SB 190-EXEMPTION FROM POST-SECONDARY ED REGS  3:32:29 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of SB 190. He noted there is zero fiscal note. TREVOR GUTIERREZ, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, introduced SB 190. DIANE BLUMER, Staff, Senator Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature, answered questions related to SB 190. MR. GUTIERREZ read his prepared statement: SB 190 will exempt programs that offer a certificate of completion when the field of study does not require a professional or occupational license under Alaska Law. Some may wonder why, in this time of budget crisis, we are addressing an issue such as this, however, this issue is a perfect example of government overreach and reaching directly into the pockets of small business owners. A specific example is one of yoga teachers or studios who are not required to have a professional or occupational license under Alaska Law. Until recently, yoga studios and teacher training programs have been free of state regulation or oversite- now they are being subject to ACPE regulation simply because they use the terms "yoga teacher training" and are awarded a "certificate" at the completion of the course. The use of these terms subject these small business owners to a registration fee in the amount of $2,500. This fee does not provide one with educational credit, no funding is available through ACPE, and there are no minimum state standards for yoga studios or yoga teachers. In fact, this hefty fee is assessed simply because a person has met the Yoga Alliance's minimum requirements for teaching and has completed a program at a school that is registered with Yoga Alliance. I am not sure how many of you have attended yoga classes but it would take many sessions just to recover this burdensome fee that provides no benefit - other than your name on a registry. CHAIR DUNLEAVY noted the arrival of Senator Gardner. 3:35:19 PM SENATOR HUGGINS asked if the bill states that the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) fee will be waived for yoga studios. MR. GUTIERREZ said yes. SENATOR STEVENS asked if other programs would qualify for this waiver. MS. BLUMER said there are not many programs that would, but ballroom dancing or karate programs that issue instructor certifications might be included. 3:36:34 PM SENATOR HUGGINS asked if there has been any opposition to the bill. MS. BLUMER said they received a letter from Postsecondary Education that said the bill may be a little broad. SENATOR STEVENS asked Postsecondary Education to comment at a later time. 3:37:28 PM CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony. 3:37:46 PM BARBARA DOBBERTHIEN, Executive Director, Yoga Alliance, testified in support of SB 190. She explained that Yoga Alliance is an international organization representing nearly 80,000 small businesses and individuals in the yoga industry, of which 233 are in Alaska. 3:38:21 PM SENATOR GARDNER asked if her business is unique or if there are other similar yoga organizations. MS. DOBBERTHIEN said she has not found other similar businesses that do advocacy work on behalf of the profession. 3:39:00 PM JODEE DIXON, Owner, The Yoga Path, testified in support of SB 190. She described the process of becoming a member of Yoga Alliance. She related that she provides classes and trains people in yoga who can now teach yoga. She stressed the importance of high quality teachers and the oversight by Yoga Alliance regulations. She said one benefit of SB 190 is for the protection for yoga businesses. She concluded that the bill would help grow the yoga community. SENATOR GIESSEL asked if her program takes longer than 120 hours. MS. DIXON said the program is 200 hours or more. 3:43:34 PM SENATOR GARDNER thanked Ms. Dixon for her professionalism. She inquired if her program is a form of post-secondary education. MS. DIXON understood that the difference is that the yoga teacher certificate does not provide the opportunity for a career. SENATOR STEVENS spoke of an exemption for avocational programs. He thought the yoga profession fit under that exemption. MS. DIXON agreed, but clarified that her program is over 120 hours and practitioners receive a certificate of completion. SENATOR STEVENS suggested adding "yoga classes" to the list. MS. DIXON agreed. SENATOR HUGGINS shared a story about a staffer who likes yoga. 3:46:51 PM SENATOR STEVENS said he takes yoga class and enjoys it. CHAIR DUNLEAVY held SB 190 in committee.