Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee adopts committee substitute for CPR curriculum bill, sends SB 20 forward
Summary
The Senate Finance Committee on Feb. 3 adopted a committee substitute for SB 20 to integrate nationally recognized CPR curricula into Alaska schools and then passed the bill from committee; senators emphasized the bill carries no new state cost in its fiscal note.
Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senator L. B. Gray Jackson, advanced out of the Alaska Senate Finance Committee Feb. 3 after the committee adopted a committee substitute and then reported the bill to the Senate calendar.
Senator L. B. Gray Jackson described the bill as a “life saving” measure that relies on existing, nationally recognized CPR curricula rather than requiring the state to create new materials. "This approach places thousands of new qualified lifesavers into our communities each year," Gray Jackson said, citing evidence‑based standards and national American Heart Association recommendations.
Senator Kiel moved adoption of the committee substitute; Liz Harpold, staff to Senator Olson, explained the CS removes a previously proposed specific effective date (08/25/2025) to allow a more flexible implementation schedule. Senator Kiel and the sponsor confirmed the Department of Education & Early Development provided a fiscal note showing zero additional state cost.
After the CS was adopted, Senator Stedman moved the committee to report SB 20 with attached fiscal notes and committee recommendations; there was no objection and the bill was passed from committee.
Next steps: SB 20 will proceed to the Senate calendar for further consideration. The committee record shows the measure carries no new state fiscal cost at this stage.
