Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
02/12/2008 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB319 | |
| HB276|| HB279 | |
| HB279 | |
| Presentation on Alzheimer's Disease | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 319 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 276 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 279 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 276-EXTEND ALASKA COMMISSION ON AGING [Contains discussion of HB 279] 3:59:31 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 276, "An Act extending the termination date of the Alaska Commission on Aging; and providing for an effective date." 4:00:41 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA DOLL, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the sponsor of HB 276, informed the committee that HB 276 will extend the sunset provision for the Alaska Commission on Aging (ACoA). She advised that, five years ago, the ACoA was moved from the Department of Administration (DOA) to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and some of the commission's responsibilities were changed. Representative Doll added that HB 279 was recommended by the auditors and was written to enact the conforming language to reflect this move. 4:01:55 PM CHAIR WILSON noted that HB 276 extends the sunset to 2016. 4:02:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH asked when the last time the statewide plan was adopted. 4:02:47 PM KEN ALPER, Staff to Representative Andrea Doll, Alaska State Legislature, stated that the plan was adopted in 2007 and is a four-year plan dated 2008 to 2011. 4:03:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH noted that there is support in the legislature for shorter timeframes so that the effectiveness of programs can be measured; nevertheless, she said that she supports the reauthorization of the ACoA. She then recalled that a former member of the commission raised the question of access to facilities for the aging population. She asked whether the commission's planning process addresses access to facilities and long-term care. 4:03:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL referred the question to the executive director. 4:04:10 PM CHAIR WILSON asked for a motion. 4:04:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER moved to report HB 276 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. The committee took an at-ease from 4:04 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. There being no objection, HB 276 was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee. HB 279-COMMISSION ON AGING CHAIR WILSON announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 279, "An Act relating to the duties and powers of the Alaska Commission on Aging and the Department of Health and Social Services." 4:05:34 PM REPRESENTATIVE ANDREA DOLL, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as one of the joint prime sponsors, remarked: From 1982, when it was created through 2003, the Alaska Commission on Aging was located within the Department of Administration, and because the Department of Administration did not have an independent grant making authority, the Commission on Aging was given granting power so they could distribute federal money targeted at seniors. In 2003 Governor Murkowski signed Executive Order 108, we have a copy of that with us. This moved the Commission on Aging to the Department of Health and Social Services. However, they already did have grant making power so the executive order also moved those functions, grant making, to the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services at HSS, h, s, s. The statutes were never changed and this current law is written ... Alaska Commission on Aging in the Department of Administration writing their own grants. In 2006, when ACoA went through the sunset audit, from legislative audit, the auditors discovered this discrepancy. The auditors recommended making the statuary changes conforming to the changes made by the Governor Murkowski. HB 279 was written for this purpose. It was written with the cooperation and participation of the Alaska Commission on Aging staff and the senior officials at DHSS. The bill, if passed, would codify the current situation. The Commission on Aging is responsible for planning and advocacy for Alaska's seniors. The Division of Senior and Disabilities Services is responsible for administering and distributing federal funds. 4:08:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES moved to adopt CSHB 279, Version 25- LS1106\E, Mischel, 2/11/08, as a working document. There being no objection, Version E was before the committee. REPRESENTATIVE ROSES then observed that the bill takes away a considerable amount of authority from the ACoA, and asked what the commission is left to do. 4:09:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE DOLL responded that the ACoA is responsible for education and advocacy; in fact, it has many functions for seniors as outlined in the state plan. 4:09:51 PM CHAIR WILSON added that this is a housecleaning bill to put in state statute what is already happening. 4:09:55 PM MR. ALPER informed the committee that the only change in the committee substitute is in Section 3, on page 4, that clarifies that the ACoA is the primary agency responsible for writing the state plan. 4:10:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES asked whether the commission members are in support of the bill. 4:10:54 PM CHAIR WILSON asked for testimony from DHSS and the ACoA. 4:11:19 PM BILL HOGAN, Deputy Commissioner, Family, Community, and Integrated Services, Office of the Commissioner, DHSS, stated that one of his responsibilities is to act as the primary liaison with many of the boards and commissions that work with DHSS. He reiterated that the language in HB 279 is intended to put in statute what has been in practice since the first of July, 2003. Mr. Hogan highlighted that the bill gives DHSS the responsibility for establishing state policy for, and administering the requirements of, the Older Americans Act of 1965, and the authority for administering grants to service providers that serve older Alaskans, adult day care, and family and respite care. He explained that he works very closely with ACoA, and meets with the executive director and commission members on a regular basis. In addition, the language for the bill was developed in conjunction with the ACoA. The most recent change is to acknowledge that the ACoA still has the primary responsibility for formulating the state plan; however, DHSS is the state entity on aging and has a number of responsibilities in that regard. Mr. Hogan concluded by saying that DHSS is very supportive of HB 279. 4:13:55 PM DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director, Alaska Commission on Aging, expressed the commission's support for HB 279. This bill is a reflection of current practice; in fact, the bill was crafted primarily by the former commission chair. She assured the committee that the ACoA plays an undiminished role for older Alaskans. Because it does not serve as a grant making body, the ACoA is now able to focus on statewide planning and to act as a strong advocate for caregivers and seniors. Ms. Daniello told the committee that the ACoA hosts quarterly meetings with caregivers and providers to talk about senior issues. Its members also advocate before legislators, the governor, and DHSS, regarding issues concerning older Alaskans such as: legislation to strengthen the senior benefits program; the creation of the office of Advocacy; strengthening laws to prevent crimes of identify theft against seniors; and supporting stable funding for many senior services. The ACoA also advocates to the congressional delegation on federal issues such as workforce development and Medicare reimbursement rates. Its other responsibilities are to provide recommendations to DHSS and to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and to provide local community education. Ms. Daniello assured the committee that the ACoA supports HB 279. 4:17:30 PM BANARSI LAL, Chair, ACoA, DHSS, expressed his belief that the concerns about the changes brought by Executive Order 108 were unfounded. He opined that grant making took a lot of time away from the ACoA's primary functions: to be the eyes and ears of seniors in Alaska; to educate seniors about the availability of existing services; and to advocate for their needs. Instead, the ACoA is now able to solicit seniors for information about their needs and to produce the state plan. The state plan is submitted to the commissioner of the DHSS, the governor's office, and to the Region 10 office of the Older Americans Program. Mr. Lal noted that the small board and staff of the ACoA have the drive and interest to produce the state plan. In 2006, the White House Conference on Aging sponsored forums throughout the state and the commission gathered more information from seniors. He then spoke of the value of the legislative audit report and said that he is very supportive of HB 279. Mr. Lal encouraged the committee to take a long-term position on the growing needs of the senior population and to study the recommendations in the ACoA's state plan and annual report. 4:22:40 PM CHAIR WILSON asked for concurrence from the Legislative Audit Division. 4:23:09 PM PAT DAVIDSON, Legislative Auditor, Legislative Audit Division, Legislative Agencies & Offices, informed the committee that she was representing the Division of Legislative Audit as it relates to HB 279. She stated that the audit recommends that the statutes be changed for those areas that represent administration of the grants. The sections in the bill that reflect changes to the grants support the audit recommendations. CHAIR WILSON closed testimony. 4:24:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report HB 279, Version 25- LS1106\E, Mischel, 2/11/08, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 279(HES) was reported out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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