Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/26/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB111 | |
| HB106 | |
| HB105 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 105 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 106 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 111 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 106-TEACHER RECRUITMENT; LUMP SUM PAYMENT
8:51:24 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the next order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 106, "An Act authorizing lump sum payments for
certain teachers as retention and recruitment incentives; and
providing for an effective date."
8:51:36 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on HB 106. After
ascertaining that there was no one who wished to testify, she
closed public testimony.
8:52:36 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 8:52 a.m. to 8:54 a.m.
8:54:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1
to HB 106.
8:54:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected.
8:54:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated that the language has been
incorporated to allow Legislative Legal Services to make any
conforming changes to Conceptual Amendment 1. She explained
that the conceptual amendment would remove the three-year
requirement and make the lump sum payment to certain teachers a
permanent feature of the system. She continued that this would
allow teachers who commit to teaching in Alaska to receive the
payments without an end date.
8:55:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY noted that Conceptual Amendment 1 may
dramatically change the fiscal note.
8:55:45 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT stated that there is not a fiscal note.
8:56:19 AM
HEIDI TESHNER, Acting Commissioner, Department of Education and
Early Development, answered questions regarding the discussion
on the fiscal note. She said that the $57.9 million per year
would be the funding grant total for the teacher incentive pay.
8:56:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT explained that the purpose of the
amendment would be to take a "good" idea and make it a
"permanent" idea. She expressed the opinion that the state is
not competitive enough with teachers' wages, and this would be
one way to increase the pay, "and keep it there." She expressed
the concern that the existing retirement system does not require
teachers to stay more than five years, so having a raise
incentive which only lasts three years does not help.
8:57:52 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY recalled that the purpose of the bill was
to do a pilot program for three years and determine whether a
raise would influence retention.
MS. TESHNER responded that this is correct. The intent of the
bill is to create a study to see if this is something that
improves retention.
8:58:39 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed the opinion that the ability to
raise teacher pay indefinitely is needed. She confirmed her
support for the amendment.
8:59:28 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE expressed appreciation for the amendment;
however, HB 106 was designed to be a pilot program, and it may
not be the appropriate way to raise pay for teachers. He stated
he would not support the amendment.
9:00:13 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT questioned how it would be determined
whether the three-year incentive worked.
MS. TESHER responded it would be learned through the process of
collecting and reporting data.
9:01:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX offered his opinion that it is not a good
idea to negotiate salaries through the "central authority."
9:02:00 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD pointed out that when unions are involved,
teachers' salaries are not negotiated, it is done through the
school districts. She offered her belief this is something
individual districts must do. She expressed support for
incentives; however, she argued that the bill is good "as is."
9:02:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT voiced that Conceptual Amendment 1
could have been a little different; however, she expressed the
concern that there is no fiscal note or study after the three-
year period. She expressed the idea this incentive could be
used by districts as a recruiting tool.
9:02:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX maintained his objection.
9:03:03 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives McCormick,
Himschoot, and Story voted in favor of Conceptual Amendment 1 to
HB 106. Representatives Prax, McKay, Allard, and Ruffridge
voted against it. Therefore, Conceptual Amendment 1 failed to
be adopted by a vote of 3-4.
9:03:42 AM
The committee took an at-ease from 9:03 a.m. to 9:04 a.m.
9:04:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 2
to HB 106.
9:04:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX objected.
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT spoke to Conceptual Amendment 2 and
related her experiences as a teacher. She said in addition to
teachers, there are shortages in support staff; therefore, she
wanted to open the idea up to include paraprofessionals and
support staff in the proposed legislation.
9:05:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY opined that the proposed amendment has a
similar problem to Conceptual Amendment 1, in that there is no
fiscal note to estimate additional costs.
9:05:54 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY offered her belief that, for students to do
well, it is important to have consistent help from support
staff. She opined that the amendment would be a good incentive
and investment in Alaska's resources, even though the fiscal
note would increase.
9:06:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX commented that adding paraprofessionals
would increase the risk of passing nothing "if we push too far."
9:07:12 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT expressed the opinion that the best way
to increase salaries is an increase in the base student
allocation (BSA), but since this is uncertain, the [amendment]
would be one way to make sure staff are incentivized to stay,
while increasing recruitment for districts. She brought up the
example when the Department of Law made a 20 percent increase
for staff, and now it has the lowest vacancy rate of any
department.
9:08:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX maintained his objection.
9:08:12 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives McCormick,
Himschoot, and Story voted in favor of Conceptual Amendment 2 to
HB 106. Representatives Allard, Prax, McKay, and Ruffridge
voted against it. Therefore, Conceptual Amendment 2 failed to
be adopted by a vote of 3-4.
9:08:43 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE moved to report HB 106 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
9:09:01 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK objected. He stated that he supports
HB 106, but offered his belief that it would not be a good
replacement for an increase in BSA. He noted that this is not
supported by educators in Bethel, as they would support good
benefits and an increase to BSA.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK removed his objection.
9:09:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY objected and concurred with Representative
McCormick's comments. In order to thrive, she expressed the
opinion that working conditions are important for Alaska's
teachers and students; therefore, the state must keep up with
increasing costs. She added that local control is important.
She briefly mentioned the practices other states have attempted
to adopt.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY removed her objection.
9:12:07 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT objected because this would create a
difficult position. She acknowledged that teachers are
underpaid, and anytime there is a chance to increase their
salaries, it should be done. She suggested that a way to do
this would be to fund BSA and provide increases on a regular
basis to fund the schools and salaries.
9:12:55 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD offered her support for teachers but argued that
there is no guarantee that BSA would increase their salaries.
She suggested this would be up to the individual unions and
school boards. She expressed the belief that this increase
would be an incentive and a recruitment tool. She reiterated
her strong support for HB 106.
9:13:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT maintained her objection.
9:13:23 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Story, Allard,
Prax, McCormick, McKay, Himschoot, and Ruffridge voted in favor
of reporting HB 106 from committee. Therefore, HB 106 was
reported out of the House Education Standing Committee by a vote
of 7-0.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB105 Amendment 2.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105 Amendment 4.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105 Amendment 3.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB 105 CS VerB.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |
| HB105 Amendment 1.pdf |
HEDC 4/26/2023 8:00:00 AM |
HB 105 |