Education Bills Remaining Active in the 2024 Session

Posted on

33rd Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Education Bills Remaining Active

A record number of education bills were introduced during the 2023 legislative session, many of which addressed AASB’s legislative priorities:

  • Funding – Sufficient and Sustainable Public Education Funding
  • Educators – Retention and Recruitment of Teachers, Administrators and Staff
  • Students – Student Wellness and School Safety

Unfortunately, most bills were not passed during the 1st session in 2023. However, the legislature will again consider some of the bills listed below during the next session beginning in January 2024.

PRO TIP: A bill receiving three or more committee referrals is less likely to be passed. There is generally not enough time during a legislative session for a bill to be considered by three different committees and be scheduled for a floor vote.

SB 9 – Alaska Sunset Commission – Sen. Shelley Hughes (R-Palmer)

  • Committees of Referral – State Affairs, Judicial, Finance
  • Status – Referred to State Affairs – Has not been heard in committee
  • Modifies the responsibilities of the Alaska Sunset Commission. Requires an annual report from the Commission on most state entities, including the Department of Education & Early Development. 

SB 11 – Teachers & Public Employees Retirement Plans – Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau)

  • Committees of Referral – Labor & Commerce, Finance
  • Status – Referred to Labor & Commerce – Has not been heard in committee
  • Allows for restoration of tenure rights for teachers who retired with a disability. Also permits a disability retired teacher to rejoin the defined benefits retire plan. 

SB 13 – University: Textbooks/Materials Cost – Sen. Robert Meyers (R-North Pole)

  • Status – Committees of Referral – Education – Moved out of Education. Passed the Senate in 3rd Reading and transmitted to House – Referred to Education – has not been heard in House committees.
  • Would require the University to identify for every course the required course material, which materials are zero-cost, which materials are low-cost, and any fees associated with the course. 

SB 14 – Retirement Incentive Program; Public Employees/Teachers – Sen. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Labor & Commerce, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education, has not been heard in Labor & Commerce.
  • Provides a retirement incentive for employees covered by TRS & PERS who choose to retire early. Provides requirements that must be met for eligibility to participate in early retirement program. 

SB 24 – Public Schools – Mental Health Education – Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Health & Social Services, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education, Health & Social Services. Has not been heard in Finance.
  • Requires DEED to develop guidelines for instruction in mental health. Defines the guidelines and specifies who DEED is consult with in developing the guidelines. Requires an annual report to the legislature.

SB 29 – Civics Education – Sen. Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education & Finance. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading. Referred to House Education & Finance. Has not been heard in House Education Committee.
  • Requires DEED to develop a civics curriculum to be taught in school districts. Students must pass a civics test based on the assessment developed by DEED as a requirement for receiving a high school diploma. 

SB 43 – Health and Personal Safety Education – Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Health & Social Services
  • Status – has not been heard in Senate Education Committee.
  • Requires a report on the curriculum used for health and personal safety to include number of students participating, frequency the program is taught, and grades in which program is taught. 

SB 52 – Increase Base Student Allocation – Introduced at Request of Senate Education Committee

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education, Finance. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading. Referred to House Finance. House Finance has not heard in committee.
  • Requires DEED to collect data on student performance and report to the legislature and the public. Increases the Base Student Allocation from $5960.00 to $6,640.00.

SB 56 – Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility – Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage)

  • Companion bill to HB 31
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education, has not been heard in Finance
  • Adds CTE courses allowed for scholarship eligibility. Increases amount of scholarship award for all tiers.  

SB 75 – Audio & Speech-Language Interstate Compact – Sen. David Wilson (R-Wasilla)

  • Committees of Referral – Labor & Commerce, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Labor & Commerce and Finance. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading. House Committee of Referral Finance. Has not been heard in House Finance.
  • It would allow an out-of-state person certified in Audio & Speech Language to obtain Alaska certification providing the requirements in the state where original certification was obtained meet the rigor of Alaska certification requirements. 

SB 88 – Retirement Systems; Defined Benefit Options – Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage)

  • Committees of Referral – Labor & Commerce, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Labor & Commerce, heard once in Finance.
  • Addresses challenges in retention and recruitment, including teachers. Reinstitutes a defined benefits retirement system. 

SB 96 – Sex/Reproduction Education; Schools – Introduced at Request of the Governor

  • Committees of Referral – Judicial, Finance
  • Status – Has not been heard in Judicial
  • Would require a two-week notification to parents of the intent to teach subjects containing references to sex or reproduction. Parents would need to provide written permission to allow students to participate in the instruction. Places requirements on the use of restrooms and locker rooms. 

SB 97 – Teacher Recruitment; Lump Sum Payment – Introduced at Request of the Governor

  • Companion Bill To HB 106
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Has not been heard in Education
  • Would provide a lump sum payment to full-time teachers as an incentive to remain in the teaching profession. The amounts are based on the location of the school where teachers are employed.

SB 99 – Financial Literacy Program in Schools – Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education and Finance. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading. Referred to House Education, Finance. Has not been heard in Education.
  • Would require specified topics of financial literacy to be taught to high school students. These lessons can be stand-alone courses or integrated into other core subjects. 

SB 113 – REAA Fund: Mt. Edgecumbe, Teacher Housing – Introduced at Request of Senate Finance Committee

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Financial
  • Status – Moved out of Education – Referred to Finance
  • Provides grant funding in the REAA and Small Municipality Fud to be utilized for major maintenance. Funding for construction and maintenance projects at Mt. Edgecombe Boarding School. Allows funds to be utilized for maintenance at state owed teacher housing in rural and REAA’s. 

SB 120 – Extend Education Tax Credits – Introduced at Request of Senate Education Committee

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Finance Committee
  • Extends the education tax credits to corporations to offset other state tax liabilities. Increases the amount of tax credits to be claimed based on the amount allocated by companies to education entities. 

SB 132 – Employment Tax for Education Facilities – Sen. Click Bishop (R-Fairbanks)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education, Referred to Finance
  • Would levy a $30.00 tax on every person, resident and non-resident, with an income source in Alaska. The tax revenue would be used for construction and maintenance on Alaska’s schools. The tax would be deductible on federal income taxes. 

SB 136 – Teacher Certificate; Teacher Preparation Program – Sen. Donny Olson (D-Golovin)

  • Committees of Referral – Education
  • Status – Referred to Education Committee
  • Would permit the issuance of a teaching certificate to an out-of-state applicant provided the applicant’s certificate was obtained from a nationally or by a recognized regional accredited association approved by the commissioner. An applicant must meet all other requirements for an Alaska Teaching Certificate. 

SB 140 – Internet for Schools – Sen. Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel)

  • Companion Bill to HB 193
  • Committees of Referral – Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading. Transmitted to House – referred to House Finance. 
  • Would raise the limit of Broadband Assistance Grant Program (BAG) eligibility from 25 megabits (Mbps) to 100 Mbps for schools and libraries. 
  • Note: this bill was amended in House Finance during the final days of the 1st Regular Session to include an increase of $680.00 in the Base Student Allocation. 

SB 143 – Education for Deaf & Hearing Impaired – Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage)

  • Companion Bill to HB 111
  • Committees of referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • This bill specifies the services that must be provided to a deaf or hearing impaired student. The parent is authorized to make the final decision as to the technology or teaching methods used to educate their child. 

HB 6 – Public Schools; Opioid Awareness Program – Rep. George Rauscher (R-Sutton)

  • Committees of Referral – Health & Social Services, Education, Finance
  • Status – Referral to Health & Social Services
  • Requires DEED to develop an opioid abuse awareness curriculum for grades 6 -12. The program must provide at least 60 minutes of instruction annually. 

HB 9 – Add Faculty Member University Board of Regents – Rep. Ashley Carrick (D-Fairbanks)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Judiciary
  • Status – Moved out of Education, Referred to Judiciary
  • Increases number of regents to twelve from the current eleven. The additional regent must be full till faculty member of the university who has acquired tenure status. Changes the number of regents necessary for a quorum from six to seven. 

HB 21 – School/University Employee Health Insurance – Rep. Sarah Vance (R-Homer)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Labor & Commerce, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education and Labor & Commerce. Referred to Finance
  • Allows school districts and the university to participate in AlaskaCare, the state healthcare program. The purpose is to allow these units to increase the number of participants with a health insurance provider and obtain a better cost rate. 

HB 26 – Official Language; Council for Alaska Native Languages – Rep. Andrea Story (D-Juneau)

  • Committees of Referral – Tribal Affairs, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Tribal Affairs, Finance. Passed House in 3rd Reading. Transmitted to Senate – Referred to State Affairs, Finance. Moved out of State Affairs and referred to Finance.
  • Changes the title of the council from Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council to Council for Alaska Native Languages. Increases voting members from five to seven. 

HB 27 – Designate Sex for School Sponsored Sports – Rep. Tom McKay (R-Anchorage)

  • Similar to HB 183
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Health & Social Services
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • Require the designation of school-sponsored athletic team or sport to male, female, or coeducational. Creates a liability relief clause for students deprived of athletic opportunity of suffering harm.

HB 31 – Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility – Rep. Andrea Story (D-Juneau)

  • Companion bill to SB 56
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • Adds CTE courses allowed for scholarship eligibility. Increases amount of scholarship award for all tiers.  

HB 44 – Cultural Education Program; Reading Improvement – Rep. Andrea Story (D-Juneau)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • Requires DEED to create a cultural education program to support curriculum that meets culturally based standards. Assists districts in professional development of staff in culturally based standards. Establishes standards for curriculum, assessments and professional development. 

HB 65 – Increase Base Student Allocation – Rep. Dan Ortiz (NA-Ketchikan)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education – Referred to Finance
  • Would increase the Base Student Allocation from $5960.00 to $7,210.00, an increase of $1,250.00.

HB 71 – School District Online Checkbook – Rep. George Rauscher (R-Sutton)

  • Committees of Referral – Education
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • Require school districts to post all financial records for each school in the district on an internet website. 

HB 105 – Sex/ Reproduction Education; Schools – Introduced at Request of the Governor

  • Companion bill to SB 96
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Judicial
  • Moved out of Education. Referred to Judicial
  • Would require a two-week notification to parents of the intent to teach subjects containing references to sex or reproduction. Parents would need to provide written permission to allow students to participate in the instruction. Places requirements on the use of restrooms and locker rooms. 

HB 106 – Teacher Recruitment; Lump Sum Payment – Introduced at Request of the Governor

  • Companion Bill To SB 97
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Finance
  • Would provide a lump sum payment to full-time teachers as an incentive to remain in the teaching profession. The amounts are based on the location of the school where teachers are employed.

HB 111 – Education for Deaf & Hearing Impaired – Rep. Jamie Allard (R-Eagle River)

  • Companion Bill to SB 143
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Education
  • This bill specifies the services that must be provided to a deaf or hearing impaired student. The parent is authorized to make the final decision as to the technology or teaching methods used to educate their child. 

HB 139 – Correspondence Study Program Funding – Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R-Soldotna)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Finance
  • Increases funding received by correspondence schools from 90% to 100% and allows these schools to receive the special needs multiplier of 1.20 through the Foundation Formula. 

HB 144 – Repeal Education Tax Credits Sunset – Rep. Justin Reffridge (R-Soldotna)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Finance
  • Removes the sunset provision that allows corporations to receive tax credits for donations to educational entities and makes the program a permanent statute removing the need to periodically reauthorize it. 

HB 147 – Retired Teacher Certificate – Rep. Maxine Dibert (D-Fairbanks)

  • Committees of Referral – Labor & Commerce, Education
  • Status – Referred to Labor & Commerce
  • Permits a retired teacher to be employed as a long-term substitute for no longer than 165 days. The department shall issue, at no cost, a lifetime teaching certificate to qualify a retired teacher as a substitute teacher. 

HB 148 – Alaska Performance Scholarship; Eligibility – At the Request of House Education Committee

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Education. Referred to Finance
  • Requires earlier notification of a student for the awarding of the APS. Adds courses for eligibility of the APS. Removes the requirement to take a college entrance examination (ACT/SAT). Increases the award amount for all the tiers.

HB 165 – Charter Schools Correspondence Programs – At the request of the House Ways & Means Special Committee

  • Committees of Referral – Ways & Means, Education, Finance
  • Status – Moved out Ways & Means. Referred to Education
  • Allows the State Board of Education to establish a charter school and requires the school district to operate the charter school within the district boundaries. Requires all funding allocated to a school district through the foundation formula to be utilized solely by the charter school. 

HB 183 – Designate Sex for School-Sponsored Sports – Rep Jamie Allard (R-Eagle River)

  • Similar to HB 27
  • Committees of Referral – Education, Judicial
  • Status – Referred to Education
  • Require the designation of school-sponsored athletic team or sport to male, female, or coeducational. Creates a liability relief clause for students deprived of athletic opportunity of suffering harm.

HB 193 – Internet for Schools – At the Request of House Finance Committee

  • Companion Bill to SB 140
  • Committees of Referral – Finance
  • Status – Referred To Finance
  • Would raise the limit of Broadband Assistance Grant Program (BAG) eligibility from 25 megabits (Mbps) to 100 Mbps for schools and libraries.

Education Bills Enacted

SB 25 – Repealing Funds, Accounts, and Programs – Sen. James Kaufman (R-Anchorage)

  • Committees of Referral – Finance
  • Status – Moved out of Finance and approved in 3rd Reading. House referred to Finance – moved out of Finance and approved in 3rd Reading – Transmitted to Governor.
  • Would repeal inactive state accounts and funds. Includes Curriculum Improvement and Best Practices Fund.

HB 69 – Reclassification of First Class Cities – Rep. Mike Cronk (R-Tok/Northway)

  • Committees of Referral – Education, Community & Regional Affairs
  • Status – Moved out of Education and Community & Regional Affairs. Passed House in 3rd Reading. Transmitted to Senate. Referred to Community & Regional Affairs. Moved out of Community & Regional Affairs with a CS. Passed Senate in 3rd Reading and transmitted back to House for concurrence. House concurred and transmitted to Governor. 
  • A bill to permit the disestablishment of Tanana School District and transfer of the school to the Yukon-Koyukuk School District. Although, the bill was introduced at the request of the City of Tanana and the Tanana School District, the process could be utilized by other municipalities/school districts who find themselves with declining populations and lack adequate revenue to support a school.