state." Signing do pass: Senator Bishop, Cochair; Senators Hoffman, Wielechowski, Olson, von Imhof. Signing no recommendation: Senator Stedman, Cochair; Senator Wilson. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 3, Office of the Governor The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 2, Office of the Governor The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2895 HB 291 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 291(STA) "An Act relating to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; extending the termination date of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date" and recommended it be replaced with SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 291(FIN) "An Act relating to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; establishing the Alaska Criminal Justice Data Analysis Commission; relating to the membership, powers, and duties of the Alaska Criminal Justice Data Analysis Commission; relating to the duties of the Judicial Council; extending the termination date of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date." (Title Change SCR 28) Signing do pass: Senators Stedman, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Hoffman, Wielechowski, Olson, von Imhof. Signing no recommendation: Senator Wilson. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Public Safety The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. HB 308 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 308(FIN) "An Act relating to dementia awareness and health care capacity; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senators Stedman, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Hoffman, Wilson, Wielechowski, Olson, von Imhof. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 3, Department of Health and Social Services/Department of Health The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2896 HB 322 The Finance Committee considered CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 322(TRA) am "An Act relating to the Alaska marine highway system fund; relating to the Alaska marine highway system vessel replacement fund; relating to the Alaska higher education investment fund; and providing for an effective date." Signing do pass: Senators Stedman, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Hoffman, Wielechowski, von Imhof. Signing no recommendation: Senators Wilson, Olson. The following fiscal information was published today: Fiscal Note No. 2, Senate Finance Committee The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. HB 416 The Finance Committee considered HOUSE BILL NO. 416(efd fld) "An Act relating to the compensation of certain executive branch employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements." Signing do pass: Senators Stedman, Bishop, Cochairs; Senators Wielechowski, Olson. Signing no recommendation: Senators Hoffman, Wilson, von Imhof. The following previously published fiscal information applies: Fiscal Note No. 1, indeterminate, Office of the Governor The bill is on today's first supplemental calendar. Consideration of the First Supplemental Calendar Second Reading of House Bills HB 19 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC) "An Act relating to instruction in a language other than English; and establishing limited language immersion teacher certificates" was read the second time. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2897 Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC) was read the third time. The question being: "Shall CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC) "An Act relating to instruction in a language other than English; and establishing limited language immersion teacher certificates" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSHB 19(EDC) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 18 NAYS: 0 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Myers, Olson, Revak, Shower, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Excused: Reinbold Absent: Hoffman and so, CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 19(EDC) passed the Senate. Senator Stedman moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate adjourn. Objections were heard. Senator Stedman moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw his previous motion. Without objection, it was so ordered. HB 111 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 111(FIN) "An Act relating to the practice of dental hygiene; relating to advanced practice permits for dental hygienists; relating to dental assistants; prohibiting unfair discrimination under group health insurance against a dental hygienist who holds an advanced practice permit; relating to medical assistance for dental hygiene services; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. President Micciche stated CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 111(FIN) will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2898 HB 157 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 157(FIN) "An Act requiring the disclosure of the identity of certain persons, groups, and nongroup entities that expend money in support of or in opposition to an application filed for a state referendum or recall election; relating to the location of offices for the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the locations at which certain statements and reports filed with the commission are made available; relating to the duties of the Alaska Public Offices Commission; clarifying the limits on making, accepting, and reporting certain cash campaign contributions; relating to campaign finance reporting by certain groups; increasing the time the Alaska Public Offices Commission has to respond to a request for an advisory opinion; repealing a reporting requirement for certain contributions; relating to contribution limits and recall campaigns; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. Senator Bishop, Cochair, moved and asked unanimous consent for the adoption of the Finance Senate Committee Substitute offered today. Without objection, SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 157(FIN) "An Act requiring the disclosure of the identity of certain persons, groups, and nongroup entities that expend money in support of or in opposition to an application filed for a state referendum or recall election; relating to political contributions; relating to the location of offices for the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the locations at which certain statements and reports filed with the commission are made available; clarifying the limits on making, accepting, and reporting certain cash campaign contributions; relating to campaign finance reporting by certain groups; changing the date a legislator is required to report certain campaign contributions and expenditures; increasing the time the Alaska Public Offices Commission has to respond to a request for an advisory opinion; relating to penalties assessed for campaign finance violations; relating to complaints alleging campaign finance violations; repealing a reporting requirement for certain contributions; relating to contribution limits and recall campaigns; relating to campaign signs on private property; relating to the reporting of financial and business interests by municipal officers, former municipal officers, and candidates for municipal office; relating to reporting of contributions made after the date of the election by a candidate for the legislature; and providing for an effective date" was adopted. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2899 President Micciche stated SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO 157(FIN) will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. HB 226 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am(efd fld) "An Act relating to the compensation of certain employees of the executive branch, judicial branch, and University of Alaska; relating to the compensation of certain employees of the legislative branch; and increasing the salaries of certain attorneys and administrative law judges employed by the state" was read the second time. Senator von Imhof offered Amendment No. 1 : Page 3, line 8, following: "Legislative Affairs Agency" insert: "and non-union positions in the Executive Branch" Senator von Imhof moved for the adoption of Amendment No. 1. Without objection, Amendment No. 1 was adopted. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am (efd fld) am S was read the third time. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent to abstain from voting due to a conflict of interest. Objections were heard and Senator Hughes was required to vote. The question being: "Shall CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am (efd fld) am S "An Act relating to the compensation of certain employees of the executive branch, judicial branch, and University of Alaska; relating to the compensation of certain employees of the legislative branch; and increasing the salaries of certain attorneys and administrative law judges employed by the state" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2900 CSHB 226(FIN) am(efd fld) am S Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 16 NAYS: 2 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Kiehl, Micciche, Olson, Revak, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Myers, Shower Excused: Reinbold Absent: Hoffman and so, CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am (efd fld) am S passed the Senate and was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 291 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 291(STA) "An Act relating to the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; extending the termination date of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; and providing for an effective date "was read the second time. President Micciche stated CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 291(STA) will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. HB 308 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 308(FIN) "An Act relating to dementia awareness and health care capacity; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. President Micciche stated CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 308(FIN) will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. HB 322 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 322(TRA) am "An Act relating to the Alaska marine highway system fund; relating to the Alaska marine highway system vessel replacement fund; relating to the Alaska higher education investment fund; and providing for an effective date" was read the second time. President Micciche stated CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 322(TRA) am will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2901 HB 325 HOUSE BILL NO. 325 "An Act relating to domestic violence" was read the second time. President Micciche stated HOUSE BILL NO. 325 will advance to third reading on the May 18 calendar. HB 416 HOUSE BILL NO. 416(efd fld) "An Act relating to the compensation of certain executive branch employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements" was read the second time. Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the bill be advanced to third reading and placed on final passage. Without objection, it was so ordered. HOUSE BILL NO. 416(efd fld) was read the third time. The question being: "Shall HOUSE BILL NO. 416(efd fld) "An Act relating to the compensation of certain executive branch employees not covered by collective bargaining agreements" pass the Senate?" The roll was taken with the following result: HB 416(efd fld) Third Reading - Final Passage YEAS: 15 NAYS: 3 EXCUSED: 1 ABSENT: 1 Yeas: Begich, Bishop, Costello, Gray-Jackson, Holland, Hughes, Kawasaki, Micciche, Olson, Revak, Stedman, Stevens, von Imhof, Wielechowski, Wilson Nays: Kiehl, Myers, Shower Excused: Reinbold Absent: Hoffman and so, HOUSE BILL NO. 416(efd fld) passed the Senate, was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2902 Special Order of Business Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the following Citation Calendar be made a special order of business. Without objection, it was so ordered. Citation Calendar Honoring - Kodiak Community Members and Troopers' Search & Rescue Efforts Representative(s) Stutes Senator(s) Stevens Honoring - The Tenth Decade of the Faith, Love, and Life of Madeline "Marie" Micciche Senator(s) Micciche Honoring - Jeanne Waite Follette Senator(s) Micciche In Memoriam - Drew Sparlin Senator(s) Micciche Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Citation Calendar be adopted. Without objection, the citations were adopted and referred to the Secretary for transmittal. HB 133 Senator Wielechowski gave notice of reconsideration on CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 133(L&C) "An Act relating to the Alaska savings program for eligible individuals; relating to education savings programs; relating to the Education Trust of Alaska; relating to the Alaska advance college tuition savings fund; relating to the Alaska education savings program for children; and relating to the Governor's Council on Disabilities and Special Education." 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2903 Unfinished Business HB 102 The reconsideration on SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 102(FIN) "An Act relating to the state insurance catastrophe reserve account; and providing for an effective date" was not taken up this legislative day and the bill was referred to the Secretary for engrossment. HB 187 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 187(STA) "An Act relating to the elimination or modification of state agency publications that are outdated, duplicative, or excessive or that could be improved or consolidated with other publications or exclusively delivered electronically; and providing for an effective date" which passed the Senate on May 5 (page 2538), was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House. Announcements Rule 23(d) of the Alaska State Legislature Uniform Rules is currently in effect. Announcements are at the end of the journal. Engrossment HB 62 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 62(JUD) "An Act relating to the Legislative Ethics Act; relating to solemnization of marriage; and relating to consent to marriage" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 102 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 102(FIN) "An Act relating to the state insurance catastrophe reserve account; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2904 HB 114 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 114(FIN) am S "An Act relating to facilities constituting a school; relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to public schools and school districts; relating to early education programs; relating to funding for early education programs; relating to school age eligibility; relating to reports by the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to reports by school districts; relating to certification and competency of teachers; relating to screening reading deficiencies and providing reading intervention services to public school students enrolled in grades kindergarten through three; relating to textbooks and materials for reading intervention services; establishing a reading program in the Department of Education and Early Development; relating to the definition of 'parent' in education statutes; relating to a virtual education consortium; relating to the education loan program, the Alaska supplemental education loan program, and the teacher education loan program; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 127 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 127(FIN) "An Act relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority; authorizing the Alaska Railroad Corporation to issue revenue bonds to finance the replacement of the Alaska Railroad Corporation's passenger dock and related terminal facility in Seward, Alaska; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 168 SENATE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 168(FIN) "An Act requiring the Department of Health to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 226 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 226(FIN) am(efd fld) am S "An Act relating to the compensation of certain employees of the executive branch, judicial branch, and University of Alaska; relating to the 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2905 compensation of certain employees of the legislative branch; and increasing the salaries of certain attorneys and administrative law judges employed by the state" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 265 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 265(FIN) "An Act relating to telehealth; relating to the practice of medicine and the practice of nursing; relating to medical assistance coverage for services provided by telehealth; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 363 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 363(FIN) "An Act establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board; and providing for an effective date" was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. HB 392 SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 392(HSS) "An Act relating to advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants; and relating to death certificates, do not resuscitate orders, and life sustaining treatment" which had been engrossed ( page 2764), was signed by the President and Secretary and returned to the House for consideration. SCR 19 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 168, requiring the state to provide and allow submission of an electronic application for certain state benefits, was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2906 SCR 20 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 363, establishing the office of broadband; creating the broadband parity adjustment fund; and establishing the Statewide Broadband Advisory Board, was engrossed. SCR 22 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 127, relating to the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority, was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. SCR 24 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24 Suspending Rules 24(c), 35, 41(b), and 42(e), Uniform Rules of the Alaska State Legislature, concerning House Bill No. 114, relating to the education loan program and Alaska supplemental education loan program, was engrossed, signed by the President and Secretary and transmitted to the House for consideration. Adjournment Senator Hughes moved and asked unanimous consent the Senate stand in adjournment until 9:00 a.m., May 18, 2022. Without objection, the Senate adjourned at 9:36 p.m. Liz Clark Secretary of the Senate 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2907 Announcements Americans with Disabilities Act Notice - Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation or alternative communication formats to access committee meetings may contact the appropriate committee office or the Legislative Information Office in their community. Reasonable advance notice is needed to accommodate the request. For further information, call the ADA Coordinator at 465-3854 Voice/465-4980 TDD. STANDING COMMITTEES + indicates teleconference = indicates bill previously heard/scheduled COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS May 17 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 3:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- EDUCATION May 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled May 20 Friday Butrovich 205 9:00 AM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- FINANCE May 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM -- MEETING CANCELED -- += HB 111 DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT += HB 306 EXTEND BOARD OF PHARMACY -- Invited & Public Testimony -- += HB 308 DEMENTIA AWARENESS & HEALTHCARE CAPACITY -- Invited & Public Testimony -- HB 157 APOC; REPORT REFERENDA/RECALL CONTRIBUTOR -- Invited & Public Testimony -- + HB 226 PAY INCREASES FOR STATE ATTORNEYS -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled (Continued on Next Page) 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2908 FINANCE (continued) (Continued from Previous Page) + HB 416 BONUSES FOR NONUNION PUBLIC EMPLOYEES -- Invited & Public Testimony -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += HB 19 LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES += HB 322 AK MARINE HWY FUNDS, HIGHER ED INVES FUND May 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:00 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += HB 111 DENTAL HYGIENIST ADVANCED PRAC PERMIT += HB 306 EXTEND BOARD OF PHARMACY -- Public Testimony -- -- Invited Testimony -- += HB 308 DEMENTIA AWARENESS & HEALTHCARE CAPACITY -- Public Testimony -- -- Invited Testimony -- + HB 157 APOC; REPORT REFERENDA/RECALL CONTRIBUTOR -- Public Testimony -- -- Invited Testimony -- + HB 226 PAY INCREASES FOR STATE ATTORNEYS -- Public Testimony -- -- Invited Testimony -- + HB 416 BONUSES FOR NONUNION PUBLIC EMPLOYEES -- Public Testimony -- -- Invited Testimony -- += HB 19 LIMITED TEACHER CERTIFICATES; LANGUAGES += HB 322 AK MARINE HWY FUNDS, HIGHER ED INVES FUND += HB 291 EXTENDING COUNCIL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE May 18 Wednesday Senate Finance 532 9:00 AM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += HB 306 EXTEND BOARD OF PHARMACY ---------------------------------------- HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES May 17 Tuesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2909 JUDICIARY May 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled May 20 Friday Butrovich 205 1:30 PM No Meeting Scheduled ---------------------------------------- LABOR & COMMERCE May 17 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 9:00 AM -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair -- -- Please Note Time Change -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled: += SB 232 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF EMPLOYEES += HB 132 SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGS; TAX CREDITS **Streamed live on AKL.tv** May 18 Wednesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 9:00 AM -- Please Note Time Change -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES May 18 Wednesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** May 20 Friday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- STATE AFFAIRS May 17 Tuesday Butrovich 205 3:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled 2022-05-17 Senate Journal Page 2910 TRANSPORTATION May 17 Tuesday Beltz 105 (tsbldg) 1:30 PM -- MEETING CANCELED -- + HB 357 NAMING THE INSOOK BAIK BRIDGE -- Public Testimony -- **Streamed live on AKL.tv** ---------------------------------------- CONFERENCE COMMITTEES CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB281 May 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:45 PM All Remaining Open Items += HB 281 APPROP: OP BUDGET/LOANS/FUNDS; CAP; SUPP ---------------------------------------- CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HB282 May 17 Tuesday Senate Finance 532 1:45 PM All remaining Open Items += HB 282 APPROP: MENTAL HEALTH BUDGET +