05/08/2024 08:01 AM House EDUCATION

         SB 131-ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER PROGRAM                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:05:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced  that the only order  of business would                                                               
be  SENATE BILL  NO.  131,  "An Act  requiring  education in  the                                                               
history  and   contributions  of  Asian  Americans   and  Pacific                                                               
Islanders."                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:05:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELVI GRAY-JACKSON,  Alaska State  Legislature, as  prime                                                               
sponsor,  presented  SB 131  and  thanked  committee members  for                                                               
scheduling  the bill.    She  noted that  the  co-founder of  the                                                               
organization,  titled "Make  Us Visible,"  visited last  week and                                                               
met with  legislators on the  importance of  the bill.   She said                                                               
seven states have passed similar  legislation, and she summarized                                                               
that  SB  131  would  require  Asian  American  Pacific  Islander                                                               
education  in  K-12  and  cover  their  contributions  and  their                                                               
history.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:06:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX asked  whether there  is incorporation  into                                                               
school districts currently.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:07:01 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BESSE  ODOM,  Staff,  Senator  Elvi  Gray-Jackson,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, answered questions  during the hearing on  SB 131 on                                                               
behalf  of Senator  Gray-Jackson, prime  sponsor.   She addressed                                                               
Representative  Prax  and said  that  currently,  the history  of                                                               
Asian  Americans  and  Pacific   Islanders  is  optional  in  all                                                               
schools.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:07:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on SB 131.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:07:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 8:07 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:07:57 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KAYE ROLDAN, Board Member, Filipino  Community Hall, testified in                                                               
support  of  SB 131  and  noted  that  she  was also  a  steering                                                               
committee member at  "Make Us Visible."  She shared  that she had                                                               
been living in Juneau for the  past 30 years, and while attending                                                               
the University of  Alaska Southeast (UAS), she noted  she did not                                                               
hear much  about Asian  American history.   She  further provided                                                               
her  family's background  and contributions.    She stressed  the                                                               
importance of  sharing contributions with classmates  about Asian                                                               
American and Pacific  Island culture and history  and thanked the                                                               
committee for hearing her testimony.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:12:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KEIRA KOCH,  representing self, testified  in support of  SB 131.                                                               
She  shared her  experience that  in schools,  she had  noticed a                                                               
"handful" of  Filipino students  and noted  that an  event called                                                               
"Filipino  Fridays"  was  offered  where food  and  stories  were                                                               
shared, which  she observed resulted  in an uptick  in children's                                                               
happiness.   She  said she  did  not learn  about Asian  American                                                               
history  and   culture  growing  up  and   that  she  experienced                                                               
ignorance regarding  the facts  that she  would hear  from fellow                                                               
classmates.   She thanked  the committee  for the  opportunity to                                                               
speak to SB 131.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:14:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD,  after  ascertaining  no  one  else  wished  to                                                               
testify,  closed public  testimony on  SB  131.   She noted  that                                                               
anyone could submit their written testimony to the committee.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:15:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GREY  JACKSON  thanked the  committee  for  hearing  the                                                               
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:15:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE moved  to report SB 131 out  of committee with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  the  accompanying fiscal  notes.                                                               
There being  no objection, SB 131  was reported out of  the House                                                               
Education Standing Committee.