Legislature(2023 - 2024)DAVIS 106
03/20/2024 08:00 AM House EDUCATION
Note: the audio
and video
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
University of Alaska Board of Regents|| Alaska State Board of Education and Early Development | |
HB147 | |
HB382 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HB 391 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 382 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+ | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
HB 147-RETIRED TEACHER CERTIFICATE 9:33:22 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE announced that the next order of business would be HB 147, "An act relating to teacher certificates for retired teachers." 9:33:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, introduced HB 147 and paraphrased the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: The first thing this bill seeks to do is honor teachers in the State of Alaska for their years of dedication to our youth by providing them with a lifetime teachers certificate at no cost. Under current law, retired teachers pay a one-time $250 fee for this type of certificate. The current fee brings very little revenue to the state. Retired teachers normally only seek a life-time certificate if they plan on re-entering the classroom as substitutes. The other thing this bill does is extend the number of consecutive days a retired teacher holding this type of certificate can long-term substitute from 120 days to 165 days. This allows a person holding this type of certificate to fill in as a long-term substitute for more than an entire semester in cases where absences continue for extended periods. Alaska educators occasionally must take a leave of absence from their classroom for different reasons including medical procedures, caring for a child or elder, the birth of a child, as well as other emergencies. On rare occasions, teachers abruptly exit a position mid-year for personal reasons, leaving the school in a bind. When regular teachers must leave positions during the academic year, this bill will take some pressure off schools in finding skilled, qualified substitutes and allow them to fill longer vacancies than previously allowed. This bill also encourages retired teachers to share their expertise with students and young teachers and to remain living in Alaska as active members of communities and contributors to the economy. REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT additionally shared an anecdote from her recent visit to her alma mater, Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks, and spoke of her seventh-grade teacher who was asked to be a long-term substitute teacher. 9:39:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked for an explanation of the current limitation on the number of days [a teacher can long-term substitute] and how HB 147 would change the limitation of the number of days. 9:39:31 AM TAMMY SMITH, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, Alaska State Legislature, answered questions during the hearing on HB 147 on behalf of Representative Dibert, prime sponsor. She addressed Representative Himschoot and explained that currently the number of days was increased to 165 from 120 due to schools being in need of substitute teachers for a very long time. Being that a school year is approximately 180 days, she explained, school districts must post positions for at least 10 days so the 165 pushes it into the new school year. The bill would provide ample time for districts to have a long-term substitute teacher in a position, she said. 9:41:04 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX sought to clarify that the 165 school days excluded weekends. MS. SMITH confirmed that was correct and that it included student contact days. 9:41:25 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD wished to make sure the public was aware that Representative Dibert's staff communicated with the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) in order for the department to be supportive of the bill. MS. SMITH confirmed that was correct. 9:41:44 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT inquired about how many teachers hold the lifetime certificate. MS. SMITH said DEED was online for further clarification, but that the number had increased to about 1,000. 9:42:22 AM KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Division of Innovation and Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development, answered questions during the hearing on HB 147 and clarified that she could get back to the committee with exact numbers. She added that there are approximately 100 retired teachers per year who apply for the retired teachers certification. 9:42:46 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT offered her understanding that the lifetime certificates are not counted on for funding for the Professional Teaching Practices Commission (PTPC). MS. MANNING replied that receipts DEED collects from retired teacher certification fees would go into it; however, it comes from all receipts from teacher certifications. 9:44:08 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY asked to be reminded of the number of vacancy rates for teaching staff across the state. MS. SMITH responded that she did not have the rates. MS. MANNING added that she did not have the current teacher vacancy rates on hand but would get back to the committee at a later date. She further noted that teacher turnover varies by area. 9:45:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK moved to report HB 147 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 9:45:55 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE objected for the purpose of discussion. He noted there was no public testimony for HB 147 in the House Education Standing Committee, but there was in a prior committee; therefore, he said he was not opposed to moving the bill and removed his objection. There being no further objection, HB 147 was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.