The Senate Finance Committee is considering a new version of Erin’s Law, also known as the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, with new additions to better address domestic violence.
Senate Finance Co-chair Anna MacKinnon’s Chief of Staff Laura Pierre outlined the first of nine additions to Version F:
Pierre: “This requires individuals receiving a teacher’s certificate to complete training related to alcohol and drug related disabilities, training regarding sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention, training regarding dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention, and training related to suicide prevention.”
Additional training in aspects of domestic violence would be added to the training available to teachers.
Pierre: “The nature, extent, and cause of domestic violence, procedures designed to promote the safety of the safety of the victim and other household members, resources available to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence and the lethality of domestic violence.”
Another addition to the bill would also establish an Alaska Safe Children’s Act task force in order to create curriculum.
Senate Finance Co-chair Anna MacKinnon said one hurdle is that by law the legislature cannot mandate individual school districts.
Sen. MacKinnon(R-Eagle River): “We have 54 individual school districts in the state of Alaska. Right now, as I understand it, 24 of those districts have adopted some form of curriculum that is happening inside of schools now. So we need some time to make sure that a standardized curriculum that is best practices is available for school districts to choose from.”
Senate Finance took an at ease until 1 pm in order to further review the new version and will take public testimony when they reconvene.