Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
04/02/2015 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB37 | |
| SB89 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 37 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 79 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 80 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 89-PARENT RIGHTS: EDUCATION; SCHOOL ABSENCE
4:42:36 PM
VICE-CHAIR HUGGINS announced the consideration of SB 89.
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt the CS for SB 89, labeled 29-
LS0735/P, as the working document.
VICE CHAIR HUGGINS objected for discussion.
4:43:16 PM
BETHANY MARKUM, Staff, Senator Mike Dunleavy, Alaska State
Legislature, presented SB 89 on behalf of the sponsor. She read
from the sponsor statement:
The purpose of SB 89 Parental Rights in Education, is
to codify in state statute the inherent rights of
parents to direct the upbringing and education of
their children. As parents are the ultimate authority
regarding their children, this bill requires local
school boards to adopt policies which promote the
involvement of parents.
A child's parents (be they biological or not) are, in
most cases, best suited to understand what is in their
child's best interest. It may seem unnecessary that
this would need to be re-stated in law. However, too
often we see parents pitted against government in
decisions regarding children's education and
upbringing. I am thus sponsoring this bill to re-
balance that relationship. I feel it essential to
ensure that our educational system acknowledges the
essential rights of parents, and that schools adopt
policies to encourage parental involvement.
These policies must accommodate the following:
Parents will be given the chance to review content of
any activity, class, performance standard, program, or
standards-based assessment or test required by the
department.
Parents can object to and withdraw children from any
standards-based assessment or test required by the
department, and the absence cannot be counted as
unlawful.
If parents have a concern about any activity, class,
performance standard, or program that covers human
reproduction or sexual matters, or which inquiries
into personal or private family affairs, they can
object and keep their child out of that particular
activity, and the absence cannot be counted as
unlawful.
Parents will be allowed to withdraw children for
religious holidays, and the absence cannot be counted
as unlawful.
Parents must provide written permission before
children may attend each human reproduction or sex
education instruction or presentation.
Existing law requires parents to provide written
permission before students take part in certain
questionnaires and surveys administered by schools.
This bill extends that requirement to all
questionnaires and surveys administered by schools.
As the stewards of their children, parents must be
guaranteed the right to make the decisions they feel
are best for their children's education. I request
your support for SB 89.
She described changes in the bill found in Section 1:
Modifies language to use existing statute language for
"tests and assessments".
Removes references to Health education.
Adds language to allow objection and withdrawal due to
concern regarding "inquiries into personal and private
family matters".
Adds language to clarify the timeframe within which
permission must be obtained.
Adds language to require separate permission or
objection for each event.
4:46:42 PM
VICE CHAIR HUGGINS noted parents have rights and legislators
need to be sensitive to that. He shared a personal story about
taking his own kids out of school for Veterans Day events.
MS. MARKUM said the sponsor has strong feelings about the bill
and parents' rights, as does she.
VICE CHAIR HUGGINS shared his support for the bill.
MS. MARKUM thought parents should be reminded of their rights.
4:50:07 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL shared a personal story about parents attending
classes with their children as an important strategy.
SENATOR GARDNER recalled the testimony on child abuse and who
the children talked to about it. She questioned how teachers and
parents can gather vital information about abuse without being
able to get that information anonymously. She questioned the
need to get permission every time.
MS. MARKUM said it is a concern, but parents should make the
choice of who best to reveal that information to. She did not
think the data would be invalidated by parents who chose not to
participate.
VICE CHAIR HUGGINS shared a story of people not wanting to get
involved with abuse. He spoke of the duty to not rat on peers.
4:54:40 PM
At ease
4:54:59 PM
VICE CHAIR HUGGINS withdrew his objection to adopting version P.
There being no further objection, version P was adopted.
SCOTT MACMANNUS, Assistant Superintendent, Gateway School
District, testified against the requirement in SB 89 to get
permission from parents, in terms of time and money. Parents are
always allowed to participate in the content of the curriculum
and can exclude their children if they wish. He suggested there
needs to be a balance struck.
[VICE CHAIR HUGGINS held SB 89 in committee.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 1. SB 37 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 2. SB 37 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 3. CS for SB 37 - Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 4. CS for SB 37 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 5. CS for SB 37 - Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 10. CS for SB 37 - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 7. CS for SB 37 - David Holthouse Article.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 8. CS for SB 37 - Cindy Moore Teen Dating Violence Letter.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 12. CS for SB 37 - Nebraska Lindsay Ann Burke Act.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| 13. CS for SB 37 - ANDVSA Letter of Support.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 37 |
| SB 89 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| CS for SB 89 Legislation.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| CS for SB 89 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| CS for SB 89 Explanation of Changes.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| SB 89 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |
| SB 89 Emails of Support.pdf |
SEDC 4/2/2015 3:30:00 PM SEDC 4/9/2015 3:30:00 PM |
SB 89 |