Legislature(2015 - 2016)CAPITOL 106

04/06/2016 08:00 AM House EDUCATION

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08:05:56 AM Start
08:06:34 AM HB352
09:58:19 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ HB 352 LIMIT ABORTION SERV. PROVIDERS IN SCHOOLS TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
               HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                             
                         April 6, 2016                                                                                          
                           8:05 a.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Wes Keller, Chair                                                                                                
Representative Liz Vazquez, Vice Chair                                                                                          
Representative Jim Colver                                                                                                       
Representative Paul Seaton                                                                                                      
Representative David Talerico                                                                                                   
Representative Harriet Drummond                                                                                                 
Representative Ivy Spohnholz                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
All members present                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 352                                                                                                              
"An Act relating  to disciplinary sanctions imposed  by the State                                                               
Medical  Board;  restricting  employees  and  representatives  of                                                               
abortion services providers, and  affiliates of abortion services                                                               
providers, from delivering  instruction or distributing materials                                                               
in public  schools and providing civil  penalties for violations;                                                               
relating  to revocation  or suspension  of teacher  certificates;                                                               
relating to  the receipt  of state funds  by teachers  and school                                                               
board members; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 352                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: LIMIT ABORTION SERV. PROVIDERS IN SCHOOLS                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) GATTIS                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
02/24/16       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/24/16       (H)       EDC, L&C                                                                                               
04/06/16       (H)       EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN GATTIS                                                                                                      
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented HB 352 as prime sponsor.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ANDY HOLLEMAN, Spokesperson                                                                                                     
Anchorage Education Association (AEA)                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
JUDY ANDREE, Spokesperson                                                                                                       
League of Women Voters                                                                                                          
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE NIEMI                                                                                                                 
Douglas, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
JANE ANDREEN, President, Alaska Public Health Association (APHA)                                                                
Chair, Statewide Steering Committee for the                                                                                     
Alaska Women's Lobby (AWL)                                                                                                      
Douglas, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ALYSON CURRY, Representative                                                                                                    
Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii                                                                                   
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
LISA EAGAN LAGERQUIST                                                                                                           
Douglas, Alaska                                                                                                                 
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
DEBI BALLAM, RN                                                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352; her                                                                   
statement was read into the record by Lisa Eagan Lagerquist.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AURORA HOEFFERLE                                                                                                                
Dillingham, Alaska                                                                                                              
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ROBIN SMITH                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CATHY CLORNEN                                                                                                                   
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
JESSICA CLER                                                                                                                    
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
KENNI PSENAK-LINDEN                                                                                                             
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ANNA MEREDITH, Program Manager                                                                                                  
Youth Health Education                                                                                                          
Kachemak Bay Family Planning                                                                                                    
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CATRIONA REYNOLDS                                                                                                               
Clinic Manager                                                                                                                  
Kachemak Bay Family Planning                                                                                                    
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
BUTCH MOORE                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
LANCE ROBERTS                                                                                                                   
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MARY JAY TOUTONGHI                                                                                                              
Soldotna, Alaska                                                                                                                
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MARCI HAWKINS                                                                                                                   
Sutton, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
JOSHUA DECKER, Attorney                                                                                                         
Executive Director                                                                                                              
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in opposition to HB 352.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
PAMELA SAMASH                                                                                                                   
Right to Life Interior Alaska                                                                                                   
Tanana, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
ED GRAY                                                                                                                         
Sitka, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD STOFFEL                                                                                                                 
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHRIS KURKA                                                                                                                     
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
WHITNEY DWIGREN                                                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DALE JUDGE                                                                                                                      
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
HALEY KIRKA                                                                                                                     
Palmer, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CAROLE HART                                                                                                                     
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 352.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
8:05:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WES  KELLER called the  House Education  Standing Committee                                                             
meeting to  order at 8:05  a.m.  Representatives  Keller, Colver,                                                               
Vazquez, Drummond,  Spohnholz, Talerico, and Seaton  were present                                                               
at the call to order.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
        HB 352-LIMIT ABORTION SERV. PROVIDERS IN SCHOOLS                                                                    
                [Contains discussion of SB 191]                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:06:34 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER announced  that the only order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE BILL  NO. 352, "An  Act relating to  disciplinary sanctions                                                               
imposed  by the  State Medical  Board; restricting  employees and                                                               
representatives  of abortion  services providers,  and affiliates                                                               
of abortion  services providers,  from delivering  instruction or                                                               
distributing  materials in  public  schools  and providing  civil                                                               
penalties for  violations; relating  to revocation  or suspension                                                               
of teacher certificates;  relating to the receipt  of state funds                                                               
by  teachers  and school  board  members;  and providing  for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:07:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER referred  to the committee packet and  the memo from                                                               
Legal Services,  from Kate S. Glover,  Legislative Counsel, dated                                                               
4/5/16                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:08:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN  GATTIS, Alaska State  Legislature, presented                                                               
HB 352,  paraphrasing from  a prepared  statement, which  read as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     A  public school  should  be a  place  for students  to                                                                    
     learn skills, gain knowledge, and receive instruction.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     However, there  are special interest groups  that would                                                                    
     like to use schools to  promote their ideas and beliefs                                                                    
     to a captive, young  audience. Many parents have become                                                                    
     alarmed at  what is occurring within  the public school                                                                    
     system, that  they are withdrawing their  children from                                                                    
     neighborhood schools  in record numbers. The  values of                                                                    
     the  family should  be protected  from outside  special                                                                    
     interest groups with an agenda.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     The  purpose  of House  Bill  352  is to  restrict  the                                                                    
     access  of   abortion  services  providers   and  their                                                                    
     affiliates to  public schools.  To be  perfectly clear,                                                                    
     this  bill   does  not  ban  sex   education  from  the                                                                    
     classroom.  It will  not in  any way  hinder districts,                                                                    
     schools or teachers from  instructing students on human                                                                    
     sexuality.  The  legislation  before us  simply  states                                                                    
     that abortion  service providers or affiliates  may not                                                                    
     present  information or  provide their  materials to  a                                                                    
     captive audience of students.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     As a society, we seem to  be putting more and more onto                                                                    
     the school's plate when it  comes to teaching our kids.                                                                    
     As a  result, parents  have not  been made  aware about                                                                    
     the  various groups  that are  coming  into the  public                                                                    
     schools to  teach their children.  Mr. Chair,  this HAS                                                                    
     to change-parents  deserve to  know what's going  on in                                                                    
     the  classroom,  and they  NEED  to  know that  special                                                                    
     interest groups  aren't using school hours  to advocate                                                                    
     their beliefs and practices.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     By  prohibiting abortion  service  providers access  to                                                                    
     public  schools,  our  schools  can focus  on  what  is                                                                    
     important  and leave  private, sensitive  matters where                                                                    
     they belong: in the hands of parents.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:11:16 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER  noted the similar  bill, SB  191, to point  out the                                                               
constitutional  questions  that  have  arisen,  as  well  as  the                                                               
amendments offered by  the Senate members, which  he suggested be                                                               
reviewed by the committee to consider the alignment with HB 352.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:12:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:12 a.m. to 8:14 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:14:48 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  DRUMMOND  expressed  concern  for  not  having  a                                                               
representative  from the  sponsor's  office to  address the  bill                                                               
being put before the committee.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:15:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
8:16:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANDY  HOLLEMAN,  Spokesperson,  Anchorage  Education  Association                                                               
(AEA),  paraphrased  from a  prepared  statement,  which read  as                                                               
follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     I'm speaking on behalf of  the members of the Anchorage                                                                    
     Education  Association.     We   are  the   over  3,000                                                                    
     certificated  individuals  that   staff  the  Anchorage                                                                    
     School District.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Because I  believe our local  school boards  are better                                                                    
     suited  to  make  choices for  their  communities,  I'm                                                                    
     generally opposed to this bill,  but there's a specific                                                                    
     technical problem I'd like to call to your attention.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     My understanding is the Legislature  would like to keep                                                                    
     Planned  Parenthood and  their  representatives out  of                                                                    
     public schools,  and that's why  we have  the language:                                                                    
     An employee  or representative of an  abortion services                                                                    
     provider  or of  an affiliate  of an  abortion services                                                                    
     provider   may  not   (1)   present   or  deliver   any                                                                    
     instruction or  program on any  topic to students  at a                                                                    
     public schoolGLVWULEXWH   materials to  or display                                                                   
     materials for students at a  public schoolRU Later on                                                                    
     a  provider  is  defined  as  "(1)  "abortion  services                                                                    
     provider"   means  a   person  who   performs  elective                                                                    
     abortions"                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     That would seem to indicate  that someone would have to                                                                    
     represent  a PERSON  that actually  performed abortions                                                                    
     for this  law to prohibit  them from presenting  in the                                                                    
     classroom. But Planned Parenthood  is an ENTITY…..not a                                                                    
     person. If  someone works for  PP, they don't  work for                                                                    
     "a person" that performs abortions.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     But if  your law DOES  prohibit someone that  works for                                                                    
     PP  from  presenting material  "on  any  subject" in  a                                                                    
     classroom, then  it most certainly would  also prohibit                                                                    
     any  person   that  works   at  Regional   Hospital  in                                                                    
     Anchorage from doing  so as well.  They  are a provider                                                                    
     of elective abortion services no question.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     So  first, on  behalf  of my  members  that are  school                                                                    
     nurses,  a surprising  number of  them  work shifts  in                                                                    
     local hospitals,  including Regional,  for the  best of                                                                    
     reasons.   It keeps their  skills very sharp  and makes                                                                    
     them  better  nurses at  school,  as  well earns  extra                                                                    
     money.   Are  they now  prohibited from  speaking to  a                                                                    
     class  about  …..ANYTHING?   Can  they  even  speak  to                                                                    
     students that come  to them when they're ill?   I don't                                                                    
     think this is the intent, but this IS the language.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     If  I,  as a  biology  teacher,  invite a  doctor  from                                                                    
     Regional  Hospital to  talk to  my  class about  cancer                                                                    
     research  or  comparative anatomy,  am  I  at risk  for                                                                    
     losing my certificate?  As I read it, I am,  or I could                                                                    
     be.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     I don't  think that's  your intent,  but that's  how it                                                                    
     reads.    This  often  happens  when  you  want  to  do                                                                    
     something, but you can't say  exactly what it is you're                                                                    
     trying  to do,  so you  have  to talk  in more  general                                                                    
     terms.   The more  general terms are  very problematic.                                                                    
     Please,  leave this  to your  local boards,  or please,                                                                    
     say exactly what you mean to do.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     But  in this  moment when  the economic  future of  our                                                                    
     state is  on the line, please  do not pass a  bill that                                                                    
     invites a  lawsuit, a  lawsuit the  State will  have to                                                                    
     defend,  with  the  careers of  good  Alaskans  in  the                                                                    
     balance, when we have much more pressing issues.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     We  are  not  recruiting   students  to  have  elective                                                                    
     abortions in our classrooms.   We're not. We are trying                                                                    
     to  prevent  unwanted  pregnancies and  the  spread  of                                                                    
     disease,  period.    We're  trying   to  be  sure  that                                                                    
     students understand  the real dangers  and consequences                                                                    
     of  certain  types  of relationships  and  actions,  by                                                                    
     themselves and by others, in  the hope of making this a                                                                    
     safer  more  humane  place for  everyone  to  grow  and                                                                    
     learn.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Please  help  us.  Please  be   clear,  and  please  be                                                                    
     accurate.  Please work with  us rather than putting out                                                                    
     speedbumps  and  traps.    I'm  asking  you  to  please                                                                    
     clarify  this bill  or otherwise  not to  pass it  from                                                                    
     your committee until this specific issue is fixed.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
8:20:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JUDY  ANDREE,  Spokesperson,  League   of  Women  Voters,  stated                                                               
opposition to  HB 352,  and directed  attention to  the committee                                                               
packet  letter  from the  League  of  Women Voters  (LWV),  Hetty                                                               
Barthel, Secretary,  dated 4/6/16, providing the  stance from the                                                               
national  LWV organization,  to  paraphrase  the position,  which                                                               
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The League  of Women Voters of  Alaska (LWVAK) strongly                                                                    
     opposes  HB 352  (companion  to SB  191)  based on  the                                                                    
     long-established (1983)  League of Women Voters  of the                                                                    
     United States (LWVUS)  Position on Reproductive Choices                                                                    
     which states  the following:  The  LWVUS "believes that                                                                    
     public policy in a pluralistic  society must affirm the                                                                    
     constitutional right  to privacy  of the  individual to                                                                    
     make reproductive choices."                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MS. ANDREE reported having raised  five adopted children who have                                                               
all  attended  Juneau  public  schools.   The  bill  attacks  the                                                               
teaching profession,  she opined, when language  such as "captive                                                               
audience"  is  invoked,  and  said students  are  not  a  captive                                                               
audience  due to  the opt-out  choice.   Having  polled her,  now                                                               
adult, children, she  reported that their health  classes did not                                                               
mention abortion,  nor was there  any trolling by the  agency for                                                               
future clientele.   As  a parent concerned  for the  education of                                                               
her  children, she  said it  is  her right  to expect  to have  a                                                               
qualified  person,  using   science  based  information,  medical                                                               
acuity, and  with the intent  to prevent  unintended pregnancies,                                                               
provide this instruction.  Further,  a safe pregnancy termination                                                               
is legal and should be  available to an individual, appropriately                                                               
counseled.   Planned Parenthood is  not trolling for  clients but                                                               
rather   supporting  anyone   in  the   situation  who   requires                                                               
assistance  in having  a safe  termination of  a pregnancy.   The                                                               
bill  is being  presented  as  a parent's  rights  bill and,  she                                                               
pointed out, parents also have  the right of ensuring a medically                                                               
sound education for their children.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:24:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE NIEMI,  stated opposition to HB  352, paraphrasing from                                                               
a   prepared  statement,   which   read   as  follows   [original                                                               
punctuation provided]:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     We  dissolved the  (S.O.S)  State  Operated Schools  in                                                                    
     1976 to provide  for local control of our  schools.  It                                                                    
     should be up to local  staff and parents to decide what                                                                    
     programs, curriculum  and persons to invite  into local                                                                    
     schools.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     The   uninvolved  parent   is  less   likely  to   sign                                                                    
     permission so, "the opt-in" places  undue burden on the                                                                    
     youth who may need the health information most.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     It is not OK to  threaten people with losing their jobs                                                                    
     and  licenses ...  their livelihood,  that our  state's                                                                    
     health statistics indicate is vitally needed.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     The attempt  at the level of  control in HB 352  and SB
     89 is alarming!  We  need to work together with willing                                                                    
     agencies to  give our  kids the  tools to  make healthy                                                                    
     choices.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Please do not support this bill.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Planned   Parenthood  provides   [sexually  transmitted                                                                    
     diseases   (STD)]  testing,   health  education,   rape                                                                    
     counseling,  cancer  screening   and  family  planning.                                                                    
     Many parents do not object to [Planned Parenthood].                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
8:26:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JANE  ANDREEN,   President,  Alaska  Public   Health  Association                                                               
(APHA); Chair, Statewide Steering  Committee Alaska Women's Lobby                                                               
(AWL),  stated  opposition to  HB  352,  and, recalling  her  own                                                               
youth, said  teenage decisions  are often  based on  hormones and                                                               
peer  pressure/culture.     Because  of  these   influences,  she                                                               
stressed  it  is  important  for  teens  to  receive  appropriate                                                               
information regarding safe sex,  STD prevention, and avoidance of                                                               
unintended pregnancies.   These are the very  topics that Planned                                                               
Parenthood   covers,   utilizing   the  best,   evidence   based,                                                               
information available  and geared  towards a delivery  that helps                                                               
students  make individual,  personal decisions  for a  long term,                                                               
healthy life style.   On behalf of both of  the organizations she                                                               
represents, she said the passage of HB 352 is opposed.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
8:27:47 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALYSON CURRY, Representative,  Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest                                                               
and  Hawaii, stated  opposition to  HB 352,  paraphrasing from  a                                                               
prepared statement,  which read as follows  [original punctuation                                                               
provided]:                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Planned  Parenthood  has  been  a  trusted  expert  and                                                                    
     provider of medically-accurate  sexual health education                                                                    
     in Alaska for more than 20  years and we are filling in                                                                    
     a  much  needed  gap  left  by  the  state's  inaction.                                                                    
     Alaska currently does not have  any state standards for                                                                    
     sexual health  education and the  negative implications                                                                    
     are  evident  by  the   state's  epidemic  of  sexually                                                                    
     transmitted infections, particularly  among teens, ages                                                                    
     15-19, and  teen pregnancy rates which  are higher than                                                                    
     the national  average.  In  the 2013-2014  school year,                                                                    
     less   than  a   quarter   of   schools  provided   the                                                                    
     recommended STD,  [human immunodeficiency  virus (HIV)]                                                                    
     and  pregnancy prevention  topics in  required courses.                                                                    
     Clearly  what  the  state is  currently  doing  is  not                                                                    
     cutting  it.    Our  youth need  access  to  medically-                                                                    
     accurate  information to  make healthy  decisions about                                                                    
     their lives.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     The  overall  goal of  sexual  health  education is  to                                                                    
     delay the onset  of sexual activity, as  well as reduce                                                                    
     risky sexual  behaviors that  lead to  contracting STDs                                                                    
     and  teen   pregnancy  among  teens   already  sexually                                                                    
     active.     When  invited,  Planned   Parenthood  works                                                                    
     closely    with    some   schools,    social    service                                                                    
     organizations, and public  health nurses in communities                                                                    
     across  the  state,  including Fairbanks,  Juneau,  the                                                                    
     Kenai Peninsula,  Anchorage and the Mat-Su  Valley.  We                                                                    
     provide direct education to over  2000 youth each year,                                                                    
     at  zero  cost  to  schools,  and  have  also  provided                                                                    
     training  and skill  building for  teachers and  school                                                                    
     based   nurses  working   with  youth   around  healthy                                                                    
     sexuality and prevention.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Our  curriculum has  been vetted  and  approved by  the                                                                    
     Office of  Adolescent Health  for medical  accuracy and                                                                    
     reviewed   by  local   school   staff  for   curriculum                                                                    
     alignment, as well as  age and cultural appropriateness                                                                    
     to fit the needs of  each community.  Additionally, our                                                                    
     education programs aim  to complement the conversations                                                                    
     that happen at home with  families, they do not replace                                                                    
     them.  To  be clear, parents already have  the right to                                                                    
     remove  their  child  from sexual  health  instruction.                                                                    
     Parents  may  also  review curriculum  with  a  teacher                                                                    
     prior  to a  Planned Parenthood  educator entering  the                                                                    
     classroom.    This  is  standard  school  protocol  and                                                                    
     Planned   Parenthood   educators  follow   all   school                                                                    
     policies and protocols.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     It  is disappointing  that  this  body would  entertain                                                                    
     passing  legally questionable  laws  that threaten  the                                                                    
     livelihood  of teachers  and health  care providers  in                                                                    
     order  to   score  political  points  because   of  its                                                                    
     objection  to  abortion,  a safe  and  constitutionally                                                                    
     protected procedure.   HB  352 does  absolutely nothing                                                                    
     to  improve the  health  and safety  of Alaskan  youth.                                                                    
     Please oppose this bill.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
8:30:54 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LISA EAGAN LAGERQUIST, stated opposition  to HB 352, and provided                                                               
a  self-initiated  petition  of  125  local  names  opposing  the                                                               
legislation.   Despite  opposition, she  observed, that  both [SB
191  and HB  352] appear  to  be passing  forward, and  expressed                                                               
distress over  the continued legislative action.   She continued,                                                               
and paraphrased from  a prepared statement which  read as follows                                                               
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     Since  I  testified  last time,  so  many  people  have                                                                    
     stopped me on the street to  say, "You were the one who                                                                    
     testified  right?"   I never  know if  they are  for or                                                                    
     against  so  it  makes  me nervous.    But  every  time                                                                    
     they've said,  "Thank you  so much!   You  said exactly                                                                    
     what I feel."                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     What  I said  is  this bill  is crazy!    With all  the                                                                    
     funding  cuts why  would you  ever  consider cutting  a                                                                    
     free wonderful service?                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     Also,  since  my testimony,  I  started  a petition  in                                                                    
     opposition  to this  bill.   I bring  you 121  names of                                                                    
     people who also oppose this bill.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     In response to  the sponsor's statement.   They say not                                                                    
     opposed  to sex  education,  just  opposed to  abortion                                                                    
     providers  providing   it.    Well,   banning  [Planned                                                                    
     Parenthood] from  schools, will limit  sex [education].                                                                    
     Teachers  aren't as  prepared to  present it  and don't                                                                    
     want to.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     Students prefer  it's not their  teacher that  they see                                                                    
     every day.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Random parent volunteers?  Not what I want.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     The people of  Juneau, students, parents, grandparents,                                                                    
     teachers,   health   care    providers   want   Planned                                                                    
     Parenthood.     We  trust   them  and   they've  proven                                                                    
     affective.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Many students will  choose not to have  sex during high                                                                    
     school,  but  just  like  my  parent's  generation,  my                                                                    
     grandparents,  my great  grandparents many  will choose                                                                    
     to have sex while in high  school.  None of us can deny                                                                    
     this.  Some students will  have sex.  [Let's] help keep                                                                    
     them  safe and  do  all we  can  to prevent  unintended                                                                    
     pregnancies.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Again.  This  bill is crazy.  We have  a free wonderful                                                                    
     medically-accurate  age appropriate  [program] provided                                                                    
     to schools  who want it.   Why would you ban  this?  If                                                                    
     you pass  this bill  you are limiting  student's access                                                                    
     to sex education.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
DEBI  BALLAM,  RN,  opposing  HB  352  was  read  by  Lisa  Eagan                                                               
Lagerquist as follows [original punctuation provided].                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     As  a  nurse  I  have cared  for  many  teenagers  with                                                                    
     unintended pregnancies, most of  whom were ill equipped                                                                    
     to parent a child, and the  cost to society is high and                                                                    
     gets passed  on generation  after generation.   Most of                                                                    
     the  teens  had  painfully little  knowledge  of  their                                                                    
     bodies and how to prevent  pregnancy or even how to say                                                                    
     no.   The  cost  of education  is  low, this  education                                                                    
     includes HOW  to say no,  I have heard what  is covered                                                                    
     and   would  wish   all  young   people  to   have  the                                                                    
     opportunity of  hearing this information.   I oppose SB
     89 and 191!   And I believe if  everyone actually heard                                                                    
     what was being taught  versus assuming what their child                                                                    
     is hearing, this bill would never have been taken up.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
8:35:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 8:35 a.m. to 8:36 a.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
8:36:50 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
AURORA  HOEFFERLE  stated opposition  to  HB  352, and  said  sex                                                               
education  is not  a  standard academic  class,  and opined  that                                                               
Planned  Parenthood  is  an  essential  agency  to  provide  this                                                               
information.    Many courses  are  taught  to young  people,  but                                                               
perhaps the  most practical  and useable are  the health  and sex                                                               
education  classes.   The  math  theories  are nothing  that  she                                                               
applies  on a  regular basis,  she reported,  however conversely,                                                               
what she  learned in  sexual education  has proven  very helpful,                                                               
and  what  was  omitted  from the  class  presentation  has  been                                                               
regretfully  learned.     As   the  largest   non-profit,  sexual                                                               
education provider in Alaska, she  opined that Planned Parenthood                                                               
is well  qualified to deliver this  essential health information.                                                               
Training  the  existing teachers  to  present  the sex  education                                                               
material does not  seem plausible, she conjectured.   Less than a                                                               
quarter  of   Alaskan  secondary  school  districts   taught  the                                                               
recommended  HIV, STD,  and pregnancy  prevention topics  in 2013                                                               
and  2014.   She conjectured  what would  happen if  less than  a                                                               
quarter  of Alaska's  secondary  schools  taught the  recommended                                                               
topics for algebra,  and questioned whether the  law makers would                                                               
be considering a bill to  place additional burdens on teachers to                                                               
fill  such a  void.   Sexual  education is  useful for  everyone,                                                               
unlike higher  math theories, she  pointed out.   Communities and                                                               
schools should be allowed to  decide the particulars for the ways                                                               
and means that  sex education is provided to their  students.  To                                                               
use   abortion  as   the  deciding   factor  in   determining  an                                                               
appropriate   source  for   presenting   this  essential   health                                                               
information is  short sided, she  maintained, and  suggested that                                                               
it only  serves to  stigmatize and  demonize legal  providers and                                                               
clients.     She   suggested  the   deciding   factors  for   the                                                               
instructional service  should be  determinants such  as accuracy,                                                               
effectiveness, and  reputation.   This is  essential, lifesaving,                                                               
information,  she finished,  and  said  the surrounding  politics                                                               
need to be extracted from the issue.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:40:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ROBIN SMITH stated  opposition to HB 352, and  said sex education                                                               
is  a  difficult topic  to  broach  and  one which  many  parents                                                               
ignore.   Further, in parental  surveys the outcomes  indicate an                                                               
interest in  having sex  education provided by  a third  party as                                                               
many parents consider the school  programs to be a supplement to,                                                               
not a supplanting of, their  home discussions.  She stressed that                                                               
the school  programs don't represent  an either-or  situation but                                                               
rather  a team  effort  for providing  essential instruction  for                                                               
building  healthy,  intimate  relationships.     Alaska  lacks  a                                                               
standardized  curriculum  for  providing a  comprehensive  sexual                                                               
education, or  a requirement  for including  such a  program; and                                                               
now there  is no funding  available.  Teens report  their primary                                                               
source  of sex  education as  being television,  movies, internet                                                               
access, and  social media.   Today's young  people are  coming of                                                               
age in a  very different world, she stressed, one  where oral sex                                                               
is  considered  kissing.    She provided  a  number  of  national                                                               
statistics  to illustrate  her point,  which included  the sexual                                                               
content  of television  programs, sexual  predation numbers,  and                                                               
the influence of  certain music genres.  The biggest  users of on                                                               
line pornography are  12-17 year old boys, she  reported.  Having                                                               
a third  party, who is not  the classroom teacher, allows  for an                                                               
optimal   dialogue   exchange   without   compromising   existing                                                               
classroom social  structures, she said.  The third party  role is                                                               
what Planned Parenthood  has been entrusted with for  the last 20                                                               
years  in Alaska  and nationally  for 100  years, as  it was  the                                                               
initial  reason   the  organization  was  formed.     Communities                                                               
continue  to  turn  to   Planned  Parenthood  for  nonjudgmental,                                                               
medically  accurate,   curriculum  on  reproductive   health  and                                                               
relationships.   She finished, stating  that teens should  not be                                                               
denied  delivery   of  this  important   information  due   to  a                                                               
legislator's political bias against legal abortions.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
8:45:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CATHY  CLORNEN  stated  opposition  to  HB  352,  and  said  many                                                               
concerns  are raised  through this  legislation.   She cited  her                                                               
background  in  education,  which  includes  the  Alaska  Pacific                                                               
University  where  she  taught  health  care  policy,  economics,                                                               
finance  and  administration.    As  a  health  care  leader  and                                                               
educator, she  said it  is imperative to  not restrict  access to                                                               
important  information that  is  vital to  good healthy  decision                                                               
making.  As  a mother of three daughters, now  adults, she opined                                                               
that  sex  education   should  begin  at  home;   however,  as  a                                                               
professional,  she reported,  this doesn't  always happen.   Long                                                               
term  personal and  financial  costs occur  to  youth and  family                                                               
members when teens make poor  decisions regarding drugs, alcohol,                                                               
and  sexual  activity.   Planned  Parenthood  has  provided  free                                                               
sexual  education in  the schools  of Alaska  for over  20 years.                                                               
She asked  the committee a  rhetorical question:   "What problems                                                               
have  you seen  in the  last  20 years,  with Planned  Parenthood                                                               
providing this  service in  the schools."   As  an administrator,                                                               
she said, changes  are made to correct specific  issues, but what                                                               
issues have arisen  around Planned Parenthood.   Who will provide                                                               
this service and what will be  the cost, if Planned Parenthood is                                                               
denied  access, she  pondered.   She urged  the committee  to not                                                               
pass HB 352.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
8:48:28 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JESSICA CLER  stated opposition to  HB 352, and urged  members to                                                               
concentrate  on other,  more  pressing  issues, facing  Alaskans.                                                               
She  paraphrased  from  a  prepared   statement,  which  read  as                                                               
follows:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     As a  graduate of our  public system, I  know firsthand                                                                    
     the   lack  of   access  to   comprehensive,  medically                                                                    
     accurate,  sexual   health  education  in   our  state.                                                                    
     Alaska  has  no  state   standards  for  sexual  health                                                                    
     education and  yet an epidemic of  sexually transmitted                                                                    
     infections, the  highest rate of  reported rape  in the                                                                    
     country, and  child sexual assault/rape [is]  six times                                                                    
     the national average.  I  know that myself and my peers                                                                    
     would  have   greatly  benefited   from  the   kind  of                                                                    
     education   that   Planned   Parenthood   provides   on                                                                    
     prevention, on  consent, and on  healthy relationships.                                                                    
     Studies  consistently   show  that   comprehensive  sex                                                                    
     education  is   highly  effective  at   reducing  STI's                                                                    
     delaying  initiation of  sexual activity,  and lowering                                                                    
     teen  pregnancy rates.    Planned  Parenthood fills  an                                                                    
     important gap left by the  state's inaction on insuring                                                                    
     students have access to the  information they need.  In                                                                    
     a   time   when   our  education   system   is   facing                                                                    
     unprecedented  budget cuts,  we  should be  encouraging                                                                    
     district's to  use every resource available  to educate                                                                    
     its students, not limiting  districts options for local                                                                    
     programing.   Parents are already notified  and already                                                                    
     have the option  to opt their students out.   This bill                                                                    
     strips the rights of parents  in local school districts                                                                    
     to make  the decisions  that are  right for  our youth.                                                                    
     It goes  a step further, unfairly  penalizing teachers,                                                                    
     school districts,  and doctors.  This  is a politically                                                                    
     motivated,   illegal   attempt    to   target   Planned                                                                    
     Parenthood  at the  expense of  the health  of Alaska's                                                                    
     students.    Instead  of   creating  more  barriers  to                                                                    
     education we should be working  together to ensure that                                                                    
     our youth have the  resources and information needed to                                                                    
     lead  healthy and  productive lives;  HB  352 does  the                                                                    
     opposite.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
8:50:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KENNI PSENAK-LINDEN stated opposition to HB 352, paraphrasing                                                                   
from a prepared statement, which read as follows:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     HB 352  creates harmful  and unnecessary  boundaries to                                                                    
     accessing essential,  comprehensive, and scientifically                                                                    
     accurate,  reproductive health  education.   Curriculum                                                                    
     standards   already   prevent   abortion   from   being                                                                    
     addressed  within the  classroom, which  means that  HB
     352  is  misguided,  likely  unconstitutional,  and  it                                                                    
     actively undermines  the purview of teachers  and local                                                                    
     educators to have local control  and teach to the needs                                                                    
     of their students.  These  needs include information on                                                                    
     healthy  relationships and  consent.   I  wish that  my                                                                    
     health education  in the Mat-Su  Valley and  the health                                                                    
     education  of  my  assailant, had  included  these  key                                                                    
     lessons,  which   may  have  prevented  the   trauma  I                                                                    
     experienced after being sexually  assaulted at 15 years                                                                    
     old.  I'm  lucky that I came away  from that experience                                                                    
     with  [post-traumatic stress  syndrome (PTSD)]  and not                                                                    
     STI's  or   pregnancy.    I  appreciate   that  Planned                                                                    
     Parenthood, as an organization,  has stepped in to fill                                                                    
     the   gap  and   provide  lifesaving,   evidence  based                                                                    
     education.  Parents have the  opportunity to opt-out of                                                                    
     any education  that does not  align with  their values.                                                                    
     Please do  not create additional barriers  for families                                                                    
     that  do want  qualified and  experienced educators  in                                                                    
     the classroom.   As a future parent  myself, my husband                                                                    
     and  I have  discussed  the need  and our  overwhelming                                                                    
     desire  that  our  children  will  receive  better  sex                                                                    
     education  than  we did,  both  at  home and  in  their                                                                    
     classroom.  Please oppose HB 352, thank you.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
8:53:25 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SPOHNHOLZ  asked   about  the   availability  of                                                               
testimony from SB  191, versus the listed names  in the committee                                                               
packet.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KELLER said  it  is  available on  BASIS,  and offered  to                                                               
provide hard copies to members.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
8:54:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ANNA MEREDITH, Program Manager,  Youth Health Education, Kachemak                                                               
Bay Family  Planning, stated opposition  to HB 352, and  said she                                                               
works closely  with professionally trained peer  educators to co-                                                               
facilitate a  comprehensive safer  sex and abstinence  program in                                                               
the Kenai  Peninsula school  district.   The Kachemak  Bay Family                                                               
Planning  Clinic provides  reproductive services  and educational                                                               
outreach throughout the  southern Kenai Peninsula.   She said the                                                               
Kachemak  Bay clinic  does not  provide abortion  services, which                                                               
differentiates it  from the associated  clinics in  the Anchorage                                                               
area; however, it  is similar in being recognized  as the experts                                                               
in  the  community  regarding  sexual  and  reproductive  health.                                                               
Staying  abreast of  the  changes in  the  field of  reproductive                                                               
health is a  challenge, and to add that challenge  to the work of                                                               
a  classroom  teacher would  be  burdensome,  she opined.    Most                                                               
recently,  a music  teacher  in  a small  rural  school hosted  a                                                               
sexual health program.  She  quoted the teacher and continued, to                                                               
state:                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     "I'm so glad  that your peer [education]  team is here.                                                                    
     These kids do  not want to hear this  from someone that                                                                    
     they  see every  day."   We constantly  hear that  from                                                                    
     teachers.   They're not equipped  and trained  to teach                                                                    
     sexual  health,  and  therefore they're  very  thankful                                                                    
     that  we're able  to  come  in as  the  experts in  the                                                                    
     community  and   that  burden  is  lifted   from  them;                                                                    
     although, they  stay in the classroom  the entire time.                                                                    
     I  appreciate that  they listen  and that  they have  a                                                                    
     very close  working relationship  with us.   So they're                                                                    
      learning as we are teaching, as well, and they reach                                                                      
     out to us. ...                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
8:57:10 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CATRIONA REYNOLDS, Clinic Manager,  Kachemak Bay Family Planning,                                                               
stated opposition to HB 352, and  said abortion is legal and safe                                                               
and this bill is seeking  to impose ideologically and politically                                                               
motivated constrictions on a communities'  ability to provide the                                                               
best education for its children.   She pointed out that Alaska is                                                               
higher than the national rate in  STD's and teen pregnancies.  On                                                               
the southern Kenai  Peninsula, where the Kachemak  Bay clinic has                                                               
been teaching  in the schools for  over a decade, the  rates have                                                               
been significantly  lowered.   She said  this is  attributable to                                                               
students  learning how  to take  good  care of  their health  and                                                               
avail  themselves of  the community  services.   A  collaborative                                                               
medical  team has  organized in  Kenai under  the Mobilizing  for                                                               
Action Through Planning and Partnership  (MAPP) program to direct                                                               
teens to whatever help they seek to remain healthy young adults.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
8:59:33 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BUTCH MOORE stated  opposition to HB 352, and said  it is similar                                                               
to    SB   191,    which   is    being   scrutinized    regarding                                                               
constitutionality.   Further, the make-up of  the legislature may                                                               
change.   He cautioned that passage  of the bill may  establish a                                                               
precedent  which  would  hold   future  political  sway,  perhaps                                                               
preventing  a  gun  retailer  from   participating  in  a  school                                                               
setting.   He  suggested that  an  effective bill  could ban  the                                                               
teaching  of abortion  in schools,  thus  restricting the  topic.                                                               
Otherwise, he  opined, the bill is  a rabbit hole and  time spent                                                               
arguing  it   could  be  better  directed   to  other  productive                                                               
legislative  issues, such  as the  budget.   As  an advocate  for                                                               
parental rights  and education of children,  he said it is  up to                                                               
each  district  to determine  curricula,  none  of which  include                                                               
discussion  or  teachings about  abortion.    Current health  and                                                               
human  social  topics  are  what  is  being  covered  by  Planned                                                               
Parenthood, and  yet the organization  is being singled out.   He                                                               
also, reported  that his daughters  have found the courses  to be                                                               
helpful and professionally presented.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:06:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KELLER said  Mr. Moore's  point for  setting precedent  is                                                               
well  taken,  and  reported  that  SB 191  has  been  amended  to                                                               
stipulate:  those who act on behalf of the service provider.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:07:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
LANCE  ROBERTS stated  support  for  HB 352  and  opined that  it                                                               
disallows  a  group into  the  schools  who have  an  established                                                               
agenda.   He speculated that  the presence of  Planned Parenthood                                                               
encourages teen sex and abortions.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:10:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARY JAY  TOUTONGHI stated opposition to  HB 352 and SB  191, and                                                               
paraphrased  from a  prepared, which  read  as follows  [original                                                               
punctuation provided:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     These bills are questionable  at best, and appalling at                                                                    
     worst.   Alaska has  the highest rate  of STD's  in the                                                                    
     country.   Education  has taken  a hit  this year  that                                                                    
     would make the  angels cry.  Our  legislators should be                                                                    
     focusing on  improving student's  health and  access to                                                                    
     accurate  information to  inform  them  with regard  to                                                                    
     their sexuality.   Alaska has  the worst record  of STD                                                                    
     and  sexual abuse  in the  country.   Young people  are                                                                    
     impacted by these  issues.  A poor  decision can change                                                                    
     the   course  of   their  lives.     We   are  impacted                                                                    
     financially  as a  state  in our  health  care and  our                                                                    
     education as  these issues  manifest themselves.   Less                                                                    
     than  a  quarter  of Alaska's  secondary  schools  have                                                                    
     taught all  of the recommended HIV,  STD, and pregnancy                                                                    
     prevention topics.  Only three  states have less access                                                                    
     to this  information.  Students  in Alaska are  in dire                                                                    
     need  of  real  information  about  sexual  health  and                                                                    
     healthy  relationships.    Our  legislators  should  be                                                                    
     focusing on improving  student's health, not destroying                                                                    
     their  rights  to  accurate  information,  as  well  as                                                                    
     threatening teachers, doctors,  and other professionals                                                                    
     and care takers.  I  am most certainly in opposition to                                                                    
     these two bills.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:12:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARCI HAWKINS stated opposition to  HB 352, and said volunteering                                                               
at  Plan  Parenthood  might  jeopardize  her  ability  to  teach.                                                               
Further, she  conjectured, the costs  for replacing  the agencies                                                               
free educational  programs, and the probable  ensuing legal fees,                                                               
may be burdensome  to the state.   Implementation and enforcement                                                               
of this  type of bill could  be better directed, she  opined, and                                                               
pointed out  that parental options  exist for removing  a student                                                               
when appropriate.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:18:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOSHUA  DECKER,  Attorney,  Executive  Director,  American  Civil                                                               
Liberties Union  (ACLU), stated  opposition to  HB 352,  and said                                                               
the amendments  to SB 191,  even if  applied to this  bill, would                                                               
not  solve the  issues that  it raises.   A  group of  people are                                                               
being singled out, based on  their activities which are protected                                                               
under due process.   In any form, HB 352  impinges on free speech                                                               
and  free association  rights.   The  schools are  open to  teach                                                               
appropriate curricula,  and human  health and sex  relations have                                                               
been identified as such.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:21:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER asked for confirmation  of comments being circulated                                                               
which intimate that  the ACLU is prepared to take  the measure to                                                               
court, and  expects to  prevail, should  the legislation  pass as                                                               
written.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR.  DECKER  responded that  the  bill  poses deep  and  multiple                                                               
constitutional problems.   The ACLU  hopes the  legislature would                                                               
not find  it reasonable  to pass  a bill  that is  so profoundly,                                                               
unconstitutionally infirm.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:23:35 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
PAMELA  SAMASH,  Right  to Life  Interior  Alaska,  testified  in                                                               
support of HB  352 and SB 191, stating that  sex education taught                                                               
in  schools, especially  by an  organization  that benefits  from                                                               
sex, poses  a danger  to Alaska's  communities.   She conjectured                                                               
that  STD  levels  are  soaring   in  communities  where  Planned                                                               
Parenthood maintains a presence  because the organization removes                                                               
the  spiritual and  emotional  aspects of  sex.   Ignoring  these                                                               
components is  a tragedy,  she opined, because  that is  the part                                                               
that  creates the  natural barriers  that limit  promiscuous sex.                                                               
When  sex is  taught to  general teen  populations as  a physical                                                               
act,  the  result is  an  overall  increase in  sexual  behavior,                                                               
increased  STD's,  and  pregnancies.   Thus,  Planned  Parenthood                                                               
causes  the result  which they  espouse  to prevent.   She  said,                                                               
"STD's  and teen  pregnancies were  basically non-existent  years                                                               
ago before Planned  Parenthood ever existed.   That's because sex                                                               
encounters  were  taught  as  a  huge  morale  issue."    Planned                                                               
Parenthood teaches  the opposite  of morals  and keeping  them in                                                               
the  schools   only  serves  to   hurt  the   children  sexually,                                                               
spiritually,  and  emotionally.   She  threatened  to remove  her                                                               
children  from  enrollment  should the  organization  ever  enter                                                               
their school.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:26:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ED GRAY  stated support for  HB 352, and said  Planned Parenthood                                                               
entered the Sitka  schools in 2013 but  were subsequently removed                                                               
by  community activism.   The  parents wrote  the policy  that is                                                               
being  considered  under  SB 89,  originally  crafted  as  school                                                               
policy.   When the school  district refused to hear  the proposal                                                               
the policy was  redirected to the legislature.   Louisiana and at                                                               
least one  other state, have  adopted similar laws  without court                                                               
challenge.   Additionally,  he  said  Planned Parenthood  creates                                                               
partnerships  with  schools,  which  includes  having  a  staffed                                                               
office three  days per week in  order to provide students  with a                                                               
full  range of  agency  services, not  only  sexual education  as                                                               
touted.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:29:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD  STOFFEL  stated support  for  HB  352,  and said  it  is                                                               
unbelievable that this  agency would be allowed  into the schools                                                               
to teach students  how to kill babies, spill  innocent blood, and                                                               
present  appalling  sexual education.    "I'm  sick and  appalled                                                               
inside," he said, and urged passage of HB 352.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:30:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRIS KURKA  stated support  for HB 352,  and noted  that Planned                                                               
Parenthood has been in the schools  for 20 years, and yet the STD                                                               
levels and teen pregnancies have  not diminished.  He opined that                                                               
the organization's  mission is to indoctrinate  students who will                                                               
then become future consumers of  Planned Parenthood services.  He                                                               
pointed  out  that other  venders  exist  who could  provide  sex                                                               
education and should be considered.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:33:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WHITNEY DWIGREN stated  support for HB 352, and  said her parents                                                               
removed her  from the  class when  it was offered.   As  a parent                                                               
now, she finds it disturbing that  this is still being brought to                                                               
the  classroom.   Removing  Planned  Parenthood  from schools  is                                                               
necessary,  she   opined,  and  said   it  may  be  one   of  the                                                               
determinations she uses when considering  sending her children to                                                               
public school.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:36:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DALE  JUDGE stated  support for  HB 352,  and said  as a  retired                                                               
teacher, he  now has many  grandchildren in the  Anchorage School                                                               
District.    Although  sex education  is  important,  having  the                                                               
Planned Parenthood agency in schools, is objectionable.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:40:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HALEY  KIRKA stated  support  for HB  352,  and reported,  having                                                               
reviewed  the   curricula  that  Planned  Parenthood   and  other                                                               
abortion  providers  are  presenting.    The  material,  that  is                                                               
considered   medically   accurate   and   age   appropriate,   is                                                               
disturbing, she  opined, and  reported that  it contains  10 year                                                               
olds,  depicted by  cartoon characters,  having sex.   She  added                                                               
that it  also teaches them not  to disclose to a  partner whether                                                               
they have  an STD.   It is incumbent  on the legislature  to look                                                               
into  and  protect  Alaska's  children  from  the  marketing  and                                                               
pornography that is brought into  the schools by abortion service                                                               
providers, such as Planned Parenthood.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:42:11 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CAROLE HART  stated support  for HB 352,  and concurred  with the                                                               
previous   speaker  to   echo   the   inappropriateness  of   the                                                               
pornographic material presented by Planned Parenthood.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:43:31 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER asked for an  estimate of how many abortions Planned                                                               
Parenthood provides in a given year.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:43:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY said less than 10  percent of the services provided are                                                               
abortions,  90 percent  are  other services,  and  she agreed  to                                                               
provide further information.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER asked  to have her response  include whether Planned                                                               
Parenthood  pregnancy  preventative services  include  abortions,                                                               
and  what  percentage of  the  agencies  revenue  is made  up  of                                                               
government funds.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:46:14 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ asked if  Planned Parenthood teaches ten                                                               
year olds to have sex.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY replied, "No."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SPOHNHOLZ  asked   whether  Planned   Parenthood                                                               
provides  instruction to  avoid  disclosing an  STD  to a  sexual                                                               
partner.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY replied, "No."                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:47:05 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY said Planned Parenthood,  in Alaska, primarily presents                                                               
sex education  classes in high  schools.  Some  curriculum exists                                                               
for  middle school  students and  puberty education  is available                                                               
for fifth  and sixth  grade middle school  students.   The agency                                                               
provides services when  it receives an invitation  from a school.                                                               
The high  school curriculum  that can  be requested  may include:                                                               
reproductive  anatomy,  abstinence  and  birth  control;  healthy                                                               
relationships  and  consent;  and  prevention  of  HIV,  acquired                                                               
immunodeficiency syndrome  (AIDS), and STD's.   Lesson  plans are                                                               
also  available for  media literacy,  bullying, drug  and alcohol                                                               
awareness, and suicide  prevention.  The most  requested of these                                                               
topics is for healthy relationships  and consent.  The curriculum                                                               
has  been   vetted  for  medical   accuracy  based   on  national                                                               
standards,  through  the  office   of  adolescent  health.    The                                                               
internal curriculum  adopted by  Planned Parenthood of  the Great                                                               
Northwest is  provided by  credible sources  such as  the Centers                                                               
for Disease Control (CDC), the  Mayo Clinic, the National Network                                                               
on STD Prevention, and training  centers.  She recalled testimony                                                               
suggesting that  other curriculum could be  obtained, and pointed                                                               
out that the  same sources would be  incorporated.  Additionally,                                                               
the curriculums are  provided at cost.  Thus,  the curriculum for                                                               
Becoming  a  Responsible Teen  could  be  purchased for  $350.00,                                                               
which does not include teacher training or materials.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER asked about the  non-profit standing of the national                                                               
organization  and the  number of  affiliates using  the described                                                               
curriculum.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CURRY said  her  comments  are limited  to  speaking on  the                                                               
specifics of  the curriculum presented by  the Planned Parenthood                                                               
of  the  Great  Northwest,  which   encompasses  Alaska  and  the                                                               
Hawaiian Islands.  She offered to provide further information.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:49:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked what  the media literacy curriculum                                                               
involves.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY offered to provide a detailed lesson plan.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:51:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said curriculum  was provided to his office                                                               
for review, and asked whether it was made generally available.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MS.  CURRY  offered  to  accommodate   any  member  requesting  a                                                               
curriculum review.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON ascertained  that the  agency only  enters                                                               
the schools on an invitational basis.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY concurred.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SEATON  ascertained   that  only   the  selected                                                               
sections of  the nine  topics are presented,  in the  presence of                                                               
the teacher.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. CURRY concurred.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:53:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:54:00 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON   acknowledged  the  public's   right  for                                                               
unimpeded comment,  and pointed out that  the committee's silence                                                               
does  not  represent  agreement  or  disagreement  with  witness'                                                               
statements offered for  the record.  Further,  he said amendments                                                               
brought to HB 352, by  this committee, will not necessarily align                                                               
with those offered in the Senate on SB 191.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:55:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  KELLER responded  that  it  is not  his  intent to  impose                                                               
Senate  legislation  on  the  house  committee;  however  SB  191                                                               
provides additional information,  including public testimony, for                                                               
consideration  when making  a  final,  informed, House  committee                                                               
decision.   Further, he opined  that 225,000 abortions a  year is                                                               
an  appalling  number;  equal  to  the  estimated  population  of                                                               
Anchorage.   No  witness has  testified to  liking abortions,  he                                                               
pointed  out,  it's a  tough  issue.    He recalled  the  comment                                                               
regarding  whether  a  gun  manufacturer  would  be  banned  from                                                               
providing  a gun  safety class  in  a public  school setting  and                                                               
opined, quite  possibly if the  individual were acting  on behalf                                                               
of the manufacturer.  Such  situations have an influence over the                                                               
students, as  a captive  audience, thus, it  is certainly  in the                                                               
purview  of  the legislature  to  scrutinize  this subject  in  a                                                               
dispassionate manner, he opined.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR KELLER announced HB 352 as held.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:58:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 9:58 a.m.                                                                 

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB352 Sponsor Statement.pdf HEDC 4/6/2016 8:00:00 AM
HB 352
HB352.pdf HEDC 4/6/2016 8:00:00 AM
HB 352
HB352 Sectional Analysis.pdf HEDC 4/6/2016 8:00:00 AM
HB 352
HB352 Letters of Support.pdf HEDC 4/6/2016 8:00:00 AM
HB 352
HB352 Letters of Opposition.pdf HEDC 4/6/2016 8:00:00 AM
HB 352