03/23/2006 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

HB 430-APPROP: PALMER SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
4:15:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  430, "An  Act  making an  appropriation for  the                                                               
construction of  the Palmer Senior Citizen  Center; and providing                                                               
for an effective date."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:15:46 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 4:16:10 PM to 4:20:01 PM.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
4:20:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CODY RICE, Staff to Representative Carl Gatto, introduced HB 430                                                                
on behalf of Representative Gatto, by paraphrasing from the                                                                     
sponsor statement as follows [original punctuation provided]:                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     We  are all  aware the  Mat-Su Borough  is experiencing                                                                    
     above average  growth, but  it may  not be  as commonly                                                                    
     known  that a  subgroup of  this population  is growing                                                                    
     even faster.  According to the most  recent Census data                                                                    
     available,  Alaska's  senior  population  is  both  the                                                                    
     fastest  growing  segment  of Alaska's  population  and                                                                    
     surprisingly  also one  of the  fastest growing  senior                                                                    
     population in  the nation. The number  of Alaskans over                                                                    
     age  60 is  expected  to triple  from  53,000 (8.5%  of                                                                    
     Alaska's population)  in the year 2000  to 165,000 (20%                                                                    
     of  Alaska's population)  by 2025,  less than  20 years                                                                    
     away.  More  specifically,  in the  Mat-Su  the  senior                                                                    
     population increased by  150% from 1990 to  1999 and is                                                                    
     expected to  double again before the  year 2018. Palmer                                                                    
     Senior  Citizens  Center  (PSCC) currently  serves  450                                                                    
     Mat-Su seniors every day.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The current  facility has problems  including defective                                                                    
     electrical   systems.   Interestingly,  the   Executive                                                                    
     Director's  computer loses  power when  the photocopier                                                                    
     is used. There  are fifty parking spots and  a fleet of                                                                    
     15 vans  for 35  on-site employees  and 100  seniors at                                                                    
     meal times.  Many employees of  PSCC work  off-site due                                                                    
     to limited space availability at the center.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
     PSCC is  a 501 (c)(3) non-profit  organization, already                                                                    
     owns  the  new site,  and  is  only seeking  funds  for                                                                    
     design and construction.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     I  urge  your  support  and favorable  action  on  this                                                                    
     legislation.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:23:21 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON asked  if there is a  funding priority list                                                               
for the senior centers statewide and,  if so, how does the Palmer                                                               
Senior Citizens Center (PSCC) funding request rank.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
4:24:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. RICE responded  that to his knowledge there is  not a list of                                                               
that type.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
4:24:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  moved to  report HB  430 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.  There being no objection,  HB 430 was reported out of the                                                               
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.