Legislature(2023 - 2024)SENATE FINANCE 532

02/07/2024 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

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Audio Topic
09:07:42 AM Start
09:08:43 AM Administration Response to Prior Meetings: Office of Management and Budget
09:38:29 AM Admnistration Response to Prior Meetings: Legislative Finance Division
09:45:24 AM SB141
09:54:32 AM SB24
10:13:56 AM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ SB 141 NAMING RAYMOND & ESTHER CONQUEST BRIDGE TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set> --
+ SB 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Invited & Public Testimony --
<Time Limit May Be Set> --
Administration Response to Prior Meetings:
Office of Management and Budget
Legislative Finance Division
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
                 SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                     February 7, 2024                                                                                           
                         9:07 a.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:07:42 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman   called  the  Senate   Finance  Committee                                                                    
meeting to order at 9:07 a.m.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Lyman Hoffman, Co-Chair                                                                                                 
Senator Donny Olson, Co-Chair                                                                                                   
Senator Bert Stedman, Co-Chair                                                                                                  
Senator Click Bishop                                                                                                            
Senator Jesse Kiehl                                                                                                             
Senator Kelly Merrick                                                                                                           
Senator David Wilson                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
None                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ALSO PRESENT                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Lacey Sanders,  Director, Office  of Management  and Budget;                                                                    
Katherine   Keith,   Deputy  Commissioner,   Department   of                                                                    
Transportation  and   Public  Facilities;   Alexei  Painter,                                                                    
Director, Legislative  Finance Division; Sam  Greely, Staff,                                                                    
Senator Lyman  Hoffman; Senator Elvi  Gray-Jackson, Sponsor;                                                                    
Besse Odom, Staff for Senator Gray-Jackson, Juneau;                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Dom   Pannone,   Director    of   Program   Management   and                                                                    
Administration,  Department  of  Transportation  and  Public                                                                    
Facilities,  Juneau; Jane  Gottschalk, Vice  Mayor, City  of                                                                    
Aleknagik, Aleknagik; Ann  Ringstad, NAMI Alaska, Anchorage;                                                                    
Jen Griffis,  Vice President of Policy  and Advocacy, Alaska                                                                    
Children's  Trust,   Anchorage;  Steven   Pearce,  Director,                                                                    
Citizen's Commission on Human Rights, Seattle;                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB  24    PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
          SB 24 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                     
          consideration.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB 141    NAMING RAYMOND and ESTHER CONQUEST BRIDGE                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
          SB 141 was HEARD and HELD in committee for                                                                            
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO PRIOR MEETINGS:                                                                                      
     OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT and BUDGET                                                                                            
     LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
^ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO PRIOR MEETINGS: OFFICE OF                                                                         
MANAGEMENT and BUDGET                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:08:43 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson recalled the issue of the veto explanation                                                                       
of the Mt. Edgecumbe funding.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
LACEY SANDERS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,                                                                       
(OMB) began with Item 14.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:09:53 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:10:14 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:10:23 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders began with item 14 from the letter from the                                                                         
Office of the Governor dated February 1 (copy on file):                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     14.  Was  the  Department  of Fish  and  Game  research                                                                    
     vessel disposed  of or  sold? If it  was sold,  what is                                                                    
     the  status  of the  proceeds?  And  what is  the  life                                                                    
     expectancy of the new vessel?                                                                                              
     The  Department  of  Fish  and  Game's  (DFG)  research                                                                    
     vessel was disposed of for  $100.0. The $100.0 received                                                                    
     for the disposal  was retained by the  division and the                                                                    
     proceeds  will be  used  for  deferred maintenance  for                                                                    
     other divisional assets.                                                                                                   
     The life of a large asset  can be hard to determine. It                                                                    
     is  highly dependent  on DGF's  ability  to do  routine                                                                    
     maintenance. The  other large vessels in  the DFG fleet                                                                    
     were acquired as follows:                                                                                                  
          • Research Vessel (R/V) Solstice  2005                                                                                
          • R/V Resolution  1971                                                                                                
          • R/V K-Hi-C  maintained and operated by the                                                                          
          Division of Commercial Fisheries since 1996;                                                                          
          owned by the Kodiak Island School District                                                                            
          • R/V Medeia  1994                                                                                                    
          • R/V Krestrel  2003                                                                                                  
     The recommended maintenance  required to safely operate                                                                    
     the vessels is  a dry dock every three  years. The most                                                                    
     recent  full dry  docks have  cost  around $750.0.  The                                                                    
     Division of  Commercial Fisheries has four  aircraft in                                                                    
     addition to the vessels  listed above that also require                                                                    
     regular maintenance for safe operation.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Wilson wondered why there was a maintenance and                                                                         
operation of a vessel owned by the school district.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders agreed to provide that information.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders looked at item 15:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     15.    Provide   information    on    the   Per-    and                                                                    
     Polyfluoroalkyl   Substances   (PFAS)   related   truck                                                                    
     replacement budget item.                                                                                                   
     The  Department of  Transportation &  Public Facilities                                                                    
     (DOT&PF)  is seeking  $2,533.3 in  unrestricted general                                                                    
     fund   funding  to   cover  Per-   and  Polyfluoroalkyl                                                                    
     Substances  (PFAS)  related  costs that  are  federally                                                                    
     ineligible and  to transition Aircraft Rescue  and Fire                                                                    
     Fighting  (ARFF)  vehicles  from Aqueous  Film  Forming                                                                    
     Foam  (AFFF)  to  Fluorine-Free Foam  (F3).  Additional                                                                    
     information  about this  project  can be  found on  the                                                                    
     attached document.                                                                                                         
          • Attachment 5 - FY2025 Capital Project 65234 -                                                                       
          DOTPF Stwd PFAS Fleetwide Foam Replacement.pdf.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl surmised  that the  FAA was  participating in                                                                    
early   replacement   of    the   trucks   through   airport                                                                    
improvements. He  wondered whether  there was  confidence in                                                                    
"clean" with no clean up of groundwater.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders agreed.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders pointed to slide 16:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     16.  Provide an  update  on the  Alaska Marine  Highway                                                                    
     System (AMHS)  funding and FY2024 cashflow,  to include                                                                    
     receipt/nonreceipt of anticipated federal funds.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     On the  award that came  out November 29,  2023, DOT&PF                                                                    
     received less than they applied  for with the operating                                                                    
     grant.                                                                                                                     
     The true impact of the  shortfall (or reduced award) is                                                                    
     mitigated  by the  unlikelihood  that  DOT&PF would  be                                                                    
     able to spend all these  funds due to the Marine Vessel                                                                    
     (M/V)  Matanuska   not  being   in  service   and  crew                                                                    
     shortages;    in    addition,   DOT&PF    only    spent                                                                    
     approximately  88 percent  of  the  budget in  calendar                                                                    
     year 2023.                                                                                                                 
     The  below table  also provides  information about  the                                                                    
     awards and  associated projects. Note that  $21 million                                                                    
     went  to the  America Samoa  that otherwise  would have                                                                    
     gone,   presumably,  to   Alaska.   The  Secretary   of                                                                    
    Transportation has full discretion over the award.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:15:22 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHERINE   KEITH,   DEPUTY  COMMISSIONER,   DEPARTMENT   OF                                                                    
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES,  stated that there was                                                                    
a  reduced allocation  for  operating  funds. She  explained                                                                    
that there was  a determination that the  funding could meet                                                                    
the current budget.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman remarked  that there  was a  concern about                                                                    
low  cash flow,  and  wanted to  know  about the  department                                                                    
impact.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Keith replied that she  felt that the budget request was                                                                    
adequate to meet the needs of FY 24 into FY 25.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:17:04 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:18:03 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:18:08 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman  shared that  there  was  a budget  for  a                                                                    
schedule. He wondered whether there  would be adequate funds                                                                    
to maintain the Alaska Marine Highway in FY 25.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Ms.  Keith  replied  that Mr.  Pannone  could  address  that                                                                    
question.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:19:41 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DOM   PANNONE,   DIRECTOR    OF   PROGRAM   MANAGEMENT   AND                                                                    
ADMINISTRATION,  DEPARTMENT  OF  TRANSPORTATION  AND  PUBLIC                                                                    
FACILITIES,  JUNEAU (via  teleconference), replied  that the                                                                    
current calendar  year 2024 there  was budgeted  $66 million                                                                    
for federal  funds, and a  received a  significantly smaller                                                                    
amount,  creating   a  shortfall.  He  explained   that  the                                                                    
shortfall was mitigated by some other factors.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman wondered  whether the  department expected                                                                    
Samoa to pick up some of the cost.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone replied  that Samoa received some  of the funds,                                                                    
and  stated  that there  was  an  exception for  the  Alaska                                                                    
Marine Highway System outside of the requirements.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman remarked  that he would expect  Samoa to do                                                                    
the same as Alaska.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:25:40 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Kiehl recalled  that the  previous budget  included                                                                    
toll credits, and  asked whether there was  full approval to                                                                    
appropriate those credits.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone replied that appropriation  of those credits was                                                                    
a novel financing concept in  the year prior, which resulted                                                                    
in establishing policies.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman hoped  that the toll credits  would work as                                                                    
expected, and  asked about dates  to factor into  the budget                                                                    
process.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone replied  that there was a current  review of the                                                                    
request, and hoped  to have the request at  the beginning of                                                                    
the fiscal year, but was taken longer than expectation.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman asked about an approximate expectation.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Pannone replied that he would follow up on that issue.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman stated  that there  would be  work on  the                                                                    
question in subcommittee.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Keith stated that there was typically a thirty-day                                                                          
turnaround on requests.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman stressed that knowing the date could have                                                                      
significant impacts on the capital budget.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:30:07 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders discussed item 17:                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     17.   Clarify  the   Alaska  Statewide   Transportation                                                                    
     Improvement  Program (STIP)  concerns with  the Federal                                                                    
     Highway Administration  (FHWA) reducing  the allocation                                                                    
     to Alaska.                                                                                                                 
     In  the  past,  the Department  of  Transportation  and                                                                    
     Public Facilities  (DOT/PF) was allowed to  inflate the                                                                    
     projects in the STIP by  30 percent, even knowing there                                                                    
     was only 100 percent worth  of funding, the plan showed                                                                    
     130 percent.                                                                                                               
     This  year,   the  FHWA   Alaska  Office,   and  others                                                                    
     involved, took  a strict interpretation of  the Code of                                                                    
     Federal Regulations  (CFRs), between public  release of                                                                    
     the  STIP in  July 2023  and submittal  on January  19,                                                                    
     2024, 30 percent  worth of the funding in  the plan was                                                                    
     pushed   to  years   beyond  the   STIP  or   shown  as                                                                    
     illustrative; no  funding was  reduced. There is  a new                                                                    
     Municipal  Planning  Organization,  which  changed  the                                                                    
     distribution  of  those  funds slightly,  but  did  not                                                                    
     lessen the amount coming Alaska.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders highlighted item 18:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     18. Will the contracted  statewide salary study compare                                                                    
     State  of  Alaska  employees   to  employees  in  other                                                                    
     states?                                                                                                                    
     Yes.  This is  outlined in  the  Scope of  Work of  the                                                                    
     State  of   Alaska's  Request  for  Proposals   on  the                                                                    
     Statewide Salary Study  (RFP 2024-0200-0142), which can                                                                    
     be found at  the State of Alaska  Online Public Notices                                                                    
     website.  The   qualified  offeror  is  to   perform  a                                                                    
     comprehensive salary  survey that collects  salary, pay                                                                    
     schedules   and  structures,   retirement  and   health                                                                    
     benefits,  paid holiday,  and  leave  accrual data  for                                                                    
     employment  positions  with   the  federal  government,                                                                    
     other states,  municipal government  organizations, and                                                                    
     private sector employers that are  like a wide range of                                                                    
     State of  Alaska employment positions presented  in the                                                                    
     State's comparison  pool. The comparison  pool consists                                                                    
     of  benchmark,  journey  level jobs  used  to  identify                                                                    
     comparable jobs  in the  market. The  qualified offeror                                                                    
     is to administer the survey  to a representative sample                                                                    
     of employers across  other states, municipal government                                                                    
     organizations,  the  federal  government,  and  private                                                                    
     sector    employers,    ensuring    a    diverse    and                                                                    
     representative mix of organizations.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Sanders stated that there were remaining follow-up                                                                          
responses forthcoming:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     1. Provide  information on incentives offered  to heavy                                                                    
     equipment operators, especially at airports.                                                                               
     2.   Update   on   recruitment  efforts.   Some   prior                                                                    
     requirements were waived   for  what level of positions                                                                    
     has this occurred (i.e. skilled,  entry level, etc)? Is                                                                    
     it working?                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:34:10 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:34:51 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
^ADMNISTRATION RESPONSE TO PRIOR MEETINGS: LEGISLATIVE                                                                        
FINANCE DIVISION                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
ALEXEI PAINTER, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION,                                                                         
(LFD) discussed a letter dated January 31, 2024 (copy on                                                                        
file). He pointed to the first question:                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     Senator  Hoffman  asked  about how  other  large  funds                                                                    
     handle inflation proofing.                                                                                                 
     Alaska's two-account system is  unusual for large funds                                                                    
     of  its  type;  most  have  a  single  account  with  a                                                                    
     spending  rule  (which may  be  based  on a  POMV  like                                                                    
     Alaska's, or other rules).                                                                                                 
     We could  find one  example that  is comparable  to the                                                                    
     Alaska  Permanent Fund's  structure.  The North  Dakota                                                                    
     Legacy  Fund has  a  similar constitutional  structure,                                                                    
     where  earnings may  be spent  by the  legislature, but                                                                    
     the principal  is protected (although  it can  be spent                                                                    
     with a two-thirds vote  of the legislature). Inflation-                                                                    
     proofing  for that  fund  is  subject to  appropriation                                                                    
     each  biennium;  there  are  no  rules  for  inflation-                                                                    
     proofing.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hoffman wondered whether other major university                                                                        
funds had major maintenance funding receiving inflation                                                                         
proofing.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter replied that most major universities had funds                                                                      
that had rules to account for inflation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter addressed question 2 from Co-Chair Stedman                                                                          
about the historical comparison of production by field.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:38:29 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter pointed to question 3:                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Senator  Hoffman asked  about the  total amount  of the                                                                    
     Governor's FY24 vetoes.                                                                                                    
     The  Governor  vetoed  $145.4   million  UGF  from  the                                                                    
     operating  budget  and  $56.8   million  UGF  from  the                                                                    
    capital budget, for a total of $202.2 million UGF.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Painter looked at the final question:                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Senator Merrick asked how long  it would take to retire                                                                    
     current school debt.                                                                                                       
     The current  debt schedule shows that  debt will remain                                                                    
     outstanding through  FY40, although the total  per year                                                                    
     falls under $1 million beginning in FY37.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:42:31 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:44:34 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman handed the gavel to Co-Chair Olson.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 141                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act   naming  the  Raymond  and   Esther  Conquest                                                                    
     Bridge."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:45:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SAM GREELY, STAFF, SENATOR LYMAN HOFFMAN, presented the                                                                         
sponsor statement (copy on file).                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson asked whether the family was from the area.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Greely replied in the affirmative.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:48:59 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JANE GOTTSCHALK, VICE MAYOR, CITY OF ALEKNAGIK, ALEKNAGIK                                                                       
(via teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED and CLOSED public testimony.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SB 141 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                              
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:53:46 AM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:54:29 AM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An  Act  relating  to  mental  health  education;  and                                                                    
     providing for an effective date."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:54:32 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELVI GRAY-JACKSON, SPONSOR, read from the Sponsor                                                                       
Statement (copy on file):                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     CSSB   24   amends   the  existing   health   education                                                                    
     curriculum statute  to include mental health  in all K-                                                                    
     12 health classrooms to  adequately educate students on                                                                    
     vital   information   pertaining   to   mental   health                                                                    
     symptoms, resources, and treatment.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     The  Alaska   State  Board   of  Education   and  Early                                                                    
     Development and the Alaska  Department of Education and                                                                    
     Early  Development (DEED)  will develop  guidelines for                                                                    
     instruction  in  mental  health  in  consultation  with                                                                    
     numerous stakeholders. Such  organizations include, but                                                                    
     are   not  limited   to,  the   National  Council   for                                                                    
     Behavioral  Health,  Providence   Health  and  Services                                                                    
     Alaska,  Southcentral  Foundation, Anchorage  Community                                                                    
     Mental  Health Services,  Inc.,  North Star  Behavioral                                                                    
     Health  System, and  the  National  Alliance on  Mental                                                                    
     Health Illness Alaska. The  standards will be developed                                                                    
     in consultation  with counselors,  educators, students,                                                                    
     administrators, and  other mental  health organizations                                                                    
     to  form   effective  guidelines  for   school  boards,                                                                    
     teachers, and students.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
     After standards  have been developed, the  Alaska State                                                                    
     Board of Education and Early  Development and DEED will                                                                    
     be  responsible   for  implementation   throughout  the                                                                    
     Alaska   school  system.   As   with  existing   health                                                                    
     education  curriculum,  the  DEED,  the  Department  of                                                                    
     Health,  and  the  Council  on  Domestic  Violence  and                                                                    
     Sexual  Assault will  provide  technical assistance  to                                                                    
     school districts in the  development of personal safety                                                                    
     curricula.   An   existing  school   health   education                                                                    
     specialist  position will  assist  in coordinating  the                                                                    
     program statewide.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     CSSB 24 aims to  decrease the stigma surrounding mental                                                                    
     illnesses  and increase  students' knowledge  of mental                                                                    
     health,    encouraging    conversation    around    and                                                                    
     understanding of the issue.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
9:57:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BESSE ODOM, STAFF FOR SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON, JUNEAU,                                                                             
discussed the Sectional Analysis:                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 1:  The uncodified law  of the State  of Alaska                                                                    
     is amended by adding a  new section to read Legislative                                                                    
     Intent.  This  section  specifies  what  entities  will                                                                    
     develop guidelines for instruction in mental health.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     Section 2:  This section  amends AS  14.03.016(a) which                                                                    
     is  the statute  that relates  to a  parent's right  to                                                                    
     direct the  education of their  child, by adding  a new                                                                    
     subsection that  would allow parents to  be notified at                                                                    
     least two  weeks before any class  or program regarding                                                                    
     mental health is offered.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     Section 3:  This section  amends AS  14.30.360(a) which                                                                    
     addresses  health  education  curriculum  and  physical                                                                    
     activity  guidelines by  removing  the word  "physical"                                                                    
     when referencing  instruction for health  education and                                                                    
     adding  "mental health"  and "physical  health" to  the                                                                    
     list  of curriculum  items  each  district includes  in                                                                    
     their health education programs.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Section 4:  This section  amends AS  14.30.360(b) which                                                                    
     addresses  health  education  curriculum  and  physical                                                                    
     activity   guidelines.  The   section  clarifies   that                                                                    
     developmentally   appropriate  instruction   in  mental                                                                    
     health be developed by the  state board in consult with                                                                    
     the  Department of  Health,  Department  of Family  and                                                                    
     Community  Services  and  other entities.  The  section                                                                    
     also  list  the  Department  of  Family  and  Community                                                                    
     Services  as one  of many  entities that  shall provide                                                                    
     technical  assistance   to  school  districts   in  the                                                                    
     development of personal safety curricula upon request.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Section 5:  The uncodified law  of the State  of Alaska                                                                    
     is amended  by adding a  new section to read  Report to                                                                    
     the Legislature.  This section clarifies that  a report                                                                    
     must be given  to the Senate Secretary  and Chief Clerk                                                                    
     of  the  House  of Representatives.  This  report  must                                                                    
     include   a   copy   of   developmentally   appropriate                                                                    
     instruction  in mental  health developed  by the  State                                                                    
     Board of  Education and Early Development  and describe                                                                    
     the process used to develop such guidelines.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     Section 6:  The uncodified law  of the State  of Alaska                                                                    
     is amended by adding a  new section to read Transition.                                                                    
     Specifically,  the  section  requires  that  the  state                                                                    
     Board of Education and  Early Development shall develop                                                                    
     the  mental health  guidelines within  two years  after                                                                    
     the  effective  date  of  this  Act.  Section  7:  This                                                                    
     section sets an effective date of July 1, 2023                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
10:00:01 AM                                                                                                                   
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:01:24 AM                                                                                                                   
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
10:01:39 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
ANN RINGSTAD, NAMI ALASKA, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference),                                                                      
spoke in support of the legislation.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:05:19 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JEN GRIFFIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY, ALASKA                                                                      
CHILDREN'S TRUST, ANCHORAGE (via teleconference), spoke in                                                                      
support of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:07:48 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson OPENED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:08:11 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
STEVEN PEARCE, DIRECTOR, CITIZEN'S COMMISSION ON HUMAN                                                                          
RIGHTS, SEATTLE (via teleconference), spoke against the                                                                         
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Ms. Odom replied that the concerns expressed by Mr. Pearce                                                                      
were best handled by those in the psychiatric field.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Olson discussed housekeeping.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SB 24 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further                                                                               
consideration.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
10:13:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 a.m.                                                                                         

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
SB24 Coalition Letter of Support.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SHSS 3/23/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 24
SB 24 Supporting Document - Mental Health in Schools 1.17.2023.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SHSS 3/23/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 24
SB 24 Supporting Document - Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health 1.24.2023.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SHSS 3/23/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 24
SB 24 Supporting Document - Surgeon-General 1.17.2023.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SHSS 3/23/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 24
SB 24 Youth Mental Health Alaska Public Opinion Survey Results Statewide and by Region.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24
SB 24 Supporting Document - A Surprising Remedy 3.10.2023.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SHSS 3/23/2023 3:30:00 PM
SB 24
SB 24 Public Testimony Smith.msg SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24
SB 24 23.04.25 ANHB to Senate Finance Committee re. Support for SB 24- Youth Mental Health Education.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24
SB 141 Hearing Request Packet.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 141
020224 02.01.24 SFIN OMB Follow-up to 01.22.24 Hearing.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
012424 Response to SFIN Questions from 1-24-24 Meeting.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24 Sponsor Statement for CSSB 24 version B 2024.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24
SB 24 Sectional Analysis for SB 24 2024.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
SB 24
SB 24 MH Education - opposition CCHR 2-7-24.pdf SFIN 2/7/2024 9:00:00 AM
HR 2
SB 24