Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
04/11/2024 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB24 | |
| HB366 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 366 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 24-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
5:41:03 PM
CHAIR PRAX announced that the first 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."
5:41:47 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented CSSB 24(FIN). She paraphrased 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.
5:44:47 PM
BESSE ODOM, Staff, Senator Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Senator Gray-Jackson, prime sponsor,
gave the sectional analysis for CSSB 24(FIN) [included in the
committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Section 1: The uncodified law of the State of Alaska
is amended by adding a new section to read Legislative
Intent. This section specifies what entities will
develop guidelines for instruction in mental health.
Section 2: This section amends AS 14.03.016(a) which
is the statute that relates to a parent's right to
direct the education of the [sic] their child, by
adding a new subsection that would allow parents to be
notified at least two weeks before any class or
program regarding mental health is offered.
Section 3: This section amends AS 14.30.360(a) which
addresses health education curriculum and physical
activity guidelines by removing the word "physical"
when referencing instruction for health education and
adding "mental health" and "physical health" to the
list of curriculum items each district includes in
their health education programs.
Section 4: This section amends AS 14.30.360(b) which
addresses health education curriculum and physical
activity guidelines. The section clarifies that
developmentally appropriate instruction in mental
health be developed by the state board in consult with
the Department of Health, Department of Family and
Community Services and other entities. The section
also list the Department of Family and Community
Services as one of many entities that shall provide
technical assistance to school districts in the
development of personal safety curricula upon request.
Section 5: The uncodified law of the State of Alaska
is amended by adding a new section to read Report to
the Legislature. This section clarifies that a report
must be given to the Senate Secretary and Chief Clerk
of the House of Representatives. This report must
include a copy of developmentally appropriate
instruction in mental health developed by the State
Board of Education and Early Development and describe
the process used to develop such guidelines.
Section 6: The uncodified law of the State of Alaska
is amended by adding a new section to read Transition.
Specifically, the section requires that the state
Board of Education and Early Development shall develop
the mental health guidelines within two years after
the effective date of this Act.
Section 7: This section sets an effective date of July
1, 2024
5:47:46 PM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX opened public testimony on CSSB 24(FIN).
5:48:24 PM
STEVEN PEARCE, Director, Citizen's Commission on Human Rights
(CCHR), testified in opposition to CSSB 24(FIN). He said that
schools must not exclusively push psychiatric options on parents
and youth and there must be a comparison done between physical
education in schools and the "message of mental health being
taught in schools." He shared his opinion that schools are
currently teaching subjects in a manner that is "known to cause
an emotional situation that can mimic a psychiatric disorder."
He said CCHR has provided a list of amendments to the committee
that explain ways to improve CSSB 24(FIN) and bills similar to
it and urged the legislature to adopt those suggested
amendments.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Pearce if he had any experience
or knowledge of similar curriculum in other states being applied
and its effects in those states.
MR. PEARCE answered that schools in Washington and Montana are
teaching mental health in a manner that is inconsistent with the
recommendations listed on the website of the National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI), which is causing issues for students
in those states.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER remarked that there is similar curriculum
being taught in Washington and Montana that acknowledges a
chemical imbalance as a valid qualifier for mental health.
MR. PEARCE posited that the current form of mental health
education is "simply indoctrination to what the psychiatrists
want you to know" and cited a website called
"alternativementalhealth.com" as a valid alternative to current
mental health education.
5:55:29 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked how many members were in Mr. Pearce's
organization.
MR. PEARCE said he had dozens of members locally and a handful
of members in Alaska, Washington, and Montana. He said that his
organization was based out of Los Angeles.
5:56:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Pearce to clarify on whose
behalf he was testifying.
MR. PEARCE clarified that he was speaking on behalf of CCHR.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked whether there were any mental health
professionals that were members of CCHR.
MR. PEARCE answered that CCHR has a board of directors that
advises CCHR that is compromised of "knowers of alternative
psychiatric care."
5:58:10 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SUMNER asked Representative Saddler to clarify
his previous question to Mr. Pearce.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said that his previous question was based
off of a misconception.
5:58:51 PM
NAN VOORHEES* representing self* Anchorage, Alaska* Testified in
support of CSSB 24(FIN). { testified in support of CSSB 24(FIN).
She said that the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
estimated that one in six children between the ages of two and
eight have some sort of mental health condition and added that
up to 70 percent of children do not receive the help they need
growing up. She shared her understanding that public schools
are a big part of the solution in combatting mental health
issues in Alaska and added that 16 other U.S. states in the
union currently require some form of mandated mental health
education in their K-8 curriculum.
6:02:48 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked a clarifying question related to
her testimony about how the word "suicide" was initially heard
and taught to a child in 1st grade.
MS. VOORHEES, in response to Representative Saddler, explained
that the child had heard the word "suicide" on the playground.
She gave clarification to her comments related to the statistic
that 70 percent of youth struggling with mental health do not
receive the help they need and gave further clarification as to
the statistics she gave related to the percentage of youth
currently struggling with mental health.
6:04:51 PM
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental
Illness - Alaska, testified in support of CSSB 24(FIN). She
stressed the importance of having a safe place for a child to
speak about their mental health and [speaking to children about]
mental health at an age appropriate level. She said that
strengthening guidelines will help to guide Alaska's youth
throughout their early years. She highlighted that CSSB 24(FIN)
aims to decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness and
increase students' knowledge surrounding mental health.
6:08:02 PM
CHAIR PRAX asked whether NAMI has any sample curricula that are
currently in place in other states.
MS. RINGSTAD said that NAMI is talking about guidelines for
curricula. She further explained the need for the guidelines in
Alaska and added that NAMI is aware that guidelines have not
been changed in 20 years in Alaska and said that the Alaska
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) and local
school boards would have to be involved in development of
curricula.
6:09:29 PM
CHAIR PRAX, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished
to testify, closed public testimony on CSSB 24(FIN).
6:09:45 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said that her preference would be to make a
motion to move the bill out of the House Health and Social
Services Standing Committee today.
6:10:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked what the term "mental health
education" encompasses.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON deferred her answer to Bessie Odom.
6:10:58 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 6:11 p.m. to 6:12 p.m.
6:12:54 PM
MS. ODOM said that she would get the answer to the committee as
soon as possible.
6:13:17 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked how many hours a week students
would receive mental health education under the guidelines
proposed under CSSB 24(FIN).
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON deferred her answer to Ms. Ringstad.
6:13:53 PM
MS. RINGSTAD shared her anecdotal experience that the education
would take place during half a quarter per school year and it
would depend on each schools district's guidelines.
6:14:41 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS offered his understanding that CSSB
24(FIN) would give a fairly small time commitment to educators.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted organizations listed in the bill
and asked if or when parents would be consulted in developing
guidelines for mental health education.
6:15:38 PM
MS. ODOM answered that parents have the right to be involved
from the start and said that parents would be able to contribute
to the guidelines moving forward.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked the bill sponsor if she would be
amenable to specific amendments related to parental rights.
6:17:22 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON confirmed that she would be okay with that.
6:17:49 PM
CHAIR PRAX noted that three of the seven members of the House
Health and Social Services Standing Committee serve on the House
Education Standing Committee where the bill would be heard next.
6:18:05 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS said he would be amenable to leave it to
the House Education Standing Committee.
6:18:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA said she would like to see CSSB 24(FIN) move
forward to the House Education Standing Committee.
6:18:28 PM
The committee took an at-ease from 6:18 p.m. to 6:19 p.m.
6:19:03 PM
CHAIR PRAX set an amendment deadline for CSSB 24(FIN) to Monday,
April 15, 2024.
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX announced that CSSB 24(FIN) was held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 24 A Surprising Remedy.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 CS SFin Summary of Changes.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Healt.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Mental Health in Schools.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Opposition Combinable.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Surgeon-General.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 version S.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Youth Mental Health Alaska Survey.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 2.19.24.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 ASD BP 5041.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 ASD Support.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 CCHR Testimony.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Chism Support.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |
| SB 24 Voorhees Support Redacted.pdf |
HHSS 4/11/2024 3:00:00 PM |
SB 24 |