Legislature(2025 - 2026)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/09/2025 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): University of Alaska Board of Regents | |
| SB181 | |
| SB151 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 151 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 181 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 151-SCHOOL DISTRICT HEAD LICE POLICY
3:48:39 PM
CHAIR TOBIN announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 151
"An Act relating to head lice in public schools."
CHAIR TOBIN stated this is the second hearing of SB 151 and the
committee would hear a committee substitute (CS) for SB 151,
workorder 34-LS0709\O.
3:49:12 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN speaking as sponsor of SB 151 said he and staff
would offer a brief presentation to explain the changes to the
bill and share alarming treatment choices that some schools are
using for pinkeye.
3:49:48 PM
SAVAYA BIEBER, Staff, Senator Jesse Bjorkman, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, co-presented SB 151: School
District Head Lice Policy. She moved to slide [2], SB 151
Explanation of Changes version H to version O:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SB 151 School District Head Lice Policy
Explanation of Changes
Version H to Version O
Section 1: Delete all material and insert a new
section AS 14.30.144 requiring school districts adopt
a policy regarding students with lice and students
with bacterial conjunctivitis.
Section 2: Amends AS 14.30.144 by adding new
subsections stating school districts who have not
adopted a policy under section 1 of the bill shall
follow the default policy established in this section
regarding lice and bacterial conjunctivitis.
Section 3: Provides an effective date for section 2 of
the bill, section 2 will be enacted 180 days after the
effective date of section 1.
MS. BIEBER outlined the changes made in the committee
substitute. She stated the O version of the bill removed the
school district reimbursement provisions, reporting
requirements, and lice checks. She said the committee substitute
essentially deleted the prior version of the bill and replaced
it.
MS. BIEBER stated SB 151 now requires school districts to adopt
a policy regarding head lice and bacterial conjunctivitis, also
known as pink eye. She explained that districts that have not
adopted a policy would be required to follow the default policy
established in the bill. She stated the policy for head lice
remains the same. Students found with lice may finish the school
day but may not return until a school nurse or designee confirms
the absence of live head lice.
MS. BIEBER stated that students found with bacterial
conjunctivitis must leave the classroom immediately and may
return at least 24 hours after beginning treatment.
MS. BIEBER stated that when head lice or pink eye are confirmed,
the school shall notify parents that a student in their child's
class was found to have lice or pink eye. She noted that
notifications must be provided in a manner that protects each
student's privacy.
3:51:06 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated he had hoped the original version of the
bill would both prevent the spread of lice in schools and
provide support for funding nurses in schools serving grades K
through 8. He explained that given current fiscal realities,
that component could not move forward. He stated the committee
substitute streamlines SB 151 and eliminates fiscal liability
for school districts. He explained that schools are no longer
required to conduct schoolwide lice checks and would instead
address lice cases on a case-by-case basis. He stated SB 151
also adds guidance regarding bacterial conjunctivitis, commonly
known as pink eye.
3:52:05 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to side 3, What is Bacterial
Conjunctivitis:
[Original punctuation provided.]
What is Bacterial Conjunctivitis?
• Inflammation of the conjunctiva
• Highly contagious
• Can be identified by redness, irritation, yellow or
greenish discharge, crusting of eyelids, dryness,
itchiness, and puffy or swollen eyes
• Severe cases can lead to ulcers on the eye and loss
of vision
SENATOR BJORKMAN emphasized that the bill establishes a backstop
policy and primarily requires districts to adopt their own
policies addressing lice and bacterial conjunctivitis. He stated
the legislation encourages districts to enact policies tailored
to their communities. He noted the policies would not apply to
correspondence programs and that boarding schools and
residential schools would require separate policies. He stated
schools would be responsible for adopting policies appropriate
to their specific circumstances.
SENATOR BJORKMAN explained that bacterial conjunctivitis is the
more severe form of pink eye and spreads quickly among young
children. He stated that following the first hearing on the
bill, he was contacted by several teachers who expressed concern
about how pink eye was being handled in schools. He explained
there are two types of pink eye: viral and bacterial. He stated
viral conjunctivitis is uncomfortable but does not spread as
readily and does not involve the thick discharge associated with
bacterial conjunctivitis. He stated bacterial conjunctivitis can
be painful and, if left untreated, can lead to ulcers and
potential vision loss. He added that it poses additional risk if
transmitted to infants at home.
3:53:57 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to slide 4, How Does Bacterial
Conjunctivitis Spread:
[Original punctuation provided.]
How Does Bacterial Conjunctivitis Spread?
• Close personal contact such as touching or
• shaking hands
• Touching objects and surfaces with germs
• on them
• Large respiratory tract droplets from an
• infected person
• Caused by bacterial infections
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated pink eye spreads through surface
contact. He explained that transmission can occur when a person
touches their eye, then touches a surface, and another person
touches that surface and then their eye.
3:54:15 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to slide 5, CDC Recommendations:
[Original punctuation provided.]
CDC Recommendations
• Considered contagious 24 hours after beginning
treatment
• Students with pink eye should leave the classroom
immediately and may return at least 24 hours after
beginning treatment
SENATOR BJORKMAN stated the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends treating bacterial conjunctivitis with
antibiotic eye drops. He explained that under the bill, a
student found to have pink eye must leave the classroom
immediately, begin treatment, and may return 24 hours after
starting treatment when no longer contagious.
3:54:44 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to slide 6, How to Treat Bacterial
Conjunctivitis:
[Original punctuation provided.]
How to Treat Bacterial Conjunctivitis
• Antibiotics
• Eye drops or ointments
• Washing eyelids and lashes regularly
• Avoiding contact lenses
SENATOR BJORKMAN added that individuals should avoid wearing
contact lenses, wash their hands regularly, and consider
designating a separate bathroom at home for an infected
individual.
3:55:04 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN moved to slide 7 showing types of
conjunctivitis and asked if there were questions.
3:55:08 PM
SENATOR CRONK asked whether Senator Bjorkman's district lacked
policies addressing lice and pink eye.
3:55:22 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN responded that different practices have been
adopted across schools in the state, resulting in confusion and
concern. He stated that in some instances, students have
remained in class with pink eye or live lice and that parents
have not always been notified when cases occur. He stated this
has raised concerns among parents who want the opportunity to
speak with their children about precautions such as handwashing
and avoiding shared personal items. He referenced discussions
and screenshots from communities including Fairbanks and the
Kenai Peninsula indicating concern about inconsistent practices.
He stated some of the differing approaches stem from guidance
from national school nurse associations that may not align with
other medical advice.
3:56:30 PM
SENATOR CRONK stated that he generally supports local control
regarding policies, curriculum, and courses. He opined that this
matter should remain within local school board authority but
understands that they sometimes need direction.
SENATOR BJORKMAN responded that SB 151 preserves local control
by providing six months for districts to adopt their own
policies through a public process that includes input from
parents and community members. He stated that if a district does
not act, the default policy in the bill would apply. He
reiterated that the legislation requires districts to adopt a
policy addressing lice and pink eye, with the bill serving as a
backstop if they fail to do so.
3:57:50 PM
SENATOR STEVENS stated he understood there is a difference
between lice and pink eye and that one may be more contagious
than the other. He stated it seemed logical that in both cases a
child should be removed from school and sent home. He asked why
students with lice are allowed to remain in school for the
remainder of the day despite lice being contagious.
3:58:09 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN replied that CDC guidance provides that a child
with lice does not need to leave immediately and may remain in
school until the end of the day. He stated the student may
return after treatment once no live lice are present.
3:58:32 PM
SENATOR KIEHL stated that in his view the distinction relates to
potential harm. He noted that while both conditions are
contagious, lice generally do not cause significant harm,
whereas pink eye can. He acknowledged Senator Bjorkman's
advocacy for ensuring students remain in school to learn and
recognized the fiscal limitations that prevented inclusion of
funding for additional school nurses. He asked about the
potential impact of send-home policies, particularly for
students who have difficulty accessing medical care, and the
possible effects on learning loss. He asked how SB 151 balances
those concerns.
SENATOR BJORKMAN replied that many individuals within schools
care deeply about students and help connect families with
resources to ensure students can return to school as soon as
possible. He stated there are networks that assist students in
obtaining lice treatment and that telehealth services may be
used when appropriate. He added that expanded prescription
authority for pharmacists could make it easier for students to
obtain antibiotic treatment for pink eye without first seeing a
physician. He stated there are multiple options available to
help students receive timely treatment and reduce the spread of
pink eye in schools.
4:00:29 PM
CHAIR TOBIN noted that programs such as Denali KidCare are
available to assist families that have children under 18 years
of age. She encouraged families needing assistance to seek
information about the program.
CHAIR TOBIN asked why ringworm was not included in the
legislation.
4:00:43 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN replied ring worm is most commonly spread
through middle and high school wrestling programs, which is a
small subset of school age children.
4:01:16 PM
CHAIR TOBIN replied that as a wrestler she experienced being a
member of that subset.
4:01:25 PM
SENATOR BJORKMAN thanked the committee for hearing the bill and
for taking time at the end of session to consider the issue. He
stated the bill addresses concerns that have generated
significant public attention and frustration regarding school
health practices.
4:01:48 PM
At ease.
4:02:17 PM
CHAIR TOBIN reconvened the meeting.
4:02:24 PM
CHAIR TOBIN solicited a motion.
4:02:26 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for
SB 151, work order 34-LS0709\O, as the working document.
4:02:38 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 151 was adopted as the
working document.
4:02:56 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no discussion and solicited the will of the
committee.
4:02:57 PM
SENATOR STEVENS moved to report CSSB 151, work order 34-
LS0709\O, from committee with individual recommendations and
attached fiscal note(s).
4:03:09 PM
CHAIR TOBIN found no objection and CSSB 151(EDC) was reported
from the Senate Education Standing Committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents Confirmation - Fernando Escobar Testimony 05.02.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/7/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
University of Alaska |
| Board of Regents Confirmation - Fernando Escobar resume 04.22.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/7/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
University of Alaska |
| Fernando Escobar Testimony - Cyndy Mitka 05.06.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/7/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
University of Alaska |
| Fernando Escobar Testimony - Patrick Holmes 05.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
|
| SB 181 Version A 04.22.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Sponsor Statement 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Sectional Analysis Version A 05.05.2025.PDF |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 Seafood |
| SB 181 Fiscal Note DOLWD-UI 04.25.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/30/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Research - ISER One-Pager 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 181 Testimony - Brett Watson 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/5/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 181 |
| SB 151 Version H 04.11.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sponsor Statement Version H 04.11.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sectional Analysis Version H 04.08.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Fiscal Note EED-SSA 04.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Reseach - CDC Lice Information Sheet 06.04.2024.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Research - CDC Recommendations 02.21.2024.pdf |
SEDC 4/11/2025 3:30:00 PM SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Version O 05.05.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Explanation of Changes Version H to O 05.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sectional Analysis Version O 05.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Sponsor Statement Version O 05.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |
| SB 151 Presentation 05.09.2025.pdf |
SEDC 5/9/2025 3:30:00 PM |
SB 151 |