SB 24-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION  3:54:48 PM CHAIR WILSON announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 24 "An Act relating to mental health education; and providing for an effective date." He noted that there was an amendment for the committee to consider. [Chair Wilson offered and withdrew Amendment 1, work order 33-LS0232\A.1, during the previous hearing.] 3:55:19 PM CHAIR WILSON moved to adopt Amendment A.2 ("Amendment 2"), work order 33-LS0232\A.2, for SB 24 . 33-LS0232\A.2 Marx 4/12/23 AMENDMENT 2 OFFERED IN THE SENATE BY SENATOR WILSON Page 1, following line 9: Insert a new bill section to read:  "* Sec. 2. AS 14.03.016(a) is amended to read: (a) A local school board shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and school administrators, adopt policies to promote the involvement of parents in the school district's education program. The policies must include procedures (1) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from a standards-based assessment or test required by the state; (2) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to object to and withdraw the child from an activity, class, or program; (3) providing for parent notification not less than two weeks before any activity, class, or program that includes content involving human reproduction or sexual matters is provided to a child; (4) recognizing the authority of a parent and allowing a parent to withdraw the child from an activity, class, program, or standards-based assessment or test required by the state for a religious holiday, as defined by the parent; (5) providing a parent with an opportunity to review the content of an activity, class, performance standard, or program; (6) ensuring that, when a child is absent from an activity, class, program, or standards-based assessment or test required by the state under this section, the absence is not considered an unlawful absence under AS 14.30.020 if the child's parent withdrew the child from the activity, class, program, or standards-based assessment or test or gave permission for the child's absence;  (7) providing for parent notification not  less than two weeks before any class or program that  provides instruction in mental health is provided to a  child." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Page 2, line 29: Delete "sec. 3" Insert "sec. 4" Page 3, line 4: Delete "sec. 3" Insert "sec. 4" 3:55:25 PM SENATOR KAUFMAN objected for purposes of discussion. 3:55:32 PM CHAIR WILSON said Amendment 2 is very similar to the amendment that he offered and then withdrew during the previous hearing. Amendment 2 adds a provision on page 2, lines 2 - 4, clarifying that prior notification would be required for any class or program providing instruction in mental health. 3:56:23 PM At ease. 3:56:38 PM CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting. CHAIR WILSON said AS 14.03.016(b)(c) is an existing statute allowing organic conversations at school without parental notification. 3:57:14 PM SENATOR DUNBAR thanked Senator Wilson for revising the first amendment and opined that the language in Amendment 2 makes it clear that organic conversation can occur. He noted a scrivener's error in the amendment. 3:58:07 PM CHAIR WILSON advised that Legislative Legal is authorized to make technical and conforming changes to amendments. 3:58:22 PM SENATOR GIESSEL agreed with the logic and placement of the change but expressed concern that it stigmatizes mental health by drawing undue attention to it. 3:58:56 PM CHAIR WILSON asked if there was further discussion. 3:58:58 PM SENATOR KAUFMAN withdrew his objection. 3:59:02 PM CHAIR WILSON found no further objection and Amendment 2 was adopted. 3:59:13 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON, District G, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated she found the amendment to SB 24 acceptable and thanked the committee for its attention to the bill. 3:59:39 PM CHAIR WILSON solicited a motion. 3:59:43 PM SENATOR KAUFMAN moved to report SB 24, work order 33-LS0232\A, as amended, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:00:07 PM CHAIR WILSON found no objection and CSSB 24(HSS) was reported from the Senate Health and Social Services Standing Committee.