SB 8      PSYCHOLOGISTS' LICENSING AND PRACTICE     HOFFMAN      (S) EDC    01/21/09
*An Act relating to the practice and licensing of psychologists.
*Relates to those eligible to take a psychological associates examination. Added language:  does not apply to school psychologists.
*Removed language “for a fee” with regards “to practice psychology”
*Concept: May not allow school psychologists to practice psychology outside of employment as a school psychologist.

SB 28     PUBLIC EDUC. OF HOMELESS STUDENTS/POLICY     DAVIS     (S) EDC    01/21/09
*An Act relating to continuing the public education of a homeless student and to the purpose of certain laws as they relate to children.
*Added language: The purpose of this title as it relates to children is to secure for each child the care and guidance, preferably in the child's own home, as well as an adequate education, that will serve the moral, emotional, mental, intellectual, and physical welfare of the child and the best interests of the community;
*Added the following principle when resolving a child who has been removed from his/her home:
(G) the child should continue to attend the child's school of origin as provided under AS 14.03.096
*Concept:  Increased focus on educational interests and consideration of the child’s intellectual welfare.

SB 101     STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS             DAVIS     (S) EDC    02/06/09
*An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in the public schools.
*Added language: Except as provided in (g) of this section, a [A] school district, principal or other person in charge of a public school, or teacher in a public school may not administer or permit to be administered in a school a questionnaire or survey, whether anonymous or not, that inquires into personal or private family affairs of the student not a matter of public record or subject to public observation unless written permission is obtained from the student's parent or legal guardian.
(g)  If a school district administers or permits the administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey provided by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, written permission of the student's parent or legal guardian is not required, but the school district shall provide each student's parent or guardian notice of the survey and the opportunity to submit to the teacher or school principal a written denial of permission to take the survey.
*Concept:  Appears to focus more on survey’s that “inquire into personal or private family affairs of the student.

SB 102     RAISE COMP. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGE/TRUANCY  DAVIS (S) EDC    02/06/09
*An Act relating to compulsory school attendance; relating to the crime of contributing to the delinquency of a minor; and relating to school disciplinary action and truancy.
*Added and removed language: Every child who is [BETWEEN] seven years of age or older and under 18 [16] years of age shall attend school at the public school in the district in which the child resides during each school term. Every parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for or control of a child who is [BETWEEN] seven years of age or older and under 18 [16] years of age shall maintain the child in attendance at a public school in the district in which the child resides during the entire school term, except as provided in (b) of this section.
*Concept:  Raise final age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 18.

SB 105     FOSTER CARE/CINA/EDUCATION OF HOMELESS     DAVIS (S) EDC    02/11/09
*An Act relating to continuing the secondary public education of a homeless student; relating to the purpose of certain laws as they relate to children; relating to tuition waivers, loans, and medical assistance for a child placed in out-of-home care by the state; relating to foster care; relating to children in need of aid; relating to foster care transition to independent living; and relating to juvenile programs and institutions.
*Added language: Similar to SB 28


HB 33     RAISE COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGE           MUNOZ (H)
EDC    01/20/09
*An Act relating to compulsory school attendance; and providing for an effective date.
*Concept:  Changed language to include children enrolled in public schools between 7 and 18.  Raise max age from 16 to 8.

HB 56     STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS     KERTTULA, TUCK     (H)
EDC    01/20/09
*An Act relating to forgiveness of portions of education loans for certain borrowers who are residents of the state
*Concept: Applies to (t)  Payment of interest under (l) of this section and forgiveness under (s) and (w) of this section are subject to appropriation by the legislature.

HB 58     EDUC LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM            THOMAS, WILSON     (H) EDC    01/20/09
*An Act relating to a student loan repayment program for specified occupations or fields in which a shortage of qualified employees exists.
*Concept: Likely pertains to student loans acquired from within the state: the applicant has accrued a debt for an education loan in the state (and employed within AK on or after July 1, 2009): for the purpose of obtaining a degree from a postsecondary institution that qualifies the applicant to be employed in an occupation or field specified under (b) of this section

HB 59     PRE-ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS/PLANS KAWASAKI, GARA(H)
EDC    01/20/09
*An Act providing for the establishment of a statewide early childhood education plan and guidelines
*Added language: devise a statewide early childhood education plan for students three and four years of age that                                                                                              (A) incorporates the early learning guidelines adopted by the board under AS 14.07.165(6);                                                                        
(B)  provides for the most effective and efficient coordination with or expansion of pre-elementary programs operating in the state, including Head Start, to the extent permitted by law.
*Concept: State department of education will develop a plan for early childhood education for those between 3-4.

HB 69     EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: RATING & HOME VISITS TUCK, PETERSEN(H)
EDC    01/20/09
*An Act establishing in the Department of Education and Early Development a voluntary parent education home visiting program for pre-elementary aged children; and establishing a rating system for early childhood education.
*Added language: devise and implement a statewide early childhood education rating system to assess, improve, and publicize the quality of all public and private pre-elementary programs in the state; the system must rate providers on a scale of one to five according to effectiveness in achieving early learning goals; establish standards and provide technical assistance and oversight for the statewide parent education home visiting program under                                     
AS 14.03.165.

HB 126     FOSTER CARE/CINA/EDUCATION OF HOMELESS     GARA (H) EDC    02/11/09
*An Act relating to continuing the secondary public education of a homeless student; relating to the purpose of certain laws as they relate to children; relating to tuition waivers, loans, and medical assistance for a child placed in out-of-home care by the state; relating to foster care; relating to children in need of aid; relating to foster care transition to independent living; and relating to juvenile programs and institutions
*Concept: Similar to SB 105

HB 130     STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES AND SURVEYS     WILSON     (H) EDC    02/13/09
*An Act relating to questionnaires and surveys administered in the public schools.
Concept:  Similar to SB 101, but without the condition of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey language.  Also includes language how the parent must let the school know of their refusal (written response).
The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act mandates that group health plans provide mental health and substance-related disorder benefits that are at least equivalent to benefits offered for medical and surgical procedures. The legislation renews and expands provisions of the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996. While that bill requires only financial equity for annual and lifetime mental health benefits, this legislation also compels parity in treatment limits and expands all equity provisions to addiction services. Thus, the bill not only requires that the deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket expenses applied to mental health and addiction services be no more stringent than those applied to medical and surgical services, but also mandates that limitations on frequency of visits, number of visits, and days of coverage for mental health be no more restrictive than those applied to medical and surgical services. All mental health and addiction disorders that are listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders would be subject to the act’s parity requirement. Additionally, if a health care provider offers out-of-network benefits for medical and surgical procedures, the provider must also make such benefits available for mental health and addiction disorders. The equity requirement applies only to group plans that cover 50 or more employees and includes a single-year exemption for plans that experience a high spike in premiums after implementation. The act does not preempt state laws that provide stronger mental health and addiction benefits protections.

ASPA Conference Policies:

ALASKA SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION

 BY LAWS

 

SECTION I    NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Alaska School Psychologists Association (ASPA).

 

SECTION II   PURPOSES AND LIMITATIONS

A.            The purposes of this association shall be, through research and educational activities:

1.  To serve the mental health and educational needs of all children and youth;

2.  To advance the standards of professional school psychology;

3.  To actively promote the interest of school psychology;

4.  To help secure the conditions necessary for the greatest effectiveness in the practice of psychology in the schools.

B.             Restrictions:  The association shall be nonprofit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian in its purpose and activities. No officers shall be salaried.

 

SECTION III   MEMBERSHIP

The organization shall consist of the following individual memberships:

A.            A regular member is a person who:

1.     Is currently certified as a school psychologist;

2.     Has paid current membership dues

B.             A student member is one who:

1.     Is studying toward school psychologist’s certification;

2.     Has paid current, but reduced, student membership dues;

3.     Is a nonvoting member

C.             Verification of status must accompany the application for membership. Such verification would be:

1.     Regular member: Copy of State Certificate with initial application.

2.      Letter stating current position from Superintendent, Director, or Supervisor.

3.     Student member: Letter of current student status from Dean or department head.

D.            Severance of Membership:

1.     Membership may be terminated for nonpayment of dues.

2.     A member may be expelled from the association for violation of the NASP written code of ethics.

3.     Expulsion from membership may be recommended by any member, but must be ratified by 2/3 of the membership.

Members shall be protected by the right of appeal at all stages of this procedure.

 

SECTION   IV   OFFICERS

A.            The officers shall consist of the President, and President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Past President. The President-Elect will serve as President for the following operating year.

B.             The duties of the officers are as follows:

 

PRESIDENT:

 The President will preside at the meetings

1.     The President will appoint committee chairpersons.

2.     The President will be in charge of program development related to targeted goals for the organization.

 

PRESIDENT-ELECT:

1.   The President-Elect will preside at all meetings in the absence of the President.

2.   The President-Elect will assist the president, as assigned, in the supervision of committee activities.

3.   The President-Elect will establish a tentative budget for the following year and present it at the spring executive board meeting.

 

SECRETARY:

1.  The Secretary will be responsible for notifying the membership       of meetings and will send proxy forms to members.

2.  The Secretary will keep and distribute minutes of the association’s meetings and have the primary responsibility for official correspondence as assigned by the President.

 

TREASURER:

1.     The Treasurer will handle the funds in a manner deemed expedient by the association.

2.     The Treasurer will assist the President-Elect in development of the tentative proposed budget.

3.     The Treasurer will present a budget report at each meeting.

4.     The Treasurer will update membership applications/renewals each September.

5.     The Treasurer will call for new members at each business meeting, and will maintain a current membership list.

C.             The Executive Board by majority vote shall fill any vacancy created in an unexpired office. Any member so chosen shall serve until the term of the vacated office is expired and successor duly elected.  If the President-Elect cannot fulfill the duties of the President the following year, the membership will elect both President and President-Elect at the next election.

D.            All officers shall serve a one-year term of office beginning July 1.

E.             An officer can be recalled by two-thirds vote of the voting membership.

 

SECTION V COMMITTEES AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

A.            The standing committee chairpersons will be regular members and will be appointed by the President. The standing committees will be filled by regular, affiliate, and student members and shall consist of:

1.     Legislative:  Informs Executive Board and membership of legislation at the state and national levels which relates to school psychology.

2.     Nominations and Elections:  Conducts nominations and election of officers of the association.

3.     Planning and Development:  Develops and coordinates the program for the Fall and Spring Conferences, and is responsible for Continuing Education Forms.

4.     Professional Standards:  Coordinates the securing and distribution of information regarding the current ethical practices, certification criteria, and related professional school psychology issues.

5.     Public Relations:  Promotes the image of school psychologists both within ASPA and externally around the State.

6.     Newsletter:  Chaired by the Editor, this committee functions to produce the REVIEW, which is ASPA’s vehicle for communication and professional interchange around the state.

7.     Membership:  Recruits new members and facilitates membership applications. 

8.     ASSEC: Represents school psychologists at the ASSEC committee meetings and promotes presentations relevant to the field of school psychology. 

9.     Social: Promotes and organizes social activities to foster collegiality among membership. 

B.             Ad hoc committees will be formed as deemed necessary by the President.

C.             The Executive Board will consist of:

1.     All officers

2.     Chairpersons of standing committees

3.     NASP delegate

D.            Any expenditures are to be approved (before being incurred) by 5 board members, one of whom must be the Treasurer.

E.             Official ASPA letters, which express opinions or positions, are to be approved by 5 board members, one of whom must be the President.

 

SECTION VI    MEETINGS

A.   The association will call two meetings per year, one in the Fall and one in the

Spring. All meetings will be called with a 30-day notice to the membership. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Executive Board. All notices of meetings will be accompanied by a proxy form. A quorum will consist of ½ the membership.

B.    Members who cannot attend the meetings may assign their proxy vote to another voting member and shall inform the secretary in writing or by telephone of the assigned proxy.

 

SECTION VII    DUES

A.            Dues shall be payable upon the receipt of the annual statement from the association.  Dues shall be payable on October 1^st of each year. The amount of dues will be set by the board and approved by 2/3s of the voting membership.  The fiscal and operational year will be from July 1 to June 30.

 

SECTION VIII    ELECTION OF OFFICERS

A.   Nominations

1.              The Nominations and Elections Committee will call for nominations for each office from the membership by March 1st.  A current membership list will accompany the nominations ballot.

2.              The Committee shall prepare a slate containing two names for each office by March 15^th.  The Committee shall place on the ballot the names of the individuals receiving the two highest numbers of nominating votes for each office, subject to the individuals’ eligibility and willingness to serve. In the event of a tie for the second nominee position, both names shall be placed on the ballot.  By April 15^th the Committee shall notify all nominees of the results and inform those not placed on the ballot of their right to utilize the petition process.

3.              A nominee not included on the ballot may petition to be placed on the ballot.  Petitions must contain both signatures and printed names of 10% of voting membership. Petitions must be submitted to the Committee prior to the annual spring business meeting. Members may sign only one petition for an office.

4.              A member may challenge in writing the validity of a petition within two weeks after the close of the Spring business meeting. The officers of the association shall decide the validity of challenged petitions.

 

B.    Elections.

1.     The Committee shall request from each candidate a brief biography and statement of proposed goals to accompany the ballot. The candidate will submit this information ready for distribution, and shall be no more than 200 words.

2.     The Committee shall send the ballot and nominees’ information by first class mail to the membership no later than March 31st.

3.     Only members who paid dues by November 1^st shall be eligible to vote. Ballots will be returned to the Nominations and Elections Chairperson within 15 days of the mailing. The ballots will be opened and counted in the presence of at least one officer of the organization. If the nominations Committee Chairperson or officer is unable to perform this duty, then a proxy, appointed by the President, will assume this responsibility.

 

SECTION IX   MISCELLANEOUS

A.            The ASPA Review will contain a disclaimer regarding the newsletter content.

B.             One copy of any official ASPA letter will be sent to the Secretary to be filed.

 

SECTION   X   PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

A.            The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the association in all cases where they are applicable and not inconsistent with the Bylaws or special rules of the association.

 

SECTION XI   BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

A.            These Bylaws can be amended by 2/3’s of those present at a meeting providing that the conditions under Section VI of these Bylaws are met.