Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106

04/24/2023 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= HB 105 SEX/REPRODUCTION EDUCATION; SCHOOLS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
-- Public Testimony Canceled --
+= HB 106 TEACHER RECRUITMENT; LUMP SUM PAYMENT TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
*+ HB 111 EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HEARING IMPAIRED TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
**Streamed live on AKL.tv**
          HB 111-EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HEARING IMPAIRED                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:09:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced  that the next order  of business would                                                               
be  HOUSE  BILL  NO.  111,  "An Act  relating  to  public  school                                                               
students who are deaf or have a hearing impairment."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:09:37 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  moved to  adopt the  proposed committee                                                               
substitute (CS)  for HB 111, Version  33-LS0504\S, Marx, 4/22/23,                                                               
as the work draft.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:09:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD [HB  111 was set aside and  discussed again later                                                               
during the meeting.]                                                                                                            
          HB 111-EDUCATION FOR DEAF & HEARING IMPAIRED                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:31:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD returned to HOUSE  BILL NO. 111, "An Act relating                                                               
to  public  school  students  who  are deaf  or  have  a  hearing                                                               
impairment."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:32:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LINDSEY CAUSER, Staff, Representative  Jamie Allard, Alaska State                                                               
Legislature, Presented a PowerPoint titled  "HB 111 - Deaf & Hard                                                               
of Hearing Children's Bill of  Rights" [hard copy included in the                                                               
committee  packet],on  behalf  of  Representative  Allard,  prime                                                               
sponsor.   She began with a  summary of the information  shown on                                                               
slide 2, titled "Who Does HB  111 Effect?," which read as follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
                    WHO DOES HB 111 EFFECT?                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     There are currently 149 deaf or hard of hearing                                                                            
     children in the State of Alaska.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     79 Students in Anchorage                                                                                                   
     3 Students in Annette Island                                                                                               
     12 Students in Fairbanks                                                                                                   
     3 Students in Galena                                                                                                       
     3 Students in Juneau                                                                                                       
     9 Students in Kenai Peninsula                                                                                              
     5 Students in Kodiak Island                                                                                                
     14 Students in Mat-Su                                                                                                      
     9 Students in Northwest Arctic                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:33:39 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CAUSER  continued to  slide  3,  titled "What  services  are                                                               
currently being offered?"  She  explained that the services being                                                               
offered are based on the  district and their available resources.                                                               
She added that  currently, there is nothing that  says the school                                                               
districts must provide the  information about resources available                                                               
to  the students,  adding that  the bill  would ensure  that each                                                               
district is  providing the  same resources  and making  sure that                                                               
students  and parents  are aware.    She further  noted that  the                                                               
school for  the deaf  is currently  in admininstrative  code, but                                                               
not in statute.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:34:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER continued  to slide 4, titled "What Does  HB 111 Do?,"                                                               
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                    WHAT DOES HB 111 DO?                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     01. School  District shall provide parent  of child who                                                                    
     is  deaf   or  hard  of  hearing   with  comprehensive,                                                                    
     neutral,   and   unbiased    information   on   hearing                                                                    
     technology,  methods  of  communication,  services  and                                                                    
     programs, and support and  advocacy services offered by                                                                    
     public and private agencies.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     02. Allows  the parent of a  child who is deaf  or hard                                                                    
     of hearing  to choose the method  of communication that                                                                    
     the parent determines is the most appropriate.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     03. Requires school district  to provide services using                                                                    
     the  parent's chosen  method of  communication for  the                                                                    
     child.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     04. School  district shall deliver services  to a child                                                                    
     who is  deaf or  hard of hearing  through professionals                                                                    
     with  training,  experience,   and  background  in  the                                                                    
     chosen  method  of  communication and  shall  inform  a                                                                    
     parent of  a child who is  deaf or heard of  hearing of                                                                    
     the school districts duties and  of the parent's rights                                                                    
     provided.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     05.  Defines the  following terms;  bilingual approach,                                                                    
     cued  speech,  deaf,  hard of  hearing,  listening  and                                                                    
     spoken language, and total communication                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     06. Will  codify the existence of  a centralized school                                                                    
     of the  deaf, moving it  from Admin Code to  Statue for                                                                    
     those that  it is  determined placement at  the program                                                                    
     is  appropriate   for  a  child  who   resides  in  the                                                                    
     district.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER further  explained that it [the bill]  would not force                                                               
every child who is deaf or hard  of hearing in the state to go to                                                               
school in Anchorage.  Instead,  it would provide the services for                                                               
those who want to  stay with family and want to  be taught in the                                                               
school they are already enrolled in.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:36:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER gave the sectional analysis for HB 111, which read as                                                                
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Section   1:  amends   AS  14.30.272   by  adding   new                                                                  
     subsections:                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     1.   School   district   must   provide   parent   with                                                                    
     comprehensive information regarding,                                                                                       
          a. Hearing technology                                                                                                 
          b. Different methods of communication                                                                                 
          c.   Services  and   programs  designed   to  help                                                                    
     children who are deaf and hard of hearing                                                                                  
          d.  Information on  support and  advocacy services                                                                    
     offered by public and private agencies.                                                                                    
     2.  Parent chooses  the  method  of communication  that                                                                    
     will be the most appropriate for their child.                                                                              
     3.   Services   are    delivered   to   child   through                                                                    
     professionals   with   training,   experience   and   a                                                                    
     background in the chosen method of communication.                                                                          
          d. School  District must  inform parent  of school                                                                    
     districts duties  and the parents rights  under section                                                                    
     c.                                                                                                                         
          e. In this section,                                                                                                   
               1. Definition of "bilingual approach"                                                                            
               2.Definition of "cued speech"                                                                                    
               3.Definition of "deaf"                                                                                           
               4. Definition of "hard of hearing"                                                                               
               5. Definition of "Listening and spoken                                                                           
                  language"                                                                                                     
               6. Definition of "total communication"                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section  2:  amends  AS  14.30.276   by  adding  a  new                                                                  
     subsection  that requires  the department  to establish                                                                    
     and operate  a centralized  program for  students whose                                                                    
     primary  language  is  American Sign  Language  in  the                                                                    
     least  restrictive  environment   for  those  students,                                                                    
     provide residential  services as  part of  the program,                                                                    
     establishes  that a  school  district  may operate  the                                                                    
     program  under   specific  requirements,   and  provide                                                                    
     funding  for  the  students   who  attend  the  program                                                                    
     operated by  a school districted under  this subsection                                                                    
     to that school district.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER added  that the attached fiscal note  shows a one-time                                                               
fee  of  $6,000  for  legal   fees  to  implement  the  necessary                                                               
regulation changes.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:39:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD welcomed invited testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
8:39:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease at 8:39 a.m.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:39:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDREA  SAMUEL, representing  self,  testified in  support of  HB
111.   She said  one of  her children  uses cochlear  implants to                                                               
listen and talk, and informed  the committee of her background as                                                               
a practicing  speech and  language pathologist  for ten  years at                                                               
the time  of her  daughter's birth.   Her job,  she said,  was to                                                               
help  individuals  with   communication  disorders  regain  their                                                               
ability  to access  language, but  with  all the  tools she  had,                                                               
educating a  deaf or hard of  hearing child was not  one of them.                                                               
She said  there is not  currently a universal means  of screening                                                               
[for hearing  loss], and  there are families  who are  faced with                                                               
communication  decisions that  may  look  different than  parents                                                               
whose  child's  hearing  loss  was  detected  at  birth.    These                                                               
families need  unbiased counseling  and need  to "make  the final                                                               
call" as to what they want  for their child, therefore, the right                                                               
professionals need to  be available.  She  reiterated her support                                                               
for HB 111 and all things recognized within the bill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:45:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX asked  Ms. Samuel  whether her  pediatrician                                                               
helped diagnose the [hearing] problem with her child.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SAMUEL  replied  that in  2008,  newborn  hearing  screening                                                               
[Early  Hearing  Detection  and  Intervention]  was  mandated  in                                                               
Alaska so hospitals would have  hearing screeners in place, which                                                               
is how she  found out about her child's hearing.   She added that                                                               
she had to go out of state due to lack of resources.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:48:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  asked  whether   Ms.  Samuel  financed  her                                                               
child's  care  through  personal finances,  insurance,  or  other                                                               
means.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL replied, "All of the above."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  offered his understanding that  in the bill,                                                               
hearing problems  might not  be detected  until the  child enters                                                               
the school  system. He expresses  his concern about  the lateness                                                               
of that detection.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL concurred;  however, she noted that  most children are                                                               
getting their hearing  assessed at birth so the  parents would be                                                               
aware.   She said there  is also  the possibility of  later onset                                                               
hearing loss which would not be caught right away.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:52:27 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  expressed his interest in  Ms. Samuel's                                                               
background in  education and experience  in her  school district.                                                               
He asked how  the bill would help the  relationship, or barriers,                                                               
to her child's education.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL  replied that she was  lucky to live in  the Anchorage                                                               
School District, which  is fairly well resourced.   She said what                                                               
she  would like  to  see  is more  awareness  among teachers  and                                                               
administrators  in supporting  a child  with hearing  loss.   She                                                               
added that environmental modifications  are important, as well as                                                               
a well-versed educational audiologist on hand to counsel staff.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:56:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RUFFRIDGE asked  Ms. Samuel  for her  thoughts on                                                               
whether more statutory  mandates are needed for  districts in the                                                               
state  to  be  able  to   provide  the  resources  she  had  been                                                               
discussing.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL  replied yes  because often times  what she  had seen,                                                               
she said, is  that school districts "kick the can  down the road"                                                               
when they are faced with a  task they are not well resourced for.                                                               
She opined  that the  bill would correct  many issues  facing the                                                               
treatment and  education of  hearing-impaired students  and their                                                               
parents.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:58:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RUFFRIDGE asked  Ms. Samuel  whether the  bill in                                                               
its current form would do what she hoped.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SAMUEL replied  that the  bill would  provide the  structure                                                               
that will  result in a function.   She added that  the bill would                                                               
make  clear to  the school  districts  that all  options must  be                                                               
presented for helping deaf and hard of hearing students.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:00:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  reiterated  that  the bill  would  have  a                                                               
$6,000  fiscal  note for  the  Department  of Education  &  Early                                                               
Development (DEED), and she asked  Ms. Samuel for her thoughts on                                                               
districts  needing the  resources.   She  drew  attention to  the                                                               
Special  Education Service  Agency  (SESA) and  asked Ms.  Samuel                                                               
whether she had any insights into the agency.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL  offered her perception  about how much  funding would                                                               
be  attached to  the bill  when there  is $6000  available.   She                                                               
acknowledged  the  state's  current   deficit,  but  that  is  an                                                               
important part of  passing a bill.  She added  that there is also                                                               
money  that   comes  from   the  Individuals   with  Disabilities                                                               
Education  Act  (IDEA)  that   serves  special  education  (SPED)                                                               
children.   Regardless  of  how  much money  the  state has,  she                                                               
opined, the  proposed legislation is  the right thing to  do, and                                                               
needs to be in place.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:03:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER  drew attention to page  2, line 3-7 of  the bill, and                                                               
reiterated  that  the  parent  gets   to  choose  the  method  of                                                               
communication  that they  determine  to be  most appropriate  for                                                               
their child.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:04:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD added  that deaf  and hard  of hearing  children                                                               
should  be  provided  with  the  same  opportunities  as  hearing                                                               
children.  If students choose  not to attend a specialized school                                                               
for  the deaf  and hard  of hearing,  they can  go to  any public                                                               
school of their choosing.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:05:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER revisited  the fiscal note and shared  her belief that                                                               
the  increase   for  intensive  students  and   SPED  would  fall                                                               
underneath the  base student  allocation (BSA) and  be a  part of                                                               
the formula increase.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:05:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT reinforced  her support  for the  bill.                                                               
She highlighted page  3, line 3, and asked  whether the statement                                                               
"must provide residential services"  would generate an additional                                                               
fiscal note, and whether it had been addressed.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CAUSER believed  it was  addressed in  the fiscal  note, but                                                               
offered to follow up with the committee.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:06:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY   expressed  concern  about   the  language                                                               
starting  on page  3, line  9, "if  a school  district determines                                                               
that placement at the program  is appropriate", and asked whether                                                               
 parent should replace the term school district.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:07:52 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD offered  her belief that it was  addressed in the                                                               
first part of the bill.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:08:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL offered closing comments  and said there is funding in                                                               
place through federal  law, adding that [the bill]  was not going                                                               
above what  is already in federal  law.  She reiterated  that the                                                               
bill  would make  things specific  so that  school districts  are                                                               
more informed of  what to do with  kids who are deaf  and hard of                                                               
hearing.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:09:02 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  STORY  addressed  the school  districts   funding                                                               
through IDEA,  and shared her  belief that many children  who are                                                               
deaf do not receive the "intensive  times 13" funding, due to the                                                               
intense criteria,  including the need  of an aide present  at all                                                               
times.    She  offered  her understanding  that  districts  would                                                               
struggle to  meet the  need, and opined  that more  fiscal monies                                                               
should be with the bill.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. SAMUEL acknowledged  the shortage of individual  aides in the                                                               
districts.  She explained that  some children do not need one-on-                                                               
one   aides;  however,   they  need   other  supports,   such  as                                                               
environmental supports.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:11:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  clarified that the funding  that comes with                                                               
a full-time aide is needed in many cases.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS.  SAMUEL  likened kids  to  bonds,  indicating that  an  early                                                               
investment is  going to make a  difference.  The bill  would give                                                               
children the access they need to learn, she said.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:12:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD  related that she  worked with Ms. Samuel  on the                                                               
bill and she was an intricate part.   She opined that no cost was                                                               
too high  to establish education  for all children,  and believed                                                               
that no child is less important than another.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:13:15 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD  SAVILLE,  Program  Coordinator,  Governor's  Council  on                                                               
Disabilities and  Special Education,  testified in support  of HB
111,  and provided  a summary  of his  role in  the council,  and                                                               
noted his  position as vice  chair for the Deaf  Education Board.                                                               
He   explained  that   17  other   states  have   passed  similar                                                               
legislation, known as the  deaf  children's bill of rights  [Bill                                                               
of Rights for Deaf and Hard  of Hearing Children].  He alluded to                                                               
a  number of  reasons, as  laid out  in the  presentation by  Ms.                                                               
Causer, to  support the bill.   He  emphasized that the  key idea                                                               
was parent  and family choice.   The bill, he said,  would ensure                                                               
that  all  families   of  deaf  and  hard   of  hearing  children                                                               
understand   all  the   resources   available  to   them.     The                                                               
aspirational  aspect of  the bill,  he said,  is that  in Alaska,                                                               
deaf and hard of hearing children  would be treated as equals and                                                               
receive the support they need to fulfill their full potential.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:18:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. SAVILLE wished  to address questions from  the committee, but                                                               
first pointed out that the statewide  school for deaf and hard of                                                               
hearing is located in Anchorage,  Alaska, and funded through both                                                               
the  Anchorage   School  District   and  partially   through  the                                                               
Department  of  Education  and  Early  Development  (DEED).    He                                                               
briefly  explained how  housing  works for  rural  children.   He                                                               
noted that he  also works with SESA, as  Representative Story had                                                               
touched on earlier in the hearing.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:21:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  pointed  out that  some  services  provided                                                               
through the  Anchorage School  District meet  some of  the needs;                                                               
however,  he asked  for clarification  on  how much  need is  not                                                               
being met.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SAVILLE  replied  that  he   could  not  provide  an  answer                                                               
currently.   He reiterated that  the funding is not  only through                                                               
the Anchorage School District.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:22:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY  questioned whether there is  enough funding                                                               
being provided, and  whether a larger fiscal note is  needed.  In                                                               
reference  to the  gaps in  services mentioned  by Representative                                                               
Prax, she asked for more clarification from Mr. Saville.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. SAVILLE stated that there  are staffing shortages everywhere,                                                               
and  anything  that  can  be   done  to  promote  recruitment  is                                                               
welcomed; however, he  said he was not  comfortable answering the                                                               
specific question  on the needs  of children  not being met.   He                                                               
offered to gather information and  provide it to the committee at                                                               
a later date.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:25:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD reported  that the  number of  deaf and  hard of                                                               
hearing children in  Alaska was 149, adding that  few people know                                                               
American Sign Language (ASL).  She  pointed out that in the bill,                                                               
a parent  would be  allowed to  go into  a child's  classroom and                                                               
interpret.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:25:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  shared with  the committee that  he had                                                               
read through the Guidance for  Special Education Personnel [found                                                               
on DEED's website] and found  a section on teachers with students                                                               
who  are  visually  impaired  or   deaf,  who  have  the  primary                                                               
responsibility   for   planning   educational   programs.      He                                                               
highlighted  page  2,  line  7  of  the  bill,  which  referenced                                                               
delivering   services  to   deaf   children.     He  shared   his                                                               
understanding that the provision  would codify a requirement that                                                               
was not  being met into  regulation.  He  asked how the  state is                                                               
doing for the 149 deaf or hard of hearing individuals.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:28:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SAVILLE responded  that he  did  not think  the language  in                                                               
Section 2 was  any different.  He  asked Representative Ruffridge                                                               
to repeat his question.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  clarified that  he was  seeking clarity                                                               
on  where Alaska  stands  in serving  the 149  deaf  and hard  of                                                               
hearing   students,  and   whether   having   a  special   school                                                               
specifically  for the  deaf and  hard of  hearing children  would                                                               
fall outside what  [educators] are already asked to  do, which is                                                               
educate kids in the environment in which they live.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. SAVILLE  believed that having  the school is good  because it                                                               
allows families to  make the choice about what is  best for their                                                               
children.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE asked  how the state was  doing in terms                                                               
of following  the guidance for  special education  personnel, for                                                               
example.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. SAVILLE  replied that  he would look  into specifics  and get                                                               
back to the committee at a later date.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:32:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  MCKAY asked  whether the  149 [deaf  and hard  of                                                               
hearing students] fell  under the intensive needs  portion of the                                                               
[Foundation Funding Formula] fully, partially, or not at all.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SAVILLE replied  that  he  did not  have  an  answer to  the                                                               
intensive  needs portion  formula,  noting that  DEED may  better                                                               
speak to that question.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:33:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD  asked  Mr. Saville  whether  he  believed  that                                                               
passing the  proposed legislation  could encourage schools  to be                                                               
more willing  to provide  education to children  who are  deaf or                                                               
hard of hearing.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. SAVILLE shared his belief that statutes carried more weight.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD  asked  whether   Mr.  Enoch  could  respond  to                                                               
Representative McKay's inquiry.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:35:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DONALD  ENOCH, Education  Administrator, Department  of Education                                                               
and Early  Development (DEED),  explained that  it is  a district                                                               
responsibility   to  submit   whether  they   want  the   child's                                                               
individualized education plan (IEP)  to be reviewed for intensive                                                               
funding.    He  added  that  students  with  hearing  and  visual                                                               
impairments  that require  specialized  instruction are  exempted                                                               
from  the  seven  criteria that  most  intensive  needs  students                                                               
follow.   He added  that a  full-time aide would  be waived.   He                                                               
confirmed that  students considered deaf would  still qualify for                                                               
the intensive funding under the category of "deafness."                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:36:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD  thanked  Mr.   Enoch  for  his  helpful  input,                                                               
especially in regard to funding.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:37:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT  commented that  the IEP "carries  a lot                                                               
of  weight" and  people are  responsive to  it; nonetheless,  she                                                               
said there was more to do.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:37:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX referred  to  a  previous testifier's  story                                                               
about discovering the  hearing loss of her child  well before the                                                               
child's  involvement  in  the  education  system.    He  said  by                                                               
focusing  only  on the  school  district,  many children  may  be                                                               
missed,  and opined  that  assessments should  be  taken care  of                                                               
through  the   Department  of  Health  (DOH)   for  checkups  and                                                               
detection to discover potential problems earlier.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:39:21 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR.  SAVILLE agreed  that there  may be  children missed  between                                                               
birth  and pre-school  and encouraged  a legislative  solution to                                                               
that  problem.   He opined  that including  that language  in the                                                               
bill could only have positive results.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:40:20 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD related a personal  anecdote about her daughter's                                                               
hearing  issue,  explaining that  the  discovery  was made  by  a                                                               
school  nurse.   She stated  that she  does not  doubt there  are                                                               
still  kids  struggling with  hearing  loss,  and emphasized  the                                                               
importance of addressing it as early as possible.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:41:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked Mr. Enoch to describe Child Find.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ENOCH explained  that Child  Find is  a federal  requirement                                                               
that all school  districts must participate in;  however, not all                                                               
districts  participate  the  same  way.    Larger  districts  may                                                               
participate on a  monthly basis, and smaller districts  on an as-                                                               
needed basis.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HIMSCHOOT asked  what ages  were covered  through                                                               
Child  Find,  and  whether  hearing  loss in  a  child  would  be                                                               
detected in a Child Find screening.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH replied  the ages for SPED services are  typically 3 to                                                               
5 and could reach up to age 22.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:43:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE offered his  understanding that in order                                                               
for an IEP to qualify for  intensive needs funding, a child would                                                               
need  to  require full  time  services  of  an interpreter.    He                                                               
referred  to Ms.  Samuel's testimony  about  the technology  that                                                               
allowed  children  to  have their  education  given  in  multiple                                                               
language formats  and do not  always require an interpreter.   He                                                               
asked whether there is a  concern that individuals who don't need                                                               
one-on-one time,  but still qualify  as deaf or hard  of hearing,                                                               
would not qualify for intensive needs funding.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH  responded that when  intensive review files  are being                                                               
done for students who require  an interpreter at any point during                                                               
the day, that student would qualify for intensive funding.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RUFFRIDGE sought  to confirm  that a  student who                                                               
required  an interpreter  only one  day of  the week  would still                                                               
qualify for the intensive needs funding.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH  replied that the  intensive funding reviews  provide a                                                               
foundation for how the files  are reviewed, and intensive reviews                                                               
have gone through many changes  including regulatory changes.  In                                                               
all  circumstances, he  said, and  on the  rare occasion  where a                                                               
student requires  an interpreter only  once a week,  the district                                                               
would be contacted and informed  of a waiver process available to                                                               
them.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  RUFFRIDGE asked  whether a  student who  does not                                                               
require  an   interpreter  would  qualify  for   intensive  needs                                                               
funding.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH said that would be  a district decision.  He added that                                                               
the  state  does not  require  districts  to ask  for  additional                                                               
funding, but  most districts  do.  Based  on criteria  written in                                                               
the regulations  in their practices,  the student  would qualify,                                                               
he said.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE  focused on the 149  children identified                                                               
as deaf or  hard of hearing in state and  asked Mr. Enoch whether                                                               
he could give an estimate  of the percentage of these individuals                                                               
who qualify for intensive needs funding.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH confirmed  that he could provide the answer  at a later                                                               
date.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:48:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked  whether DEED had done  any auditing or                                                               
conducted any  studies to  get an estimate  of how  many children                                                               
may be "falling through the cracks."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ENOCH replied  that  is typically  handled  at the  district                                                               
level through  the Child Find  process and referrals.   The issue                                                               
is  making  sure  the  districts  are aware  of  the  Child  Find                                                               
requirements.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked  Mr. Enoch whether he  had received any                                                               
complaints or indications from parents  that school districts may                                                               
be  aware of  a  need for  services but  are  not providing  said                                                               
services under the current system.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
MR. ENOCH confirmed  that he had received a  number of complaints                                                               
from parents  not satisfied with  services being received  at the                                                               
school  district level;  however,  he  offered his  understanding                                                               
that none have been specific to deafness.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  PRAX  commented  on  the  general  sense  of  the                                                               
complaints, and asked  what DEED does as follow  up procedures to                                                               
complaints.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MR.  ENOCH  explained that  in  the  event  of a  compliant,  the                                                               
district   investigates,  and   all   parties   are  spoken   to.                                                               
Afterwards, he said, a report is  generated for all levels and if                                                               
a district is in default, a corrective action would be issued.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:51:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD opened public testimony on HB 111.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:51:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HEATHER BATCHELDER,  representing self,  testified in  support of                                                               
HB 111.    Before testifying, she clarified that  under Part C of                                                               
IDEA there are  Child Find and early intervention  services.  She                                                               
stated that  children who are deaf  and hard of hearing  are born                                                               
with the  same ability  to acquire language  as any  other child,                                                               
and they deserve  the same opportunities to do so.   All families                                                               
of  deaf and  hard  of  hearing students  should  have access  to                                                               
appropriate  early intervention,  family education  services, and                                                               
state resources.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:55:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD  ascertained that no  one else wished  to testify                                                               
and announced  that she would  leave public testimony open  on HB
111.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:56:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR  ALLARD invited  questions and  comments from  committee                                                               
members.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:56:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX  commented that he  would like to  check with                                                               
the Fairbanks North  Star Borough School District to  get an idea                                                               
of what's  going on  from the boroughs   perspective.   He opined                                                               
that [the  legislature] was rushing  this proposal and  needed to                                                               
hear more from DOH regarding well checks.  He added that the                                                                    
legislature should go slow and deliberate with the bill.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:58:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CAUSER echoed Mr. Savilles sentiments about statutes                                                                        
holding more weight.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:58:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that HB 111 was held over.                                                                            

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 111 Letter of Support - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bill of Rights.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 111
HB 111 LOS A2P2 - Help Me Grow Alaska.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 111
Hope - Support Letter.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB111- Hope - Support Letter
HB111 CS.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 111
Hearing Request - HEC.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB111 Hearing Request
Sectional Analysis.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB111 Sectional Analysis
Sponsor Statement.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB111 - Sponsor Statement
HB111 presentation.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 111
HB106 - Sectional Analysis.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 106
HB106 - Sponsor Statement.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 106
HB106- House Education Hearing Request.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 106
HB0106A.PDF HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 106
HB0106-Fiscal Note.PDF HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 106
HB0105A.PDF HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
HB105 - Sectional Analysis.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
HB105- House Education Hearing Request 3-8-2023.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
HB105 Sponsor Statement.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
HB105-Fiscal Note.PDF HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Constituent Emails.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB111 - emails
HB111 testimony - Andrea Samuel.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 111
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 24.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 25.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 26.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 27.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 28.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 29.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 30.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 31.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105
Public Testimony HB105 - April Packet 32.pdf HEDC 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM
HB 105