Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/07/2001 01:37 PM Senate HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 64-HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOR CERTAIN WWII VETS
MAJOR GENERAL PHIL OATES, Commissioner of the Department of
Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), stated that SB 64 honors our
veterans and recognizes the achievements that WWII veterans made to
our country. Some 15 states have already enacted legislation
awarding high school diplomas to WWII veterans and 11 states have
legislation pending. About 63,000 veterans live in Alaska today;
about 10 percent of those are WWII vets. About 150 Alaska veterans
would be eligible to receive a high school diploma under SB 64,
including Alaska's Territorial National Guard members.
SB 64 applies to WWII veterans who dropped out of high school or
did not finish high school because of their military service. This
project is known nationally as Operation Recognition. During WWII,
many men and women left the comforts of home and high school to
fight. Later in life, many wished they had received a diploma.
Providing one is the least we can do as a sign of respect and
recognition. SB 64 will allow the Alaska Department of Education
and Early Development (DOEED) to award a diploma to WWII veterans
who served during the period from August 7, 1940 to July 5, 1947.
Veterans with a GED are also eligible. He asked committee members
to support the bill.
SENATOR WARD joined the committee.
SENATOR LEMAN asked, tongue in cheek, "General Oates, you know how
we've been working for accountability in our education system, do
you think it would be appropriate to have these veterans pass the
competency exam?"
MAJOR GENERAL OATES replied, "Senator Leman, since we're not quite
to the competency exam period, I think we'll move with haste at
this time." He added he is quite confident that all of these
veterans have exceeded the requirements expected of a high school
graduate.
SENATOR WARD asked if SB 64 applies to the Merchant Marines who
were called to duty.
MAJOR GENERAL OATES said it does as they are recognized as
veterans.
CHAIR GREEN announced that she sponsored an amendment at the
request of DMVA. The intent of the amendment is to allow WWII
veterans who later received a general equivalency diploma to apply
for a high school diploma. It reads:
Page 1, lines 12-13, delete "or general equivalency diploma".
SENATOR WARD moved to adopt the amendment. There being no
discussion or objection, the motion carried.
There being no further questions, SENATOR LEMAN moved CSSB 64(HES)
from committee with individual recommendations and its zero fiscal
note.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|