Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson

Primary SB 24

Passed · Alaska Senate · Lead sponsor

An Act relating to mental health education; and providing for an effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development to create guidelines for teaching mental health in public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. The state board must develop these guidelines in consultation with health departments, tribal organizations, and mental health representatives, while also establishing a dedicated specialist position to coordinate the program and provide teacher training. Additionally, the legislation requires the board to submit a report to the legislature within two years detailing the developed guidelines and the process used to create them.

Passed May 14, 2024 0 co-sponsors Track

Co-sponsor HB 111

Passed · Alaska House · Co-sponsor

An Act relating to public school students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Alaska public school districts to provide parents of deaf or hard-of-hearing students with unbiased information about various communication methods, such as sign language, cued speech, and listening and spoken language. It mandates that districts allow parents to choose the communication method they believe is best for their child and ensures that services are delivered by professionals trained in that specific method. Additionally, the law updates definitions for terms like "bilingual approach" and "total communication" to clarify how schools should support these students. The legislation also directs the state department to support residential programs for deaf students and outlines how school districts must manage special education responsibilities when placing students in these programs.

Passed May 13, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Primary SB 206

Passed · Alaska Senate · Lead sponsor

An Act relating to workers' compensation reemployment benefits; establishing a workers' compensation stay-at-work program; and providing for an effective date.

Maddy summarySB 206 updates Alaska's workers' compensation system by creating a new stay-at-work program and strengthening oversight of reemployment benefits. The bill requires the state department to establish rules for selecting rehabilitation specialists and allows certain procedural matters to be decided by a commissioner or hearing officer instead of a full panel. It mandates annual reports detailing the performance, costs, and outcomes of these programs, including tracking how long injured workers take to return to their planned jobs. Additionally, the legislation directs the state to promote awareness of these reemployment options among employers, injured workers, and medical professionals.

Passed May 13, 2024 0 co-sponsors Track

Co-sponsor HB 28

Passed · Alaska House · Co-sponsor

An Act restricting the release of certain records of convictions; and providing for an effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Alaska bill restricts the release of criminal records for individuals convicted of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, provided they were 21 or older at the time of the offense and have no other charges in that case. Under the new rules, agencies must honor a request from the convicted person to keep these specific records confidential, effectively shielding them from public access. The legislation aims to reduce employment barriers for people facing low-level marijuana possession charges that will become legal by January 1, 2025.

Passed May 11, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor HB 57

Passed · Alaska House · Co-sponsor

An Act relating to review organizations and permitting an emergency medical services provider to establish a review organization; and relating to patient records.

Passed May 8, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor SB 88

Failed · Alaska Senate · Co-sponsor

An Act relating to the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; providing certain employees an opportunity to choose between the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska and the teachers' retirement system; and providing for an effective date.

Failed May 7, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor SB 229

In committee · Alaska Senate · Co-sponsor

An Act relating to gun violence protective orders; relating to the crime of violating a protective order; relating to a central registry for protective orders; relating to the powers of district judges and magistrates; amending Rules 4 and 65, Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure, and Rule 9, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date.

In committee May 2, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor HB 265

Passed · Alaska House · Co-sponsor

An Act changing the term 'child pornography' to 'child sexual abuse material.'

Passed Apr 30, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor SJR 17

Passed · Alaska Senate · Co-sponsor

Urging the United States Congress to extend the deadline for the state to obligate American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief - Homeless Children and Youth funds.

Passed Apr 29, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track

Co-sponsor SB 235

In committee · Alaska Senate · Co-sponsor

An Act relating to certified nurse aide training; and providing for an effective date.

In committee Apr 26, 2024 1 co-sponsor Track