03/14/2011 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

           HB  21-SUICIDE PREVENTION COUNCIL MEMBERS                                                                        
                                                                                                                              
1:31:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DAVIS announced the first order of business would be  21.                                                                 
[CSHB 21(FIN) was before the committee.]                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ANNA  FAIRCLOUGH, sponsor of HB 21,  introduced the                                                              
bill. She said  HB 21 would add  one more member to  the statewide                                                              
suicide prevention  council. That person would be  from a military                                                              
background  to help  veterans, who  are  currently experiencing  a                                                              
higher rate of suicide after returning from war.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The bill  also changes the age  limit for a youth  to participate.                                                              
The  current  law  allows  a  high  school  junior  or  senior  to                                                              
participate, but  they can only serve  for two years based  on the                                                              
definition  of  a  youth  member.   This  bill  would  expand  the                                                              
definition of a  youth member to include someone  between the ages                                                              
of 16-24,  which would allow college  students to continue  on the                                                              
board.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER asked what the effective date is.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH  answered she thought it  was a standard                                                              
effective date clause.                                                                                                          
1:34:58 PM                                                                                                                    
KATE BURKHARDT,  Executive Director, Statewide  Suicide Prevention                                                              
Council, said  Theresa Baldwin from  Mt. Edgecombe High  School in                                                              
Sitka was  just appointed to  the youth  seat. Her term  under the                                                              
new  statute would  be four  years.  Without the  bill, she  would                                                              
term out in another year.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON  said he serves on  the council but  doesn't believe                                                              
that rises to the level of a conflict of interest.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR DYSON  moved to report  CS for  HB 21 from  committee with                                                              
individual recommendations  and accompanying fiscal  notes. Seeing                                                              
no  objection,  CSHB 21(FIN)  moved  from  the Senate  Health  and                                                              
Social Services Standing Committee.