Legislature(2017 - 2018)SENATE FINANCE 532
03/02/2018 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE
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| Audio | Topic |
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| Start | |
| SB128 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 128 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SENATE BILL NO. 128
"An Act establishing the marijuana education and
treatment fund; and relating to the duties of the
Department of Health and Social Services to administer
a comprehensive marijuana use education and treatment
program."
9:12:37 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon informed that there would be a
presentation on the SB 128, and asked the sponsor if she
had any comments.
SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, SPONSOR, informed that SB 128 was //
She relayed that she volunteered in a middle school in her
district. She thought many kids in middle school were
confused about marijuana. She discussed educational tools
for various health-related tools, and emphasized the lack
of educational material available for marijuana. She had an
example of materials that had been developed by the
Division of Public Health. The bill also allowed for the
division to gather data on marijuana use. Senator Giessel
emphasized that the Division of Public Health already
distributed materials and education related to alcohol, and
would
9:16:38 AM
Senator Olson thought there was a pervasive marijuana
problem in the state, and wondered how to be certain that
funds would be spent on marijuana education outside urban
areas.
Senator Giessel replied that she did not name specific
recipients in the bill. She believed that the Division of
Public Health was equipped to ensure that the information
and the ability to distribute the information was all over
the state.
Senator Olson supported the idea of funds being spread
throughout the state.
Senator von Imhof noticed that the bill went from using 25
percent to 35 percent. She thought there could be a
philosophical discussion on the topic of perpetual programs
and lack of flexibility in spending the funds.
Senator Giessel understood Senator von Imhof's concerns.
She relayed that she had responded to concerns within the
drafting and intent of the bill.
9:19:35 AM
JANE CONWAY, STAFF, SENATOR CATHY GIESSEL, addressed the
Sectional Analysis (copy on file):
Section 1 AS 43.61.010(d) is technical and conforming
language that clarifies which fund is being referenced
in this section that is about the recidivism reduction
fund. Since we are establishing another fund, the
Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund in another
subsection to follow, Legislative Legal wanted to
correctly name which fund is being addressed to
prevent any confusion.
Section 2 AS 43.61.010 is a new subsection that
creates the Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund
within the general fund. After receiving tax collected
from marijuana sales, the Dept. of Administration
shall separately account for and deposit 35 percent of
those proceeds into the Fund, and the legislature may
appropriate those monies for the purpose of funding
DHSS programs for marijuana use education and
treatment. This section specifies that the money in
this fund does not lapse.
Section 3 AS 44.29.020(a) contains two minor fixes
from Leg Legal that adds the word "the" to (11) of
this section, and also the word "to" to item (14). It
also adds to this section that DHSS will administer
the marijuana education and treatment program by grant
or contract out this program to other organizations in
Alaska. This section outlines the following components
of the program:
1. A community-based marijuana misuse prevention
component
2. A youth services component
3. Public education geared toward prevention of
youth initiation of marijuana use, education re:
the effects of marijuana use and education re:
marijuana laws
4. Surveying of youth/adults to determine
knowledge, awareness, attitude and use of
marijuana products, along with need for trained
professionals
5. Monitoring of the public's health relating to
consequences of marijuana use
6. Provide for substance abuse screening, brief
intervention, and referral to treatment
Co-Chair MacKinnon referenced item 6 in Section 3 of the
Sectional Analysis. She queried the intent of
"opportunities for positive social leisure and recreational
activities."
Senator Giessel stated that the intent of the language was
to target after-school programs.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked if the intent was to have a more
global, connected
Senator Giessel answered in the affirmative.
Senator Micciche gleaned that the bill would provide for
programs in K-12 education. He hoped there was a balance
between K-12 and after-school programs.
Senator Giessel stated that ideally Girl Scouts, Boy
Scouts, and faith-based programs would utilize the intent.
She added that drug misuse crossed all socio-economic
boundaries.
9:25:32 AM
Senator von Imhof mentioned the sponsor's reference to
"access to materials." She wondered if the bill would
result in supplanting existing programs, growing programs,
or forming new programs.
Senator Giessel referred the question to staff from the
Division of Public Health, who could address the subject in
greater detail.
JAY BUTLER, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
SOCIAL SERVICES (via teleconference), remarked that there
was a concern about underage youth and early initiation;
driving under the influence; and use during pregnancy. He
stated that there was a report that examined motor vehicle
fatalities, which showed a small spike that occurred in the
evening hours of April 20. That day correlates with the day
that many younger people celebrate marijuana. He
appreciated the goal of ensuring that the programs were
focused and high quality. He also wanted to provide
flexibility for the local variability.
9:30:02 AM
JILL LEWIS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES, informed that the
changes in the committee substitute would not affect the
presentation by the department.
ELIZA MUSE, SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION SPECIALIST,
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (via
teleconference), spoke to the presentation, "Marijuana
Education and Treatment Fund" (copy on file).
Ms. Muse turned to slide 2, "Marijuana Education and
Treatment Fund ("Fund")":
?This bill establishes a Marijuana Education and
Treatment Fund ("Fund")
?The Fund is similar to the Tobacco Use Education and
Cessation Fund
Ms. Muse spoke to slide 3, "This bill would direct 35
percent of the marijuana excise tax levied under AS
43.61.010 to the Marijuana Education and Treatment Fund,"
which showed two pie charts entitled, 'Current
Allocations,' and 'Proposed Allocations.'
Ms. Muse reviewed slide 4, "Marijuana Education and
Treatment Fund" which showed Venn diagram entitled
'Overarching Goals.'
Ms. Muse displayed slide 5, "DHSS Marijuana Use Education,
and Treatment Program":
Statewide Coordination
Comprehensive program:
Community-based marijuana misuse prevention,
with a focus on youth prevention including
support for afterschool programming
Assessment of knowledge and awareness of laws,
and use of marijuana products
Monitoring of population health impact related
to marijuana use and legalization
Workforce training
Marijuana education
?Substance abuse screening, brief intervention,
and referral to treatment
Ms. Muse referenced slide 6, "Community-based marijuana
misuse prevention":
Local efforts to prevent misuse before it starts:
Mitigating risk factors
Strengthening protective factors
Enhance existing programs for public health and
education to address substance misuse prevention
Alaska Adolescent Health Program
Department of Education and Early Development
Division of Juvenile Justice
?Community-based programs including support for
afterschool programming
9:35:28 AM
Ms. Muse discussed slide 7, "Assessment and Monitoring":
Assessment of trends in knowledge, awareness,
attitudes, and behaviors to address misperceptions and
knowledge gaps
Monitoring health status and use trends to identify
any health or health system effects of legalization
Needs assessment to guide training and program
development for professionals
Some questions that require answers:
Do youth perceive marijuana as a less harmful
substance due to legalization?
Do youth and adults see driving under the
influence of marijuana as dangerous?
?How has marijuana legalization affected
Alaskan's health and safety?
Ms. Muse reviewed slide 8, "Marijuana education":
Will be used to improve the public's knowledge,
attitudes, and awareness about marijuana and educate
the public about healthy behavior choices in their
lives. Materials will be designed to communicate
messages to
1) help prevent youth initiation of marijuana use
2) educate the public about the health effects of
marijuana use
3) educate the public about marijuana laws.
Ms. Muse spoke to slide 9, "Treatment":
Provider education and awareness of substance use
screening.
Substance abuse screening, brief intervention, and
referral to treatment (SBIRT)
Assesses for the presence of substance use behaviors
?Tools for clinicians and other service providers to
identify at-risk clients and give immediate feedback
and coaching regarding strategies to lower their risk
behaviors
Ms. Muse displayed slide 10, "Why does this matter?":
Public health and safety:
Adolescent health
Reproductive/maternal/child health
Injury prevention and control (drugged driving,
accidental consumption/ingestion)
Environmental health (pesticides, lab testing,
food safety, secondhand smoke exposure)
Mental health and other substance abuse
Occupational health
?Health Equity/Disparities
Ms. Muse showed slide 11, "Adolescent Health: A closer
look," which had a line graph entitled 'Percentage of
Alaska traditional high school students who use marijuana.'
She remarked that the blue line represented the proportion
of Alaska traditional high school students use; and the red
line represented youth in the past 30 days. She felt that
it served as a surrogate measure of current or ongoing use.
9:39:55 AM
Ms. Muse turned to slide 12, "Adults can help reduce youth
marijuana use":
Supportive Teachers: Youth who agree that teachers
care and encourage them are 52 percent less likely to
have used marijuana in the past month.
Talking with Parents: Youth whose parents talk with
them about what they are doing in school every day are
29 percent less likely to have used marijuana in past
month.
Community Connections: Youth who feel connected to
their community are 38 percent less likely to have
used marijuana in the past month.
Afterschool Programs: Youth who take part in
afterschool activities are 29 percent less likely to
have used marijuana in the past month.
9:40:27 AM
Ms. Muse reviewed slide 13, "Prevalence of Current
Marijuana Use*, OR, WA, CO, and AK, 2016." She shared that
the adult trend for Alaska was stable at around 15 to 16
percent, which was similar to other states with legalized
retail sales.
Ms. Muse referenced slide 14:
Oregon, Colorado, Washington, California have all
funded programs in their states to aid in
?public education
?monitoring health status
?community-based programming
?screening and treatment
9:41:06 AM
Senator Micciche observed that there was a correlation
between legalization and the increase of usage in youth.
Ms. Muse stated that the data on youth use showed a stable
degree of usage over the previous ten years. She remarked
that tobacco use had declined by 70 percent in the previous
few years.
Senator Micciche referenced slide 11, and asked when the
initiative passed to legalize marijuana in Alaska.
Ms. Muse recalled that the initiative passed in 2014, and
stores opened in fall of 2016. She remarked that perception
of harm was an important protective factor, and the
department had been tracking that perception. She shared
that, in 2017, only 19 percent of youth felt that there was
a great use of harm in using marijuana products one to two
times per week.
Senator Micciche asked if Ms. Muse could discuss how
tobacco use and cessation funds that were dispersed.
Ms. Muse remarked that the program was designed looking at
the Comprehensive Tobacco Use and Education Fund as a
model. She stated that the fund was used for community-
based work, public education, monitoring, and treatment.
The comprehensiveness of the tobacco program drove the
design of the proposed program. She stressed that
comprehensive programs were most impactful.
9:44:58 AM
Senator Micciche thought it would be interesting to see the
chart on slide 11 with tobacco use in the place of
marijuana use. He thought that the youth tobacco
education/cessation program had been very effective. He
thought the marijuana program could be similarly effective.
Ms. Lewis thought it might be helpful in comparing the two
programs to note that the tobacco program was listed on
page 2, line 22 of the bill.
Senator von Imhof found it ironic that marijuana was
legalized, and then subsequent tax funds were allocated for
substance abuse programs.
Senator Micciche believed that Senator von Imhof had
captured the definition of irony.
Co-Chair MacKinnon thought that the issue would continue to
grow, and would affect the Medicaid population and
healthcare. She shared that she had voted "no" on the
initiative.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked about slide 12, and had observed
through various studies that supportive adults made a huge
difference in the lives of youth.
9:51:09 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon referenced slide 13, and noted that
Alaska was slightly above the norm with regard to marijuana
use. She wondered if there was a correlation with marijuana
use and profession or occupation.
Ms. Muse thought that it would be possible to complete
special surveys.
Co-Chair MacKinnon was interested in a survey question
related to occupations of marijuana users.
Senator von Imhof thought there would be a census in 2020,
and wondered about the questions that would be asked.
Ms. Lewis stated that the census asked strictly demographic
questions, but also had a follow-up survey in which there
were different questions.
9:55:06 AM
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked Dr. Butler if it was possible to
determine whether the federal government could provide
survey questions on opioid use, and some of the harmful
effects. She wanted to understand both the opioid crisis
and the trend to legalize marijuana.
Senator von Imhof thought because there was a move to
legalize marijuana throughout the country, it was a timely
concern. S
Co-Chair MacKinnon referenced a survey she had taken that
had questioned her appliance purchases. She asked if it was
possible to reach out the U.S. Department of Labor.
Dr. Butler deferred to the committee's will as to who
should conduct the outreach.
Co-Chair MacKinnon asked Dr. Butler to make the request to
the federal government.
Dr. Butler agreed to carry out the request.
Co-Chair MacKinnon stated that any proposed amendments to
the bill were due to her office by the following Monday.
SB 128 was HEARD and HELD in committee for further
consideration.
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