Legislature(2023 - 2024)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
02/22/2023 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB29 | |
| SB24 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 24 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 24-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
4:02:52 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 24 "An Act relating to mental
health education; and providing for an effective date."
4:03:02 PM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, District G, sponsor of SB 24, said
the bill is the same as Senate Bill 80 that she sponsored last
session. She introduced SB 24 as follows:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 24 amends the existing health education curriculum
statute to include mental health curriculum 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.
SB 24 aims to decrease the stigma surrounding mental
illnesses and increase students' knowledge of mental
health, encouraging conversation around and
understanding of the issue.
4:05:27 PM
BESSE ODOM, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 24 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 14.30.360(a) 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 3: This section amends AS 14.30.360(b) by
clarifying that health guidelines developed by the
Board of Education and Early Development must provide
standards for instruction in mental health and be
developed in consultation with the Department and
other entities.
Section 4: 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 should
include a copy of developmentally appropriate
instruction and describe the process used to develop
such guidelines.
Section 5: 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 day of this Act.
Section 6: This section sets an effective date of July
1, 2023
4:07:29 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS announced invited testimony for SB 24.
4:07:55 PM
ANN RINGSTAD, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, provided a brief
overview of the history and purpose of NAMI in Alaska. She said
SB 24 mends existing health education curriculum statutes to
include mental curriculum in public K-12 schools. It adequately
educates students on vital information about mental health
symptoms, resources, and treatment. One in six youth aged 6 - 17
in the US will experience a mental health condition, and half of
all mental health conditions begin by age 14. One in three
adults aged 18 - 25 will experience a mental health challenge.
Education, early intervention, and working on prevention are
keys to minimizing common mental health issues and hopefully
irradicating the long-term disabilities caused by mental
illness. Mental health and physical health are coupled.
4:09:41 PM
MS. RINGSTAD said that SB 24 aims to decrease the stigma of
mental illness by establishing and encouraging schools to follow
guidelines that will increase students' knowledge of mental
health by encouraging conversation and understanding. Decreasing
stigma leads to early intervention and improved outcomes. NAMI
appreciates the reports commissioned by numerous organizations
addressing mental health support in schools throughout Alaska.
All school districts in Alaska face barriers to delivering
mental health supports, such as:
• Alignment
• Availability
• Access
• Resources
• External Influences
MS. RINGSTAD said districts use various internal and external
approaches to address student mental health. However, the
variability between them makes identifying overarching
commonalities and themes difficult. Strengthening existing
public school health guidelines in consultation with
stakeholders and others listed in the legislation will guide
school districts to educate students in recognizing warning
signs of mental distress and provide them with the language and
resources to locate help.
4:12:16 PM
JASON LESSARD, Advisor, Mental Health Advocacy Through
Storytelling (MHATS), Anchorage, Alaska, said he has been an
adult advisor for MHATS, a youth-developed and youth-led
storytelling program, for five year. The program teaches kids to
talk about their personal health journey. He also serves on the
Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) governing body as a patient
advocate and chair of the ethics committee.
4:13:15 PM
MR. LESSARD said he would like to see SB 24 pass because there
is a mental health crisis among. Fifty percent of all lifelong
mental illnesses begin by age 14 and 75 percent by age 24. The
onset of mental illness essentially happens in the teenage
brain. Curricula must be changed to promote early intervention,
so students understand mental illness and mental wellness, have
the language to talk about it safely, and understand how and
where to find resources for themselves and others. Nine out of
ten calls to the mental health line are resolved and do not need
further action. Getting information into the hands of youth is
important because youth share information with each other. It is
also essential that conversations happen in a healthy way. Some
school districts have unwittingly sought the use of outdated
mental health curriculums that have adverse effects. The goal of
SB 24 is to establish guidelines to help school districts
establish curriculums. SB 24 is not a mandate.
4:17:32 PM
VICE CHAIR STEVENS held SB 24 in committee.