HB 105-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION  9:32:29 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 105, "An Act relating to mental health education." [CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT opened public testimony]. 9:32:53 AM CAROLINE STORM* representing self* Anchorage, Alaska testified in support of HB 105.{ Testified in support of HB 105. She explained how mental health education in schools is related to eating disorders and said that she supported HB 105 in the hopes that it would allow students to tackle their mental health issues before they became more serious. 9:34:09 AM TREVOR STORRS, President & CEO, Alaska Children's Trust, testified in support of HB 105. He said that suicide was the leading cause of death for Alaskans aged 15-24 in 2019 and said that the proposed legislation would reduce stigma surrounding mental health care, provide resources for parents and students, and allow kids to better learn about themselves. 9:36:26 AM KATHLEEN WEDEMEYER, Deputy Director, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, testified in opposition to HB 105. She said that HB 105 leaves a gap in the types of mental health care that is able to be delivered to kids in Alaska by not accounting for other views on mental health held by alternative medical providers. 9:38:50 AM ADRIANNE RICHARDSON, The Faithful Few, testified in support of HB 105. She said that she supported HB 105 because the bill could assist Alaskan children in becoming aware of their own mental health issues and emphasized the proposed legislation's potential to save lives. 9:41:28 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT, after ascertaining that there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 105. 9:42:01 AM The committee took a brief at-ease at 9:42 a.m. 9:42:56 AM KELLY MANNING, Deputy Director, Innovation & Education Excellence, Department of Education & Early Development, Explained the fiscal note associated with HB 105. She explained that the fiscal note is $216,000 and includes one-time expenses such as updated guidelines and standards for mental health in schools. She said that it would be $120,000 for the convening of the committee outline by the proposed legislation, $32,000 for a facilitator, $6,000 for the required regulation changes, and $60,000 for the committee member's stipends. 9:45:29 AM CO-CHAIR HIMSCHOOT announced that the amendment deadline for HB 105 would be Thursday, March 30, 2025.