Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/29/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR17 | |
| SB24 | |
| HB382 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SJR 17 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 382 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 24-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
8:37:42 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business
would be CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 24(FIN), "An Act relating to
mental health education; and providing for an effective date."
8:38:14 AM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSSB 24(FIN). She read from the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet] which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
CSSB 24 amends the existing health education
curriculum statute to include mental health in all K-
12 health classrooms to adequately educate students on
vital information pertaining to mental health
symptoms, resources, and treatment.
The Alaska State Board of Education and Early
Development and the Alaska Department of Education and
Early Development (DEED) will develop guidelines for
instruction in mental health in consultation with
numerous stakeholders. Such organizations include, but
are not limited to, the National Council for
Behavioral Health, Providence Health and Services
Alaska, Southcentral Foundation, Anchorage Community
Mental Health Services, Inc., North Star Behavioral
Health System, and the National Alliance on Mental
Health Illness Alaska. The standards will be developed
in consultation with counselors, educators, students,
administrators, and other mental health organizations
to form effective guidelines for school boards,
teachers, and students.
After standards have been developed, the Alaska State
Board of Education and Early Development and DEED will
be responsible for implementation throughout the
Alaska school system. As with existing health
education curriculum, the DEED, the Department of
Health, and the Council on Domestic Violence and
Sexual Assault will provide technical assistance to
school districts in the development of personal safety
curricula. An existing school health education
specialist position will assist in coordinating the
program statewide.
CSSB 24 aims to decrease the stigma surrounding mental
illnesses and increase students' knowledge of mental
health, encouraging conversation around and
understanding of the issue.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON related that she had had conversations with
students who spoke of losing friends and being "desperate" to
have mental health education in their school.
8:41:29 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE welcomed invited testifiers.
8:42:30 AM
VIOLA TAYLOR, Board Member, National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI), gave invited testimony in support of SB 24 and provided
her background. She said she lived her life in the mental
health system since she was 19. Looking back, she said, she
remembered her mental health struggles and she wished she had
recognized them earlier. She added that she is doing better
now, and she works with her peers and clients but stated that
she missed many milestones due to her disability. She asked the
committee to support what she referred to as a very important
piece of legislation to support mental health for public schools
and to help kids with mental issues.
8:46:26 AM
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental
Illness, gave invited testimony in support of SB 24. She stated
that mental health affects every aspect of people's lives and is
a special part of overall health. She gave examples of youths
in the U.S. who experience mental health struggles. Knowing how
to talk about mental health issues at age-appropriate levels
with students is of utmost importance, and youths need to be
guided through the formative years, she said. Open discussions
about mental health so students are not afraid to come forward
if they are struggling and having statewide guidelines available
to address the challenges are also important goals. She spoke
on behalf of NAMI standing ready to assist in the statewide
effort to end the stigma of mental illness by working with the
stakeholders over the next two years to create developmentally
appropriate mental health guidelines for public schools to help
support youths in their formative years. She thanked the
committee for consideration of the legislation.
8:49:57 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked Ms. Ringstad about the proposed
direction and whether it is trying to develop curricula as part
of classwork, trying to inform teachers of the signs, or both.
MS. RINGSTAD said the bill would establish the overall
guidelines so that the best curricula could be developed in the
different schools to address the issues. In response to a
follow-up question, she said it would be a two-year process, and
there would be a number of meetings with stakeholders to examine
the guidelines. After the two-year process, the issue would
come back to the legislature for review, she stated.
8:52:28 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE invited questions and comments from committee
members.
8:52:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE STORY expressed curiosity about the two-year
[timeline] versus one-year.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON replied that she could not answer the
question at this time.
8:53:42 AM
BESSE ODOM, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, answered questions during the hearing on CSSB 24 on
behalf of Senator Gray-Jackson, prime sponsor. She explained
that two years as a timeline was so that stakeholders had ample
time to discuss the guidelines, and it was also a recommendation
from DEED.
8:54:13 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE asked for examples how the proposed bill
could mesh with all the other things that schools are required
to teach or accomplish.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON pointed out that CSSB 24(FIN) contained the
word "encourage" and that she was hopeful that school districts
will be encouraged to do right on behalf of the children of
Alaska.
MS. ODOM added that some concerns from local districts were that
there would be another mandate or requirement for schools that
are already stretched thin, and she stressed that the bill is an
encouragement, not a mandate. It would give schools local
control of whether or not they have the capacity to implement
the mental health curriculum into their schools, she explained.
The curriculum would be taught by health teachers, or "regular"
teachers, and would add on to already existing materials in
regard to health classes, she said.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE asked for examples of other places where the
curriculum has been implemented.
MS. ODOM stated there are examples across the U.S. and she drew
attention to a significant example in Washington. She said she
could distribute the information to the committee at a later
date.
8:57:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX noted that he would appreciate hearing from
DEED and that it would be helpful to have them join in person.
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE pointed out that representatives from the
department are online.
8:58:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK conveyed that the bill should be moved
and to not "drag our feet." He opined that the mental health
crisis is something the committee should deal with expediently.
8:59:14 AM
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced an amendment deadline and that CSSB
24(FIN) was held over.