Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
04/08/2022 09:00 AM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
| SB157 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| *+ | SB 157 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 157-HEALTH AND PERSONAL SAFETY EDUCATION
9:49:48 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 157, "An Act relating to health
and personal safety education; and providing for an effective
date."
9:50:13 AM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SB 157, read the sponsor statement.
Sex education is essential to young people's health,
relationships, and life goals. Young people should get
age-appropriate, medically accurate information. Young
people across Alaska deserve age-appropriate,
medically accurate information about sex,
reproduction, and healthy relationships taught in
culturally competent, inclusive ways. Sex education
should cover a wide range of topics, including healthy
and unhealthy relationships, decision-making and peer
pressure, abstinence, communication, consent, body
image, media literacy and critical thinking, birth
control, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
But many students in Alaska don't have access to the
information and skills they need to protect their
health because our state does not have comprehensive
requirements for sex education in public schools. Sex
education can equip young people with the skills they
need for a lifetime of good health, including the
ability to have healthy relationships, make decisions
for themselves, think critically about the world, be a
good ally to those who are different, and love
yourself for who you are. Comprehensive, medically
accurate sexual health education is the best way to
help young people stay healthy.
9:52:21 AM
BESSE ODOM, Staff, Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, read the sectional analysis for SB
157.
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sectional Analysis for SB 157 version A
Section 1. This section amends AS 14.03.120, the
statute regarding public school reports on school
performance and planning by adding a new subsection.
This new subsection requires a summary and evaluation
of health and personal safety.
Section 2. This section amends AS 14.30.360 -
14.30.370 by adding personal safety program standards.
Section 3. This section amends AS 14.30.360, by adding
conforming language as seen in section 2. This section
is also amended to mandate a health and personal
safety education curriculum. Additionally, this
section adds a new subsection. This new subsection
requires medically and scientifically accurate
information for curriculum and defines "consent".
Section 4. Adds a new subsection that sets
requirements for the health and personal safety
education program curriculum.
Section 5. Repeals AS 14.30.361.
Section 6. This section sets an effective date of June
30, 2023.
9:53:54 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND turned to invited testimony on SB 157.
9:54:32 AM
ROSE OHARA JOLLEY, Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance
Advocates Alaska (PPAA), Fairbanks, Alaska, began invited
testimony on SB 157. She stated that PPAA strongly supports SB
157, a bill that would enact state standards for sexual health
education to ensure that all young people in Alaska receive the
education they need to live healthy, safe lives. She offered her
belief that most people in Alaska want young people to receive
sex education. She reported that a 2019 survey [not identified]
showed that over 90 percent of Alaskan voters agreed that sex
education should be medically accurate, age-appropriate, and
cover healthy relationships, consent, and communication skills,
all of which is covered in SB 157.
9:55:25 AM
MS. JOLLEY related that medical associations, including the
American Medical Association, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the Alaska Association of Student Government all
support sex education. The vast majority of people support sex
education, including 9 of 10 parents, which is why 33 states and
the District of Columbia require sexual health education. Young
people deserve to get evidence-based, medically accurate, age-
appropriate information and answers to their questions about sex
and relationships without being shamed or judged. Alaska leads
the nation with sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), ranking
the highest per capita for chlamydia and second-highest for
gonorrhea. Teens and young people are particularly vulnerable to
these infections. Young Alaskans 15-19 years old contract
chlamydia at three times the [national] average. Despite these
staggering statistics, only half of the secondary schools allow
teaching teens how to access valid and reliable information,
products, and services related to sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs) STIs, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and pregnancy.
Alaska also has the country's highest rate of reported rape,
almost three times the national average. Alaska's child sexual
assault rate is estimated to be the highest in the country, with
nearly one in seven people in Alaska experiencing some child
sexual abuse.
MS. JOLLEY stated that considerable research from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that
comprehensive sex education reduces sexual risk behavior and
STIs. Sex education is also associated with the delayed
initiation of sex, fewer sexual partners, and more widespread
use of condoms and contraceptives. Alaskan youth need to be
equipped with information on respecting boundaries, protecting
their health, and knowing who to turn to for help. Student
health, including sexual health, is strongly connected to
academic success and should be a core part of any student
curriculum, just like any other subject area. It is time for
Alaska to adopt comprehensive, inclusive, medically accurate,
and age-appropriate sexual health education standards for
students.
9:58:01 AM
JAYNE ANDREEN, President, Alaska Public Health Association
(ALPHA), Douglas, Alaska, provided invited testimony supporting
SB 157. She stated that ALPHA, an affiliate of the American
Public Health Association, represents a 150-year history of
translating and promoting effective public health policy and
practices to improve the public's health. ALPHA supports
implementing a required, comprehensive, and sequential health
education program for K-12 so that all students in public and
private schools receive this information.
9:58:56 AM
MS. ANDREEN stated that research shows that well-designed,
effectively-implemented school health policies and programs
improve student health-related behaviors and outcomes and their
educational outcomes.
MS. ANDREEN stated that according to the most recent 2019 Alaska
Youth Risk Behavior Survey, many high school students in Alaska
engaged in health risk behaviors. In the past months, students
responded that 34.5 percent had used tobacco products, including
vaping, 21.6 percent had used marijuana, 20.9 percent had used
alcohol, 12.4 percent had engaged in binge drinking, and 15.1
percent misused prescription pain medication. Students also
reported that in the past year, 19.7 percent had seriously
considered suicide, and 26 percent had sex in the last three
months.
10:00:00 AM
MS. ANDREEN stated that according to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), a comprehensive health education curriculum is
"one that is broad in scope and content, addresses numerous
health problems, issues, and topics, and includes a set of
instructional strategies and learning activities for students in
pre-K through grade 12 to acquire the knowledge, attitude, and
skills to address multiple health outcomes." She noted that key
topics of a comprehensive health education program include
personal health and wellness, alcohol and drug abuse prevention,
tobacco use prevention, safety, physical activity, food and
nutrition, violence prevention, mental health, emotional health,
and sexual health.
MS. ANDREEN highlighted that sexual health education was
considered one of the critical topic areas within a
comprehensive health education program.
10:01:00 AM
MS. ANDREEN stated that the CDC analyzed each state's health
education laws and regulations on sexual health, HIV, and STD
prevention. She indicated that Alaska was missing every one of
the evidence-based components known to promote health. Current
law encourages school districts to conduct health education, but
SB 157 would require this education in grades K-12. It would
expand the list to include sexual health, covering various
topics. Currently, Alaska only requires education on child
sexual abuse prevention for grades K-12 and dating violence
prevention for date rape for grades 7-12. She noted that
students must earn one health unit for physical education to
graduate from high school. She offered her view that SB 157 was
critical for Alaska's youth to ensure that they were equipped
with information to develop healthy behaviors, understand how
their actions impact their health and learn how to find accurate
health information. She encouraged members to pass SB 157 to
ensure Alaskans' immediate and long-term health.
10:02:47 AM
HANNAH GUZZI, Alaska and Hawai'i Education Manager, Planned
Parenthood Great Northwest, Anchorage, Alaska, provided invited
testimony on SB 157. She stated that through education and
health promotion, the organization's collective goal was to
improve health outcomes for Alaska's youth and to be
changemakers to the statistics shared about Alaska. She
explained that people need multiple opportunities over time to
make long-term changes in health behaviors. Comprehensive sex
education provides age-appropriate education and gives students
numerous opportunities to have their questions answered,
normalize all the changes happening in their bodies, and provide
medically-accurate information for students to make informed
choices. She characterized comprehensive sex education as
essential to young people's health, relationships, and life
goals. It covers various topics, including healthy and unhealthy
relationships, decision-making, peer pressure, abstinence,
communication, consent, gender identity, sexual orientation,
body image, media literacy, critical thinking, birth control,
and STIs.
10:04:13 AM
MS. GUZZI said that sex education should be culturally specific,
taught each year by a trained educator, and equip young people
with the skills they need to lead a healthy life, including
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ), and students
with disabilities. She related that in her experience teaching
sexual health education in the classroom, she found that
students needed to receive medically-accurate information
without judgment or shame. One way to accomplish this was to
provide a space for students to ask questions anonymously. Most
of the questions come from data that they may have seen online
or heard from friends. Students are trying to understand their
bodies and if their bodies are normal.
10:04:52 AM
MS. GUZZI shared some questions she had received that
demonstrated how SB 157 standards would help students
throughout their lives.
If you don't get consent, what happens?
Do periods hurt?
Could you get pregnant if someone had ejaculated into
a pool you were in?
What if your partner doesn't want to get tested or
won't share their test results?
Is it normal if one testicle is lower than the other?
What happens if you don't go through puberty?
How do I start a healthy relationship?
What if someone doesn't put a condom on?
How can you let a person know you don't want to have
sex?
10:05:32 AM
MS. GUZZI stated that with SB 157, teachers could answer these
questions in a medically-accurate, evidence-based, age-
appropriate way for all users across Alaska. SB 157 would
require that this life-changing information be taught throughout
Alaska while still allowing schools flexibility to determine how
to teach sex education and what curriculum would meet the
required standards. School districts and communities could
ensure that the content was culturally specific and relevant to
their communities while understanding that standards guide the
information being taught just like any other content area.
10:06:00 AM
MS. GUZZI noted that standards guide the information being
taught to students. She stated that SB 157 would require that
the guidelines were consistent with the National Sexuality
Education Standards, Core Content and Skills K-12, which
outlines age-appropriate learning standards. SB 157 would
require that all health education is age-appropriate and
provides information to guide youth as they grow and develop.
For example, these standards would require curricula for
students K-2 to help students identify different kinds of family
structures, describe the characteristics of a friend, and
explains that all people, including children, have a right to
tell others not to touch their bodies when they don't want to be
touched. It explains why bullying and teasing are wrong.
10:06:46 AM
MS. GUZZI provided examples, noting that grades 3-5 would
include noting that the timing for puberty and adolescent
development varies considerably and can still be healthy. She
related an example for grades 6-8 would describe the advantages
and disadvantages of communicating using technology and social
media. She indicated an example for grades 9-12 would compare
and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence and
other contraceptive methods, including condoms. She offered her
view that these standards would ensure that students were
equipped with accurate information to understand what was
happening to them at their developmental stage.
10:07:21 AM
MS. GUZZI stated that sex education should be inclusive,
ensuring that the curriculum resonates with all students
regardless of gender identity, race, disability status,
religion, or sexual orientation. She highlighted that educators
had shared multiple instances where a student approached them
after a lesson to share how much it meant to see themselves in
the curriculum. She indicated that creating spaces for all
students to feel welcome, valued, and represented, can increase
student attendance and grades and lower suicides. She offered
her view that comprehensive sexual education could also build
empathy for students who were different and normalize the social
and emotional changes that young people go through. It would
provide medically accurate answers to their questions, ensure
they know to seek the necessary health care, and empower youth
to have power and agency over their lives and bodies. She urged
members to support SB 157.
10:08:15 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND expressed his concern that SB 157 would change the
sex education program from "should" to "must." He expressed
further concern that the program would require sexual health for
K-12 because he was unsure that age-appropriate information
would be presented to students.
10:08:55 AM
SENATOR HUGHES said she would like to hear from the Department
of Education and Early Development (DEED). She related her
understanding that health was required for high school
graduation, so some sex education was already included in the
curriculum. She said she shared Chair Holland's concerns about
the bill.
10:09:25 AM
SENATOR STEVENS remarked that a constituent contacted him and
was upset that their son brought home a survey about sexual
issues. He wondered about parental rights and whether parents
could opt out because some parents may not wish their children
to learn sex education for religious or other reasons.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON offered her belief that schools were
teaching some sex education. She agreed that parents have a
right to decide if they want their children to participate.
10:10:28 AM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked the committee for hearing SB 157.
10:10:39 AM
CHAIR HOLLAND held SB 157 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Emma Melkerson PTPC Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Deborah Riddle Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Lem Wheeles Board Application_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Adam Reid's Resume-PTPC-2021_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Adam Reid Board Application - Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| Lem Wheeles PTPC Resume_Redacted.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
|
| SB 157 ver A - Powerpoint Presentation.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 157 |
| SB 157 ver A - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 157 |
| SB 157 ver A - Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 157 |
| SB 157 ver A - Supporting Document (Condom Use) 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 157 |
| SB 157 ver A - Supporting Document (Consent at Every Age) 1.26.2022.pdf |
SEDC 4/8/2022 9:00:00 AM |
SB 157 |