HB 18-TEACHERS: NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION  8:19:04 AM CO-CHAIR STORY announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 18, "An Act relating to national board certification for public school teachers." [The committee had adopted an amendment to HB 18 at its last hearing of the bill on 1/26/22.] 8:19:34 AM CLAIRE GROSS, Staff, Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Kreiss- Tomkins, prime sponsor of HB 18, offered to answer questions from the committee. 8:20:17 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX observed that the national board certification requirements seemed comparable to those of a master's degree, and he questioned whether the bill sponsor had spoken with the university about that. MS. GROSS answered that the sponsor's office had not done so, but remarked that was an interesting idea. 8:22:25 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND moved to report HB 18, [as amended], out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. 8:22:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK objected. He said he does not feel a statute is necessary, as this is a local decision. 8:23:18 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX concurred with Representative Cronk. Further, he opined that if the legislature wants to modify its [national board certification] requirements, it should first have a discussion with the university rather than establishing a parallel program. 8:24:53 AM CO-CHAIR STORY said she sees the two programs as being separate and complementary. 8:25:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK, in response to Co-Chair Story, confirmed that he maintained his objection. 8:25:18 AM A roll call vote was taken. Representatives Zulkosky, Hopkins, Drummond, and Story voted in favor of the motion to report HB 18, [as amended], out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. Representatives Prax, Cronk, and Gillham voted against it. Therefore, [CSHB 18(EDC)] was reported out of the House Education Standing Committee by a vote of 4-3.