HB 105-SEX/REPRODUCTION EDUCATION; SCHOOLS  9:02:40 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 105, "An Act relating to parental rights in a child's education; relating to access to school records; relating to sex education, human reproduction education, and human sexuality education; relating to school disciplinary and safety programs; and providing for an effective date." 9:03:14 AM HEIDI TESHNER, Acting Commissioner, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), stated that she wished to address a few misconceptions about HB 105 before invited testifiers joined. She began by summarizing the sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: The bill requires school districts to allow parental access to school records and to develop policies requiring written consent prior to providing instruction related to human reproduction and sexual matters. Parental involvement initiatives in public education have been increasing nationwide. In Alaska, parents are becoming more actively involved in the content and quality of instruction provided in public schools. This involvement has resulted in an increased focus on the presentation of content and materials that may not be age-appropriate for all children. This bill addresses these concerns by placing matters of personal identification and sexual education directly in the hands of parents at the local level. Under the terms of the bill, school districts must adopt rules that provide for notice and affirmative written consent prior to any activity, class, or program that includes sensitive and personal content involving gender identity, human reproduction, or sexual matters, and a class involving sex education may not be attended by a child enrolled in a grade below fourth grade. In addition, the bill recognizes the rights of parents to designate the official name used by schools when addressing or referring to enrolled students. The bill authorizes the enforcement of these policies through the use of civil litigation by parents against school districts that knowingly or recklessly refuse to comply with the statute. A parent's right to information about a student's physical, medical, and mental health is absolutely critical to ensure the safety and privacy of their children. Given the complex and dynamic nature of the modem school environment, it is counterproductive to create situations where a child's various caregivers are not all operating on the same page. To that end, this bill also prevents school districts from refusing to release sensitive and personal student records to the child's legal parent or guardian. Finally, the bill recognizes every child's right to privacy by requiring school districts to adopt procedures addressing the physical safety and privacy of students in locker rooms and restrooms in public schools. 9:06:04 AM MS. TESHNER clarified that the bill would not change anything related to the requirements of Bree's Law; those remain as an opt-out. The bill would not prevent sexual abuse awareness or prevention classes from being taught. The bill would not contribute to child abuse by forcing a teacher to "out" a gender conforming child to their parents, and the bill explicitly permits school personnel from withholding this information if they knowingly believe it would result in abuse or neglect of that child. The bill would not aim to take away the rights of any student demographic. In closing, she explained, the rights of parents to be involved and informed about what children are being taught in school should not be controversial. The bill would make a key change, she said, by changing the requirement from the right to opt-out, to the requirement that parents must opt-in. She shared her observation that parent involvement often results in more successful, well-rounded children. 9:08:50 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD thanked Ms. Teshner for her clarifications and welcomed invited testimony. 9:09:05 AM DEENA BISHOP, retired, representing self, informed the committee that she had retired from working in the Office of the Governor. She summarized her years of service and background, and gave her testimony in support of HB 105, supporting parents' rights and transparency in Alaska schools. She stated that one of her goals today was to share what the bill would not do, which she believed would be useful in combatting disinformation. Parental rights are not new in education, and parental involvement is key to a child's educational success, she said, adding that parents are the first and primary teachers of their children. The governor's education bill empowers the people who are asked to be partners to engage in schools and choose for their children to educate them of personal matters, she conveyed. 9:15:17 AM MS. BISHOP, explained that Alaska has laws that protect children and teachers, noting that teachers are mandatory reporters by way of their professional certification. She said HB 105, a bill that guarantees the rights of parents to be involved, would not remove duties to keep children safe nor would it remove the instruction in personal safety or sexual abuse training. She reiterated that it would not remove Bree's Law. All of these [statements] have been false assertions, she said, adding that the bill supports what the federal government already has ensured. She emphasized that the bill is not a prohibition, it is about parental permission. She urged the committee to support HB 105 for what it does, and opined that it would empower Alaska's parents and strengthen Alaska schools. 9:19:00 AM KENDAL KRUSE, representing self, stated that she strongly supported HB 105 for many reasons, and echoed the sentiments of the previous testifier. She expressed concern about the negative view of parents within school systems, and pointed out that parental involvement increases the outcomes for children academically and economically later in life. She mentioned the declining state of mental health throughout Alaska, and asked how children can be helped if [parents and teachers] are not united. Pitting parents against teachers, she said, is not going to unite or increase mental health statistics or result in happy and healthy children. 9:23:28 AM MS. KRUSE reflected on her work in healthcare the past nine years and confirmed that she is also a mandatory reporter. She stated that it is important to acknowledge that some children are abused, some parents are involved, and there are systems in place to help these children, which is critical. She noted the diversity that exists in Alaska, and respected that there are parents that object to certain things, as well as parents who would like "those things" to be taught. She stressed that she wanted both sets of parents to be able to make those decisions for themselves. She thanked the committee for their service. 9:26:32 AM TAMMY BUNKER, representing self, informed the committee that she was a retired teacher, and gave invited testimony in support of HB 105. She explained that she came from a long line of public educators, and most of her life she had been invested in public education. She added that she currently volunteers twice a week at an elementary school. She stated that she is specifically in support of the portion [of the bill] that would require written permission for a child to participate in an activity, class, or program that pertains to human reproduction, sexual matters, or gender identity. She applauded the governor's desire to increase transparency between schools and parents, and opined that the bill would allow parents to make informed decisions that are best for their child as well as allow parents and educators to work together to help students reach their full potential. 9:30:14 AM TERRI LYONS, representing self, gave invited testimony on HB 105 and expressed her belief that parents have all the rights from birth to be their child's moral, emotional, and financial center. She stated her support for HB 105 except for the provision indicating that sex education would start in the 4th th grade. She said she believed that 4 grade is far too young with or without approval from a parent, and that children should have a bit more maturity to be able to handle that information. 9:33:12 AM LYNN HALFORD, representing self, provided a brief background and began her testimony in support of HB 105. She noted that she currently spends her retirement helping to care for six grandchildren, which added to the reason why she cared about the bill and wanted it passed into law. She stated that she appreciated the grade level guidelines and did not want the innocence of children violated by subjects that are not age appropriate. She agreed with the testifiers that preceded her and thanked the governor and the committee. 9:36:09 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD invited questions from the committee. 9:36:30 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX requested that the testifiers submit transcripts of their testimony. 9:36:50 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE referred to the statement that the bill would not change Bree's Law; however, he noted that he did not hear any reference to the "children's safety act" [Erin's Law]. He asked whether there would be any effect on that particular piece of legislation. MS. BISHOP confirmed that it would not alter that legislation. CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE asked how to teach a child how to spot and report signs of abuse without being in violation of the proposed legislation, should it become law. MS. BISHOP replied that teaching materials are quite complex. She explained that there are age-appropriate books and videos used in regard to "good touch bad touch." 9:40:09 AM CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE expressed concern that, as drafted, HB 105 would prevent conversations about good touch bad touch with th children under 4 grade because it would imply that there is such a thing as a "bad touch." If HB 105 were to pass, he asked whether teachers and parents would still be able to have that conversation. MS. BISHOP replied that the bill was about sexual matters and personal maturation, two things that are present in the education system and would require parent's permission instead of opting out. It is not about abolishing or prohibiting anything, she said, it is about parents understanding what is being taught. CO-CHAIR RUFFRIDGE referred to the statement that there was no prohibition in the bill; however, Section 5 prohibited children under grade four from participation in a class or program that involves sex education, human reproduction or human sexuality education. He opined that "good touch bad touch" still falls under the realm that there are dangers that exist in regard to sexual matters. He stated that he was having a hard time reading the bill and not thinking that it would prohibit those conversations. MS. BISHOP explained that for children under the fourth grade, educators teach them about safety and focusing on the basics of [reading, writing, arithmetic]. She stated that as an educator, personal safety and instruction on sexual matters are two very different constructs. 9:44:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY emphasized the importance of teaching age appropriate personal safety information and sough to confirm that there would still be an opt-out option for child abuse prevention and Brees Law. 9:46:23 AM MS. TESHNER confirmed that is correct. 9:46:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE HIMSCHOOT asked Ms. Tesher to speak to a legal memo regarding the constitutionality of the proposed bill. MS. TESHNER replied that she had not looked at the memo yet. 9:47:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX expressed concern that the mandatory reporting requirements had not been totally successful. 9:50:17 AM MS. BISHOP responded that many reports are investigated that turn out to be unfounded; however, the law was designed to benefit children's safety first. She added that if a teacher had information about endangerment, they were to report it. 9:55:04 AM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX offered a personal anecdote about a homeless teenager who needed a dad. He explained that he chose not to foster the teen because he didn't want the hassle of the government looking into his [family]. He shared his belief that this concern required further conversation. 9:56:27 AM REPRESENTATIVE MCKAY offered final comments regarding organization and rules for the upcoming public testimony. 9:58:25 AM CO-CHAIR ALLARD [announced that HB 105 was held over.]