ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE  HOUSE EDUCATION STANDING COMMITTEE  April 15, 2015 8:03 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT Representative Wes Keller, Chair Representative Liz Vazquez, Vice Chair Representative Paul Seaton Representative David Talerico Representative Harriet Drummond Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins MEMBERS ABSENT  Representative Jim Colver COMMITTEE CALENDAR  HOUSE BILL NO. 102 "An Act providing for funding of educational services for students in residential psychiatric treatment centers." - HEARD & HELD PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION  BILL: HB 102 SHORT TITLE: RESIDENTIAL PSYCH CTR; EDUC. STDRS/FUNDS SPONSOR(s): EDUCATION 02/11/15 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS 02/11/15 (H) EDC, FIN 03/20/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 03/20/15 (H) Heard & Held 03/20/15 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 04/08/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/08/15 (H) 04/10/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/10/15 (H) Heard & Held 04/10/15 (H) MINUTE(EDC) 04/13/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 04/13/15 (H) Scheduled but Not Heard 04/15/15 (H) EDC AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106 WITNESS REGISTER No witnesses to record ACTION NARRATIVE 8:03:08 AM CHAIR WES KELLER called the House Education Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. Representatives Seaton, Vazquez, Talerico, and Keller were present at the call to order. Representatives Drummond and Kreiss-Tomkins arrived as the meeting was in progress. HB 102-RESIDENTIAL PSYCH CTR; EDUC. STDRS/FUNDS  8:03:26 AM CHAIR KELLER announced that the only order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 102, "An Act providing for funding of educational services for students in residential psychiatric treatment centers." CHAIR KELLER advised that a meeting took place between the residential psychiatric treatment facility (RPTC) and the Anchorage School District wherein the department monitored the meeting. The bottom line, he explained, is that the Anchorage School District indicated it realizes the efforts necessary to collaborate and communicate between RPTC and the Anchorage School District, and somewhat with the legislature. He advised that the committee will not proceed further this year with CSHB 102, and will set it aside. He then appointed a subcommittee to include: Representative Vazquez as chair, and Representatives Talerico and Drummond as members, and he will ask Commissioner Mike Hanley to attend also. He asked that the subcommittee come back with a broad recommendation to the committee as a whole, and from his perspective it is ideal if it is locally driven. In other words, he said, see that the students are satisfactorily taken care of in all of the school districts. He advised that the bill is also in the Senate, and communication or solicitation of the Senate's help would be appropriate. 8:06:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked the progress of the bill on the Senate side and asked whether it had been heard in the Senate Education Standing Committee. CHAIR KELLER responded that he does not know the answer as he has been occupied with the House of Representatives. REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ asked the bill number on the Senate side. CHAIR KELLER answered that it has not yet been heard in the Senate, and he does not know the bill number. CHAIR KELLER stated there are people waiting online to answer questions but he is not taking testimony on the bill unless it becomes clear something had been missed. 8:07:48 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to North Star Behavioral Health System's response, dated 4/13/15, and said he appreciates it and its acceptance of the proposal for an amendment for an Alaska teaching certificate. He referred to question number 3, of the letter, and advised it has not been resolved. He pointed out that the amount of money for each student is at question, and asked why that may be effected by the child's home district in that despite where the student originates, it would still require a set amount for educational purposes at the RPTC. He related that the educational costs for the student are not seemingly tied to the physical characteristics of the school the student originated. 8:10:22 AM CHAIR KELLER added that the committee does not want to get into a long debate as it will be calling up testimony, but the primary issue being struggled with is the premise, and an important element for these students, is to work with their home district upon return. He said even though the students are enrolled in the Anchorage School District, there is an eye in keeping the students connected. He pointed out that the more rural the situation, the more unique the challenge for coordinating each child's IEP follow-through. He related that he appreciates Representative Seaton's question and the subcommittee will deal with it. 8:11:44 AM The committee took an at-ease from 8:11 a.m. to 8:13 a.m. 8:13:50 AM CHAIR KELLER (technical difficulties) noted that there has been growing interest (technical difficulties) that the committee must be looking at and evaluating whether or not the (technical difficulties) are legitimate and whether there is a better means to define (technical difficulties). He said the subcommittee could also consider this component and offer the committee as a whole guidance on the appropriateness of redefining these boundaries. In the event Representative Drummond is unable to attend the subcommittee, he appointed Representative Kreiss- Tomkins, and asked for a response. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND recalled an observation by the previous governor regarding the Prince of Wales Island being served by four or five school districts with 1,000 students on the entire island. She opined that to have four separate school districts and four separate administrations did not make sense. She pondered that this subject may be a suitable for the committee as a whole to study. CHAIR KELLER said the subcommittee has the option and access to drafters to come up with ideas and recommendations and agreed it will be a subject for the committee as a whole and he will not hurry it, although, working on the issue leading into it would be helpful. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND advised she is interested in serving on the subcommittee. CHAIR KELLER appointed Representative Kreiss-Tomkins as an alternate on the subcommittee. 8:17:28 AM REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND asked whether the subcommittee would require just committee work or would travel would be involved in that she was uncertain how the subcommittee could judge the effectiveness of the school districts' boundaries without an idea of what that involves. CHAIR KELLER indicated that it is currently undetermined, but in the event there is a need for travel, he will present it to the leadership. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND recalled, as a school board member, of previous boundary changes in middle schools and high schools within the Anchorage School District that required several years of contentious intense work to make the changes. She related that change is always difficult. CHAIR KELLER remarked that the subcommittee will address the topic and consider the need and possibilities. REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND acknowledged that new schools are subject to similar issues. CHAIR KELLER recapped that he is asking the subcommittee to work on possibilities for consolidation or altering school district boundaries and to offer the committee its recommendations. [The House Education Standing Committee treated CSHB 102 as held in committee.] 8:20:19 AM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Education Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 8:20 a.m.