Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/20/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB72 | |
| SB81 | |
| SB46 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 81 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 46 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
SB 72-SEC. SCHOOL CIVICS EDUCATION
3:32:14 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 72
"An Act relating to civics education, civics examinations, and
secondary school graduation requirements; and providing for an
effective date."
CHAIR HUGHES solicited a motion to adopt the proposed committee
substitute.
3:32:37 PM
SENATOR MYERS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 72, work order 32-LS0478\N, as the working document.
3:32:48 PM
CHAIR HUGHES objected for discussion purposes. She advised that
the changes in the proposed committee substitute reflect input
from the sponsor's office, committee members, and public
testimony from the last hearing.
3:33:18 PM
DAWSON MANN, Staff, Senator Shelley Hughes, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, read the explanation of changes
from version I to version N for SB 72. He clarified that version
I was reported from the Education Committee, and the committee
discussed version N during the previous hearing but it was not
adopted.
Sec. 1 AS 14.03 Page 1, Lines 4-14, Page 2, Lines 1-
13
This section is amended to indicate that the statewide
civics education curriculum and assessment is based on
the civics portion of U.S citizenship test, primary
source documents, and systems of governance used by
Alaska Natives.
This section is also amended to require a that a
student must receive a passing score of 60% on the
civics assessment to graduate and that receiving a
passing score will be indicated on the student's
transcript. This change also allows for students to
take the assessment as many times as needed to receive
a passing score.
Changes to this section also add a requirement that
districts must report student performance on the
civics assessment and curriculum to the department
along with an average of district test scores on the
assessment.
Sec. 2 AS 14.07.168 Page 2, Lines 14-29
This section is amended to remove the obligation of
the board to present in person before legislative
committees.
CHAIR HUGHES asked the sponsor's staff to comment on the
proposed committee substitute.
3:35:11 PM
TIM LAMKIN, Staff, Senator Stevens, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, stated a preference for version N characterizing
it as a marriage of the original bill and the version that was
reported from the Senate Education Committee. He reported that
the sponsor found the changes agreeable.
CHAIR HUGHES asked for confirmation that one of the changes was
that school districts must provide information about student
performance to the department. She asked if the department would
include that information in a report to the legislature.
3:35:59 PM
MR. LAMKIN answered that is correct.
CHAIR HUGHES stated support for the sponsor's idea to allow
students to retake the test as many times as needed because the
goal is to have the student graduate with this knowledge. She
encouraged the committee and the listening public to go online
and take the test. She characterized it as a basic foundation
for citizenship that will help equip students.
She said one of the great aspects of the citizenship exam is
that it draws from the source documents such as the U.S.
Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, among others.
She noted that Senator Myers wanted to make sure the students'
test referenced those documents. Acknowledging that she was
excited about the bill, she noted that Commissioner Johnson gave
very moving testimony about how important civics education was
at this juncture in the country's history. She highlighted that
the bill is written to allow districts to craft their curriculum
although all students would be required to take the test. The
Alaska Native component is also included.
3:38:21 PM
SENATOR WILSON asked if the bill had a finance referral.
MR. LAMKIN answered that it will go to the finance committee
because of the fiscal note associated with the development of
curriculum and an assessment.
CHAIR HUGHES offered her understanding that the finance referral
was added after the Education Committee added that provision.
3:39:07 PM
CHAIR HUGHES removed her objection. Finding no further
objection, the CS for SB 72, version N, was adopted. Finding no
questions or comments, she solicited the will of the committee.
3:39:15 PM
SENATOR MYERS moved to report the CS for SB 72, work order 32-
LS0478\N, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
3:39:31 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced that without objection, CSSB 72(CRA)
moved from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee.