Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
04/07/2011 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
SCR7 | |
HB209 | |
HB61 | |
HB33 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ | SCR 7 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 209 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 61 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 33 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 7-FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS DAY 3:08:13 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the first order of business would be SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7, Proclaiming September 9, 2011, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day. 3:08:40 PM SENATOR KEVIN MEYER, Alaska State Legislature, reported that families with children with FASD were recognized internationally on September 9, at 9:09 a.m. He explained that FASD was caused by pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and its effects included permanent brain damage, birth defects, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. He confirmed that Alaska had the highest known rate of FASD in the United States, although it was totally preventable. He heralded the goal of not drinking alcohol while pregnant. 3:12:04 PM JEANNE GERHARDT CYRUS shared that she was a parent of multiple children with prenatal exposure to alcohol. She expressed her support for SCR 7. She emphasized the importance for partners, co-workers, and families of pregnant women to support sobriety during pregnancy, as the sole cause of FASD was alcohol exposure, which resulted in a lifelong disability. She observed that although it was the most common cause of retardation, it did not qualify for developmental disability services or special education in the schools. She listed many of the problems to include mental health problems, disruptive school experience, inappropriate sexual behavior, and alcohol and drug problems. She declared the best strategies to be prevention and early intervention. 3:15:21 PM REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA asked for the reasons that FASD kids did not qualify for special education. MS. CYRUS replied that diagnosis was not available everywhere, especially in the rural communities, and that often there was not awareness by the schools or the parents. She pointed out that FASD had to be recognized, and then it was often classified as "other health impaired." She recounted that many FASD issues were behavioral, and were treated as a discipline issue. 3:17:32 PM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON expressed his agreement. 3:18:19 PM CHAIR KELLER acknowledged the Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse study, "Economic Costs of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Alaska, 2005 update." [Included in members' packets] 3:18:47 PM KATE BURKHARDT, Executive Director, Advisory Board on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Division of Behavioral Health, explained that the Advisory Board was also a founding member of the FASD Partnership, and that both organizations supported proposed SCR 7. She declared that SCR 7 was not just about prevention, but also about identification of and improvement for those lives affected by FASD. She spoke about an annual partnership event with the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association (CHARR), the alcohol industry, and individual alcohol retailers for distribution of educational information and non-alcoholic beverages. She applauded efforts for a permanent declaration of FASD day. 3:22:04 PM CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 3:22:26 PM REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report SCR 7 out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, SCR 7 was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.