Legislature(2025 - 2026)ADAMS 519
05/14/2025 01:30 PM House FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB96 | |
| HB105 | |
| HB174 | |
| SB64 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 64 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 96 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE BILL NO. 105
"An Act relating to mental health education."
2:26:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ALYSE GALVIN, SPONSOR, reviewed the bill.
She stressed that mental health education is a vital
component to education. She explained that the bill aimed
to ensure that it was treated with the same level of
importance as physical education. The bill put together a
group who were experts in the field, and would establish an
age-appropriate curriculum that districts may choose
whether to use in their schools. She stated that the bill
would create a tool to approach mental health differently.
She remarked that it was a collaborative effort.
Co-Chair Foster recalled that the bill currently had public
testimony OPEN, from the previous meeting. He remarked that
there was a testifier that may not have received notice. He
noted that there were no amendments.
Representative Galvin stated that there may be a former
Commissioner Holloway on the line to testify.
Co-Chair Foster did not see the testifier online.
Representative Bynum had some suggestions for the author of
the legislation, and stated that he would offer any
amendments on the floor.
Representative Allard did not support the legislation. She
felt that the bill had too much overreach. She remarked
that teachers were government employees. She stressed that
they were not doctors or guidance counselors. She was
alarmed that there would be an addition to what teachers
do, which she felt was to teach the STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) courses. She
remarked that she had mental health class as a child, but
noted that it was much different than what would be offered
in the current time. She was alarmed at the legislation.
She felt that there would be repercussions to the bill. She
felt that parents should not have to optout of the
curriculum, but rather should have to opt-in.
Representative Hannan supported the legislation. She
stressed that creating a curriculum did not require
educators to diagnose or do doctors' referrals. She
explained that there would be a curriculum that showed
students that mental health, like physical health, had
symptoms of distress before disorders to provide awareness.
She stated that she had taught psychology for twenty years,
and recalled that depression symptoms varied greatly among
people.
Representative Bynum surmised that the bill provided
guidelines for the state Board of Education to establish
the appropriate instruction for mental health. He noted an
elaborate list of direction, and wondered whether that was
necessary for the board when the school districts already
autonomy over the selection of curriculum. He also wondered
why there was a necessity to notify parents.
Representative Galvin clarified that the concept was that
parents must be notified in advance of the curriculum being
discussed. She stressed that there was a desire for parents
to be understanding and a part of the conversation. She
remarked that the experts felt that it was best to inform
the parents. She wondered whether the prescriptive part was
on page 3 of the bill.
Representative Bynum replied affirmatively.
2:36:06 PM
Representative Galvin responded that it had been put
together by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
(AMHTA). She also noted that there were some districts were
already accomplishing it and did not need a tool, but the
idea was to remain flexible.
2:37:56 PM
Representative Bynum stated that he would follow up with
additional questions outside of the committee
Co-Chair Josephson spoke to some anxiety people felt about
the bill, that he did not think was necessary. He supported
the bill.
Co-Chair Foster noted that someone was online for public
testimony.
Co-Chair Foster OPENED public testimony.
MIKE COONS, SELF, WASILLA (via teleconference), spoke
against the bill.
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Foster recognized Senator Mike Shower in the room.
Representative Allard did not know how many parents were in
the room and on the committee. She was a mom of two
daughters. She relayed that when the school district tried
to impose Bree's law she had not been in support. She did
not think it was appropriate for government employees to
provide mental health education, and she believed parents
should be able to opt in instead of opt out of the
curriculum.
2:47:12 PM
Co-Chair Foster re-OPENED public testimony.
TREVOR STORRS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ALASKA CHILDREN'S TRUST,
ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), testified in support of the
legislation.
Representative Stapp did not know why putting something
voluntary in statute made sense. He asked about using the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
for diagnosing the children.
Mr. Storrs replied that mental health education was not
about diagnosis. It was about dealing with stress, anxiety,
social media, and not about taking psychology 101. It was
about how to self-regulate, and about dealing with the day
to day mental health wellbeing.
2:51:24 PM
Representative Stapp liked Mr. Storrs definition. He was
struggling to see it in relation to the bill.
Representative Allard was following along the same lines as
Representative Stapp. She respected Mr. Storrs. She did not
see his words and thought process in the bill.
DR. SHIRLEY HOLLOWAY, NAMI ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill. She hoped
the bill passed. She stated it was not an opportunity to
diagnose a child. She encouraged the committee to getting
the bill passed in the current year to help students.
2:54:41 PM
Representative Stapp asked what exactly would be into the
schools through the bill. He asked about the exact
activities of the pilot program.
Dr. Holloway replied that there had been activities and
prompts for questioning, interactions, and engagement in
multiple categories, based on teachers' observations.
Representative Stapp provided a specific example. When he
was seven years old his mother passed away. He had been
depressed, and was referred to the school counselor. He
asked what the activities and prompts would be occurring.
Dr. Holloway could not imagine other than there would be
help to discuss how to talk about someone's death and did
it get discussed with the class. She remarked that it was
an opportunity to talk about loss and how it felt.
2:57:52 PM
Co-Chair Schrage remarked that the committee did not
receive any amendments to the bill, but felt that his
concerns could be addressed on the floor. He wanted to move
the bill.
Representative Allard disagreed, and felt that the
discussions could take place in committee. She stressed
that it should not be rushed out of committee. She felt
that Dr. Holloway did not give an adequate description of
the curriculum.
Dr. Holloway replied that she had lost a daughter to
suicide. She had an opportunity to talk with many people
about their situations.
Representative Allard queried Ms. Holloway's specialty.
Dr. Hollway replied that her PHD was in educational
leadership.
Representative Allard surmised that the testifier was not
an expert in the field.
Dr. Holloway replied that she worked in the mental health
field but was not an expert in mental health.
3:02:22 PM
Representative Allard felt that there were no teachers that
would be experts in the mental health field.
Dr. Holloway stated that was the reason for the guidelines.
Co-Chair Foster CLOSED public testimony.
Co-Chair Schrage MOVED to REPORT HB 105 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes.
Representative Allard OBJECTED.
Representative Stapp felt that the intention of the bill
was positive. He remarked that school districts already had
the ability to provide the curriculum. He understood the
need for curriculum, but did not want adverse diagnosis for
the child. He hoped to get an example of how it worked, in
order to give a clear point of view on the bill.
Representative Bynum understood the concept and stated his
understanding of the goal of the bill was to provide course
works that included the topic of mental health. He shared
that after Iraq the Army recognized that suicides were very
high. The Army had directed everyone to go through suicide
prevention training, there had been some pushback, but
after the fifth time they realized it was meaningful.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Bynum, Galvin, Jimmie, Hannan, Schrage,
Josephson, Foster
OPPOSED: Tomaszewski, Allard, Stapp
The MOTION PASSED (7/3).
There being NO further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
HB 105 was REPORTED out of committee with five "do pass"
recommendations, one "do not pass" recommendation, and four
"no recommendation" recommendations and with one new zero
fiscal note from the Department of Health; one previously
published fiscal impact note: FN1 (EED); and one previously
published zero fiscal note: FN2 (DFC).