SB 95-72-HOUR NOTICE OF TEACHER STRIKE  CHAIR CON BUNDE called the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting to order at 2:05 p.m. All members were present. He announced SB 95 to be up for consideration. MS. JACQUELINE TUPOU, staff to Senator Green, sponsor of SB 95, was present to answer questions. SENATOR DAVIS offered Amendment 1. CHAIR BUNDE objected for the purpose of discussion. SENATOR DAVIS told members Amendment 1 was prepared by the National Education Association of Alaska (NEAA). MS. TUPOU commented that she received an opinion from legislative counsel regarding problems with the wording in the amendment. CHAIR BUNDE noted that was aware of a problem defining a "lock out." He said while the committee was waiting for clarification, Superintendent of Kodiak Island Borough School District, Betty Walters, wanted to comment. MS. BETTY WALTERS, Superintendent, Kodiak Island School District, said the Kodiak District is involved in labor relations right now and is hoping for a settlement. However, this legislation would help the district if it goes through mediation and doesn't come up with an agreement. It would provide 72-hours notice to parents and community members who provide child care and school administrators to prepare for school without "those valued certificated staff members." CHAIR BUNDE asked if she had seen a copy of Amendment 1 and she indicated she hadn't. He said he would get her a copy and would look forward to her comments. MR. MARK TORGERSON, Department of Labor, was present on teleconference to answer questions. SENATOR FRENCH noted that Amendment 1 said [a district] could not begin unilateral action against its employees, including but not limited to a lock out. SENATOR SEEKINS said he had never heard of a lock out before and asked if there has been one. CHAIR BUNDE replied that there has not, nor has there been a precipitous strike by teachers for which the 72-hour notice would have been needed. SENATOR STEVENS said he was trying to make sense of Amendment 1 because the whole purpose of the bill seems to be child safety and he doesn't see how a lockout would be a safety issue. SENATOR DAVIS said she only offered the amendment because it was before them and hadn't been discussed. She did not hear any approval for it and wasn't prepared to defend it, so she withdrew her motion. SENATOR SEEKINS moved to pass SB 95, Version A, from committee with individual recommendations and its zero fiscal note. A roll call vote was taken. SENATORS STEVENS, DAVIS, SEEKINS, FRENCH and BUNDE voted yea, therefore it moved from committee.