SB 174-ALLOW NATURAL HAIRSTYLES  9:13:42 AM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 174 "An Act relating to dress codes and natural hairstyles." 9:14:01 AM CHAIR HOLLAND opened public testimony on SB 174. 9:14:23 AM At ease. 9:14:42 AM CHAIR HOLLAND reconvened the meeting and continued to public testimony. 9:15:04 AM ROZLYN GRADY-WYCHT, Vice President, Alaska Coalition of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) Educators, Anchorage, Alaska, stated she supports SB 174. She is a fourth-generation hairstylist who has heard many discriminatory comments about natural hair choices. Her sister was called loofah at school. She was told that natural hair made her look dangerous and that braids made her look ghetto. She has spent time straightening little girls' hair when they should be taught to love their natural curls. Locks are not dreadful. As a hairstylist and para educator, she teaches clients and students to love their natural hair because it is a part of their culture and who they are. She hopes committee members will support SB 174. 9:15:45 AM SENATOR STEVENS arrived. 9:17:45 AM CHAIR HOLLAND closed public testimony on SB 174. 9:18:09 AM CHAIR HOLLAND solicited a motion. 9:18:12 AM SENATOR BEGICH moved Amendment 1 (G.1). AMENDMENT 1  32-LS1298\G.1 Marx 2/18/22 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR BEGICH Page 1, line 7, following "race": Insert ", including wearing headwraps" Page 1, line 10: Delete "and tight coils" Insert "tight coils, afros, cornrows, and bantu knots" Page 2, line 5, following "race": Insert ", including wearing headwraps" Page 2, line 8: Delete "and tight coils" Insert "tight coils, afros, cornrows, and bantu knots" 9:18:29 AM CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion. 9:18:32 AM SENATOR BEGICH said that Colorado and other state laws used language that included additional elements. Amendment 1 adds these elements for clarity while still maintaining inclusivity. 9:18:58 AM CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection to Amendment 1; he found no further objection and Amendment 1 was adopted. 9:19:12 AM CHAIR HOLLAND commented that while he supports SB 174 as it relates to education, he has concerns about applying the legislation to businesses and hopes that the Labor and Commerce Committee will address those issues. 9:19:45 AM CHAIR HOLLAND solicited a motion. 9:19:47 AM SENATOR STEVENS moved that SB 174, work order 32-LS1298\G, as amended, be reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 9:20:07 AM CHAIR HOLLAND objected to asked if the sponsor of SB 174 had any closing comments. SENATOR WILSON indicated he had no closing comments. 9:20:13 AM CHAIR HOLLAND withdrew his objection; he found no further objection and CSSB 174(EDC) was reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.