Legislature(2017 - 2018)CAPITOL 106

04/04/2017 03:00 PM House HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.

Download Mp3. <- Right click and save file as

Audio Topic
03:07:32 PM Start
03:09:20 PM Confirmation Hearing(s)
03:35:37 PM HB186
03:44:20 PM HB164
03:54:37 PM SCR2
04:04:49 PM Adjourn
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ Confirmation Hearings: TELECONFERENCED
- State Medical Board
- Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives
- Board of Nursing
+= HB 100 POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY TELECONFERENCED
<Bill Hearing Canceled>
-- Public Testimony --
+= HB 186 FOOD DONATIONS TELECONFERENCED
Moved HB 186 Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+= HB 164 PROTECT: VULNERABLE ADULTS/LONG TERM CARE TELECONFERENCED
Moved CSHB 164(HSS) Out of Committee
-- Public Testimony --
+ SCR 2 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH:APRIL 2017 TELECONFERENCED
Heard & Held
-- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
+ Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled TELECONFERENCED
+= HB 159 OPIOIDS;PRESCRIPTIONS;DATABASE;LICENSES TELECONFERENCED
Scheduled but Not Heard
                    ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE                                                                                  
      HOUSE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE                                                                     
                         April 4, 2017                                                                                          
                           3:07 p.m.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Ivy Spohnholz, Chair                                                                                             
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair                                                                                         
Representative Sam Kito                                                                                                         
Representative Geran Tarr                                                                                                       
Representative David Eastman                                                                                                    
Representative Jennifer Johnston                                                                                                
Representative Colleen Sullivan-Leonard                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Matt Claman (alternate)                                                                                          
Representative Dan Saddler (alternate)                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
State Medical Board                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
     Doug Mertz - Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                
     Tim Olson - Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
     Dana Brown - Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                             
     Kathryn Ostrum - Homer, Alaska                                                                                             
     Kathryn Roberts - Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Board of Nursing                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
     Joseph Lefleur - Ketchikan, Alaska                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - CONFIRMATION(S) ADVANCED                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 186                                                                                                              
"An Act  relating to the  donation of food;  and relating  to food                                                              
banks."                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED HB 186 OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 164                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to  the  protection  of vulnerable  adults  and                                                              
residents of long term care facilities."                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     - MOVED CSHB 164(HSS) OUT OF COMMITTEE                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2                                                                                              
Proclaiming April 2017 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
     - HEARD & HELD                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 100                                                                                                              
"An  Act establishing  June  27  of  each year  as  Post-Traumatic                                                              
Stress Injury Awareness Day."                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     - REMOVED FROM AGENDA                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE BILL NO. 159                                                                                                              
"An  Act relating  to the  prescription  of opioids;  establishing                                                              
the   Voluntary  Nonopioid   Directive   Act;   relating  to   the                                                              
controlled  substance  prescription   database;  relating  to  the                                                              
practice  of dentistry;  relating  to  the practice  of  medicine;                                                              
relating to  the practice  of podiatry;  relating to the  practice                                                              
of osteopathy;  relating to the  practice of nursing;  relating to                                                              
the  practice   of  optometry;   relating   to  the  practice   of                                                              
veterinary  medicine;  related  to  the  duties of  the  Board  of                                                              
Pharmacy; and providing for an effective date."                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     - SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 186                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: FOOD DONATIONS                                                                                                     
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) TALERICO                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
03/17/17       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/17/17       (H)       HSS                                                                                                    
03/30/17       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/30/17       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/30/17       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
04/04/17       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: HB 164                                                                                                                  
SHORT TITLE: PROTECT: VULNERABLE ADULTS/LONG TERM CARE                                                                          
SPONSOR(s): RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
03/08/17       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/08/17       (H)       HSS, FIN                                                                                               
03/30/17       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
03/30/17       (H)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
03/30/17       (H)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
04/04/17       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
BILL: SCR 2                                                                                                                   
SHORT TITLE: SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH: APRIL 2017                                                                         
SPONSOR(s): MEYER                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
02/08/17       (S)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
02/08/17       (S)       STA, HSS                                                                                               
02/24/17       (S)       STA REFERRAL WAIVED                                                                                    
02/27/17       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
02/27/17       (S)       Heard & Held                                                                                           
02/27/17       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/01/17       (S)       HSS AT 1:30 PM BUTROVICH 205                                                                           
03/01/17       (S)       Moved  SCR 2 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/01/17       (S)       MINUTE(HSS)                                                                                            
03/03/17       (S)       HSS RPT  5DP                                                                                           
03/03/17       (S)       DP: WILSON, BEGICH, VON IMHOF, GIESSEL,                                                                
                         MICCICHE                                                                                               
03/06/17       (S)       TRANSMITTED TO (H)                                                                                     
03/06/17       (S)       VERSION: SCR  2                                                                                        
03/08/17       (H)       READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS                                                                        
03/08/17       (H)       STA, HSS                                                                                               
03/21/17       (H)       STA AT 5:30 PM GRUENBERG 120                                                                           
03/21/17       (H)       Moved  SCR 2 Out of Committee                                                                          
03/21/17       (H)       MINUTE(STA)                                                                                            
03/24/17       (H)       STA RPT 7DP                                                                                            
03/24/17       (H)       DP: JOHNSON, WOOL, LEDOUX, KNOPP,                                                                      
                         BIRCH, TUCK, KREISS-TOMKINS                                                                            
04/04/17       (H)       HSS AT 3:00 PM CAPITOL 106                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WITNESS REGISTER                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
DOUG MERTZ, Appointee to the State Medical Board                                                                                
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Answered questions during confirmation                                                                   
hearings for the State Medical Board.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
TIM OLSON, Appointee to the State Medical Board                                                                                 
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION  STATEMENT:    Answered   questions  during  confirmation                                                            
hearings for the State Medical Board.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
DANA  BROWN, Appointee  to  the  Board of  Certified  Direct-Entry                                                              
Midwives                                                                                                                        
Fairbanks, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Answered  questions during the  confirmation                                                            
hearings for the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN OSTRUM, MD                                                                                                              
Appointee to the Board of Certified Direct Entry Midwives                                                                       
Homer, Alaska                                                                                                                   
POSITION STATEMENT:   Answered  questions during the  confirmation                                                            
hearings for the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN  ROBERTS,  Appointee  to  the Board  of  Certified  Direct                                                              
Entry Midwives                                                                                                                  
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Answered  questions during the  confirmation                                                            
hearings for the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JOSEPH LEFLEUR, Appointee to the Alaska Board of Nursing                                                                        
Ketchikan, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Answered  questions during the  confirmation                                                            
hearings to the Alaska Board of Nursing.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ELIJAH VERHAGEN, Staff                                                                                                          
Representative Dave Talerico                                                                                                    
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:   Answered questions  during discussion  of HB
186, on behalf of the bill sponsor, Representative Talerico.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WILLIAM HARRINGTON                                                                                                              
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:   Testified  during discussion  of HB  186 and                                                            
HB 164.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
TERESA HOLT, Long Term Care Ombudsman                                                                                           
Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman                                                                                          
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority                                                                                            
Department of Revenue                                                                                                           
Anchorage, Alaska                                                                                                               
POSITION STATEMENT:  Presented HB  164 on behalf of the Governor.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
DENISE DANIELLO, Executive Director                                                                                             
Alaska Commission on Aging                                                                                                      
Division of Senior and Disabilities Services                                                                                    
Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS)                                                                                 
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified in support of HB 164.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE MARASIGAN, Staff                                                                                                      
Senator Kevin Meyer                                                                                                             
Alaska State Legislature                                                                                                        
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION  STATEMENT:   Explained  SCR  2  on  behalf of  the  bill                                                            
sponsor, Senator Meyer.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
ALIZA KAZMI, Policy Specialist                                                                                                  
Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault                                                                          
Juneau, Alaska                                                                                                                  
POSITION STATEMENT:  Testified during discussion of SCR 2.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ACTION NARRATIVE                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:07:32 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR IVY  SPOHNHOLZ called the  House Health and  Social Services                                                            
Standing    Committee   meeting    to   order    at   3:07    p.m.                                                              
Representatives  Spohnholz, Johnston,  Tarr, and  Sullivan-Leonard                                                              
were  present  at  the  call  to  order.    Representatives  Kito,                                                              
Edgmon, and Eastman arrived as the meeting was in progress.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
^CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                                      
                    CONFIRMATION HEARING(S)                                                                                 
                      State Medical Board                                                                                   
            Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives                                                                        
                        Board of Nursing                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:09:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced  that the first order  of business would                                                              
confirmation hearings  for the State  Medical Board, the  Board of                                                              
Certified Direct-Entry Midwives, and the Board of Nursing.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:09:31 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DOUG MERTZ,  Appointee to the  State Medical Board,  detailed that                                                              
his family  history had included  many medical professionals.   He                                                              
said that his career  as an attorney had allowed  him to hear many                                                              
medical  issues, including  mental  health issues,  and these  had                                                              
"long  been an interest  of  mine."  He  stated that  as he  moved                                                              
toward retirement  from the  law, this was  a good opportunity  to                                                              
be of service to the state.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:10:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON  pointed out that  one issue would  be the                                                              
high cost of  medical care in Alaska.   She mused that  the policy                                                              
debate  had  included  discussions  of tort  reform,  and  various                                                              
other solutions.   She asked  what he could  bring to  the medical                                                              
board regarding this discussion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. MERTZ offered  his belief that he would bring  the perspective                                                              
of someone  outside the  medical community,  and not dependent  on                                                              
the financial  aspects of  medicine.  He  allowed that  should the                                                              
board  evaluate  the situation  and  attempt  to "figure  out  why                                                              
we've got  these high  costs and  what can be  done about  it," he                                                              
could offer a perspective different from the medical profession.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:12:04 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  KITO   opined  that  it  was  necessary   to  have                                                              
qualified  and interested  public  members on  all  the boards  to                                                              
provide a perspective outside the professions being regulated.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:12:39 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TIM  OLSON,  Appointee to  the  State  Medical Board,  shared  his                                                              
background  and interest  in medicine,  noting that  he worked  in                                                              
primary  care, urgent  care,  and family  medicine.   He  reported                                                              
that he  had graduated from the  Chicago Medical School,  with his                                                              
undergraduate  work in  Grand  Rapids, Michigan.    He noted  that                                                              
although it  was not taught  in medical  school, the high  cost of                                                              
health  care was  a focus  of his  interest.   He  stated that  as                                                              
Alaska  had   the  most  expensive   health  care  in   the  U.S.,                                                              
essentially, the state  had the most expensive health  care in the                                                              
world.   He  reported  that  he was  trying  to learn  more  about                                                              
public health and  health care costs, in order to  better help the                                                              
larger population.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:15:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSTON  asked if this  was Mr. Olson's  first job                                                              
out of school.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
MR. OLSON replied  that although he had always  been interested in                                                              
the mountains  and the West,  the licensing process  for physician                                                              
assistants  was slower  in Alaska,  so he had  stayed in  Michigan                                                              
with  its   shorter  licensing  process   and  gained  a   lot  of                                                              
experience.  He  began his work applications in Alaska  as soon as                                                              
his license was granted.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  JOHNSTON mused that  a reason  given for  the high                                                              
cost  of  medical  care  in Alaska  has  been  the  difficulty  of                                                              
recruiting professionals  to move to the  state.  She asked  if he                                                              
had made the choice to move to Alaska.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MR. OLSON  replied that he  was an advocate  for Alaska,  and that                                                              
he had turned down the opportunity to work in Hawaii.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:19:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SULLIVAN-LEONARD  asked  why  he  applied  to  the                                                              
board and "what do you think you bring to the table."                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR. OLSON  replied that  he was very  interested in  the lawmaking                                                              
process for medicine,  something which had not been  taught in his                                                              
school,  even  though  "in practice,  it  definitely  touches  you                                                              
every   day."      He   explained   that   there   were   everyday                                                              
considerations,  and the  need  to think  ahead  for solutions  to                                                              
problems.   He emphasized his  interest in learning  this process,                                                              
and he  stated that  he tried "to  bring as  much enthusiasm  as I                                                              
can about  this."   He was  very interested,  and although  he had                                                              
not ever  been on a  medical board, he  wanted to learn  about the                                                              
many  issues.    He  said  that  he also  wanted  to  train  as  a                                                              
firefighter  to learn  that  side  of medicine.    He offered  his                                                              
belief that  his exposure to many  aspects of medicine  was one of                                                              
the things "that I bring to the table."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  SPOHNHOLZ   said  there  was  a  lot   of  opportunity  for                                                              
community service in Alaska.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:23:25 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be confirmation  hearings for the Board of  Certified Direct-Entry                                                              
Midwives.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:24:27 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DANA  BROWN, Appointee  to  the  Board of  Certified  Direct-Entry                                                              
Midwives, shared  that she was in  the original group  of midwives                                                              
licensed in  1993, that she had  served on the board from  2000 to                                                              
2009,  and that  she was  now interested  in serving  again.   She                                                              
offered  that  she  would  bring  a  perspective  in  history  and                                                              
experience to  the board.   She reported  on legislation  that she                                                              
had been involved  with, including Medicaid and  reimbursement for                                                              
Direct-Entry Midwives.   She stated that she had  been a community                                                              
midwife in Fairbanks for more than 30 years.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:26:09 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN OSTRUM,  MD, Appointee  to the  Board of Certified  Direct                                                              
Entry Midwives,  shared her  background, stating  that she  was an                                                              
OB-GYN  (obstetrician-gynecologist) currently  working and  living                                                              
in Homer, Alaska.   She reported that she had  trained in Houston,                                                              
Texas, with  her residency  in New Mexico,  which had  allowed her                                                              
to  become very  familiar  with the  Indian  Health System  (IHS).                                                              
When  she moved  to  Alaska, she  worked  with  the Alaska  Native                                                              
Medical  Center for  almost three  years,  before joining  private                                                              
practice.   She shared that once  in private practice,  she became                                                              
much more familiar  with the Direct-Entry Midwives,  mainly in the                                                              
Anchorage and  Palmer area.   She relayed  that she  was currently                                                              
the  consultant for  the  group of  Direct-Entry  Midwives in  the                                                              
Homer area.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:27:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
KATHRYN  ROBERTS,  Appointee  to  the Board  of  Certified  Direct                                                              
Entry Midwives,  said that  she had been  a nurse for  three years                                                              
in Alaska, doing  home births, birth center, and  hospital births,                                                              
and working with  Direct-Entry Midwives.  (Indisc.)   She said she                                                              
had served  the remainder of someone  else's term and  her current                                                              
appointment would be for her own term.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:29:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOSEPH  LEFLEUR,  Appointee  to   the  Alaska  Board  of  Nursing,                                                              
reported that  he had  been a nurse  for more  than 20  years, and                                                              
that he was currently  licensed in 3 other states.   He noted that                                                              
he  had  a Master's  in  Nursing  Education,  and that  he  looked                                                              
forward  to  representing   Alaskans,  his  colleagues,   and  his                                                              
students.  In response  to Chair Spohnholz, he said  that he was a                                                              
nurse  educator and  that he taught  at the  University of  Alaska                                                              
Southeast campus in Ketchikan.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:30:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SULLIVAN-LEONARD,  noting  that  Mr.  Lefleur  was                                                              
fairly new  to Alaska, asked for  an overview of why he  wanted to                                                              
be on the nursing board.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. LEFLEUR  reported that he  was originally from  South Florida,                                                              
and that while  there, he had written policies  and procedures for                                                              
two major  hospitals and some  schools with  which he worked.   He                                                              
stated that this,  along with his licensing in  additional states,                                                              
gave him a good background.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:32:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON  moved to forward the list  of appointees to                                                              
a joint session of the legislature for confirmations.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  objected for purposes  of discussion,  and stated                                                              
that she would read the full list of appointees to be forwarded.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:32:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ moved  to advance the confirmations  of Doug Mertz                                                              
and  Tim  Olson  for  the State  Medical  Board,  to  advance  the                                                              
confirmations  of  Dana Brown,  Dr.  Kathryn Ostrum,  and  Kathryn                                                              
Roberts for the  Board of Certified Direct-Entry  Midwives, and to                                                              
advance  the  confirmation of  Joseph  Lefleur  for the  Board  of                                                              
Nursing  to  the  joint  session  of  the  House  and  Senate  for                                                              
consideration.   She  reminded members  that  signing the  reports                                                              
regarding  appointment  to  boards   and  commissions  in  no  way                                                              
reflected  individual  members'  approval  or disapproval  of  the                                                              
appointees,  and that  the nominations  were  merely forwarded  to                                                              
the full legislature  for confirmation or rejection.   She removed                                                              
her   objection.     There  being   no   further  objection,   the                                                              
confirmations were advanced.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:33:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:33 p.m. to 3:35 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                     HB 186-FOOD DONATIONS                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:35:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be HOUSE BILL NO.  186, "An Act relating to the  donation of food;                                                              
and relating to food banks."                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:35:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELIJAH  VERHAGEN,  Staff,  Representative  Dave  Talerico,  Alaska                                                              
State Legislature,  said that the intent of the  proposed bill was                                                              
to decrease  the amount  of wasted  food in  Alaska, and  increase                                                              
the  amount of  food donated  to charitable  organizations and  to                                                              
food banks.   He relayed that  the proposed bill added  food banks                                                              
and  charitable  organizations  to  the  list of  groups  able  to                                                              
receive donations  from any businesses  that chose to  donate, and                                                              
that these  businesses  would be  free from liability.   He  added                                                              
that the  proposed bill added hot  food for donation,  which could                                                              
be labelled and  given to people who would otherwise  not have had                                                              
the food.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:36:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SULLIVAN-LEONARD   commented  on   the  challenges                                                              
faced with  a large, local store,  Fred Meyer, throwing  food into                                                              
the dumpster instead of making a donation.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. VERHAGEN  said that there had  been discussions with  the Food                                                              
Bank, and  that with passage of  the proposed bill, the  Food Bank                                                              
could speak  again with the  larger stores, including  Fred Meyer.                                                              
He  stated  that   there  had  also  been  discussions   with  the                                                              
corporate headquarters for a change in their policy.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:38:16 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SULLIVAN-LEONARD  suggested that although  this was                                                              
opening  the  door  for participation,  it  was  not  guaranteeing                                                              
this.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
3:38:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:38:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WILLIAM HARRINGTON,  read from a  prepared statement,  which said,                                                              
in part:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
     to  completely absolve  someone  or  an organization  of                                                                   
     responsibility  in the safe  handling of perishable  and                                                                   
     potentially  toxic   food  gifted  on   an  unsuspecting                                                                   
     public,   is   the   height   of   irresponsibility   by                                                                   
     government.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
MR. HARRINGTON  said that spoiled  food was  not a gift,  and that                                                              
"the standards imposed  by the science of safe  food handling must                                                              
be  enforced through  inspection  and  user responsibility."    He                                                              
stated that the  proposed bill would lead to  a mass contamination                                                              
with  no  one responsible,  and  he  shared  an anecdote  of  food                                                              
poisoning  from a food  truck.   He asked  that those who  receive                                                              
the food should  never be "put at  the peril or lose  the right to                                                              
be completely compensated for harm."                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:41:14 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:41:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EDGMON moved  to report  HB 186  out of  committee                                                              
with  individual  recommendations   and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                              
notes.   There  being  no objection,  HB 186  was  moved from  the                                                              
House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:41:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 3:41 p.m. to 3:44 p.m.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
        HB 164-PROTECT: VULNERABLE ADULTS/LONG TERM CARE                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:44:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  announced that the  next order of  business would                                                              
be  HOUSE BILL  NO. 164,  "An Act  relating to  the protection  of                                                              
vulnerable adults and residents of long term care facilities."                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:44:47 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
TERESA HOLT,  Long Term  Care Ombudsman, Office  of the  Long Term                                                              
Care Ombudsman,  Alaska Mental Health Trust  Authority, Department                                                              
of Revenue, paraphrased  from a statement explaining  the proposed                                                              
committee substitute  [Included in  members' packets],  which read                                                              
[original punctuation provided]:                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
       The CSHB 164 makes simple changes to the original                                                                        
     version.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
     • In section 4, it corrects drafting error on page 4                                                                       
        line 5 to reflect the accurate statute citation of                                                                      
        AS 47.62.015 (instead of AS 42.62.015).                                                                                 
    • In section 3, aligns additional paragraphs under AS                                                                       
        47.24.011 with proposed amendment  language requested                                                                   
        elsewhere in  the bill that  changes references  from                                                                   
        "central  information   and   referral  service   for                                                                   
        vulnerable adults"  to "vulnerable adult  centralized                                                                   
        intake office".                                                                                                         
    • In sections 10 and 11 clarifies that resident means                                                                       
        resident of a long term care facility.                                                                                  
      • In section 14 retains the definition for senior                                                                         
        citizen housing.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:47:24 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EDGMON  moved  to  adopt  the  proposed  committee                                                              
substitute (CS)  for HB 164, labeled 30-GH1815\D,  Glover, 4/3/17,                                                              
as the working document.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:47:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ objected for discussion.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:48:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ  removed her  objection.   There being  no further                                                              
objection,  the proposed  committee  substitute (CS)  for HB  164,                                                              
labeled 30-GH1815\D,  Glover, 4/3/17,  was adopted as  the working                                                              
document.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ opened public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:48:38 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WILLIAM HARRINGTON  stated that this was "an important  bill."  He                                                              
stated  that  the  "boomer  tsunami   has  yet  to  fully  unleash                                                              
millions of  people at  the last, most  difficult stage  of life."                                                              
He opined that  when the physical or mental selves  alleviate each                                                              
other, "life as  a person of competence is gone,  but the motor is                                                              
still  running."    He  said  that  long  term  care  was  such  a                                                              
frightening issue  on so  many levels, that  a person  should have                                                              
the right to self-termination.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:50:05 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DENISE DANIELLO,  Executive Director, Alaska Commission  on Aging,                                                              
Division  of  Senior  and  Disabilities  Services,  Department  of                                                              
Health and  Social Services (DHSS),  said that the  Commission had                                                              
submitted  a letter  of support  for the changes  in the  proposed                                                              
committee  substitute.     She  stated  that  her   office  worked                                                              
collaboratively with  the Office of  the Long Term  Care Ombudsman                                                              
regarding  planning   and  advocacy  activities.     She  declared                                                              
support for the proposed bill.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:50:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ closed public testimony.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:51:17 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   SULLIVAN-LEONARD,  noting   that  Ms.   Holt  had                                                              
responded  quickly to  her concerns,  stated her  support for  the                                                              
proposed bill.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:51:40 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  EDGMON  moved  to  report CSHB  164,  labeled  30-                                                              
GH1815\D,  Glover,  4/3/17,  out   of  committee  with  individual                                                              
recommendations  and the accompanying  fiscal notes.   There being                                                              
no objection,  CSHB 164(HSS)  was reported  from the House  Health                                                              
and Social Services Standing Committee.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
3:52:00 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The committee took a brief at-ease.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
        SCR 2-SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH:APRIL 2017                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:54:37 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced  that the final order  of business would                                                              
be SENATE CONCURRENT  RESOLUTION NO. 2, Proclaiming  April 2017 as                                                              
Sexual Assault Awareness Month.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:54:58 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE  MARASIGAN, Staff,  Senator  Kevin  Meyer, Alaska  State                                                              
Legislature, offered  some background on the  proposed resolution.                                                              
She  stated that  the  proposed  resolution would  proclaim  April                                                              
2017  as  Sexual  Assault  Awareness Month,  part  of  a  national                                                              
campaign designed  to raise public awareness about  sexual assault                                                              
and educate communities  and individuals on how  to prevent sexual                                                              
violence.   She shared  that this had  first been brought  forward                                                              
in 2001  by then Representative  Meyer.   When asked why  this was                                                              
not placed permanently  in statute, the sponsor  explained that by                                                              
bringing  it forward  each  year, attention  was  renewed for  the                                                              
issue  of sexual  violence.   She  declared  that national  sexual                                                              
assault statistics  were staggering, as one in five  women and one                                                              
in seventy  one men  had been victims  of violent sexual  assault,                                                              
with even higher  rates in Alaska.   She reported that  in 2015, a                                                              
victimization  survey stated that  33 percent  of women  in Alaska                                                              
had  experienced   sexual  violence.    She  stated   that  sexual                                                              
violence  was  preventable,  and  that it  was  a  social,  public                                                              
health, criminal  justice, and human  rights issue.   She declared                                                              
that it  was necessary  to continue  to educate  the public.   She                                                              
stated that  this year, the campaign  would focus on  engaging new                                                              
voices to broaden the scope of prevention efforts.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:57:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SULLIVAN-LEONARD  asked  if  there  had  been  any                                                              
success for bringing down the statistics.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
MS. MARASIGAN  replied that the  most recent report did  show that                                                              
the statistics for  sexual assault with alcohol  were coming down,                                                              
and she offered to supply those statistics.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:58:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE TARR  offered her belief that this was  "one of the                                                              
most  important  issues  that  we   have  to  take  on,  community                                                              
violence."  She  directed attention to page 2, line  16, and noted                                                              
that these  programs had  all been  cut in  the budget  during the                                                              
last  year.   She  declared that  these  were prevention  programs                                                              
which  had tremendous  positive impact.   She  pointed to  page 2,                                                              
lines  22 - 25,  and stated  that the  Fourth R  program had  been                                                              
funded through a  grant, and had not been made  available to every                                                              
district.    She  stated  that these  grant  funds  had  not  been                                                              
renewed.   She declared that it  was a challenge when  funding was                                                              
cut.  She expressed her support for the proposed resolution.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SULLIVAN-LEONARD  asked if  the  funding had  been                                                              
returned for this year.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  TARR offered  her belief  that there  was not  any                                                              
new funding for those grant programs.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4:01:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ALIZA KAZMI, Policy Specialist, Alaska Network on Domestic                                                                      
Violence and Sexual Assault, paraphrased from a prepared                                                                        
statement, which read:                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
     On behalf  of our 19 member  agencies, I offer  our full                                                                   
     support  of  Senate  Concurrent   Resolution  2.    With                                                                   
     missions to  end violence, our members work  with sexual                                                                   
     assault  victims  and  survivors  every  day  -  through                                                                   
     collaborating   with   law   enforcement   and   medical                                                                   
     professionals  to  establish immediate  safety:  through                                                                   
     legal  advocacy   and  connecting  victims   with  other                                                                   
     social  services:  and  through  prevention  programming                                                                   
     working  with  tribal partners,  children  and  parents,                                                                   
     and many other community stakeholders.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
     Sexual assault  is a heinous crime that  is dehumanizing                                                                   
     and traumatizing.   33 out  of 100 women in  Alaska have                                                                   
     experienced   sexual   assault    in   their   lifetime,                                                                   
     according  to the most  robust state-specific data  that                                                                   
     we  have at this  point.   The crime  of sexual  assault                                                                   
     also     disproportionately     impacts     particularly                                                                   
     vulnerable  populations  such  as Alaska  Native  women.                                                                   
     Because  of  the  nature  of the  trauma,  and  how  our                                                                   
     advocates are  compelled to safeguard victim  safety and                                                                   
     confidentiality,   the   importance   of   intentionally                                                                   
     building  awareness  about   sexual  assault  in  Alaska                                                                   
     cannot be overstated.   Alaskans need to  understand the                                                                   
     issue,  acknowledge  its urgency,  and  be empowered  to                                                                   
     take action so  that we can work together  to end sexual                                                                   
     assault,  and cease to  beknown as  the rape capital  of                                                                   
     the United States.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     Building awareness  of what sexual assault  is, requires                                                                   
     immense  resources in and  of itself.   This is  because                                                                   
     sexual assault  is a complex manifestation of  power and                                                                   
     control.   It is not  about sexual gratification.   This                                                                   
     abusive  exertion  of  power  and  control  can  include                                                                   
     force,  threats (to  life), trickery  (through drugs  or                                                                   
     lies),  manipulation   (through  guilt   and  pressure),                                                                   
     and/or coercion (through bribes or blackmail).                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     We urge  you to join  the Governor in proclaiming  April                                                                   
     as  Sexual  Assault  Awareness   Month,  and  pass  this                                                                   
     resolution  to  support  victims,   survivors,  and  the                                                                   
     sexual  assault service provision  and prevention  work,                                                                   
     that agencies like our members do every day.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
4:03:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SPOHNHOLZ announced that SCR 2 would be held over.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
4:04:49 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
There being no further business before the committee, the House                                                                 
Health and Social Services Standing Committee meeting was                                                                       
adjourned at 4:05 p.m.                                                                                                          

Document Name Date/Time Subjects
HB 186 Fiscal Note DEC--EH 3.24.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB 186 Sponsor Statement 3.20.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB 186 Support Letter - Fairbanks Community Food Bank 3.20.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB 186 Sectional Analysis ver J 3.20.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB 186 Supporting Documents - Feeding America Alaska Stats 3.20.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB 186 Ver J 3.20.17.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 186
HB164 Sponsor Statement - Governor's Transmittal Letter.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB164 Sectional Analysis.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB164 ver A.PDF HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB164 Fiscal Note-DHSS-SDSA-1-20-17.PDF HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB164 Fiscal Note-DOR-OLTCO-1-20-17.PDF HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB 164 proposed blank CS ver D.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB 164 explanation of changes ver A to ver D.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 164
HB 159 Sectional Analysis ver A 3.6.17.pdf HHSS 3/18/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB0159 ver A 3.6.17.pdf HHSS 3/18/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB159 Fiscal Note DHSS-PHAS 3.6.17.pdf HHSS 3/18/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB159 Sponsor Statement 3.6.17.pdf HHSS 3/18/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB159 Supporting Document - Letter from Alaska Dental Society.pdf HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB159 Supporting Document - PDMP side by side comparison 3.23.17.pdf HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB159 Supporting Document - Opioid Bill FAQ 3.23.17.pdf HHSS 3/25/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
HB 159 Governor's Amendment.pdf HHSS 3/30/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
HHSS 4/11/2017 3:00:00 PM
HB 159
SCR 2 Version A.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Sponsor Statement A.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Support Materials CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Support Materials Alaska Dispatch News 11.20.2016.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Support Materials Key Results from the 2015 Alaska Victimization Survey.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Support Materials Letter of Support ANDVSA.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Support Materials National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2
SCR 2 Fiscal Note LAA.pdf HHSS 4/4/2017 3:00:00 PM
SCR 2