SB 8-STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS    8:05:51 AM CO-CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 8. SENATOR STEVENS said he has received concerns from parents who want to make sure they receive the information about the survey ahead of time so they can write a written denial of participation for their child. He asked for an overview of the opportunities parents will have to receive information on the YRBS [Youth Risk Behavior Survey] and be able to take their children out of the program if they do not want them participating. 8:07:34 AM THOMAS OBERMEYER, Staff to Senator Bettye Davis, sponsor of SB 8, replied that the notice requirements are located in section 2 of the bill. He explained that parents are first asked for permission in the fall when their child is enrolling for classes. At this time parents will sign a form that will or will not allow their child to participate in questionnaires and surveys. SENATOR STEVENS asked how the parents get this information. MR. OBERMEYER answered that there is a form available for parents to sign located at the table where their child is signing up for classes in the fall. He explained that the YRBS is only offered biannually in the spring. For this reason, another notice is given in writing to the parents before the survey is administered. This letter notifies them about the survey and instructs them to go online or contact the school for details. SB 8 expands on the notification requirements to parents. The main difference between the bill and the previous method of administering the survey is that parents who have an objection to the survey are asked to provide a written denial of participation [page 2, lies 14-18]. He noted that the student may also refuse to answer specific questions or participate in the survey itself. He stressed that neither the teacher nor the school will have an opportunity to review the completed surveys. The surveys are sent directly to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). SENATOR DAVIS said that page 2 of the bill lays out the notification process for parents in detail. She reiterated that on the day of the survey a student may refuse to take it. She stressed that this method has worked in the past, more so than the current method. MR. OBERMEYER noted that Section 4 of the bill indicates that the notice of the survey to parents must be given no later than two weeks before the survey is administered. SENATOR STEVENS said he understands the importance of this survey. He asked if a letter or an e-mail is sent directly to the parent about the survey. SENATOR DAVIS replied that currently every school district is different in how it notifies parents about this survey. She said the bill will make all of the districts administer the notification in the same way. MR. OBERMEYER said there is nothing in the bill that indicates whether the notice must be written or if an electronic method will suffice. Currently, the notification method is more or less up to the school districts. CO-CHAIR MEYER said he feels comfortable with this bill because the student can choose not to take the survey. CO-CHAIR THOMAS said the objection to this bill has always been that the parent has to be pro-active in order to stop their child from taking the YRBS. He agreed that he does not have a serious problem with this bill because students can opt out of the survey. 8:18:36 AM WARD HURLBURT, Director, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), stated concern for SB 8. He said he agrees that the proposed law would help obtain important information. However, the survey does get to sensitive and personal information about young people. He explained that Governor Parnell has a deep commitment to strengthening Alaska's families and the current policy does strengthen families and the role of parents more than the opt-out provision contained in SB 8. SENATOR FRENCH asked if he knows how the survey works. MR. HULBURT replied that he does not know all of the details, but he is familiar with the survey and has read the background material. SENATOR FRENCH asked if he listened to the hearing that the committee held last Friday on the subject. MR. HULBURT answered yes. SENATOR FRENCH asked if he knew that the survey is filled out anonymously and the information is compiled with complete anonymity. MR. HULBURT replied yes. SENATOR FRENCH asked if he knows how important the information obtained from this survey is in order for policy makers to have an idea of what is happening to the youth of Alaska and the nation. MR. HULBURT replied yes. He agreed that the information from the survey is important to DHSS in regards to both programs in Alaska and obtaining federal grants. SENATOR FRENCH said the current policy results in low compliance rates. He asked how not knowing what is happening with Alaska's youth strengthens families. MR. HULBURT answered that concerns about particular questions should be addressed to CDC. He explained that the questions are intrusive and can be read in a way that makes a presumption of certain kinds of activity that could upset parents. He said while there are children that engage in negative activities, there are many young people who do not. He said he respects Governor Parnell's concerns and it is consistent with his support of strong families and the engagement of parents. 8:23:42 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS asked if there are specific areas of the survey that should be deleted or approached in a different manner. DR. HULBURT replied he does not want to mislead the committee. The questions have to be of sensitive origin in order to get the information needed. He noted that this is not a part of the bill or the sponsor's intent. However, the way the survey is presented is meant to make students feel comfortable so they will answer questions honestly. He explained that sometimes this can come across with a presumption that they may be engaging in behaviors that many students do not engage in. SENATOR DAVIS said she appreciates the statement that he has made. She said, as the head of Public Health, this particular survey must be of importance to the department and allows it to receive more federal funds. She asked whether changing the way the survey is administered will be helpful in this light. DR. HULBURT answered yes. This information is important to the department and to society. He said he has not heard anything from the governor's office which indicates that this information is not important. The difference is that the governor believes the "opt-in" provision ensures parents' engagement in the survey. He stressed that this in no way lessens the importance of the information or obtaining that information. 8:28:01 AM SENATOR DAVIS said, in regards to the testimony heard last Friday, it was stated that this survey is important and the change that this bill offers would be a better way to get the material needed. Not only are school districts putting their own money into this survey, but the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is also doing so. She said that concerns on what the survey addresses and whether the questions need to be changed should be addressed to CDC. She noted that CDC does review the YRBS and change it from time to time. The issue of "strengthening families" is located in this bill, which allows parents to opt their child out of the survey. She said she would not introduce a bill that would harm families. She emphasized that most parents do not return the permission form because they are too busy, not because they object to the survey itself. CO-CHAIR MEYER said he voiced his concerns on the survey on Friday in regards to some of the questions. However, there are important questions on the survey that allow law makers to receive feedback on whether their bills addressing these topics are effective. He said that there are several ways out of the survey if people find it offensive and he is comfortable moving the bill. 8:31:44 AM CO-CHAIR THOMAS moved to report SB 8 from the committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note. There being no objections, SB 8 moved from the Senate Education Standing Committee.