Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 1 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 151 — An Act relating to head lice in public schools.

Last action — (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 28, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

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

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

Prognosis

Advancing 34% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (1 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

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

46 added · 38 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 151 focuses solely on head lice in public schools, removing references to bacterial conjunctivitis. The new policy requires schools to inform families about preventive measures for head lice and allows students to stay in class until the day's end if they are found with live lice, but they cannot return the next day without a health inspection. This change simplifies the legislation, ensuring clearer guidance for schools and parents on handling head lice cases, which can help minimize disruptions in the classroom and improve overall student health.

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34-LS0709\W CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.
34-LS0709\H SENATE BILL NO.
151(EDC) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE Referred:
151 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY SENATORS BJORKMAN, Tobin Introduced:
Finance Sponsor(s):
3/28/25 Referred:
SENATORS BJORKMAN, Tobin A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to head lice and bacterial conjunctivitis in public schools;
Education, Finance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to head lice in public schools." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Head lice and bacterial conjunctivitis policy in public schools.
Head lice policy in public schools.
Each school district shall adopt a policy regarding (1) students with live head lice;
(a) A school district shall provide students and families with information about how to prevent head lice and adopt a policy regarding students with live head lice.
and (2) bacterial conjunctivitis.
The policy must provide that a student found with live head lice may remain in the student's classroom until the end of the school day but following that school day may not return to the classroom until a certificated school nurse or the certificated school nurse's designee, or other health care provider if the school does not employ a certificated school nurse, has inspected the student's hair and confirmed the absence of live head lice.
* Sec.
Upon discovering live head lice in a student's hair, the student's school shall provide the student's parent or guardian with information about how to treat head lice.
2.
(b) Subject to appropriation, each fiscal year, the department shall reimburse a school district an amount equal to 20 percent of the district's cost to employ a SB0151A -1- SB 151 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0709\H certificated school nurse if (1) the nurse works at a school in the district that serves grades kindergarten through eight;
AS 14.30.144 is amended by adding new subsections to read:
(2) the district employs the nurse on at least a half-time basis;
(b) A school district that has not adopted a policy under (a)(1) of this section shall allow a student found with live head lice to remain in the student's classroom until the end of the school day, but following that school day the student may not return to the classroom until a school nurse or the school nurse's designee, or other health care provider if the school does not employ a school nurse, has inspected the SB0151B -1- CSSB 151(EDC) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0709\W student's hair and confirmed the absence of live head lice.
(3) the district checks at least 95 percent of enrolled students for live head lice in a manner that protects student privacy on or before October 15 of each year;
Upon discovering live head lice in a student's hair, the student's school shall (1) provide the student's parent or guardian with information on how to treat head lice;
and (4) the district submits a report to the department by July 1 of each year that (A) describes the district's policy adopted under (a) of this section;
and (2) notify the parent or guardian of each student in the classroom of the head lice in a manner that protects each student's privacy.
(B) describes the information the district provides to a student's parents under (a) of this section;
(c) A school district that has not adopted a policy under (a)(2) of this section shall require a student found to have bacterial conjunctivitis to immediately leave the student's classroom and may not allow the student to return to school for at least 24 hours after starting medical treatment for the bacterial conjunctivitis.
(C) describes, for the previous school year, how many students were found to have live head lice and how many days of school each student missed because of live head lice;
Upon discovering that a student has bacterial conjunctivitis, the student's school shall notify the parent or guardian of each student in the classroom of the bacterial conjunctivitis in a manner that protects each student's privacy.
and (D) confirms that the district checked at least 95 percent of enrolled students for live head lice in a manner that protected student privacy on or before October 15 of the previous year.
(c) If the amount appropriated for funding under (b) of this section is insufficient to fully reimburse each eligible school district, the department shall reduce each reimbursement in proportion to the amount of the shortfall.
* Sec.
SB 151 -2- SB0151A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
3.
Section 2 of this Act takes effect 180 days after the effective date of sec.
1 of this Act.
CSSB 151(EDC) -2- SB0151B New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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How this bill changes current law

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

This bill requires school districts in Alaska to adopt policies regarding head lice and bacterial conjunctivitis, along with specific protocols for handling affected students.

  • AS 14.30

    Each school district shall adopt a policy regarding (1) students with live head lice; and (2) bacterial conjunctivitis.

    This mandates that all school districts have specific policies on handling students with head lice and bacterial conjunctivitis.

  • AS 14.30.144

    A school district that has not adopted a policy under (a)(1) of this section shall allow a student found with live head lice to remain in the student's classroom until the end of the school day, but following that school day the student may not return to the classroom until a school nurse or the school nurse's designee, or other health care provider if the school does not employ a school nurse, has inspected the student's hair and confirmed the absence of live head lice. Upon discovering live head lice in a student's hair, the student's school shall provide the student's parent or guardian with information on how to treat head lice; and notify the parent or guardian of each student in the classroom of the head lice in a manner that protects each student's privacy.

    Establishes a procedure for the handling of students with live head lice and the notification of parents.

  • AS 14.30.144

    A school district that has not adopted a policy under (a)(2) of this section shall require a student found to have bacterial conjunctivitis to immediately leave the student's classroom and may not allow the student to return to school for at least 24 hours after starting medical treatment for the bacterial conjunctivitis. Upon discovering that a student has bacterial conjunctivitis, the student's school shall notify the parent or guardian of each student in the classroom of the bacterial conjunctivitis in a manner that protects each student's privacy.

    Mandates that students with bacterial conjunctivitis must leave the classroom and cannot return until medically cleared.

  • AS 14.30.144(d)

    "school district" has the meaning given in AS 14.30.350.

    Clarifies the definition of 'school district' used in this section.

  • Section 3

    Section 2 of this Act takes effect 180 days after the effective date of sec. 1 of this Act.

    Establishes a timeline for when the new requirements for schools will be implemented.

Action History

  1. (S) REFERRED TO FINANCE

  2. (S) FN1: (EED)

  3. (S) DP: TOBIN, CRONK, BJORKMAN, STEVENS, KIEHL

  4. (S) EDC RPT CS 5DP NEW TITLE

  5. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  6. (S) Moved CSSB 151(EDC) Out of Committee -- Rescheduled from 5/7/25 --

  7. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  8. (S) Minutes (SEDC)

  9. (S) Heard & Held

  10. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  11. (S) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --

  12. (S) EDUCATION at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  13. (S) COSPONSOR(S): TOBIN

  14. (S) EDC, FIN

  15. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 63 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (63)

63 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 151?
SB 151 is sponsored by Löki Tobin (D) and Jesse Bjorkman (R).
What is the current status of SB 151?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 28, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 151?
Track SB 151 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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