SB 191-LIMIT ABORTION SERV. PROVIDERS IN SCHOOLS  3:34:09 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 191. CHRISTA MCDONALD, Staff, Senator Mike Dunleavy, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB 191, limiting abortion providers in schools. She explained the sections of the bill: Section 1 authorize the State Medical Board to impose a sanction on an abortion services provider or an affiliate who has violated AS 14.03.092. Section 2 states that the State Medical board shall suspend or revoke a licensee's license to practice if the licensee has violated AS 14.03.092. Section 3 prohibits an employee or representative of an abortion services provider or an employee or representative of an affiliate of an abortion services provider from presenting or delivering any instruction or program on any topic to students at a public school, distributing or displaying materials at a public school, or providing materials that are intended for display or distribution at a public school. It prohibits teachers from authorizing or allowing instruction or distribution of materials by an employee or representative of an abortion services provider or affiliate. It establishes civil damages for violations of the section. It prohibits a teacher or school board member who violates AS 14.03.092(b) from receiving any state funds. It provides a definition for an abortion services provider and an affiliate of an abortion services provider. Section 4 authorizes the Professional Teaching Practices Commission to revoke or suspend a teacher certificate if the teacher violates AS 14.03.092. Section 5 provides that a teacher, including a teacher with tenure rights, may be dismissed for violating AS 14.03.092. Section 6 provides that a teacher with tenure rights is subject to non-retention for a violation of AS 14.03.092. Section 7 provides that if any provision of the Act is held invalid, the remainder of the Act is not affected. Section 8 provides an immediate effective date. CHAIR DUNLEAVY read the sponsor statement: The purpose of Senate Bill 191 is to restrict the access of abortion services providers and their affiliates to public schools. Public education is constitutionally mandated by the State of Alaska. Many parents believe the roll of public schools should be to provide: skills, knowledge, complex instruction, and a forum for students to better understand their role in society. However, few believe schools should create a captive audience of children for indoctrination by an outside group. At times, these presentations contain lessons which are at odds with the values of the children and their families. Many have become so alarmed at what is occurring within the public school system that parents are withdrawing their children from neighborhood schools in record numbers. These students are placed in alternative settings (homeschools, charter schools and private schools) where the values of the family can be protected from outside special interest groups with an agenda. We simply cannot and should not ignore this trend. It is critical that we reexamine the practice of allowing special interest groups into the classroom. What Senate Bill 191 Does: Prohibits all distribution and display of materials, presentations, and instruction by an abortion services provider, affiliate, or representative in public schools Establishes penalties, imposed by the State Medical Board, on abortion services providers, affiliates, employees, or representatives of an abortion services provider, teachers, or school board members who knowingly violate the prohibitions What Senate Bill 191 Doesn't Do: Does nothing to hinder school teachers from providing district approved sex education to students in a classroom Will not prevent abortion service providers or affiliates from providing information and education outside of the public school setting By prohibiting abortion services providers access to public schools, our schools can focus on what is important and leave private, sensitive matters where they belong: in the hands of parents. I respectfully request your support for SB 191. 3:38:07 PM SENATOR GARDNER asked if there is any data regarding indoctrination by any outside group, Planned Parenthood or others, in schools. CHAIR DUNLEAVY said he did not have any data today but would provide some. SENATOR GARDNER referred to Section 1, issues for which a State Medical Board "may" provide a sanction, and she noted that in Section 2, the board "shall" revoke or suspend a licensee's license to practice. She asked if there are any other licenses that must be revoked or suspended. She further clarified that Section 1 itemizes 13 causes when the State Medical Board "may" impose a sanction. Section 2 says a violation of AS 14.03.092 requires the State Medical Board "shall" suspend or revoke the licensee's license to practice. She said her questions are whether there are any other instances where the State Medical Board "shall" revoke a license to practice and what other sanctions for any misbehavior are available to the Board, other than suspension and revocation. SENATOR GARDNER referred to Section 4, page 5, lines 3 and 4, where it says "the commissioner or the Professional Teaching Practices Commission may revoke or suspend a certificate only for the following reasons," and it adds a violation of AS 14.03.092 to the list. She pointed out that in Section 5 it says "a teacher may be dismissed at any time." She said in Section 4 the consequences for teachers are to suspend or revoke their certificate and she concluded that the consequences for physicians are harsher than for a teacher. She asked if that was the intention of the bill and, if so, why. SENATOR GARDNER turned to Section 6 where a teacher who has acquired tenure rights is subject to non-retention and asked if that is "may" or "shall" be subject to non-retention. 3:42:12 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY requested a copy of those questions in writing. CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 191 in committee.