Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/10/2016 03:30 PM Senate EDUCATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB190 | |
| HB76 | |
| SB191 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 76 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 190 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 191 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 190-EXEMPTION FROM POST-SECONDARY ED REGS
3:32:29 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 190. He noted
there is zero fiscal note.
TREVOR GUTIERREZ, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State
Legislature, introduced SB 190.
DIANE BLUMER, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State
Legislature, answered questions related to SB 190.
MR. GUTIERREZ read his prepared statement:
SB 190 will exempt programs that offer a certificate
of completion when the field of study does not require
a professional or occupational license under Alaska
Law. Some may wonder why, in this time of budget
crisis, we are addressing an issue such as this,
however, this issue is a perfect example of government
overreach and reaching directly into the pockets of
small business owners.
A specific example is one of yoga teachers or studios
who are not required to have a professional or
occupational license under Alaska Law. Until recently,
yoga studios and teacher training programs have been
free of state regulation or oversite- now they are
being subject to ACPE regulation simply because they
use the terms "yoga teacher training" and are awarded
a "certificate" at the completion of the course. The
use of these terms subject these small business owners
to a registration fee in the amount of $2,500.
This fee does not provide one with educational credit,
no funding is available through ACPE, and there are no
minimum state standards for yoga studios or yoga
teachers. In fact, this hefty fee is assessed simply
because a person has met the Yoga Alliance's minimum
requirements for teaching and has completed a program
at a school that is registered with Yoga Alliance. I
am not sure how many of you have attended yoga classes
but it would take many sessions just to recover this
burdensome fee that provides no benefit - other than
your name on a registry.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted the arrival of Senator Gardner.
3:35:19 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if the bill states that the Alaska
Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) fee will be waived
for yoga studios.
MR. GUTIERREZ said yes.
SENATOR STEVENS asked if other programs would qualify for this
waiver.
MS. BLUMER said there are not many programs that would, but
ballroom dancing or karate programs that issue instructor
certifications might be included.
3:36:34 PM
SENATOR HUGGINS asked if there has been any opposition to the
bill.
MS. BLUMER said they received a letter from Postsecondary
Education that said the bill may be a little broad.
SENATOR STEVENS asked Postsecondary Education to comment at a
later time.
3:37:28 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony.
3:37:46 PM
BARBARA DOBBERTHIEN, Executive Director, Yoga Alliance,
testified in support of SB 190. She explained that Yoga Alliance
is an international organization representing nearly 80,000
small businesses and individuals in the yoga industry, of which
233 are in Alaska.
3:38:21 PM
SENATOR GARDNER asked if her business is unique or if there are
other similar yoga organizations.
MS. DOBBERTHIEN said she has not found other similar businesses
that do advocacy work on behalf of the profession.
3:39:00 PM
JODEE DIXON, Owner, The Yoga Path, testified in support of SB
190. She described the process of becoming a member of Yoga
Alliance. She related that she provides classes and trains
people in yoga who can now teach yoga. She stressed the
importance of high quality teachers and the oversight by Yoga
Alliance regulations. She said one benefit of SB 190 is for the
protection for yoga businesses. She concluded that the bill
would help grow the yoga community.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if her program takes longer than 120
hours.
MS. DIXON said the program is 200 hours or more.
3:43:34 PM
SENATOR GARDNER thanked Ms. Dixon for her professionalism. She
inquired if her program is a form of post-secondary education.
MS. DIXON understood that the difference is that the yoga
teacher certificate does not provide the opportunity for a
career.
SENATOR STEVENS spoke of an exemption for avocational programs.
He thought the yoga profession fit under that exemption.
MS. DIXON agreed, but clarified that her program is over 120
hours and practitioners receive a certificate of completion.
SENATOR STEVENS suggested adding "yoga classes" to the list.
MS. DIXON agreed.
SENATOR HUGGINS shared a story about a staffer who likes yoga.
3:46:51 PM
SENATOR STEVENS said he takes yoga class and enjoys it.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 190 in committee.