Senate panel advances bill barring felons from school boards

The Alaska Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously advanced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit convicted felons from serving on school boards statewide and allow board members to substitute teach in their districts.

Senate Bill 204 originated from a student resolution after a felon with permanent barrier crimes was elected to the Tok school board in 2022. The bill passed the committee without objection after testimony from two Tok students who drafted the original resolution.

"This bill is pretty simple. It allows you, if you were a member of a school board, to substitute teach in your district. It allows your school district to have the leeway to decide for emergency how long it is and stuff. And then it does not allow anybody with a felon to serve on your school board," Senator Mike Cronk said.

Jeffrey Alsop, a former student representative to the Tok school board, testified that the 2022 election of a community member with multiple felonies created problems that resulted in the district being sued and the board member's early removal. Alsop said someone with that criminal history would never be allowed to work inside a school.

"So why would we let someone who cannot work inside of a school run and make critical decisions regarding multiple schools within a district?" Alsop said.

Holly Beeman, a recent Tok graduate, said the 2022 incident left her confused as a 16-year-old high schooler that no laws prevented someone with a violent history from holding a school board position.

"As a 16-year-old high schooler at the time, it felt like Alaska's state laws and regulations did not have student safety and comfort as a priority," Beeman said.

Both students presented a resolution at a statewide student government conference in April 2025 advocating for the change. The resolution passed with unanimous support from students representing schools across Alaska. Committee Chair Scott Kawasaki noted the committee had received the resolution dated April 22, 2025.

The legislation also addresses teacher shortages by allowing school board members to substitute teach. Beeman said the provision would encourage board members to get directly involved with students and create more opportunities for students to reach out to board members about issues.

Under current Alaska law, the only qualification for school board membership is maintaining municipal voting status. After serving time or paying bail, convicted felons can regain their voting status, which under existing law would allow even sex offenders with crimes against children to serve on school boards.

The bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on January 21, 2026. The committee substitute, designated CS SB 204 (34-LS1187/G), was reported from the State Affairs Committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal notes. The bill remains in the Senate Education Committee as of May 12, 2026.