Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
03/10/2021 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB80 | |
| SB72 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 72 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 80-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
9:02:09 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 80
"An Act relating to mental health education."
9:02:39 AM
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of SB 80, read the sponsor statement:
SB 80 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.
Currently, the health curriculum guidelines include
prevention and treatment of diseases; learning about
"good" health practices including diet, exercise, and
personal hygiene; and "bad" health habits such as
substance abuse, alcoholism, and patterns of physical
abuse. But the guidelines do not address mental
health.
Following passage of SB80, 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 the Alaska Department of
Health and Social Services (DHSS) and representatives
of national, state, and tribal mental health
organizations. 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 DHSS, 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.
The State has a responsibility to treat the current
mental health crisis in Alaska as a serious public
health issue. By creating mental health education
standards and encouraging schools to teach a mental
health curriculum, SB80 aims to decrease the stigma
surrounding mental illnesses and increase students'
knowledge of mental health, encouraging conversation
around and understanding of the issue.
9:05:22 AM
DELANEY THIELE, Intern, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Juneau,
Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for SB 80:
Section 1: This section adds intent language stating it is
the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Education
and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in
mental health in consultation with representatives of
mental health organizations and regional tribal health
organizations, including 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.
Section 2: This section amends AS 14.30.360 by removing the
word "physical" when referencing instruction for health
education and adding "mental health" to the list of
curriculum items each district includes in their health
education programs.
Section 3: Amends AS 14.30.360 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 of Health and Social Services and
representatives of national and state mental health
organizations.
Section 4: Amends the uncodified law of the State of Alaska
by adding a new section to read "the state Board of
Education and Early Development shall develop the mental
health guidelines required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended
by sec. 3 of this Act, within two years after the effective
date of this Act."
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON presented a video about the issues of
mental health for young people in Alaska.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON advised that the companion bill to SB 80 is
HB 60, sponsored by Representative Claman.
9:11:44 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND commented that COVID-19 has not improved the
situation, and some schools are back to in-person learning
because of the high incidence of depression among students.
SENATOR STEVENS shared that on the news last night he saw a
fascinating story about suicide. He said people don't talk about
suicide because they are afraid it may increase the likelihood
of suicide, but that is not true. He said he assumes that this
program will talk about childhood suicide because it is becoming
more and more of a problem because of COVID. He hopes that will
be addressed in this program.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON confirmed that suicide will be talked
about. She noted that her office has a letter of support from an
organization that deals with suicide prevention.
9:13:57 AM
SENATOR HUGHES referenced Section 2, and said it sounds like
districts are not mandated to have health classes. They are
simply encouraged to initiate and conduct such a program. She
asked if all districts are conducting some sort of health
program and if any are already weaving this type of material
into their programs.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON answered that mental health education is
not being addressed, and that is the reason for bringing the
bill forward. She said she would follow up with a response to
the first question.
SENATOR HUGHES said that she agreed with Senator Stevens that it
is in an important discussion, but she would be concerned about
the curriculum for younger kids. She would want to know what
that curriculum might look like. She asked Senator Gray-Jackson
if she had any examples of what other states have done.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON responded that she would get that
information.
9:15:26 AM
SENATOR BEGICH noted that he is one of the legislative
representatives on the Suicide Prevention Council as. He shared
that during the meeting last month he learned that rates of the
flu and other communicable diseases have gone down during the
pandemic but not rates of suicide in young people, so this
legislation is timely. He has seen that the curriculum for
suicide prevention generally focuses on developmental assets in
early ages. It is more a positive curriculum rather than one
talking about suicide. Then it shifts as students get older. As
in when the legislature dealt with the teen dating issue, the
Bree Moore case, the whole nature of the curriculum must be
designed to meet the developmental needs of the students. That
is why the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
is involved in curriculum development, so that it is
developmentally appropriate. That is what he would hope DEED
would do, using the best material from other states.
CHAIR HOLLAND moved to invited testimony.
9:17:13 AM
SHIRLEY HOLLOWAY, Ph.D., President, National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI) National Board, Vice President, NAMI Alaska,
Anchorage, Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska, said that she is a former
commissioner of the Department of Education and Early
Development. She found NAMI after she lost her daughter, who
lived with mental illness, to suicide. NAMI is the largest
grassroots mental health organization in the nation. NAMI helps
families build better lives. Its signature programs are
evidence-based. She thanked Senator Gray-Jackson for sponsoring
SB 80. Education, early recognition, and intervention and
prevention are key to minimizing mental health issues that are
common in youth and adolescents and hopefully in eradicating the
long-term disabilities caused by mental illness. It is so vital
that Alaska's education system create a comprehensive mental
health curriculum. Proper mental health is crucial to overall
well-being, which is why mental health should be incorporated
into existing health education curriculum, programs, and
courses. Incorporating mental health education and addressing
the myths that surround mental illness creates a broader
understanding of psychiatric diseases, which will decrease
stigma for those living with mental illness. Disseminating
accurate information to schools and communities will increase
the likelihood that children and teens struggling with symptoms
are not viewed negatively by their peers. If that can be done,
it increases the odds that youth will accept treatment, and lead
to improved outcomes generated by early intervention.
9:20:24 AM
DR. HOLLOWAY said that she applauded the young people speaking
on the video. Fifty percent of mental illness develop by age 14;
75 percent by age 24. Seventy to 80 percent of children living
with mental illness do not receive treatment. This leads to
decreased performance in schools. Twenty-two million adolescents
aged 12-17 have experienced a major depressive episode, and the
estimate is that 60 percent did not receive any help or
treatment. The dropout rate for children with severe emotional
and mental health issues was twice that of other students.
According to the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in three
Alaskan students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every
day for two weeks in the past year and 22.8 percent have
seriously considered suicide. This was all pre-pandemic. This
last year, with the isolation and associated issues,
significantly more children were seen in emergency rooms with
mental health issues. The Centers for Disease Control reports
that beginning in April 2020 that the rates of children's mental
health emergency room visits increased and remained elevated
through October.
DR. HOLLOWAY said that strengthening Alaska's existing public
health curriculum to include mental health education and
awareness will teach students to recognize the warning signs of
mental distress and provide them with the language and resources
to connect to help. This legislation expands existing health
education requirements to include mental health in all K-12
health classroom. She thanked the committee for considering the
importance of this legislation. In these challenging times it is
more important than ever to take action to address mental health
and to provide guidance and hope to all impacted by mental
health issues. There is no physical health without mental
health.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if she had any reflection on whether
discussing suicide with a child might be dangerous because it
could plant the idea in their mind. He noted that Senator Hughes
asked at what age the conversation would be appropriate.
9:23:39 AM
DR. HOLLOWAY replied that she learned so much from the NAMI
National chief medical officer. He made it clear that the
evidence shows that not talking about it is dangerous. It needs
to be brought out of the dark and into the open. As Senator
Begich said, the curriculum is developmentally appropriate. The
ones she has seen start in kindergarten and it is about
feelings. Later suicide ideation starts to be broached. It must
be carefully developed and developmentally appropriate. It could
begin in middle school. It has to begin early but has to be
appropriate. There is lots of good material that she could
provide.
SENATOR HUGHES said that she would like to hear from school
districts. She just read [Anchorage School District
Superintendent] Dr. Bishop's letter and is wondering if
districts are already planning to incorporate something. Nothing
prohibits that. She asked if the committee could see any
curriculum that districts have adopted.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON said she will look into that and speak with
Dr. Bishop.
9:27:11 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND thanked Senator Gray-Jackson for bringing this
important topic up.
He held SB 80 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 80 NAMI Alaska letter of support.jpeg |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB80 Sponsor Statment.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 2/8/2022 1:00:00 PM SFIN 3/14/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB80 Suppoting Documents.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB80 Written Testimonies.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| Sectional Anaylsis FOR SB80.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB 72 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Sectional_version A.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Research_RAND_Focus-on-Civic-Ed_08Dec2020.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Research_Links-to-Resources.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Research_128-Test-Questions.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| SB072_Civics_Research_WSJ_02March2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM SFIN 2/1/2022 1:00:00 PM |
SB 72 |
| SB80 Letter of Support.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 80 |
| SB072_Civics_Sponsor-Statement_10Feb2021.pdf |
SEDC 3/10/2021 9:00:00 AM |
SB 72 |