Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/20/2012 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Delta Greely School District | |
| HB242 | |
| SB8 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | HB 242 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 8-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS
9:20:36 AM
CHAIR DICK announced that the final order of business would be
SENATE BILL NO. 8, "An Act relating to questionnaires and
surveys administered in the public schools."
9:20:45 AM
THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State
Legislature, stated that this bill would return the
administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to
passive parental consent from active parental consent. He read
a statement from the Department of Health and Social Services
website:
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is part of a national
surveillance system developed by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to assist with
assessing and addressing the health risk of youth. It
is conducted in Alaska every other year by the
Department of Education and Early Development and the
Department of Health and Social Services in
cooperation with public schools.
He shared that the survey was given in the spring of 2011 to
1327 students from 40 high schools, scientifically selected to
represent all public high schools and public high school
students in grades 9 - 12, excluding boarding, alternative,
correspondence, correctional, and home study schools in Alaska.
In addition, 969 students from 16 alternative high schools in
Alaska, defined as serving high risk students, were
correspondingly given the same survey, with the results for both
surveys posted on the website. He paraphrased from the sponsor
statement [original punctuation provided] [Included in members'
packets]:
The purpose of SB 8 is to increase participations in
the national biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey
(YRBS) in order to meet the minimum 60% participation
level required by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) for the results to be validated and published
along with other states. There have been years when
the state has not met minimum participation levels.
Failure to obtain survey information adversely affects
the ability of educators, planners, policy makers, and
parents to understand and address the important health
and social issues that affect students' happiness and
success in the future.
To help achieve this objective SB 8 changes the
parental consent requirement for the YRBS from active
to passive, that is, from written to implied consent
if parents are given notice at least two weeks in
advance of the survey by U.S. mail, or home delivery;
the opportunity to review the entire survey at the
school or the district's web site; and a form with
return envelope to deny permission in writing.
Parents who do not want their children to participate
usually notify the school immediately at registration
in the beginning of the school year, or after notice
and before the YRBS is given early in the spring
semester. It is the attention of the other parents SB
8 is designed to reach. Failure of parents to return
written consent forms in the past has been found often
to be the result of lack of attention rather than
refusal. Since the biennial survey is only given to a
representative number of the 53 Alaska School District
and only to a representative sampling of high school
classes, many parents and students will never be
involved with the survey.
Students are not forced or required to participate.
They may independently decline to participate or to
answer specific questions in this completely voluntary
and anonymous survey. If they do participate,
absolute privacy and anonymity are maintained by
strict administrative procedures and the return of
individual surveys in private and secure sealed
envelopes to CDC.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey helps guide and
evaluate important health and prevention programs in
both the public and private sectors. Local, state,
and federal officials, schools, state and federal
agencies, public and private grant programs, and
nonprofit health organizations rely on these surveys
to educate, allocate resources, and compare trends
concerning safe behaviors. These include injury
prevention, tobacco prevention and control, obesity
prevention, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke
prevention, safe and drug free schools, substance
abuse prevention, violence and suicide prevention, HIV
and STD prevention, and connectedness to teachers,
parents and other adults.
In short, SB 8 simply makes it easier to obtain
information on youth risk behaviors without violating
students' or parents' rights to privacy, nor
diminishing the ability of parents to supervise their
children. At the same time SB 8 increases parental
notice with ample opportunity, instructions, and forms
to opt out.
He pointed out that SB 137, suicide awareness and prevention
training for teachers and other school personnel, had been
introduced for attention as a result of the YRBS.
9:26:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to the sectional
summary of the proposed bill from Division of Legal and Research
Services, dated January 27, 2011, [Included in members' packets]
read from Section 3, "Adds specific questions and process for a
student and parent to refuse to participate in a student survey
by submitting a written denial of permission." He pointed out
that the proposed bill did not state that a student had to
provide a written denial of permission, but that, per Section
3(e) of the proposed bill, a student "may refuse to answer
specific questions [on] or participate in a questionnaire." He
offered his belief that a parent could provide a written denial,
but that the student could, on their own authority at the time
of the survey, refuse to answer certain questions or participate
in the survey. He asked to clarify that the wording in the
proposed bill took precedence over the sectional summary.
MR. OBERMERER confirmed that Section 3 of the proposed bill was
correct.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON suggested that the sectional summary be
revised to avoid confusion.
9:29:17 AM
CHAIR DICK asked who designed the questionnaire. He expressed
concern that the questions could be changed in the future to
appear to endorse certain behaviors, rather than inquire or
identify as risky behavior.
MR. OBERMEYER, in response to Chair Dick, stated that the survey
was designed by the CDC and the exact same questions had to be
on each survey when given nationwide every two years, in order
to validate the results. He pointed out that a person or
legislature could contact the CDC with concerns for the
questions, and that CDC desired that every state be involved in
order to obtain knowledge regarding risky behavior nationwide.
He shared his observations that participation in the survey did
not induce thoughts about or endorse any specific behavior, as
students faced these matters daily. He declared the survey to
be an identification bank of information from nationwide
schools. He directed attention to the 2011 summary, titled
"Healthy Alaska," [Included in members' packets] which indicated
that smoking, drug use, and suicide were all prevalent, relevant
issues.
9:32:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked to clarify that these surveys
were necessary for other organizations, such as the American
Lung Association, to prove that their techniques were effective
and to obtain funding.
MR. OBERMEYER replied that the survey materials tracked the
increase and decline within each behavior specific area. He
noted that a "fairly high rate" for smoking continued, even as
the overall rate had decreased.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON, referring to the 2011 summary,
declared that smoking had decreased, though not as much in the
alternative schools which illustrated that those students were
at a greater risk. She pointed out that these surveys offered
information and assessments without any cost to the schools.
MR. OBERMEYER confirmed that alternative schools had higher
percentages for risky behaviors.
9:36:17 AM
CHAIR DICK asked how Alaska benefited from these surveys.
Offering his belief that many non-profit organizations needed
this data in order to obtain funding, he asked which non-profit
groups benefited from these surveys.
MR. OBERMEYER offered to provide a list of the non-profits which
benefited from this survey. He declared this to be an
informational issue for schools, in order to deal with high risk
behaviors. He pointed out that there was a zero fiscal note for
SB 8, and he acknowledged that private funding was raised to get
more participation in the survey. He expressed his belief that
the CDC process was not driven by nonprofit organizations
looking for increased funding. He declared that the only way to
deal with high risk student behaviors was "to know what they're
doing and this is probably the very best way that we've been
able to come up with."
9:38:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA observed that proposed SB 8 addressed the
issues for comparing Alaska to other states, with a focus on the
appropriate spending of public money. She offered her belief
that the worldwide philanthropic organizations donated huge
amounts of funding to Alaska based on data from surveys such as
YRBS.
MR. OBERMEYER pointed out that the survey results provided
extensive details, allowing Alaska the opportunity to review the
risk behaviors in other states. He clarified that the handout
was merely a thumbnail sketch for Alaska.
9:40:38 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON declared that the survey was most
helpful to Alaska and the legislature for determining where
efforts needed to be concentrated.
[CHAIR DICK opened public testimony.]
9:42:11 AM
EMILY NENON, Alaska Government Relations Director, American
Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, assured the committee that
the American Cancer Society encouraged the efforts of the
Division of Public Health in the schools. She explained that
the YRBS gathered necessary information in order to "measure the
effectiveness of all of the programs that we support," and for
recognition of the emerging issues. In the last decade,
although youth smoking had decreased by 50 percent, it was still
an issue to be addressed. She clarified that proposed SB 8
addressed a problem with logistics, as current law tied the
hands of the school districts for implementation of the survey
in a manner that worked best for each district. She reported
that, pre-1999, there was a vague definition to the means for
in-school surveys; whereas, in 1999, the law was more protective
for parent and student information. She clarified that these
protections and details were maintained and expanded in proposed
SB 8, but the logistical hurdle of implementation by school
districts was made easier. She declared support for proposed SB
8 in order to protect parental engagement, better serve youth,
and monitor the state investments.
9:45:35 AM
WARD HURLBURT, M.D., Chief Medical Officer/Director, Division of
Public Health, Central Office, Department of Health and Social
Services, corroborating the testimony of Mr. Obermeyer, declared
that the YRBS was important to the schools, school districts,
the Department of Health and Social Services, CDC, and the
Department of Education and Early Development. He shared that
experience indicated that 10 percent of parents would decline,
and an additional 20 percent of parents would not return the
survey, even after multiple attempts to contact them. He
pointed out that the survey required 60 percent participation
for statistical significance, and that the governor acknowledged
the importance of the survey. He reported that about 25 of the
106 survey questions were submitted by the state. He clarified
that questions could be changed over the years, and that some of
the questions were put in the context of presumption that youth
engaged in behavior that many other young people did not engage
in. He explained that the reason for the context of presumption
was to elicit honest response. He stated that the governor was
committed to strengthening Alaskan families, did not support
passive permission, and did not support SB 8, as he felt active
consent was necessary to engage parents with their children.
9:48:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA reflected that there had not been
testimony from the parents, and she opined that parent response
was critical to obtain data, as Alaska leads the nation in many
aspects of behavioral health risks.
MR. OBERMEYER pointed out that parental consent was requested
during student registration, and again prior to the
questionnaire.
9:51:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked about the value of the data
collected by the survey.
DR. HULBURT, in response to Representative Kawasaki, stated that
the data was quite valuable as it addressed many issues of youth
behavior that could present risks, and that the governor also
agreed with the value of the data.
REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI asked how the governor wanted to obtain
compliance in order to reach the necessary 60 percent of
participation.
DR. HULBURT agreed that the participation rates were greater
with passive consent; however, he opined that the governor
wanted to strengthen families in the state and preferred the
current method.
9:53:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked to clarify that the data was not
scientifically defensible if there was not 60 percent
participation. He asked if the Division of Public Health used
the data regardless.
DR. HULBURT explained that, in years when they had not achieved
60 percent participation, the data was informative but not
conclusive for statistical significance, and "a handicap to us
in obtaining grants for some of the important programs that we
believe can benefit Alaska's youth." He reported that, in 2011,
participation was almost 63 percent.
9:55:34 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA offered her belief that it was important
to know what was happening with the school districts.
9:56:22 AM
RYAN KAUFFMAN stated that he was representing himself on his own
time, and that he supported youth and the efforts to reduce
their risk behaviors and increase their success. He reminded
the committee that the survey was completely anonymous and
confidential, and that it was an evaluation tool which allowed
relevant and consistent services for risk behaviors experienced
by Alaskan students. In response to Chair Dick, he pointed out
that addressing high risk behaviors at a younger age was a
benefit to Alaska as it lowered the risk behaviors in the adult
population, thereby reducing fiscal costs and increasing the
quality of life for Alaskan residents. He offered his belief
that there was a fiscal benefit to passage of proposed SB 8, as
the data ensured that the increasing number of prevention
programs were effective. He described that his role with the
Sitka School District for coordinating the YRBS had required an
extraordinary effort to collect the minimum 60 percent by
necessitating active parental consent. He declared that it
required multiple mailings to parents, sending permission forms
home with students, and following up with door to door visits to
homes and work places. He pointed out that the current system
operated to accommodate the 10 percent of parents who actively
opted out of participation. He encouraged support of proposed
SB 8.
10:00:33 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FEIGE expressed his belief that 60 percent
participation seemed high for scientific validation, as a
typical sample was often for much lower participation. He asked
what standard deviation was scientifically valid and what sample
size was necessary.
10:01:28 AM
CHAIR DICK said that public testimony would remain open.
[SB 8 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 242 Supporting Document AASB.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB 242 Supporting Document CDL Leveling the Playing Field.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB 242 Version A.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB242 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |
| HB242-EED-ESS-2-17-12.pdf |
HEDC 2/20/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 242 |