HB 43-EXTEND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY  8:16:28 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 43, "An Act extending the termination date of the special education service agency; and providing for an effective date." 8:17:13 AM CO-CHAIR STORY, prime sponsor, stated that HB 43 would extend the termination date of the Special Education Service Agency (SESA), which provides high-quality, efficient services for students with severe disabilities in Alaska. She explained that legislative auditor Kris Curtis recommended an extension of eight years, to June 30, 2029, as the agency has met the mission set out in statute. She reviewed the March 17, 2021, hearing where the bill was considered for the first time, emphasizing that the testimony of SESA director Patrick Pillai and the findings of legislative auditor Kris Curtis supported the bill. She recommended that the bill move out of committee. 8:19:44 AM HEIDI TESHNER, Director, Finance and Support Services, Department of Education and Early Development, presented a legislative fiscal note for HB 43, Office of Management & Budget (OMB) component number 2735, which included a governor's fiscal year 2022 (FY 22) projected grant of $2,404,400 for SESA. The grant was calculated in accordance with Alaska Statute (AS) 14.30.650. The fiscal note estimated a cost of $2,368,900 for FY 23, based on the FY 21 final average daily membership of 127,016.30 multiplied by $18.65 as specified in AS 14.30.650. The estimated amount for FY 23 was carried forward through June 30, 2029, with the department planning to adjust it annually based on the prior year's average daily membership. 8:22:01 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND opened public testimony on HB 43. 8:22:38 AM JESSIE TOWARAK, Director, Special Education, Bering Strait School District, stated that students, teachers, families, and districts have been positively impacted by SESA. She said SESA staff have provided expertise, training, teleconference support, librarian services, site visits, and assistance in programming for students with disabilities. She stated that as Special Education Director, she is responsible for recruiting and training special education teachers for 15 villages in her area. Teachers often arrive with little or no training or experience in programming education for students with low-incidence disabilities using resources available in rural areas, she explained. She continued, stating that SESA has been a bridge for students, their teachers, and their programs while also assisting in retaining special education teachers. She recalled the experience of one of her teachers, who would not have known what to do without the aid of SESA. She emphasized that the services are a vital, necessary resource for students, teachers, and families. She recalled her experience as a teacher when SESA provided programming, support, and training for her and her colleagues. In order to meet the unique needs of her students, she stated that she fully supports the reauthorization of SESA. 8:24:42 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND closed public testimony on HB 43. 8:24:55 AM CO-CHAIR STORY added that she has been impressed by, and is grateful for, the support the program brings to students and staff in special education across Alaska. She thanked Patrick Pillai for his work in guiding the agency through several decades, and expressed her gratitude for the special education community, the support of students, and the SESA program. 8:26:00 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked for clarification on if the programs are driven by federal regulations. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND stated that the programs are driven by the Americans With Disabilities Act, and school districts are required to provide services for students with special needs. REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked for verification that the top priority in AIDA is providing those services. 8:26:54 AM CO-CHAIR STORY stated that her understanding is that SESA provides one way to meet the federal requirements to serve students with low-incidence disabilities. The program ensures efficient delivery of services and that teachers understand the unique needs of the 1 percent of students affected by these disabilities nationwide. 8:27:54 AM PATRICK PILLAI, Executive Director, Special Education Service Agency, responded that Representative Prax was correct, and the federal mandate to provide special education services extends through 21 years of age. This responsibility was entrenched by AS 14.30.630, which required SESA to provide special education services and outreach services for individuals with low- incidence disabilities, as well as support and training for local school districts, he explained. CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND asked, since the services are available through the age of 21, when they begin to be available. 8:28:55 AM MR. PILLAI replied that services are available from ages 3 to 21. 8:29:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked to clarify that the funding for SESA is for staff travelling throughout the state and providing support to districts, rather than district hires. 8:29:49 AM MR. PILLAI confirmed that the funding to the agency allows for 11-15 specialists to travel to rural school districts and provide training, programming, and support for educators of children with specific disabilities. In districts with few staff, the needs of children with these specific disabilities would go unmet without this specialized support, he explained. 8:31:04 AM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK asked if the funding for the program has stayed at a flat rate for, for example, the last three years. MR. PILLAI said funding was established eight years ago during the last reauthorization period. He referenced SB 19, which proposes a 24 percent increase in funding. 8:31:52 AM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK expressed doubt in the numbers for FY 23 - FY 26 and asked if those numbers will continue to provide enough for the necessary services of the program. 8:32:20 AM MR. PILLAI stated that the program's projection for FY 22 shows a $578,000 deficit, and the 24 percent increase in funding proposed by SB 19 will adjust for that deficit through FY 29. 8:33:03 AM CO-CHAIR STORY verified that the Senate Education Standing Committee recommended the increase in funding found in SB 19, and that HB 43 will be referred to the House Finance Committee for recommendation. 8:33:53 AM CO-CHAIR STORY moved to report HB 43 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 43 was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee.