Legislature(2023 - 2024)
2024-02-21 House Journal
Full Journal pdf2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1583 SB 140 The following was before the House in second reading: 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1584 CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 140(FIN) "An Act relating to funding for Internet services for school districts; and providing for an effective date." Amendment Nos. 17, 18, and 19 were not offered. Amendment No. 20 was offered by Representative Josephson: Page 1, line 1, following "districts;" (title amendment): Insert "relating to instruction in mental health;" Page 1, following line 3: 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: LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that the Board of Education and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation with the Department of Health, the Department of Family and Community Services, regional tribal health organizations, and representatives of national and state mental health organizations. * Sec. 2. AS 14.03.016(a) is amended to read: (a) A local school board shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and school administrators, adopt policies to promote the involvement of parents in the school district's education program. The policies must include procedures (1) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from a standards-based assessment or test required by the state; (2) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from an activity, class, or program; (3) providing for parent notification not less than two weeks before any activity, class, or program that includes content involving human reproduction or sexual matters is provided to a child; (4) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to withdraw the child from an activity, class, program, or standards-based assessment or test required by the state for a religious holiday, as defined by the parent; 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1585 (5) providing a parent with an opportunity to review the content of an activity, class, performance standard, or program; (6) ensuring that, when a child is absent from an activity, class, program, or standards-based assessment or test required by the state under this section, the absence is not considered an unlawful absence under AS 14.30.020 if the child's parent withdrew the child from the activity, class, program, or standards- based assessment or test or gave permission for the child's absence; (7) providing for parent notification not less than two weeks before any class or program that provides instruction in mental health is provided to a child." Page 1, line 4: Delete "Section 1" Insert "Sec. 3" Renumber the following bill section accordingly. Page 1, line 10: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 4. AS 14.30.360(a) is amended to read: (a) Each district in the state public school system shall be encouraged to initiate and conduct a program in health education for kindergarten through grade 12. The program should include instruction in [PHYSICAL] health and personal safety including alcohol and drug abuse education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), early cancer prevention and detection, dental health, family health including infant care, environmental health, mental health, physical health, the identification and prevention of child abuse, child abduction, neglect, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and appropriate use of health services. * Sec. 5. AS 14.30.360(b) is amended to read: (b) The state board shall establish guidelines for a health and personal safety education program, including guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental health. In developing guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental health, the state board shall consult with the Department of Health, the Department of Family and Community Services, regional tribal health organizations, and 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1586 representatives of national and state mental health organizations. Personal safety guidelines shall be developed in consultation with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Upon request, the Department of Education and Early Development, the Department of Health, the Department of Family and Community Services, and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault shall provide technical assistance to school districts in the development of personal safety curricula. A school health education specialist position shall be established and funded in the department to coordinate the program statewide. Adequate funds to enable curriculum and resource development, adequate consultation to school districts, and a program of teacher training in health and personal safety education shall be provided. * Sec. 6. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. On July 1, 2026, the state Board of Education and Early Development shall submit a report to the senate secretary and chief clerk of the house of representatives and notify the legislature that the report is available. The report must (1) include a copy of the guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in mental health developed by the state Board of Education and Early Development as required under AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 5 of this Act; and (2) describe the process the state Board of Education and Early Development used to develop the guidelines. * Sec. 7. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: TRANSITION: MENTAL HEALTH GUIDELINES. The state Board of Education and Early Development shall develop the mental health guidelines required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 5 of this Act, before July 1, 2026. * Sec. 8. Section 3 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 9. Except as provided in sec. 8 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2024." Representative Josephson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 20 be adopted. Representative Sumner objected. 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1587 The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 20 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 140(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 20 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Armstrong, Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Baker, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Eastman, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright And so, Amendment No. 20 was not adopted. Amendment No. 21 was offered by Representative Josephson: Page 1, line 1, following "districts;" (title amendment): Insert "relating to charter schools;" Page 1, line 10: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.260 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (e) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, the department shall provide all funds necessary to operate a charter school authorized under AS 14.03.254. The local school district in which the charter school is located may not be required to provide any funding from local sources to the charter school, including funding from the required local contribution and the local contribution under AS 14.17.410(c). * Sec. 3. AS 14.17.990 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: (8) "charter school" does not include a school authorized under AS 14.03.254. * Sec. 4. Section 1 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 5. Except as provided in sec. 4 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2024." 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1588 Representative Josephson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 21 be adopted. There was objection. Representative Josephson moved and asked unanimous consent to withdraw Amendment No. 21. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Amendment No. 22 was offered by Representative Josephson: Page 1, line 1, following "districts;" (title amendment): Insert "relating to correspondence study program annual student allotments;" Page 1, line 10: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.310 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (f) A district that provides for an annual student allotment under this section shall, not later than October 1 of each year, provide to the department the aggregate dollar amount of the student allotments the district has provided in the previous fiscal year under this section. * Sec. 3. Section 1 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 4. Section 2 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2024." Representative Josephson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 22 be adopted. Representative Ruffridge objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 22 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 140(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 22 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1589 Yeas: Armstrong, Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Baker, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Eastman, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright And so, Amendment No. 22 was not adopted. Amendment No. 23 was offered by Representative Josephson: Page 1, line 1, following "districts;" (title amendment): Insert "relating to correspondence study programs;" Page 1, line 10: Delete all material and insert: "* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.310(a) is amended to read: (a) Except as provided in (e) and (f) of this section, the department or a district that provides a correspondence study program may provide an annual student allotment to a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the correspondence study program for the purpose of meeting instructional expenses for the student enrolled in the program as provided in this section. * Sec. 3. AS 14.03.310 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: (f) The department or a district that provides a correspondence study program may not provide an annual student allotment to a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the correspondence study program if the parent or guardian withdraws the student from or opts the student out of a standards-based test or assessment that is required by the department under AS 14.03.123(f). * Sec. 4. Section 1 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). * Sec. 5. Except as provided in sec. 4 of this Act, this Act takes effect July 1, 2024." Representative Josephson moved and asked unanimous consent that Amendment No. 23 be adopted. 2024-02-21 House Journal Page 1590 Representative Ruffridge objected. The question being: "Shall Amendment No. 23 be adopted?" The roll was taken with the following result: CSSB 140(FIN) Second Reading Amendment No. 23 YEAS: 19 NAYS: 21 EXCUSED: 0 ABSENT: 0 Yeas: Armstrong, Carrick, Dibert, Edgmon, Fields, Foster, Galvin, Gray, Groh, Hannan, Himschoot, Josephson, McCormick, Mears, Mina, Ortiz, Schrage, Story, Stutes Nays: Allard, Baker, Carpenter, Coulombe, Cronk, Eastman, C.Johnson, D.Johnson, McCabe, McKay, Prax, Rauscher, Ruffridge, Saddler, Shaw, Stapp, Sumner, Tilton, Tomaszewski, Vance, Wright And so, Amendment No. 23 was not adopted. Amendment No. 24 was not offered. The Speaker stated that, without objection, CSSB 140(FIN) would be held in second reading to tomorrow's calendar.