Legislature(2023 - 2024)BUTROVICH 205
03/19/2024 03:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB233 | |
| SB241 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 233 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 241 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 344 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 233-CHILD CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
3:32:08 PM
CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 233
"An Act relating to the day care assistance program."
3:32:36 PM
SENATOR FORREST DUNBAR, District J, speaking as the sponsor of
SB 233 stated there is a childcare affordability and access
crisis in Alaska, which is harming the state in a variety of
ways. He noted that if the department addresses the issue
through regulatory change, SB 233 will not need to go through
the legislative process. He paraphrased the following sponsor
statement:
[Original punctuation provided.]
SPONSOR STATEMENT
SB 233: CHILD CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
Senate Bill 233 will allow childcare workers to become
licensed providers in the day care assistance program
without being required to pass a high school
equivalency test or gain a high school diploma. This
will increase childcare availability in Alaska and
provide employment opportunities, particularly for
otherwise qualified refugee and immigrant communities
who are ready to work and contribute in this vital
industry.
Alaska has a lack of childcare services and workers,
which has a profound effect on the state's economy.
New arrivals come to the U.S. with varying
backgrounds. Some must flee at a moment's notice and
don't have time to grab documents, such as diplomas.
New arrivals may have spent decades in a refugee camp
where education is not readily available; others may
be coming from countries that lack educational systems
due to political arrest. Many of these new arrivals
have children. While they may not have formally
participated in the field of childcare, they have the
experience needed to thrive in this profession.
Currently, the Childcare Assistance regulation 7 AAC
41.200 requires that Approved Relative Providers or
Approved In-Home Providers must be at least 18 years
old, have a high school diploma, general educational
development (GED) diploma, or an equivalent. This
provides a barrier to some individuals who are
attempting to become licensed childcare providers in
Alaska.
SB 233 would allow more people to enter the childcare
workforce who would still be subject to all other
regulations and requirements of the profession. This
would not only benefit immigrants and refugees, but
also longtime residents who have childcare experience
and do not have a high school diploma or GED.
Increasing childcare in Alaska will allow more parents
to return to the workforce, earn income and support
the state economy. I urge you to support SB 233.
3:34:38 PM
RIA SMYKE, Staff, Senator Forrest Dunbar, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided the sectional analysis for
SB 233:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Sectional Analysis
SB 233: CHILD CARE PROVIDER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
"An Act relating to the day care assistance program."
Section 1: Amends AS 47.25.001: Powers and duties.
Allows a person to provide childcare in the day
care assistance program without passing a high school
equivalency test or having a high school diploma.
3:35:05 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL mentioned hearing frequently that wages for
child care workers are very low, and there is a desire to raise
the status of child care staff. She expressed discomfort with
lowering qualifications in response to this issue. She asked
whether it would be appropriate to create a structure similar to
teachers and teaching assistants, where there could be a child
care provider and a child care assistant category, the latter
not requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
3:36:02 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR expressed agreement with the desire to raise
wages for child care professionals but noted that the wage issue
is somewhat distinct from the current discussion. He mentioned
that testimony will be heard from representatives of Refugee
Assistance Services (RAIS) ran and the Alaska Literacy Program.
He emphasized that many individuals are qualified and trained to
be excellent child care providers but lack government-recognized
credentials. He compared this to last year's changes to
commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements, where certain
qualifications were waived to include capable individuals from
Ukraine. He suggested exploring alternative qualification
standards to allow more people to enter the child care
profession while maintaining quality through other regulatory
requirements.
3:37:46 PM
SENATOR TOBIN acknowledged that this issue has been discussed
extensively in the Child Care Task Force, where she serves. She
highlighted the challenges immigrant and refugee populations
face in providing in-home care and the concerns some families
have about caregivers from different cultural backgrounds. She
requested input from the department, noting it would likely
create regulations to address the issues that SB 233 also seeks
to resolve. She specifically inquired whether the department
would have someone on staff and what safety nets it would put in
place.
3:38:59 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR agreed and stated that in-home child care is an
important aspect of the conversation. He highlighted the
imbalance between provider compensation and family
affordability. He noted that, like other states, Alaska is
realizing that direct financial support is necessary because the
free market does not function effectively in this economy. He
emphasized that child care is essentially infrastructure.
3:40:10 PM
ROBIN DEMPSEY, CEO, Catholic Social Services, Anchorage, Alaska,
said that as an agency focused on promoting stable incomes and
permanent stability, CSS works closely with individuals from
diverse backgrounds, particularly women in the Refugee
Assistance and Immigration Service (RAIS) program. She
highlighted two main concerns from mothers seeking employment:
the difficulty in finding childcare in Anchorage and the
struggle of leaving their children with someone who does not
understand their culture or speak their language. She emphasized
the need for more culturally appropriate and multilingual
childcare providers.
MS. DEMPSEY noted that CSS works with many women who have
childcare experience but are unable to apply for positions due
to the GED requirement, which she argued does not measure
competency or experience in childcare. The removal of this
requirement, she stated, will help qualified individuals,
including RAIS clients, gain employment and expand the number of
childcare providers in the state. She also shared that the
number of new arrivals in the RAIS program has increased by 250
percent, growing from 21 in 2021 to 582 in 2023, resettling
across the state. She concluded that removing the GED
requirement will create new employment opportunities and improve
Alaska's childcare system.
3:42:56 PM
BRIGET REYNOLDS, Program Director, Refugee Assistance and
Immigration Services, Catholic Social Services, Anchorage,
Alaska, strongly expressed that the GED requirement creates
unnecessary obstacles for individuals with valuable childcare
experience. In her role working with refugees and new arrivals
in Alaska, she has witnessed hundreds of people, particularly
from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, arriving in recent years. RAIS (Refugee Assistance and
Immigration Services) provides these individuals with tools for
self-sufficiency, including employment services aimed at helping
them support their families while contributing to Alaska's
economy.
3:43:52 PM
MS. REYNOLDS noted that many of these individuals, especially
mothers, have significant childcare experience but struggle to
enter the workforce due to childcare responsibilities and a
shortage of culturally appropriate daycare options. Parents are
concerned about leaving their children with providers who do not
speak their language or understand their culture. Anchorage
urgently needs more childcare providers who are culturally
sensitive and multilingual, as over 100 languages are spoken by
students in the local school district. She emphasized that many
RAIS clients, who are skilled, compassionate, and multilingual
caregivers, face barriers to employment due to the GED
requirement. Removing this requirement would allow these
qualified individuals to enter the workforce, increasing the
availability of childcare and meeting the community's need for
culturally competent providers.
3:45:27 PM
ASIA AMINI, Specialist, Refugee Education and Employment Food
Services, Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services, Catholic
Social Services, Anchorage, Alaska, from Afghanistan and a peer
leader with the Alaska Literacy Program, testified in support of
SB 233, which seeks to remove the GED requirement for child care
providers. She shared that many women in her community,
including herself, face challenges entering the workforce
because they are at home with small children. Some day care
waitlists in Alaska are one to two years long. She recounted a
friend's experience, where the lack of English proficiency made
it difficult to secure daycare for her child.
3:46:30 PM
MS. AMINI emphasized the need for more daycare workers who speak
the languages of Afghanistan but noted that the GED requirement
is a significant barrier. Many Afghan women, despite having
experience in raising their own children, cannot work in daycare
due to the time-consuming process of obtaining a GED. She
highlighted that removing this requirement would allow more
women to work in daycare, which would also free other women to
pursue employment. She concluded that eliminating the GED
requirement would help Afghan women and others from various
countries overcome this barrier.
3:47:43 PM
LORI PICKETT, Executive Director, Alaska Literacy Program,
Anchorage, Alaska, described SB 233 as a crucial step toward
removing the barrier that requires child care providers to have
a GED or high school diploma in order to participate in the
child care assistance program. She explained that the Alaska
Literacy Program provides education and job training to adult
learners, helping them acquire a GED, assist their children in
school, access health care, and navigate their new country. Last
year, the program served 892 students from 72 countries who
spoke 56 languages, with a projection to serve over 1,000
students this year. Many of these students have fled war and
unrest, which has prevented them from completing formal
education or accessing high school records.
3:48:45 PM
MS. PICKETT emphasized the statewide workforce gap caused by a
lack of childcare and stressed that removing barriers for both
workers and providers is in the public's best interest. The GED
requirement, she argued, does not reflect a person's ability to
provide child care and hinders immigrants from contributing
fully to society. Many immigrants, who come from cultures that
value family and community, bring strong work ethics and
nurturing instincts, making them ideal candidates for the child
care workforce. She urged support for SB 233, noting that
removing unnecessary barriers will allow immigrants to fill
workforce gaps and contribute to Alaska's economic growth.
3:50:31 PM
CHAIR WILSON opened public testimony on SB 233; finding none, he
closed public testimony.
3:51:32 PM
HILARY PORTER, Deputy Director, Division of Public Assistance,
Department of Health, Juneau, Alaska, introduced herself and
offered to answer questions.
3:51:42 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR stated that he had discussions with the
department and noted that a regulatory change is planned, which
will hopefully resolve the issue. He asked for a brief
description of the planned change.
MS. PORTER confirmed that the department is moving forward with
a drafted regulation change to remove the GED requirement. She
stated that the draft has been submitted and is currently under
review. This barrier was identified through the work of the Task
Force.
3:52:23 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked what task force.
MS. PORTER replied that she was referring to the Governor's Task
Force on Child Care.
SENATOR DUNBAR expressed satisfaction with the answer and
inquired about the department's efforts to improve the status of
child care and maintain its quality while removing barriers,
such as the GED requirement.
3:53:01 PM
MS. PORTER acknowledged that there have been many discussions
about wages for child care workers through the Governor's Task
Force on Child Care. She noted that the department is reviewing
those comments and considering options but could not provide
further details at this time. However, she assured that the
department is aware of the issue and is exploring ways to
improve it.
3:53:31 PM
SENATOR TOBIN asked what additional safeguards and components
the department is putting in place to reassure the public that
the child care system will remain safe and well-regulated,
ensuring providers continue to protect vulnerable Alaskans as
the GED requirement is removed.
MS. PORTER emphasized that quality remains a major focus in
child care, including the qualifications of workers. She
mentioned that there is training available through organizations
like Thread, a statewide child care resource and referral
network. Programs such as Seed and Roots recognize child care
workers for their training achievements, whether through the
university, Thread, or Learn and Grow, another organization.
Although she did not recall all the specific training levels,
she noted that there are approximately 13, and workers can
progress through these levels to become highly qualified, even
without a GED or high school diploma. She stressed that
maintaining quality remains a requirement for both providers and
workers.
SENATOR TOBIN asked for examples of other qualifications a
provider might need.
3:55:24 PM
MS. PORTER explained that health and safety are key concerns,
and background checks are a mandatory part of the department's
quality initiatives. She added that child care providers are
still required to obtain a business license and must be at least
18 years old to work in child care, ensuring that all providers
are adults.
3:56:05 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL found it helpful to learn about the available
training programs and asked whether individuals are required to
complete a training program.
MS. PORTER replied that individuals are both encouraged and
required to take training. Providers can complete basic training
or pursue advanced levels to earn a certificate. While this
certificate is not equivalent to a diploma or GED, it
acknowledges the training and qualifications of the provider or
worker.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if individuals, despite not having a GED
or equivalent, will still be required to understand child safety
laws, such as mandatory reporting in cases of suspected abuse.
MS. PORTER confirmed that compliance is a key part of the
process. Even after someone is licensed, inspections are
conducted twice a yearone planned and one unplannedto ensure
providers maintain quality and employ qualified individuals. If
any issues arise, the department has measures to address them
and work with the provider to achieve compliance.
3:57:40 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL clarified that her question referred to in-home
child care providers rather than child care facilities. She
asked what in-home child care providers will be required to know
and understand about laws, such as mandatory reporting and child
safety regulations.
MS. PORTER replied the requirements for licensing, mandatory
reporting and safety regulations are essentially the same.
3:58:25 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if there are other regulations that the task
force identified as a hindrance, such as outdoor play space and
infants.
3:58:58 PM
MS. PORTER replied that although there was conversation about
that specific issue, no action was taken.
3:59:15 PM
CHAIR WILSON asked if the only regulatory change the department
is currently considering for child care providers is the removal
of the high school diploma or GED requirement
3:59:39 PM
MS. PORTER replied other changes are being worked on.
CHAIR WILSON asked for a list to be provided to the committee.
MS. PORTER confirmed that the department is working on
additional changes to their licensing regulations beyond just
the high school diploma or GED requirement.
CHAIR WILSON asked that she provide the list of changes to the
committee.
MS. PORTER said she would provide more information about
licensing regulation changes to the committee.
4:00:15 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL stated that a regulatory package typically takes
about a year to complete. She then asked about the current stage
of the department's progress on GED and high school diploma
regulatory change.
MS. PORTER stated that the regulatory package is currently with
the Department of Law. The department has requested a July 1
effective date and is hopeful it will meet that timeline.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked if the public comment period has already
taken place.
MS. PORTER replied no, the department had not reached that
phase.
SENATOR GIESSEL asked when the public hearing and feedback stage
will occur.
4:01:18 PM
EMILY RICCI, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health (DOH),
Juneau, Alaska, explained that the time required to complete the
regulatory process can vary, depending on the extent of changes
and the volume of public comments. She noted that the Division
of Public Assistance and the Commissioner's Office are working
closely with the Child Care Task Force, specifically on the
regulations related to the GED requirement, which are already
underway. The duration of the process depends on several factors
discussed, but the department may implement additional changes
aligned with the Task Force's work. She anticipated that
regulatory changes will be approved and rolled out on multiple
dates, depending on the progress of the Task Force.
4:02:25 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL pointed out that the department has not yet held
a public comment period, which will take time and require proper
notice. She questioned whether the proposed July 1 effective
date is realistic.
MS. RICCI acknowledged that July 1 is the department's goal for
the effective date.
4:03:16 PM
SENATOR TOBIN commented that there was a great presentation in
the Senate Education Committee on the progress of the Child Care
Task Force. She suggested that it would be helpful for the
current committee to hear how the Task Force's work aligns with
programs like Parents as Teachers, which is part of the
Department of Health.
CHAIR WILSON replied that he would look into scheduling a
presentation.
4:03:54 PM
SENATOR DUNBAR thanked the committee for hearing SB 233, the
Department for working with his office and presenting, and the
testifiers for their support. He emphasized that while the bill
is important, the real focus is on the change, which he believes
can and will be achieved through regulation. He reiterated his
gratitude to the department and clarified that he does not
intend to move SB 233 forward unless the regulatory changes fall
through, in which case he would bring it back next year.
4:04:31 PM
CHAIR WILSON held SB 233 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 233 Version A.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 233 |
| SB 233 Sponsor Statement 2.22.2024.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 233 |
| SB 233 Sectional Analysis Version A 2.22.2024.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 233 |
| SB 233 FN DOH.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 233 |
| SB 233 Testimony.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 233 |
| SB 241 Version A.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB 241 Sponsor Statement Version A.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB241 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB 241 FN DOH Medicaid.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB 241 DOH Presentation.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB241 LOS 3.18.24.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |
| SB 241 Support SFC.pdf |
SHSS 3/19/2024 3:30:00 PM |
SB 241 |