HOUSE BILL NO. 99 An Act relating to school discipline and safety programs; and providing for an effective date. REPRESENTATIVE LESIL MCGUIRE commented that violence in Alaska's schools has recently been brought into the community spotlight as a result of serious physical altercations between students. The fights have been violent resulting in severe bodily harm. Education requires our children to learn how to live in society through the acceptance of rules and community values. Representative McGuire stated that HB 99 would be a tool available to schools to help confront both violent and non- violent conflicts. HB 99 would amend Title 14 of the Alaska Statutes to include policies that would initiate student conflict-resolution curriculum providing methods of nonviolent resolution and mediation for student conflict. HB 99 would seek to recognize and enforce existing behavior standards by giving students alternatives for solving problems besides the use of violence. By integrating that way of learning into the schools core curriculum, policies would be targeted at helping students resolve problems before they escalate. Representative McGuire pointed out the zero fiscal note submitted by the Department of Education & Early Development. Representative Harris asked if the legislation would cause unfounded mandate expenditures to the local school districts. Representative McGuire stated that it would not have that effect. She noted the direct contrast with the language in the previous bill and pointed out the program requiring the policies had been removed. Representative McGuire noted that three of the schools already have policies in place pertaining to the reporting of school conflict. That inclusion will waive them out of the stipulation. Representative McGuire added that there would be policy manual updates distributed to the school districts. Schools would use existing resources to determine if there were problems in their areas. She noted that the bill would help individual school districts to obtain grant application funds. Vice-Chair Bunde stated that Chugiak High School does have a mediation program in place. He asked if the information that district had gathered would be available to the other districts. Additionally, Vice-Chair Bunde questioned what the charge assessed to each high school would be if the program language were to be added back. Representative McGuire indicated that there was a movement to create a database and that the materials would be available. She noted that through her office budget, she intended to put together a packet addressing the "Peace-able School Project", which would be sent to every school in the State. The current costs of the Chugiak program runs about $30 - $40 thousand dollars per year. The cost to implement the mediation program would be approximately $8 thousand per year. Representative Lancaster asked if there would be any financial responsibility to the school districts should problems result. Representative McGuire stated there would not. The districts would not be punished and there would be no ramifications. She advised that through the policy letter and the news channels, the idea has been well received. She acknowledged that an incentive exists. The school districts want to start talking about these concerns. Vice-Chair Bunde asked if mediation was currently happening in the Alaskan elementary schools. Representative McGuire responded that most of the elementary schools have some sort of mediation control happening. However, kids are coming into the high schools and those trained mediator services are no longer being used. Representative McGuire stressed that Chugiak is an exception. Most high schools are not doing it at this time. She noted that the legislation primarily targets the high school level. DEBBIE OSSIANDER, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), ANCHORAGE SCHOOL BOARD, CHUGIACH HIGH SCHOOL, ANCHORAGE, noted that the first priority of every school district is school safety. Ms. Ossiander commented that her school district has been working toward improving conflict resolution for a number of years. Much of the work has been done through federal grant monies, specifically the Federal Safe and Drug Free Schools. She indicated that the Anchorage School Board supports the proposed legislation and pointed out that the legislation would help districts to access grant funding. VERNON MARSHALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (NEA)-ALASKA, noted that NEA does support the passage of HB 99. The issue of school safety has been a top priority for the Union's agenda for many years. He noted that HB 99 would address the importance of developing strategies that hopefully would lead to programs designed to help students cope with aggressive thoughts and feelings. There is currently staff employed to address school safety concerns. Mr. Marshal noted that working with children at an early age addressing these issues of aggression, would be beneficial to all school age children. Mr. Marshall distributed a packet of material that is used by teachers at in-service trainings throughout the State. [Copy on File]. Vice-Chair Bunde MOVED to report CS HB 99 (HES) out of Committee with individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. CS HB 99 (HES) was reported out of Committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with a new zero fiscal note by Department of Education & Early Development.