02/15/2024 01:30 PM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to mental health education; and                                                                           
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:49:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson relayed that the  committee first heard SB 24                                                                    
on February 7,  and had taken public testimony.  There was a                                                                    
Committee Substitute (CS) to consider.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl  MOVED to ADOPT proposed  committee substitute                                                                    
for SB 24, Work Draft 33-LS0232\S (Marx/Bergerud, 2/14/24).                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OBJECTED for discussion.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:50:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEN ALPER, STAFF  TO SENATOR OLSON, commented  that the only                                                                    
change  in the  CS  was  to the  effective  date, which  was                                                                    
modified from July  1, 2023, to July 1, 2024.  He noted that                                                                    
there  was  a  forthcoming  change to  the  fiscal  note  to                                                                    
reflect  the modified  effective date,  and also  to clarify                                                                    
that  the  funding  source  for   the  costs  in  curriculum                                                                    
development would be general  fund-mental health rather than                                                                    
unrestricted general funds. He  anticipated that the updated                                                                    
fiscal note would be available in approximately one hour.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson  WITHDREW  his  objection.  There  being  NO                                                                    
further OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:51:42 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, SPONSOR,  expressed thanks to the                                                                    
committee. She was pleased at  receiving a letter of support                                                                    
from             the            Anchorage             School                                                                    
District board  members and superintendent. She  mentioned a                                                                    
group  of students  from Sitka,  who  had offered  testimony                                                                    
related to mental health in the Senate Education Committee.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Olson mentioned  the Golovin  School District  and                                                                    
agreed  that  there  needed to  be  additional  support  for                                                                    
mental health.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:53:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BESSE  ODOM, STAFF  TO SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON,  did not  have                                                                    
additional comments to offer.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson asked if Ms. Odom was in favor of the bill.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Odom emphasized her support for the bill.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Senator Kiehl MOVED to report  CSSB 24(FIN) out of Committee                                                                    
with individual  recommendations and the  forthcoming fiscal                                                                    
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CSSB 24(FIN)  was REPORTED  out of  committee with  four "do                                                                    
pass"  recommendations  and   with  one  forthcoming  fiscal                                                                    
impact  note  from the  Department  of  Education and  Early                                                                    
Development.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:54:46 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:56:09 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson discussed the agenda for the next meeting.