HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE May 11, 2022 9:42 a.m. 9:42:46 AM CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Merrick called the House Finance Committee meeting to order at 9:42 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Kelly Merrick, Co-Chair Representative Ben Carpenter Representative DeLena Johnson Representative Andy Josephson Representative Bart LeBon Representative Sara Rasmussen Representative Steve Thompson Representative Adam Wool MEMBERS ABSENT Representative Neal Foster, Co-Chair Representative Dan Ortiz, Vice-Chair Representative Bryce Edgmon ALSO PRESENT Senator Gary Stevens, Sponsor; Tim Lamkin, Staff, Senator Gary Stevens; PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE Sondra Meredith, Teacher Certification Administrator, Department of Education; SUMMARY HB 5 SEXUAL ASSAULT; DEF. OF "CONSENT" HB 5 was SCHEDULED but not HEARD. CSSB 20(FIN) OUT OF STATE TEACHER RECIPROCITY CSSB 20 (FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. Co-Chair Merrick reviewed the agenda for the meeting. CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 20(FIN) "An Act relating to teaching certificates for teachers holding out-of-state certificates." 9:43:13 AM Co-Chair Merrick indicated the committee had last heard the bill on May 4, 2022. She invited the testifiers to make opening comments. SENATOR GARY STEVENS, SPONSOR, thanked the committee for hearing the bill again. The bill allowed teachers from out-of-state to receive their certification to teach in Alaska quickly. It did not reduce the standards. It allowed them time to follow the Alaska specific training: suicide prevention and Alaska History. He indicated Anchorage School District testified that 7 percent of its teachers were military spouses. They came to Alaska for a brief time, 2 or 3 years. If the state waited for a year to get them through the red tape, it would exacerbate the teachers shortage. Although the bill did not solve all of the teacher problems, it will help solve some of them. Co-Chair Merrick noted Representative Josephson had joined the meeting. 9:44:29 AM Co-Chair Merrick OPENED public testimony. 9:44:38 AM Co-Chair Merrick CLOSED public testimony. Co-Chair Merrick indicated there was one fiscal impact note, FN3 (control code KyFWi), by the Department of Education and Early Development. She invited Ms. Meredith to provide a review. SONDRA MEREDITH, TEACHER CERTIFICATION ADMINISTRATOR, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (via teleconference), reviewed the fiscal note of about $6,000 to make the necessary regulatory changes associated with the bill. Co-Chair Merrick indicated Representative Thomson, Representative Wool, Representative Josephson, and Representative Rasmussen had joined the meeting. 9:46:03 AM AT EASE 9:46:30 AM RECONVENED Co-Chair Merrick invited Mr. Lamkin to comment. TIM LAMKIN, STAFF, SENATOR GARY STEVENS, was available for questions. Representative Wool wondered about the opinions of the union and the National Education Association (NEA). Senator Stevens deferred to his staff. Mr. Lamkin responded that he could not speak on behalf of NEA. However, in a prior committee, negotiations had taken place and their needs were satisfied. Co-Chair Merrick set an amendment deadline for Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. She announced the next meeting was at 1:30 p.m. CSSB 20(FIN) was HEARD and HELD in committee for further consideration. ADJOURNMENT 9:48:10 AM The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 a.m.