04/02/2001 01:41 PM House FIN

CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 112(FIN)                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     An Act  placing certain employees  of the  Alaska Mental                                                                   
     Health   Trust   Authority   in  the   exempt   service;                                                                   
     establishing  a minimum  salary for  the long term  care                                                                   
     ombudsman; and providing for an effective date.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HANS NEIDIG,  STAFF, SENATOR LYDA  GREEN, stated that  SB 112                                                                   
would  place employees  of  the  Alaska Mental  Health  Trust                                                                   
Authority (AMHTA) in the exempt  service while establishing a                                                                   
minimum salary for the Long Term Care Ombudsman.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Neidig  noted that SB 112  was introduced at  the request                                                                   
of  the  Alaska  Mental Health  Trust  Authority  to  address                                                                   
concerns   expressed   about   their  ability   to   function                                                                   
efficiently as a State corporation.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
The  legislation would  establish  a minimum  salary for  the                                                                   
Long  Term  Care  Ombudsman  at Range  21.    Establishing  a                                                                   
minimum salary  of the  Long Term  Care Ombudsman would  help                                                                   
ensure  that a  qualified individual  can be  hired for  that                                                                   
crucial position.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair   Bunde  inquired   what  range  these   employees                                                                   
currently  are at.   Mr. Neidig  replied that they  currently                                                                   
are at a  Range 20.  He noted  that a maximum salary  had not                                                                   
yet been established.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Harris questioned how  long the position  had                                                                   
been  unfilled.   Mr.  Neidig  understood  that it  had  been                                                                   
vacant since November 2000.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
JEFF  JESSE,   (TESFITIFED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE),   EXECUTIVE                                                                   
DIRECTOR,  ALASKA  MENTAL  HEALTH  TRUST  AUTHORITY  (AMHTA),                                                                   
DEPARTMENT  OF  REVENUE,  responded  that  the  position  has                                                                   
remained vacant since the Executive  Order, which transferred                                                                   
responsibility  to the  Trust Authority.   He commented  that                                                                   
there has been a tremendous turnover  in that position, which                                                                   
he  predicted resulted  not only  from the  salary range  but                                                                   
also the intense  workload.  Mr. Jesse acknowledged  that the                                                                   
employee is asked to take on a  tremendous responsibility for                                                                   
that salary range.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Harris asked  if  the salary  was being  paid                                                                   
from the  AMHTA account.  Mr.  Jesse advised that  the entire                                                                   
budget at  this time is  paid for out  of the Federal  Senior                                                                   
Services Block  Grant.  Currently,  there is an  increment in                                                                   
the  Department of  Administration's  budget  that would  add                                                                   
$100 thousand  dollar increase  to the $250 thousand  dollars                                                                   
in federal  money, to  increase the  overall capacity  of the                                                                   
office.   He noted  that only  the long-term ombudsman  would                                                                   
fall under that salary change.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Whitaker  asked  if there  was  something  in                                                                   
existing  law, which  might preclude  a higher  pay rate  for                                                                   
that position.   Mr. Jesse explained that the  position is in                                                                   
classified service.   That position has been  classified at a                                                                   
Range 20 and it would not be possible to pay higher.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Bunde pointed out that  the legislation stipulates                                                                   
that it would be a "minimum" of  Range 21.  He asked what Mr.                                                                   
Jesse  would anticipate  the  maximum  payment  range to  be.                                                                   
Mr. Jesse  advised  that AMHTA  did not want  to pay  anymore                                                                   
than they had to for that job  category.  He noted that a job                                                                   
in that area  requires a combination skill level  and that it                                                                   
would be good if  that person had some legal  background.  He                                                                   
stressed  that it  was not  the  intention to  pay more  than                                                                   
necessary to get a qualified person for the position.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Bunde  asked if  the maximum step  was a  Range 28                                                                   
for  an exempt  position.   Mr. Jesse  replied the  requested                                                                   
position was not exempt, and emphasized  that no one would be                                                                   
paid a Range 28 for that position.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Representative Davies MOVED to  report CS SB 112 (FIN) out of                                                                   
Committee  with  individual  recommendations   and  with  the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                     
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CS SB 112 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do                                                                        
pass" pass recommendation and with a zero fiscal note by the                                                                    
Department of Revenue dated 3/01/01.