01/31/2025 09:15 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB57 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2025
9:51 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Zack Fields, Co-Chair
Representative Carolyn Hall, Co-Chair
Representative Ashley Carrick
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative Julie Coulombe
Representative David Nelson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Robyn Niayuq Burke
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE BILL NO. 57
"An Act relating to wireless telecommunications devices in
public schools; and providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HB 57
SHORT TITLE: COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) FIELDS
01/22/25 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (H) L&C, EDC
01/29/25 (H) L&C AT 3:15 PM BARNES 124
01/29/25 (H) Heard & Held
01/29/25 (H) MINUTE(L&C)
01/31/25 (H) L&C AT 9:15 AM GRUENBERG 120
WITNESS REGISTER
COURTNEY OWEN, Staff
Representative Zack Fields
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As staff to Representative Fields, prime
sponsor of HB 57, presented the summary of changes for Version N
of HB 57.
KELLY LESSENS, Individual Member
Anchorage School Board
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: As an invited testifier, answered questions
on HB 57.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:51:50 AM
CO-CHAIR ZACK FIELDS called the House Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 9:51 a.m.
Representatives Carrick, Hall, Coulombe, and Fields were present
at the call to order. Representatives Nelson and Saddler
arrived as the meeting was in progress.
HB 57-COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
9:52:11 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS announced that the only order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 57, "An Act relating to wireless
telecommunications devices in public schools; and providing for
an effective date."
CO-CHAIR FIELDS stated the committee would be looking at a
committee substitute (CS), sponsored by himself, to HB 57.
9:52:45 AM
COURTNEY OWEN, Staff, Representative Zack Fields, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of Representative Fields, prime sponsor
of HB 57, presented the summary of changes for Version N of HB
57 [copy included in the committee file], which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
Page 1, lines 11 and 12, Sec 14.33.300 (a)
This section was added to include exceptions for the
use of wireless
telecommunication devices for educational purposes,
when permitted by a
teacher or school administrator.
Page 2, lines 5 and 6, Sec. 14.33.300 (b)
This section was added to include exceptions for the
use of wireless
telecommunication devices for educational purposes,
when permitted by a
teacher or school administrator.
Page 2, lines 9 and 10, Sec 14.3.300 (c)
This section was added to emphasize the privacy rights
of students with
regards to their personal telecommunication devices.
9:53:41 AM
CO-CHAIR FIELDS thanked Ms. Owen for her presentation. He noted
that the CS would bring the bill into alignment with the
proposal from the administration and the Department of Education
and Early Development. Co-Chair Fields asked Co-Chair Hall for
a motion.
9:54:05 AM
CO-CHAIR HALL moved to adopt the proposed CS for HB 57, Version
34-LS0064\N, Bergerud, 1/28/25, ("Version N") as a working
document.
9:54:21 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER objected for the purposes of discussion.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER noted that when he was in school,
wireless telecommunication devices were not provided for
educational purposes. He asked what kind of devices are issued
to the students by the schools.
9:54:50 AM
MS. OWEN deferred to Ms. Lessens of the Anchorage School Board.
9:54:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CARRICK expressed appreciation for the language
in the proposed CS, Version N. She noted that while she was a
substitute teacher in Fairbanks, Alaska, there were occasions in
which the technology was not functional in the classroom, and
students would use their cellphones to access educational
materials. Representative Carrick stated her support for
Version N.
9:55:46 AM
KELLY LESSENS, Individual Member, Anchorage School Board, as an
invited testifier, answered questions on HB 57. Ms. Lessens
answered that Chromebooks are the devices issued to students by
the schools. She explained that prior to the influx of COVID-19
relief funds, growing budgetary restraints did not permit every
student to receive electronic devices in the Anchorage School
District (ASD). The ASD purchased a large number of Chromebooks
after the pivot to remote learning due to COVID-19. After the
COVID-19 funding ended, the district walked back their grade 3
to 12 1:1 device initiative to a grade 6 to 12 1:1 device
initiative. She stated that roughly half of the Anchorage
School District has a Chromebook, which they are obliged to
bring into the classroom every day. She noted that when
students forget their Chromebooks or forget to charge the
devices, they are unable to participate in class activities.
She explained that sometimes the quality of instruction via a
Chromebook would be compromised if a student is not prepared
for class. Ms. Lessens stated that, to her knowledge, a
Chromebook is the only issued device, although she admitted that
there may be hotspots, but she is unsure.
9:58:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER said he appreciated the increased
flexibility in the proposed CS, Version N. He commented that
implementation of Version N would be difficult.
REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER removed his objection to the motion to
adopt the proposed CS for HB 57, Version 34-LS0064\N, Bergerud,
1/28/25, as a working document. There being no further
objection, Version N was before the committee.
[HB 57, Version N, was held over.]
9:58:43 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
9:58 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 57 Summary of Changes ver. A to N.pdf |
HL&C 1/31/2025 9:15:00 AM |
HB 57 |
| HB 57 - HLC CS - N.pdf |
HL&C 1/31/2025 9:15:00 AM |
HB 57 |
| HB 57 - Public Comment - 1.30.25.pdf |
HL&C 1/31/2025 9:15:00 AM |
HB 57 |