Alaska 32nd Legislature (2021-2022) Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

SB 20 — An Act relating to teaching certificates for teachers holding out-of-state certificates.

Last action — (H) FN3: (EED)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2021. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    5 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

56 added · 67 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 20 clarifies the requirements for out-of-state teachers seeking certification in Alaska. It removes the previous necessity for these teachers to have a baccalaureate degree listed as a condition for obtaining a valid teaching certificate from another state. This change is significant because it potentially broadens the pool of qualified teachers who can teach in Alaska, making it easier for schools to fill teaching positions and address staffing shortages.

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32-LS0202\A SENATE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
20 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY SENATOR STEVENS Introduced:
HCS CSSB 20(EDC) _______ AN ACT Relating to teaching certificates for teachers holding out-of-state certificates.
1/22/21 Referred:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Education, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to recognition of certificates of out-of-state teachers." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled SB 20 AN ACT Relating to teaching certificates for teachers holding out-of-state certificates.
* Section 1.
_______________ * Section 1.
An extension may be granted under this section for not more than 60 days to the person solely due to delay in the department's receipt of criminal justice SB0020A -1- SB 20 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0202\A information under AS 12.62 or a national criminal history record check under AS 12.62.400.
An extension may be granted under this section for not more than 60 days to the person solely due to delay in the department's receipt of criminal justice -1- Enrolled SB 20 information under AS 12.62 or a national criminal history record check under AS 12.62.400.
To be eligible for a [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate under this section, a person shall (1) [HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITED BY A RECOGNIZED REGIONAL ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION OR APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER;
To be eligible for a [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate under this section, a person shall (1) have received at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association or approved by the commissioner;
(2)] hold a valid teacher certificate issued by another state;
(2) hold a valid regular teacher certificate issued by another state;
(2) [(3)] have submitted fingerprints to the department to be used for a criminal history background check and been found by the department to be suitable for employment as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f);
(3) have submitted fingerprints to the department to be used for a criminal history background check and been found by the department to be suitable for employment as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f);
(3) [(4)] have paid the fee required by the department under AS 14.20.020(c).
(4) have paid the fee required by the department under AS 14.20.020(c).
(b) An out-of-state teacher who has been issued a [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate under this section shall complete the education and training requirements under AS 14.20.020(h) and (k) within three years [PASS THE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD UNDER AS 14.20.020(i) WITHIN ONE YEAR] after the date the [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate was issued.
(b) An out-of-state teacher who has been issued a [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate under this section shall complete the education requirements under AS 14.20.020(h) within two years, and complete the training requirements under AS 14.20.020(k) within 90 days, [PASS THE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD UNDER AS 14.20.020(i) WITHIN ONE YEAR] after the date the [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate was issued.
If the teacher does not complete the education and training requirements within that three-year period [PASS THE EXAMINATION], the department shall immediately revoke the teacher's [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate.
If the teacher does not complete the education requirements within that two-year period or the training requirements within that 90-day period [PASS THE EXAMINATION], the department shall immediately revoke the teacher's [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate.
(c) The [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate issued under this section must contain the same endorsements as those on the current valid teacher certificate issued by the other state.
(c) The [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate issued under this section must contain the same endorsements as those on the current valid regular teacher certificate issued by the other state.
SB 20 -2- SB0020A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 32-LS0202\A * Sec.
Enrolled SB 20 -2- * Sec.
AS 14.20.020(b) is amended to read:
AS 14.20.015 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
(b) A person is not eligible for a teacher certificate unless that person has received at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association or approved by the commissioner and, if applicable, has passed the examination or examinations required by (i) of this section.
(g) The department shall by regulation adopt a process to expedite issuance of a certificate to the spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States.
However, this subsection is not applicable to (1) persons employed in the state public school system on September 1, 1962;
(2) persons issued an emergency certificate during a situation that, in the judgment of the commissioner, requires the temporary issuance of a certificate to a person not otherwise qualified;
(3) persons issued a teacher certificate under AS 14.20.015.
SB0020A -3- SB 20 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-3- Enrolled SB 20
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How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing laws regarding teacher certification for out-of-state teachers, simplifying the certification process and removing certain requirements.

  • AS 14.20.010

    INCLUDING A PRELIMINARY TEACHER CERTIFICATE UNDER AS 14.20.015,

    This change removes the specific mention of preliminary teacher certificates in the section about teacher certificate requirements.

  • AS 14.20.015(a)

    PRELIMINARY

    The term 'preliminary' is removed, generalizing the type of teacher certificate issued to out-of-state teachers.

  • AS 14.20.015(b)

    PASS THE COMPETENCY EXAMINATION DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD UNDER AS 14.20.020(i) WITHIN ONE YEAR

    This removal eliminates the requirement for out-of-state teachers to pass a competency examination within one year of receiving their certificate.

  • AS 14.20.015

    The department shall by regulation adopt a process to expedite issuance of a certificate to the spouse of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States.

    This addition introduces a new process for expedited teacher certificate issuance for spouses of active duty military personnel.

  • AS 14.20.020(h)

    A

    The change modifies the wording to remove the article 'A' before certain eligibility criteria for teacher certification.

  • AS 14.20.020(k)

    A

    This also modifies the wording to remove the article 'A' before the eligibility criteria for training required for teacher certification.

Action History

  1. (H) FN3: (EED)

  2. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 281

  3. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 8/10/22

  4. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW 12/3/22

  5. (S) Signed into law 9/4 CHAPTER 69 SLA 22

  6. (S) 9:00 A.M. 8/24/22 Transmitted to Governor

  7. (S) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 8/10/22

  8. (S) CONCUR AM OF (H) Y19 N- A1

  9. (S) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP

  10. (H) VERSION: HCS CSSB 20(EDC)

  11. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S) AS AMENDED

  12. (H) RESCIND (PASSED) ACTION FAILED Y10 N28 A2

  13. (H) PASSED Y39 N1

  14. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME HCS CSSB 20(EDC)

  15. (H) LIMIT ALL INTROS TO 3 MIN, DEBATE TO 2 MIN EACH Y36 N4

  16. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): JOHNSON, NELSON

  17. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/18 CALENDAR

  18. (H) EDC HCS ADOPTED UC

  19. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  20. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/17/2022

  21. (H) FN3: (EED)

  22. (H) AM: THOMPSON

  23. (H) NR: LEBON, JOSEPHSON, RASMUSSEN

  24. (H) DNP: CARPENTER

  25. (H) DP: ORTIZ, WOOL, JOHNSON, MERRICK, FOSTER

  26. (H) FIN RPT HCS(EDC) 5DP 1DNP 3NR 1AM

  27. (H) Moved HCS CSSB 20(EDC) Out of Committee

  28. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  29. (H) -- MEETING CANCELED --

  30. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  31. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  32. (H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 9:45 am --

  33. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  34. (H) Minutes (HFIN)

  35. (H) Heard & Held

  36. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  37. (H) FN3: (EED)

  38. (H) DP: CRONK, GILLHAM, PRAX, ZULKOSKY, HOPKINS, STORY, DRUMMOND

  39. (H) EDC RPT HCS(EDC) 7DP

  40. (H) Minutes (HEDC)

  41. (H) Moved HCS CSSB 20(EDC) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --

  42. (H) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM DAVIS 106

  43. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): HOPKINS

  44. (H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --

  45. (H) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM DAVIS 106

  46. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): STORY

  47. (H) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  48. (H) EDUCATION at 08:00 AM DAVIS 106

  49. (H) EDC, FIN

  50. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  51. (S) VERSION: CSSB 20(FIN)

  52. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  53. (S) PASSED Y17 N- E2 A1

  54. (S) AUTOMATICALLY IN THIRD READING

  55. (S) AM NO 1 FAILED Y6 N11 E2 A1

  56. (S) RETURN TO SECOND FOR AM 1 UC

  57. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 20(FIN)

  58. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/3 CALENDAR

  59. (S) FIN CS ADOPTED UC

  60. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  61. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/30/2021

  62. (S) FN2: (EED)

  63. (S) AM: WIELECHOWSKI

  64. (S) NR: WILSON

  65. (S) DP: STEDMAN, BISHOP, HOFFMAN, OLSON, VON IMHOF

  66. (S) FIN RPT CS 5DP 1NR 1AM NEW TITLE

  67. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  68. (S) Moved CSSB 20(FIN) Out of Committee

  69. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  70. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  71. (S) Heard & Held

  72. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  73. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  74. (S) Scheduled but Not Heard

  75. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  76. (S) Minutes (SFIN)

  77. (S) Heard & Held

  78. (S) FINANCE at 09:00 AM SENATE FINANCE 532

  79. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  80. (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>

  81. (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  82. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  83. (S) Moved CSSB 20(EDC) Out of Committee

  84. (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  85. (S) FN1: (EED)

  86. (S) DP: HOLLAND, STEVENS, MICCICHE, BEGICH

  87. (S) EDC RPT CS 4DP NEW TITLE

  88. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  89. (S) Heard & Held

  90. (S) EDUCATION at 09:00 AM BUTROVICH 205

  91. (S) EDC, FIN

  92. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  93. (S) Prefile released 1/8/21

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 64 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (64)

64 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 64 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 20?
SB 20 is sponsored by Gary Stevens (R).
What is the current status of SB 20?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 22, 2021. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 20?
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