Legislature(2015 - 2016)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/07/2016 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB180 | |
| SB141 | |
| SB174 | |
| SB103 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 141 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 103 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 180 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 103-RESIDENTIAL PSYCHIATRIC EDUCATION FUNDING
2:38:33 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration of SSSB 103.
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of SB
103 explained that the bill relates to the education of students
in residential psychiatric treatment centers (RPTCs). She shared
a story about a time she participated in a ride along with the
Anchorage Police Department and came upon a young man in foster
care who needed to be admitted to the NorthStar psychiatric
treatment center. She did not know how long he was in treatment,
but voiced concern about the time he would miss school and the
stress kids experience when they miss school and fall behind.
2:40:30 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that the purpose of the bill is to
require local school districts to partner with RPTCs to provide
on-going education for students. Currently, many districts
partner well with RPTCs, such as Fairbanks, however, other areas
are lacking. The bill establishes a three-year pilot program
that would require collaboration between the district and the
treatment center.
Senator Giessel referred to a letter of opposition in members'
packets from the Anchorage School District. She explained that
Senator Gardner had attempted to contact the district to get her
questions answered, to no avail. However, shortly after, Senator
Gardner received the information she requested.
2:42:11 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE said she liked the bill. She asked whether
foundation formula dollars would follow the student to the
psychiatric center's program.
KARI NORE, Staff Senator Cathy Giessel, Alaska State
Legislature, explained that version I provides that the RPTCs
will contract with individual school districts to work out how
the funding would be formulated. She referred to a copy of
NorthStar's contract with the Anchorage School District, which
was rejected, to show how a contract might look.
MS. NORE said the program would also allow the RPTCs to contract
with more than one school district to ensure that the program
continually matched up with the neighborhood school.
2:43:57 PM
CHAIR MCGUIRE expressed hope that the final report shows that
RPTCs are adequately compensation for what they provided.
MS. NORE deferred to Evelyn Alsup for more information on that
topic.
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked why the contract is for three years and why
it is a pilot program.
SENATOR GIESSEL replied that was part of a negotiation between
the school districts and the treatment centers. The idea is that
the pilot program will demonstrate success.
CHAIR MCGUIRE noted that she is leery of pilot programs and
suggested monitoring it annually.
2:46:17 PM
SENATOR COGHILL voiced appreciation for the bill. He noted that
Fairbanks' RPTC has worked collaboratively with their school
district.
SENATOR GIESSEL said Anchorage has not seen that level of
success. She said there is a need to ensure uniformity in the
state.
SENATOR COGHILL noted the importance of a student's continuous
education.
2:47:29 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE thought that if a student were to be in
treatment for only a couple of weeks, it would not be very
expensive for the school district.
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that the contract would address only the
time a student is in residential treatment.
CHAIR MCGUIRE appreciated the need to continue the connection to
the neighborhood school in light of the high rate of mental
health issues.
2:49:27 PM
MIKE LYONS, Vice President, Specialty Education, Universal
Health Services and NorthStar Behavioral Health, testified in
support of SB 103. He opined that SB 103 will dramatically
improve the educational and treatment services delivered to
children residing in residential psychiatric treatment centers
(RPTCs). He said RPTCs save lives.
He reported that Universal Health Services has attempted to
improve the educational service delivery system across Alaska
without much progress for the past six years. Last year the
House Education Committee appointed a subcommittee to study how
educational services were being delivered at RPTCs across Alaska
and how RPTCs and school districts could work more
collaboratively. He said some progress has been made between the
Anchorage School District and NorthStar, but there were many
failures and more work needs to be done. He said SB 103 would
allow a more seamless, transparent model between the two
entities.
2:54:07 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if the employees are from the school
districts or from NorthStar.
MR. LYONS replied under the proposed model, teachers would work
for NorthStar and be required to hold Alaska licenses.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked if they would be entitled to the same
benefits as district employees.
MR. LYONS explained that employees who work for facilities would
receive a compensation package through the facility.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI inquired if NorthStar is for-profit or non-
profit.
MR. LYONS said NorthStar is a for-profit organization.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI inquired if any other for-profit
organizations receive funding to educate children in Anchorage
or in Alaska.
MR. LYONS said he didn't know of any others. He pointed out it
is a common practice across the nation for school districts to
contract with for-profit and non-profit organizations for
educational services. Some examples are for psychiatric and
disability needs.
2:56:35 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said Alaska's Constitution prohibits public
money to be used for private education. He asked if this bill
would violate the Alaska Constitution.
MR. LYONS pointed out that under existing AS 14.03.083, there is
a provision that allows contracting for services by a school
district.
CHAIR MCGUIRE thought the constitution prohibits public money
for religious schools.
2:57:42 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE clarified that Mr. Lyons is referring to a
statute and not the constitution.
He asked if the bill were to pass, whether school districts
might work harder to deliver their own services.
MR. LYONS said they have met numerous times over the past six
years with the Anchorage School District and with the
Commissioner, but did not meet with success. Even after a
subcommittee was formed to study the issue, the problem was not
solved. He opined that there needs to be another opportunity,
such as this bill, to serve these children.
2:59:32 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE thought the bill might be the hammer to get the
school districts to take this seriously and serve those
students.
SENATOR COGHILL clarified that no money shall be paid from
public funds for the direct benefit of a religious or other
private educational institutions.
3:00:38 PM
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI asked whether any funds will go for profit
or if all will go into the classroom.
MR. LYONS explained that there are over 21 accountability
measures in the bill. One is a transparent budget of revenue and
expenses. He stated that 100 percent of the funds will go to
educational resources.
3:01:22 PM
EVELYN ALSUP, Director of Education, NorthStar Behavioral
Health, clarified that version I provides that NorthStar will be
open to a yearly audit of their books and funds will only be
spent on educational purposes. She pointed out that NorthStar is
not an "educational institution" but a "hospital" or
"residential treatment facility." Students are patients placed
in NorthStar under a doctor's orders and there is 24-hour
nursing care.
CHAIR MCGUIRE held SB 103 in committee and noted that public
testimony would continue at the next hearing.