Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/20/2022 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB196 | |
| HB132 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 196 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 132 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 132-SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGS; TAX CREDITS
9:47:33 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 132(FIN) "An Act relating
to technical education and registered apprenticeships."
[The Senate committee substitute (SCS) for HB 132, work order
32-LS0476\R, was adopted during the 4/11/2022 hearing.]
9:47:51 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on HB 132.
9:48:26 AM
ANDY BULLICH, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he
had taught construction and metal shop at Juneau-Douglas High
School for 20 years and owns his own roofing business. He
advocated for involving high school students in apprenticeships
in high school to the fullest extent possible. He offered his
belief that it inspires them. He noted the demand for skilled
laborers. The pre-apprenticeship programs provide a natural
conduit for the student and employer. He related that the
employers and students can each figure out if the relationship
works without investing significant time. He indicated that it
shows kids what a life in skilled trades provides.
MR. BULLICH suggested that 16-18 year old students could operate
power tools and climb ladders. He highlighted that finding a way
to minimize the liability that employers would have at job sites
would help these programs to succeed. He said he works with high
school students to build a house. They climb ladders and use
power tools successfully, so there should be a way to extend
those practices into the apprenticeship programs.
MR. BULLICH thanked the committee for supporting these programs.
He said Alaska is doing well nationally and he feels supported
by the state and the school district.
9:51:09 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked how to minimize the liability for
employers.
9:51:21 AM
MR. BULLICH stated that education helps provide skills. He noted
that in 20 years of teaching he had not experienced any bad
accidents. He attributed minimizing the likelihood of injuries
to good sound education. He emphasized the importance of keeping
shop teachers involved with the employer and the student during
this process to maintain a relationship.
SENATOR STEVENS acknowledged the importance of minimizing
injuries but providing students with real life experiences.
9:52:22 AM
MR. BULLICH stated that the bill allows the student to be on the
job site and not do anything, which isn't beneficial to the
student or to the employer. The students have to have some
responsibility under supervision. He recalled student teaching
in Minnesota, using a model where the kids would spend half a
day at a welding shop or job site using tools and welding
equipment. He characterized that model as highly successful.
9:52:55 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked for suggested improvements to the bill.
MR. BULLICH responded that he especially liked the language on
page 4 that "using funds available for that purpose," but to add
language that would address the ladders and power tools. He
offered his view that it was important to decrease the liability
for the employer. He explained that currently, when he and the
students are at the job site building a house by Dzantik'i Heeni
Middle School, the school insurance policy covers the student.
He wondered if it would be possible for the school district to
pick up some of the liability insurance. He suggested that the
funds refereed to in subparagraph (18) could offset some of the
liability insurance for the school district.
9:54:11 AM
SENATOR HUGHES wondered if parents were signing a waiver
acknowledging that the students face some risks by using power
equipment. She surmised that the school was providing safety
training.
Mr. BULLICH answered that the students undergo rigorous safety
training and parents do sign waivers. He emphasized that the
culture that would be built into the program was critical. He
indicated that he felt good about what the high school was doing
that was done by many of his colleagues. He related that he
participates in the federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) Grant Advisory Committee
meetings. He stated that many teachers throughout the state
receive federal Perkins IV funding, so they have established
relationships with contractors. He highlighted that identifying
good teachers, contractors, and students was important. He said
he did not see any downside to the legislation, and that it
would be fantastic if this could happen.
9:55:32 AM
SENATOR HUGHES offered her view that there would not be
restrictions on providing funding to school districts to cover
liability insurance. She suggested that would be a good question
for Legislative Legal Services. She wondered if it was necessary
to amend the bill or if it was sufficient that the committee's
intent to use some of the funds for that purpose. She imagined
that school districts would support safety training.
9:56:16 AM
MR. BULLICH commented that the 16-18 year old students were the
sweet spot. He noted that once they turn 18, many rules don't
apply, but it was important to have summer job opportunities for
16-18 year olds.
9:56:48 AM
ED KING, Staff, Senator Roger Holland, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, directed attention to the language on page 5,
line 21 of Version R, "(3) the tuition paid by the school
district for each student for program participation, ..." He
said this was money that could alleviate the cost of insurance
and other associated costs because there are mechanisms for that
funding to flow to those agencies. He referred to page 5, line
18, "(1) a description of the program, including the program
curriculum;" that could definitely include safety and other
training. He suggested that it would be challenging to insert
that language because the language in the bill was more
expansive than those types of programs. He offered his view that
it was preferable to leave that latitude for the districts.
9:58:40 AM
JIM ANDERSON, Chief Financial Officer, Anchorage School
District, Anchorage, Alaska, spoke in support HB 132. He stated
that Anchorage had been building partnerships with businesses
and programs throughout the city for many years. He reported
that the district had identified two dozen distinct career
fields, including art design, biomedical, telecommunications,
carpentry, and others. Students receive course credit for their
time, effort, and acquisition of skills. ASD does not focus
purely on apprentice programs but rather on providing as many
career pathways as possible for students.
MR. ANDERSON responded to the previous testifier who asked
whether school districts could provide insurance. He pointed out
that insurance for Anchorage used to be easy. However, because
of assaults and violence occurring in schools in the Lower 48 in
the last few years, it took until April 25 to acquire insurance
rates for the current fiscal year. He offered his belief that it
would be problematic for school districts to restart
negotiations on insurance to include outside organizations not
under the control of the district. He restated support for SB
132 and expressed hope that the forthcoming amendments would
focus on students, not adults and special interest groups.
10:00:58 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony on HB 132.
10:01:33 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt Amendment 1, work order 32-
LS0476\R.1.
32-LS0476\R.1
Klein
4/13/22
AMENDMENT 1
OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR HUGHES
TO: SCS HB 132(EDC), Draft Version "R"
Page 8, line 5:
Delete "[A] parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt,
or uncle"
Insert "relative [A PARENT]"
Page 8, lines 6 - 7:
Delete "parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, or
uncle"
Insert "relative [PARENT]"
Page 8, lines 7 - 8:
Delete "parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, or
uncle"
Insert "relative [PARENT]"
Page 8, line 8, following "child.":
Insert "In this subsection, "relative" means a
child's mother, mother-in-law, father, father-in-law,
sister, sister-in-law, brother, brother-in-law,
grandparent, aunt, or uncle."
10:01:35 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion.
10:01:37 AM
SENATOR HUGHES explained that Amendment 1 was brought to her
attention by the Co-Chair of the House Education Committee. It
adds clarity as to who is included in the term relative.
10:02:28 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection, he found no further
objection, and Amendment 1 was adopted.
10:02:47 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt Amendment 2, work order 32-
LS0476\R.5.
32-LS0476\R.5
Marx/Klein
4/19/22
AMENDMENT 2
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SCS HB 132(EDC), Draft Version "R"
Page 1, line 1, following "apprenticeships;":
Insert "relating to school terms;"
Page 1, following line 7:
Insert a new bill section to read:
"* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.030 is amended to read:
Sec. 14.03.030. School term. A school term begins
and ends on the dates fixed by the governing body of a
school district. A school term shall include not less
than 180 days in session unless [, WITH THE APPROVAL
OF THE COMMISSIONER,]
(1) a day used for in-service training of
teachers is substituted for a day in session, up to a
maximum of 10 days;
(2) an "emergency closure day" is
substituted for a day in session because of conditions
posing a threat to the health or safety of students;
or
(3) the school board adopts a different
school term that includes at least 740 hours of
instruction and study periods for pupils in
kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third
grade and at least 900 hours of instruction and study
periods for pupils in grades four through 12 [IF THE
COMMISSIONER FINDS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS SUBMITTED
AN ACCEPTABLE PLAN UNDER WHICH STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE
THE APPROXIMATE EDUCATIONAL EQUIVALENT OF A 180-DAY
TERM]."
Renumber the following bill sections accordingly.
10:02:49 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for discussion purposes.
10:02:50 AM
SENATOR HUGHES stated her intent to withdraw Amendment 2 after
it is discussed on record. She said that panels of
superintendents have indicated the need to change the 180 day
school term to hours because some high schools want to go to a
four-day week, which works out well with sports. She stated that
it might mean that classrooms might be half-full because
students were out for class trips. She related her understanding
that depending on the school location, it might require a long
ferry ride so having a four-day school week makes sense and
should be addressed. She related her understanding that the
Teachers Retirement system (TRS) would need technical fixes. She
suggested that it should be decided locally rather than by the
department. She urged the Department of Administration to
consider how this could be accomplished. She acknowledged that
it might be complicated but it would be helpful to students and
would give high schools that flexibility.
10:05:37 AM
SENATOR HUGHES withdrew Amendment 2.
10:06:21 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt Amendment 3, work order 32-
LS0476\R.3.
32-LS0476\R.3
Klein
4/19/22
AMENDMENT 3
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SCS HB 132(EDC), Draft Version "R"
Page 6, line 24:
Delete all material.
Renumber the following paragraphs accordingly.
10:06:24 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion.
10:06:27 AM
SENATOR HUGHES explained Amendment 3. She noted that a student
who was 14 years old could still be in eighth grader. She
related that DEED indicated that some eighth grade students take
high school classes for credit. Amendment 3 would delete, "has
completed eighth grade" to allow an eighth grade student who was
14 years of age and taking a high school course to participate.
10:07:13 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection; he found no further
objection, and Amendment 3 was adopted.
10:07:32 AM
SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt Amendment 4, work order 32-
LS0476\R.4.
32-LS0476\R.4
Klein
4/19/22
AMENDMENT 4
OFFERED IN THE SENATE
TO: SCS HB 132(EDC), Draft Version "R"
Page 1, line 1, following "apprenticeships;":
Insert "relating to awarding course credit for
activities outside of school hours;"
Page 5, line 11, following "program.":
Insert "A school district shall allow a public
secondary school student who is at least 14 years of
age to receive course credit in career and technical
education, physical education, music, or art if the
student participates in an activity, including a
cultural activity, outside of school hours that the
school district determines meets the educational or
physical activity requirements of the course. A school
district may adopt standards for awarding course
credit for an activity under this section."
10:07:36 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion.
10:07:37 AM
SENATOR HUGHES explained that Amendment 4 was inadvertently left
out of SB 111. She said this provision seemed to fit in this
bill. It would allow private classes like music to receive high
school credit. For instance, if a high school student is a
serious pianist and taking piano lessons for many hours a week,
the student could obtain course credit. It could make it
possible for the student to take another course, such as a
science class. She acknowledged that it would need to be under
the direction of the school district because the district would
need to adopt standards to ensure the lessons met the classroom
criteria.
10:08:56 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked whether schools were already allowed to
do so.
SENATOR HUGHES acknowledged that districts could be doing this,
but it was not in statute.
10:09:31 AM
MR. KING confirmed that school districts already have the
authority to issue credits this way, as well as through the
career and technical education components in the bill. It's
similar to the way that school districts are able to give dual
credit for middle colleges. Amendment 4 would place in statute
that these programs are available. He deferred further comment
to Sondra Meredith.
10:10:24 AM
SONDRA MEREDITH, Teacher Certification Administrator, Innovation
and Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early
Development, Juneau, Alaska, agreed that the department could
already issue course credit for outside activities.
10:10:50 AM
SENATOR HUGHES asked whether that was in regulation or some
other authority.
MS. MEREDITH offered her belief that the authority came from
regulation; districts have local control to award credits for
such activities.
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that his only concern was that it was
late in the session and this would require a title change, which
has a higher vote threshold. He opined that the amendment was
unnecessary.
MR. KING conveyed that the changes that appear in the SCS
already require a title change.
10:11:54 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND withdrew his objection to Amendment 4; finding no
further objection, Amendment 4 was adopted.
CHAIR HOLLAND asked Representative Fields if he had any closing
comments on the House Labor and Commerce Committee bill.
10:12:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACH FIELDS, Alaska State Legislator, Juneau,
Alaska, co-chair of the House Labor and Commerce Committee that
sponsored HB 132, stated that the bill has broad support from a
variety of people, companies, and organizations. He expressed
appreciation for the work the committee had done on the bill to
ensure a good product.
10:13:05 AM
SENATOR STEVENS asked whether any of the amendments were cause
for concern.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS answered no.
CHAIR HOLLAND advised that the changes the committee made to the
bill zeroed the fiscal note. He solicited the will of the
committee.
10:13:30 AM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report the Senate committee substitute
(SCS) for CSHB 132, work order 32-LS0476\R, as amended, from
committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal
note(s).
CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection, and SCS CSHB 132(EDC) was
reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.