SB 37-SEXUAL ABUSE/ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAMS  3:32:49 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 37. 3:33:19 PM LAUREN RASMUSSEN, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, reviewed SB 37 on behalf of the sponsor. She described the Alaska Safe Children's Act. She read from the following sponsor statement: Senate Bill 37, known as the Alaska Safe Children's Act, is an important piece of legislation that will require school districts to set up a policy and training program for staff, students, and parents on the topics of sexual assault and teen dating violence. ASCA will combat child abuse and teen dating violence; and add volunteer athletic coaches to the existing mandatory reporting statute. This bill will do the following: • Require school districts to implement age- appropriate training and curricula on sexual abuse and sexual assault awareness and prevention for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. • Require school districts to implement age- appropriate training and curricula on dating violence and abuse policy, awareness, training, and prevention for students 7th through 12th grade. • Adds volunteer athletic coaches to the existing mandatory reporting statute under AS 47.17.020(a) • Repeals requirement that school districts pay for physical examinations. • Repeals requirement that certificated preschool teachers must be fingerprinted and background checked a second time after being hired. Alaska Safe Children's Act will empower children, parents and teachers by providing a structure for pulling the stories of abuse out of the shadows and demonstrating to future generations that every child has a voice. In a state as resource rich as ours, it is time we turn our focus on our most precious resource: our children. MS. RASMUSSEN addressed questions from the previous meeting. She responded to questions from Senator Huggins regarding the possible criminal history of teachers from out of state. She related that according to the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), a person would have to apply for an Alaska license which requires a fingerprint card and a completed background check through the Department of Public Safety and the National Crime Information Center. In response to the question regarding the backlog of processing rape kits, Ms. Rasmussen said Senator McGuire plans on working on this important issue in the interim. She also related that there are a number of colleges that offer courses on sexual abuse prevention. MS. RASMUSSEN turned to the response for Senator Gardner's question regarding training of volunteer athletic coaches. She said the statute requires the training be completed within the first six months of hire, which could be an issue for seasonal coaches. She said the sponsor believes it is a valid concern and merits continuing attention. 3:38:02 PM SENATOR STEVENS said the bill would remove the provision to fingerprint pre-school teachers a second time. He asked why that is required twice in the first place. MS. RASMUSSEN offered to get back to the committee on that. 3:38:44 PM DR. SUSAN MCCAULEY, Director, Teacher and Learning Support, Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), provided information related to SB 37. She related that there are two separate systems for fingerprinting set up for pre-school teachers; one, from DEED, is for the purpose of certification and the second system, established by the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), is required when one obtains a teaching position. CHAIR STEVENS asked if she supports the repeal of fingerprinting contained in the bill. DR. MCCAULEY said it would reduce the burden on an individual, but clarified that the systems have two different purposes. The DHSS database is a 24/7 real-time check for criminal activities; DEED's system is a check only upon initial teacher certification. The language in Section 2 of the bill requires DHSS to develop a procedure for sending over fingerprinting records for the purpose of satisfying DHSS's requirements, but is not clear about whether that procedure would result in those records being entered into a real-time, ongoing check. She suggested it is worth further inquiry with DHSS as to whether providing them with fingerprinting cards for certificated teachers no longer results in the records being in the 24/7 system. She thought the intention of the bill was to reduce duplicate requirements, when, in fact, they are somewhat different requirements. CHAIR DUNLEAVY said it is duplicative for the individual. DR. MCCAULEY said yes. CHAIR DUNLEAVY summarized that the bill would reduce fingerprinting to one time and the departments are trying to figure out how that could happen. DR. MCCAULEY agreed. CHAIR DUNLEAVY thought the results could be shared between departments. 3:43:01 PM SENATOR STEVENS asked who pays the cost for fingerprinting. DR. MCCAULEY said the individual does. SENATOR GARDNER clarified that this provision applies to only 100 certificated pre-school teachers. She said there does not seem to be any benefit by the 24/7 scanning of pre-school teachers. She could not find a single case where it was needed. She asked why real-time fingerprinting would not be important for all other teachers. 3:45:00 PM SENATOR HUGGINS concluded that there may be a greater danger to students from those who don't have a record. DR. MCCAULEY did not understand the question. SENATOR HUGGINS restated the question. DR. MCCAULEY said if a person's behavior resulted in a criminal record it would be picked up in the initial certification process. 3:47:29 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY asked if there is a fiscal note. MS. RASMUSSEN said she has not seen one for the committee substitute. 3:47:57 PM JORDAN MARSHALL, External Affairs Manager, Rasmuson Foundation, testified in support of SB 37. He stated that the Rasmuson Foundation has long been a supporter of organizations and programs that are designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. He said if SB 37 were to pass, the Rasmuson Foundation would most certainly entertain a grant application to develop curriculum and training. SENATOR GARDNER mentioned that there is a lot of curriculum available, but the biggest training potential for school districts is a webinar. At one point the department suggested they might be able to provide that. She asked if the Rasmuson Foundation might be able to help produce a webinar. MR. MARSHALL responded that they would entertain a grant application to develop curriculum and training, including in the form of a webinar. 3:50:04 PM MAY BOLLENBACH, representing herself, questioned some of the provisions in SB 37. She said she agreed with the earlier version of Erin's Law, but this one is more complicated and relates more to teachers. She said it is important to educate children about sexual predators, sexual assault, and other dangers. 3:50:41 PM KATE FINN, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37. She shared her history as a sexual assault nurse examiner who dealt with sexually abused children. She applauded many items in the bill. She spoke in favor of the opt-out provision in the bill. 3:52:55 PM SANDRA GARITY, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37. She shared her history as a nurse who dealt with sexually abused children. She recalled the abuse within her own family and suggested that the bill be made mandatory every year due to the high rate of sexually abused victims. 3:54:39 PM MIKE COONS, representing himself, testified in support of SB 37. He shared his experience as a paramedic who had to deal with abuse victims. He voiced concern about whether the Office of Children's Service will do their job as it relates to sexual abuse. He commented on domestic violence and the problems when victims do not tell. 3:57:10 PM TANYA ZOMORA-BEY, Advocate, Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), testified in support of SB 37. She shared statistics about sexual abuse in Alaska. She agreed with including programs in schools to educate children. She shared a story about a boy who learned about personal safety. 3:59:21 PM LYNN STUHR, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37. She shared statistics about child sexual abuse, domestic violence, and teen dating violence. She agreed that the training should be conducted yearly. She said it is time to educate the community, parents, schools, and youth. Twenty states have adopted similar policies. Preventions is the cheapest way to deal with child sexual abuse. 4:02:27 PM ROBIN SMITH, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37. She noted Alaska has a big problem with sexual assault and violence. She said children who have been abused are more likely to commit crimes than other children. It increases the risks of problems in a child's life and can lead to a myriad of problems that tax many state systems. She shared statistics about abuse in Alaska. She stressed the importance of education. 4:05:11 PM CHELSIE MORRISON HEATH, Community Advocate, Standing Together Against Rape (STAR), testified in support of SB 37. She shared statistics about child sexual abuse and teen dating violence in Alaska and suggested increasing the number of supportive adults in children's lives and having educational programs for youth in schools. CINDY MOORE, representing herself, testified in support of SB 37. She said she is the mother of a daughter who was murdered by her boyfriend. She recommended the National Conference of State Legislators as a resource for information on teen sexual dating violence. She said mental and physical health consequences can extend into adulthood. Prevention should include early intervention. She concluded that the number one option for policymakers is to support evidence-based programs in schools and communities, such as Safe Dates and Fourth R that are proven to prevent and intervene in violent teen dating relationships. 4:10:23 PM BUTCH MOORE, representing himself, testified in support of SB 37. He shared his family's personal story about his daughter's death. He said his daughter's friends did not tell anyone, even though they knew about the violence. He suggested the education about teen violence be mandatory. He quoted Senator Gary Stevens who said, "Who would not want their child to receive this education." He urged passage of the bill. 4:13:13 PM KEN LANDFIELD, representing himself, testified in support of SB 37. He said if we can agree that child sexual abuse is a real problem in Alaska, then it should be clear that education and training on awareness and prevention are, at the very least, cost effective and something we should all take very seriously. 4:13:58 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 37 in committee.