Committee rejects amendment to exempt some military dependents from civics requirement, advances civics bill

Co‑Chair Foster called the House Finance Committee to order at 9:08 a.m. and opened consideration of Senate Bill 23, a measure to codify and expand civics education in Alaska.

Tim Lampkin, staff to Senator Stevens, summarized SB 23 for the committee, saying it would direct the Department of Education to publish freely available civics resources that districts could use and allow a semester course, written exam or project‑based assessment to satisfy graduation requirements.

Representative Ballard offered Amendment 1 to exempt certain students in military families from the civics requirement when families are assigned overseas or when students arrive in Alaska while their parents are on active duty. Ballard said the amendment was intended to relieve military dependents who have wide real‑world experience from being required to take the specific civics course.

Lampkin responded that the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (AS 14.34.010) already provides procedures to waive specific courses and remove barriers to on‑time graduation for military families. Several members debated whether the compact’s waivers are sufficiently specific to cover this particular course. Representative Hannon suggested a narrower trigger tied to completion of ninth grade if the committee wished to limit exemptions.

After discussion, the clerk called the roll on Amendment 1. The recorded vote was 5 yea to 6 nay; Amendment 1 was not adopted. The committee then voted to report SB 23 (version 34‑LS0259) out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note, authorizing legislative legal staff to make technical and conforming changes. Co‑Chair Foster asked members to sign the new committee report and requested that Lampkin pass the committee’s thanks to Senator Stevens for sponsoring the bill.

The committee’s action advances SB 23 to the next stage with individual recommendations but leaves open whether future technical edits will alter exemption language.