Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
05/01/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB400 | |
| HB382 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 400 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 382 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 400-CORRESPONDENCE STUDY PROGRAMS; ALLOTMENTS
8:10:52 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the first order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 400, "An Act relating to correspondence
study programs; relating to allotments for correspondence study
programs; and providing for an effective date."
8:11:31 AM
CO-CHAIR ALLARD moved to adopt the proposed committee substitute
(CS) for HB 400, Version 33-LS1571\U, Bergerud, 4/30/24, as the
working document.
8:11:46 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT objected. She inquired why there were
changes from the original bill to the CS.
8:12:31 AM
BUD SEXTON, Staff, Representative Justin Ruffridge, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the House Education Standing
Committee, sponsor of HB 400, on which Representative Ruffridge
serves as co-chair, presented the summary of changes to the
original bill version that would be made under Version U. He
requested that the committee follow along with the written
summary of changes, included in the committee packet, which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Title
Removed the effective date in the title.
Section 1
The original language under Section 1 of version B is
deleted. Under version U, AS 14.03.300(a) is amended
by deleting the current language in statute regarding
requirements for individual learning plans.
Section 2
This section under version B is deleted and under
version U, new subsections are added directing the
board to adopt regulations establishing standards for
individual learning plans.
Section 3
The language in version B is deleted and under version
U, AS14.03.310 is repealed and reenacted with new
language regarding student allotments consistent with
art VII, sec 1 of the Constitution of the State of
Alaska.
(c) Directs the Department to perform an audit of the
use of allotments every five years, and regulations
for random audits and number of audits to be
conducted.
Section 4
Section 4 under version B is deleted and AS
14.03.300(b) is repealed under version U. Section 5-
10 Sections 5-10 in version B are deleted in version
U.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE noted that the CS was created in response to
ongoing discussions with the intent to have the bill deal with
correspondence programs to ensure those programs are intact and
can move forward for the next school year. He explained that
the original version of HB 400 took old regulation and proposed
to put that into statute, and he said he "was not a fan of
that." He briefly summarized additional section changes
[included in the committee packet] in reference to
individualized learning plans (ILPs).
8:16:27 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT brought attention to the effective date
removal and inquired about the possibility of language to
clarify home school programs for the coming school year. She
said she wished to provide certainty to home school families.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE replied that there would be future hearings
on the bill and that many questions would suit invited
testimony.
8:17:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she supported [the original bill
version] in that there was a framework that provided some
guidelines that came from statute when the correspondence
programs were running smoothly, and people were comfortable in
the parameters. She inquired about the reasoning behind the new
direction from the older statutes.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE responded that the items in Version U are
from the original statute in question by the court; the language
was not in statute but came from previous Alaska State Board of
Education regulation. He said putting regulation in statute and
the time left in session seemed less than ideal, so Version U
would provide the framework for those regulations to be adopted
by the board.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed that putting this in the board's
hands without guardrails was a concern to her.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE pointed out that the best guardrail is on
page 3, lines 1 and 2, in reference to the board adopting
regulations according to the constitution. He added that the
language is helpful, and that the section would guide the board
to adopt regulations regardless of how that section reads in the
future.
8:21:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT maintained her objection.
8:22:00 AM
A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Prax, McKay,
Allard, and Ruffridge voted in favor of the motion to adopt the
proposed committee substitute (CS) for HB 400, Version 33-
LS1571\U, Bergerud, 4/30/24, as the working document.
Representatives Story, McCormick, and Himschoot voted against
it. Therefore, Version U was adopted as the working document by
a vote of 4-3.
8:23:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked for clarity regarding future
testimony.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE stated he would get back to the committee
with details.
[HB 400 was held over.]