Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/02/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB147 | |
HB186 | |
HB192 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HB 251 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 237 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
*+ | HB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 192 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | SB 37 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 186 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 147-RETIRED TEACHER CERTIFICATE 3:17:19 PM CHAIR SUMNER announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to teacher certificates for retired teachers." 3:18:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE MAXINE DIBERT, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, read the sponsor statement [included in 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. 3:22:53 PM TAMMY SMITH, Staff, Representative Maxine Dibert, on behalf of the prime sponsor, Representative Dibert, read the sectional analysis [included in committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: *Section 1: Amends AS 14.20.020(g) That the department shall issue, at no cost to the person, a teacher certificate to a person who possessed a valid Alaska teacher certificate upon retirement. A teacher certificate issued under this subsection is valid for the life of the retired teacher and qualifies the holder as a substitute teacher in the state. A teacher certified under this subsection may teach as a long-term substitute teacher for not more than 165 consecutive days of a school term. In this subsection, "long-term substitute teacher" means a teacher who is employed in the state to substitute teach for more than 20 consecutive days of a school term. *Section 2: Amends the uncodified law of the State of Alaska by adding a new section to read: Applicability. This act applies to a contract or collective bargaining agreement that becomes legally binding on or after the effective date of this Act. 3:23:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS inquired as to why the number of consecutive days would be limited. MS. SMITH explained that, in 2016, a substitute teacher could substitute for up to 120 days; this was changed to allow for more time for a long-term certified teacher to be in the classroom consecutively. She said that change had to do with the amount of allowable pay there is for a position that has a substitute teacher in it. She said the change also incentivized districts to hire a new active certified teacher first rather than a retired substitute teacher. 3:25:59 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked if Representative Dibert is introducing HB 147 because retired teachers are on a fixed income. REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT answered that schools need substitute teachers, and the proposed retired lifetime certificate would be an incentive to get retired teachers into schools. 3:27:17 PM MS. SMITH added that retired teachers are on a fixed income. She said that, while she herself is retired, she holds lifetime certification. She explained that people with such certification are people who chose not to renew their active certification; the bill is an opportunity for them to reignite into the profession. 3:27:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER offered his understanding that 180 instructional days is a teacher's full-year workload. He asked why a retired teacher would want to come back to just be a full- time long-term substitute. MS. SMITH illustrated an example using herself: if she let her teaching certification lapse, it would lapse in two years. She said part of renewing certification requires attaining credits, and getting such credits can cost a lot of money. She explained that, in order for her to maintain her certification, she has to have six continuing credits. She shared that school districts allow the teacher to take a credit through a district program, which would make getting credits less expensive. She said she is unsure if she would want to go back to being an active certified teacher because it "is a young people's game"; districts should be encouraged to always be looking for early career educators. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked for the dollar amount for re- certification. He also inquired about the general shortage of substitute teachers. MS. SMITH answered that each credit may cost $100 to $400 per credit. The certificate itself costs $240. 3:32:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK shared that she was a substitute teacher who was mentored by a retired teacher. She asked, since the legislation proposes to remove the one-time fee, if it is a barrier for some. MS. SMITH responded that she did not hear whether it was a barrier; however, there is a difference between a person who retires and maintains certification versus another who retires and wants to teach five years later as the likelihood of them wanting to go through the certification process decreases. 3:34:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX offered his understanding that a teacher must undergo recertification every few years. MS. SMITH answered that's correct. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked if a retired teacher would need to get the proposed retired teacher license within two years of their certification. MS. SMITH offered that, if a teacher is on active certification, they cannot let the license lapse or else there is additional coursework they must do. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX said he could imagine a situation where a teacher is planning to retire, their certification lapses, and they come back seeking a retired teacher certificate. He asked whether the teacher would be able to get the certificate in that scenario. MS. SMITH answered that she believes they could but needs confirmation from the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). 3:36:29 PM REBECCA ZAVERL, Principal, Denali Elementary School, Fairbanks School District, shared that she has been teaching at Denali Elementary School since 2001 and was mentored by teachers working at the school. She said she became principal three years ago, and that her greatest worry is checking to see who called out sick; today she had 10 staff out and had only two substitutes. She recalled that no one applied for music teacher at the beginning of the school year, so a retired teacher returned to fill the spot as such teachers make up her substitute pool. She pointed out that returning retired teachers mentor new teachers. She said the bill will offer appreciation and respect to long-time educators by covering the cost of their teaching certificate for life. 3:40:09 PM SEAN PRINCE, President, Anchorage Principals Association, said he is in support of HB 147 and dealing with the substitute crisis across the state. He listed several reasons why a high school teacher may need a substitute, both in planned and unplanned absences. He explained that it is easy to point to an experienced teacher to be a substitute, and while the current substitutes in the district do a fair job, they are not professional educators. He stated that HB 147 could meet the substitute need by removing the cost for retired teachers to obtain a lifetime certificate; extending the substitute period from 120 days to 165 days; and encouraging retired and soon to be retired teachers to remain in the state. He recalled when he had a teacher who taught math in the special education section of the school and said it is important that such teachers are retained since they are rare to find. He said that, when the teacher retired after 28 years, he could not find a replacement; however, when he called her to fill in the vacancy, she agreed to come back for three years. 3:45:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked whether the bill just covers teachers who retired and want to retain the certificate, or if it would also cover teachers who retired and let their certification lapse. 3:45:31 PM KELLY MANNING, Director, Innovation and Education Excellence, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), answered that the lifetime certification would apply to any retired teacher. She said they do not need to have a current certification to be eligible. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX sought confirmation that any person who has held a teaching certificate and is in retirement can apply for the proposed lifetime certificate. MS. MANNING answered that's correct. 3:46:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER inquired as to whether the bill would facilitate retired teachers returning just as a mentor to teachers. MS. SMITH responded, "That's not really the purpose of this." She said that, when there is a retired teacher on staff, it just naturally evolves into mentoring new teachers. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked if the retired teacher has to be teaching or could be hired as a master teacher to mentor others. 3:48:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE DIBERT said the retired teacher with a lifetime certificate would have to apply to be a substitute in the district. REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER reiterated the question. MS. SMITH answered no, as being a mentor would be a different position. 3:49:27 PM CHAIR SUMNER announced HB 147 was held over.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HB192 Letter of Support - Uber Eats.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
AK HB 192 - letter of support FINAL.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
DOLWD HB 186 Response.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 186 |
HB 147 I am oppossed to the non-payment for the license..docx |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 147 |
HB192 Support Letter HLC 2-13-24.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |
HB192 Amendments Updated.pdf |
HL&C 2/2/2024 3:15:00 PM |
HB 192 |