CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1(EDC) Relating to a legislative task force on civics education. SENATOR GARY STEVENS, SPONSOR, discussed the legislation. He questioned whether currently children were aware of the basic elements of democracy and what it meant to be a citizen and voter. He explained that the resolution established a task force to examine and improve awareness of the importance of civics education in the state. He noted that currently, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provided funding for non-profits to assist in the endeavor. 1:53:52 PM Representative Wilson noted the zero fiscal note. She pointed to page 3, line 30 - 31 of the legislation and read the following: …further resolved that members of the task force serve without compensation but be entitled to per diem and travel expenses authorized for boards and commissions… Representative Wilson wondered how the fiscal note justified the provision in the bill. 1:54:12 PM TIN LAMKIN, STAFF, SENATOR STEVENS, pointed to the analysis on the second page of the fiscal note. He relayed that the members of the task force would pay their own way. He provided the example of a task force member employed by the University of Alaska utilizing University per diem funds to attend. The intent was that members would be chosen from residents of the Anchorage area to keep travel costs to a minimum. Representative Wilson assumed the travel expenses would be covered by their organization or employer. Mr. Lamkin answered in the affirmative. Representative Guttenberg commented that the legislature went through many "machinations" regarding the issue over the years. He recalled when he was in grade school he engaged in civics lessons and activities. He asked whether the sponsor accumulated information regarding how civics was currently taught. Senator Stevens responded that his views on the issue were predicated on his own anecdotal experience when visiting school classrooms. He observed that basic civics understanding and information in the schools was lacking. He was not aware of a specific study. Representative Guttenberg ascertained that the legislature needed to gain a better understanding regarding the exposure to civics Alaskan children was receiving in school. Senator Stevens provided an example of a program in Boston, Massachusetts that helped teachers teach students about civics and citizenship. He wished to see a similar outcome from the state's task force. 1:58:57 PM Representative Gara appreciated the senator for bringing the legislation forward and felt that with the emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) training other important aspects of education was being lost. He relayed a personal experience of being mistaken for a congressional representative. Representative Munoz asked whether curriculum expansion would be a result of the bill. Senator Stevens confirmed that the curriculum would not change. He hoped that a separate civics class would be established but the goal was to attain results at low costs which required a different approach. Representative Munoz wanted to make sure that a result of the legislation was not mandating additional graduation requirements. Mr. Lamkin pointed to page 2, lines 14 through 20 in the current House Education Committee version of the bill that requested the task force to evaluate the merits and implementation of requiring a civics test. He shared that the test was the citizenship test that immigrants were required to pass. The test contained 100 questions and 60 percent was a passing grade. Statistics showed that 92 percent of immigrants passed the test versus 3 percent of graduating seniors in Arizona and 4 percent in Oklahoma. He thought that the results were indicative of the current problem. Co-Chair Thompson invited questions for Michael Poliakoff, Ph.D., Vice President of Policy, American Council of Trustees and Alumni. 2:03:35 PM Co-Chair Thompson OPENED public testimony. 2:03:48 PM Co-Chair Thompson CLOSED public testimony. Senator Stevens thanked the committee for hearing the bill. Co-Chair Thompson spoke to the fiscal note FN3 (LEG) regarding travel costs that was zeroed out by the House Education Committee with the included remarks that anticipated the travel cost would be absorbed. He felt uncomfortable that the bill still contained language entitling travel and per diem expenses. 2:04:26 PM Representative Wilson voiced that the current fiscal note was only one page and supported the zero fiscal note with the absorption of travel related costs. Co-Chair Thompson noted the zero fiscal note. Representative Munoz MOVED to REPORT HCSCSSCR 1 (EDC) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal note(s). There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered. HCSCSSCR 1 was REPORTED out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation and with one previously published fiscal note: FN3 (LEG). 2:05:51 PM AT EASE 2:08:05 PM RECONVENED