Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/02/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB147 | |
| HB186 | |
| HB192 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 251 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 237 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 192 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 37 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 147-RETIRED TEACHER CERTIFICATE
3:17:19 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be
HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to teacher certificates for
retired teachers."
3:18:00 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, read the sponsor statement [included in committee
packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
The first thing this bill seeks to do is honor
teachers in the State of Alaska for their years of
dedication to our youth by providing them with a
lifetime teachers certificate at no cost. Under
current law, retired teachers pay a one-time $250 fee
for this type of certificate. The current fee brings
very little revenue to the state. Retired teachers
normally only seek a life-time certificate if they
plan on re-entering the classroom as substitutes.
The other thing this bill does is extend the number of
consecutive days a retired teacher holding this type
of certificate can long-term substitute from 120 days
to 165 days. This allows a person holding this type of
certificate to fill in as a long-term substitute for
more than an entire semester in cases where absences
continue for extended periods.
Alaska educators occasionally must take a leave of
absence from their classroom for different reasons
including medical procedures, caring for a child or
elder, the birth of a child, as well as other
emergencies. On rare occasions, teachers abruptly exit
a position mid-year for personal reasons, leaving the
school in a bind. When regular teachers must leave
positions during the academic year, this bill will
take some pressure off schools in finding skilled,
qualified substitutes and allow them to fill longer
vacancies than previously allowed. This bill also
encourages retired teachers to share their expertise
with students and young teachers and to remain living
in Alaska as active members of communities and
contributors to the economy.
3:22:53 PM
TAMMY SMITH, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, on behalf of
the prime sponsor, Representative Dibert, read the sectional
analysis [included in committee packet], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
*Section 1: Amends AS 14.20.020(g)
That the department shall issue, at no cost to the
person, a teacher certificate to a person who
possessed a valid Alaska teacher certificate upon
retirement. A teacher certificate issued under this
subsection is valid for the life of the retired
teacher and qualifies the holder as a substitute
teacher in the state.
A teacher certified under this subsection may teach as
a long-term substitute teacher for not more than 165
consecutive days of a school term. In this subsection,
"long-term substitute teacher" means a teacher who is
employed in the state to substitute teach for more
than 20 consecutive days of a school term.
*Section 2: Amends the uncodified law of the State of
Alaska by adding a new section to read:
Applicability. This act applies to a contract or
collective bargaining agreement that becomes legally
binding on or after the effective date of this Act.
3:23:47 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS inquired as to why the number of
consecutive days would be limited.
MS. SMITH explained that, in 2016, a substitute teacher could
substitute for up to 120 days; this was changed to allow for
more time for a long-term certified teacher to be in the
classroom consecutively. She said that change had to do with
the amount of allowable pay there is for a position that has a
substitute teacher in it. She said the change also incentivized
districts to hire a new active certified teacher first rather
than a retired substitute teacher.
3:25:59 PM
REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked if Representative Dibert is
introducing HB 147 because retired teachers are on a fixed
income.
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT answered that schools need substitute
teachers, and the proposed retired lifetime certificate would be
an incentive to get retired teachers into schools.
3:27:17 PM
MS. SMITH added that retired teachers are on a fixed income.
She said that, while she herself is retired, she holds lifetime
certification. She explained that people with such
certification are people who chose not to renew their active
certification; the bill is an opportunity for them to reignite
into the profession.
3:27:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding that 180
instructional days is a teacher's full-year workload. He asked
why a retired teacher would want to come back to just be a full-
time long-term substitute.
MS. SMITH illustrated an example using herself: if she let her
teaching certification lapse, it would lapse in two years. She
said part of renewing certification requires attaining credits,
and getting such credits can cost a lot of money. She explained
that, in order for her to maintain her certification, she has to
have six continuing credits. She shared that school districts
allow the teacher to take a credit through a district program,
which would make getting credits less expensive. She said she
is unsure if she would want to go back to being an active
certified teacher because it "is a young people's game";
districts should be encouraged to always be looking for early
career educators.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the dollar amount for re-
certification. He also inquired about the general shortage of
substitute teachers.
MS. SMITH answered that each credit may cost $100 to $400 per
credit. The certificate itself costs $240.
3:32:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK shared that she was a substitute teacher
who was mentored by a retired teacher. She asked, since the
legislation proposes to remove the one-time fee, if it is a
barrier for some.
MS. SMITH responded that she did not hear whether it was a
barrier; however, there is a difference between a person who
retires and maintains certification versus another who retires
and wants to teach five years later as the likelihood of them
wanting to go through the certification process decreases.
3:34:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX offered his understanding that a teacher
must undergo recertification every few years.
MS. SMITH answered that's correct.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if a retired teacher would need to get
the proposed retired teacher license within two years of their
certification.
MS. SMITH offered that, if a teacher is on active certification,
they cannot let the license lapse or else there is additional
coursework they must do.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX said he could imagine a situation where a
teacher is planning to retire, their certification lapses, and
they come back seeking a retired teacher certificate. He asked
whether the teacher would be able to get the certificate in that
scenario.
MS. SMITH answered that she believes they could but needs
confirmation from the Department of Education and Early
Development (DEED).
3:36:29 PM
REBECCA ZAVERL, Principal, Denali Elementary School, Fairbanks
School District, shared that she has been teaching at Denali
Elementary School since 2001 and was mentored by teachers
working at the school. She said she became principal three
years ago, and that her greatest worry is checking to see who
called out sick; today she had 10 staff out and had only two
substitutes. She recalled that no one applied for music teacher
at the beginning of the school year, so a retired teacher
returned to fill the spot as such teachers make up her
substitute pool. She pointed out that returning retired
teachers mentor new teachers. She said the bill will offer
appreciation and respect to long-time educators by covering the
cost of their teaching certificate for life.
3:40:09 PM
SEAN PRINCE, President, Anchorage Principals Association, said
he is in support of HB 147 and dealing with the substitute
crisis across the state. He listed several reasons why a high
school teacher may need a substitute, both in planned and
unplanned absences. He explained that it is easy to point to an
experienced teacher to be a substitute, and while the current
substitutes in the district do a fair job, they are not
professional educators. He stated that HB 147 could meet the
substitute need by removing the cost for retired teachers to
obtain a lifetime certificate; extending the substitute period
from 120 days to 165 days; and encouraging retired and soon to
be retired teachers to remain in the state. He recalled when he
had a teacher who taught math in the special education section
of the school and said it is important that such teachers are
retained since they are rare to find. He said that, when the
teacher retired after 28 years, he could not find a replacement;
however, when he called her to fill in the vacancy, she agreed
to come back for three years.
3:45:01 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the bill just covers teachers
who retired and want to retain the certificate, or if it would
also cover teachers who retired and let their certification
lapse.
3:45:31 PM
KELLY MANNING, Director, Innovation and Education Excellence,
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), answered
that the lifetime certification would apply to any retired
teacher. She said they do not need to have a current
certification to be eligible.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX sought confirmation that any person who has
held a teaching certificate and is in retirement can apply for
the proposed lifetime certificate.
MS. MANNING answered that's correct.
3:46:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to whether the bill would
facilitate retired teachers returning just as a mentor to
teachers.
MS. SMITH responded, "That's not really the purpose of this."
She said that, when there is a retired teacher on staff, it just
naturally evolves into mentoring new teachers.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the retired teacher has to be
teaching or could be hired as a master teacher to mentor others.
3:48:43 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT said the retired teacher with a lifetime
certificate would have to apply to be a substitute in the
district.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reiterated the question.
MS. SMITH answered no, as being a mentor would be a different
position.
3:49:27 PM
CHAIR SUMNER announced HB 147 was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB192 Letter of Support - Uber Eats.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
| AK HB 192 - letter of support FINAL.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
| DOLWD HB 186 Response.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 186 |
| HB 147 I am oppossed to the non-payment for the license..docx |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 147 |
| HB192 Support Letter HLC 2-13-24.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
| HB192 Amendments Updated.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |