Legislature(2013 - 2014)CAPITOL 106
03/04/2014 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB301 | |
| HB324 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 324 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 301 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 301-AUTOPSIES AND DEATH CERTIFICATES
3:04:56 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 301, "An Act relating to duties and procedures
of the state medical examiner and the Department of Health and
Social Services; and relating to death certificates."
REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt the proposed committee
substitute (CS) for HB 301, labeled 28-LS1196\P, Mischel,
2/27/14, as the working draft. There being no objection, it was
so ordered.
3:05:43 PM
LIZ CLEMENT, Staff, Representative Bob Herron, explained that
the changes in Version P were mostly the result from questions
raised by the committee and the Department of Health and Social
Services. The first change was on page 2, line 3, paragraph
(3), which removed from statute explicit reference for the
state's responsibility to cover the cost of any embalming that
transport carriers could require for the transport of human
remains. She declared that this would allow the department to
"stand strong with the families with which they work and find
ways around the families being required to pay that additional
cost" should the transport companies require embalming for
transport. She directed attention to page 2, lines 28-29, a
change of language to read "transportation to the community
closest to where the death occurred or to another location,"
which now clarified both of these options in the written notice
from DHSS to the family. She moved on to page 3, lines 2-3,
which deleted the requirements for temperature controls, and
limited the temperature control practice to those available for
maintaining remains shipped by air. The requirement would no
longer be in statute. She stated that Sections 3 and 4 from the
original bill had been deleted, and that Sections 5 and 6 in the
original bill were now renumbered as Sections 3 and 4.
3:11:24 PM
RAEBELLE WHITCOMB, Director, Workforce Development Center,
Bristol Bay Native Corporation, expressed her support for the
proposed changes in Version P, and, regarding the requirement
for embalming prior to transport, she declared that
transportation carriers should not have the right of
determination regarding the deceased over the rights of the
family. She asked about the process for the issuance of the
death certificate, asking for clarification that local health
aides in a community could begin the process. She expressed
appreciation for the proposed bill as it recognized "many
factors that are a concern for both Bristol Bay Native
Association and families." She pointed out that the costs
associated with a death were still very high, and she noted that
there were still concerns for funeral homes controlling the
remains of the deceased until the family had the funds for
release of the body.
MARCIA DAVIS, General Council, Senior Vice President, Calista
Corporation, echoed the sentiments of Ms. Whitcomb for the
obligations of air transporters. She asked that it be clarified
that, as the bodies were removed by the state, it was necessary
for the bodies to be returned by the state, and it was incumbent
for the state to deal with the air transporter. She expressed
her confidence with the compassion of the Medical Examiner's
office for not allowing a body to sit "in purgatory" while
waiting for solutions. She stated the necessity for
understanding that "the state takes the body, the state needs to
return the body." Referring to the issuance of death
certificates by local authorities, she reported that the system
had worked well with birth certificates and that the systems
were in place for death certificates. She noted that the Bureau
of Vital Statistics was in support of the proposed program.
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, noting that the language on page 2, line
3 had been changing, asked that Ms. Davis contact the local air
carriers to ensure they know that embalming was not required by
law.
MS. DAVIS said that this information would go out on the web
pages, and that she would meet with the air carriers.
3:19:42 PM
KERRE SHELTON, Director, Central Office, Division of Public
Health, Department of Health and Social Services, pointed out
that there was only one medical examiner in Alaska, located in
Anchorage. As there were not enough cases for a second
position, all bodies requiring an autopsy were transported to
Anchorage, inspected, and then returned to the community. She
stated that standard practice was for the return transport to
any location the family requested, and that the family would pay
any additional cost. She clarified that embalming was not
required by law or by the air transfers, although there had been
confusion regarding its requirement. She said that there was
some temperature control for bodies, including freezing when
necessary, although this was not done for all bodies. She
shared that there had been discussions for a pilot project to
study the feasibility of rural examinations via telemedicine,
although there was still a lot of equipment, infrastructure, and
training to be determined. She acknowledged the zero fiscal
note for the proposed bill [Included in members' packets] and
stated that the costs would be borne by the local jurisdictions.
She explained that the electronic vital records system would
soon distribute death certificates, which would greatly reduce
the time delay for completion.
3:25:59 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS closed public testimony.
3:26:20 PM
The committee took a brief at-ease.
3:27:21 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON pointed to a large study by the United
States military regarding suicides, as this was an issue in
rural Alaska. He reported that a low Vitamin D level resulted
in twice the at-risk for suicide.
3:29:01 PM
CHAIR HIGGINS said that HB 301 would be held over.