04/10/1996 08:20 AM House FIN

  HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 26                                               
                                                                               
       Relating  to  creation  of  the  Public Inebriate  Task                 
       Force.                                                                  
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE IVAN IVAN  stated that he had  introduced the                 
  resolution because of  a growing  alcohol problem in  Alaska                 
  that would need to be addressed by future legislatures.  The                 
  resolution establishes a task force to develop and recommend                 
  a plan for  treatment and  services for intoxicated  persons                 
  who are affected by Title 47.                                                
                                                                               
  Under AS 47.37.170,  local police  can take into  protective                 
  custody  a  person   who  appears  to  be   intoxicated  and                 
  incapacitated  in a public place  and then place that person                 
  in an  approved public treatment  or detention facility.   A                 
  licensed  physician or  other qualified  health practitioner                 
  must then examine the inebriate as soon as possible.  If the                 
  person  is found  to be  incapacitated by alcohol,  they are                 
  then detained for  no more than 48 hours in  the facility or                 
  for  no  more than  twelve  hours in  a  detention facility.                 
  Tremendous costs have  been accruing  to municipalities  and                 
  public health facilities due to the program.                                 
                                                                               
  He continued, costs  of affected programs and  other aspects                 
  of the Title  47 equation  are unknown.   He considered  the                 
  legislation essential in forming a task force to investigate                 
  the problem.                                                                 
  Representative Martin pointed out that this concern has been                 
  "unsuccessfully" studied many times  before.  Representative                 
  Ivan  advised that  the  problem continues  to  exist and  a                 
  solution  needs to be achieved.  Co-Chair Hanley pointed out                 
  to Representative Martin that the fiscal note adopted by the                 
  HESS Committee only provides travel money for the task force                 
  members who  are  not working  for  the Legislature  or  the                 
  Executive Branch of government.                                              
                                                                               
  ELMER   LINDSTROM,   SPECIAL   ASSISTANT,  OFFICE   OF   THE                 
  COMMISSIONER,  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  AND SOCIAL  SERVICES,                 
                                                                               
                                2                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  spoke in support of HCR 26.  He pointed out that the cost of                 
  the public inebriate  problem statewide is unknown  and that                 
  HCR  26  could  provide  information  which  could  help  in                 
  determining potential solutions.                                             
                                                                               
  DONALD  DAPCEVICH,  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,  GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY                 
  BOARD   ON   ALCOHOLISM  &   DRUG   ABUSE,  OFFICE   OF  THE                 
  COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  AND  SOCIAL  SERVICES,                 
  stated  that the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse                 
  endorses the effort put forth in HCR  26.  The creation of a                 
  Public Inebriate Task Force has the potential of drawing all                 
  concerned parties together to solve this perplexing problem.                 
  He  stressed  that  HCR  26  would  be  a  prevention issue.                 
  Representative Martin reiterated  that all the work  done in                 
  previous years has not been productive.                                      
                                                                               
  JULIE KRAFFT,  ALASKA MUNICIPAL  LEAGUE, JUNEAU,  noted that                 
  the  Alaska  Municipal League  supports  passage of  HCR 26.                 
  Many communities lack  the financial resources to  deal with                 
  the problem of public inebriates.   Communities are required                 
  to  detain  these people  with  extremely  limited financial                 
  assistance, and are  then faced with ever  increasing costs.                 
  The public inebriate problem  is a public safety problem,  a                 
  medical care problem, and a  drug alcohol treatment problem.                 
  The issue can not be resolved from any one entity; the State                 
  must help take responsibility to develop a solution.                         
                                                                               
  Representative  Mulder  MOVED to  adopt  Amendment  #1 which                 
  would change the number of voting  members on the board from                 
  11 to  12, adding  one substance  abuse treatment  provider.                 
  There being NO OBJECTION, it was adopted.                                    
                                                                               
  Representative Mulder MOVED to report CS HCR 26 (FIN) out of                 
  Committee  with  individual  recommendations  and  with  the                 
  accompanying fiscal notes.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                 
  so ordered.                                                                  
                                                                               
  CS HCR 26  (FIN) was  reported out of  Committee with a  "no                 
  recommendation" and with a fiscal  impact note by the  House                 
  HESS Committee dated 3/20/96  and a zero fiscal note  by the                 
  Department of Public Safety dated 3/20/96.